Women who create beautiful tableware: Tracy Porter

(above: Sweet Cecily dinnerware collection, Tracy Porter)

Tracy Porter, a Wisconsin native, started a hand-painted furniture business with her husband
out of the chicken coop of their Midwestern farm. She is a self-taught artist. She is not
formally educated in design. Instead of going to college, she moved to Europe for two
years to model, which exposed her to so many cultures and opened her eyes to the possibilities
of design which enabled her to hone in on her own design ideas.


(l to r: Lemon Chiffon dinnerware; Vivre dinnerware; Horchow)

I have always been a fan of Tracy Porter's work and for the last two days I've been enjoying
the two-part interview that my friend Ronda over at "All The Best" had with Tracy and her
husband John. Make sure you check it out!


(above: Auguste Coq dinnerware collection, Tracy Porter)

"Dream with Your Eyes Open", that's Tracy's philosophy. Each of her tableware pieces are
inspired by color, music, texture and smell to awaken the senses. Her dinnerware, glassware
and accessories emphasize the casual trend, the mix-and-match concept and the handcrafted
look.


(l to r: Artesian dinnerware; Corvina dinnerware; Horchow)

Tracy Porter's studio is located on her farm in Princeton, WI. Even though the Porters still
live on a farm, the business has certainly moved out of the coop. The Tracey Porter Home
Collection has expanded vastly since its early beginning. Today it includes bathtubs, area
rugs and other products.

Her tableware can be found at Horchow and online at Tracy Porter's website.

Women who create beautiful tableware: Nambe introduces Eva Zeisel's new dinnerware

Swooping up and around in whimsical curves, the ceramic designs of Eva Zeisel seem
to almost come alive. Her work is playful and round and begging to be used, not just
admired from behind a glass case. That’s why Nambe' has teamed up with Eva Zeisel
to create museum-quality tabletop pieces that you can enjoy everyday. A new
category for Nambe, this dinnerware set contains a bowl, plates, stemware and
candlesticks made of Nambe's very own signature metal alloy.



The aspect of interaction holds as the signature twist that Eva Zeisel gave to
modernism and continues to pass on. She was the first designer in America to
produce an all-white modernist dinner service and she continues to produce
to this day. Nambe is thrilled to introduce “Eden” by Eva Zeisel. The resplendent
curves and resonant shapes are very signature of Ms. Zeisel. Subtle nuances
are revealed in luminous white glazed porcelain and Nambe’s signature metal.



Eva Zeisel is a true living legend, a modernist designer who's work continues
to fascinate me and other lovers of design as much today as they did when
she first started designing.

New Year’s resolution #3: Recycle

Recycle! Renew! Reuse! This most appropriate mantra will be heard everywhere
this year as people are starting to realize that eco-friendly designs make sense for
both people and the planet.



Most of us have at least a few pieces of cracked, chipped, and mismatched tableware
that haven’t seen a table in years, languishing in some dark upper cupboard, evidence
of life past. But some gifted designers are proving that one woman’s trash is another
women’s treasure. Breathing new life in old tableware and creating provocative works
of art, worthy of any table.



Designer Sarah Cihat, rescues orphaned ceramic pieces from thrift stores and resurfaces
them. Her much adored ceramic tableware line, Rehabilitated Dishware, is a collection of dishwasher-safe plates, bowls, and creamers rescued from thrift shops and then lovingly reglazed in bright candy colors and quirky patterns.



Esther Derkx is the Sarah Cihat of The Netherlands. Dutch designer Esther Derkx takes
vintage teapots, cups, creamers, and the like and decorates them with screen-printed
images of dancers and athletes. Classic English roses and leaf motifs join kitschy leaping
girls in bikinis and briefs-clad guys doing yoga. Because Derkx scours flea markets for
original pieces, the entire line is one of a kinds. And the porcelain and bone china she favors
come from far-flung locales like the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and Bavaria, so you’re acquiring a piece of history in the process.

Women (and men) who make beautiful tableware: Marcela Sheridan and Atticus Lyon

With handcrafted tableware designed to stimulate the senses with surprising
combinations of texture and form, this Texas company is a fresh face in the
centuries-old china market.



I was so happy to see Atticus profiled in this month's issue of Southern Accents magazine.
I'd written about the brand in a previous post entitled, "Home Sweet Atticus Home"
as I am such a huge fan of the entire collection. Crafted from luxurious yet
environmentally friendly materials, such as buffalo horn, sand-cast aluminum and
sustainable woods, each piece is a functional work of art!

What I love most about Atticus is its founders - - - Marcela Sheridan and Atticus Lyon.
They wanted to make tableware for the customer who wanted to live with beautiful,
smart and casual things and that is exactly what they did. Atticus left his job in the
high-stakes world of investment banking because he needed a creative outlet. After
five months of extensive research he and partner Marcela Sheridan, who studied
product design at Parsons School of Design decided to try their hand in the tabletop
market and in 2006 they introduced their first line. There is something to be said for
those that are able to step out of their 'comfort zone' to follow their passion.



I think we can all be inspired by Atticus and Marcela. As we start this new year, is
there something you yearn to achieve - - - start your own business, take a class, design
a website, create a blog or make tableware? If there's a dream in your life - - - something
you yearn to achieve, or merely something it would be so much fun to try - - - don't put
it aside, do it now. Yes, now. Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today.

Atticus dinnerware can be found online at : Bloomingdale's, Vivre and other fine tabletop
retailers.

Women who make beautiful tableware: Kim Westad

I began seeing and reading about women with wonderful unique and handmade
tableware and enterprises in smaller venues - at antique shows, crafts shows
and etsy. Women are taking their personal passions and turning them into
livelihoods. Here at Toast and Tables I wanted to create this series, "Women
who make beautiful tableware" to honor the women in this country who have
successfully started a business doing what they love. Kim Westad came from
a background in graphic design, she discovered her love for clay , began
designing three dimensionally in 2001 and 2 1/2 years later, left her full
time position as a graphic artist to concentrate solely on ceramics.



Many of her hand-thrown porcelain pieces incorporate a beautiful vine
inspired slip design. The design is comprised of individually applied slip dots,
which are slightly raised above the surface. This gives the pieces a wonderful,
tactile quality. All of the slip designs are created freehand, so each one is
unique. You can buy her pieces from her etsy store. [click here]



On December 8th, Kim will be participating in the 2007 Bust Magazine Craftacular.
If you're in New York I encourage you to come out and support Kim and the other
wonderful artist. The Craftacular will be held at the Metropolitan Pavillion from
10am - 8pm. Kim says, "I like retail shows where I'm able to get feedback from
other people. I like people to be able to afford things. I get a lot of young people
wanting to buy stuff and I want them to be able to have things, so I make
pieces in all price ranges.” All of her work is functional, dishwasher and
microwave safe.

Kim is proof that if you follow your bliss, it will lead you down the right path.

Women who make beautiful tableware: I'm bowled over by Ruth Hyndman and Leah Nobilette

Their bowls are hand-painted, hand-made and their use of color is uninhibited.
As seen on Apartment Therapy, Hostess with the Mostess and many other
blogs, Ruth Hyndman and Leah Nobilette have bowled over their admires.
Their juxtapositions of color and material created by the dimensions of their
bowls will certainty bring a cheeriness to the table.


(above: Very Hefty bowls, 14", $220.00; Hefty bowls, 6.5", $58.00; Iluren)

Combining thickness and weight, usually reserved for dark objects with the
brightest and happiest of color reminds me that even the brawniest of home
decor can bring a smile to one's face.


(above: Leah Nobilette handmade spike bowls, $65.00, Relish)

Although the bowls designed by Leah Nobilette are functional and food-safe,
they are more like sculptures. These beautifully designed ceramic bowls have
a spikey exterior, extruded through a pastry bag! Brilliant! Relish was a
early supporter of her bowls and you can now order them online; however you
should act fast before they're all gone. According to Ultra, a great design
site, Oprah once bought out the entire collection for O magazine and
to use for the set of her television show!

The reason why I chose to spotlight "Women Who Make Beautiful Tableware"
every Friday is because I believe that handmade pottery adds a great deal of
creativity and individuality to the table. There are a lot of handmade looking
items on the market now that are manufactured to look like they've been
crafted by hand; but they are not. I hope these post inspire you to buy
handmade; because when you do, you have a connection with whoever
made it. We live in such a technological world, isn't it just nice sometimes
to make a human connection.

Women who make beautiful tableware: Pukashell’s handcrafted accents can exude a casual elegant tablesetting

So you want to decorate your table in a creative, unique way? Put your own
stamp on your table by adding handcrafted accessories. They add a welcomed
personal touch. Like the tablescape above designed by William Yeoward, not
all the food on the table is real, however - some of the cookies, cakes, tarts and
candies are knitted. This joke food interspersed among the copious quantity
of delicious edible treats makes for a great conversation piece and a unforgettable
party.



In my third installment of “Women who make beautiful tableware”, I'm thrilled
to spotlight the beautifully handcrafted work of Pukashell Creative Designs.
Ranging from cakes, cookies to bonbon - - - knitted desserts are their specialty,
these incredible inedibles are created from high quality fibers mixed with vintage
and recycled yarn.



Handcrafted items are a great way to put your individual or familiar imprint on
your table, whether it's a holiday dinner or a wedding reception. These items - - -
sometimes placed as individual pieces or sometimes grouped together allow you
to express your own personal style. William Yeoward constantly inspires me and
I love the way he has incorporated knitted desserts in his own tablesettings.



So make your wedding reception or next holiday celebration even more special
by putting handcrafted accessories on the table. When you successfully mix the
inexpensive with the expensive, the antique with the modern, and fun accessories
with more formal dinnerware, you create a tablesetting that your guest will
remember long after they've thrown the last handful of rice.



A great resource for handcrafted wedding products is The Handcrafted Wedding,
so if you're looking for ways to add personality to your special day, this website
is a must visit.

Women who make beautiful tableware: Dishfuls of Doodles and Milani Home

Rich and voluptuous. Complex and nuanced . Exotic and spicy. These adjectives
describe the dominant color trends from the fall runway, and it might not be
a coincidence that they could also describe the kind of tableware created by
the two women I am spotlighting today.


(row 1: square serving platter, $20.00; serving platter, $20.00.
row 2: small serving bowl, $15.00. row 3: rimmed serving bowl, $20.00;
vase, $20.00. All available at Dishfuls of Doodles Etsy store)

Mary Imig Gallimore of Dishfuls of Doodles adds Exotic and spicy color
to whiteware bowls and platters by embellishing them with her one-of-a-kind
painted design, making festive (yet ultra functional) centerpieces and gifts.
Tammy Milani of Milani Home combines voluptuous patterns, rich color,
luscious metal finishes, black glazes and carved textures. Her creations serve as
art pieces, existing on their own, or functioning as practical pieces for every use.


(row 1: Shadow Leaf collection, starting at $67.00; Ralph cups, $25.00; row 2:
mona tumblers, $24.00; If Pigs Could Fly bowls, $50.00; row 3: Mona Serving
bowls, $46.00; Verona plates, starting at $28.00; all available at Jack Cecil ).

With a collection named “If Pigs Could Fly”, Milani Home is answering the call
of the young consumer who is clamoring for uniqueness. The product offerings from
both women are filed with contemporary and casual shapes, handcrafted designs
and configurations, and bolder colors.

Tableware is awash in the brilliant hues of fall. Bring your fun, cheery personality
to the table with these colored plates, hand-painted mugs and signature serving
pieces.

"Women Who Make Beautiful Tableware": Amanda Ryznar and Jessica Rust

One of the reasons I started Toast and Tables is because I wanted to
celebrate the spirit and style of different tablesettings. If nothing else,
I hope this blog inspires you to create a table that reflects who you are.
I think that when friends and family gather around the table it becomes
more than a piece of furniture, it becomes a personal place invested with
our emotions, our memories and our dreams. As the holidays are a time
to take pleasure in families gathering together why not add to the enjoyment
by making the table a feast for the eyes with handmade items.




I love handmade tableware; I think it adds a great deal of creativity and
individuality to the table. Handmade tableware is finding great success
because more and more consumers want to depart from mass-produced
pieces. Every Friday I would like to spotlight, “Women Who Make Beautiful
Tableware”: a weekly feature on some of the most creative women in home décor.

If you have a favorite Potter or know of an extraordinary Ceramist, please
email me, I would love to feature their work. Today, I bring you the work
of Amanda Ryznar and Jessica Rust:


AMANDA RYZNAR



Amanda Ryznar is the craftsman behind YogaGoat Pottery - - -
the name was derived from a doddle she did in a notebook of a
goat while doing yoga. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts,
Magna cum Laude in 2000 from Slippery Rock University she worked
for 2 production potteries in Vermont.

YogaGoat Pottery, which Amanda started in 2005, makes handmade
porcelain tableware inspired by nature and patterns on wallpapers
and fabrics. Amanda says, “I love being the person who made
someone's very favorite mug, or the vase they will enjoy even
without flowers. Bright colors on pure white porcelain are where
I have found my voice in clay”.

I am extremely taken with the personalized wedding or anniversary
bowl. You can order this bowl with your name, dates and decoration
of your choice to commemorate your special day. These bowls are great
and I’m thinking of ordering one for Chip and I. Check out her Etsy
shop for more information about the bowl and her other fabulous pieces.

JESSICA RUST



Jessica Rust, needs no introduction, she has captured the hearts of many
with her tableware designs that commemorate weddings, anniversaries and
other events that need celebrating. Abby Jean over at Style Me Pretty is
currently sponsoring a give-a-way of one of her Limited Edition bowls.
Act Fast! Go over to Style Me Pretty now and participate in this fabulous
give-a-way.

When you have a piece of handmade pottery in your home, you have a connection
with whoever made it. That human connection is important. When you choose
good crafted work for your home, something that's done well, you have a
piece that you can see yourself passing on. Join me every Friday as we
celebrate "Women Who Make Beautiful Tableware".