Having an almost physical addiction to shiitake mushrooms, Tena and her husband decided to grow their own. When the logs began to fruit, they were harvesting 60 pounds a week of beautiful mushrooms. Trying their best to eat them all, they realized the local chef market might find a use for them as well. Not knowing who he was or where he studied, Tena called on Chef Chris Hastings of Hot & Hot Fish Club. Waiting while he wrote the check, she noticed some old, chipped pottery tucked away. Upon hearing she was a potter, Chef Chris commissioned Tena to design an initial order for his tabletop on a trial basis. Since 1997, Tena has been defining, redesigning, and creating custom forms and shapes for Chris’s now nationally acclaimed restaurant. This wonderful trial and error environment enabled Tena to refine her product for restaurant use everywhere.

Tena Payne has been a dedicated and accomplished potter since the 1970’s, established for many years as one of the Southeast’s finest Raku artists. She has been actively involved in the leadership of the local clay community and is a charter member of the prominent co-operative fine-art gallery, Artists Incorporated. Tena also serves as the alternate Alabama representative to the American Craft Council. In the late ‘90’s Tena was commissioned to create functional restaurant pottery by Birmingham ’s renowned chef, Chris Hastings of Hot & Hot Fish Club . This huge success grew to what is now Earthborn Studios, Inc. which has restaurant and retail installations around the country.

In 2003, Tena jumped out of corporate advertising to incorporate Earthborn Studios and pursue the dream of bringing this elemental expression into the world of hospitality on a much broader basis. Now a small band of women work together to bring this understated elegance to tabletops everywhere.

Most recently, an exclusive line of pottery by Earthborn Studios, Inc., was placed into service during January of 2005 at the AAA Five Diamond award winning Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas , Nevada . The first project for the Bellagio completed was a line of large buffet-ware for the 50,000 square foot banquet hall which includes platters, bowls and other vessels. The second project, commissioned by Chef Martin Heierling, debuted at the grand opening of Sensi, in the newly constructed Spa Tower at the Bellagio. Sensi features hand-hewn stone walls, chiseled and carved by Japanese monks with intent to preserve the delicate imperfections of the natural materials. Earthborn pottery is the perfect tabletop companion for this posh, upscale, organic environment.

Earthborn Studios, Inc. is a certified member of the WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council). The women of Earthborn Studios infuse every piece of pottery with creativity, their love of life, and the joy of living in a beautiful world.