E.M. Ledford

08/31/2026

It is almost time for a new session of my favorite class: Thursday Open Studio!

This is eight weeks of clay time with a small, supportive group that loves to share ideas, troubleshoot, and offer honest feedback. Everyone’s working on their own projects, but we’re very much in it together.

Bring your half-finished pieces, your weird ideas, and your questions and we’ll figure it out side by side.

The atmosphere is relaxed and open-house style: drop in when you can and stay as long as you need, whether that’s a quick hour or the full four. We meet Thursdays from 10:00–2:00, with the next session starting September 17th!

https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a60dc472e0b26b893543816/tickets #/productions-view

Here are some of my favorite student projects from this past session:

07/29/2026

Does your yard need a bit of weird whimsy? I have a neat tree face class coming up on August 10th.

Sculpted Tree Faces
for teens/adults
with Erica Ledford
Monday August 10
5-7 p.m.
$55 workshop fee, $15 materials fee
limit of 6 students
Add a unique touch to your yard with these handbuilt tree faces. We will be sculpted and underglazing eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Natural and realistic, or wildly colorful fantasy features: the choice is yours!

https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a174fac71d1fc1060819a75/tickets #/productions-view

I went with a ridiculous cartoony face, but you are welcome to sculpt a more natural Green Man-esque version if that is what you'd like!

07/26/2026

We had an awesome time at the for the Fundraiser event!

Students glazed bisqued pots, brought them to temperature in the outdoor kilns, and then plucked the red hot pots out with tongs and tossed them into combustible materials to create a reduction environment for the glazes.

It’s smokey, firey, and unpredictable but the results are always really beautiful. Some of the pots ended up with interesting textures and beautifully random oil spot effects. I am obsessed with the hot pink flash in the last photo.

Thank you Becca and Tracey for helping put on this event, to the Arts center for hosting it during an already busy day, and of course thank you to those who signed up! I hope we can do another one soon!

07/23/2026

Reserve your spot now at the Earth & Fire Raku Pottery Party on Saturday, July 25 -- first time pottery-glazing students are welcome!
Register at (440) 964-3396 or https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/earth-and-fire-raku-pottery-party
This will be a pottery-glazing party with music, demos, drinks, fire, appetizers, and s’mores. Eat, create, and enjoy our newly refurbished back deck!
for teens/adults
Saturday, July 25, 3-7 p.m.
$105 (includes materials and firing)
Select, glaze, and fire your own pot on-site under the sky in this fun hands-on experience! Raku pots are heated rapidly in small outdoor kilns, then removed while red-hot and placed into containers with combustible materials such as sawdust or leaves, creating unique, unpredictable smoky patterns and colors. Pots are fired to ~1800°F in under an hour, and you’ll take home a vibrant, unique, finished piece.

07/04/2026

Happy 4th, and happy semisesquicentennial!

We are celebrating in Jefferson with live music, historic tours, a parade, and of course fireworks.

If you are in the area and want to say hey, I am set up across from Giddings Park, over by the Historic Depot at the Artisan Market.

07/01/2026

Claytivity Camp has wrapped up, and all of your campers projects are available for pick up at the !
We had a great time handbuilding and carving luminaries, sculpting finials for the tops of them, creating silly tree faces, and glazing cups (microwave/dishwasher safe).
Thank you to everyone who came. Claytivity Camp is one of my favorite weeks of the year

06/19/2026

There are just 3 spots left for claytivity camp starts next week (M-W-F)!

We will be working on a bunch of fun projects: carved luminaries, mini bee waterers, and silly tree faces.

Sign up today!

https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a02290a180bfe1c518ee976/tickets #/productions-view

06/09/2026

Take a look at this cute raffle basket I put together for the Ohio Fairy Garden Festival! It’s filled with some of my favorite handmade pieces, including wish stones, garden worms, an herb stripper & garlic grater, and a whimsical mushroom fairy house.

You can enter to win it while enjoying all the magic and fun at the Ohio Fairy Garden Festival on June 20th from 10 AM–5 PM at Giddings Park.

Last year, Kala from and Julie from invited me to join the team organizing the festival. It has been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening projects I've taken on. I had no idea how much work happens behind the scenes to bring a community event like this to life... it is a LOT!

Thankfully, Sam from came on board as well. Her networking expertise and small business guidance have been invaluable throughout the process. It's been amazing to work alongside such talented people to create a day full of creativity, community, and a little bit of fairy magic.

06/06/2026

Are you looking to give pottery a try?

The Ashtabula Arts Center offers SO many great opportunities to take prices at an incredibly affordable price.

This summer's line up is going to be amazing!

Register now for summery pottery classes! Call (440) 964-3396 or sign up at the links below.

Tuesday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Tracey K***z
6 weeks beginning June 16, 5-7 p.m
class fee $125, materials fee $35
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1725a04fd197106ce3c055/tickets #/productions-view

Wednesday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
6 weeks beginning June 17, 6-8 p.m.
class fee $125, materials fee $35
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1725eee6550c106fc114bb/tickets #/productions-view

Thursday Open Clay Studio
for teens/adults
with Erica Ledford
6 weeks
Session 1 begins June 18
Session 2 begins July 30
10 a.m.- 2p.m.
studio fee $72, materials fee $40 (includes 1 small kiln firing and 25lbs of clay)
limit of 9 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1735ce4fd197106ce44652/tickets #/productions-view
For students who have taken classes and would like extra time to work on their pieces, as well as grow their studio knowledge and techniques. Get full access and support to come and create. Additional materials are available at additional cost.

Saturday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
6 weeks beginning June 20, 10-11:45 a.m.
class fee $115, materials fee $35
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1726b94fd197106ce3cabb/tickets #/productions-view

Raku
for teens/adults
with Rebecca Stowell
4 weeks beginning Aug 1, 1:15-3 p.m.
class fee $54, materials fee $25
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a173fd7e6550c106fc1cee3/tickets #/productions-view

06/02/2026

I made a few of these primitive piggy banks for an upcoming event. They were kind of a hassle to make... but cute enough that it was worth it. 🐷