Hoping the new years brings me happiness!!!

Lost in thought and lost in time
While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted
Outside the rain fell dark and slow
While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime
I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life

- Coming back to life - Pink Floyd. 

Indeed we have not killed the past, but I love this stanza in the song, it reminds me time and again e 

Kettle cooked!

My fascination for kettles started when I started my pottery classes. Its one of the must have collections and I intend to collect as many as I can. Some of the kettles that I loved are captured here and their sources. 
Maya Industries is a national award winning company consisting of team of artists who specialize in Khurja Pottery.
Some of their work - (Source of all their pictures is their website)

More traditional in my fav combination. 

It resembles the old coal iron - My fav

Resembles the swan like shape 

Pier 1 - Swan Teapot

Love this appu from Pier1

Some more traditional

Salt & Pepper returns!!!

Yes!! I have am crazy about salt n pepper shakers. I found one at an antique shop in Boone. It represents a barrel suspended. Photos of those will follow soon. But here are some more interesting finds I found on Pier1 website. Some of those are on sale, Yey!! 

Burger anyone?

Whats cooking??This one is my most favourite

This one wins for the cutest jersey cow ever!!

Ceramics with Indo ethnic blend!

Have you ever noticed the intricate work of the jalis of Taj Mahal and wondered who conceptualized and who carved these beautiful stone with such precision. I hail all those artists. The beauty also lies in the paintings carved and filled with color. I was 7 when I saw those, but i still remember those vividly. Looking at Cynthia Vardhan's ( the last name sounded so Indian) ceramic collection reminded me of the jalis of taj Mahal. The porcelain material used reminded me of the white marble. Her collection is inspired by henna designs. She used slips trails of vibrant colors. Keeping the base white makes all the bright colors pop! I simply loved her collection. If you wish to buy any of her collections ( I would love to) you can find her shop on etsy here. Her work is truly inspirational. I cannot wait to work with porcelain. Catch her on her website. All the photos displayed her are courtesy her website and etsy. 

Look at the intricate heena design. 

Don't you rem having one these designs during the weddings?

Love! Love! Love the work!

Now you know where it is used. 

One of my fav mugs!

it is now a 'MUST HAVE'

The shape is quite unique. I am trying to think how will I create such a shape. 

How could I not have bowls in here!!!

crackled look of the glazes is by far my most favorite!

Auld Lang Syne..

Long Long ago.. the story begins and thats how most of the stories were told when we were kids.   Most of the time the reason for telling the story was to understand the moral of the story. Long before language was written oral form of telling stories meant passing it from generation to generation and preserving the culture. Out here in Arizona, the Navajo tribes did the same. Storytelling is part of the oral tradition of indigenous peoples. Stories impart values, language, memories, ethics and philosophy, passing them to the next generation says a professor Laura Tohe. This story telling is transformed in the form of pottery, native pottery. It is now a collectible fetching huge sums of money depending on the complexity. 

If you pass through phoenix, you can find some at the airport collectible shops. I am sure ebay will also provide you ample of these figures. 

K is for Khurja Pottery

Khurja pottery is made in abundance in UP, India. A two hour drive from the capital, is well known for its inexpensive but tough tableware. Produced on a mass scale, fired at high temperatures, these pottery items retain their mud colour and are in great demand. I have seen some of those in the expo's around Mumbai. But if these mugs have lead content in them then they are not fit for consumption. 

Love the colors used here

Isn't the soup bowl adorable?

From The Hindu - Khurja potteryon display at CCIE. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

For all things small

Chanced upon this wonderful basement house. Everything looked picture perfect. Artistic, simple and more importantly made in Ikea! The pictures capture the nuances of every day life, empty bottles left on the table, garbage left at the door. 

The corner finely decorated. 

Stuff left on the table

Kitchen - pieces put together from Ikea or you think!

Relaxing couch and dinning table

Hehe! reminds me of myself on the weekend minus the ash tray ofcourse. 

Super Ikea book case used a room divider!

look at the 1960s table. Love it. Adore it!

ikea bed set!

This is the best part. A garbage bin left on the walkway! 

The details of the 60s mosaic tiles. Absolutely adore it. 

If you have realized it so far then pat yourself on the back. All those are miniature! Yes along with trash bin and all stuff Ikea!

G is for Golden Bridge Pottery

This time the golden gate bridge is not that of SFO but home of pottery in Pondicherry, India. This is second post I am doing about pottery in this region. This was started by Deborah Smith and Ray Meeker founded this pottery school in 1971 at Sir Aurbindo Ashram. Since then they have stayed there and teach pottery making techniques. For more information on their school please contact them here

 

I am guessing she is Deborah.

Pottery as Passion

My search for pottery school in India is endless. I want to track down all the pottery schools in India and make a repository of those. I know making a calendar of those activities is difficult, but a guide by the city would be the ultimate product. Shalan Dere is the owner of pottery studio in Mahim, Mumbai. Pottery started as a past time for this bajaj MBA graduate and has grown into full blown pottery. She has some amazing collection which you can see at her website here

Some of her work

The arttist her self

She takes weekend pottery workshops. Anyone interested please get in touch with her with the contact details mentioned on the website.

A is for Andretta Pottery (HP)

I am so glad I am discovering all the movements in Indian pottery. One such took place in picturesque place of Andretta, nestled in the Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh. Studio pottery may be very well known today, but 50yrs ago in India, it was unheard of. To make studio art popular, credit goes to Gurcharan Singh. Andretta sounds so Italian. To know all history of the place please read here. His son runs the pottery school now. I will post photos as soon as I find some.