Christine (pregnant with our first kiddo) with Boomer (our first pup),
after receiving his Schutzhund BH, 1996.
Christine and Dante
Hi there, and thanks so much for stopping by!
I’m Christine — artist, dog lover, and founder of Shepherds Grove Studio, a small-batch pottery studio nestled in the redwood coast town of Eureka, California. I specialize in hand-made dog breed gifts that celebrate the bond we share with our four-legged companions.
Shepherds Grove began as a personal tribute to our family's first German Shepherd, Boomer. After we lost him, I turned to clay as a way to keep his memory close — creating pottery that featured his likeness brought comfort and joy. That spark grew into something more, and over the years, our family has been lovingly watched over by Dante (for 13 years and 2 months), and now Zeus — our smart, feisty, and affectionate shepherd muse.
Every piece I make is crafted from durable stoneware clay. I love working with stoneware for its strength and everyday usability — it’s oven-safe, microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, and more chip-resistant than earthenware. All of my work is handmade in-house, from throwing the forms to creating the breed designs and applying every glaze. I use only lead-free, food-safe materials, so you can feel good about using your pottery every day.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a fellow dog lover, you’ll find a growing collection of ceramic dog mugs, treat jars, ornaments, and keepsakes — perfect as dog remembrance gifts, dog show prizes, or simply a sweet way to show off your favorite breed. Don’t see your pup yet? I’m always adding new breeds, so feel free to reach out or check back soon.
Thank you for supporting handmade and for sharing in this love of dogs with me.
– Christine
Studio Pics
Mixing a fresh batch of stoneware slip
Filling molds with casting slip
Time to take remove slip cast from molds
Cleaning seam lines
Ware through the 1st firing (bisque)
Glazing a sugar bowl bottom
Glazing a wine stopper top
Hand painting band on wine stopper top
Through the 2nd firing (glaze) and ready to decorate with dog breed designs :)
Decorated with my dog breed decals and ready for the final firing
Through the final firing and ready for any finishing touches (like corks on
wine stoppers), then off to thier new homes!