As we progress into the year, I find myself thinking often about change. As a maker and solo small business owner here in Chicago, the push to evolve comes from both within and beyond the walls of my ceramic studio. Some shifts are intentional. Others arrive uninvited.

After months spent preparing for the holidays, throwing on the wheel , glazing, and firing handmade ceramic pieces that will become lifelong companions in the homes of customers and their loved ones, it feels like the table has been gently cleared…