I think that I am very easy to buy presents for. I have a look. A taste. An aesthetic. My husband has an algorithm for whether I will like something. It goes something like:

1. Is it black, white, or shiny? That’s a no.

2. Is it wonky, asymmetrical or mildly impractical? That’s a yes.

3. If it is neutrally coloured along the beige to brown spectrum, matte in texture, and looks like it has been around the block a few times, then it’s a hell yeah.

Never is this more obvious that in my choice of ceramics. I have spent the last week looking for my favourite mug until I realised that I had filled it with branches of white quince and put it on the windowsill. If you put the handle round the back, it looks like a vase.

I will let you into a little secret though. I have been flirting with something a little more black, a little whiter, and a little smoother and cleaner than my usual. Hasami Porcelain brought me up short. As they say, it is the exception that proves the rule. (No, I know that doesn’t make sense.)

If you are in the UK, have a look at Workshop Living. Bliss.

Knee Bone Ware

His actual name is Simon Kneebone. I know. And just wonky enough to be beautiful and just perfect enough to be practical. When I named a favourite mug above, and yes, it hurt to do it, it was the Knee Bone Ware mug that I was referring to. It came with a pile of plates I bought from him. I love them all. Photo below by Simon. All my pictures of my mug feature a lot of ribbon.

Website here.

Ali Herbert Ceramics

One of the first potters to turn me onto the beauty of ceramics. She keeps threatening to be the first potter to make me throw a pot too, but that’s another story. I have some black porcelain pieces of here, but my favourites are a stack of pasta bowl seconds. They are lumpier and bumpier than the ‘proper’ ones and I, of course, love them all the more. I eat out of little else now. They do have a little foot too so I think, when the season comes, they may feature in some flower arranging too.

Ali is moving into making bigger and bolder pieces, and I can’t wait to see what she makes.

More here.

Rebecca Proctor

My oldest hand thrown pieces are from Midgley Green and are by Rebecca. I got the off-white coffee cups for me and the very dark ones for my best friend. We both like coffee. They are smoother and rounder than my others, and pleasingly chunky. Comforting. Fitting.

I recently bought some of her more recent pieces. Beautiful bowls with drips of glaze and speckles in the texture. My sharp eyes have noticed that Mel Calver of Rerooting has got some too. She’s a member of Gather you know…

Website here.

Other mentions go to Sarah Gee Ceramics, Liz Vidal, and Dantes Ceramics.

Next week… dahlias. I can’t wait.