Don’t forget about the person that loves you the most in this world next week. We’ve got lots of fun and pretty things for her.
happy mother’s day to all those amazing mums out there from the Personify team
We are three weeks into our new space and starting to feel settled and SO HAPPY. I wanted to post some pictures for those of you who are out of town or haven’t had a chance to come in.
Our wall shelves are filled with some of our favorite makers’ work and home goods.
The view from our front doors (the left side).
SO.MANY.PAPER.GOODS.
The other side of the shop (right side).
Our spring clothes … they’re just too good. We get new things in weekly, and sometimes daily. Please let me know if there’s something you see here that you don’t see on our online shop – we ship all over.
I also wanted to give you guys an update on our Lakemont shop. If you’re subscribed to our newsletter you already know this (if you’re not – subscribe here) . BUT after many conversations, thoughts, and prayers we have made the decision to focus our energies to our new Duluth location and not reopen Personify in Lakemont. This was a very difficult decision for us as we’ve invested SO MUCH the past three years in this lovely little town and have met many many wonderful people. It was the best decision for our family and we are excited about the future of Personify.
If you’re a Lakemont customer please please please do not be a stranger. We miss you guys already and want to hear from you! Let me know how we can keep you stocked on all your fave Personify goodies.
Happy days,
Maddie
I’m thrilled to be sharing this interview of Chloe May Brown about her ceramic work. We have a collection of her pieces at Personify Shop (email me for more info) and I have loved working with her. I love how the pieces are both whimsical and graphic at the same time. Chloe lives with her cat in Portland, Maine and also works as a designer at the dreamy shop More & Co.
1. How did you get started making ceramics?
A handful of years ago I fell in love with a ceramic necklace. I treated myself and I wore it almost every day. It was wildly inspiring for me, so simple, but beautiful and it quickly became a part of my everyday life. I wanted to be able to create something that had that ability to integrate into another’s life. I started to experiment with clay and fell in love with making pinch pots. I loved the control that I had over the clay with just my fingers. I have been working in clay ever since.
My aesthetic is simple, natural, and fun. It is important to me that in each piece you can find signs of where my fingers have shaped the clay. My pieces are imperfect and at times a bit wonky, each one is unique.
3. What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I love that everyday I am able to do a bit of what I love. I can get my hands dirty and play with a ball of clay. It is a dream.
4. What’s your least favorite?
It can be difficult for me to separate my personal life from my work life. They so seamlessly flow into one another at times. I try to keep my work at my studio, but inevitably it comes home with me. My mind is always running around with thoughts of work tied together with my week’s grocery list. I have to pause, step back, and take time to just do nothing. That can be hard for me to do.
5. Business Advice?
Oh gosh, I feel that the best advice that I can give is to do what you love. It sounds simple, but it can be so difficult. If there is something that you truly love to do, and you want to make a go at it, stick with it. Make sure that you would still be doing it if money was not a factor. Finding happiness in my work has been such a large factor in any success I have had.
6. My favorite party question: If you could hang out with any three people this Friday night, who would you pick?
If I could, I would spend this Friday night with my parents. We would pack a picnic and eat it by the ocean. It would be magic for me.
So there you have it! High fives for Chloe and her beautiful work.
Keep Company ceramics is a collaboration between Toronto artists Shayna Stevenson and Jen Collins. Shayna wheel throws the ceramic pieces and Jen illustrates and glazes them. I fell in love with the contrast of the clean lines and the adorable illustrated animals. See them under our new arrivals.
My top happy picks for this spring at the shop
1. I think this mermaid bottle opener lady is the perfect bar accessory.
2. Boost you lunchtime routine with the popsicle pop quiz lunch box.
3. This tote does anything but blend in.
4. I’m probably going to take one of these herschel supply x hudson’s bay little america backpacks home with me. I love them so much.
5. Love the minimalist take on the classic squash blossom design in wooden beads.
6. This confetti handmade catch all ceramic dish is my favorite
7. These felt birdhouses are fully functional and adorable. Invite your bird friends over this spring.
8. Say thank you with this colorful card.
9. Spruce up your outdoor space with these gorgeous ceramic lanterns. Nothing beats soft candlelight on your porch.
Introducing Etymology Jewelry to Personify Shop has been so fun. I found Natalie Jacob through Etsy’s open call and I just couldn’t live without her line. I’m currently wearing one of her bracelets right this second. I love the colorful pieces, mixed media, and bohemian vibe of the line… It’s jewelry that’s ready to party! You can find her pieces under our New Arrivals tab. Read my interview with Natalie below.
The occasional back ache from doing all that handmade jewelry fabrication!
Thanks so much Natalie! It’s been a joy to work with you. I love your line so much and look forward to working together more in the future.
When we first started thinking about opening a shop we wanted a mix of handmade, vintage, and newly produced items to share the way we have tried to make our own lives beautiful. Our motto of “personalizing your world” is really about the search and dedication it takes to bring special things into your home and world. We strive to put the same care into our curated selection of items in Personify Shop as we have in our own lives.
Mandy, known as Amanda Blair Dexheimer Studio, was introduced to us by a friend and as soon as we saw the pictures of her pieces we knew we had to have some at Personify Shop. Her pieces are spectacularly unique and we really appreciate her attention to detail in her work. We now have the privilege of having some of her work online so we can showcase it to a broader audience. I was really excited about this blog post because I wanted to share a glimpse into the thoughts and processes of the artist behind the work. We are so happy to be partnering with her on this new journey!
Check out her pieces online at personifyshop.com or come visit in person… they are even more beautiful! Enjoy today and be inspired.
I have been making pots formally for about ten years. I did take a few pottery classes in college but it was always just a fun, experimentation type thing. I will say that I met and started purchasing my first porcelain pots when I was twelve. That is where my love of the medium began for sure. Ian and Jo Lydia Craven made the most inspiring tableware in the mountains of North Carolina and as that relationship began little did I know I was meeting two of my greatest friends and mentors in hand building. She was the artist and creative mind as far as design and hand building and he was a scientist which translated into the most intense and technical glazing. Ian and I still talk about once a month. My pottery love certainly started there, but I would also just say I knew I wanted to be an artist that young.
blog.personifyshop.com 