The Habulous Blog

Dogs are special, loyal and loving companions, and we want our furry friends to live their happiest and healthiest lives full of love, fun and food! So, one of the main questions we often want answered is: what dog bowl is best?

Since moving into our new Habulous studio, we wanted to make sure our pottery pups, Digby the Cavalier Spaniel and Libby the Cockapoo, would settle in comfortably but also keep our new space looking smart and matching our eco-conscious beliefs. We wanted to avoid the typical mass-produced plastic or steel dog bowls, so we thought we would design a stoneware bowl especially for them, and now for your pooches (especially those with long ears) too!

What makes our dog bowl better than plastic or steel dog bowls?

Well, the obvious is that it looks a lot nicer! Because we also offer a personalised bowl in a variety of our unique glaze colours, you can match it to both your dog and interior design. Check out our personalised bowl here, or if you can’t wait, check out our ‘Top Dog’ bowl here.

Since the bowl is made from stoneware clay and glaze, this makes it easy to clean as well as dishwasher and microwave safe. Although, because it is handmade, we usually recommend washing it by hand to keep the piece in its optimal condition.

Additionally, the weighted design and nature of stoneware means the bowl will be much less likely to tip over or move around, keeping your floor clean and dog’s dinner time a lot less noisy!

What makes our bowl good for long-eared dogs?

The dog bowl has been designed especially for dogs with long ears, such as Spaniels, with its raised sides but hearty volume. The opening is a comfortable size for your dog’s snout, but just narrow enough that it stops their ears from dipping in their food or water. This means your dog’s ears won’t be looking bedraggled and dripping all over the place, as well as being much more hygienic for your dog as well as around your home. 

The hearty volume allows a substantial amount of food or water and is easy to fit your hand in if the inside needs a clean.

What makes our dog bowl different from others?

Our bowls are made completely by hand each step of the way. From throwing the clay on the wheel to hand-writing your pup’s name on the outside and dipping it in your chosen glaze colour, all ready for firing in our kiln. No two bowls are the same.

What we love about the combination of the flecked stoneware and our unique pastel glaze is the gorgeous golden burnoff you can see around the edges where the glaze meets the clay. The texture of the clay and contrasting smooth glaze also provides a high-quality feel, simply because it is! 

Our handmade bowls are made to last the test of time. Stoneware is tactile and much less likely to get scratched or unappealing to look at like plastic and steel dog bowls. This will be a piece you won’t want to hide.

Handmade ceramics bring a lot more joy than mass-produced pottery because there are people and a story behind each piece. We value being eco-conscious as well as creating ceramics that are gorgeous to look at, to feel and to gift, be it to yourself or others (and dogs in this case!).

Why is pottery important?

Pottery has been around as early as 7000 BC and is still an active craft to this day - pretty mind-boggling, right? From ornamental pots and vases to tableware and sculptures, pottery is both for art and function.

At Habulous, we want to continue practising the traditional methods and craftsmanship that have been around for millenia and keep the craft alive through our own products and through teaching, avoiding the mass produced market that has unfortunately started to dominate a once solely hand produced practice. Our ethos being: “Hand produced not mass produced”.

So, are you looking for a pottery class near you? Well, thanks to the continued support of our customers, we have been able to move into a working studio nestled on the edge of Dartmoor, England, where we can now run pottery classes for beginners. We primarily focus on handbuilding, providing you with useful tips and tricks and showing you the behind the scenes craftsmanship that goes into each and every one of our pieces. We will also look at decoration methods on pre hand thrown pieces, giving you the opportunity to learn how a piece of pottery comes together. 

So why did we decide to run workshops?

Aside from keeping traditional making methods relevant, we want you to come and truly experience working with clay. We want to share with you how versatile this material from the Earth is: shaping, manipulating, carving, how it reacts with air and water… it’s fascinating how a variety of hand making methods can create functional and keepsake items for our homes.

Understanding how the clay feels and behaves is not only important knowledge we want to pass on, but from an eco-conscious point of view we want people to understand how our pieces are hand-designed to last the test of time and discourage contributing to a throwaway society.

You will get the chance to work with clay and build a piece the same way we would for our shop, only you can make it in your own stylistic way and choose the glaze colour you would like to paint your pottery with. There’s something special about owning a unique piece of art and being able to say you were the maker behind it!

What did people think about our workshop?

We ran our first workshop in July and we certainly enjoyed it as much as our attendees did.

Nicki: The workshop was so great! I learned about how to work the clay and using different tools to create different effects. Thank you so much to Nicky and Cara for such an enjoyable evening!

Becky: Wow! I had such an amazing evening! Everything was well thought out and each step was explained! It was lovely spending the evening together, being creative with lots of laughing. A different take on a night out, 10/10 Can’t wait for the end result x Roll on the next one.

Angelina: Amazing! Such a perfect way to spend an evening. Nicky & Cara were excellent in teaching us their craft. Really helpful and informative through each step. It was relaxing, fun and educational all in one. Will definitely be attending again. I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for a creative workshop. 10/10.

Jane: What a wonderful evening! It went so quickly. If you’d have asked me at the beginning how to make a bird pot I wouldn’t have had a clue! I learnt something new and really enjoyed working with the clay. Really makes you appreciate the work that goes into handmade products. Great instructions from Nicky and Cara. Can’t wait to get my pots back! Highly recommend!

How do I sign up?

We have a variety of upcoming workshops on our website which you can check out here. Choose one that interests you and check out all the information - each class costs £50pp with up to 10 spaces, so expect an in-depth and friendly workshop with other people who have the same experience and/or passion for pottery as you. Not to mention, we offer plenty of drinks and biscuits!

You will come away from the workshop with your very own creation (once you’ve chosen what colour glaze we will fire it for you in our kiln for you to come and pick up in due course) and a better understanding of the processes behind our unique pieces and hopefully a new love for pottery.

We hope to see you soon!

We all need to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Repurposing is just one of those steps that can be easily taken to help save our planet. 

 

First of all, what does ‘repurpose’ mean?

Repurposing means adapting the use of something to suit a different/new purpose. 

We think this is fantastic because this means less landfill - and, did you know that waste is responsible for nearly 10% of the world’s carbon footprint?

 

Why should we repurpose?

Waste is responsible for a large part of our carbon footprint which is a large contributor to climate change, which is why repurposing is a great thing to do. Not only that, it’s a great way of saving money.

Our Ceramic Bird Pots

We aim to design our ceramics to be multi-functional and long lasting. One of our newest products is our small and large air plant birds/bird match pots which you can check out here, both of which can be reused or repurposed for a multitude of uses.

If you want it to still resemble a bird’s plumage, why not use it as a cotton bud holder in your bathroom? Or perhaps a pencil holder on your desk? Their simple design means you can get creative with a variety of different items to make its tail feathers.

Alternatively, if you’re not too fussed about doing this, you can simply use the pot to hold bits and bobs like paper clips, elastic bands and any other little things you tend to use.

 

What else can you repurpose?

Here are some ideas for repurposing the ceramics we’ve made in ways you might not have thought of (this also applies to all ceramics, not just ours!):

For example, it’s easy to look at a mug or a tumbler and just think its only purpose is for drinking from, but due to their hearty volume they make good pen pots, paintbrush pots or even to hold your toothbrushes.

Match pot

The match pot can be inevitably filled with matches again and again which you can also repurchase from our website here. Matches are better than using a lighter because they are made from biodegradable materials like wood, whereas lighters tend to be made from plastic.

Or, if you fancy repurposing it like the bird air plant holder, you can easily peel off the striker pad on the base and turn it into a little vase.

If you want to change up its use, you could use it as a pen pot in your office, a small utensil holder in your kitchen or even as a mini plant pot.

Oil Pourer

It’s easy to assume that the ceramic oil pourer is only useful for dispensing liquid, but what about repurposing it as a contemporary dried/flower vase? You can simply remove the steel pourer and fill the top with your choice of flowers. The bottle works on its own as a piece of contemporary decor and could also look great as a display piece in your home. Check out our oil pourers here.

Ceramic Flowers

Our ceramic flowers may seem pretty niche, but the malleable copper wire and simple design makes them easy to repurpose in a number of ways. Check out our flowers here.

• Wedding or party favour

• Wedding/Bridesmaid bouquet 

• Wedding table decoration

• Vase decorations

• Contemporary Wreath

• Wrapping decorations

 

What if it’s broken beyond purpose?

If you have something that is no longer repairable or reusable, why not have a go at getting creative yourself? Great ways to use broken ceramics are to make unique mosaic pieces.

If you want an example of a particular mosaic piece we did then you can check out our mini tutorial on our Instagram here: @habulousceramics

A mosaic artist we really admire is Emily Lawlor ‘China Jack’. We love the way she reuses vintage china, in particular pieces with elements of gold and silver, to create unique pieces of art. Her main inspiration is birds and capturing the detail of their wings through texture, colour and light from the china scraps she finds.

Upcycling is at the heart of Emily’s work, working with reclaimed china where possible, as well as using china that is at the end of its functional life to give it a totally new lease of life through her incredible craftsmanship.

We highly recommend you take a look at Emily’s work below or check out her Instagram: @chinajackmosaics

We all know it can be really hard to buy for the men in your life, that’s why we have compiled this list with our top suggestions of British handmade products that are sure to impress. So, if you are looking for a unique thoughtful gift, look no further than our list of eco conscious products handmade in the UK.

 

Why Choose Handmade Products?

1. They're unique and one-of-a-kind. No two handmade products are exactly alike, so you can be sure that your gift will be special.
2. Our selection of handmade products are made with high-quality materials and craftsmanship. This means that they're built to last, which in turn leads to less waste and helps lower our carbon footprint.
3. When you buy from a British artisan, you're helping to create jobs and boost our economy.

 

For the Creative

Tom’s Studio

 

These wonderful pens by Tom’s Studio are a masterful design. Tom’s mission is to create beautiful and innovative tools that empower people to pursue their goals, personal wellbeing & creativity whilst leaving the planet better than we found it. And, the best bit is that Tom’s pens are all refillable.

Refillable Writing Pen £55

Instagram: @tomstudio

For the Functional Minimalist 

Minustudio.co

 

At Minustudio.co each wallet is crafted by hand with care by Carmina, using the finest materials available and employing techniques that have been tested for centuries by generations of leather artisans.  

Slim Leather Wallet £24
Instagram: @minustudio.co

 

For the Plant Lover 

Habulous Ceramics 

 

Our best selling Jellyfish Air Plants just had to be included. These joyful handmade creatures are easy to keep and will definitely raise a smile when gifted. We offer a variety of plants and shell colours to choose from so it will fit in with your decor, but also stand out due to its unique design.

Jellyfish Air Plants £16.99-£22.99
Instagram: @habulousceramics 

Check them out here

For the Art Lover 

Elleve Art 

 

Devon-based artist Ellie Eveleigh paints miniature to large scale nostalgic moments, focussing on natural, urban and ocean landscapes, typically with emotive sunsets or deep night skies. A perfect keepsake to decorate your home and bring memories to life.

Miniature Paintings £45+, Comissions sizes and prices vary
Instagram: @elleveart

 

For the Cook

Rosie Brewer 

 

Beautifully crafted functional items, handmade by the talented Rosie, in the Wilds of Devon.  Every item crafted from sustainably sourced wood, in a minimalist and considered style. We love the character of each piece.

Spatula £15.00
Instagram: @rosiethebrewer

 

For the Office 

Habulous Ceramics

 

A contemporary desk tidy/pen pot handcrafted from stoneware clay in our Dartmoor studio. Great to keep favourite pens to hand, and stop bits and bobs like paperclips from going missing!

Desk Tidy £30
Check it out here

 

For the Ocean Lover

Behaviour Change Cornwall 

 

Behaviour Change Cornwall is all about positive change. They recover ghost fishing nets and ocean plastic and recycle into creations such as bracelets. Their work is all about positively impacting and creating clean and healthy seas, and creating stylish jewellery in the process.

Ghost fishing line bracelet £19.99
Instagram @behaviourchangecornwall

 

Standout Keyrings

LG Leatherworks

 

Luxury hand stitched leather created by Louise in her shepherd’s hut on the edge of Dartmoor, these crafted keyrings are perfect for people who want to get away from fast fashion and spend on heirloom products made to last - and keep all their keys organised!

Leather key fob £25.00
Instagram: @lgleather

 

For the Kitchen

Habulous Ceramics 

 

Whether you love keeping your kitchen looking smart or enjoy cooking, our oil pourer bottle and herb shredder bowl are both practical as well as stylish pieces that can keep work surfaces tidy and meal prepping more enjoyable. 

Oil Pourer £36

Herb Bowl £25

British handmade products are the perfect gifts for men who appreciate quality, uniqueness, and support for their local community. With so many great options to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect gift for any of the men in your life. Check out their Instagrams linked below each image.

Have you ever seen someone's home decor and instantly felt super inspired to steal a few of their ideas? Chances are, they've included handmade ceramics in the mix – an effortless way to bring elegance and longevity into any space. If you're wondering why we suggest these items should be on your wishlist, here are five must-know reasons:

Quality

Handcrafted stoneware and pottery is delicately formed with the most superior materials, ensuring a remarkable level of detail. What's more, since these pieces are handmade they tend to be much tougher than pre-made items from stores – meaning you can enjoy them for years on end as the exquisite details stand up against time and everyday use better than mass-produced goods.

Unique

Unlike mass-produced items, they offer an aesthetic charm as every handcrafted piece is unique, made with genuine care and attention to detail – meaning no two items will ever be identical. This individual art form adds a personal touch to your home interior style, making these pieces timeless investments that will be treasured for years to come.

Supporting Local Artisans

By purchasing, you are directly supporting local artisans and their craftsmanship. Buying from independent makers ensures that your money is going towards something which has been made with passion and dedication - while also helping to sustain the handcrafted industry.

Sustainable Living

If you are looking to promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle, Habulous has the ideal solution for you. Our handcrafted stoneware provides excellent durability and is free from harsh toxins or chemicals that could be damaging to your health or our environment. As opposed to mass-produced items which require regular replacement, these pieces can last years with proper care - making them an infinitely better decision in terms of both cost and sustainability!

Great Gifts

The perfect gift idea? We think your friends and loved ones will love it, especially those with a love for art and design! Whether it's an ornamental vase or dinnerware set, handmade gifts just make it feel that little bit more thoughtful, a fabulous gift that makes the recipient happy - Habulous right..?

At Habulous, we believe in the power of handmade ceramics, and how investing in these pieces can bring joy to any home. Our designs are crafted with the utmost care, bringing you pieces that will serve as cherished keepsakes for many years to come. From young to old, these timeless treasures can be enjoyed by all generations and passed through your family for years ahead.

So what are you waiting for? Shop Habulous today and find your perfect piece!