Newness in the Shop
After the rush of the holidays, the shop slows down a bit and I am able to take inventory and begin to think about looking for new items for the shop. I thought I would check in here and share some of the new artists and a bit more about their work. I really am so thrilled about how the shop has progressed into a gallery of curated favorites of mine.
To recap real quick, last fall, you’ll remember, we did a major update to the shop website - such an enjoyable undertaking for me. I also had an ad published in FLOWER magazine in the holiday issue, and my Czech trees were featured in the Wall Street Journal in December. Since starting the blog and shop over 10 years ago, I have never paid for any advertising, but with the new website and lots of new merchandise, it felt like an appropriate time to do so.
All this to say, there may be some new followers here! Welcome! The French Tangerine allows me to continue shopping at this stage of my life. I don’t need one more thing, but I do enjoy the hunt for new and beautiful objects. French pottery is where we started, and although we have made some adjustments through the years, you will still find the most beautiful ceramics from France and we’ve added new artists and vendors from all over the world including Germany, the UK and South Africa.
Let’s take a look at some of the newness!
My intention is to share a few artists in several upcoming posts.
Laurance Simon is one of my favorite new artists in the shop. Her mastery of whimsical and quirky designs is impressive and her work is an absolute delight. Born in Paris, Laurance left to study in the UK, met her husband, and decided to make England her home. She has exhibited widely in France, Spain, Belgium and London and has numerous articles written about her work. She has a following, including me, who can’t wait to see her latest offerings. Her candelabras are especially special and I’m thrilled to have had several in the shop over the last year. These blue cups and precious birds on this newest piece are really wonderful! You can see a couple of her jugs here as well.
These three sold as a set and I have seen them in situ - what a charming addition to the tablescape, the room - a total vibe!
Her jugs are fantastic… I love them as a single or a pair or a collection. Fill them with flowers or just let them be.
Absolutely adore her work.
Lisa Sandner is another amazing artist I am obsessed with. Brought up in Africa, Lisa is now based in Münster, Germany. She travels the world for inspiration and many of her pieces are reminiscent of antiques I have admired. She studied art history at the Sorbonne in Paris and London and is a self-taught ceramicist. I am in love with so many of her pieces. The oval ceramic with the bear in the flower ad was coveted by so many admirers but it resides in my daughter’s home in Whitefish, Montana. It is perfect.
Adore the letter plates!
Love the green!
Here are some of her pieces that have sold, but too pretty not to share…
Lisa works with various materials including fabric, paper, clay and wood. I bought these darling paintings on handmade cotton paper and had them framed for the shop and I think they are fantastic. Gouache is a method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a gluelike substance. The result is unique and charming and I’m in love with the final product. They are available for purchase!
Next up is Louise Kaye, a painter and ceramicist from the UK. Although I am equally obsessed with her paintings, her charming ceramics are what I am currently featuring in the shop - playful and primitive. I’m especially in love with these avocado bowls.
Love her use of 24 carat gold on these charming butterfly mugs and jugs… Can you imagine a more perfect way to start your day with coffee or tea in one of these masterpieces? Or, fill with flowers on your kitchen counter or bedside table. Pure happiness!
Adore the crackled background evocative of times gone by…
I’m dying over these butterfly votives! I have ordered several different sizes of candles and votives to determine the best option and they will be included with purchase. They are almost like mini altars - the happiest and cheeriest little ceramics. (These are not in the shop yet, but will be soon! Message me if interested…)
The ad was well received in FLOWER magazine last year, so I did another one for the current Spring issue. I loved this photo showcasing cricket cages. I have seen them used in design vignettes in so many ways through the years. In preparation for the ad, I have quite a few in stock and you can shop them HERE.
Crickets are considered a symbol of good luck, happiness, prosperity, wealth, and abundance in Chinese culture. They date back to the Tang Dynasty, and have been popular in China for over a thousand years. Cricket fighting was a popular pastime among the Chinese nobility and these cages were used to keep crickets.
Cricket keeping was also popular in ancient China as a way to enjoy their songs.
The reticulated sides allowed air circulation, and some had tops! Some of the items I have marked as cricket cages are actually inkwells, from the same time period. Some are antique and some are vintage.
They are hard to find and come in various shapes and sizes. I have developed quite a collection, and have offered them in my shop for years. I use them as votives, and drop in a liner and use them as vases! They are so charming on the dining table, on a console, in the kitchen, etc.
You can read more about them in THIS POST dedicated to cricket cages.
Here is a photo my dear friend sent me this morning featuring a Jay Strongwater cricket next to a couple of her cricket cages. She is so clever and I adore her and the cricket!
I’ll be back next week with more to share!
