About
I’m Melanie Mena. I’m Canadian. I grew up in Ontario & I lived in BC for a while, but my roots are on the East Coast on the island of Newfoundland.
At a very young age my Uncle Bill often found me in mud puddles, making mud pies so he gave me the nickname Mud & I sometimes wonder if he might have inadvertently set the course of my life.
While I was in high school my Art teacher Mr. Flannigan said, “I bet you’d enjoy making pottery on the wheel,” & he encouraged me to take a wheel throwing class if I ever had the opportunity.
Many years later, after university, after a cross-country move, after getting a “real” job, I saw an ad for wheel throwing workshops at my local community centre. I remembered Mr. Flannigan’s suggestion and signed up for the beginner class, he was right – I love wheel throwing.
I took my first class around 2000 & I’ve been making pottery ever since. After 4 years of workshops at the community centre I found a studio space and I continued learning on my own.
And then...
I kept practicing & making pottery on my own for about 10 years while I worked at various desks for various companies. Then something crazy happened, I lost my job. I was blindsided & it took me a while to recover but it was an opportunity to really change my life.
I wrote a business plan, I designed my first three lines of pottery & on December 1, 2010 I launched my business Mena Dragonfly.
FAQ
Making | Ordering
Handmade
Almost everything is handmade with a potter’s wheel & a few pieces are made with a slab roller. After each piece is hand formed, it is dried, trimmed, decorated, finished & fired twice in the kiln (three times if the piece is painted with gold.)
Do you take custom order requests?
Unfortunately, no, I can no longer accept custom requests for individual orders. However, are you inquiring for a restaurant or coffee shop? If so, let’s chat.
Do you accept wholesale orders?
Online Orders
All pricing is in Canadian dollars. Provincial sales tax & shipping will be calculated after you enter your shipping address.
All sales are final
There are no refunds or exchanges – unless your shipment arrives damaged – so please ensure you review & confirm your order before finalizing your purchase.
Shipping | Care
Packaging
Each shipment is packed with care using biodegradable packing peanuts, tissue paper & a sturdy cardboard box.
Shipping
All packages are sent from Prince Edward County, Ontario & are shipped through Canada Post. Each shipment is tracked & you will be sent the tracking information as soon as your order is on the way.
Damaged Items
If your order arrives broken, please contact me within two days of receiving your shipment & please include photos of the box & the damaged pieces. We’ll figure out if a refund or a replacement is the best option.
Care for your pottery
With the exception of any piece painted with gold, Mena Dragonfly pottery can be put in the dishwasher and in the microwave.
Pie plates and other baking dishes can also be put in the freezer or oven, however, it’s not recommended to take the piece driectly from the freezer to a hot oven, or vice versa.
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Mena Dragonfly
Handmade, for your every day
melanie@menadragonfly.com