You probably know her as Tricia Miller, the high-strung, somewhat judgmental, but ultimately deeply human sister on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Or maybe you remember her as Sophie Brookheimer on Veep. Mary Catherine Garrison has been a staple of the New York stage and prestige television for years, but there is a whole other side to her that doesn't involve scripts or craft services. Honestly, if you follow her closely enough, you'll realize she’s just as much a "maker" as she is a performer.
Mary Catherine Garrison pottery isn't just a side hobby she picked up during a slow pilot season. It's a full-blown obsession that eventually turned into a legitimate business.
The Mississippi Roots of a Maker
Mary Catherine was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and raised in New Orleans. That Southern creative energy is basically baked into her DNA. Most people assume actors are one-trick ponies, but Garrison actually minored in oil painting during college. She’s always been the type to look at a piece of modern home decor, see the price tag, and think, "I could probably just make that myself."
And she usually does.
When she moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, a few years back with her husband, Marshall Wood, the extra space allowed her to lean into her tactile side. She doesn't just do pottery. She sews her own clothes from vintage patterns, builds furniture with her husband, and even makes custom resin nails. But it’s the ceramics that seem to have stuck the hardest.
💡 You might also like: Human DNA Found in Hot Dogs: What Really Happened and Why You Shouldn’t Panic
Why the Pottery is Different
There’s a specific vibe to Garrison's work. It isn't that dusty, "brown-and-beige" pottery you find at a local Renaissance fair. It’s bold.
Her style leans heavily into the Memphis Design movement—think 80s aesthetics, graphic black-and-white patterns, and pops of primary colors. It's high-contrast and very architectural. If you’ve seen her Etsy shop, mcatgarrison, you’ll notice a lot of:
- Hand-painted "Salt Pepper Pinch" bowls.
- Geometric serving sets with bold, graphic lines.
- Serving spoons that look like they belong in a modern art museum.
The process she uses is mostly hand-building rather than just throwing on a wheel. This gives the pieces a slightly irregular, organic feel that reminds you a human actually touched them. She’s mentioned in interviews—like on the Side Crafts podcast—that she finds the freedom of learning new crafts vital to her mental health. Acting is a business of "no," but clay? Clay does whatever you tell it to do (mostly).
The Etsy Shop and Availability
Finding her work can be a bit of a hunt. Because she’s a working actress—and Somebody Somewhere has been such a massive, time-consuming hit—she doesn't always have a massive inventory.
📖 Related: The Gospel of Matthew: What Most People Get Wrong About the First Book of the New Testament
Basically, when she’s not filming, she’s in her studio in Lynchburg.
She sells primarily through her Etsy shop and occasionally via her personal website. The pieces usually sell out fast because they aren't mass-produced. They are small-batch, artist-made items. If you’re looking to snag a piece, you’ve gotta keep an eye on her social media or check the shop frequently.
One thing that makes her pottery stand out is the "set" mentality. She doesn't just make a mug; she makes a "Hostess Serving Set" with cheese cutlery that has ceramic handles. It's very lifestyle-oriented.
It’s Not Just a Celebrity Side Hustle
There’s a trend of celebrities putting their names on things they didn't actually make. This isn't that. Mary Catherine Garrison is the one getting the clay under her fingernails. She’s spoken about her "ADHD brain" and how she gets hyper-fixated on projects, leading to piles of unfinished (but brilliant) things around her house.
👉 See also: God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: The True Story Behind the Phrase Most People Get Wrong
She isn't trying to build a global lifestyle empire like Goop. She’s just a woman who lives in Virginia and happens to be really good at making bowls when she isn't busy being one of the best character actresses on TV.
If you're a fan of her acting, owning a piece of her pottery feels like a more intimate connection to her creative brain. You can see the same precision and "sharpness" in her ceramic patterns that she brings to her performance as Tricia Miller. There’s an edge to it. It’s pretty, but it’s also a little bit "don't mess with me."
How to Get Your Hands on a Piece
If you're looking to start a collection, start by following her shop on Etsy (mcatgarrison). Don't expect a 24/7 restock. Since she is finally "getting her due" in Hollywood (at age 50+, which is awesome), she's busier than ever.
- Check Etsy every few weeks; she tends to drop "collections" rather than single items.
- Look for the Memphis-style graphic patterns—those are her signature.
- Be prepared to pay for handmade quality; these aren't Target prices, but they aren't "fine art gallery" prices either. They are accessible pieces of functional art.
What to Do Next
If you’re interested in the intersection of acting and art, go listen to her episode on the Side Crafts podcast. She goes deep into her "maker" philosophy and why she thinks everyone should have a creative outlet that has nothing to do with their paycheck. After that, keep an eye on the Lynchburg, VA local scene if you’re ever in the area—she’s been known to get involved with the local Academy of the Arts downtown.
The best way to support her work is to keep watching her shows and, if you're lucky enough to catch a shop update, grab a "Salt Pepper Pinch" bowl before they’re gone.