FAQ's
What’s the story?
I make things out of porcelain. I work in the studio by myself, splitting my time between made-to-order dinnerware and one-of-a-kind pieces that are released in small batches.
I have been making pots almost every day since I first took a pottery class at Skidmore College in 1994. I am an artist, designer and a maker. I grew up on the East Coast, beginning my professional life in clay with my first studio on Cape Cod. My family and I moved to Austin in 2009 and I’ve been doing my work in this incredibly supportive city ever since.
I believe that the objects we surround ourselves with are able to bring joy to a space on a daily basis. I am trying to make work by hand that is full of life. I want my work to be clean, polished and also find a home within the long traditions of handmade ceramics. I love that you are able to bring my work home to help finish its job.
How does a Porcelain Drop work?
My one-of-a-kind works are released in small batches throughout the year. Typically once every few months, a bit more often in busy Fall/Holiday seasons.
All work is available on a first come first serve basis with a secret link sent out to all members of The Porcelain List. The day of the week varies, but all new work is released via that secret link at Noon central. 24 hours after that emailed secret link goes out, the batch is open for everyone on the website.
My work does tend to sell out quickly, usually within a few days of release... especially highly sought-after items like mugs, cups and serving bowls. Trust me, it surprises me each and every time as well.
I missed out on the last Porcelain Drop. What do I do?
If you’ve come here between one of my drops, chances are almost everything is sold out. I get it. That’s frustrating for you... and me.
The best way to get work at the next drop is to be on my mailing list. I always send a pre-sale link to my subscribers a day before the work goes public on my website.
I used to be able to get something every time I was on the website. What happened?
Couple of things—
First of all, my work has always been made at a smaller scale than you might have thought... even when I had a full staff in the studio, we were never trying to pump out work for the sake of pumping out work.
Secondly, well, you know—gestures wildly at the world—I decided to change how I do things in the studio. I’ve been making pots for a really long time and each time I changed things up in my studio, I liked that new direction. I work alone in my studio now, just like I did when I started making pots professionally in 1998. I’m kind of digging it. What that means is that production is slower, batches of work are smaller and I don’t typically have a back-stock of work waiting for an order to come in.
My one-of-a-kind drops happen throughout the year and only happen when I have a new body of work that’s worth sharing with y’all.
My dinnerware is made-to-order from my waiting list. You can learn more about my dinnerware and how to get on the waitlist here.
Do you like to know all of the details? You can read more about my transition from a growing, medium-sized studio back to a small batch studio here and here.
If they sell out so quickly, why don't you just make more?
After 25 years of working in clay, I’ve thought about this question a lot—
There are lots of things in the world. A lot of them are nice things. A lot more of them are not so nice things. I’ve always tried to make nice things. When I try to make lots of things, they’re usually not as nice. I don’t enjoy making things that aren’t well-crafted. For now I’m focused on trying to make really nice things and that takes me a really long time to do so.
I want to enjoy the creative moments in my studio while also living a life outside of my studio. I like to cook. I like to watch my kids play soccer and lacrosse. I like to see live music.
Pro tip.
Get on The Porcelain List. When I launch a new batch of work, I send out an email to my newsletter first. Why? Because that’s where my most consistent clients are. Instagram is fun and all (debatable), but those of you who continually bring my work home are usually also the folks opening up my emails.
First and foremost, I want to make sure that you will always have the first opportunity to bring my newest batch of work home. Plus, I’d rather our communication depend on whether you want to read my email or not rather than rely on an algorithm to let you know what's going on with my work.
How do I order your dinnerware for my home?
My dinnerware is completely made-to-order. I'll need roughly eight to ten weeks to make it for you once I get started. I have a waiting list for all new dinnerware orders. You can learn more about my dinnerware here. I look forward to speaking with you about making something special for you.
How long does it take to make a full dinnerware set?
Start to finish, an individual piece takes about eight weeks to make it through the various steps in my studio and then into the kilns.
Do you make custom pieces for retail clients?
My proverbial plate is pretty full— I’m working independently in my studio and I’m not able to make custom pieces for retail clients at this time. I make small batches of one-of-a-kind work throughout the year.
Can I order plates for my restaurant?
Yes, but... While my work is well-known for gracing the tables of restaurants around the country, my hospitality project slots are limited for 2022. I’d love to hear about what you’re up to and see if I can accommodate you.
Do you ever sell samples and seconds?
Yes, but rarely. I will randomly open the studio doors from time to time for a Samples & Seconds Sale. I’m making less work in the studio now than in previous years and that means there are less Samples and Seconds available. I will always announce these events on social media and via my Porcelain List newsletter.
What is your work made out of?
I have been using porcelain almost exclusively for my work since 2009. I do so for a variety of reasons, most of all, because I love it. It’s bright, takes glazes well, shows details beautifully and is super durable.
Porcelain is a clay, like stoneware and earthenware. It happens to be pure white because it has few impurities in it such as iron oxide and (get ready to nerd out) porcelain clay deposits are typically found at the higher points of a riverbed and haven’t been dragged through the river picking up metal and other impurities along the way. Now you know.
Is your work food-safe?
Everything I make is food-safe, plus all of my pieces are safe for dishwashers and microwaves. The clay and glazes I use are lead-free, and all of my work is high-fired to more than 2,300º F. 🔥
How do you make your work?
There’s a method to my madness. I use a variety of hand-crafting methods including jiggering, slip-casting, throwing, slab-building and just about any combo of these to make your new favorite porcelain piece. There’s a quirky video studio tour here where I go into details about my processes.
Where are you located?
Since 2009 I’ve been working out of a beautiful studio on the Eastside of Austin, TX.
How do I find out about what’s happening in the studio?
To follow along behind the scene in the studio, I definitely recommend signing up for my newsletter– It’s where I share my finished work as well as my thoughts behind the process. I promise to only write if I have something important to say.
If you want to see what’s happening in the studio on a more regular basis, I suggest following me on Instagram here.
How do I take care of my new porcelain?
Please see my Care & Use pageWhere do you ship?
Right now I ship to all United States locations. On occasion, I’m open to shipping elsewhere in the world.
How long does it take for a package to arrive?
I typically ship via UPS ground. Depending on when the order was placed, packages typically go out within 3 days working days or less, and UPS Ground takes between 3-5 working days or less to deliver packages.
Do you offer expedited shipping?
I no longer offer overnight or 2-day shipping as the cost is high and the environmental impact is great. Quite honestly, I can't think of a reason for needing heavy porcelain shipped overnight.
How do I check the status of a shipment?
Once your order is packed and shipped, you will receive an email with tracking information.
What if my products are damaged on arrival?
I’ve been packing pottery for a long time. While it’s rare that there is breakage, it can happen and it’s a total bummer. Please take a picture of the broken piece and write to me immediately at porcelain@keithkreeger.com to let me know what happened. I’ll get you sorted with a replacement or refund asap.
What do I do with my packaging?
All of the packing material I use, from the inner fill to the outer box is recyclable. I think that’s pretty cool.
How can I check the status of my order?
Log-in to your account page for in-stock purchases or drop us a note at porcelain@keithkreeger.com to check the status of any dinnerware orders.
Can I modify an existing order?
Send me an email at porcelain@keithkreeger.com and I’ll do my best to help.
Can I return or exchange something I ordered online or purchased in the showroom?
I understand that sometimes you need to change your mind. My return policy is laid out in detail here.
Can I send your products as a gift with a gift receipt?
Yes, you can. Select this as an option during check-out. You can also add a note at checkout.
Is it possible to include a note and gift wrapping?
I’d be happy to include a note for your gift recipient. You’ll have an opportunity to add this during the check-out process. I don’t offer gift wrapping, but I pack things up very well, and most of my work ships in custom KK Studios boxes.
Can I set up a registry on your site?
Absolutely. Please email us at porcelain@keithkreeger.com to start your wishlist. I look forward to being a part of your big day. Please do not use a third-party site like Zola to register. Reach out directly to use our website’s gift registry system.
Have a press inquiry?
Give me a shout at press@keithkreeger.com
Want to chat about a collaboration or speaking engagement for Keith?
Reach out to porcelain@keithkreeger.com