The Missing Piece: Pottery by Emily Garner

This design is inspired by the combined traditions of kintsugi and sakura in Japan. Kintsugi is the art of repairing broken pottery with gold, and therefore imparting more value onto something that has been broken, not less. I've always been inspired by that message and created this design to reflect the idea of healed over cracks using the branch of a cherry tree. Sakura (cherry blossoms) symbolize renewal and future happiness, as well as remind us of the fleeting nature of life. Each section of this triptich is a different phase of life: The first with buds and cherry blossoms opening, the second mostly open flowers, and the third with petals falling from the branches. This triptich is highly decorated with 23k gold branches, and the sakura blossoms have a pearly sheen and gold stamens. This design is one I’ve been contemplating and perfecting for a long time, and is inspired by my own struggles with feeling broken and less worthy. This design is all about embracing our imperfections and struggles, as they are all a part of us. It is a reminder that we are beautiful and worthy of love and belonging.

“Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.” 

― Brené Brown, The Gift of Imperfection

This mug is wheel thrown with stoneware clay. After throwing and trimming is done, I add the handle and underglaze transfer spiderwebs. The spiders are slip trailed on by hand (each mug has three spiders). After taking time to dry I bisque fire the mug, then clean and glaze with clear glaze over the spiders and webs, and a combination of purple glazes and black on the inside and rim of the mug. Next the mug goes into the glaze firing, and then I hand paint 23k gold luster on each spider and fire one more time to create these beauties!

This design is named after Arachne, the talented weaver from Greek mythology who is transformed into a spider so she can weave forever.

These succulent planters started out as white porcelain clay. I wedged mason stain colors into my porcelain to create vibrant colors, and made individual balls of clay to throw on the wheel with wedges of yellow, orange, red, purple, green, and blue. Each planter has three little rainbow feet, and one drainage hole to keep your plants happy and healthy. For me, These planters are all about embracing our individuality, and letting joy and kindness in even when everything seems dark.

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

These mugs are wheel thrown with a rich dark brown clay. After throwing I added pulled handles and stamped snowflakes around the foot of each mug. I carved each mug with pine tree branches, needles and pine cones. I made these to illustrate the magical forest of Narnia that Lucy discovers in the wardrobe in "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe".

"A moment later she found that she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air" - C.S. Lewis