The Pin Tool Podcast | Pottery | Ceramics | Small Business

In this episode, Alford Wayman gives an update on his pottery and the outcomes of his fall shows. He talks about how the economy is affecting sales and also how he used an Artificial intelligence agent as a tool for a product launch. 

Links:

Calm isn't a personality trait you either have or don't. It's a learned response, and you build it by having a system before the crisis hits. These are actual steps I'm taking right now at Creek Road Pottery to build something more resilient.

In this episode, Alford Wayman walks through the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle as a studio practice, not a management seminar concept. PDCA came out of industrial quality control, places where the same failure costs thousands of dollars, wasted time, wasted raw materials, and effort loss.

Links:

Two weeks ago, I talked about the steps I'm taking to build something more resilient at Creek Road Pottery — the garden, the wood kiln, the solar system, the treadle wheel. Today is the field report. The solar equipment is starting to arrive. The garden was planted on Memorial Day, and the plants are growing. Here's what's actually happening on Creek Road right now.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Last episode, I talked about the financial philosophy: know your numbers, price for sustainability, diversify revenue, and eliminate debt. This episode is the follow-up nobody asked for, but I'm doing anyway: the actual steps I'm taking right now at Creek Road Pottery to build something more resilient.

The garden. The wood kiln. The solar plans. The treadle wheel. What I'm doing, why I'm doing it, and what any maker can take from it for their own practice.

Links mentioned in this episode:

In this episode, Alford Wayman talks honestly about financial pressure, debt, and what it actually takes to build a pottery business that is financially stable, not just creatively alive.

The emotional truth first. There's a particular kind of shame that comes with being a maker who is also broke. You chose this. You chose clay over stability. And some days that feels like a mistake. Before we can talk about spreadsheets, we have to talk about that.

Five practical things studio potters can do:

1. Know...

Hard times don't ask permission before they show up. In this episode, I'm talking honestly about what it means to keep making work when life is pressing in from every direction; when the bills are real, the struggles are personal, and the studio feels like the last place you have the energy to be. But it might also be the one place that saves you. I share a few practical tips for staying at the wheel when everything in you wants to walk away. This one is for the makers who are still showing up even when it's hard...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we're discussing direction setting and goals for 2026.

The Pottery Dailies:
https://creekroadpottery.com/the-pottery-dailies/

The Creek Road Pottery LLC Blog:
https://creekroadpottery.com/blog/

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll discuss how to tell your story with your work and reconnect. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will offer suggestions on letting go of what's holding you back.

S4E14: Selling Local – Start With One
In this episode of The Pin Tool Podcast, we talk about what it means to sell local—starting small, starting close, and starting with just one customer, one connection, one sale. I share three approaches that have worked at Creek Road Pottery: joining or starting a local art trail with other businesses, doing custom work by choosing the right people to make for, and setting up shop like a yard sale—on your own terms, right where you are.

It’s not always about scaling up. Sometimes the strongest foundati...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll discuss when and how to ask for help. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will offer suggestions on letting go of what's holding you back.

The Artist's...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we delve into the craft, philosophy, and business of creating pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, is a post from a live feed from my substack, The Pottery Dailies

The Pottery Dailies:
https://creekroadpottery.com/the-pottery-dailies/

The Creek Road Pottery LLC Blog:
https://creekroadpottery.com/blog/

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll discuss letting go of what's holding you back. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will offer suggestions on letting go of what's holding you back.

The Artist's...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll discuss building community with my AI bot, Project Planner Amelia. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will give you suggestions on taking creative risks and why building commu...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll talk with my A.I. bot, Project Planner, Amelia, about Taking Inventory. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will give you suggestions on taking creative risks and why risk i...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we're discussing being overwhelmed. I don’t have it all figured out. Most days, I’m just like you, swimming through resistance, elbowing my way through the chaos, and trying to remember why I started making pots in the first place. Overwhelm doesn’t mean you’re broken. It just means you care. The hard part is deciding what to care about first.

Seth Godin Books mentioned:

The P...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll talk with my A.I. bot Project Planner, Amelia, about taking creative Risks. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will give you suggestions on taking creative risks and why...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today, we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll talk with my A.I. bot Project Planner, Amelia, about how to overcome creative blocks by believing your purpose and finding your identity. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this...

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. This episode explores the challenges of reduction firings, show prep, and how the Creek Road Pottery Spring Show 2025 went.

Website:

https://creekroadpottery.com

The Pottery Dailies:
https://creekroadpottery.com/the-pottery-dailies/

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today; we’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner. We’ll talk with my A.I. bot Project Planner, Amelia, about how to overcome creative blocks by admitting our weaknesses. Whether you’re at the wheel, in the studio, or just reflecting on your creative journey, this episode will give you prac...

Welcome back to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we dive deep into the craft, philosophy, and business of making pottery that matters. I’m your host, Alford Wayman, and today; we’re exploring a powerful framework that blends creative recovery, mental resilience, and business strategy. If you've ever felt stuck in your art—whether creatively, emotionally, or even in the way you run your business—this episode is for you.

We’re bringing together the wisdom of the 12 Steps and The Artist’s Way —applying them directly to the life of an artist, a maker, and a business owner...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, I discuss with my virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot, the topic of  "Peopleing".  Understanding people can play an essential role in creating work that matters. Connecting with others through generosity, empathy, and gratitude can be a way forward. It’s not about maximizing revenue but about creating meaningful work for a select audience that truly cares. Small hometown shows remind me why I started making pottery in the first place, and...

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where creativity meets organization. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, I have a discussion with my virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot, on the tools that help us stay productive—planners and Google Calendar.  Whether you’re managing a pottery studio, balancing creative projects, or just trying to keep your life on track, having the right systems in place makes all the difference. Join me as we explore how these tools can help you plan your days, set priorities, and stay focused on what matters...

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. This episode explores the challenges of organizing a Holiday Trail with other small businesses and how the Creek Road Pottery Christmas show went.

Website:

https://creekroadpottery.com

The Pottery Dailies:
https://creekroadpottery.com/the-pottery-dailies/

The Back Road Christmas Trail
https://www.facebook.com/thebackroadchristmastrail

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, we explore the challenges of staying focused amid distractions, the importance of taking responsibility for both successes and failures, and the need for empathy and collaboration, especially in shared creative and political spaces. Whether in the pottery studio or in the larger community, it’s crucial to learn from mistakes, take ownership, and work together toward positive change.

Website:

https://creekroadpottery.com

The Pottery Dailies:
...

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. Today, we talk about my Fall show 2024, what went right, and what I may need to work on. I then read one of my posts on the Pottery Dailies.

Generosity and Pricing: No One Owes You Anything
https://thepotterydailies.substack.com/p/generosity-and-pricing

Website:

https://creekroadpottery.com

The Pottery Dailies:
https://creekroadpottery.com/the-pottery-dailies/

The Creek Road Pottery LLC Carbon Tr...

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. Today, we talk about a quiet moment of connection at a rainy Sunday market, capturing the value of showing up, even when the weather and conditions aren’t ideal. Through a chance encounter with a single customer, meaningful exchanges are often worth more than any sale, and the impact of our creative work can ripple beyond the moment.

https://thepotterydailies.substack.com/p/why-showing-up-matters

Website:

Welcome to "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art and life intersect. I’m your host, Alford Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC. Today, I’m sharing a personal reflection on life, art, and the lessons learned from my father. We’ll dive into moments of creativity, connection, and the challenges of balancing life’s difficult decisions. As you listen, think about the values and principles guiding you in tough times. How do you navigate struggles, whether in life or in your craft?

The Pottery Dailies: Living Stories
https://thepotterydailies.substack.com/p/living-stories

Website...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Alford  Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, I have a discussion with my virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot, as we explore Life & Art Balance. At times, we might need to consider, or make hard decisions we might not enjoy. What type of core values and guiding principles do you have to help you make hard decisions? Have you met any type of suffering while working to achieve your goals in life or with the pots? 

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. Today, we're diving into the topic of using screenplay structure as a project management and promotion tool.

In the book Save The Cat by Blake Snyder, there is a great outline that Blake calls a "Beat Sheet".

In this episode, we look at the Blake Snyder "Save The Cat" story structure for screen writing and apply it to our projects in...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. Today, we're diving into concepts & themes. Each project should have a beginning, middle and end. At each project start one should ask "Who's it for?",  "What's it for?", "What change are you trying to make?", and "What story are you trying to tell?" The episode ends with my virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot, reading an entry from the pottery dailies. "The Pots You N...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. Today, we're diving into the concept of enjoying the journey. Maybe we need to enjoy the journey and not rush and stress about getting to the destination.

Sign up for my The Pottery Dailies on substack! 

The Creek Road Pottery: My Pottery Journal

"The Practice: Shipping Creative Work." by Seth Godin

Hero on a Mission: Th...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC. In this episode, I have a discussion with my virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot. We explore how Cost Structures are crucial for crafting a successful business model in the creative industry. 

Today, we're diving into Cost Structures, as outlined in the book "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers." Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, learning to compose the right Cost Structures can transform y...

Welcome to The Pin Tool Podcast, where we shape, mold, and explore the art of pottery and the journeys of creative minds. I'm your host, Al Wayman of Creek Road Pottery LLC, and today we're diving into a topic that many of us face but seldom talk about—imposter syndrome.

Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, the feeling of not being 'good enough' can be a significant hurdle. In this episode, we'll uncover what imposter syndrome is, why it happens, and, most importantly, how to overcome it. 

So, if you've ever doubted you...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. In this episode, Alford has a discussion with his virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot. They explore how Key Partnerships are crucial for crafting a successful business model in the creative industry. 

Today, we're diving into Key Partnerships, as outlined in the book "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers." Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting o...

Once we make the changes, we may thank our past selves for dying a death on Memorial Day, as we are so much better off on the new path we chose to take. So run, Alcestis, from that fiery pit.

THE POTTERY DAILIES

https://substack.com/home/post/p-145025893

Written By,

Alford Wayman

Artist/Owner

Creek Road Pottery LLC

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. In this episode, Alford has a discussion with his virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot. They explore how understanding your Key Activities is crucial for crafting a successful business model in the creative industry. 

Today, we're diving into Key Activities, as outlined in the book "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers." Whether you're a seasoned artist or j...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. In this episode, Alford has a discussion with his virtual assistant, Amelia, an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot. They explore how understanding your Key Resources is crucial for crafting a successful business model in the creative industry. 

Today, we're diving into Key Resources, as outlined in the book "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers." Whether you're a seasoned artist or j...

It was a privilege to be there firing with the team at the Bill Moon kiln of Imagine Peace Pottery and learning the more advanced and planned firing techniques rather than simply having the goal of making temperature. Having a plan means thinking about how to influence the pots by even the type of wood or materials burned.

In this firing, raku low-fire pots were made by placing them in the rear of the kiln near the chimney. At the correct temperature, a built-in back door was opened, and pots were pulled out hot and reduced in...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. Today, we're diving into Customer Relationships, as outlined in the book "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers." This episode will explore how understanding your Customer Relationships is crucial for crafting a successful business model in the creative industry. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, learning to compose the right mix of customer relationships can transform your art...

Welcome to the latest episode of "The Pin Tool Podcast," where art meets entrepreneurship. I'm your host, Al Wayman, from Creek Road Pottery LLC, guiding you through the multifaceted world of pottery and business. Today, we're diving into the idea of pottery as a vocation, as discussed in the video "Elizabeth Gilbert on Distinguishing Between Hobbies, Jobs, Careers, & Vocation | Acumen Academy"

This episode will explore how understanding the four terms hobby, job, careers, and vocation is crucial for how you see yourself and your pottery while working a full-time job or having a career. Whether you're a...