Because it takes a lot more than a lump of clay and a good idea.
Every piece starts with me preparing the clay, throwing it by hand, trimming, carving, glazing, firing, and crossing my fingers when the kiln opens. Some pieces take hours of hands-on work, and every firing comes with the possibility of something cracking, warping, or simply not turning out the way I imagined.
You're also paying for all the bits you don't see—the clay, glazes, kiln firings, tools, studio time, packaging, and the occasional piece that doesn't make it.
Most importantly, you're buying something I made one piece at a time, rather than something produced by the thousands.
So yes, it costs more than a mass-produced cup.
But hopefully, it also feels a little more special.