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Mathews native finds inspiration for her ceramics art in nature

Tasha McKelvey’s work, like the artist herself, is adorable.

Small birds and woodland creatures perch along the edges of her pottery bowls. Her ceramic jewelry takes the shape of ginkgo leaves and tiny flowers.

"There’s a lot of birds and gnomes and squirrels and hedgehogs and things," she said. "Those are all things I really, really liked when I was a kid."

McKelvey grew up in Mathews County. Spending her childhood running through the woods there has influenced her current work, she said. McKelvey’s parents are also avid gardeners—another theme that shows up in her ceramics.

"It’s funny with the birds," McKelvey said. "My parents are also birdwatchers. These are not my hobbies; they’re my parents’ hobbies, but that is what my work is about."

McKelvey began working for Robert and Karen Podd at The Poddery in Mathews when she was 16. The Podds, McKelvey said, are like her second parents.

She...

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