Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Plaster.
Ruth, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Newton. I attended Mass Art during the 1980’s and graduated with a BFA in graphic design. At that time the field was changing to a computer-based application. I loved designing, but my favorite part of the process had been the hands-on manipulation of materials to create a design. I loved mastering the materials more than I loved designing.
The new methods of design weren’t a good fit for me. I took some time off and worked in the food industry job while I figured out my next move. In addition to my BFA, I earned my teaching certification from Mass Art. I had been becoming more interested in clay, and for my student teaching assignments, I requested to be assigned to and was fortunate to be placed, with two amazing mentors, who specialized in clay. I became an art teacher in the Newton public schools in the early 1990s.
By the mid-1990s, my husband and I had moved away from the city to Marshfield MA, to start a family. After the birth of my first child, I worked as a stay at home mom for a few years until my daughters were school aged. I opened Mud Artz Clay Studio in a storefront location in Marshfield Center in June of 2003. I loved every minute of working and teaching at mud Artz. I taught clay classes and workshops, hosted birthday parties and girls nights and I was also able to sculpt, create and make some money too.
I learned so much and grew excited to pursue my creative endeavors. By the time we moved to Newton, I was ready for a new gig. Which has turned out to be Mud Hedz. I have been a working and teaching, clay artist for more than 20 years. Thus, utilizing my skill and growing in a production direction wasn’t a stretch; with the exception of making the plaster cast production molds which are needed to duplicate my pieces. I had only experienced plaster mold making during the 80’s in one class when I was an undergraduate at Mass Art.
Although I was rusty, that course experience gave me a foundation to build on. With help from YouTube, Pinterest and a lot of trial and error, I was able to fill the gaps in my knowledge and hone my mold making skills. I’m still not a great mold maker, but over time, I have been able to troubleshoot and come up with workable molds. I was also fortunate that the infrastructure for Mud Hedz, was already in place, for me.
From the remnants of my former clay, teaching business, I had already set up a small, stocked, studio, in our converted garage. Between a good workspace, lots of ideas and a strong foundation in clay, I had the beginnings of a viable business. I took about six months to steadily work and come up with a basic reproducible line and inventory.
In August of 2016, I launched my Etsy store and premiered my pipes at a flea market Provincetown, during Carnival Week. Mud Hedz has been steadily growing ever since.
Has it been a smooth road?
So far I’ve been able to rely mostly on myself with some help from family members. However, Mud Hedz is starting to take off into an area out of my expertise. During the start-up phase, my jobs have included: designing, sculpting, mold making, production, firing, glazing, marketing, social media, running my Etsy store and shipping as well as, vending at craft fairs and flea markets. It has been exhilarating and exhausting.
Now, I am starting to learn how to grow a business. For me, this is completely new territory and a bit scary. I am anticipating that I will eventually need a talented team, a larger workspace and lots of advice. Fortunately, I have helpful siblings with expertise in the areas that I will need to learn and the tenacity to work through obstacles.
Currently, I am taking on a couple of interns who will help me meet holiday demands. I plan to increase handmade production and expand my wholesale line in 2019.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Through my company, Mud Hedz I am a purveyor of really cool, handmade, ceramic, smoking pipes. I cast my pipes in earthenware clay slip, which is poured into plaster molds. The molds are cast from an original piece which is a hand sculpted design, an actual objects or a combination of the two.
For example, my rocket and planchette pipes are cast from entirely sculpted pieces, my avocado and pepper pipes are cast from real vegetables and my wave riding baby, is cast from a piece that is a combination of a hand sculpt fit with manufactured doll parts. I pride myself in creating very well made, cool looking, durable and great working pipes.
All of my pipes are made with a rounded ridge in the bowl, to hold a screen in place. They are also glass glazed inside and out so they can be cleaned just like a glass pipe. I think that they’re quirky, fun, gorgeous and unique and I thoroughly enjoy making them.
When I first began marketing my pipes. I found myself surprisingly, tasked with introducing clay as an excellent medium for pipes. Many folks don’t know how awesome clay pipes are. I realized that its kind of a vintage concept. Despite their popularity in the 1960’s and 1970’s, clay pipes are new again.
It has been a challenge to introduce my pieces to a market where glass pipes have been the norm. I have had to do a lot of educating regarding the merits of clay pipes. My catchphrase is that “Mud Hedz pipes are cool.” they are cool looking, with designs that can only be captured in clay. They provide a cooled smoke, and they are cool to the touch.
Only clay pipes have these combined, qualities. Clay can be formed into almost any desired form and be glazed to perfection, with beautiful colors and tactile finishes. Fired, clay, especially earthenware clay, is porous and does not easily conduct heat. The glass, glaze coated, porous walls of the pipe, are sealed from contaminants and act as a barrier to heat.
The hollow body of the pipe allows space for the smoke to cool before it is inhaled. The result is a beautiful pipe that is a pleasure to use. It is great to see, that through the pioneering efforts of a handful of clay pipe artists, myself and by word of mouth from satisfied buyers, clay pipes are are gaining in popularity and in many cases becoming a preference for many.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I started Mud Hedz before the legalization of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts.
At that time there was already an established online market for pipe sales and legal pipes sales were already happening in progressive shops and boutiques throughout Massachusetts.
Now that we have legalization, I feel less judged about making pipes. More recently, when I’ve told people about Mud Hedz, I get a lot less of the raised eyebrow and instead I’m often, even complimented, for having a savvy business idea. It’s funny how quickly attitudes are changing.
Legalization and the growing industry in Massachusetts have also created a sense of urgency for me to grow my wholesale division. I have accounts in Ritual Arts in Allston, 4 Good Vibes in Somerville and at ARTichokes in Eastham but I’d love to be able to expand to other areas in Massachusetts and other legal states. I plan to reach this goal by the end of next year.
Contact Info:
- Website: etsy.com/shop/MudHedz
- Email: mudartzhedz@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mudhedz
- Facebook: @Mud-Hedz
Image Credit:
Camilla Plaster
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