Focus On ... Katie Bentley Ceramics

The smiley face behind the brand

This month we’re focusing on another local maker, Katie Bentley Ceramics, whose beautiful hadn't crafted products have just landed in Chirpy

Here’s a little interview we did with Katie.

CH: Tell me a little bit about yourself / your company

Katie: I’m Katie, the founder of Katie Bentley Ceramics. We are based in Leeds. All our products are designed and handcrafted in our little Yorkshire studio. Our aim is to create stunning ceramic homeware for beautiful interiors. 

CH: What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

Katie : Our days are crazy and always busy! 

Running a small independent business is like doing 10 peoples jobs all in the same day! 

I have a fabulous studio assistant Cerys who joined us in June 2020. Between us we are the designers, makers, casters, glazers, packers, social media managers & cleaners. We order materials for making & packing, stock take and organise the orders coming in and going out. 

CH: What’s been your biggest achievement to date?

Katie : I would say my biggest achievements would definitely be creating products that people love! Building up a fabulous selection of independent stockists who are excited to order all the new products we create. But also getting the business to a point where it’s not only a secure income for myself but now to be at a point where it’s also someone else’s full time job too is an amazing feeling. 

CH: Why should people shop / support local?

Katie: Shopping small & local is so important! Your not only massively supporting your local economy & high street but you are supporting someone’s real life dreams & their families too!! Thanks to Amy for her honest answers which really capture her wonderful cheery personality .

Check out the range of Katie’s ceramics we have in store and at Chirpy online

Focus On ... Amy from Its Balderston

The smiley face behind the brand

As we’ve reopened our doors, with lots of lovely new stock, we thought we’d take the opportunity to introduce you to some of our local suppliers, based in Yorkshire.

Here’s a little interview we did with Amy from Its Balderston, a quirky homewares brand we love stocking in Chirpy.

CH : Tell me a little bit about yourself
Amy: I am Amy, an Illustrator and homeware designer based up on a hill in Otley, Yorkshire and I create all things ItsBalderston, hand drawn chronic illustrations that derive joy and mirth from the every day.

Current Collections include The Furious Vegetable Army, Hostile Houseplants, Coffee Pals, Positively Naughty Dogs, Garden Birds and Jolly Leaf Pals.

CH: How did you get into doing what you are doing?
Amy: It all started with an absolutely furious Big Tommy Tomato. Created after a particularly theatrical performance by my husband- with a beef tomato deigned for homemade burgers-Big Tommy was the original inspiration behind my first collection - the Furious Vegetable Army. (And explains why he remains front and centre despite factually being a fruit.) The rest of the characters came along as a way to continue making my main pal smile. A few friends requested the design on a tea towel on the lead up to Christmas that year, and it all gathered momentum from there.

CH : What does a ‘normal’ day look like?
Amy : Life is a little loose and wild right now with a 3 month old in tow. But prior to this invasion... a strong stint working at the mighty Cafe 164 has permanently endeared me to early starts and delicious coffee. So that is where we begin. Packing orders, checking stock, before heading to Otley Maker Space in town where I fire up the laser. I typically work on new designs and admin while the etching takes place. Post office, then home - on a super dream day - a trip to North Bar Social with pals to finish.

CH: What’s been your biggest achievement to date?
Amy: Taking a leap and moving to become completely freelance in October 2019. While retrospectively a bit of a clanger timing wise (pandemic, pregnancy, lockdown the following spring...) it firmly cemented these dreams of mine and pushed me to finally take myself a little more seriously.

CH : What’s been the favourite thing you’ve made?
Amy: This has to be my laser etched boards and spoons. The sheer joy I feel when I see those furious little faces slowly appear across my products is like nothing else. The magnificent team at Duke Studios first introduced me to their motherfrickinlaser while I worked as their Community Manager - it’s an amazing space full of creative industries, inspiration and pals.

CH : What’s the best thing about running your own business?
Amy: While the freedom to create, to explore and make obviously has glorious perks, for me it has to be the communities and people I have met across the years. From the very best of maker pals, to wonderful stockists- I feel incredibly lucky with the company I get to keep, and the support, friendship and kindness they bring.

CH : What advice would you give to anyone looking to turn their hobby into a business / set up their own business?
Amy : In the brilliant words of Laura Wellington- Just (f***ing) do it. Those words thrown at me while serving her a coffee at 164, pushed me to finally invest in my first print run. There are always a hundred reasons to stall or stop, I think I needed to stop blowing it out of proportion. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, small steps can always become big. I’m a glutton for structure, community, and small steps. So working various roles alongside this business in wonderful teams and places while gently investing/growing was the way for me.

CH: Is there a craft you haven’t tried but would like to?
Amy : Pottery! I’m a huge fan of Rebecca over at Sunken Studios since helping out at a Hey Clay! event a few years ago. I suspect I will not rest until I have had a spin on a potting wheel or attempted the recreate some of my favourite characters in clay. I would love to see furious vegetable lamps in my future...

CH: Why should people shop / support local?
Amy: Because you are unquestionably brightening the the lives and souls of people who make, create and run these businesses. Each share, interaction or purchase will be putting a smile on someone’s face - keeping their hard work and dreams a reality. This Sunshine is absolutely something we all need after the year we have had.

Thanks to Amy for her honest answers which really capture her wonderful cheery personality .