Some seasons are about building. Others are about slowing down.
When we caught up with Sarah Wolf, founder of Wolf Ceramics, she was on maternity leave with her second daughter—stepping away from the studio and settling into a different rhythm. It’s a rare pause for someone who has spent the past decade growing a hands-on ceramics practice into a small, thoughtful team in Hood River.
We talked about how Wolf Ceramics came to be, what guides her work, and how this season is reshaping the way she thinks about time, creativity, and balance.
Where did you grow up? What were you like as a kid?
"I grew up in Northwest Portland. I was kind of a goofball—not one of the cool kids. I loved art and making things, and I was always climbing something. I think I was known for being the kid who disappeared, and then someone would find me at the very top of a tree."
You didn’t start out in ceramics professionally. How did Wolf Ceramics come to be?
"I loved ceramics in high school, but it never occurred to me it could be a job. I studied geochemistry in college and was also considering architecture. At the same time, I was climbing a lot, working in outdoor education, doing farm work, and working on a building crew—kind of trying everything.
At some point I realized that if I went into architecture, I’d be tied to a desk, working long hours, probably giving up a lot of the things I loved. That didn’t feel right. So I applied to a post-bacc ceramics program at OCAC, mostly to build technical skills and be in a creative environment.
That’s where things started to click. I began developing a style, started sharing work on Instagram, and got my first orders. After that, I dove in full-time right before the holidays—and it grew from there."
What did those early days of building the business look like?
"Pretty scrappy. I was working out of my parents’ basement, which made a huge difference because I didn’t have overhead. I got a $6,000 grant to buy my first kiln and wheel—that was everything.
At first, I was filling orders on my own, but pretty quickly I had more demand than I could keep up with. I started hiring friends from ceramics school to help with bigger orders, and it slowly grew from there."
How do you approach design? How do you know when something is ready?
"Honestly, it’s a feeling. If I pick something up and think, 'This is awesome, I love it,' then it’s probably ready. We’ll usually do small runs first and see how they do. If people respond, we keep going. If not, that’s fine too—we move on. I try not to overthink what people will want and just let that feedback come naturally."
How has climbing shaped who you are—and how does it show up in your work today?
"Climbing has always been a huge part of who I am, even if it’s not as visible in my work. I started in middle school and spent years guiding and teaching, which really shaped how I approach challenges and relationships. These days it looks a little different—more hiking, cross-country skiing, and mellow trips—but I’m excited to share that world with my kids as they get older.
More than anything, climbing taught me that you can do hard things if you just keep taking one step at a time. That mindset applies to everything—building a business, trying something new, figuring things out as you go."
You’re currently on maternity leave—how has motherhood shifted your perspective on work?
"It’s changed things a lot. I used to work really long hours, nights, weekends—whatever it took. I just can’t do that now. But interestingly, my stress feels more even. The boundaries are clearer. When I’m working, I’m working. When I’m home, I’m home. That’s been a really positive shift. Hopefully it stays that way!"
What are you hoping for when you return to the studio?
"I’m really looking forward to having time to make again. So much of my role naturally shifts toward admin and problem-solving, so I’m excited to carve out space to focus on design—to get back to that hands-on, creative part of the work that first drew me in.
I also have a few new glazes in progress that I didn’t quite finish before maternity leave, so I’m excited to return to those and see where they go. It feels like a good moment to reconnect with that side of the process and follow a few ideas through."
What Wolf pieces are you using the most right now?
"The kid bowls and plates! For my kid, but also for me. They’re just a really good size."
Tell us about life in Hood River.
"We live on a half acre just outside of town. It’s close to the mountains, surrounded by rivers—there’s just a lot of access to the outdoors, which has always been important to me. We’ve slowly been building out a little homestead. We have a big garden, fruit trees, two beehives, and seven chickens. Every year I take on more than I can probably handle, but it’s fun."
What are you excited to grow this year?
"Salt and pepper cucumbers—they don’t look like much, but they’re honestly the best cucumbers I’ve ever had. I look forward to them every year.
I’ve also been expanding the garden into a new part of the yard, which has been really fun. I’m planning a little sunflower circle—kind of like a kid garden—and a small pumpkin patch for my toddler. Just trying to create a space that feels a little magical for her to run around in. We’ve also got things like radicchio and Romano beans going, so it’s a mix of practical and playful this year."
