There's something almost universally beguiling about one shelf in the Home store that holds an array of charmingly uneven, striped porcelain cups in joyful primary colors. Whether it's their clearly hand-formed shape or bold pattern that pulls you in, there's no denying that the work of Brooklyn-based artist Isabel Halley adds something extra special to our ceramics collection. Recently Isabel took some time out of her very busy schedule to chat with us about how her unique approach to ceramics came to be.

I know you have a degree in sculpture - did you always have a relationship with creating? When and why did you start working in ceramics?

I’ve always made things with my hands. My father is an artist, so being creative was always something that felt very common and attainable in my house growing up. When I was in elementary school I made Christmas ornaments for my family and teachers, in college I made stuffed animals. It wasn’t until I was an adult though that I realized that I wanted to make crafts - meaning ceramics - as opposed to being a fine artist.

What made you want to start your own line of products? Is there a principle or inspiration that informs your work?

Once I realized that I didn’t want to be a fine artist, making ceramics felt very freeing! Creating my own line came about as I started making more and more categories of things. Small cups needed larger cups. Stripes couldn’t just be blue, they needed to be every color.  I am not so much a brand as a person that makes things that people buy.

Your work is unique in that it honors imperfection, handmade variation and a more organic approach to shapes, while maintaining enough uniformity to be very usable. What about your method of production appeals to you? What do you love about the things you create?

I love that I am able to keep my business small, making all my work myself. Having my hands on every piece is what appeals to me, and I hope others. The people who buy my work aren’t looking for mass produced perfect pieces, they want to live with human made objects.

What are the biggest challenges you navigate with this work?

My biggest challenge is navigating having two young kids and having a business. Both require a lot of effort and there is never enough time! However having my studio at home has helped so much with this work/life balance. There are moments when I wish I could leave the house for the day but this is the season of my life where I need to be HOME.

What are you looking forward to in the future - both with your ceramics company and otherwise? 

I am looking forward to new colors for spring, and hopefully some new shapes - including a long awaited mug!

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Thank you Isabel! If you haven't had a chance to see and feel her ceramics in person, be sure to check them out next time you're in the Home store. You'll fall in love, as we have!