Studio Visit: Sue's Pottery Studio

There's no doubt I have a weakness for ceramics! Whether it's visiting a ceramic studio in New York or Copenhagen, it gives me great joy to pick up our ceramics from the ceramicists themselves as well as learn about the craft. I couldn't be more excited to discover the beautiful work of a group of local potters right here in my own backyard. With over 50 years of combined experience in ceramics, Sue Kang and a collective of amazing ceramicists, including Kelly Kwon and Thomas Akarawa, have been quietly doing what they love under the radar. They design and craft beautiful table ware and sculptural vessels in the California bay area.  They recently started selling them and so happy to introduce their pieces to the world! Nestled in the woods in San Jose, they welcomed me to their cozy ceramic studio which impressively houses both a gas and electric kiln. 

Sue balances teaching pottery while running her beautiful cafe in Saratoga, Sue's Cafe and Gallery. I witnessed a sense of joy, camaraderie and community among these makers, as they create beautiful objects and gather together to share a delicious prepared meal by one of the potters. One of them also brought a box of lemons shared with everyone and was so grateful for my fresh lemons that day.

 

Sue instructing her student.

dark clay use for the tea strainer/ potter's wheel

 I'm in awe and an admirer of the craft,as they explained the different clays, glazes, cone firings and equipment. A cup may be a vessel with a simple use. But beyond the function, it's the sum of materials, the tactile and kinesthetic aspects of the craft, combined with the intuitive creative design and time. Plus throw in the science and magic of the kiln and of course, the passion and hard work of the potter making each piece unique. As I drink out of my favorite tumbler, I'm reminded of the love and care that goes into each piece.

Kelly Kwon with her ceramic pieces

Thomas Arakawa / stoneware and wood-fired vessels

As we catch a glimpse of the process and the studio, it has always been our hope that you share this journey with us to get to know the craft and the people behind the designs that we carry. I have a sincere appreciation for the individuals and the process of each piece that we showcase. We're delighted to support and introduce the beautiful work of these charming, kind and talented group of local makers.

Shop our new ceramics!

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Thank you so much Sue, Kelly and Thomas and all the potters at the studio for graciously welcoming me and teaching me about your craft. It's a pleasure and so inspiring to see your dedication and love of pottery through the years. So grateful to know all of you and learn about the process. Thank you!

Studio/Home Visit: Chris Earl

We're proud to showcase the amazing work of LA-based furniture designer Chris Earl this season.  As a woodworker, ceramicist and chef, Chris is truly a modern renaissance man. Raised in Papua, New Guinea, he believes that creating objects is about fulfilling a purpose, creating story, and building community. He builds beautiful furniture and wares that are contemporary yet timeless, featuring craftsmanship that is meant to last. And I love that he also created a special Framework collection just for kids!

 

from his Framework Collection

 It's been long overdue, so I'm thrilled to share my studio/home visit with the designer.  Growing up in LA and living in different parts including the "valley" (San Fernando Valley!), it's great to learn that his studio/home was right in the North Hollywood area. Having dabbled in woodwork myself (ok maybe just a one day spoon-making class), I have so much respect and appreciation for the craft and process. It's always humbling and enlightening to see a maker's studio and seeing where the action happens-the combination of tools (from band saw to sander), skills and intuitive process to create such functional beauties we can use in our daily lives.

To get to his back studio, one is welcomed into Chris and his wife Amber's beautiful home (yup, it's only been featured in Apartment Therapy, Anthology Magazine and Design Sponge). Equipped with their unique design vision, woodworking skills and hard work, they've transformed Chris' grandparents home while paying homage to the past by maintaining the character of the original home.  Chris and Amber's home is a fusion of their style blending the old and the new. They're not afraid to mix pieces combining modern, vintage pieces, travel finds and Chris' handcrafted furniture. The home truly reflects their personalities and what they value- family history, connecting with friends, love of gardening and cooking. Yes it has elegant design elements , but somehow they've achieved a cozy comfy space that has such warmth and charm, truly meant to be lived in.  And did I mention the beautiful landscape? Their commitment to thoughtful design continues onto the outdoor space that is ideal for entertaining (they enjoy hosting dinner parties!).

His use of different design elements translates to his creations as well. Integrating metal (brass!) into his woodwork is brilliant adding just the right amount of clean textured detail. We're delighted to introduce his amazing wooden boards in our shop this season. These pieces are even better in person for the quality and craftsmanship. They're essential wares that are great accents but are meant to be enjoyed and used for many years.

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Thank you so much Amber and Chris for welcoming me into your beautiful home/studio. Truly inspiring! Hope to try your cooking soon!

Collection Pictures from Chris Earl

Studio Visit: Niki Tsukamoto of Lookout & Wonderland

It's always a treat to go home to LA to hangout with family and friends. And of course it also gives me a chance to visit some of our local designers based in this great city of ours (ok I'm a lil' bias!). So I was thrilled to visit the new Chinatown studio of fiber artist/maker Niki Tsukamoto of Lookout & Wonderland and see all the indigo goodness she's crafted.

This is my second visit with this talented lady, and I'm always inspired by her passion and enthusiasm for the beautiful craft of Shibori, fiber art and everything else she does (vintage shopping!). Plus Niki radiates such warmth and creative spirit that it's always fun and easy to chat with her about the craft, life and everything in between. Whether it's sourcing textiles/dyes or incorporating different methods (weaving!), Niki shared her insights and thoughtful approach to design and craftsmanship of her beautiful handmade product line. As a tactile person myself, it was great to feel the various textiles in terms of weight and texture and I couldn't stop touching that amazing wool/alpaca yarn in the basket! Whether stirring the indigo dye vat or untying the newly dyed pieces, you can appreciate the materials, process and small details in the creation of such beautiful textiles for daily life. Stay tune for new pieces from Lookout & Wonderland in Vuela.

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Thank you so much Niki for welcoming me into your studio...it's always a pleasure to hang out with ya!

Studio Visit: Woodlark

 

What I love about having our shop besides showcasing beautiful creations is actually getting to know the talented people behind the products. It's always a treat for me to meet the makers and see the creative space where their ideas and inspirations become a reality.

And seeing the material or medium used to execute the vision, I have such appreciation for the maker's craft and process-in this case, the versatile material of leather. A local treasured find (right in our own backyard in the LA area!), a studio visit with stunning leather goods line, Woodlark, was a must when I went home. Ashley,the designer and maker behind the line, graciously welcomed us to her lovely studio where her commitment to quality materials, simple understated design and meticulous attention to details translate to beautiful utilitarian well-crafted leather goods. The Woodlark clutches have been been a shop favorite and only get better with age. And we're happy to add her sweet little leather trays for rings or other lil' treasures to Vuela!

And she's a wonderful photographer as well, check out her beautiful Instagram feed-one of my favorites!

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Thank you so much Ashley for the wonderful studio visit! It was a pleasure to meet and chat with you.