What attracted you to your craft?
I first tried kiln fired clay during my GCSEs studies where I immediately loved working with the medium. I developed this through my A levels and into my degree in Fine Art Sculpture gradually developing my style and technique ever since. I love clay as it allows me to bring my sketches to life and the unpredictable outcome, due to the organic nature of the material, makes it more interesting to work with as you never know what your going to end up with.
What does your typical day look like?
Everyday usually centres around clay, learning new techniques and trying new styles and ideas. I am currently self-employed so no day is ever the same. Recently, I’ve been making a ceramic house for a local exhibition, as well as pieces to take to a market in addition to the ceramic garden labels for not just a shop. I’m also exploring other mediums such as light art sculptures and painting in my free time and sketching new ideas.
Does your product have an environmental focus?
It was important to have an environmental focus for my product, particularly regarding my intention for outside use. My interior packaging is a recyclable cardboard wrap and twine which protects the ceramic pieces in transit and can be reused or recycled. The outer packaging is biodegradable, made of basil seeds combined with recycled paper. The seeds are released into the soil as it biodegrades to eventually grow a basil plant. This was important as I wanted a way to sustainably intertwine my packaging and product together with minimal environmental impact.
What is the unique selling point of your ceramic plant labels?
My unique selling point is the plantable basil seed packaging which can grow into you first herb to be used the pack of ceramic garden planter sticks.
Where do you find / source your inspiration for designs?
Inspiration for my designs comes from everywhere: my surroundings, sketching, experimenting with new materials, reading, visiting museums, galleries and travel. These all combine to help create new pieces of work and inspire new ideas. Often the functional ceramics are created to utilise within my day to day life or as gifts for my family and friends, taking inspiration from there interests and hobbies.
Please can you provide a little more info on how your interest in design started and developed?
I’ve always had an interest in art and design. I originally started with sketches, cardboard sculptures and air dry clay when I was younger, before discovering clay during secondary school. There, my loved for the processes such as glazing and kiln firing began and has continued ever since. This continued passion for clay within my artistic practice led me to a BA in Fine Art Sculpture at Camberwell, where I developed working with ceramics in different forms. Due to the lockdown, our first year focused of sculpting in air dry clay, before finally getting to work on and fire hand built pieces in my second and third year. Since then, I have taught myself to throw pots on a table top mini wheel, reaching a point where I can confidently throw on a normal pottery wheel whilst still developing my technique. I still often go back to hand building my pieces as I love the style of working seeing how the ideas gradually all fit together from sketch to finality.
Do you have any favourite items?
My favourite items are my ceramic planter sticks, but my new bee drinking cups, which are currently a work in progress, might just over take them.
How would you summarise your collection in a few works?
Bright , reusable and sustainable.
Does you work have a social impact?
My work incorporates low impact packaging, with all of my planter sticks shipped in reusable and recycled materials. All my materials, such as my clay and plantable packaging, are sourced from small businesses. I also sell any ceramic labels that are not perfect as seconds at a reduced price to avoid wastage, whilst also recycling clay from any that were faulty prior to firing. Clay can be recycled before it has been bisque fired, keeping the making process low waste.
What are your hopes for the future, and where would you like to take your design career?
I would love to expand my colourful ceramic collection to bring more indoor and outdoor pieces to a wider audience. Within this I would love to develop more pieces for my garden collection with wildlife and sustainability at heart. I would also love to stock more products with not just a shop, and expand to other stockists in the future.
Where can we learn about your future projects and work?
You can find me on instagram at @littlebookofdoodles, and my website https://www.littlebookofdoodles.com.