Behind the Counter- October

Welcome to Behind the Counter. Take a glimpse behind the scenes at Thistle & Bess to connect with people who inspire, hear the thoughtful stories behind the goods that I love and find out what is currently sparking joy in my life. 

I sadly lost my dad last month after his long battle with illness. My dad shaped my life in so many ways, it is going to take me quite some time to process this enormous loss, although I knew it was coming. My dad was an amateur historian, a collector of historical books and documents, a loyal friend and family man. He affectionately called me his "most historical daughter" and I am so proud to take after him and his interests in so many ways. 

While thinking of ways to honor him and keep him close to me, the tradition of Mourning Jewelry came to mind. Made popular by the Victorians, people would commission pieces of jewelry as a tribute to loved ones lost. The pieces would feature black enamel, Memento Mori motifs, and even locks of loved ones hair braided and formed into intricate designs. The book, In Death Lamented: The Tradition of Anglo-American Mourning Jewelry, is a lovely source on the trend of mourning jewelry. 

I have followed a jeweler, Margaret Cross, who makes modern mourning jewelry for some time and love her work. I am thinking about commissioning a piece to honor my dad. Jewelry that you wear on your body every day is so personal and intimate, it feels like a comforting way to keep my father close, and I know that my dad would love the historical nod of honoring him in a way that could be passed down for years to come. Check out Margaret's work and the concept of mourning jewelry in general. It's not for everyone, but I think it is a lovely tradition. 

Debbie Carlos is one of our favorite designers at the shop. Her ceramics are playful, functional and a bit quirky in the best way. Based in Lansing, MI, Debbie is also a photographer and in addition to her fine art work, she shoots food, travel, lifestyle and interior spaces. We love collaborating with Debbie and carrying her charming work at T&B. I recently asked Debbie some questions about her process and inspiration. 

You are both a ceramicist and a photographer. Do you feel like there are similarities between these two mediums? Do you prefer one over the other? 

There can be similarities between the two, despite being very different processes & using very different materials. There are photographers whose practices involve a lot of making — set and object design and construction, for example —  before they actually frame the image and press the shutter button. My photography was involved less with making and had more to do with looking and capturing moments in my surroundings in an almost diaristic way. 

I think where my ceramics and my photography find common ground is in the idea of my/our every day lives. In the image, I sought to capture small moments of beauty & surprise, and I want my objects to provide that as well as being functional items that you can use daily.

What led you to start making ceramics? 

I was starting to feel like photography wasn’t enough for me. I was beginning to get frustrated that the photograph could only really be on a wall, in a book or on your monitor. I  wanted to start making things that could be used every day. I felt a need to be challenged to make something more functional. 

I took a ceramics class at a local community art center and really enjoyed it. I started posting some of my pieces on social media, received very encouraging feedback and just slowly started to pivot from there. 

Do you have a favorite piece in your collection?

The solar bird & pollinator fountains are by far my favorite pieces so far. It felt like a real evolution in my practice. They are sculptural and functional, combining my love of gardens and supporting your pollinators and wildlife.They took about 2 years to develop, they are not easy to make but proud that I am able to do it, and it felt huge to release them out into the world this past summer. I hope to be able to make more!

What is your favorite part about running a creative business? Least favorite?

Being able to create cool and interesting things as my job is definitely my favorite part. The fact that people like what I do and spend their money on my work still surprises me after all these years. My least favorite parts are the tedious administrative aspects of it lol. 

What is currently inspiring you or bringing you joy? 

Nature & gardening! 

I live close to the river trail here in Lansing and I so enjoy doing my daily walks and seeing how things change through the season. I feel like I learn something new almost every time.

I love learning about how to better my immediate environment through the simple act of gardening, especially gardening with native plants, and applying it to my space. I  think it’s still so amazing that I can grow things that I can eat even after more than 10 years of vegetable gardening and I love trying something new every year. This year, I grew a squash I usually could only get either in Taiwan or at an Asian grocery which was so cool! It really took me back home every time I ate it.  I’m so looking forward to spring when I can really start gardening again!

After a heavy and exhausting month, I am trying to find joy in the simple things. The cooler temps, fall sunshine and autumn trees have been uplifting. With the change of seasons, I have been excited to play with my wardrobe and to invest in some new pieces.  My style is recently inspired by 1970's George Harrison, quirky and whimsical Miss Frizzle (it's the old science teacher in me), stripes, vintage sports T-shirts and sneakers. 

I have been finding some fashion inspiration from social media as well. Two of my favorite instagram accounts for fashion happen to be two London-based ladies- Liv Purvis and Alexandra Steadman. They are both moms of young children and inspire me to still play with my style, even on days when I'm chasing my kid. Check them out for some fun fall inspiration.