Meet Alyssa Ettinger & Her "Knitware" Ceramics

If you don't know her work, let me introduce you to the beautiful ceramics of Alyssa Ettinger's "Knitware" collection.

Her cups, vases, plates, bowls and coasters from her tactile and unusual "Knitware" collection are unique, elegant and a sight to behold.



Whether you want to drink hot chocolate from one of her cozy'knit' mugs or use a vase to add warmth and texture to an otherwise stark modern silhouette, she has perfected the art.

Take a look at some of her products, available in an equally tasteful palette of glazes.

above: her knitware coasters


Above: some of the different textures from the collection




Above: little knitware bowls


above: available glazes for the Knitware' collection



About Alyssa Ettinger (taken from her site)

Alyssa Ettinger threw her first pot at summer camp when she was 14-years-old. She continued working with clay while attending The Putney School, then got her BA in Ceramics (and Creative Writing) at Bennington College.

After graduating, she began a career in magazine publishing, and for nearly two decades wrote, edited, planned and styled shoots, and honed her expertise in home design, new products, décor and lifestyle — Her first book, The eBay Home Makeover, came out in October of 2005.

After 9/11, Alyssa felt something stirring inside her for a change. Between seeking a new direction, and being encouraged by a friend to try her hands at ceramics once more, Alyssa took a pottery class at the studio where this friend, Mieko, studied. That first night found Alyssa sitting at the wheel, throwing bowls nearly as easily as she had back in college. She began spending as many hours at the studio as she could, and soon felt she needed a way to spend all of her time pursuing ceramics. She found a studio space, ordered 50 pounds of porcelain, and within two months was designing dinnerware. Her first line — Mieko bowls — was named after the friend who'd started it all by inviting her for tea.

These days, Alyssa works out of a studio in Brooklyn, and has branched out to include slip-casting and hand-building in her designs. "It's a far different environment than the more corporate world where I once worked," she says. "Being a ceramic artist certainly doesn't make you wealthy, but I've reached a point in my life where being happy and content are far more valuable currency."

You can purchase some of her products here

or at her Etsy store here.

Seven Design Blogs, One Big Party!

IFCC Design Blogfest!

I wish I could go but I'm too busy working here on the West Coast, however if any of you design afficionados are anywhere within the vicinity, I suggest you go.

A Head-Turning Idea (& gift!)

Talk about a unique custom personalized gift!

Turn Your Head created beautiful wooden "Piros" (as they call them...short for pirolettes) carved from an individual's profile image.

Just like the famous optical illusion of two vases or two profiles.

Who came up with this neat idea?

Tom Beshara aka Dad; Born in Deadwood, SD; Year of the Dragon; Aries

Lorie Beshara aka Mom; Born NY, NY; Year of the Tiger; Capricorn

Cortney Langenegger aka Cort; Born Denver, CO; Year of the Snake; Leo

Ryan Vera aka Ry; Born Denver, CO; Year of the Goat; Gemini

Below is taken directly from their site, www.turnyourhead.com.


Vis-age (N. the face or appearance of a person)

At Turn Your Head, we fill the space between two opposing profiles of your face. By spinning that space into a three dimensional “visage” that follows the outlined silhouettes of your two profiles, we create the "Pirolette".

Place the “Pirolette” to your face and it will match your profile. Locate it near a wall and the shadow of the "Pirolette” will be your silhouette.

Your profile captured forever in an object of art. An optical illusion of shadow and light, each one unique because it’s you!



The Keepsake Pirolette is an option you can add for $20.00. A hand made wooden bolt can be unscrewed to reveal a 2" to 2 1/2" deep hollow space to store your most precious keepsakes.

The Keepsake Pirolette includes a small black velvet draw string pouch and two small ziplock bags:



Also Available is a cherry wood base with glass dome for display as seen below:



How do they do it?

It Starts with a block of wood......



...which comes from the north and eastern part of the United States. Our suppliers cut, plane, and glue-up the blocks to our specifications. These blocks are about six inches square and nine inches long and weigh approximately six pounds.

The process of making a Pirolette begins with you and the images that you submit to our web site. Once an image is received, they are sized and enhanced to reveal only the outline that will later be used to turn your Pirolette on the lathe. Once an outline has been created, a paper cut out of your profile is used to determine the angle of the profile that will be cut into each Pirolette. We then transfer the profile to a metal template, which is cut by hand into a metal guide, and then used to create the Pirolette.

When setting up for the actual turning, each block must be sanded flat on both ends, the centers found and marked, then mounted into the lathe. Then template must also be mounted to the lathe to facilitate the accuracy of each piece. The cutting then begins.

We first do a rough cut, which removes about half the weight of the block. Next in the turning process is the shaping of the top of the Pirolette, which we make into a slightly peaked cap for the Elegant, or shape to the Chic and leave flat for the Earthy style. After the rough cut, the sanding begins. This process is done with eight steps. First we begin with an extremely coarse sand paper, depending on how the rough cut goes. Then we work our way down to 500 grit sandpaper. This process takes three quarters of an hour to complete. The sanding is followed by the oiling process. Your Pirolette, is removed from the lathe and mounted into the drill press where the center is drilled out for a plug to fill the hole where the block was mounted in the lathe. Then the top is rough sanded, finish sanded, buffed and the second coat of penetrating oil is applied. This must be allowed to dry for 24 hours. The next day the Pirolette is sanded again, this time with fine steel wool and oiled with an oil called tung oil and allowed to dry overnight. The Pirolette is now ready to be gift boxed, packaged and shipped.

Their Portrait's

The “Portrait” is hand crafted from American Black Walnut, Cherry or African Padauk 1/8" (est.) veneer and is hand polished to a natural luster.

Each Portrait is housed inside a Dark Cherry Stained, 10 X 13 inch frame. We have made it easy for you to transfer your "Pirolette Portrait" into another frame if that's what you desire.

*The Portrait to the left has been customed framed. Turn Your Head does not provide this service but we wanted to show you what is possible.*

In addition to the 3D version, you can have a wall mountable version (with or without the shadow, as seen below):



I just think this is such a great idea for a unique gift. And the prices are reasonable.

To learn more, or to order your own, click here.