Wednesday, March 28, 2012

elephant ceramics + west elm!








I have very exciting news to share with everyone!  I have designed a collection of vases, in my signature blue glazes, in collaboration with West Elm!  I am thrilled to make this announcement! They have arrived in stores, and are available thru their catalog, right now!  When West Elm approached me last year to see about my interest in collaborating with them, I jumped at the chance.  Making all my pieces by hand limits how many pieces I can put out into the world.  This presented me with the opportunity to design a collection that could be made in larger quantities and therefore available to more people.  I LOVE hand making each of my pieces and will continue to offer my one-of-a-kind ceramics thru my online shop.  In the meantime, please stop by West Elm and check out my vases!  xo




bon appétit






Elephant Ceramics is in the new issue of Bon Appétit!  Gorgeous photography by the Ditte Isager....one of my favorite photographers!  And styling by the very talented prop stylist Kim Ficaro!  




Friday, March 23, 2012

the list collective









If you live in LA, NYC or Chicago, or are planning a visit to any of these cities, then you will want to know about the website The List Collective.  Created by fellow list maker, Elaine Bauer Brooks, The List Collective is a collection of "favorite things" lists written and lovingly curated by Elaine.  She also taps some of the most creative people in LA including Chefs, Designers, Actors, Artists, Musicians, Entrepreneurs and Writers for their favorite finds for these cities (with more cities to come.)  I'm thrilled to be included in the "A-List" of the super talented interior designers Wendy Schwartz and Kristi Bender of Wendy Schwartz Design. Thank you Elaine, Wendy and Kristi!











Tuesday, March 20, 2012

color trend includes elephant ceramics



Grab some inspiration with the “Colour Your World” fashion to interiors spread I created to inspire your interior choices in collaboration with Dulux’s exciting new Autumn colours Dulux Kenepuru, Dulux Courtenay Place and Dulux Leigh.
INDIGO BLUES Brooklyn based ceramist Michele Michael creates divine limited edition tableware every season, available from Elephant Ceramics.
Thank you Mint Style Studio for including my little bowls in your trend report.  To read more click here. -Michele xo

Monday, March 19, 2012

the lifestyle editor: my interview






I HEART WORK
New York based ceramicist Michele Michael tells The Lifestyle Editor why she loves to work
Who: Michele Michael
Work: Ceramics designer

Describe your work in 5 words
Handmade, one-of-a-kind, textural, painterly, organic
Why do you love what you do? 
I love it because I am in the moment when I am working with clay. I love making things by hand.
Who or what inspires you? 
Nature inspires me in a big way. I suppose that is somewhat cliché, but it is true. I find nothing more amazing, than the patterns and colors found in the natural world. I spend about half the year in Maine where we spend a great deal of time in the woods or at the beach. 
What is the best advice you have received? 
Take things slowly. I am not sure that I always follow this advice, but when I do, I find that it works.
What can’t you work without? 
The wonder of what the next piece will look like.
What has been your best decision in your career so far?
To build a studio at my home in Maine, so that I have a place of my own to work and this summer, I am looking forward to waking up, having a cup of coffee and walking 50 feet to my studio! 



To read more of my interview please visit The Lifestyle Editor.  Thank you Stephanie Bateman Sweet for including me on your blog!
-Michele xo


photo credits:  top photos by Philip Ficks, portrait photos by Jennifer Causey for




Sunday, March 18, 2012

shop update today!









I am updating the shop this afternoon at 3pm (EDT.)   I hope you find something you like! 
-  Michele xo









Wednesday, March 14, 2012

sweet paul's spring issue!







The spring issue of Sweet Paul is out!  More gorgeous than ever.  It may be because the editor, Paul Lowe, included several stories themed around the color blue!  Flipping from one
beautiful feature to the next I found Sweet Paul had used some of my pieces, giving Elephant Ceramics a lovely credit!  Thank you, Sweet Paul! xo







Monday, March 12, 2012

milk farm road shop is open!




Milk Farm Road's spring sale starts today!  Created by artist and prop stylist, Heather Chontos, Milk Farm Road is sure to be a big success.   You will want to check it out....not only is she selling a small collection of Elephant Ceramics porcelain bowls that I made just for this sale (beautifully shot above by the photographer Ryan Liebe.)  Milk Farm Road will also have gorgeous cutting boards, hand painted vintage spoons, dipped jars, "rag" lampshades, and much more.  Get there before it all sells out!






Monday, March 5, 2012

hiroko takeda: textile designer










My friend, Leslie,  introduced me to the textile designer Hiroko Takeda recently.  I love textiles and I love the art of weaving, so I was very excited for this opportunity to visit and meet Hiroko at her studio in downtown Brooklyn.  Her work is magical.  Hiroko creates textiles for international luxury brands, along with independent clients in the architecture, home furnishings, fashion and art worlds.  Before opening her studio in 2010, she was the Senior Designer of the Jack Lenor Larson Design Studio in New York, and a custom designer for Kawashima Textiles in Tokyo. Hiroko was brought up in Japan and trained there in the tradition of the Mingei Undou (Japanese Arts and Crafts Movement.)  She received an MA in Constructed Textiles from the Royal College of Art in London, and has received numerous awards in Japan and Europe. Please visit her website to see more of her gorgeous work.