Today we’d like to introduce you to Lora Froescher.
Hi Lora, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved making things. I’m the second youngest of five children, and I had a lot of freedom to play, explore, and use my imagination growing up. On long car rides, I would carve faces into apples and sew or knit clothes to make a doll. I didn’t need fancy art supplies, I just loved figuring out what I could make with whatever happened to be around.
Over the years, I’ve tried many different kinds of art, but I keep coming back to clay. Part of it is simply that clay is squishy, messy, and fun. It makes me feel like a kid playing in the mud again. But there is also something deeper about it. Clay begins as dirt, is shaped by our hands, goes through pressure and fire, and comes out changed. There are so many life lessons wrapped up in that process, and I think that is part of what continues to draw me to it.
Travel has also had a big influence on my creativity and the way I see people. I’ve had the opportunity to visit 23 countries and experience many different cultures, art forms, lifestyles, and ways of expressing creativity. I learned that while our lives may look very different on the outside, we are actually very much the same in our humanity. We all want connection, belonging, joy, and the feeling that we have something worthwhile to contribute.
My path to starting a pottery business definitely wasn’t a straight one. I’ve worked in sales, marketing, event planning, leadership, teaching, and directing groups. I studied art, continued creating, and, during many of those same years, I was raising my children and being a mom. Motherhood has taught me as much as any job I’ve ever had, especially about patience, encouragement, reading a room, and changing the plan when things don’t go the way I expected.
For a long time, all of those parts of my life seemed separate. Eventually, I realized they actually fit together. That became Hands On Art, a mobile pottery business offering guided experiences called Claydates. I bring the clay, tools, and instruction to wineries, businesses, community spaces, and private gatherings so people can create together in places where they already feel comfortable.
One of my favorite parts of this business is that it gives me the opportunity to meet people whose paths I probably wouldn’t have crossed otherwise. I love watching people relax, laugh, and surprise themselves with what they can make. They don’t have to be artists, and their pieces don’t have to be perfect. Everyone ends up with something that is worthy and a beautiful reflection of them.
My goal in life has never been simply to have fun. It has been to find joy and help other people experience it too. Seeing someone begin by saying, “I’m not creative,” and then watching the pride on their face when they realize what they made, is one of the best parts of what I do. Hands On Art feels like the place where my creativity, work experience, motherhood, love for people, and desire to bring more joy into the world finally came together.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but the people around me have made it so much easier. I’ve been blown away by friends and community members who have hosted groups, shared my business, helped me make connections, talked through ideas with me, and encouraged me along the way. It’s humbling to realize how well I am loved and supported.
My family has also been a huge part of this. My husband and kids listen to my ideas, encourage me, and help with the practical things. When I come home tired after a Claydate, they’ll often come outside and help me unload the car. Those small acts mean more than they probably realize.
My biggest struggle has been getting out of my own way. Running a business requires a lot of self-motivation, and putting something you care deeply about into the world is incredibly vulnerable. I’ve had to work through my fear of failure and learn that I don’t need to feel completely confident before taking the next step.
Even with those challenges, it has been 100% worth it. Every time I see someone laugh, connect, or feel proud of something they didn’t think they could make, I’m reminded why I keep going.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve had a lot of different roles throughout my career, especially in nonprofit work, but the common thread has always been people. I’m drawn to work that makes a difference and have always tried to put people first.
A few years after leaving one job, I returned, and a coworker greeted me by saying, “Yay, our sunshine is back.” That is still one of the greatest compliments I’ve received. I hope I’m known for bringing positivity and joy into a space, but also for listening well and helping people feel seen and valued.
I’ve been in leadership since high school, have a degree in Communications and have learned a lot about personalities and what helps a team thrive. Some of the work I’m most proud of has been helping burned-out and disconnected teams develop clearer direction, healthier communication, and stronger relationships. It directly affects the work that is produced.
Today, I bring those experiences into Hands On Art through guided pottery experiences called Claydates. What sets them apart is that the pottery is only part of the experience. I’m also creating a space where people can relax, connect, laugh, and feel proud of trying something new.
As the business grows, I hope to offer more team-building Claydates that combine creativity with simple tools for understanding personalities and communicating better. I’ve often been told that I lead with my heart. To me, that means caring deeply about people while still being effective at the work in front of us.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think the quality most important to my success is commitment, the willingness to keep showing up and following through, even when I feel uncertain or something doesn’t come easily.
Creativity and joy come fairly naturally to me, but building a business also requires consistency. It means sending the email, following up, learning from what didn’t work, and continuing to put myself out there. I’m not perfect at that, but it is something I’m intentionally stepping into.
Honesty is also important because trust is at the heart of any successful business. I want people to know that I’ll communicate clearly, keep my word, and genuinely care about their experience. If something goes wrong, I want to be honest about it and make it right.
And joy is more than just part of my personality, it’s part of what I offer. People may come to a Claydate to make pottery, but what I really hope they remember is how they felt: welcomed, encouraged, connected, and proud of themselves.
If I had to sum it up, I want to be committed enough to keep going, honest enough to build trust, and joyful enough to make the experience worth remembering.
Pricing:
- $65+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://HandsOnArt.Fun
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handsonart.fun/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080718020036
- Other: https://g.page/r/CUWWpAHpgXyfEBM
Image Credits
@froescher_photography
