Story & Lesson Highlights with Gina Maas of Omaha nebraska

Gina Maas shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Gina, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are very intentional. I start with coffee time with my husband, which is one of my favorite parts of the day. We talk through what our day looks like and share what’s on our minds, which helps me feel grounded and focused. I then spend some time reading my Bible and praying, followed by a quick breakfast. I also make time for exercise before getting ready. This is the most consistent part of my day, and after that things can look pretty different from one day to the next.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Gina, and I’m the maker behind A Backwoods Farm. I create small-batch, handmade pottery from my studio in Louisville, Nebraska. My work is deeply inspired by nature, slow living, and the belief that everyday objects should be both beautiful and functional.
I’m very intentional about how and where the pottery is experienced. I partner with a small, curated group of independent Nebraska shops, and I also invite people into the studio through hands-on pottery workshops and long-table dinners. For me, it’s about connection just as much as it is about clay.
Right now, I’m in a season of building—creating work for local retailers, refining my collections, and reshaping my website to support a more community-centered way of sharing my pottery. I’m also continuing to develop experiences that bring people together around handmade work, good food, and conversation. It’s a slower, more intentional approach, and it’s the part of this work I love most.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I didn’t have anything of value that others would be interested in. I was extremely shy and insecure, and I carried the assumption that my thoughts, ideas, or creativity weren’t worth much attention. In some ways, I’m still a bit shy and don’t love large crowds, which feels ironic now that I teach pottery to groups of people. The difference is that I’m standing in my comfort zone. When I’m working with clay, I feel more confident.
What I believe now is that no one is perfect, and nearly everyone carries some level of insecurity. There will always be someone more talented than me at something, and I’m okay with that. In fact, I’ve come to love it—those differences are what make us all unique and special.
I also have a deep faith and believe I was created to be exactly who I am. Letting go of that childhood belief—that I had nothing of value to offer—has been one of the most freeing parts of my journey.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that things don’t have to be perfect—because perfection doesn’t actually exist. I spent a lot of time wearing myself out trying to reach something unattainable. I’d tell her to relax and enjoy the ride a little more.
I would also remind her to be herself and not worry so much about what others think. The freedom and joy come when you stop trying to measure up and simply show up as who you are.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my faith, my husband, and my family are what matter most to me. Those relationships are over everything else in my life. I place a high value on honesty, meaningful relationships, and loving others as yourself.
On a quieter, everyday level, they’d probably also say that making time to be creative really matters to me. Creativity is where I process and recharge—it’s essential, even if it sits a little lower on the priority list.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, my customers could absolutely find another talented potter to buy pottery from. What I think they would miss most are the experiences. They’d miss coming out to the country, working with clay, and making pottery under the stars. They’d miss the feeling of slowing down, being present, and creating something with their hands.
They would also miss the one-of-a-kind long-table dinners—the shared meals, conversation, and sense of community that happens around the table. For me, the work has always been about more than the pottery itself. It’s about creating experiences that people carry with them long after they leave.

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