Charlene McConnell began her connection with the Haliburton Highlands as a cottager. Her dream, as far back as when she got married, was to own a cottage. She and her husband even saved duplicate wedding gifts as their “cottage collection”. After much searching they decided they could not find something they liked in their price range and sold the “cottage collection”. Soon after they visited the Highlands, saw an add for a property they loved and bought a cottage. They began spending so much time at the cottage that it only made sense to move there. Prior to moving to the Haliburton Highlands pottery was a hobby for Charlene. The move enabled her enrollment in the ceramics intensive program at the Haliburton School of the Arts, graduating in 2005. She now describes her love of pottery as an obsession. She and her children started new schools at the same time. Her husband continued to work in the city making life a bit challenging at first, especially with their remote cottage location and the challenges of  wintering at the cottage.

Charlene literally brings the beauty of the landscape of the Haliburton Highlands into her studio and her designs. She collects real leaves and branches during woodland hikes and uses them for inspiration and pattern creation in the development of her pottery pieces. As to what she is working on next. Porcelain flowers and woven baskets. She states that “every kiln load has at least one experiment in form or glaze. I am always striving to push limits. do something different. I have a plan but the results that come out of a kiln change the direction, give inspiration and always directs the focus. Absolutely can’t guarantee where I’m going because it always is directed by how the kiln chooses to dance.”  Watch for her new creations as they emerge into a form she is happy with here on MadeInHaliburton.ca.

Charlene is a member of the Arts Council~Haliburton Highlands and the Tour de Forest, which is a studio tour that happens on the long weekend in August each year.