For our next “Local Maker Spotlight” we would like to introduce you to…

Cathey Chet of Muddy Llama Pottery

• How long have you lived in WNC?

My family and I moved here from California nearly 20 years ago. We loved California, but wanted to be closer to our families in the east. We had always heard about Asheville being the “Berkeley in the East” and quickly fell in love with it and the surrounding WNC area, deciding to make this our permanent home.

• What made you start your business?

I’ve been an Elementary School teacher most of my life, but always needed a creative outlet. Over the years I have taken evening classes in pottery and sculpture when time would allow me while raising my kids. As my kids got older and more independent, I began to take it a little more seriously and bought a wheel and kiln of my own. It wasn’t long before my three children approached college age, and I found myself looking for ways to bring in extra income to cover costs. Pottery seemed to be the logical choice, as has proven to be a good decision!

Since then my husband, Randy, has also started to get involved. He tests and mixes the glazes and does more of the creative hand built pieces, including the ” Tree of Life” designs and the Salamander and Frog mugs that we offer.

• What is something about your business that most people don’t know?

The most common questions I get about my business is about the ​name, “Muddy Llama”, and about my llamas themselves. ​

We have two llamas, Eclipse and Moonshadow. As a kid, I always wanted to live on a farm, but as an adult realized how much work a real farm is. I decided to make it simple, get creatures that were somehow different, and very easy to care for. Llamas were my answer. They really don’t serve any purpose other than fertilizing my garden and making me smile when they come running up to me when I go out to see them. Occasional walks off the property are also fun. Yes, they do spit, but only at each other, never at me, thankfully.

• When you are not working, what are your favorite things to do in WNC?

Other than being in my studio, I love to be outdoors. I try to run or hike everyday, usually with my dog, Sonoma. When the kids are home we try to find new trails to explore in WNC.  Spending time with family and friends, music festivals and camping are some of my other favorite ways to relax and take a break. Thankfully WNC has much to offer in these areas!

Come on down to the shop to see all of Cathey’s pieces! We have a variety of her glaze colors and offer some unique bakeware, mugs, and more. All of Cathey’s pottery can go in the dishwasher and microwave, making it easier on you to use and enjoy her work.

 About the Artists Series–Chestnut Forge and Furniture

Locally Designed and Crafted

We are lucky enough at Mountain Merch to not only carry an incredible selection of Asheville themed apparel but we also have an incredible selection of talented artisans and craftsman that round out our shop with their locally made goods and gifts. We are very proud of the talented individuals and companies that have chosen to partner with us locally and we wanted to be sure and share a bit about their stories with you.

We were introduced to Craig of Chestnut Forge and Furniture from our dear friends Joe and Lisa (McDinan) of Sanctuary Brewing Company, he was commissioned by them to create their tables, concrete bar top and other great fixtures that have a blend of hand forged steel and wood. Joe and Lisa have been dear friends of ours and we happened to independently choose to open our businesses at just about the same time, so we have been able to learn and share a good bit with one another. They are committed to craft brews and rescues and have a great space, great beer (coming soon), music and community events that are focused on positivity and giving back in the areas of animal rescue and responsible living. Back to Craig.

Craig is a retired Firefighter from South Florida who moved to Western North Carolina with his wife, Debbi 3 years ago. They built their farm and forge shop on a beautiful piece of property in Rutherfordton. Craig is a mentor, he has shadowed a few young folks who worked hard at crafting their skills, attending classes at Isothermal Technical and are continuing to grow in their skill level. Craig is somewhat of a savant in his own right. When we met him and were asking him to build us a few signs and a table that would hold some of our locally themed tee shirts, and locally made goods and a rack to hang NCline t-shirts, hoodies and apparel on we gave him quite a bit of creative freedom, as we just weren’t sure how to make it look great and be pieces of utility.

For this piece we said, we want sort of a tiered picnic table – check out the detail – and the A for Asheville!

Asheville “A” Frame Shelf

Since the fixtures our discussions with Craig have continued to be as fluid as the steel being melted and formed. We love working with him because he and his team brainstorm with us on what we think locals and visitors to Asheville might like to take home with them. So far, he has made bottle openers in the state of North Carolina, decorative leaves, candle-holders and coasters.

Locally Designed and Crafted

We have also worked together locally on some custom projects including this nifty collaboration between Ashevillain and Wicked Weed! Working with Craig and his team, the possibilities are endless. Whether you are looking for a piece for in your home, a local gift, something unique for your business, or a reminder of how amazing Asheville is please let us know (just visit our Contact Us page or come see us in person at our store in Biltmore Village!) we would be happy to start the conversation with you.

This past weekend we were gathering sandbags, packing up anything that could get damaged – the art, custom woodwork and leather goods, and putting up all of the t-shirts, sweatshirts and Asheville apparel up above 3 feet. You might be wondering why? Well, we in Biltmore Village, like many other parts of the country, have been effected by the storm Joaquin. Asheville has been getting a ton of rain, coming down in buckets and because of where we are located, where the Swannanoa comes in to the French Broad River there was a threat of flooding which could potentially put Biltmore Village under water.

Flooding, in Asheville… not possible? That is what many thought in 2004 when the Village was flooded with several feet of water, many lost everything. Friends of ours from the Village Wayside, share stories about cars being taken down the street by the water, people coming together to help one another and the shock and devastation. People weren’t prepared at that time because  Biltmore Village hadn’t seen a flood since 1916 and even that was unfathomable. Here is a partial account from Kathleen Lipe Carter (1898-1989) – “Before dawn on the 16th, my sister, Bess, and I found Papa securing some chickens and turkeys on the front porch. Already, sightseers from the village were wading near the house to view the swollen river. With Papa, we joined a group of forestry students and young people heading into the village. To my surprise, as we crossed the train tracks, the water became deeper, the current more swift. Our group held hands, keeping our backs to the current, and struck out across the Village Green, hoping to reach high ground beyond the lodge gate to the Biltmore Estate. By the time we reached Lodge Street, the water was almost over our heads. Torrents from broken dams upriver had changed the course of the Swannanoa. We were caught in the middle of a wide, wild river” Story by MainStreet Online feature writer, Lyn Leslie.

As I watch the news and see the current devastation in our sister city of Charleston, SC my heart aches for each and every person who is under water, without power, without a roof over their head, or a safe place to sleep. I am caught off guard by the pastor shown pulling a casket across a former street turned into a river, “that is someone’s family out there”. I am comforted to see people lending a hand, being human and serving one another in need. It inspired me to help a homeless man who was just drenched, sharing some clean clothes and a rain jacket, I think his smile said it all, but he was just grateful for someone to notice him.

Luckily for us, even though we broke the record for amount of rain in a day at 2.23 inches, beating the old record from 1961 of 1.63 inches flooding didn’t happen; we got a chance to sweep and mop in all of corners!

Be good to one another, be grateful for a warm dry place to lay your head, be brave to offer a lending hand or even just a smile and hello. Be human folks.

Biltmore Village Flood 1916

ALL THE PEOPLE COULD DO AFTER THEY FLED TO SAFETY WAS WATCH THEIR HOMES AND TOWNS WASH AWAY.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE STATE ARCHIVES OF NORTH CAROLINA.