Mark Eikeland started making pottery in the mid 1970s while at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He moved west in 1977, and hoped to someday make a living with his pottery. As a temporary way to make ends meet, Mark started working for the USPS as a mail carrier. Thirty-one years later he retired as the Stanwood, Washington Postmaster. During that era he continued to learn his craft, and later he and his wife, Peggy, took pottery classes together at Skagit Valley College. It was there that Mark's love for throwing pots was rekindled. One December, at the height of post office craziness, Santa (Peggy) saved Marks' sanity with a potter's wheel. Local artist Paula Rey loaned Mark the use of her kiln as well as her encouragement and knowledge. He spent hours on that wheel, and created many pots. People wanted them, so Peggy started the annual Mark Eikeland Pottery Show and Sale; an event that normally takes place on the 1st Sunday in December. That event has been cancelled due to covid and other circumstances since 2019. Mark hopes to restart the tradition at a future date. He still participates in the annual Small Craft Advisory art show each fall in Stanwood. He can be contacted at 360-708-2980 for particular requests.
