Frequently Asked
Questions
Will the marbled ball actually still spin after a few months, or does it loosen and fall out?
Will the marbled ball actually still spin after a few months, or does it loosen and fall out?
The bead sits in a fired ceramic recess and is held in place by the geometry of the handle — there's no glue, no metal pin, nothing that can wear out. It spins on the same clay it was fired into, so unless the mug itself breaks, the bead stays. I've had the prototype on my own desk for around 10 months and it still moves the same as day one.
Is it actually quiet enough to use in a meeting, or does the ball click against the ceramic?
Is it actually quiet enough to use in a meeting, or does the ball click against the ceramic?
Yes — the bead spins ceramic-on-ceramic with a soft, low rotation, not a click. It's quieter than a coffee cup being set down. I designed it specifically so you wouldn't have to explain it to anyone you sit next to.
It says 14-16 oz — is that the actual coffee size, or 16 oz to the rim with no room for milk?
It says 14-16 oz — is that the actual coffee size, or 16 oz to the rim with no room for milk?
18 oz to the rim, about 14 oz at a comfortable fill with room for cream. For reference, a standard Starbucks "Tall" is 12 oz.
Can it actually go in the dishwasher and microwave, or is that just what every handmade seller says before the glaze starts crazing?
Can it actually go in the dishwasher and microwave, or is that just what every handmade seller says before the glaze starts crazing?
Yes to both. Each mug is fired at cone 6 stoneware temperatures, which makes the clay non-porous and the glaze fully vitrified — that's what actually makes a mug dishwasher and microwave safe, not the seller saying so. Top rack of the dishwasher is gentler on the foot. I run mine through every day.
What happens if I get one and the glaze is uneven or the bead is set crooked — is that a defect or "the handmade look"?
What happens if I get one and the glaze is uneven or the bead is set crooked — is that a defect or "the handmade look"?
Glaze variation across mugs is the point — colors will shift slightly batch to batch, and small irregularities in the texture are how you know it wasn't poured into a mold. That said: if the rim is chipped, the bead doesn't spin, the mug rocks on a flat surface, or anything else is functionally wrong, message me. I'll replace it. Character is one thing; broken is another, and I know the difference.
How long until I actually get it? Handmade mugs always say "2-4 weeks" and then take three months.
How long until I actually get it? Handmade mugs always say "2-4 weeks" and then take three months.
Production and shipping together take 12-24 days. That's the real window, not a hopeful one — small-batch ceramics take time to throw, dry, glaze, fire, and ship safely. If you need the mug by a specific date (birthday, gift, holiday), order at least 4 weeks out to be safe, or message me first and I'll tell you honestly if it'll make it.
You'll get a confirmation when the order is placed, a notification when it ships, and a tracking number once it's in transit. If anything is going to be late, you'll hear from me before it is — not after.