Handmade Pottery
Made by Hand. Made to be Enjoyed
Wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery created in Ontario, where every piece is unique.
A Few Pieces From the Studio
Anneke’s pottery is always evolving. Explore a selection of pieces you may find in her studio, at upcoming markets, and at select shops that carry her work.
Mugs
Handmade mugs designed to bring a little something special to your morning coffee or tea.
Serving Platters & Bowls
Beautiful, functional pieces made for everyday meals and gathering around the table.
Vases & Planters
Handmade pieces that bring colour, texture and character into your home.
Unique Pieces
From fruit bowls, butter dishes and honey pots to maple syrup dispensers and other one-of-a-kind creations, there’s always something unexpected coming out of the studio.
One-of-a-Kind Pieces
Unique shapes, colours, textures and glazes — pieces that reflect Anneke’s creativity and the ever-changing nature of her work.
Always Something New
Every piece Anneke creates is handmade, so her collection is always changing. For the newest pieces, upcoming markets, and a behind-the-scenes look at the studio, follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
Follow Anneke
A Family Tradition in Clay
Two generations. Decades of experience. One love of pottery.
MEET THE MAKER
Potter • Maker • Full-Time Artist
Anneke Kazmierczak is a wife, mother of five, and the potter behind Anneke’s Pottery.
In 2018, Anneke began making pottery as a hobby while raising her family and working in the addictions field. What started as a creative outlet soon began to grow. As interest in her work increased and her studio became busier, Anneke gradually shifted her focus toward pottery, eventually making it her full-time career.
Today, Anneke spends her days in her home studio designing, throwing, glazing and firing her handmade pieces. Her collection is always evolving, from everyday favourites like mugs and serving pieces to bowls, platters, vases, planters and other unique creations.
Anneke loves the process of creating functional pottery that can become part of someone’s everyday life. Each piece is handmade, giving it its own character and subtle variations that make it one of a kind.
Her work can be found in her studio, at local artisan markets, and at select shops that carry Anneke’s pottery throughout the area.
Anneke is a member of the Norfolk Potters’ Guild, Hamilton Potters’ Guild and Brantford Potters’ Guild.
The Potter Behind the Potter
The Story of Where Anneke’s Love of Clay Began
Potter • Teacher • 60+ Years in Clay
Anneke’s love of pottery began long before she opened her own studio. It began as a child, watching her father, Marius Van Woerden, work with clay.
Marius has been a potter for more than 60 years. Growing up in the Netherlands, his interest in pottery began as a teenager when he spent time at De Steenuil Pottery, located across the street from his home. In 1961, while serving in the Dutch army, he took up pottery as an evening activity and learned to throw on the wheel and create and use different glazes. Marius felt he left the army more as an accomplished potter than well-trained soldier.
In 1964, Marius and his brother started their own pottery business, which later became known as Vest Keramiek. Their work became particularly well known for its distinctive Fat Lava glazes, which gained popularity in Germany and are now part of the history of West German pottery.
After immigrating to Canada in 1983, Marius and his brother established Castle Ceramics in Norwich, Ontario. Over the years, his creative work evolved from pottery to animal figurines and the Norwich Collection, featuring clay replicas of important Canadian historic sites.
For Anneke, though, some of her most meaningful memories of her father involve simply being around clay. As a child, she would accompany him to the factory, where she was free to play with clay, watch the painters at work and, on occasion, even paint damaged pieces herself.
Years later, when Anneke rediscovered pottery as a hobby, Marius became one of her teachers. What began as a hobby eventually grew into Anneke’s own home pottery studio and small business, but the connection to her father remains at the heart of it.
Today, Marius no longer works in the studio on a regular basis, but clay is still very much a part of his life. On occasion, he returns to the wheel and creates a piece when the opportunity and inspiration strike. His knowledge, experience and encouragement continue to be an important part of Anneke’s pottery journey.
From Clay to Finished Pottery
Made by Hand, Every Step of the Way
Every piece of pottery begins with a simple lump of clay and is transformed through a thoughtful, hands-on process into something made to be used, enjoyed, and treasured. In Anneke’s studio, each mug, bowl, serving platter, vase, and one-of-a-kind creation passes through multiple stages of shaping, drying, firing, and glazing before it is ready for its new home.
Creating handmade pottery takes patience, skill, and an appreciation for the unique qualities of clay. From the first turn on the pottery wheel to the final opening of the kiln, every stage plays an important role in bringing each piece to life.
01.
Preparing the Clay
Before a piece can take shape, the clay must be prepared. Anneke measures and weighs the clay according to the piece she plans to create, then wedges it to help remove air pockets and create a consistent working texture. This preparation provides a good foundation for shaping pottery that is ready for the next stages of the process.
02.
Shaping Each Piece
For wheel-thrown pottery, the prepared clay is centred on the pottery wheel and carefully shaped by hand. As the wheel turns, the clay is guided into its intended form, whether that is a favourite coffee mug, a serving bowl, or a decorative vase.
Flat pieces, such as serving platters, trays, and charcuterie boards, are made using a different technique. The clay is rolled into a flat slab and then shaped into the desired form. Each method offers its own creative possibilities, allowing Anneke to make a variety of functional and decorative pottery.
03.
Trimming & Adding the Details
Once shaped, the pottery needs time to dry until it reaches a stage known as leather hard. At this point, the clay has firmed up but is still workable.
Wheel-thrown pieces are turned upside down and carefully trimmed to remove excess clay, refine their shape, and create a finished base. This is also when handles are attached to mugs and other finishing details are added.
Flat pieces, such as platters and trays, generally do not require this trimming stage. Instead, they are left to dry in their shaped form before moving on to the next step.
04.
Drying & the First Firing
Before pottery can be fired, it must dry completely to what potters call bone dry. This stage is important because the clay needs to release its remaining moisture before entering the kiln.
The dried pieces are carefully loaded into the kiln for their first firing, known as the bisque firing. The kiln reaches approximately 1,900°F, and the firing takes around 12 hours, followed by a slow cooling period that can take another 12 hours.
After this first firing, the clay has transformed into a firm, porous ceramic form that is ready to receive glaze.
05.
Glazing by Hand
Glazing is where colour, surface, and finish come together. Before glazing, the bottoms of the pieces are coated with wax to help prevent glaze from sticking to the kiln shelves during the next firing. Any excess glaze is carefully removed from areas that need to remain unglazed.
Depending on the piece and the desired finish, glaze can be applied by dipping or brushing. This stage gives each item its finished appearance and helps create the surface that makes the pottery beautiful as well as practical.
06.
The Final Firing
Once glazed, the pottery returns to the kiln for its second firing. This firing reaches approximately 2,300°F and takes around eight hours, followed by a gradual cooling period of approximately 12 hours.
The heat transforms the glaze and strengthens the ceramic body, bringing the finished piece closer to its final form. Only once the kiln has cooled sufficiently can the pieces be unloaded and inspected.
Ready for a New Home
After passing through all these stages, each piece is ready to leave the studio and find its place in someone’s home. From the morning coffee mug to the serving platter brought out for a family gathering, handmade pottery brings a personal touch to everyday moments.
No two handmade pieces are exactly alike. The shapes, surfaces, and finishes reflect the care involved in creating pottery by hand, making each piece a little different from the next.
Handmade Pottery for Everyday Living
Whether you’re looking for a handmade ceramic mug, a serving bowl for your kitchen, a platter for entertaining, or a vase to display in your home, each piece begins with the same careful process and attention to detail.
Explore Anneke’s pottery, discover where her work is available, or find an upcoming artisan market where you can see her creations in person.
Handmade Pottery for Everyday Living
Whether you’re looking for a handmade ceramic mug, a serving bowl for your kitchen, a platter for entertaining, or a vase to display in your home, each piece begins with the same careful process and attention to detail.
Explore Anneke’s pottery, discover where her work is available, or find an upcoming artisan market where you can see her creations in person.
Where to Find Anneke's Pottery
In Local Shops
Find a selection of Anneke’s handmade pottery at select shops throughout the area.
Port Dover
Simcoe
Norwich
Waterford
Waterford
At Upcoming Markets
Come browse, discover something new and meet Anneke at an upcoming artisan market.
