Finding Her Way Back to Clay

Tucked among the trees and flowers of a peaceful homestead in Cashiers is Crowfoot Pottery, a small studio where Sydneye Trudics has turned a longtime passion into a second act.

Sydneye has called Cashiers home for 20 years, describing our Blue Ridge Mountain town as “a hideaway” and “a hiking and waterfall heaven.” Originally from a small seaside town in New Jersey, she first discovered the area through her parents, who kept a summer home in Cashiers. After raising her children and seeing her youngest leave home, Sydneye made the move from New Jersey to North Carolina.

Her path to pottery, however, began decades earlier.

Sydneye first discovered her love of clay while attending college in the 1970s. She took only one pottery class, but it was enough to leave an impression. At the time, changing her major and pursuing pottery professionally wasn't an option, so that passion took a back seat to the other demands and blessings of life.

Years later, after settling into the Plateau area, she found her way back to clay at Cowee Pottery School in Franklin.

“I never knew I was artistic,” Sydneye recalls.

She had always gravitated toward music, but pottery offered something different: the tactile experience of working with her hands. She was particularly drawn to hand-building without a wheel. The first piece she ever made was a flower pot constructed from coils—a technique that begins with a spiral base, with coils of clay added and smoothed until the desired shape and size are achieved.

That first pot became more than an introduction to pottery. It opened her eyes to the possibilities of clay.

She still has it.

Today, the piece sits on her mantle, a tangible reminder of where her journey began and how much her craft has evolved since that first class.

Sydneye has been practicing pottery steadily for five years and has operated Crowfoot Pottery for the past two. During her first year back in pottery, she began teaching at Cowee Pottery School and eventually served on its board. Before opening her own studio, she gradually eased into the professional side of art by teaching in public spaces and selling her work at local markets. This year, visitors may have spotted her among the vendors at the Cashiers Designer Showhouse.

Like many artists, Sydneye initially wrestled with a sense of imposter syndrome. That feeling began to fade as she saw people respond to her work.

Even pieces she considers her personal “least favorite” tend to find homes with people who see something beautiful in them.

Her own studio came to life with a little help from someone who believed in her dream from the beginning: her husband. He built the studio on their homestead as a retirement gift, creating a peaceful space where Sydneye could finally bring pottery to Cashiers.

“He’s a jack of all trades,” she says proudly. “I am the luckiest woman in the world. He feeds every little dream I have!”

That story naturally leads to a larger question: What does it mean to pursue a dream later in life?

For Sydneye, the answer is simple: don't give up on it.

She acknowledges that dreams can fade into the background as life gets busy. They may resurface, disappear again, and wait patiently for the right moment. But retirement, she believes, can offer the opportunity to finally give those dreams room to grow.

“Retirement is an opportunity. Don’t give up on your dream. Hold onto your passion and make it happen!”

For Sydneye, the feel of clay never completely left her. Even while other responsibilities filled her days, that tactile memory remained. Eventually, she found her way back.

Today, she shares that experience with others through classes at Crowfoot Pottery. Her groups are intentionally small, typically with fewer than five participants, creating an intimate environment where everyone receives hands-on guidance. Classes are open to all skill levels and run approximately three and a half hours, with all materials provided.

Current offerings include seasonal projects such as whimsical turkeys, pumpkins, leaf-shaped bowls, and gnomes. Whether participants attend an in-studio class or book a private party, Sydneye guides them through each stage of the process.

Everyone may begin with the same basic project, but the finished pieces are uniquely their own. Students can choose from an assortment of sprig molds and texture rollers, allowing them to add individual patterns, details, and personality to their work.

For Sydneye, teaching is about helping people see beyond the basic techniques.

She says beginners often learn the mechanics of working with clay without necessarily learning to see its possibilities. Her goal is to bridge that gap, to help students understand not only how to make something, but how to envision what it could become.

The result is often a pleasant surprise for students who arrive unsure of their artistic abilities and leave with a finished piece that looks remarkably close to what they imagined.

“At Crowfoot Pottery, I love sharing the joy of working with clay and helping others discover their own creativity,” she writes in her website bio.

These days, Sydneye is especially inspired by the natural world surrounding her. When asked what she most enjoys creating, she answers without hesitation:

“I’m in my flower phase.”

Her current work includes large ceramic wall flowers and tall vases adorned with lush botanical forms. The landscape of Cashiers provides an endless source of inspiration, from its trees and waterfalls to its weathered boulders and changing mountain colors.

It seems fitting that a studio born from a long-held dream would be so deeply connected to the landscape that first drew Sydneye to Cashiers. After decades of putting life’s other priorities first, she has found her way back to the clay she first fell in love with as a college student—and now she gets to share that joy with others.

At Crowfoot Pottery, the journey begins simply: a piece of clay, an idea, and the willingness to see what might come next.

To learn more about Crowfoot Pottery, upcoming classes, and Sydneye’s work, visit crowfoot-pottery.com