When she’s not working as the studio manager and pottery instructor for BayArts, Mallory Tulcewicz can be found toiling away on her pottery wheel in her basement studio. Everything, from mugs and bowls to dishes for jewelry, is handmade for her Etsy shop, Mud by Mallory.
“I try to create pieces that can also become heirlooms or part of your daily life,” she says. “I love the idea of passing down items because with stoneware, it lasts forever.”
Inspired by things she sees throughout her day, the donut vase ($18) encapsulates the neutral color palettes and organic forms that Tulcewicz strives to create through brown clay. And while most donut vases she’s seen stand upright, this design was made with the intention to be hung on the wall, though its flat back offers some versatility as well. Plant lovers can rejoice, as the vase is the perfect way to display air plants.
From the initial throwing, to the drying and trimming, to the final glaze firing in a kiln that reaches about 2,000 degrees, the whole process takes roughly three weeks to complete. In the end, every step is completely worth it.
“I’ve always considered myself a collector,” Tulcewicz says. “So, for people who want to collect things or really create their sense of space that totally encompasses themselves, it’s a piece that can work for you.” mudbymallory.com
