Meet the Maker: Carla Sealey
I am bound and determined to go to England again. When I do, I am going to figure out a way to go and see my current collaborator, Carla Sealey. Carla lives in Bedford, Bedforshire, UK. That is north of London and an area that Chad and I have discussed traveling to (among others).
Carla makes the loveliest slip cast ceramics and you can tell that she puts much thoughtfulness and care into every piece. I have been collecting her wares for well over a year now and I can’t seem to stop! It is only natural to want to feature her work prominently in an Autumn Installation.
Carla and I have chatted, and I find her to be warm and calm. Collecting her craft very much shaped the Warmhouse Story brand and my focus on well-made, hand-made pieces as an alternative to mass produced homewares. Sometimes elements of my collection from various makers sing out to be combined together in a vignette and sometimes the pieces are so pure and special that they are the star of the show. That is the case with these pieces from Carla and her business, Naked Clay Ceramics.
As our collaboration drew close to completion, Carla was kind enough to answer some questions I had and here is a bit from our exchange.
Jason:
Carla, how did you evolve your craft to where it is today?
Carla:
When I decided on a career change almost 20 years ago, I went back to University and did a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Art. I wasn't very interested in ceramics then. I was focused on hot glass and jewelry for several years and it was a very winding path before I arrived at designing and making my range of ceramic tableware. However, many of the skills and much of the knowledge I gained along the way, especially about the properties of materials, were very relevant for what I do now with ceramics.
JASON:
I find that to be a wonderful commonality with many creatives that I meet. We all have these wonderful iterative paths. So, you know that I have a mild obsession with your work. I love drinking my tea and coffee in your creations. What do you love the most about your mugs and tea or coffee?
Carla:
Carla: I love how they feel when I hold them. I have a huge collection of (other potter's) handmade mugs and It's a joy every day to make a choice in the morning or evening of which mug I'm in the mood for. I know how, when and where I came into ownership of each mug, or I have memories of making that mug. With each mug I feel the connection to the maker, whether I've met them in person or not.
JASON:
That is very much how I feel about my curio cabinets at Warmhouse Story. There is so much meaning behind the objects. I cherish the backstory. So, we have been chatting about doing something together for a little while. What have you enjoyed about working together and with the concept of Warmhouse Story?
Carla:
My work and my vision are really quite minimal, so it's great to be able to see my work through other people's eyes. I've loved seeing the warmth, the imaginative, the carefully curated objects and palettes put together in the beautiful tableaus, scenarios, and Warmhouse Stories that you have a talent for creating.
jason:
I appreciate that, Carla. Bringing together my ideas with the creations of others is not only a great design challenge, but what bring me the most joy in making Warmhouse Story a place where so many different people can thrive together. Thank you for your lovely creations, your time and for being such a kind human!
I had a blast working with Carla and I hope that you will peruse her many creations on her site located here and find a special piece for you or someone you love.