Every single piece we make is shaped by hand, which means no two will ever be exactly the same. We think that's the beauty of it! We spend a lot of time developing our own specialty glaze techniques and color combinations, so each pot, mug, or bowl has its own personality.
Our pottery is colorful, fun, and completely functional. Everything is lead free and food-safe, so you can use it every single day. We like to think of each piece as a one-of-a-kind collectable that also happens to be your new favorite coffee mug.
We're a mother-daughter team producing our work in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We have always been close, but pottery has enforced our bond while letting us spend fun time creating together.
Kanga & Roo Pottery is named after the kangaroo characters: a mother and child “Kanga” and “Roo” from the book Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne.
Absolutely! We designed our pottery to be used and loved every day. Every piece is fired to over 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes the clay incredibly strong and durable.
All of our work is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, oven safe, food safe, and completely lead free. We want you to actually use your pottery, not just look at it on a shelf (though it does look pretty great there, too!).
Yes, you sure can! Our pottery is oven safe and works wonderfully for baking and serving warm dishes straight to the table.
Just one tip: to avoid thermal shock, place your piece in the oven before turning it on and let them heat up together gradually. And when you take it out, always use a hot pad and set it on a trivet or towel rather than a cold countertop. A little patience goes a long way in keeping your pottery happy for years to come.
We kept things simple on purpose. Our pottery is dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a breeze. You can also hand wash with regular dish soap if you prefer.
The main thing to keep in mind is to avoid sudden temperature changes. For example, don't take a piece straight from the freezer and put it into a hot oven, or pour ice water into a dish that just came out of the microwave. Gentle transitions will keep your pottery looking and working beautifully for a long, long time.
Because every piece is handmade and our glazes have a mind of their own (in the best way), colors, patterns, and small details may vary slightly from what you see in photos. No two pieces are exactly the same, and that's part of what makes handmade pottery so special.
Think of each piece as a one-of-a-kind collectable. The piece you receive will carry the same spirit, color family, and style, but with its own unique character. We think the little surprises are the best part.
We're based right here in Minneapolis, and we love getting to meet people face to face at local shows and events. There's nothing like watching someone pick up a piece and find the one that speaks to them.
Keep an eye on our contact/events page for announcements about upcoming markets, art fairs, and pop-up events. We're always adding new shows to the calendar, and we'd love to see you there!
We ship anywhere in the United States. We have access to discounted shipping. You pay what we do. There are no additional handling or packing charges.
Yes, we do! People send us photos and we make things like yarn bowls that resemble favorite pets (goat, pig, dog, cat). We make pieces for weddings or special gifts that have the couple’s names and/or special date on the piece. We have done other fun specialty items. Just ask and we’ll let you know if it's possible. For custom pieces we require prepayment.
Contact us with other questions you may have. And please remember that custom pieces take between 4-7 weeks to complete, so plan ahead!
The process is more involved than many realize. As an example, here is the lifeline of a mug.
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Cut and weigh the clay.
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Wedge the clay to get it ready for the wheel.
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Throw (form) the piece on the potter’s wheel to the desired shape and size.
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Allow to partially dry to “leather hard”.
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Put the piece back on the wheel and trim it to fine tune the shape and reduce the final weight. Carve a “foot” into the bottom and add “makers mark”.
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With additional clay, create a handle.
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Attached the handle with a wet clay slurry called “slip”.
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Allow the mug to dry completely. At this point, the mug is considered “greenware”.
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Put the mug in the kiln for the first firing called the bisque fire. This first firing is at a temperature between 1650-1940°F. It takes 8-12 hours for firing plus 12-24 hours to cool down. Total cycle time, including loading and unloading, often spans 1.5 to 2 days. Bisque firing transforms the fragile greenware into hardened, durable and porous pottery known as bisqueware.
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Sand the piece if needed and wipe with a wet sponge.
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Apply wax to the base of the mug to prevent glaze from gathering there.
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Apply glaze. Pieces may have from 1 to 10 different glazes.
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Place in the kiln for a second firing in the range of 2200-2300°F. It takes 8-12 hours for firing plus 12-24 hours to cool down. Total cycle time, including loading and unloading, often spans 1.5 to 2 days. At this temperature, the glaze melts and flows as a glass compound and adheres to the ceramic surface. Pottery is considered fully vitrified at this point meaning it is non-pourous, strong and water-tight making it functional for every day use.
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Take your mug out of the kiln and enjoy!
How long does it take to make a mug from start to finish….A LONG TIME!
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We believe pottery should enhance your everyday life whether it’s that morning cup of coffee, a quiet bowl of soup on a rainy evening or a platter passed around a table full of friends. Those ordinary moments deserve something beautiful to hold them.
That's why everything we make is colorful, fun, and built to be used. We want our pottery to bring a little extra warmth and joy to your daily routine, turning the simple things into something that feels a bit more special.
