Help Save Pako Lazo Pottery – Don’t Let a Frivolous Lawsuit Silence the Hands That Grate Your Garlic Dear friends, loyal customers, kitchen warriors, and everyone who’s ever grated fresh garlic with one of my pieces, My name is Patrick Lauterio, I am the hands and heart behind Pako Lazo Pottery. For over a decade, we’ve woken up in the dark, covered ourselves in clay dust, and poured everything into crafting functional ceramics that make life in the kitchen better, tastier, and more beautiful. You know us best for the Gourmet Grater; the little ceramic hero that turns raw garlic, ginger, cheese, nutmeg, or zest into effortless magic without tearing your knuckles or wasting flavor. People tell me stories; how it changed their marinades, elevated their pasta nights, or became the tool their family reaches for every time they cook together. Then there’s the butter vase that keeps butter perfectly soft and spreadable, the garlic roaster that fills your home with that irresistible roasted aroma, the ramekins for perfect portions of sauce or dipping, the herb grinders, serving bowls with built-in graters… every piece is designed to be used, loved, and passed down. These aren’t just objects; they’re quiet companions in your daily rituals, turning ordinary meals into moments of care and connection. Your orders, your messages saying “This grater is life-changing,” your photos of grated garlic mountains or butter bells on your table… those have kept us going. They’ve made this small studio in the Southwest feel like part of something bigger: a community that values locally made, thoughtful tools over mass-produced junk. But tonight, I’m sitting here in the quiet after a long day in the studio, heart heavy, because that community—and everything we’ve built—is under real threat. We’ve been served a baseless, frivolous lawsuit. It lacks merit, feels like an attack meant to overwhelm and silence a fellow small maker, but the courts don’t pause for fairness. If I don’t respond, a default judgment could shut us down completely—no more graters, no more roasters, no more butter vases coming out of the kiln. To fight this injustice, I need a lawyer. The retainer starts at $5,000, and if it goes to trial, costs could climb to $70,000 or beyond. These numbers are crushing for an artist that pours every sale back into clay, glazes, kiln repairs, and keeping the dream alive. I have no big reserves, no safety net—just the work of my hands and the support we’ve earned from people like you. The fear is real. What if we lose the ability to create these pieces that bring so much joy? What if I have to close the studio doors, pack away the tools, and tell our customers—the ones who’ve made this possible that it’s over? Not because the work isn’t loved, not because we failed, but because one person chose to weaponize the legal system against us? It keeps me awake, staring at the kiln, wondering if the next firing will be the last. This pottery is our livelihood, our passion, our way of contributing something good to the world. Losing it would feel like losing a piece of my soul. I’m asking—pleading, really—for your help through this GoFundMe: Help Save Pako Lazo Pottery. Every dollar goes straight to legal defense so we can stand up, protect what we’ve built, and keep grating garlic, roasting cloves, and softening butter for years to come. Even $10 feels huge right now; it’s a reminder I am not alone. To thank you and keep the connection strong during this fight:

• $25+ → A personal handwritten note from me + a small handmade pottery gift (like a mini ramekin or herb dish, shipped to you).

• $50+ → The above + a 25% off code good for your next order of graters, roasters, butter bells—whatever calls to you.

• $100+ → All of the above + a one-on-one consultation call once this is over, so we can design a custom piece together that fits perfectly in your kitchen.

You’ve already given me more than sales—you’ve given purpose, encouragement, and proof that functional, handmade ceramics matter. Now I need you to help me hold on. Share this with your cooking groups, your family, your friends who grate garlic like it’s an art form. Post a photo of your Pako Lazo piece and tag us. Tell the story of why these tools deserve to survive. From the bottom of my clay-covered heart: thank you for seeing us, for using our work, for believing in small makers. Let’s fight this together—so the next time someone needs fresh-grated garlic, a perfect pat of butter, or a ramekin of sauce, Pako Lazo will still be here, firing strong, With endless gratitude and hope,

Patrick Lauterio

Pako Lazo Pottery

www.pakolazo.com | Instagram: @pakolazoceramics

Goal: $15,000 (to cover the retainer and early legal costs, with stretch goals if we need to go further)#SavePakoLazoPottery #GourmetGrater #FunctionalCeramics #SupportSmallMakers #HandmadeKitchenTools #PotteryCommunity #StandWithArtists