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Hickory Tree Studios

Walt Schmidt & Betty Westhues
5745 N. Murat Rd.
Bloomington, Indiana 47408
WaltSchmidt
email:walt@hickorytreestudio.com
812-332-9004

In 1978,Walt moved his pottery to the hills of southern Indiana.Since then, it has grown to include a blacksmith shop and a weaving studio for his wife Betty Westhues.The studios are always changing so check out whats new!

Pottery created at the Hickory Tree Studios consist of functional, daily-use stoneware for the home as well as bird feeders and wren houses for the yard,artistic vases, fish for the wall, bathroom sinks and accessories, and even mousetraps!
Forged iron items available from the smithy include squiggle hooks for mugs and baskets, "J" hooks for coats or kitchen, wall brackets for the bird feeders or planters, and commisions considered. From the loom ,one may purchase rag rugs made from recycled cloth in any colors, tapastries,coverlets and table runners as well as table mats.

Cruets with thumb valve on a relish tray
A great wedding gift!

Woven purses. Custom sizes and colors available- all with 2 compartments inside plus a secret pocket!

Canister sets from 4'' to 12''tall. available in four glaze combinations

A tapestry of our dog "Rivits" as a puppy with a grapevine frame.

A funky old rolling sedan. This "piggybank" is a one of a kind studio art piece.

Here Is Walt making large mugs on the wheel. To his right are extruded tubes of clay prepared for the wheel. To his left are thrown extrusions which will get a handle pulled from them when the clay has dried enough to be handled. Many steps are necessary to complete hand made stoneware ceramics. Each must be properly accomplished before the next stage or the final product may suffer. Some times it is not until all steps are completed before errors become obvious. Little wonder pottery is a humbling endeavor.

More stuff to view below!