Donna Riley-Lein

Baldwin People Editor

FAIRHOPE – Tom Jones is having a love affair. But his wife does not have to worry.

The love affair is with clay, and it's something that has been going on with Jones since he was in 9th grade at the Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education in Fairhope.

“Edith Harwell was my teacher, and she made a huge impression on me. I saw a clay pitcher being formed on the wheel and fell in love,” said Jones, seated in his studio on Clay City Road in Fairhope.

Jones has taken that love and made a career. Using his hands, potter's wheel, fire and glazes he makes himself (there's no lead in the glaze, so everything is safe for food) clay is transformed into a number of whimsical and useful shapes. There are plates, bowls, vases, platters, key chains, spoon rests or containers to hold things on dressers, and a number of art objects. All are the result of Jones' conversation with the clay, some obtained locally.

“My biggest problem is not having enough time to do everything,” said Jones, who remarked that a lot of his work varies with the fashion of the day.

“I did a lot of chicken bakers,” he said, “and now I am doing a lot of beer bread bakers.”

While Jones says he'd be “hard pressed” to pick a favorite creation, he is well known for one thing – his Jack-O-Lanterns. Each with a different expression, the figures come in a variety of sizes and glazes, and are a hit with local collectors. His next “Summer Show” will be held July 31, and the goods in his showroom will be marked down, and he will bring out his “oops” table of things that didn't quite turn out the way he wanted.

A complete version of this story can be found in the Baldwin People section of the July 14 edition of your local Gulf Coast Newspaper.