Our Favorite Small Businesses to Support This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here, and with it comes the joy of finding the perfect gifts for loved ones and sprucing up our homes for festive gatherings. At Rory Pots, we know how meaningful it can be to support small businesses—each purchase tells a story and sustains a dream.
This year, we’re shining a spotlight on a few of our favorite small businesses that make the season brighter with their unique offerings. Whether you’re looking for handcrafted treasures, local flavors, or one-of-a-kind gifts, these small businesses have something special to share. Join us in celebrating their creativity, dedication, and the community spirit that makes shopping small so rewarding.
Let us know if you have a favorite small business we should check out—we love discovering new gems to support!
Clay Mohr Lighting
Clay Mohr Lighting is a sculptural lighting design firm that specializes in combining wood and LED technology.
Through his work with lighting and wood, Clay aims to form a bridge between nature and our interiors. Using form, function and materials, the illuminated sculptures exist at the intersection of nature, emotion and the built environment. The materials representing nature and the modern forms paying homage to design. The collection of work provides functionally satisfying pieces of sculptures in unison with nature.
Dust and Form
Dust + Form is a ceramic design and production studio situated between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains in Burlington, Vermont, USA.
With intuition and a refined visual voice, she and her small team use raw materials to create elegant forms that act as invitations to savor the present moment. She revels in the cycle between process and refinement, thereby seeking to encapsulate the duality of life.
Ergo Pottery
Ergo is the work of artist Dan Siegel, created in his studio in the Old North End of Burlington, VT. All pieces are one of a kind wheel-thrown or hand built stoneware or porcelain, food-safe, and a thoughtful addition to any home.
You can also find Ergo Pottery at Thirty Odd.
Be Zippy
Founded in 2008 by artist Bari Ziperstein, BZIPPY is known for our experimentation and innovation with ceramics. Working tirelessly to develop engineering methods that challenge conventional notions of slab construction, BZIPPY devises creative solutions to both formal designs and technical concerns.
Rackk and Ruin
Founded in 2009 by designer Molly Conant, Rackk & Ruin is dedicated to creating unique jewelry inspired by traditional symbolism and historic art, blending timeless and modern aesthetics.
As a maker-owned operation, we prioritize social and ecological responsibility in every aspect of our design and production process.
Emily Nora Oneal
Emily Nora O’Neil is a textile designer, artist, and educator. She currently resides in Portland, Maine and is faculty at Rhode Island School of Design and the Maine College of Art and Design.
“Textiles are made as thoughtful responses to my environment. Undulating forms from seashells become ribbed fabrics and wandering wild botanicals become lace. The translation is an act of devotion.”
What We Make
What We Make focused on making furniture from reclaimed wood and sustainably source hardwoods while using non-toxic, voc-free, and low-voc finishes. They set out to limit their impact on the world, to limit the toxins most furniture brings into your home, and to make pieces that will last for many generations.
Octave Jewelry
Octave Jewelry is a modern frame for earth's ancient works of art. Every raw stone tells a story, and they cut each one by hand to suit its independent character. They create bold shapes that move with you, telling stories through sophisticated colors and playful sculptural elements.
Degen
DEGEN is a haven for those seeking a unique fusion of artistic expression and community connection. Lindsay's quirky, plucky, and passionate approach to craft invites individuals to embrace the beauty of handmade creations, forging a colorful and inclusive community for creative souls to gather and grow.
In 2022 DEGEN started an online knitting community called KNIT.club to inspire, teach, and create community with like-minded makers.
Nade Studio
While continuing to explore natural dyeing and botanical printing, Maggie has extended the NÅDE STUDIO line to include naturally dyed home goods, clothing, accessories, and plant based paints.
Through Feed Weave - custom fiber installations & weavings, she continues to illustrate the waste nature of the food industry while advocating for slow craft and fighting food waste & hunger.
Slow Process
Slow Process is an independent clothing label established in 2018 building soft & beautiful garments for a modern masculinity. Historical narrative & the integrity of craft inform our clothing, making a product that is personal & enduring.
We sew in small batches. We trust in antique textiles. Our wearer revives their relationship between garment, identity, & utility.
Phoebe Lo Studio
Phoebe Lo Studio’s work is soft and surreal, employing muted palettes,
buoyant shapes, and a rich inventory of texture and symbol.
Not bound by one medium, they offer a multidisciplinary approach to creative problem solving, working with brands, organizations, and communities to bring projects from concept to completion.
Bright Ideas: Unique Ways to Incorporate Sconces into Your Home Decor
Sconces are a versatile lighting option that can add both functionality and style to any room in your home. Whether you’re looking to highlight a piece of artwork, create a cozy reading nook, or simply add a warm glow to an otherwise dark corner, sconces offer endless possibilities for creative lighting solutions. In this blog post, we’ll explore five of our favorite creative ways to incorporate sconces into your decor, transforming your space with both light and charm.
To create a reading light: Position sconces above your shelves or in a reading nook to create a cozy and functional reading space. Directing light towards reading areas enhances visibility and creates a comfortable ambiance for enjoying books or magazines.
As accent lighting: Use sconces to create a warm glow from the bottom up by placing them low on the wall to illuminate darker corners and add depth to your space. This subtle lighting technique adds a layer of warmth and visual interest to any room, making it feel inviting and cozy.
To frame a feature: Try framing a window with a pair of sconces to add extra light or highlight the view of your windows. This not only enhances the architectural features of your space but also provides functional lighting where it's needed most.
In unexpected places: Place sconces on either side of a piece of artwork or television to add ambiance. This unexpected placement helps to create a focal point for a key feature within your space and enhance the overall atmosphere of the room.
In a gallery wall: Incorporate sconces as part of the composition of a gallery wall to highlight artwork within your home. Strategically placed sconces can draw attention to specific pieces and add a touch of elegance to the display.
Incoming: Mother's Day Deals and New Items
Having just celebrated Mother Earth this weekend, we thought what better time to launch our Mother's Day sale.
This Mother's Day we are offering 20% off all "ready to ship" items: meaning those items we have on our shelves waiting to be gifted to someone special.
Click here for our full Mother's Day Sale listings.
Also - stay tuned for some exclusive Mother's Day items we will be releasing over the next few weeks!
On our Inspo Board Today: Tadao Ando
On the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, John Morris Dixon in Progressive Architecture once wrote: “The geometry of Ando’s interior plans, typically involving rectangular systems cut through by curved or angled walls, can look at first glance rather arbitrary and abstract. What one finds in the actual buildings are spaces carefully adjusted to human occupancy.”
When viewing Ando's work, one thinks of meaningful contrast, or, contradictions that work. He brings together the unrelenting and the soft. He brings together cool spaces made from brutalist materials that somehow ground us in nature, with warm, perfectly-formed, pools of light and soft curves set against the modern.
He is called the 'master of light' in the architectural world for a reason. How could we not love him?
We are ever inspired by designs that touch on these concepts — those that bring together the modern and the warm — the functional and purpose built with the natural and calming. We think of Scandinavian, mid century modern, minimalism, japandi, and of course danish modern, when crafting our ceramic lighting to be placed or hung in your favorite room in your house or apartment.
Wescover Interview
Recently, I was thrilled to be asked by the team over at Wescover to sit down for an interview. They asked me some great questions about my inspirations, how I got started, and where I’m going. Here are a couple of excerpts. Click the link below to see the full conversation with Morgan Young over at Wescover.
How did you first get into ceramics?
I took a class in high school – you know one of those art classes that feels like you’re getting away with something – and it really clicked with me. Even then I had a really natural connection with the medium. It wasn’t until after graduating from college that I revisited clay out of a need for creativity, connection, and community. The city I live in has a really incredible arts program which includes a community ceramics studio. I joined this space back in 2014 and learned from the other community members. I didn’t take any classes (though I probably should have) and instead sat next to people whose work I admired and observed them. I think this worked really well for me because of my learning style – I’m a very visual and hands-on learner. From there it became about my relationship with that community as much as it did my relationship with the clay. The space was an incubator in many senses of the word – it was warm and comforting in the deep cold winters of Vermont, it was where I learned technique and developed a practice, and it’s where I gained a new sense of place.
What inspired you to start Rory Pots?
I spent a lot of my twenties adrift in the world. So many of us float along without feeling grounded in any particular path and I largely think this is a product of capitalism and societal structures at large. What is a path? What is purpose? Who is defining success? It took me longer than I’d like to admit to commit to this career. It’s scary going out on your own as an entrepreneur let alone an entrepreneur that sells their own creations. I applied to a women’s small business course in 2019 to learn how to move forward with this tentative dream of mine. It changed everything. I found myself smack dab in the middle of an incredibly supportive group of women also putting themselves way out on a limb, filled with anxiety and fear, and willing to be in that place with me despite it all. This course gave me the tools to own a business and the confidence to start Rory Pots…
In Person Shopping This Week!
Our latest body of work ~ The Ripple Collection ~ dropped this week. The whole line is available on our website. However, if you prefer that tactile shopping experience (and missed our open house on Sunday) we are inviting everyone back to our studio to shop this collection in person this coming Thursday. We recommend seeing this wavy collection of ceramic table lamps, sconces, pendants, vases, and mugs in person!
Thursday 3/16 1:00-6:00pm
We are located at 28 Howard St., Studio 105, Burlington, VT, 05401
As you walk down the alley/driveway perpendicular from Howard St., you’ll see our studio on the right. (Look for clay splatters on the window. :)
Plenty of parking can be found on Howard or Hayward street or in the parking lot behind Speeder and Earls.
We hope to see you there!
The Ripple Collection
The Ripple Collection is here!
It’s here! Ripple, our brand new lighting collection, is officially live for all shoppers.
From ceramic sconces to vases to table lamps to pendants, these pieces were inspired by one of our best-selling mugs - the Retro Mug. And so, the collection itself is a ripple effect. They will bring warmth and coziness to any space while their wheel thrown wavy design evokes the breezy feelings of our transition into spring.
These handmade, wheel thrown, one-of-a-kind pieces were built to last a lifetime. They work equally well as a center to your design theme or as that ‘one last missing’ item that completes your vision.
We’re offering exclusive launch pricing for any item in the Ripple Collection. Prices will increase by 10% in two weeks.
We’re so excited to bring The Ripple Collection to you and your home.
Get your piece now!
On our inspo board today: Sprezzatura
Photo was taken by Salva López for the Terra Coll Home in Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain. Found on the beautiful Slow Roads instagram account @slow_roads via @terra_coll_home.
Sprezzatura is an Italian word meaning "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it". This word is often applied to fashion and that special touch that makes you look effortless but not unkept - like a slightly untucked shirt, or a rolled up sleeve.
I think natural materials always have the potential to offer your space some sprezzatura, which is why I love working as a ceramic artist. There is magic in natural materials. Whether wood, metal, stone, or natural stoneware clay, they often give us a timeless patina. We have a relationship with these parts of our living spaces - they age as we do, showing the beauty in change and evolution.
The act of making something from a natural material is quite difficult and the resulting piece shows the character of its process. And these details are what add that special something to your space - that effortlessness that you can’t look away from because at every angle there’s something to be admired. As ancient and classic as anything could be, this will never go out of style.
It is our hope that our ceramic lighting and home goods pieces will accompany you through your life, changing as you change, offering something new for every chapter. We hope they become heirlooms for you and your companions.
We Marie Kondo'd Our Website
Rory Pots has a new web layout and design
Sometimes in life, things get a little...messy. The laundry piles up, the coat closet gets unbearable, the junk drawer turns into the junk cabinet, and don't even look at all the random forgotten objects under your car seat.
And the pottery studio?! Forget about it:
Every now and again we need a little Marie Kondo'ing in our life to feel fresh again.
Just like that, this past week, we've done a lot of work on our website to make life a little easier for us and for you. We have a whole new categorizing system in place, so you can now more easily navigate our growing ceramic lighting and home goods offerings. And we've implemented a few more changes to our layout to make things like checkout that much simpler for you. You can now shop by category more easily including ceramic lighting | sconces | pendants | table lamps as well as our other offerings in ceramic design objects | vases | kitchenware and other home goods.
We are proud of ourselves!
How's it all working for you? Any other changes you'd like to see on there? Get in touch with us at contact@rorypots.com