Etsy Find: PrinceDesignUK

I’m loving these sweet lovebird bowls and poppy flower bowls from Etsy seller, Prince Design UK.

Emilia Ceramics

When I wrote about Bitossi ceramics recently, Emily from Emilia Ceramics  commented that she has visited Aldo Londi’s hometown of Montelupo, and that she imports ceramics from Motelupo for her shop. So of course I had to look up her shop, and not only is it filled with beautiful handmade ceramics from Spain, Italy, France and Mexico, but she has a wonderful and inspiring story of how she’s followed her passions and started her own business. I asked Emily if she would answer a few questions for me about her business, and she was gracious enough to oblige.

What kind of work were you doing before you started Emilia Ceramics? Was there a particular moment when you decided to take the plunge and start your own business?

After college, I lived in Seville, Spain for a year. There is a ton of ceramics in Spain of course, but it was actually on a weekend trip in Portugal that I got the idea of importing ceramics. I met a great Portuguese potter, who invited me to experiment on his potter's wheel (I have taken ceramics classes at various times of my life). The experience made me realize how exciting and fulfilling it is to connect with people from other countries through their artwork. I learned that for most family-run pottery workshops, it's not just about the ceramics itself, it's also about their heritage, family traditions, and culture. 

That's where the idea originated, but it was five years later while working in advertising in San Francisco that I decided to take the plunge. I had been back to Spain and Italy to visit and felt increasingly drawn to the laid-back way of life. I really resonated with the way Europeans seem to put people first -- spending hours over meals, enjoying each others' company and the simple elements of life: good food, wine, friends.  In my mind, handmade ceramics is closely linked to these values, in that the technique of crafting and painting has been passed down through generations and the intention is that the pieces be used among friends and family.  While the ceramic artwork I import makes great decoration, the truth is it is meant to be used... it's functional art. I want it to feel approachable, like the friendly and welcoming cultures from which it comes. 

So finally, to answer your question...when I realized that I wanted my own business someday, it suddenly occurred to me that there was no reason to wait.  While it seemed a little crazy, I decided it was best to jump into it when I felt the most excitement and the most passion for the endeavor.  I knew the only thing I'd regret was not taking the chance. 

How often do you travel looking for new artists or checking in on your favorites? Do you have other ways of finding new artists or do you mostly find them through your travels?

I did a lot of research before going on my first buying trip. I searched online, contacted international trade offices, and asked for suggestions from well-travelled friends and relatives here and abroad. It's easy to find the big manufacturers, but I wanted to work with local, independent artists... those that haven't done much or any exporting and are passionate about doing work that is truly original.  These artists are a lot more difficult to find, and given their size, they are much more challenging to work with too.  But is is all worth it when I'm able to share their beautiful artwork with friends and family here. I love the connections I've made with each artist -- it makes promoting and selling their work easy because I know that I am forwarding the careers of these talented and friendly people, as well as the cultural traditions of handmade ceramics and a slower-paced lifestyle. 

By far my best leads have come through my uncle, who is a ceramic artist in Los Angeles and has worked in Italy a lot, and friends who have spent a lot of time in Mexico.  Then there are a few that I've just come across unexpectedly on my travels -- those have been the most thrilling moments of my job: discovering an amazing artist at a market in Marseille or when lost in a tiny town outside of Valencia. 

At the moment I'm too consumed with the business part of the business to travel as much as I'd like. It all began out of my love of traveling and connecting with the artists in person and I hope that someday that's what I spend most of my time on.  But right now, my focus has shifted to learning about websites, photography, online marketing, and accounting. 

On your website you mention that you run your business out of your house. I'm curious about how that works - where do you keep all of your inventory?

It's a bit crazy right now.  I try to stay organized, but I am fighting an uphill battle. When I get a new shipment, I have to do inventory to be sure everything arrived in one piece and then I have to photograph it all for the website. At that stage my apartment is usually covered in pottery... every shelf, table, and much of the floor space is littered with it. I have boxes stored in a few places, but I keep a lot of pieces displayed in my home for people to see in person.  Plus, that way I get to look at it everyday!

  

So far, what has been the biggest challenge/surprise of running your own business?

The biggest challenge is juggling so many moving parts at the same time. Every day I have to decide where to focus my attention and I know it is all important -- from communicating with my artists, organizing my inventory, updating the website, and gift-wrapping presents, all the way to creating marketing collateral, cold-calling vendors, and updating my accounting. I have learned about 50 new jobs in the last year, but I've yet to master any of them and I feel like there are 50 more that need learning as well.  It's easy to feel overwhelmed, but then I remind myself that I'm getting to do exactly what I want to be doing. I wake up in the morning excited about all that I want to and have to get done that day. And I make my own schedule, with no bosses to answer to but myself.

 

What's next for Emilia Ceramics?

At the moment I'm really excited about expanding my gift registry.  A handful of friends have registered for wedding gifts with me and it's been a huge success. Our pieces make a great compliment to the more traditional registry items you find at larger stores. More than anything, people love buying a gift that's unique and personal -- that the bride and groom will remember and cherish forever. I am really excited about the potential for Emilia Ceramics Registry.

 

Thank you so much Emily for sharing your experience and best of luck to you with Emilia Ceramics!

All of the ceramics pictured in this post (and many more) are available in the Emilia Ceramics shop.

Bollywood mugs

I love these Bollywood inspired mugs by Charan Sachar. Each mug is decorated free hand in patterns inspired by Indian fabrics and embroidery.

Both colors are available in Sachar's Etsy shop, Creative with Clay.

Ceramics-inspired designs by Skinny LaMinx

The new LAVA tea towels by Skinny LaMinx (AKA Heather Moore) are all over the blogosphere this week, and for good reason. Inspired by mid-century West German ceramics, the tea towels come in petrol (below left) and hot lava (below right.)

Earlier this year, Skinny LaMinx came out with a set of tea towels inspired by her own collection of vintage mugs. The mug tea towels are available in blueberry (below left), raspberry (below middle), and gooseberry (below right.)

It's great to see how ceramics design can influence designs in other mediums. I can't wait to see what Heather comes up with next!

Heart of Ireland Ceramics

I just discovered these gorgeous "pots with bellies" from Etsy seller heartofireland. Handmade in Cork, Ireland.

porcelain pots with little bellies

Pair of pots with bellies

beautifully photographed too.

JBJE Ceramics

JBJE is Jeremy Bert and Jennifer Elek and together they make some pretty amazing ceramics.

photo from jbjeartists.com

Their work was recently on display at Gather in Seattle's charming Columbia City neighborhood. The exhibit is over, but there is a photoset on Flickr. JBJE makes cups, wall pieces, and the nesting bowls pictured above (which can be purchased individually.) I'll take one of each, thank you.

Speaking of displays...

I highlighted some great tabletop and mantle displays the other day in my post on ceramic animal figurines. I'm always in awe of people who can arrange things so beautifully in their homes, since I tend to fall in love with objects, but then I'm useless at displaying them in creative ways. Which is why I was delighted to see this post yesterday by Chez Larsson, a Swedish visual merchandiser. She give a simple overview of some basic display techniques used in store displays, like:

Group items in a triangular shape

and repeat similar items in odd numbers

I especially like her trick #5: "Keep it simple. Don't try to display all your nick-nacks at once. Store some and bring them out to switch your displays around." This is something I really need to work on - I tend to put things out and then leave them in the same spot forever.

Check out the full post on Chez Larsson for more pictures and tips from a professional!

End of summer sale in the Peacock Modern shop

I am running out of space and need to make room for more stuff! So, for the last few weeks of summer, I'm offering a half-off the second item sale. Just purchase one item at regular price and then get a second item of lesser or equal value for half-off! Get all the details in my shop announcement. And if you mention that you heard about this offer on the Peacock Modern blog, I'll even give you a third item for 1/2 off. So go shopping!

The awesomely cluttered sale sign shop, via the justified sinner on flickr.

Ceramic Animal Figurines

For some, the thought of ceramic animal figurines, might conjure up thoughts of grandma's cluttered curio cabinet, but when used sparingly, a cute little animal here and there can add whimsy and warmth to mantels and tablescapes. I recently purchased this pair of peacocks from Etsy seller VintageEye, thinking that I might use them in my shop photos, but I think they're a little big for that. So now I'm looking for the right spot to display them, and I went to Flickr in search of inspiration from some display masters.

Sfgirlbybay is constantly re-arranging her home and never seems to run out of new ideas. Here's a collection of deer atop one of her Keep Calm posters.

Another sweet deer, this one tucked in among some colorful dishes, by type.wright.

Lena Corwin displays a pair of proud doves atop a stack of books.

A colorful deer gang (or is it a flock? or a herd? maybe a posse) adorns Just Jenny's mantle.

And who wouldn't want to sit down to work with this little owl collection by Decor8 at your desk to keep you company?

To find some little friends to liven up your own displays, there's plenty to be found on Etsy:

How about some owl salt and pepper shakers?

L: Vintage owl salt and pepper shakers from thirteen leaf home; R: Vintage Grey Owl Salt N Pepper Set from Ugly Betty Vintage

Or a deer?

L: Ceramic Deer with Antlers Figurine from The Aviary; R: Vintage Deer Figurine from The Constant Gatherer

Or maybe some swans?

L: Vintage Swan Vase or Planter from How Now Design; R: Vintage Andre Richard Salmon Pink Ceramic Swan Figurine by Vintage Eye

So many cute animals out there, just waiting for a home....

Rimini Blu by Bitossi

Rimini Blu is an Italian ceramics line characterized by intricate hand-embossed patterns and layered blue and turquoise glazes, reminiscent of the sea. The pieces were designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, and many are still in production today. The pattern can be seen in vases, lamps, ash trays, bowls, platters, and, my favorite, animal figurines.

Bitossi horse from Kate Spade via Decor8 on Flickr.

Designed in the 1950s, some of the animal figurines are available in a re-editions line at Unica Home.

Rimini Blu pattern detail by Anne Cooper on Flickr.

And even though these aren't Rimini Blu, I just had to include these unusual pink Bitossi vases by quekie - manusje van alles on Flickr.

Want to start or add to your own Rimini Blu collection? Lots of tempting finds on eBay...

Top L: tray from modern cactus; Top R: bowl from aashee; Lower L: vase from camillehervier; Lower R: vase from MotherEarthGifts

And if you're lucky enough to be in London in September, the London Design Festival is having a Rimini Blue exhibit from September 17-23, 2008 at SCP West.