Category Archives: ceramic vases
My week in pictures
It’s been an eventful week over at CHC. Yesterday I was exhibiting at the Weedon Craft Market, which was nice to see some friendly faces of local stall holders and chat to customers. One lovely lady called me up after the market and asked if she could come and collect a bowl that she had fallen in love with. My customers always put a smile on my face 
From behind the scenes of my stall… I had the view of lots of delicious cupcakes all day!
Last bank holiday Monday I went to a show jumping ground and jumped a clear round on Dizzy. She was amazing, as were all of the other horses that we took in the lorry, and the weather was perfect. I can’t wait to attend a proper judged show now that I know what to expect, although the atmosphere will no doubt be a lot more nerve wracking!
Last week I also went to my first barbecue of the year, it was lovely sitting outside til late at night while the air was still warm, eating homemade burgers (and drinking wine, of course!)
Some new ceramic bunting and garlands have been added to my website this week – I hope you like them. They can be hung outside in the garden, and also look really pretty draped across a window.
I’m preparing a selection of new stock for the Hayrack Gallery in Upper Stowe to deliver some time this week, so I’ll have that to show you very soon.
Hope you had a great weekend. Enjoy your week! x
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!
New Natural Vases
Introducing a collection of new vases… I love how they all fit together as a family with their rustic and natural style. This is my favourite surface decoration and colour selection for the vases I make, I think they would fit in with almost any decor.
I added a decorative ‘cut out lip’ to a couple of the vases, just to be different
The textured surface decoration is applied with some chunky slip and then a combination of oxides are applied when dry, to build up the organic colour.
I also paint areas by hand with a paintbrush, which is how the ‘wild dandelion meadow’ effect was achieved above.
These new vases will be available on my website shop very soon, but in the meantime feel free to browse a selection of my other current vase designs. Each one is handmade and unique and suitable for holding water and real flowers… a perfect gift for Mother’s Day!
Work in Progress
A little snippet of what I’ve been working on this week…
Vases for Wolverhampton Art Gallery, hearts ready to be mounted into box frames and also made into sets of coasters, pine tree designs, a dandelion plate, quirky houses for a custom order, Valentines heart plaques, and cute little bud vases for Mother’s Day gift ideas. Looking forward to seeing the finished glazed results next week.
Don’t forget to check out the Valentines gift ideas section on my website for the perfect handmade and unique gift for your loved ones.
New for 2013…
It’s been a busy few weeks for the start of the new year. I’ve been busy making gifts for Valentines & Mothers Day, as well as a few custom orders – I’ll show you what I’ve been working on in my next post soon. My personalised heart plaques have been popular so I have lots of these drying out at the moment, ready to fire at the end of the month and send out in time for Valentines Day.
Valentines Day must have come early for me this week as I received these beautiful rainbow tulips that look stunning in one of my organic vessels on the kitchen windowsill, and also in one of my elegant dandelion vases. I wonder if I’ll still get flowers on Valentines Day too?
The workshop has been pretty cold to say the least, with clay freezing and pieces not drying out it has been a bit of a nightmare. But it soon gets nice and toasty with the heater on, and I’ve brought some bits inside to dry and defrost!
It has been snowing all morning here today, and we are expecting 5 – 10 inches by this afternoon so I doubt I’ll be doing much in the workshop this weekend – I think sledging is on the agenda!
Although it’s still winter and there’s lots of talk of snow, here’s something completely contrasting… I’ve been making some new beach huts and seaside inspired pieces. Can’t wait for the sun to shine again.
From 2nd March – 14th April 2013, twelve of my mini ceramic landscapes on easels will be featured in an exhibition at The Beetroot Tree Gallery in Derbyshire, called ‘Miniature Magnified‘. Here are three of the twelve below. They all have individual names and will be for sale during the exhibition. I have more available on my website here.
Below: ‘Blue Skies’, ‘Frosty Puddle’ & ‘In The Countryside’.
NEW to my website this month are a variety of new bowls. They are all similar in shape and form but each one was made slightly differently, making them unique with their own little quirky features. Each bowl is also decorated with different textures and colours. They have a few different names including mushroom bowls and flower pod bowls. Feel free to browse my website to have a look at the new bowl range. Which is your favourite and what would you use it for?
I have one of these bowls at home that I like to put small pieces of jewellery in, but I also like to display them on their own to admire the colour in the bases. They also make great tea light holders.
Lastly, thought I would share this lovely photo from a customer of one of my vases settled in its new home.
Think thats all for now, I’m off to the post office to post this weeks orders before the snow gets worse. Have a great snowy weekend!
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 ~ Custom Orders
Some of the custom orders I completed before Christmas, and was very pleased with!
This set of six ceramic placemats and coasters above were a custom order from a customer at one of the craft fairs I was at a couple of months ago. Having never made large table mats before, I was pleased with the results of these.
A bathroom plaque in the shape of a shell. Can be customised with any shape and engraved wording.
Autumn leaf style bowl with wavy edges and a pool of frosted glass in the centre.
Hand built vase for a 50th birthday gift, with engraved dandelion design around the exterior.
Personalised Christmas tree decorations. These were a late trial idea so I will be taking orders for these next year now that I know they turned out ok.
One of my popular large heart plaques with engraved wording.
Overall, a successful batch of work Glad the customers were pleased too!
What’s New…
A taster of what’s new on my website this week…
If you see something you like head over to my online shop to find out more information on these items. While you’re there feel free to browse my other handmade ceramic pieces ~ everything is completely unique and handmade with love!
Ceramics Photo Shoot
A selection of pieces were treated to a special trip away last week where they were professionally photographed by Matt Debouge. Photography is Matt’s passion – since getting his first digital camera he hasn’t stopped taking photos. His work is well known for animal, nature, abstract, artistic and travel photography. Having photographed my work on previous occasions, Matt was used to shooting still life objects but this time he faced the challenge of photographing pieces of my work in a group as well as individually, and did a fantastic job.
I love seeing my work photographed properly, it really brings out the detail.
My favourite images are the close up details of surface decoration… The textures have been brought to life!
If you are interested in having your work photographed, or need a professional photographer for any occasion or theme, Matt would be happy to help – just contact him with your requirements. He also offers IT support and web development.
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?
New Garden Section
All we seem to be getting weather-wise lately is rain, rain and more rain. But at least the garden will be kept happy. I’ve left it a little late this year but I can’t wait to start tending to my flower pots and plants.
Brand NEW to my website this week ~ a Garden Section where you will find all ceramic pieces relating to the garden in one place.
From wall planters to pots, wind chimes to plant markers… If you are looking for a unique gift for a garden lover, or even large sculptural vessel statement pieces, you are in the right place!
Happy browsing
