I have not been able to find one website with any information on this skill.  So through my wasting of money and time, I have been able to put together some data that will help any begining potters play with clay.  Pottery, like most the trade skills is an expensive trade skill to start out but will make you money in the long run.  The one thing I want to point out is that the guidebook is incorrect in some places.  I would recommend buying it so you can reference the recipies easily in game.   I have been able to practice pottery in Freeport and Rivervale, although Kaladim has the best conviently located stores for skill building.  Here are some things you will need from pottery:

Sketches - plenty of them since they are stackable.  Locate a vendor who sells them and stock up.
Clay - non-stackable and easily obtainable from ore vendors or killing muddites.  Get a bunch of backpacks full of this stuff.
Water - store bought bottled water which is stackable and is usually a little over 1 silver each.  Only used with raw materials.
Firing sheets - non-stackable and slightly costly.  Find a vendor that sells these and buy a bunch of Quality Firing Sheets.  Mostly all beginning finished products require these.

Once you acquire the materials you will need to find the place to work on them.  You will need a pottery wheel and a kiln.  Now here is where the guidebook is wrong:  You only need water when working with the wheel, not the kiln.  I lost a lot of finished materials learning this. Basically here is the process to make pottery:

In the pottery wheel place:
        a sketch
        1 flask of water
        appropriate amount of clay
        (and occasionally another raw material such as glass shards or metal bits)

Then hit the combine button on the wheel. If properly done, you will then either be told that you do not have sufficient skill or you will get an unfinished product.  The only other message you can get is if you don't put the correct amount of materials, then you lose everything you placed in there and gain no skill.  If you get one of the first two results then you have a chance of gaining skill.

After receiving your unfinished product you have one more step in creation - firing it.  Here is what is needed for firing:

In the kiln place:
        the unfinished product
        the appropriate firing sheet

Then hit combine and hopefully you will recieve your finished product. I have had about a 90% chance of success when using the kiln with the right materials.  I am not sure which products are the easiest to begin with, but I have found that the best return comes from the ones that require metal bits and glass shards.  Glass shards can be purchased where the firing sheets are sold.  Metal bits you have to make using the smithing skill.

Start with Clay Jars, Skewers and Ceramic Lining  (see recipes in recipe listing) which must be finished with a Quality Firing Sheet.  Note that Ceramic Lining sketches are a bit more costly so I recommend starting with jars.  Then move on to these products which require finishing with a High Quality Firing Sheet:

    Small Bowl;  Medium Bowl;  Large Bowl;  Pot;  Cake Round;  Muffin Tin;  Cookie Cutters;  Pie Tin  (See recipes on recipe page)

Then there is the Smoker which requires 2 High Quality Firing Sheets.  Don't even attempt this one until you get pretty high in pottery, you will just waste alot of money.   Additionally, there is the valuable Mixing Bowl.  So far this is the only product that requires the cheap Firing Sheet.   Lastly, there is a sketch I bought called "a small diety sketch".  I have not figured out a combination to produce this yet but if you have any info please let me know.

Your skills in pottery will become more valueable to bakers as you are able to produce various items needed for cooking.  Most of the more advanced items sell for 3-5 gold more than it cost to make, so there may be a way to make a living off of pottery.  Good luck!

Send any info or comments to  paulj@qnis.net

Kozmo, Wizard of Karana