To help you think about your possible order, I've addressed some common questions below. If you have a question I didn't answer, please feel free to ask!
Do you make custom orders?
I enjoy the challenge of making work to order, within the constraints of my personal style, materials, and glaze repertoire. If you are interested in something which you did not see pictured on this site, please drop me an email, and let's talk about it!
How long does it take to receive a custom order?
The answer, of course, is "it depends" -- on the size and complexity of the order, and whether it requires me to develop new forms or to make items that are not in my usual line or have special features. Each piece that I make is individually created -- I do not use molds, presses, or other commercial production devices, so it is not uncommon for me to make 2-3 preliminary versions before finalizing a new design. In addition, pottery is not a completely predictable craft -- conditions such as temperature and humidity can affect how quickly pieces dry, how they take up glaze, etc.
It is also important for you to understand that I am a part-time potter with a full-time day job and family responsibilities, which means that my pottery time is restricted to weekends and evenings. Sometimes, life interferes, and I am not able to work on my pottery as much as I would like. This can make it difficult to predict how long things will take.
How far ahead should I plan when ordering new work?
Orders placed after April 1 will be scheduled for delivery between October 1 and December 15. I do not fire my kiln between July 1 and September 1, so no deliveries will take place during that period. In many cases, I will be able to deliver sooner, but I am learning to be careful about making promises!
How do you handle payment for custom work? Is there a deposit or other advance payment required?
My policy is to require no payment until the work is completed. However, for custom work that is not in my usual line, I do ask for a firm commitment to purchase the work when it is done. When the work is completed, I will let you know and we can make payment and shipping arrangements.What forms of payment do you accept? Do you take credit cards?
Payment can be by check, credit card (Visa/Mastercard only), or by PayPal. When it is time to arrange payment, I will provide details for your chosen method of payment.What is your refund policy?
In general, my policy is that I want you to be happy with your purchase. For "in stock" items that are purchased from the website, I will gladly accept returns and provide refunds, as long as the pottery is returned in resalable condition within 30 days of purchase. For custom orders, I will accept returns if the items are in my usual line of work and can be sold to other customers. Again, the return must be within 30 days, and I must receive the items in like-new condition. For those items that are made to your specifications, personalized, or otherwise not appropriate for sale to others, no refunds will be made.Contact Information for potter Chris Schafale