I am a polymath and an imaginative, spiritual soul with a passion for arts & crafts, gardening, nature, self-sufficiency, sustainability, and authentic human interaction. Like the polymaths of the renaissance era, I have a deep desire to understand our world, to teach others, and to apply what I have learned to solve problems and create a joyful, meaningful life for myself and others.

One of my favorite hobbies is using my design skills to create pottery + sculpture and other works of art that reflect my belief that ‘what we leave behind is as important as where we came from.’ My other current interests include studying permaculture and design for disaster resiliency because our people and our beautiful planet deserve a better future.

I am an Art + Design graduate from the College of Design at NCSU. I have been a retail manager, ad designer, art festival organizer, and a organic farmer. I had the good fortunate to become a studio assistant at Smoke in the Mountains Pottery and learn from Rob Withrow, a master of big face jugs, wood firing, and southern folk pottery. I assisted with pottery production, clay workshops, craft shows, and wheel throwing classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

I later opened my own studio called Heritage Vision Creations with a gift shop and an online etsy store that was a 5-star rated Top Shop for Gifts. I used clay to captured the beauty of nature and share important stories about conservation. I designed products to solve needs, satisfy customers, and serve communities. A perfect gift can make an occasion more memorable. One favorite mug can replace a lifetime of disposable coffee cups. Toad friendly gardens can reduce the need for pesticides. Funny endangered sheep faces on yarn bowls can share stories of Livestock Conservancy. Glazes can be made without toxic minerals. Kilns can be fired with green energy. Empty Bowls can help feed the hungry. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I am also a patient and resilient woman doing my best to make my peace with uncertainty and loss. A flood swept through my shop and studio. The covid pandemic shook up the economy. My elderly father developed dementia and needed a caregiver. Now I am grieving his loss while working in a busy print shop and trying not to let anxiety-inducing algorithms affect my optimism and enjoyment of life. People ask me when I am going to make pottery again, and all I can say is- when time, resources, and opportunity align. In the meantime, I am contemplating ways to return to my journey in clay. I sincerely thank you all for your interest, your patience, and your continued support.
-Ms. Maya