This really is that Greek island holiday where the vibrant turquoise sea lazily breaks onto hot golden sands.
The colour of the glaze as the sea, the colour of the clay as the sand, the ‘wave’ tide line in the glaze and even down to the bubbles forever frozen in the wave – everything evokes those sun soaked beach vacations.
Sustainability and ethics are absolutely central to everything I do!
Solar panels power my kiln, my studio, my home and the LL Ceramics van as much as possible. And whenever the sun doesn’t keep up, a 100% green energy tariff makes up any shortfall.
Surfers Against Sewage have awarded LL Ceramics with ‘Plastic Free Champion’ status, for actively eliminating plastics from the business wherever possible, particularly single use plastics.
Foraged clay and glaze ingredients reduce my reliance on destructive and energy intensive commercial mining. And perhaps more importantly, they reduce my ‘raw material miles’ – an important issue, as the carbon footprint to ship these heavy materials from foreign shores can be a huge percentage of the total footprint for the material.
When I package my work for sale at markets or for shipping, I use sheep wool packaging in order to avoid plastic bubble wrap. This wool is already being recycled (we get it in frozen food deliveries) so it’s already on it’s 2nd use – or 3rd if you count the sheep! It can then be used again in the garden to line hanging baskets, protect plants from frosts, or as a natural deterant to keep slugs away from precious plants.
At markets, I use bags that have been made entirely of fallen leaves rather than cutting down trees. These bags have been developed in Ukraine as well, so you’re helping to support this war torn country!
You may not be aware but the cobalt that makes the blue in ceramics and many other things is largely sourced from the Congo and often utilises child labour in extremely unsafe and unhealthy conditions. All of the cobalt used in my pieces is sourced from certified ethical suppliers.
I value craftsmanship above all else, and I hope that shows in my work. So while it takes more time to craft a piece to my exacting standards and add those details like the glossy smooth bottoms, it means that I can be truly proud of the work I make. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So while I make as much as I can, genuine craftsmanship will all prevail over quantity!
This is the only glaze that I don’t use for food or drink vessels. One of the features of this glaze that I love is that it produces bubbles where the glaze is thicker. While this really does complete the impression of the sea, it means that the bubbles would prevent effective washing of the surface, trapping bacteria which means the glaze is not food safe. It is absolutely fine as a fruit bowl etc, just no liquids or small bits that would get stuck in the bubbles.
Like all of my other work, the glaze and clay are fully matured in the kiln, meaning that they are non-absorbant and will not seep.
Oh, and the bottoms are all polished to a glossy shine so they won’t damage your surfaces. This also gives them a wonderful tactile experience!
