Pres Posted February 27, 2022 Report Share Posted February 27, 2022 Last Summer, I took a trip to Pittsburgh to buy some materials that I hadn't purchased in a long time. I happened to pull out the receipt today when working on taxes. Added up the mileage, and the lunch for my wife and myself. . got me thinking. How far do some folks have to drive to get to a ceramics supply store. I sometimes think I am lucky to have Standard Ceramics at least 2 hrs away from me, otherwise I would be looking in there at least once a month. QotW: How far do you have to drive to get to a ceramics supply store? best, Pres Hulk, Roberta12, Min and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted February 27, 2022 Report Share Posted February 27, 2022 Local place is about 30 minute drive, it's the only one in the area. Before the land border shut down I would pick up most of the expensive materials either from a shipping drop site just across the border or I would drive the 2 1/2hrs to Seattle and buy materials there. 1 hour ago, Pres said: I sometimes think I am lucky to have Standard Ceramics at least 2 hrs away from me, otherwise I would be looking in there at least once a month. I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes it seems unfair that there is an automotive or hardware store on every corner and yet ceramic supply places are far and few between, but maybe thats a good thing after all! I remember my dad always saying a boat was a hole in the water you throw money into, sometimes it seems a kiln is a fire into which you throw money. Rae Reich, Hulk and Roberta12 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam2015 Posted February 27, 2022 Report Share Posted February 27, 2022 Interesting question Pres. I drive about 50 minutes to get to Portland Pottery's Braintree, MA store. I am grateful to have a place nearby. They sell Laguna and Standard clays. I can easily pick up clay and materials. One day I am going to take the 3 hour trip to Sheffield Pottery, Sheffield, MA. And I am about 3.5-4 hours from Bailey Pottery. Betty Rae Reich and Hulk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 @Bam2015, I have been to Bailey's a couple of times, mostly during camping trips when I could get the wife and kids to agree to a stop. I usually had a car full of camping gear so would only pick up a few hand tools or brushes, maybe an underglaze or two. Still nice to visit. In all of the trips to New England, never stopped at Sheffield Pottery. best, Pres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Nearest one to me is about 20 minutes, but that assumes you aren’t going through the industrial area when they’re backing and loading cars in the train yard. This causes many a long traffic line because of the one lousy intersection. But if I go to the supplier, it’s usually a good 4 hour errand, because the place I get shipping supplies and the place I get my bags and tissue are also on the way. Plus you have to allow for the gossip time while you’re there, the Tim Horton’s run, etc etc. Roberta12, Pres, Rae Reich and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 @Callie Beller DieselSounds like a trip to the supplier is time for all sorts of get togethers. Hope you have time to get to the pot shop!!! best, Pres Callie Beller Diesel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KachemakKaren Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Seventy five miles is the closest, in Seattle, but requires taking a ferry so it's about 2.5 hrs travel one way. The second closest shop is in Tacoma, one hundred miles away, but just under two hours drive, so that's where we shop. I coordinate with a potter neighbor to make supply runs. Pres, Rae Reich and Hulk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) I have a supplier about 10 minutes away. that said there was no supplier within a 8 hour drive most of my 50 year career . So I had to be my own supplier and thats almost still true today. I do buy a few items locally when I'm in need between my usual truck orders.Its a small shop with no equipment for sale usually Edited February 28, 2022 by Mark C. Rae Reich, Pres and Hulk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 It's a rather long run to Los Angeles basin, Bay Area, or Sacramento - allow four or more hours one way. So far, have stopped in whilst on the way to somewhere else, or on the way home from somewhere else... Roberta12, Rae Reich and Pres 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 About 40 minutes. It's an easy drive, never any bad traffic since it's all interstate highways in the 'burbs. I don't mind going there because near it is a Japanese market that has really good carry-out sushi. I always time my trip so I can get lunch there. Rae Reich, Hulk and Pres 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberta12 Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 200 miles, 4 hours one way to Denver. A couple of mountain passes, but we have friends and family in Denver so it's always fun to make a trip out of it. Restaurants, museums, shows. You make it count. And all my friends and family know where the clay shop is, so I can pay for it over the phone and they will stop to pick things up for me. It works. Mark C., Hulk, Pres and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 right now, mapquest says i can get to highwater in clearwater, fl in 14 minutes and it's recommended route is 5.2 miles. maps do not show that most of that is through heavy garbage truck traffic to the landfill and all the many trucks servicing the industrial areas. i choose to drive 5.3 miles on normal highways. at home in wv, it is about 65 miles to baltimore or 65 miles to alexandria va. i love going to baltimore and visit lots of places while i am there. Rae Reich, Pres and Hulk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted March 1, 2022 Report Share Posted March 1, 2022 I am lucky, I have a supplier that is about a 20 minute drive. The next closest supplier is in Kansas City which 175 miles from my house. I needed a bag of Flinthill Clay to complete a project, my supplier didn't carry it anymore so I had to order it from Kansas City. They had bought the Flinthill Clay Co., I paid 25$ for one 25lb bag of clay and 25$ freight on it. My local ceramic shop doesn't have much clay in stock right now. I hope what I have in my shop will last me until they get more clay in. Denice Rae Reich, Pres and Hulk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted March 1, 2022 Report Share Posted March 1, 2022 15 minutes to Alpha Fired Arts in Sacramento which has most of what I need in stock. They are slowly rebuilding their stock after Covid slowdowns... Pres, Hulk and Rae Reich 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 I have to drive to Maine or Massachusetts (I'm in New Hampshire), so I mostly don't. I usually use Sheffield or other inline sources. Hulk, Rae Reich and Pres 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted March 3, 2022 Report Share Posted March 3, 2022 About an hour drive to nearest, or 5 hours to Stoke-on-Trent (aka "The Potteries") with a number of suppliers. Pottery association has cheaper clay, but is about 75 minutes drive, or I wait until Summer Potter's Camp and collect it there. Hulk, Rae Reich and Pres 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted March 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2022 Heading to London this Spring, thought to go to Stoke-on-Trent til I saw the map. . . . little far! best, Pres Roberta12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 4, 2022 Report Share Posted March 4, 2022 Pres in the long run its just a short trip really-You got to go-take a bus or train or maybe a plane but its the heart of Ceramics on that Island. Roberta12 and Pres 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 4, 2022 Report Share Posted March 4, 2022 @High Bridge Pottery, isn’t Stoke-on-Trent where you are working? High Bridge Pottery and Roberta12 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted March 4, 2022 Report Share Posted March 4, 2022 Yes I have been living and working in Stoke-on-Trent for about three years now. Lots of supplies on my doorstep Roberta12 and Min 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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