Meet the Team
Mallorie
Owner, Designer, Potter
Mallorie founded Jars of Dust in 2015 when she was getting her undergrad at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Among the many hats that Mal has put on over the years of JOD’s rapid growth, she continues to throw all of the tableware collection on the potter’s wheel.
Outside of business ownership, Mal lives a vibrant life of hanging out with friends + family, surfing, gardening, being neck deep in a renovation at all times, sewing her own clothes and quilts, snuggling her pups, and dreaming big.
Lydia
Studio Manager
Lydia studied locally at Virginia Wesleyan University and internationally at Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy. Throughout her education she remained focused on studio art and ceramics. She has lived in Virginia Beach for 9 years, but spent her childhood in upstate NY and Vermont.
Lydia started with Jars of Dust in the fall of 2018 as an apprentice. Today, she manages our studio and develops all of our glaze recipes.
When she is not elbow deep in glaze or clay you'll find her paddle boarding, baking, sipping on a cup of tea/coffee and enjoying nature.
Steph
Head of Production + Product Design
Steph has been with us since 2021, crafting all of our slab-built pottery pieces and managing the clay recycling process. She also works on new product development and loves a good brainstorming sesh.
Steph attended Westminster College in western Pennsylvania, not far from her small hometown, where she earned her degree in Fine Art, Biology, and Psychology. She also studied art and ceramics internationally at Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica and Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo in Spain.
When she's not in the studio covered in clay slop, she's most likely covered in paint, catching waves, baking up a storm, or obsessively loving her cat Frida with all her might.
Kaitlyn
Workshop Manager
Kaitlyn is a Virginia girl through and through having lived in the Shenandoah Valley most of her life. She received her Bachelors of Fine Art in Studio Art at James Madison University. As the workshop manager, her previous experience as an art educator makes her the perfect person to teach anyone how to make a work of art with clay!
When she isn’t instructing a workshop, you can find Kaitlyn with her dog Maisy, exploring a thrift shop, or checking out a new restaurant.
Jamie
Creative Director
Jamie attended her namesake, James Madison University, where she studied Media Arts and Design and fell in love with photography.
She’s a photographer, furniture enthusiast, and true crime addict. She’s got a knack for simplicity and purpose - inspired by all things earthy, authentic and ordinary. She spends her days taking photos and looking forward to the next dog to pet.
Caitlyn
Marketing Team
Caitlyn studied Media Arts and Design at James Madison University, and moved to Virginia Beach in 2020 to do the Virginia Beach Fellows Program. Before joining the JOD team, she worked in marketing and communications. Caitlyn has a passion for people, art, and home decor, and feels really grateful that those three passions get to come to life in her role.
When she’s not working, you can find Caitlyn making dinner with friends, dreaming about her future home, or hanging with her dogs and husband at the bay.
Lily
Sales Rep
Lily grew up in Southwestern Virginia but has always been a beach girl at heart. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at James Madison University. Lily gets stoked about making spaces beautiful, building meaningful relationships, and leaning into her competitive spirit any chance she gets.
When she’s off the clock you can find her taking a workout class, going to the beach, or shedding a tear over her love for her dog Winnie.
Lora
Retail + Sales Associate
Lora grew up in Pennsylvania and after spending the last 5 years in San Diego, she decided she can no longer live life away from the beach. She recently moved to Virginia Beach to be closer to family.
Lora is a multi passionate person — especially when it comes to health and wellness. She has studied art therapy and is a licensed skin therapist and licensed yoga instructor. Her passion for aesthetics transfers to her love of slow, hand made home goods.
When Lora isn’t supporting Jars of Dust you can usually find her at the beach, teaching yoga, creating jewelry, or hanging out with her boyfriend and their rescued pitty and tripod cat, Bubbles and Hobbs.
Brown + Cowboy
Shop dogs, Self-proclaimed Bosses
Brown Bear Terranova (close friends call him Brown) is the real boss at Jars of Dust, and his little brother The Cowboy Cub (better known as Cowboy) is Brown’s apprentice-in-training. Brown tells us what to do and when to do it, inspects every piece of pottery, and signs off on if it’s good enough or not. He’s teaching Cowboy the ways of being a proper shop dog. Their tails and enthusiasm have broken many, many, many pieces of pottery over the years. If they’re not running around the production studio, they’re probably sound asleep on their bed next to the potter’s wheel.