One Sweet Dream Pottery Brings Joy…stoneware, ornaments and lots more for that perfect Christmas gift
Moose Jaw’s arts community continues to thrive. New local artists get an opportunity to display their work as they tap into their artistry and explore their talents.
New artist Beth Barrett made her debut at this year’s Moostletoe Tour but continues to open her studio for those interested.
Barrett specializes in pottery where she fires mostly functional cone six stoneware (dishwasher and microwave safe) and ornaments, and has recently explored tiling on mosaic pieces. If you haven’t grabbed your Christmas gifts yet, Barrett’s One Sweet Dream Pottery is a great place to start! Barrett’s journey in pottery began about five years ago when she attended a class with Moose Jaw’s Wendy Parsons. She fell in love with the art and has not looked back since. “I started pottery about five years ago. My husband got me a class because I’ve always wanted to try it. It was a class with Wendy Parsons. On the first night, I fell totally in love with clay and pottery,” said an excited Barrett. “I subsequently joined the Pottery Club and I was a member for about four years. I took multiple classes here in Moose Jaw, as well as some online courses and I did additional research on my own.”
Even though she is lover of all art forms, Barrett says she has always had a passion to do pottery. “I’ve always been fascinated with pottery. I’ve done a lot of different crafts throughout the years, but I found that there are so many choices within pottery. It pulls from a lot of the different crafts out there, for example, sewing. There is just so much you can learn from pottery with so many variations in it and I love to explore them.” After learning more about pottery, this inspired Barrett to build her own studio. “Shortly after, I converted one of my rooms to a hand-building room and purchased a wheel a few years later so that I can do more pottery at home. I have my own studio at home now.”
She loves to create practical pieces for everyday use. Whether it is a coffee mug, plate or just an ornament or accessory, Barrett says she loves to create things that people can use consistently. “I mostly create functional ware— things you can use, because I’m very practical. So, mugs, bowls, plates and cups are very common items I make. I also make some ornaments and I’ve also branched out a little into tile work where I collaborate with a family member who does mosaic pieces.”
“I love to try new and different ways to do pottery. I get a lot of joy out of it.” As a result of the happiness she gets from pottery, Barrett loves to share this joy with others by teaching her own private classes from time to time. “I love to share this joy I have from pottery with other people. So typically, when people come and do pottery with me, they find it very relaxing and peaceful.”
As her craft develops, Barrett has been participating in local events in the arts community that has brought some of her work into the spotlight. For example, she participated in Moostletoe this year, an experience that she says was a great one. “My husband and I attended last year and went around to see all the artists and what they offered. I was honored to be asked this year to be part of that because they are all such great artists. It felt great meeting and talking to people about some of the pieces I had available.”
If you’re looking for a perfect and practical Christmas gift this year, Barrett offers a variety of options you can explore. The best way to get a hold of Beth Barrett is through her Facebook page at One Sweet Dream Pottery. “Once you contact me via messenger, we can go from there,” she says.