Foraged Clay

The piece that you are holding in your hands (and all my work) is made using my own bespoke clay mix which contains locally foraged clay.

Hand foraged from within 5 miles of my studio and processed using traditional techniques, this clay embodies the very essence of the Wirral.

Foraged Glaze Ingredients

Hewn from the very landscapes of Wales, this is the most foraged glaze in my portfolio.  

  • Granite foraged from Trefor on the Llyn Peninsula
  • Quartz collected from various Welsh Beaches
  • Mussel Shells foraged from various beaches In Wales and Wirral

These natural foraged materials make up 70% of this glaze.

 

Inspiration

Inspired by the incredible Welsh landscape from which it is foraged, this glaze is the essence of rugged Wales frozen in glass.  Think lush green moss growing on the granite blocks of a long ruined quarryman’s cottage.

And on a personal level, my wife and I used to scuba dive in the sea off of Trefor, so this place holds magical memories for us. 

Core Values

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!

 

Care

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!