Custom & Commissioned Work
The pieces I'm proudest of were never listed in the shop.
They all began the same way — with someone who couldn't find exactly what they were looking for. Sometimes it was a kitchen. Sometimes a ceiling height. Sometimes simply a feeling that nothing they'd found was quite right.
From a single heirloom vase to an entire restaurant collection, every handmade ceramic commission begins with a conversation.
A custom vessel, made to the scale of the room it lives in
It begins with a room, and a feeling
In the shop, you're choosing something I already know how to make. A commission begins somewhere quieter — with a space you keep looking at, a feeling you can't quite name, and the sense that nothing you've seen is right.
We discover it together. You'll be speaking with the person who will actually make it, from the first sketch to the moment it's wrapped — and it will take the time that clay takes.
That slowness isn't a delay. It's the reason the piece will still feel considered in twenty years.
Meli · Cary, North Carolina
Why commission, rather than buy ready-made
Sometimes the right piece already exists. And sometimes it simply doesn't.
A commission lets us adjust scale, proportion, finish, color and purpose until the piece feels as though it was always meant to live there — whether that's custom pottery for a kitchen, bespoke ceramics for a table, or architectural ceramics for a room that has never quite worked.
It isn't about having something expensive. It's about finally finding something that feels right.
Perhaps you're looking for…
No two commissions have ever been the same — and that is the whole point of it.
- Canisters that fit your shelves exactly
- Custom ceramic lighting, made for your ceiling height
- Dinnerware designed for your family's table
- Ceramic wall art & installations
- Custom ceramic vessels, scaled to a room that needs one
- A collection for a restaurant or hotel
- Matching pieces for a bathroom or entryway
- Bells sized for a particular porch or garden
- A coffee station, or a bar
- Garden pottery & planters
- Corporate gifts, or gifts for clients
- A wedding installation
- Pet bowls, made to match the kitchen
- A memorial keepsake, meant to be kept
- A piece you already own, made larger — or again
- Something you've imagined but can't quite find
Who I create for
Homeowners, interior designers, architects, restaurants, hotels and builders all commission this work. You needn't be a collector, or an expert, or certain of anything yet — only curious.
How it unfolds
01
Tell me about your space
A photograph, a paint color, a rough sketch — or simply the gap you keep looking at. No cost in asking, and no question too small.
02
I'll be honest with you
What clay can do, what it can't, and which finish will behave in your light. If I'm not the right maker for it, I'll tell you plainly.
03
We refine it together
Sketches, measurements, adjustments. You'll never be left wondering what happens next — I'll guide you through each step, from the first drawing to the day your piece arrives.
04
A clear proposal, first
Dimensions, finish, timing and price, agreed in writing before anything is built. No surprises, and no obligation to go forward.
05
Then, slowly, it's made
Built by hand, dried for weeks, fired twice, signed, and packed with full replacement insurance.
The investment
Every commission is quoted individually, based on its size, complexity and materials.
Most one-of-a-kind commissions begin around $600, while custom ceramic lighting, restaurant collections and architectural work often range from $1,500 to $5,000 and beyond. You'll receive a detailed proposal before any work begins, so you'll always know exactly what to expect.
Every commission can be created in one of my eighteen timeless finishes — or we can talk about developing something suited uniquely to your project. Lead times for made-to-order ceramics are typically 6–10 weeks, longer for lighting and large installations, because clay must dry slowly before it can be fired.
Questions people ask
Can I commission just one piece?
Of course. Some of my favorite commissions have been a single vessel, one mug with a name pressed into it, or a replacement for something loved and broken. There is no minimum.
Can you work from Pinterest or inspiration photos?
Yes — and please do send them. A Pinterest board, a photograph of your room, a page torn from a magazine: all of it helps me understand what you're drawn to. I'll work from your inspiration rather than copy another maker's piece, so what we make will be genuinely yours.
Can you resize or adapt one of your existing designs?
Yes — this is one of the most common requests. Canisters made taller for a particular shelf, a pendant shortened for a lower ceiling, a vessel scaled up for a larger room. If you've seen something in the shop and it's almost right, tell me what would make it right.
Can you make something larger than anything shown?
Almost certainly. The largest commission I've made was a hanging chain installation running to thirty-three feet. Scale is rarely the obstacle — tell me what you have in mind and I'll tell you honestly whether clay will do it.
How is a commission priced?
Individually, based on size, complexity and materials. Some commissions are thoughtful adaptations of pieces I already make; others are entirely new. Once I understand your project, you'll receive a detailed proposal before any work begins, with no obligation to go forward.
How long does a commission take?
Typically 6–10 weeks, and longer for lighting and large installations. Clay must dry slowly before it can be fired — that part simply cannot be hurried, and it is the reason the piece will last.
Can you match a specific color?
I work in eighteen finishes, developed over years for calm, neutral homes. Send me a photograph of your space and I'll tell you honestly which comes closest. Finish sample sets are also available, so you can hold the real thing in your own light before you decide.
Do you work with interior designers and the trade?
Warmly and often. Designers, stylists and studios are welcome, and trade pricing is available — simply mention it when you write, or read more about the trade program.
Do you take on restaurant or commercial projects?
Yes. Lighting, tableware and collections for hospitality spaces are some of the most rewarding work I do. Tell me the scale and the timeline, and I'll be straightforward with you about what's achievable.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes — worldwide. International shipping is calculated by destination and weight, and international buyers are responsible for any customs duties on arrival. Every piece is fully insured for replacement in transit.
What if I have a deadline?
Tell me at the very start — a renovation completion, a wedding, an opening date. I'll tell you honestly whether it's achievable. I would far rather turn down work than miss a date that matters to you.
Can a commission be returned?
Because a commissioned piece is made for you alone, it can't be returned or exchanged — which is precisely why nothing is built until you've approved the proposal in writing. If a piece is damaged in transit, it is fully insured and I'll remake it.
Prefer email? Write to me at hello@muddyheart.com
4.92 ★ · 2,567 reviews · Handmade in Cary, North Carolina
— Meli · Muddy Heart Studio