Where are you from? and a little bit about you
I’m originally from Hong Kong. I lived in LA with my family until college. I went to UC Berkeley to get an Architecture degree and haven’t left the SF Bay Area since. I started doing pottery about 15 years ago and it is my means of getting grounded and being in touch with the earth. It is a great way to de-stress after working at my day job.
How did you decide on your shop name?
My husband came up with the name. My dog’s name is Bailey and I started out making a lot of berry bowls so putting the two together makes “BaileyBowls“. It has a nice ring to it wouldn’t you agree?
Why did you start your business?
I started out giving my pottery away. Then through the encouragement of my friends (who were the recipients of these pieces), I started selling at craft fairs and eventually online at etsy. I really enjoy making each and every one of these pieces and it is especially gratifying to hear from my customers how each piece has integrated into their daily lives.
Do you have anything new you plan on adding to your store?
I love making my bunny ring keepers (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41875585) and to keep the wedding theme going, I am thinking of doing wedding cake toppers. Heehee. I need to sketch this out some more.
What is your favorite thing about being a seller?
I enjoy making connections that I never would have made without being part of the etsy online community.
Do you have a blog, twitter, or facebook page?
I do – http://baileybowls.blogspot.com/, http://www.twitter.com/baileybowls, http://www.facebook.com/baileybowls
What inspires you to make the items in your shop?
A lot of my inspiration is from watching my dedicated companion Bailey. My drawings of him are transferred to pottery and my line of Bailey-ware (http://www.etsy.com/shop/baileybowls?section_id=5090228) is a hit with dog lovers. đŸ™‚ My husband is my biggest idea-man and is most supportive in my endeavor. Hiking around in nature also inspires me and some of my sushi dishes “with a touch of nature” are all from seeing the possibilities in branches.
What items in your shop do you most enjoy making and why?
I go in phases where I would do exclusively berry bowls because spending time on the wheel is quite fun. Then I would switch over to doing a lot of hand building and making the nested mini-bowls are meditative to me. I made many sets that incorporate redwood needles (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33142660) while sitting in the redwood forest listing to quails calls.
Anything else you would like us to know?
Besides pottery, I do a lot of gardening. I can’t wait until our rainy and cold season is over so I can get back out in the yard!
** As always I would like to encourage all of you to visit Lisa’s store. She has many wonderful items that I am sure you will all love! For the next 24 hours you may have an extra entry into any of my giveaways for visiting baileybowls and telling me one thing you learned about her and one item from their shop you just love!
