putting on a happy face...

Despite having green fingers in the garden, I am totally useless with houseplants.

I just can't keep them alive, unlike Queen Michelle who has some beauties that she has had for at least 20 years. I just don't know how she does it.

I'm thinking I need to take a different approach to indoor greenery. Maybe try some succulents or even a cabbage or two. But that means I am going to have to get my hands on some Vanessa Bean ceramics. I love love love her happy face vases.

After working as a graphic designer for ‘20ish’ Vanessa discovered ceramics around six years ago. She took a community college evening course in porcelain jewellery, and by her own account, became ‘instantly hooked’. For a couple of years, as she honed her skills, Vanessa balanced graphic design projects with ceramic experiments, but these days her sole focus is her ceramics, which she sells online and via exhibitions and studio sales.

Vanessa’s designs are inspired by a sense of joy and playfulness. ‘I am drawn to figurative sculpture, and have always loved the idea that everyday functional objects can be given a personality, whether it is animal or human’ she says.

‘I can’t help putting a face on most of the things I make!’

Vanessa makes lots of lovely ceramic things including the happy little spoon below but her vases, with their simple, endearing painted faces are the most popular. In fact, they have a cult following! ’I sell around 30 vases every three weeks or so through my Etsy store as a batch release’ Vanessa explains. ‘They go pretty quickly, and unfortunately it is a bit of a scramble for the purchaser and can be stressful, but seems to be the fairest way.’  Keep an eye on her ETSY store 

Now if you will excuse me, I 'm off to buy a cactus or two...

Queen Marie