Origin is always filled with a wide variety of ceramics, and this year’s show wasn’t an exception. I saw very beautiful and well crafted work on display. James and Tilla Waters design’s were one of my favorites, for the delicates shapes of the vases and pots and the range of colors and marks on its decorations.

{Origin 2009} Anna Lewis jewellery

Anna’s stand at Origin was the most well arranged and beautiful I saw, not only her jewellery is stunning but the way she stylish the space was very inspirational…I love black birds, rabbits, old finds, vintage clocks lace, etc…and that and much more is what you can find in her pieces. I couldn’t resist to post so many photos of her work as they are amazing!! I always say that good quality photos are essential to show your work and attract potential clients…Browsing through her website has been like watching a gothic fairy tale …and her studio is a box full of details, old things such the baby shoes and all the laces, buttons and photos…

Photography by Elliot Daves

I strongly recommend to read her statements for each collection, myths, witches, amulets, superstitions, family memories and so much more…In my very modest opinion She has been the highlight of this year’s Origin show, well done Anna!!

{Origin 2009} Nicola Malkin extra large jewellery

I first saw Nicola’s ceramics at her degree show in Camberwell back in 2002 and was delighted to see her new pieces at the fair. Her work is very distinctive and full of humour, think extra large jewellery for the home!! She uses traditional ceramic techniques to explore love and death, fragility and power and personal relashionships…I wish I had a lot of money and a big living room to put one of her so collectable pieces in my house!!

{Origin 2009} Abbott and Eellwood figurative brooches and sculptures

Mike Abbott and Kim Ellwood live and work together, by the sea and moor just outside St Ives in Cornwall. Their contemporary collection of hand printed figurative brooches, with themes including the garden and the sea, are made to wear, display and hopefully to bring a smile!

Their one-off hand printed figurative sculptures explore narrative themes loosely drawn…. individual characters emerge through the process of making, using images printed onto metal and found objects to tell a new story, creating objects with humour and pathos!

I love the fact that they recycle the materials they use in their pieces, the colors, the patterns...they definitely put a smile on my face...

{Origin 2009} Annette Bugansky

I have always liked Annette ceramics, I remember seeing them in Loop, (where I used to sell my cushions when they first opened the shop). I like the warmth quality of her vases, very much inspired on knitting patterns, they are full of textures and made to be touched and felt

{Origin 2009} Elli Evans Cross stitch work

I am so taken by Ellie’s delicates work, it reminds me very much of my mother’s stitching pieces, that my sister and myself used to wear so proudly, I wish I would have kept those beautiful dresses from when I was a child…

Ellie’s work combine traditional craft with digital printing, and explores…‘the curiosity I have about my heritage and identity, particularly the absence of my grandparents. Looking at the documents and artefacts relating to them, I embarked on a discovery of their complex lives, and how, coming from very different backgrounds (Poland and the Netherlands) they ended up settling in England.’

I always admire designers who try to preserve traditional skills and use them in a new more contemporary way, and by doing this pass on the knowledge of these crafts to future generations.

{Origin 2009} Claire Loder ceramics faces

Claire’s faces were calling me from this little corner of the show, I looked at them from the distance and felt very intrigued by the big heads with small sad eyes. They all have the same mouth and expressions, as if they were there to be watched, not saying much…I had a lovely chat with Claire while I was staring at them, I her words… The focus of many of my larger pieces is the eyes; typically the gaze is averted inviting the viewer to contemplate the interior world of the subject or what may have just happened 'out of shot'. As the work has developed the communication of the interior world continues to be significant, other themes and fascinations are being woven around this framework.

I find her work very fascinating and interesting, and have enjoyed browsing her very funny website, full of nice surprises!!