Life with the Hildebrands: February 2021

Joel is an artist. He's super creative and talented at anything he puts his hand to, but his passion is pottery. He has been throwing pottery on the wheel ever since he first learned how to in high school art class. He even had a little side business selling his pottery to teachers. As newlyweds, we had dreams of opening a pottery business, in fact we did in 2006. We were living in Joel's parent's guest house where he transformed a room off of the garage into his pottery workshop. Things were just getting off the ground when we felt God was calling us to Turkey. We put the pottery dreams on hold and spent the next couple of years training for our move overseas and then moved to Turkey in early 2009.

When we moved back to the States in 2018 we had no intentions of starting a business. Joel started working for a framing company while simultaneously remodeling our house. About a month in, he fell off an 8 foot ladder and broke his elbow, resulting in surgery then physical therapy and lots of down time while recuperating. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was during Joel's time off work that he reconnected with a relative of mine who sells pottery supplies and who happened to mention that he had space on the floor above his business that would be perfect for a pottery studio. Through continuing conversations a dream was rekindled and it wasn't long before Inspire Pottery Studio was born.

I look back over the last two years and am amazed at how God gave us back a dream that we had forgotten and put all the pieces together IN HIS PERFECT TIMING and now we have a thriving studio and an amazing community of artists. Joel teaches beginner to advanced classes and makes and sells his own pottery. He gets to work with his uncle, who is also a potter and I couldn't have possibly dreamed up a better scenario myself. I just have to shake my head and say "only God!" Joel tells me all the time he feels like he gets to play every day, he loves what he's doing that much! And isn't that how it should be? He has had so many opportunities to get to know people that come into his studio and share the love of Jesus with them. Whether it's just for a one time class or a 6 week course, he is committed to building relationships with the people that come through his doors and being a blessing!

Brooks, the cutest little potter

Pottery classes during a pandemic.

Daddy's helpers. They love to get their hands dirty in the buckets of clay waiting to be reprocessed.

Joel offers date night classes. So many couples have enjoyed throwing pottery, it's such a fun idea for a night out with your spouse

We've had lots of families come and throw pottery together!

The mayor of our town came to visit Inspire!

Girls night out! Such a fun thing to do with your friends.

Isaiah is always up for working/playing at the studio!

I love getting to work with these two!

Joel is always trying new things, one of his favorite things to make is HUGE combination pieces. Now we just need a kiln big enough to fit some of these pieces in!