welcome to december: Warmth, Craft, & Seasonal Reflection
Welcome to December. As the months grow busier, these blog posts seem to arrive later, but I’m giving myself a little grace, taking time to pause and reflect during this bustling season.
In the studio, the final orders for my shop partners went out in early December. I’m deeply grateful to these amazing brick-and-mortar stores for sharing my handmade wares, from Bend, Oregon, to Burlington, Vermont, and many cities in between. My planters, mugs, and other vessels will soon be in the hands of people I’ve never met, yet I feel connected to them through the vibrant, intertwined community of small businesses.
Ornaments made in 2024 with Garrett Becker Violins
I’ve also loved meeting Chicagoans at markets and pop-ups throughout the season. My last three events are just around the corner: two at favorite shops, Eskell and Molasses, and one final event at the LFC studio before I take a break to spend time with family and friends during the closing weeks of the year. I hope you’ll join me at one of these events to celebrate the season. You can find details [linked here].
My Chicago showroom has been an especially meaningful addition this year. It has become a space for personal shopping appointments, wedding registry meetings, private gatherings, and more. I’m excited to dream up new experiences and bring even more creativity into the space in the year ahead.
The days growing shorter and snowier are a reminder that the final cutoffs for holiday orders are quickly approaching. To ensure each piece can be packed and shipped with the same care that goes into making it, shipped orders will close on 12/15, and local pickup will be available through 12/21. If you’ve been thinking about gifting a handmade piece, or welcoming one into your own home, this is the perfect moment to do so. You can explore gifts for ceramic lovers and art enthusiasts [here].
Outside the studio, I’ve been finding small ways to bring holiday cheer into the fullness of the season. On Monday, I enjoyed one of my favorite seasonal traditions, Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid concert series at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. I’ve gone every year he has toured since 2010, and an evening of inspiring music in such a beautiful space is always a gentle reset from the holiday rush.
I’ve also been savoring quieter moments of seasonal delight: decorating our very tiny tree at home, sipping warm apple cider steeped with spices, and writing cards to friends and family. These small celebrations and periods of stillness help soften the edges of many busy days.
The holidays can feel fleeting, yet they offer moments to honor care, patience, and intention. In the stillness, the link between making and using is revealed: each cup, each plate, carries warmth into ordinary days, making them feel like a celebration. Creation, gentle and deliberate, becomes a quiet act of care for the objects, for ourselves, and for those we share them with.
Thank you for supporting the studio, for choosing handmade, and for being part of this thoughtful, creative community. I’m grateful for every order, every visit, and every moment spent appreciating the work.
To explore handmade ceramics for gifting, holiday hosting, or adding to your home, follow the links below:
Shop online here
(shipped orders close 12/15, pick up closes 12/21)
Andrew Bird’s Gezellighied Concert Series, 2024