Handmade by Laura Cochran of Lost Forest Ceramics on Bainbridge Island. Every piece is individually formed, painted, and glazed by hand—a one-of-a-kind PNW treasure.
No two frog “mugs” are alike. Variations in shape, brushwork, froggy expression, and glaze are part of their charm—and part of the handmade process.
And tucked inside each mug: a tiny hand-sculpted ladybug waiting to be discovered.
Laura Cochran | Ceramic Artist
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Laura Cochran first fell in love with ceramics in high school while trying to impress a boy. She married that boy, and more than 30 years later, they’re still impressing each other.
Looking back, pottery may have been inevitable. A self-described tomboy who routinely came home from grade school with clay- and mud-covered dresses, Laura has been drawn to art—and dirt—for as long as she can remember. What began as a creative outlet eventually became, in her words, “an obsession. I just can’t put that darn mud away.”
Years later, while working full time, going to college, and raising two daughters with her husband, Kelly, Laura somehow decided there was still room for pottery. The two took classes together for several years and eventually interned at a pottery studio in Snohomish, Washington.
Then came a particularly consequential Christmas gift. Laura went looking on Facebook Marketplace for a pottery wheel for Kelly and found one for sale on Bainbridge Island—along with two more wheels and, unexpectedly, an entire pottery studio. She bought Kelly the wheel for Christmas and, as she tells it, somehow ended up with a pottery studio for her birthday.
Three years later, they’re still happily married and happily making pottery. Their studio offers classes, one-on-one sessions, and memberships, and has become a place for creativity, experimentation, and fun.
Laura especially loves hand-building and sculpture. While she enjoys working on the wheel, her heart belongs to whimsical creatures and playful creations. Life can get intense, she says, and sometimes it needs a little more fun in it. Her ceramics are made to bring exactly that—a bit of delight, a little personality, and, ideally, a smile.
And as Laura points out, scientifically speaking, every smile releases good endorphins. That makes the pottery worth making.
Handmade by Laura Cochran of Lost Forest Ceramics on Bainbridge Island. Every piece is individually formed, painted, and glazed by hand—a one-of-a-kind PNW treasure.
No two frog “mugs” are alike. Variations in shape, brushwork, froggy expression, and glaze are part of their charm—and part of the handmade process.
And tucked inside each mug: a tiny hand-sculpted ladybug waiting to be discovered.
Laura Cochran | Ceramic Artist
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Laura Cochran first fell in love with ceramics in high school while trying to impress a boy. She married that boy, and more than 30 years later, they’re still impressing each other.
Looking back, pottery may have been inevitable. A self-described tomboy who routinely came home from grade school with clay- and mud-covered dresses, Laura has been drawn to art—and dirt—for as long as she can remember. What began as a creative outlet eventually became, in her words, “an obsession. I just can’t put that darn mud away.”
Years later, while working full time, going to college, and raising two daughters with her husband, Kelly, Laura somehow decided there was still room for pottery. The two took classes together for several years and eventually interned at a pottery studio in Snohomish, Washington.
Then came a particularly consequential Christmas gift. Laura went looking on Facebook Marketplace for a pottery wheel for Kelly and found one for sale on Bainbridge Island—along with two more wheels and, unexpectedly, an entire pottery studio. She bought Kelly the wheel for Christmas and, as she tells it, somehow ended up with a pottery studio for her birthday.
Three years later, they’re still happily married and happily making pottery. Their studio offers classes, one-on-one sessions, and memberships, and has become a place for creativity, experimentation, and fun.
Laura especially loves hand-building and sculpture. While she enjoys working on the wheel, her heart belongs to whimsical creatures and playful creations. Life can get intense, she says, and sometimes it needs a little more fun in it. Her ceramics are made to bring exactly that—a bit of delight, a little personality, and, ideally, a smile.
And as Laura points out, scientifically speaking, every smile releases good endorphins. That makes the pottery worth making.
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