The Bisque, Port Orchard’s new pottery studio at 710 Bay Street, had its grand opening Jan. 24.

South Kitsap local and owner of The Bisque, Teri Erasmus, will teach six-week wheel throwing and hand building classes, host events, while offering workshops, day passes, memberships, private lessons, and weekly kid classes. “Our goal is to bring together those that have been looking for community and connection with others. Pottery has a way of connecting people in the best way,” Erasmus said.

The local artist began her own business, Pots by Teri, in 2020. Erasmus was operating from her home garage and selling pieces online, with both a website and a social media page with over 48,000 followers.

Erasmus began hosting workshops out of her home, where she fell in love with teaching and the connections she made. “I bought six brand new matching wheels and started advertising for classes. I filled two six-week classes. My students became my very good friends,” she said. “On top of the night classes, I still completed work I sold in my online preorders. It was getting very exhausting, even though I loved both the creating and the teaching. Between these two aspects of my very full-time job plus being a mother of three children, I was feeling pretty stretched thin.”

With Pots by Teri, Erasmus ships and sells over 3,000 pieces a year throughout the U.S. and Canada. While she was working out of her home, however, Erasmus was solely selling her work online, unable to see customers interact with her pieces. “I started dreaming of opening a storefront, hiring teachers and staff and eventually slowing down; teaching a class or two myself and offering handmade retail where I would finally be able to see my customers hold my pieces,” she said.

The Bisque is about 3,000 square feet, located near Port Orchard’s waterfront across from Josephine’s Mercantile and Good Stuff Grocery. In the early 1900s, the building was known as the Brick Hotel, but more recently, the storefront was home to Rings and Things, a custom jewelry store, until 2019.

“This is a special space that will feel warm and inviting, full of music, life, and color. There aren’t too many places these days that offer a community that gets people out of their homes, trying something new. Something messy. Something fun,” said Erasmus. “Not only are you trying a new thing, but you’re picking up a new skill! Maybe, just maybe, you fall in love like so many of us, and you become a creator! Nothing beats handmade art. Especially handmade pottery.”

Erasmus was first introduced to ceramics while she studied at Utah Valley University. After starting her family and moving to Seattle, Erasmus began perfecting her craft. “I decided I needed to do something for me and remembered the joy pottery brought me,” she said. “I went to Shoreline Community College and took ceramics courses. Knowing then that I wanted this to become a business, I practiced hard and learned quickly.”

In September 2019, Erasmus and her family bought their first home in Port Orchard. “Port Orchard was the perfect place,” she said. “It was quieter than the city; more room to breathe. We loved the idea of being close to the Sound. I built out my first garage studio, and my business bloomed. We have since moved to a new home just off the Yukon harbor, where I built out my second studio and fulfilled all my online retail orders, taught classes, and offered memberships. Now I have outgrown that space, hence the opening of The Bisque!”

With the opening of her new space, Erasmus will continue Pots by Teri, selling items online with the addition of her new storefront on Bay Street. “My online community of supporters and customers is the reason I am able to open The Bisque. So I would never leave them hanging,” she said.

“This first year will be devoted to bringing fun and joy to downtown Port Orchard,” Erasmus said. “I feel like Bay Street is already becoming a beautiful family. I’m excited for all that we will accomplish together.”