Vendor Spotlight: Turtle + Bird

Eight years ago, tucked away in a little storefront in Port Stanley, Carly of Turtle + Bird Co made her first ceramic pieces, unknowingly planting the roots of a new pottery small business. Initially selling houseplants and hammocks, Carly first started making homemade plant pots. Then, the pottery took over, becoming more popular than the houseplants, so she left her little storefront behind and started making pottery full time from her home studio in the Village of Sparta.

Together with her husband, they make Turtle + Bird Co Pottery and Wood. “He makes fine furniture, and I make pottery, which compliments beautifully,” Carly said with a smile. After initially working in the culinary industry for 12 years as a red seal chef, Carly got her first job that wasn’t in food. “I moved out to Vancouver 10 years ago, and it was the first time that I got a job that wasn’t in food, I was selling hammocks!” Carly laughed. “It was the best job ever, and I couldn’t work for anyone ever again.” ​

Through her pottery, Carly can work for herself and remain close to her family. “I get to see my husband all the time and do something that I love. We both work from home and then we take care of my son full time as well,” said Carly. Through their work, Turtle + Bird Co can also work towards their passion for being green and environmentally conscious. “We are passionate about conservation; my husband uses primarily local materials, and I recycle my clay,” Carly said. “A lot of pieces you see are actually made with recycled clay.”

Carly explained that every time she makes pottery, it results in excess clay water, called muck, and trimmed clay pieces. Instead of throwing that excess material and water into the garbage, she works diligently to recycle it. “I reconstitute it with water. It takes about three weeks to process it back into clay.” Carly explained. “I hydrate it with water, make it a totally smooth slurry, and then I lay it out in the sun on plaster, and it slowly dries. Then, I wedge it back into clay, and then I use it to make more pieces.”

Alongside taking the time to recycle her clay, Carly also uses stoneware clay instead of porcelain. “Stoneware is more natural; it has more dirt in it, whereas porcelain is a little more flexible and easier to work with,” said Carly. “But it is more manufactured. I like to use more raw materials.” The clay recycling process is truly a labour of love, and it results in beautiful and sustainable pieces, including sculptures, dishware, and new this year, bee water cups.

Since Carly went from working in the culinary industry to creating pottery, she often makes dishware for chefs. “I am a good person to buy from if you are a restaurateur because I get it; I understand what these dishes are going through in a restaurant kitchen and industrial setting,” Carly explains, showing us some of her beautiful plates, bowls, and mugs. “I think about it from a chef’s perspective.” 

She also enjoys making sculptural works, which can be purchased online through her shop and picked up in either Sparta or at the Horton Farmers’ Market. “A lot of it is all environment and nature-based, mushroomy, enchanted fairy stuff,” Carly said with a smile. 
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As for the bee cups, they are new to her roster this year, inspired by her chats during the Market with Chuck of Wildflower’s Honey. “One day, we were talking about bees, and he said I should make little bee baths, so I tried it, and I did!” said Carly with a proud smile. “People like them; they go quickly!” The bee baths help provide the important pollinators with water without drowning them. They allow for pollinators to find necessary water and continue their vital pollinating journey. 

Turtle + Bird Co has been a vendor with the Horton Farmers’ Market for one year, with May 11th marking their official year. Carly brings her beautiful pieces to the Market a few times a month during the year and loves the community the Market brings. “I love the community here. It is super welcoming, the people who run the market are awesome, and the community of vendors is phenomenal.” Carly said. “I really enjoy coming out and being a part of the community.” 
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Carly treasures her Market time, especially because she works for herself from home. “When you work for yourself, you are really isolated a lot of the time, and so I am with my 2 and a half-year-old, or I am alone in my pottery studio, so this is my day where I get to come out and socialize and see my coworkers if you will,” Carly explained. Market vendors like Carly love to meet the local community, allowing customers to meet the artists, farmers, and curators of the products they buy and forge connections with them. Stop by Turtle + Bird Co at the next Market to say hi and see her beautiful ceramics.

Paige Palmer, EDC Summer Marketing Support

Paige is happy to be joining the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation as their 2024 Summer Marketing Assistant. She is completing her undergraduate degree this summer with a double major in Media and Communications Studies and Thanatology at Western University and King’s University College. She is excited to help to promote local vendors and businesses this summer, and is looking forward to trying all the delicious and unique produce and products at the Horton Farmers’ Market this summer! Outside of work and school she loves spending time learning about nature, animals, and gardening. ​