Objects of Lust: Victoria Morris Pottery

Inspired by both Scandinavian and Japanese traditions, Los Angeles ceramic artist Victoria Morris creates beautifully subtle, organic pottery that recalls a midcentury aesthetic and yet feels utterly modern.

Morris's pieces are available through L.A.'s OK Store (where the hand-thrown vases above run $65 to $195 apiece) and Zelen.

Check out more of her work right here.

Objects of Lust: Anna Sykora Ceramics

The minute I saw these, I fell hard. I mean, yum.

Handcrafted by Berlin ceramist Anna Sykora from Limoges porcelain, each piece is covered in a fine layer of earth-based terra sigillata clay that Sykora mixes herself before being inscribed with a delicate pattern and fired at ultra-high temperature.

Available in a variety of colors and patterns, the bowls are 40 to 44 euros (about $56 to $62), the vases are 198 euros ($278), and the platters are 120 to 190 euros ($169 to $267) from Craft2Eu.

See more of Sykora's work here.

Etsy Find: Villareal Ceramics

My love for white porcelain knows no bounds. And white porcelain coaxed by hand into nature's most beautiful forms? Yes, please. These porcelain creations from Montreal, Canada Etsy seller Villareal Ceramics come with a keyhole in the back for easy hanging, or can simply be placed on a shelf or tabletop for a simple, beautiful vignette. Above: Magnolia, $54

Rose Pillow, $35

Ghost Tree, $35

Magnolia Point, $54

Stripe Home, $22

Iceberg Roots, $65

See all of Villareal Ceramics' Etsy offerings right here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Pigeon Toe Ceramics

As far as I'm concerned, you can never have enough white ceramics. And white ceramics with flashes of glossy, saturated color inside? Yes, please.

So of course I immediately fell in love with the work of Portland, Oregon potter Lisa Hough, aka Etsy seller Pigeon Toe Ceramics. My faves:

Small Tripod Pot, $28

Mini Creamer in Peacock, $6

Small Tripod Pot in Espresso Stoneware, $28

Porcelain Bud Vase in Lemon, $18

Mini Pleat Cup, $18

Small Tripod Pot in Cinder, $28

See all of Pigeon Toe's Etsy offerings right here -- and check out more of Hough's creations here.

Cool Stuff: Oceania Vases

Simply lovely handmade ceramic vases from The HomePort.

They're normally $24 to $28 each, or $76 for the set of three, but they're 25 percent off (or $16 to $57) between now and May 15. Check 'em out right here.

Mark Your Calendar: 2nds on 4th Sale

Berkeley's 4th and Clay Studio is holding its annual "2nds on 4th" sale featuring first- and second-quality bargains from ceramic artists Christa Assad, Rae Dunn, Josie Jurczenia, Sara Paloma, Whitney Smith, and Sharon Virtue.

The sale takes place this Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2390 4th St. at Channing. More info here.

Mark Your Calendar: Whitney Smith Sample Sale

If you're in the Bay Area this weekend, be sure to stop by ceramic artist Whitney Smith's Spring Sample Sale on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Smith is making space in her studio by clearing out not-quite-perfect items -- which are 10 to 70 percent off regular retail -- prototypes, older pieces, and even some brand-new designs (her organic-modern Lichen Collection, for instance, is a particular fave of mine). The studio is located at 539 Athol Ave. at Cleveland in Oakland.

And if you're not in the area, don't despair -- Smith will be filling the "Sale" section of her Etsy shop with bargains starting on Sunday, March 29.

See more of Smith's gorgeous handmade ceramics right here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Genevieve Dionne Ceramics

More fox love from Vancouver, British Columbia ceramist and Etsy seller Genevieve Dionne. Each piece is hand-thrown and ornamented with Dionne's hand-cut stencil designs. Above: Smoking Fox Mug, $25

Tall Fox Mug, $25

Fox Mug, $25

And in non-fox-related news, I also really like this Ghost Cup, $25, and Ghost Vase, $30.

See all of Dionne's Etsy offerings right here -- and while you're at it, be sure to check out her very cool wood burn, illustration, and collage work here.

Objects of Lust: Sarah Becker Ceramics

I spotted Sarah Becker's ceramic hearts last week while I was browsing in San Francisco's very own Cabinet of Curiosities, Valencia Streets' Paxton Gate, and was immediately drawn to them.

There's something about the delicate hearts enmeshed within a forest of thorny, foreboding protuberances that seems to simultaneously say, "Enter at Your Peril" and "Scarred But Still Beating." They're dangerous and vulnerable.

Of course, Becker also makes more straightforward, ready-to-hang hearts for the slightly less morbidly romantic among us. She'll create custom pieces as well.

When I looked up her website, I was equally intrigued by the ceramist's bird-and-antler sculptures, which strike a delicate balance between the wild and the refined.

In addition to Paxton Gate, you can find Becker's pieces at San Francisco's Flora Grubb Gardens and Habit. Prices for the hearts start at $225, while the antlers are $250 and up.

Check out more of Becker's ceramic art right here.

Cool Stuff: Justin Rothshank Decal Ceramics

Beautiful, provocative decalware from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ceramic artist Justin Rothshank.

Rothshank designs custom decals on his computer, laser-prints them with ceramic ink onto special decal paper, and applies them to his handmade pottery before firing in a kiln. The results are as startling as they are lovely.

Contact Rothshank directly for pricing and ordering information. (Update: Just discovered that he has pieces for sale on Etsy as well.)

See a video of Rothshank's decal application process here, and check out more of his work here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Mudpuppy Bud Vases

I stopped in yesterday at Berkeley's Lola (which, by the way, is an absolutely beautiful shop and definitely worth a visit if you're local) and was immediately drawn to these delicate bud vases with woven waxed linen "knotless nets" from Mudpuppy (aka Denver ceramist Michael McDowell). I don't know what it is, but the combination of needlework and other, non-textile mediums gets me every single time.

In the end, I couldn't resist. I need more white pottery like I need a hole in the head, and we really shouldn't be spending on non-essentials right now. But the heart wants what it wants, y'know?

Lola has a few more of these, so pop on by to take a look if you're in the area. If not, you can find them for $26 apiece on good old Etsy, where Mudpuppy has a shop filled with lots of little handcrafted ceramic lovelies that you probably don't need, but that your heart will undoubtedly desire.

(P.S. Check out my Etsy widget at left for a few more Mudpuppy creations. I update the widget with five new Etsy finds every day, so if you view the blog via an RSS feed, it's worth clicking through to check out the bonus goodies.)

(P.P.S. Click through to the comments on this post to see a great discount offer on Mudpuppy wares, just for More Ways to Waste Time readers. Thanks, Michael!)

Deal of the Day: 15% Off Place Settings at Heath Ceramics

How drool-worthy are these new place settings from Heath Ceramics? I'll take service for twelve ...

To celebrate the launch of this new dinnerware collection, Heath is offering 15 percent off the regular price ($78 to $164 per set) until the end of February. Simply type in SETS at checkout to take advantage of the discount.

And if you're in the Bay Area, stop by the Heath Factory Store in Sausalito this weekend (Friday, February 6 through Sunday, February 8) for tours, open studios, giveaways, and 10 percent off everything.