I’ve been thinking lately a lot about minimalistic organic white ceramics and how I naturally gravitate towards them when I’m out shopping. And more recently, I’ve been dreaming of white and gold ceramics and jewelry and I’m not sure where this obsession stems from. Then I remembered Up in the Air Somewhere which is Chicago-based designer and artist Susan Dwyer because she uses some white and gold in her work…

Susan makes some of the most stunning papier mache and ceramic vessels and spoons… and because she does not use molds, no two pieces are alike making them each display subtle differences from the last. This isn’t helping to tame my desire for all things white and gold… :) So, so pretty.

On a personal note, I’ve been wanting to paint things white with gold trim and I’ve set my sights on some pear-shaped wood coasters that I have and a brooch that I’ll have to work on later this week to satisfy my curiosity.

What about you, do you have any particular obsessions lately?

(photos: Ben Syverson)

Swedish ceramicist Gustaf Nordenskiöld in Stockholm has some serious style going on! Up until now Gustaf’s work has been purely conceptual but now there are a very limited number of unique one-of-a-kind pieces sold in his web shop. Want to see? I know, I had you at Swedish and Ceramicist. Sure you want to see!

R.p.m candlestick in porcelain

Mallrik, candleholder in porcelain

Quake, hand thrown and shaken (not stirred he he) mug in porcelain

Fable, butter knife holder in colored porcelain

Grab (mini hook) porcelain.

About his work Gustaf says that he is trying to, “counter conventional ideas of beauty by making intriguing and sometimes grotesque works with naturalistic power and personality.” He further relates, “This aesthetic and philosophical idea differs from the accepted parameters of Swedish studio ceramics and the result questions the Scandinavian minimalism.”

These are all a delight to look upon, the candle holder really caught my eye. What about you?

(images: Karin Björkquist – check out her online portfolio by the way.)

I was so blown away by the gorgeous tea time set created by Dutch designer Aniek Meelijk that I saw today on Design Spotter. Wow. “One warm spring afternoon on the garden table she sees more than her own tea set. She discovered that its shadows could not be separated from the shapes of the set and that they constantly played their own game with them.” This was what inspired her Tea Time collection! Don’t you love this rather mundane observation turning into something so grand?

What innovation and creativity…

I wonder when and where it will be available for sale? I think it’s perfect for Alice in Wonderland! :)

If you want to learn more about Aniek, you can visit her blog here.

(image: aniek Meelijk)

It’s always fun to hear from my peeps back home so when Jill Rosenwald told me about her studio and recent open gallery event, I was excited for her and to see her space. It’s very inspiring, often I find the process of something more fascinating than the end result though in this case, both process and finished product are equally lovely. Jill is a ceramicist, one I’ve told you about a few times before, who not only creates and sells to stores but also maintains an etsy shop. Here is a glimpse of her world, a day in the life of Switch/Jill Rosenwald Studio located at 369 Congress Street in Boston — a studio for both Jill Rosenwald and her husband, Lawrence McRae.

Doesn’t this environment inspire you to make something? How about this weekend… if you can set aside time to make just one thing, why not give it a whirl? A cake, a small painting, a sketch, anything really…

(images: jill rosenwald)