One hot and sunny July afternoon, a person went snorkeling in Long Lake near Harrison, Maine. On this excursion they discovered something quite unusual at the bottom of the lake. The item appeared to be some kind of mug glazed in green and tan earthy colors. It was not an ordinary mug as it appeared to have strange holes around the area one would normally consume a beverage. Upon further inspection, they noticed the bottom of the mug was labeled “Dirty Bird Pottery.” They began searching online and learned that it came from a pottery studio that had once occupied the bank building in downtown Boothbay Harbor, Maine. This work turned out to be one of Julie Moore’s Puzzle Mugs!  

Sadly, Julie passed away a few years ago due to an aggressive cancer and so with it her studio closed. However, the family had always said that her pottery could last for centuries. Though it has not been a century yet, this cool find underlined the start of the legacy she left behind. Her pottery can be found all over the world and she was especially known for her shaving scuttles.

Opening a pottery studio had been a dream of hers. In the summer of 2016, she embarked upon that journey after 25 years of throwing pots in her home studios originally based in Virginia. Why did she choose Maine? She basked in the idea of the cool summer temperatures and she had visited southern Maine beaches on many family vacations. She spent months researching her precise location for the studio and decided the foot traffic in the summers of the quaint town made the most economic sense. Her husband supported her fully in her venture and she spent many days at her studio until the last few weeks when she was unable to work. Julie enjoyed many beautiful summers throwing pots, talking to customers, and enjoying her family and friends visits.  

One wonders how the mug landed at the bottom of the lake in the first place. What might that story have been?