Category Archives: ceramic bowls
New Products for May
All new for spring and available on my website. Please contact me if you are looking for something in particular.
a peek into this week at CHC
It’s been a great week at CHC headquarters! I’ve been busy planning and organising for some exciting new things ahead. The weather has been up and down but we have still had our fair share of sunshine peering through the clouds. I’m on a mission to make 3 vases a day at the moment… so far so good!
I paid a visit to one of my local stockists yesterday at The Hayrack Gallery in Upper Stowe, such a charming little shopping village with a barn restaurant and farm animals. The gallery is looking lovely inside, it had been about a year since my last visit, so it was nice to see fresh work from new artists. It was time I replenished my stock for the gallery, so I took along lots of new pieces and even helped set up a new display of my work. It was great fun!
We used one of the window sills just as you enter the gallery, so at the moment you will be greeted by my work as soon as you enter. I think the rustic brick window sill really complimented my work with the natural tones.
Various bowls of all different shapes and sizes are on display, along with a couple of clocks, framed pieces and some ceramic planters.
There is also a second display of my work inside the main room of the gallery, where you will find a selection of vases, more bowls, plant markers, and mini art on easels (see below).
Just outside the gallery there is a beautiful display of turquoise planters that look really stunning. I would quite like one of the hanging cones myself!
‘Mushroom Bowls’
I’ve named these ‘mushroom shaped bowls‘ as they have always reminded me of mushrooms. With the little pool of melted glass in the centre of the bases, it is almost like finding hidden treasure when peering inside.
Each bowl is hand-formed using the pinch pot technique, and then evolved into individual unique pieces by altering the wall thickness, overall diameter, and form of the rim. I have a lot of fun making these and enjoy decorating each bowl differently.
When I look at the group of bowls together they also remind me of flower heads, all growing happily in the sunshine.
You can view my full selection of handmade bowls and dishes over at my shop.
Has Spring Sprung?
Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend!
Since the clocks went forward on Saturday it seems as though spring has finally arrived. It’s so nice to see some sunshine, even if it is several weeks overdue! My wind chimes, tea light holders, plant markers and little bud vases have been popular over the last couple of weeks – I’m wondering if people are prepping their gardens and decorating ready for summer?
CHC has had a busy month with exhibitions in Manchester, Oxfordshire & Derbyshire, as well as supplying stock to new and existing shops and galleries. It was nice to finally have a breather over the long bank holiday weekend, with some horse riding, visiting country shows, making cakes and a spot of shopping.
The change in seasons and the lighter evenings have inspired some new work – coming soon!
Overview of 2012
What a year 2012 was! It was for sure a year to remember. I’m thrilled with what I have achieved and would like to thank everyone who has supported Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics – from those who placed an order to those who simply ‘like’ my Facebook Page… it all counts! Thank you 
- 2012 started off with the arrival of my new kiln which I have thoroughly enjoyed using. I wouldn’t have been able to complete a lot of the work that I achieved without it.
- In March I met BBC Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis and received my very own SBS (Small Business Sunday) certificate (hand signed by the man himself), and had my photograph taken with him – one of the highlights of my life as well as 2012! This was a super day, I’ll never forget it.
- I gained four new stockists;
Studio 61 Gallery
Ashdown Gallery
Gallery 49
Pigeonhole Moot Hall
- I developed a range of new glazes that have been used to decorate many pieces of work.
- A screenshot of my website and a section about me and my work was published in a new book called ‘The Workshop Guide to Ceramics‘ by Quartz Publishing. I was extremely happy about this!
- I also had a photoshoot in my workshop with a photographer from the Daventry Express, where a feature about my work was published in the Daventry Express ‘etc’ magazine.
- I attended four seasonal craft fairs and took part in the following exhibitions;
‘Kitchen Garden’ at Bilston Craft Gallery from February to April
‘Wolds and Coasts’ at Gallery 49 from July to September
‘Postcard Patchwork’ at Worcester Arts Centre in November
‘Christmas Decorations’ at Thoresby Gallery from November to December
- 2012 was my best year yet for custom orders. I enjoyed every minute of creating special pieces to the requirements of my customers, even during the nerve-racking moments patiently waiting for them to be fired.
- A selection of my work was professionally photographed by Matt Debouge, including the image below. Matt’s photography has always captured my work really well and I was pleased with the group shots and different angles that were achieved this time around.
- I introduced a brand new card range to my website, with over fifteen different designs to chose from. The images on the cards are photographs of my work which adds a nice little accompanying touch for someone buying a gift.
- I also introduced my new ceramic wall planters for the garden which were a big hit last summer. More have been made in preparation for spring 2013…
- My leaf bowl range was refined and developed, creating a striking collection of different shapes and colours.
- Lastly my dandelion designs were a huge hit throughout the year, and were always the first pieces to run out at exhibitions, fairs and online. I also had so many custom orders for pieces with dandelions on them. Watch this space for developed dandelion designs throughout 2013!
I can’t wait to find out what 2013 holds……
Fresh from the Kiln ~ Leaf Bowls
I really enjoyed making these leaf bowls, and glazing them was fun too. I’m pleased with the results, I think the areas of melted glass gives them a nice finishing touch. I absolutely love the outcome of the layered glazes and green glass in the Gloriously Green leaf bowl (top left). The striking shape of the Blue Ice leaf bowl is also quite attractive. Which is your favourite?
You might remember a previous post a couple of weeks ago showing these leaf bowls in progress. It’s so nice to see the before and after stages. There are a few more yet to be fired – I couldn’t fit them all in the kiln as custom orders took priority.
As autumn approaches…
I’ve been enjoying the last of the last of the summer sun this week, busying away in the workshop with the door open, preparing for the cooler autumn days to start.
As well as working on new stock for upcoming fairs, I have also enjoyed making some one-off custom pieces for customers. Although I love receiving all orders, custom requests are my favourite because I know a specific piece is being made especially for someone which makes it even more special.
Alongside keeping busy out in the workshop this week I have also been on a lovely (but super long) bike ride where I was able to view lots of stunning countryside. The bike ride started along a local canal with the intention of stopping off at a pub for a drink and then cycling back, which didn’t quite go to plan…
As we arrived so far at the end of the canal we had to change direction and go over a bridge, following what we thought was the direction to the next village, until we realised we had turned the wrong way about 5 miles in the wrong direction! But it was good fun finding a different route home.
A lot of the inspiration for my work comes from trees, so it was interesting to climb the ‘tree top walk’ in Salcey Forest last weekend. It was a little scary looking down but I managed to capture a few good photographs.
Hope you’ve had a good week!
Fresh from the Kiln
It was an exciting day opening the kiln last week, I couldn’t wait to see how my new glazes had turned out. As well as some new coloured glazes I also now have a new transparent top coat glaze which gives a lovely shiny look and feel.
I like playing around with contrasting surfaces – Such as the textured & matt leaves against the smooth & shiny body of this new Tall Glimmer Vase with Raised Leaves.
I am completely in love with this new dandelion vase… So much so that I haven’t brought myself to sell it as yet. I think I’ll keep this one for myself and try out some others soon. Just need someone to buy me some flowers to put in it though!
There have been lots of new additions to the bowls section on my website. Feel free to have a browse and see if there’s anything you like. As well as making fresh new additions to the home, all of my ceramic pieces make ideal gifts for birthdays, weddings and house warming presents.
With the dedicated garden section on my website, your garden won’t feel left out this summer. From plant markers, wall planters, ornamental pots and hanging decorations, you are sure to find something to add a bit of character to your garden. These two wind chimes above are new to my website this week.
You will find lots of new vase designs added to my range too, including the popular Sea Line and Sky Line designs above.
My favourite of the new bowls is the Seaside Bowl above, with impressed shell designs and a striking pool of melted blue glass in the base it makes a very attractive piece.
Which is your favourite?
Fresh From the Kiln
I had another pleasant surprise opening the kiln this week, with no ‘happy accidents!’ It has felt good finishing off custom orders and getting lots of pieces fired over the last few weeks, but there is still a mountain of work piling up ready to be fired in the new kiln. The new kiln is being delivered in just over a week now, I am sooo excited to finally see it installed!
Fresh from the kiln this week is this pair of Landscape Stacking Bowls with matching surface design, colour and areas of melted glass. They could be displayed ‘stacked’, or separately as shown above. I like the effect of the dark colours, making these bowls appear as statement pieces.
It’s someone’s birthday coming up! One of my latest custom orders was for three of my ceramic gift tags, each with ‘happy birthday’ engraved. I wonder what gifts they will be used to decorate?
This popular Set of four green leaf ceramic coasters is now back in stock, along with a range of other coaster sets including some new designs such as this Set of four dandelion heart coasters below.
One of my latest orders for a personalised heart plaque included a date at the bottom. This is the first plaque I’ve made with a date on it – I think it is the date that the couple were married, isn’t it lovely?
Set of four square textured coasters
And last but not least… I couldn’t share a post without dandelions
Blow Away Dandelion Heart Dish ~ Blue Dandelion Seed Head Heart Dish
Which is your favourite?
Bowls Fresh from the Kiln
Not long to go until the arrival of my new kiln, I’m so excited! In the meantime I’ve been busy using my old kiln to fire orders and other bits and pieces. I’ll still use the old kiln for smaller items but it will be great to be able to fire some more large sculptural pieces and larger batches of work again in a bigger kiln.
Here are some new leaf bowls ~ available in the shop on my website as Rustic Maple Leaf Bowl and Rustic Botanical Leaf Dish. I love the combination of deep colours and the shiny pools of melted glass.
If you haven’t got your Mothers Day gift sorted yet, take your pick from a selection of new love heart bowls, they make perfect soap dishes and are also ideal for holding jewellery, other trinkets or tea light candles.
I hadn’t made any of my usual wavy edged bowls for a while and they all seem to be selling out, so I’ve got plenty more lined up to be fired in the new kiln. Here are a couple of new ones below. I think the close up detail would make a nice framed print!
Hope you’ve enjoyed some of my new bowls, check back this week for some new sets of coasters and hanging decorations!
My Bowls used as props in Jewellery Photography
When I had an order for some of my ceramic tea light bowls a few weeks ago, it was nice of the customer to leave me a message on her order letting me know that the bowls would be used as props in the product photography of her jewellery.
I am delighted that my bowls have been used in this way! Isn’t the jewellery stunning? You will find more of the collection at kutuu.co.uk – have a look around at the many truly beautiful pieces. The simple shapes and natural materials make the jewellery easy to wear and often an ‘everyday favourite’.
A selection of my handmade ceramic tea light bowls are available in the Bowls & Dishes section of my website.
