Schneider et Fille Pottery Shop

06/18/2025

So, the roof is on, but a couple of unexpected difficulties have arisen that prevent me from being at Minocqua. Current hope is to open July 4 weekend.

05/29/2025

2025 marks FIFTY YEARS since Mom and Dad opened Schneider Pottery on Torpy Lake in Minocqua!

A place that old requires occasional maintenance. This year, that means a new roof on the shop and studio. Thus, I (and you!) can't get into the building right now. Check the Schneider Pottery website the first week of June to see how things are progressing.

05/29/2025

2025 marks 50 years since Mom and Dad opened Schneider Pottery!

Part of a place that old is maintenance of the facilities. One of those, this year, is a new roof on the studio and shop. Thus, I (and you!) can't get into the building right now. Check the Schneider Pottery website the first week of June to see how work is progressing.

07/27/2017

This weekend is the North Woods Art Tour (July 28-30, 2017). 34 artists will have their studios and galleries open, with demos and all sorts of great art. Check the website for a complete list: www.northwoodsarttour.com

Here at Schneider Pottery, there was a kiln-opening today in preparation. Stop in and see all the new pieces. There's a freshly fledged crop of loon pots, and I found some new Minocki hiding in the leaves out in the woods (photo included).

Below are "before" and "after" photos of the loaded kiln. Quite a color difference, isn't there? That's part of the mystery of a kiln-firing. Fortunately, Dad and the kiln gods were watching over it.

The woods still show the effects of Mother Nature's wrath in April, and the road shows the effects of the clean-up, so parts still aren't "nice," as Dad labelled it years ago. That said, the road is passable, so come on down our half-mile drive and check things out.

05/26/2017

Wow! Tomorrow is the beginning of the 42nd year on Torpy Lake!

The loggers and forester have been busy. The road is open, much of the blowdown has been cut and hauled away, though there is much more to do. Thanks, Peter, Gene, and Kyle!

When one of the trees tipped over, it took the buried phone line cable with it. The line is supposed to be repaired tomorrow, but until then, no phone.

Spring ephemerals are in bloom all over the Northwoods. Come up and see them (and us)!

05/12/2017

05/12/2017

This weekend is the 47th Annual Backyard Sale at the Winter Studio in Park Ridge.

In the meantime, loggers are busy at Minocqua, making it possible for all of us to get down the road to the lake with cars. At the moment, hiking over, around, or under the trees is the only way. I am assured that, come the grand opening Memorial Day weekend, the road will be not only open, but nicely regraded and graveled.

Stop by this weekend to see what comes out of the kiln at Park Ridge. Then, plan a visit to Minocqua, check out the new road, and find out what new pots have come out of the kiln there.

05/12/2016

What's probably the craziest month of the year is off to a good start. The Backyard Sale was well attended, and there are even some pots left to open the shop in a couple of weeks!

Monday, the pots went up to Minocqua. Yesterday, a half-ton of clay got loaded into the truck at Paoli Clay--thanks, Mike and company!, and unloaded at Minocqua. The good news Monday was that I could get down the drive without difficulty. There's a reason a chainsaw goes along on the first trip of the season! Today, the "hold the mail" request was submitted, so I can pick up the mail once a week rather than wonder what disappeared from the mailbox. Next week, at least one trip north with the first load of "stuff," in preparation for the 41st year on Torpy Lake.

05/03/2016

Happy May Day (a day late)! Looks like it's an "off" year for the hoppa crab, but the scilla are in full flower.

Today was glazing day, and Wednesday is firing day so there can be a kiln-opening on Saturday to celebrate the 46th Annual Backyard Sale of Schneider et Fille Pottery. Stop by and find out--along with me--if there will be oranges, lumps of coal, or a little of both.

Sunday, the pots go straight into the truck from the backyard, and then the "commutes" begin with the first trip of the year to MInocqua sometime next week.

03/10/2016

It's spring--even if it's a couple of weeks yet to the equinox! The Red-winged Blackbirds and Sandhill Cranes are back, and people who tap maple trees are hurriedly gathering and boiling sap.

After spending the last several months being "R Schneider, Publishers," https://www.facebook.com/schneiderpubs/ I'm finally back to being "Schneider et File Pottery." I just unloaded a kiln yesterday. Santa didn't leave me any lumps of coal! As is always the case in a kiln-opening, there were pieces I liked better than others, but none which have to be crunched and go directly to pave the driveway, and a lot which will appear at the Festival of the Arts in a couple of weeks.M.

As soon as I hit "publish," I'll be back to the wheel this morning. There are juicers drying, and a number of things on the list to get started.

I will again be at the Festival of the Arts in Stevens Point--April 3 this year. Look for me in Dad's old spot--number 32 in the southwest corner downstairs. https://www.facebook.com/Stevens-Point-Festival-of-the-Arts-464725420380766/

Then, I'll have a few weeks to get more pieces made in time for the 46th Annual Backyard Sale in Park Ridge (Stevens Point) on other's Day weekend May 7-8. www.schneiderpottery.com

The annual migration north will follow shortly thereafter, and the Minocqua shop will open May 27.

Please stop by one of these places, and see what I've been up to!

05/06/2015

While it's lovely up in Minocqua just now, don't drive up there to attend the Backyard Sale! It's in Stevens Point, as it has been for the past 44 years.... And you can even find a map on the new website! Click "find directions" to get a Google map and directions. www.schneiderpottery.com