Some folks want to know about:
- Us
- Music and Pottery
- Caring for my Pottery
- The Pottery
- The Potter
- Ordering
- Discounts and Taxes
- Gift Cards
- Changes at the Pottery
ABOUT US:
What does Old Barn Pottery do?
We make hand-crafted stoneware reflecting the intersection of traditional
music and craft beer, wine, liquor, and mead. Think kitchen parties, pub
sessions, and late night jams! Other stoneware pieces pop up as the whim
strikes.
ABOUT MUSIC AND POTTERY:
We have a musical theme to our pottery. We both love music in all its
forms, and Celtic music in particular. Paul plays bagpipes, smallpipes,
the electric bass, and sings. Vickie plays cello, guitar, piano, and
sings. Together we entertain ourselves on cold winter evenings playing
everything from fiddle tunes to 80’s rock. We also play with other local
musicians for the love of the music, and enjoy going to music festivals.
Vickie wanted to sell pots at music festivals in the summer, and that led
to our Celtic music line of ware. She noticed that there wasn’t any
beautiful pottery celebrating musicians who play Celtic music. While
that’s not all we do, the Musician’s Mugs are the spark and the enduring
flame of Old Barn Pottery.
ABOUT CARING FOR MY POTTERY:
Can I put my pottery in the dishwasher?
Yes! Your new dishes are made to be used just like dishes you would buy
from a store. Only they’re more beautiful, of course!
How about the microwave?
Yes. In fact, we use our own pottery at home, and microwave our mugs of
coffee and tea many times a day. We even make porridge in the microwave
right in our bowls.
Is our pottery food safe?
Yes. While you may have heard about pottery that is not food safe, we do
not use the techniques or materials that would put anyone at risk. We are
so confident in our glazes, we use our own pottery every day.
If I break it, and purchase one to replace it, will it look the same?
There will be slight variations from batch to batch, because each piece is
made by hand, our glazes are mixed in small batches, and each piece is
dipped in glaze individually. While we do aim to be consistent, over time
you will notice that colours, shapes, and sizes may be slightly different.
ABOUT THE POTTERY:
Can we visit the pottery?
Although we don't have a display space on-site, we're happy to have you visit. So it’s best to let us know before you
drop by. Call Paul at (902) 521-8493 to make arrangements. We may be out
delivering orders, or walking the Pottery greyhound, or at a music festival selling our ware.
Do you make custom orders?
It depends on our schedule and what other commitments we may have. Let us
know what you’re thinking, and we’ll see what we can do!
ABOUT THE POTTER:
Who made my pottery?
Vickie Gray is the potter at Old Barn Pottery. When you see the Old Barn
Pottery logo stamped in the bottom of our pots, you can be sure she made
your pottery with love.
Where did Vickie learn to make pottery?
She learned about ceramics at one of the top high school arts programs in
Toronto, Ontario. She then went on to run her own studio pottery on Hornby
Island, BC, and learned about glaze design from Robin Hopper at the
Metchosin Summer School of the Arts. She participated in the early days of
the Clay-Art Listserv, learning from potters around the world, and she has
continued to experiment and learn in her own pottery in Nova Scotia.
Who else works at Old Barn Pottery?
Vickie’s sweetheart, Paul Reeves, is an indispensable partner in the
pottery, managing everything from our online store, to bookkeeping,
firewood cutting, kiln repairs, and being Vickie’s musical partner.
ABOUT ORDERS:
How do I place an order?
Since you are already here, you can shop just as you do at any on-line
store:
- select “Products”
- click on what you want
- use the Select Option list to make your choice of inscription if applicable
- add it to your Cart, and
- proceed to Checkout.
You can pay by credit card through Stripe, or PayPal, securely (we do not see nor keep any of your financial information.) All our prices are in Canadian dollars and will be converted at payment to your currency (as necessary).
You can also visit us at the Pottery (see above), or Just Call Paul at
(902) 521-8493, or message us from Instagram.
We'll work out payment and delivery details with you.
NOTE: Buy now before we have to charge tax on your orders.
What about duties & taxes on International orders?
Any applicable duties and taxes are collected upon receipt by your postal service. We recommend you check your country's import regulations to avoid surprise costs.
What happens next for on-line orders?
We receive your order and confirmation of payment and do a happy dance.
Then we get to work to fulfill your order and emailing you so you know
what to expect. Once your order has shipped, we do another happy dance,
and let you know the status and tracking information.
How long does it take to process my order?
For items that are in stock, you should expect 1 week for packing and
shipment from our location, with arrival depending on your location. For
items that are not in stock, expect an additional 2 weeks to produce your
items because they are all carefully hand-crafted.
Can I pick up my order to avoid shipping?
Yes you can! When you are checking out there is a Summary section just
below where you choose your Payment method. In the "Discount code" field
of the Summary enter NOSHIP and click on the plus sign. That eliminates
the shipping charge and tells us not to ship it to you. Use the "Notes or
instructions" field to make arrangements for pick-up. Complete your
payment information to finalize your order.
What if I want to cancel my order?
Please send us an email from our Contact page with the details and reason
for cancelling. If you were surprised or upset by any part of the ordering
process, please let us know. We'll confirm your request to cancel and
process a refund by the method you paid.
ABOUT DISCOUNTS AND TAXES:
Do you offer discounts?
Yes we do! Customers who live locally and would like to pick up their
order can avoid the shipping charges. When you are checking out there is
a Summary section just below where you choose your Payment method. In the
"Discount code" field of the Summary enter NOSHIP and click on the plus
sign. That eliminates the shipping charge and tells us not to ship it to
you. Use the "Notes or instructions" field to make arrangements for
pick-up. Complete your payment information to finalize your order.
Why don’t I see tax on my order?
At some point in 2020 we will be so successful that we'll have to charge tax, so get your orders in
early.
ABOUT GIFT CARDS:
How do gift cards work?
Use the link on our Gift Card page to move to the Square web-site. You can
then choose your format and value, and provide an email address for your
recipient. Once you've paid, the Card is emailed to your recipient. They
will need to contact us directly to use the Card for payment in person or
over the phone. Best to have them Just Call Paul at (902) 521-8493.
ABOUT CHANGES AT THE POTTERY:
How will I know when your product lines, prices, taxes, etc. change?
Follow us on Instagram or Twitter (links below) to be sure to keep up
with what is going on at the Pottery and this store.