Helena Seget Creates Quirky Porcelain Tiles for Animal Lovers

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Arts and Crafts, Ceramic Art and Pottery, Ceramics, Crafts, Dogs, Interior design, Pets, porcelain, Shopping, Tile, Unique Gifts

Paw Print Tiles by Helena Seagate
(Image © Helena Seget)

According to Helena Seget, it’s a unique idea (and perhaps only animal lovers will understand it)… I think its wonderful.

One day, by chance, Helena’s pet rat ran across some floor-tiles she had been making. She noticed two things – that the running lines created an indelible memory of the living creature she had already struck up a relationship with; and that the accidental nature of the pattern produced a fascinating yet organic design in its own right.

Helena experimented further by laying the floor-tiles in a bathroom area, where she noticed a third thing – the fact that the prints were made by a creature she knew meant that, curiously, she never felt alone when in that room. The creature’s ‘genius’ inhabited the room.

And from there, the Paw Print Floor Tile project was born.

Helena’s tiles apparently attracts two kinds of buyers. Firstly, those who simply request paw-print patterns for kitchens, utility rooms, conservatories & bathrooms. As each set is custom-made, the patterns too are always different, and designed to fit the area and the clients’ own ideas.

But secondly, there are people who want their creatures to be fully involved in the process. Helena works with them and their pets (from gerbils to dogs!) to make fully individual tile-sets.

Helena says: “As someone who knows how significant the relationship can be between a human being and an animal, I find this way of working the most satisfying. And it’s amazing how the animal ‘lives on’ this way – even after it may have died.”

Paw Print Tiles by Helena Seget
(Image © Helena Seget)

Paw Print Tiles by Helena Seget
(Image © Helena Seget)

The tiles are made of porcelain fired to a high temperature, which makes them hard-wearing and resistant to discolouration, and can be ordered in any amount.

Helena does not lay the tiles herself, so you will need a competent floor tiler.
On the other hand, you could just buy one or two (or three or four) and use them for decoration!

Helena Seget is based in Newcastle upon Tyne. If you’d like to learn more about her work, or if you’d like to order some tiles, you can find out how here.

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Rebecca Wilson Creates Paper-ware Out of Porcelain…

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Art, Arts and Crafts, Ceramic Art and Pottery, Ceramics, Crafts, Delft, Design, Paper, porcelain, Rebecca Wilson, Shopping

Rebecca Wilson’s Delft Porcelain Paper-ware
(Image © Rebecca Wilson)

Can you believe that beautiful paper-cup with the Delft floral image is actually made out of porcelain? Is it not gorgeous?

The very talented Rebecca Wilson is the ceramicist responsible for these pieces. She believes the paper cup is an icon of our ‘throwaway culture’. By imposing classical ceramic styling and transposing materials, she aims to highlight and question our tendency towards wasteful consumerism. It’s a lofty goal – but she certainly makes me reconsider the disposable paper coffee cup…

These cups are hand-built from cast sheets of specially formulated porcelain paperclay slip. They come in two different styles – both derived from traditional ceramic aesthetics. The ‘Jasperware’ version emulates Wedgewood’s iconic range using stained porcelain slip and embossed relief details in white. And, the Dutch classic ‘Blue Delft’ (my favourite) is alluded to in digital decals scanned from hand drawn decals in blue biro.

Rebecca Wilson’s Wedgewood Picnic-ware
(Image © Rebecca Wilson)

Rebecca Wilson’s Delft Paper-ware
(Image © Rebecca Wilson)

If the porcelain paper-ware wasn’t enough for you, how about some paper-ware that looks like porcelain…? Confused?

In response to the call for an affordable and disposable version of her ‘Finest Porcelain Paper-ware’, Rebecca created the ‘Finest Paperware (Paper)’ collection. People wanted a version of these that they could have and use.

These cups are hand-built from cast sheets of handmade paper. Like their porcelain counterparts, they come in the two different styles. The ‘Jasperware’ version emulates Wedgewood’s iconic range using stained dyed paper and embossed relief details in white. And the Dutch classic ‘Blue Delft’ is alluded to in hand drawn decals in blue biro. They are suitable for hot and cold drinks, and are made from sustainable materials in the UK, and are fully recyclable.

You can learn more about the very talented Rebecca Wilson and her deliciously irreverent ceramics here. You can also pick up a pack of 12 of her Finest Picnic-ware from Culture Label for just £10. Bargain!

Laura Straßer is a Rare Breed of Ceramic Artist

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animals, Art, Ceramic Art and Pottery, Ceramics, craft, food, Germany, Homewares, Ilmgold, Laura Straßer, Olivier Dupon, Pratt Institute, Product Design, Quirky, Shopping, Tableware, The New Artisans

(Image sourced from here)

I am loving the work of ILMGOLD product designer, Laura Straßer. Her latest range of quirky ‘Rare Species’ bowls feature the most gorgeous and whimsical animal creations…

'Zebear'
(Image sourced from here)

'Flyfish'
(Image sourced from here)

'Fennelduck'
(Image sourced from here)

'Artichedgehog'
(Image sourced from here)

And, if the quirky wee bowls weren’t enough to set your heart aflutter, you can also get matching lids-come-sideplates in the same delicate-yet-dishwasher-safe porcelain…

Ilmgold Rare Species 'Artichedgehog' with 'No Sharing' lid
(Image sourced from here)

Laura Straßer features in the fabulous Olivier Dupon book, ‘The New Artisans‘ (page 134, if you’re wondering).

Born in Frankfurt am Main, and now based in Weimar, she studied at the Pratt Institute in New York where she became hooked on porcelain design.

She has a beautiful philosophy in that she “hopes to create items for porcelain lovers that offer the possibility of offering  associating (hi)stories with them and letting them become favourite items able to be kept for a lifetime.” I reckon’ she has achieved this with her ‘Rare Species’ range. They are heirloom pieces, to me. What do you think?

Ilmgold ships internationally. Although their website is in German, for all of us anglophiles, there is a lovely link to an english order form here.