Ceramic Collection

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.

Upcountry Farmer’s Market find on Maui

Hands on Ceramics on Etsy

Altar Ceramics

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

My Island Home - Part 1

Interior design has always been a big passion of mine. I strongly considered majoring in it back in college ( vs Physical Geography ) But instead, it ended up being a hobby. ( so did Physical Geography because honestly, who really knows what they want to do at eighteen? )

Over a year ago, my husband and I finally moved into the first home we have owned together. It’s a brand new home with a sweeping 180-degree view of Mt. Haleakala and Maui’s Northshore. We worked really hard over the last several years to make this happen and extreme gratitude is the only way to describe how we’re feeling these days.

Our new home is three bedrooms and two bathrooms. We have a spacious upstairs lanai and a fairly small front and back yard. It’s a perfect size for two people with two indoor cats and it has enough space for visiting family and friends. After over 20 years on Maui’s tourist-driven and very dry west side, we are loving our new life on the lush windward side.

There is sooooooo much we want to do to this place but I have learned over time, especially from the previous trials and errors of homeownership, it’s best to take it slow. It’s crazy how many times in just one year we have already changed our minds! Especially when it comes to flooring ( we hate the current carpet ), countertops, and kitchen cabinets, etc. So in the meantime, We’re working with what we have. Because let’s be real, all of these projects are really expensive. Especially out here in Hawaii!

As for furniture, we have a lot of key pieces that we need to purchase ( like a dining table and a bedroom dresser ) and things that need to be replaced ( like everything else LOL ). I’m honestly hoping to purchase the bulk of our furniture in Bali, so until then, I’m kind of stuck with some pieces that don’t really fit in this new space. Aaaaand….I want to get the floors done first for this will dictate what we decide on furniture wisely. So all of this is going to take a little patience.

For this post, here are some current little snapshots of our two bedrooms ( the third bedroom is still a mess of an “office” right now ). So this will most likely end up as a series on the blog in the future. Thank you for taking a peek!

The picture above is a shot of the king bed in our Master. See the details below.

• Comforter, Shams and Sheets by Matteo also available at the Pearl Butik in Paia Town

• Batik pillow from Tribal Collection

• Thai Hmong Pillows from Tribal Collection

• Macrame purchased on a trip to Bali

• Side tables and Lamps from Target

Master bedroom continued

• Mirror from Target

• Shell Lei from the Papeete Market in Tahiti

• Chair by Pier 1 - ( about 15 years old )

• Batik Pillows - Tribal Collection on Etsy

• Linen Cushion Cover picked up at Bungalow Living in Canggu, Bali. Check out their store online. They have great stuff! Definitely my go to for a lot of home goods in Bali.

• Shell Fan picked up at an outdoor market on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. A sweet, daily reminder of my most favorite place in the world.

• Bamboo Tray Table from TJ Maxx

• White Tray from Target

• Coral purchased about 30 years ago at a shell store in Ventura, CA

• Baskets from Village Home in Kahului, Maui

• Shells from my childhood and recent finds while free diving here on Maui ( Note: we never take anything live! )

• Throw from Pottery Barn

Guest Bedroom

• Comforter from Bungalow Living in Canggu, Bali

• Throw from Bungalow Living

• Striped Thai Hmong Pillow from Tribal Collection on Etsy

• Mud Cloth Pillows from drapeOrama on Etsy

• Mismatched Side Tables purchased at Ross in Kahului about 20 years ago! These are actually laundry hampers made from stained bamboo.

• Lamps from Target

• Shams and Sheets from Target

• Driftwood Mobile - homemade ( a little small for the space but I needed something over the bed for now )

• Made this from driftwood picked up while beachcombing in Lahaina, Maui + capiz pieces from a discarded chandelier.

• Basket from Village Home in Kahului, Maui

• Stool from Target

• Basket from Village Home in Kahului

• Vintage Japanese Fishing Floats - The first one was found over 45 years ago on the beach while my parents were honeymooning on Kauai. The others I purchased thrifting in Wailuku and Paia, Maui.

• Trunk - from a random ( now out of business ) furniture store on Maui ( about 15 years old )

• Book - Surf Shack - Seriously awesome “coastal vibes” inspo!

To be continued…