Well…it’s a bit of an enigma.
I’ve been working on this glaze for 4 years, but I’ve spent zero time on it. The chemistry is perfect but I have no idea what it is. It has the most foraged ingredients of any of my glazes, but I’ve not left the studio to collect any ingredients for this glaze.
Actually, it’s all of my glazes – combined. Let me explain. When I do my glazing, I wash my tools and my buckets and collect the washings in a separate bucket. Over 4 years of making glazes, these washings have accumulated enough to make their own glaze (it also contains a few glaze experiments that I was less than happy with). And this is that glaze!
It’s a buttery smooth matt glaze that has a wonderfully tactile feel. It also has a lovely mottled look which reminds me of static on an old black and white TV (yes, I am old enough to remember that!!).
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!
Every single piece of Lonn Landis Ceramics is dishwasher and microwave safe, and vases 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!
