Meet Sarah Bumanglag
After retiring from a career in firefighting, Sarah turned to clay as a peaceful way to create and continue teaching. Today, she makes coastal-inspired ceramics and welcomes students of all experience levels into the studio.
A Life Shaped by the Coast
Growing up on California's Central Coast, Sarah was surrounded by the ocean and nature-early influences that continue to shape her creative work. Inspiration also comes from her many visits to the Hawaiian Islands and from her home today along Florida's Emerald Coast.
After work-related injuries led to an earlier-than-expected retirement from firefighting, Sarah found a new chapter in clay. Drawing on years of teaching children, teens and adults, she created Tide & Clay as a place to continue sharing, creating and connecting in a gentler, more joyful way.
Tide & Clay Core Values
Coastal Tempo
Sarah guides you to linger on the clay's texture, teaching you to cherish the raw, beautiful soul found in each wabi-sabi mark.
Creating Together
Small classes offer a welcoming place to learn, experiment and encourage one another-wether it's your first time working with clay or you're returning to something you love.
Made by Hand
Each Tide & Clay piece is shaped and finished by hand, with coastal colors, organic textures and thoughtful details that make every piece one of a kind.
Mindful Making
At Tide & Clay care guides every step-from reclaiming and reusing clay scraps to shaping each piece by hand and firing in small batches.
Progress Over Perfection
Sarah’s philosophy centers on the joy of the journey rather than a perfect end result. She encourages hands-on learning, where every student discovers the clay's rhythm through active doing. By fostering an environment that honors progress over precision, she ensures every small achievement is recognized, helping you build confidence and find magic in the making.
Sarah walks you through each stage, starting with the basic foundations of hand-built pinch pots before progressing to the technical skills of throwing complex forms on the wheel. You will receive patient, step-by-step instruction designed to build your confidence and refine your technique. It is about embracing the mud, finding your flow, and enjoying the rewarding evolution from raw clay to a finished,
functional work of art.
Made for Everyday Life
Sarah creates small-batch bowls, vessels and serving pieces by hand, allowing each form and glaze to develop its own character. Designed to be used, shared and enjoyed, her work brings coastal color, organic texture and the beauty of handmade pottery into everyday life.