This is Teresa's story; it starts in South America, where she was born in the city of La Paz, Bolivia.  Teresa was introduced to the world of ceramics in her early twenties. As she walked the streets of her home, she was captivated any time she watched the native indians mold and sculpt the clay into the arts which they used and sold. She was able to learn first hand the entire  process of creating with clay; beginning with the raw earth taken from the mountain sides, then cleaning the debris from it, preparing the clay to be used, sculpted, painted, and finally fired.

Her very first completed piece was an Indian boy holding a rabbit. In 1985 she was invited to participate in  an international art contest  held at the Museum of Art in La Paz, Bolivia. Her piece won first place in the 3 dimensional art category. This success motivated and fueled her passion to keep learning and experimenting on her own.

After marriage to Jeff Hughes and having a daughter also becoming a U.S citizen, moved to Ruidoso, N.M. in 1995.

in the following years worked at a Bronze Foundry learning the old lost wax technique  also able to cast a few pieces of her own. Jeff suggested to go back to the ceramics where she can make more affordable pieces to share with people and pursue  her love of creating.

In 1998 Teresa opened "Ceramic Creations" in the Gazebo Shopping Center here in Ruidoso, N.M. she offered hand built ceramics crafts that were decorative and functional. Her pieces consisted of southwest, mission and Santa Fe styles with overtones of religious and family oriented, using happy, fun and vibrant colors.

In 2008 the stress of trying to keep the store open and producing the products decided to take a brake and closed the store. Missing the interaction with her clients and wanting to offer products more creative evolved into "Teresa's Clay Works" offering what she calls Free Form pieces, using  earthly  and soft colors consisting of metallics, crystals and sand paintings..still holding onto southwest, religious and family styles. we now offer the best of Ceramic Creations and Teresa's Clay Works.

   
Call: 575-354-2189 between 8am to 4pm ; leave a message and we'll get back with you!

or E-mail:  teresasclayworks@gmail.com