THE EDIT

In earthenware, stoneware or porcelain, Shoppe Object has a wide range of handsome ceramics for your dining, flower-arranging, organizing, storage and decorative pleasure. And with all the ritual slapping, molding, slipping, sliding, squeezing, lifting, jiggering and jolleying that goes into crafting these beautiful wares, we can’t help but think that wheel-throwing might be one of the sexiest ways to play with clay. It’s one thing humans really got right!

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We’re in the midst of a revolution – to ignore it is to be at best pessimistic, and at worst, on the wrong side of history. Regardless of the governing system, the message of the people must be heard and the majority of us support progress. Beyond the news cycle and the cacophony of “voices” fueled by powers that aim to keep our nation and world in a state of divide, we believe that fundamentally, all human beings want the same things: dignity, equitable access to basic necessities, community, support, peace when we close our eyes at night, the ability hold our families close, and the freedom to love and be loved. These are the universal needs and truths that stretch across time and all cultures…

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It’s hard to pin down a singular sensibility from a huge rambling state with extreme variation in weather, flora and types of people, but California in many ways, represents the best of America. Maybe being a coastal state, there is comfort or thrill in being at the edge of something; where in a few moments or hours you could be at the mighty Pacific, right up to what feels like the end of the earth. Maybe it’s California’s position as the unofficial West Coast melting pot that provides a rich tapestry of culture and complexion from which we are inspired in many ways. California and the whole of the great, wild West embodies the true essence of American optimism; a place where the spirit of discovery and dreams of a better future collide. Anything is possible, especially when we’re all in this together.

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Masks and other forms of PPE, but especially masks, have been such a point of contention and division in the US. Two things we know for sure: we’re in the midst of a global pandemic that has thrown everyone for a loop in every way, and lots of Americans don’t like being told what to do. For the record, we at Shoppe Object are choosing to listen to the scientists and people dedicated to research, who have proven the efficacy of masks to aid in the prevention and spread of germs and virus-laden droplets from our mouths and noses. Period. We wear them if not for our own protection, then for the chance of making things safer for others. So that’s that. Mask up in some beautiful styles and designs from our community of brands – we insist.

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Shower sanctuary, cleansing closet, bath and basin, purely personal, sometimes escape room – the bathroom might be the most important place in the house. Smaller, intimate and ripe for decorating with interesting punches of color, or all the calming neutrals to provide a mental escape. Create a beautiful space for your balms and soaps, your medicines and brushes, comforting towels and maybe mementos. Make sure your choices reflect all the wonderful ways you want to feel when you’re taking care of yourself, starting and ending your day, or just hiding from the kids.

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Think of simply decorative and dramatic statement items as the most captivating woman in the room. She may have elegant curves or sharp angles, she probably holds herself with a confidence that adds a few inches to her real height, she must have a memorable laugh and she most certainly casts a wide enough radiant glow to light up everything and everyone else in the room. The sun, if you will, that illuminates all the planets and their moons, which revolve around her. Les Objets are the showstoppers of the home, exclamation points that provide emotional and visual joy. Whether they serve a practical purpose or not, they are the ones our eyes seek out, in any room, again and again.

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Though often associated with girl babies, pink deserves so much more than relegation to the nursery. She is the mature, calm version of the action and passion-filled Red, the stable versus lustful and obsessive side of love. Pink is the natural expression of compassion, never ego driven. The sweetness of bubblegum and cherry blossoms, she is the refreshing newness of Spring. A color that can rattle the senses across the spectrum, pink goes virginal when paired with white, and plunges deeply into the power of sex when paired with black. Pink is Mother, embodying the opposing yet powerful synergistic energies of gentle nurturing, fierce protection and raw vulnerability. Everything is pretty in pink.

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Brutalism is the architectural style of the 1950s and 60s characterized by large, sometimes menacing, primarily unadorned geometric forms. The term was coined by British architectural historian Reyner Banham and the name borrows inspiration from Le Corbusier’s frequent use of “beton brut” or raw concrete (the Brutalist material of choice), and the realness of Art Brut. Brutalism is an ethos as much as an aesthetic, it is high modern without any slick frosting, a socialist-leaning, utopian vision of future – think visible underpinnings, simplicity in form, and emphasis on structure and practicality…

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Lions, alpacas, Dachshunds, tigers, Persians, piggies, geese, Pomeranians, and bears, oh my! Furry friends, and wild animal prints and references make for adorable or alluring touches across all categories of home and gift right now. When we must be socially distant from our real friends, imaginary ones can come out to play and keep us in quiet company. Smiling mouths, dotted eyes and button noses in every imaginable material make all-weather friends we can count on. Stylish accessories like leashes, bowls and beds for our real fur family, (we’re talking pets here!) make taking gentle care of our smallest family members so much more fun.

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When conventionality won’t do, we find solace in objects and items that conjure a sense of freedom from the mundane. While we may be placed firmly within the boxes of our everyday obligations or society’s norms, references to far flung places in fabrics, embellishments, details, textures, color and taste activate our senses and provide a mental escape route to freedom in the unfettered, wild unknown.

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In 1856, the extensive and culturally inclusive book The Grammar of Ornament, by Owen Jones, revealed a wide selection of decoration and design – from Maori tattoos to the motifs and architecture of the Alhambra – via folio-size color lithographs that dazzled audiences who had not previously been exposed to a wide swath of humankind’s obsession with making beautiful things, through history. One notable takeaway from Jones’ book (that has never been out of print), which emerges as a primary message across his thirty-seven axioms…

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When was the beginning and what did it look like? 5 billion years ago the earth was an incandescent ball, crusts and crevices formed in the cool down, the atmosphere evolved. The timeline as we know it, of the evolution of life on earth is deep and mysterious, dotted with ice ages and warmings, with billion year old bacteria, 500 million year old plant ancestors in the form of mosses and liverworts, deep sea gardens swarmed by multicellular animals existing in a simple paradise. We can only reach so far back scientifically (Darwin’s dilemma), and while we may not know for sure, we can imagine life forming, adapting and evolving and what it may have looked like. The primordial state in our mind’s eye is full of magical stones, metals and crags, tangled roots and sacred geometry, raw forms and oozing surfaces…maybe we remember.

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They don’t call it the great outdoors for nothing. Spending time in nature, especially in green spaces, is a fast track to a lifted mood and improved health. Scientists agree that sunlight mitigates pain, plants boost immunity and simply being outdoors relieves anxiety and increases focus and creativity. From sun worshipping vitamin D junkies or mellow types who crave a silent, shady forest bath, mountain climbers to sea gazers – outdoor enthusiasts all share knowledge that connection with Mother Earth brings joy. So even if you’re just wandering back and forth from indoor to outdoor living room or heading to the park for a picnic – experts agree, it’s important to get out there. And while you’re at it, bring along some outdoorsy accessories and toys to make every day a beautiful adventure.

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Grandmas, Nanas, Abuelas, Pau-Paus and MeeMaws always seem to have a slight floral or sandalwood scent, pockets or purses filled with wrapped candies or gum, well-worn clothes that have carried them through the years, the softest delicate skin, and of course, a singular kind of love for her grandchildren unique only to that special relationship. Grandmothers carry the wisdom of age, depth of experience and are freer to do as they please. Stereotypes have them socializing over hobbies like puzzles and bingo, or working fastidiously, carrying on and perfecting old traditions like cooking or craft. But times have changed, and modern grandmas (including those of our own children!) are playing tennis multiple days a week, are super tech savvy, still work, and sometimes party like it's 1999…

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