claywork — Blog — The Grains Of Paradise

For those who have been following me on Instagram for a while ( @mauimandy ), already know that I have a bit of an obsession with all things ceramic. I’m not one to really “collect” many things ( except for seashells and bikinis ) but when it comes to handmade ceramic bowls, plates, coffee cups, and dishes, I have a really hard time saying no.

My collection started pretty slowly. I discovered a beautiful bowl by Seeds and Stone at the ( now closed ) Hana Ranch coffee shop in Paia, HI. I remember thinking, am I really about to spend $50 on one bowl? Like, for a single serving salad? Well, I did and it was so worth it. I love eating out of this bowl. I love photographing food in this bowl. Sometimes I fill this bowl with lemons or heirloom tomatoes and leave it on the kitchen counter for days. This bowl was well worth the $50 I spent that morning. And to be quite honest, now knowing what I know about pottery, I think she should have charged more for it.

Shortly after that first bowl, I discovered Maui based Altar Ceramics, another gorgeous homemade product. I’ve also found incredible ceramic pieces at some local boutiques and farmer’s markets on the island. And I gotta say, Maui has some talent. I’m pretty impressed.

I now always make a point to look for pieces while traveling. I once gave up all my go-to carry on items on a return flight from Indonesia just so I could hand carry my new Gaya Ceramics across the Pacific Ocean. Thankfully they made it back to Hawaii, and through customs without a crack. Because no joke, I had no room for books, extra clothing, or any creature comforts on that EIGHTEEN HOUR FLIGHT thanks to my precious cups and bowls hahaha!

Besides the companies I’ve mentioned above, I always make a point to stop in Tortoise and General Store when I’m in Los Angeles. Lucky for me, I’ll be heading that direction again very soon. I guess that means I’ll be returning home to Maui with a very delicate carry on once again.

Above and below are some snapshots from my current collection. Mahalo for stopping by!

Salt cellars by Altar Ceramics. These are great for loose teas as well.

Showroom at Gaya Ceramics in Ubud, Bali. Ended up purchasing many pieces in this shot.