So… Who is Georgie?
We’ve heard this question many times over the years as we’ve met new customers and friends — a question we love to answer.
Georgie Tonneson was the owner of the company that bears her name. She set the ideals of service and fun that we continue to work toward. Most important to us, she was our mom and grandmother.
How Georgies Began
Our company was established in 1965 under the name Irene’s Objets d’Art by Selmer Jacobson, Georgie’s father. Georgie purchased the company from her father in 1975 and renamed it Georgie’s Plaster Shoppe. Her goal was simple: to make enough money to send her kids to college.
As plastercraft faded in popularity, Georgie’s entered the field of ceramics in the 1980s with a backbone line of Duncan products. During the early ’80s, Georgie’s three kids graduated from the University of Oregon and rejoined the family business.
Carrying the Vision Forward
Sadly, Georgie passed away in 1985 at the age of 48 after a decade-long battle with cancer. She died with the hope that her children would continue the company and follow her ideals of providing good service and a fun atmosphere for both employees and customers.
Her kids did just that.
Pottery became a focus with a major directional shift following the purchase of Richard’s Pug Mill in 1986. The following year, we purchased our first pugmill and began making clay. Today, we operate two pugmills and produce more than 15 million pounds of clay each year. We also manufacture over 120 glazes and many different kinds of slip.
Serving Ceramic Artists Near and Far
We serve our community through our retail store and production warehouse in Portland, Oregon. For those outside the area, we ship nationwide and continue to grow our distributorship across the United States.
The ideals Georgie started with — serving others and having fun along the way — continue today as Linda (Georgie’s daughter) and her daughter Melanie carry the business forward. Clay is deeply personal, and just as a potter’s connection to their clay is rooted in touch, we believe every relationship deserves that same level of care. Each person we work with brings unique artistic creativity worth celebrating. Your success supports our success — and together, we all grow.
Thank You for Being Part of the Georgies Story
You may be a hobbyist, a school, or a manufacturer — using 25 pounds once or 40,000 pounds every week — and we are grateful for the challenges and opportunities you bring. You help shape who we are as we work to deliver the best, most consistent clay in the Northwest.
Thank you for supporting our family business. We look forward to serving you.
About Georgies: Common Questions
Learn more about who we are, where we’re located, and how Georgies serves the ceramics community. These FAQs cover the basics about our store, history, and customer offerings.
General Questions About Georgies FAQ
Do you offer ceramic firing services for customers?
Yes! We offer custom firing services for the public. It’s usually a 7-10 business day but please check the custom firing section for up-to-date turnaround days.
Do you offer classes or workshops?
Yes! We offer multi-week classes and single-day workshops. Please check out our classes page for upcoming classes/workshops.
Can you special-order products?
We can special order products from almost any company we purchase from. Please e-mail info@georgies.com with your requested products and we will contact you to follow up with the special order and gather necessary information.
Can I make a custom order clay/glaze?
We have a small production crew so we are sometimes able to create a custom order product for you with a minimum quantity order and a custom order fee. Please e-mail info@georgies.com with your inquiry and we will see if we are able to accommodate your request. Please note that sometimes we cannot accommodate depending on production needs and apologize if we have to deny your request.
What products does Georgies carry?
We manufacture our own products and carry products from a variety of well-known brands including AMACO, Coyote, Kemper, Mayco, Xiem, etc. We also carry candle making supplies, plaster, and a wide variety of raw materials.
Do you manufacture your own clays and glazes?
Yes! We manufacture our own line clays, glazes and slips.