Winter Special 2025: Books and Ceramics

There are two things I’m partial to and will often indulge in without too much thinking: books and ceramics. From my point of view, you can never have too much of any of them :) 

I'm returning momentarily to the origin of this newsletter in 2017, when it was about recommending craft-related objects and people I encountered through my frequent travels. Although my aim is not to encourage you to buy something you don’t need, here’s some inspiration [mainly] from UK based makers and shops for your Christmas gifts. 

Books

Make London. Part of the ‘An opinionated guide to’ series by Hoxton Mini Press, this handy little guidebook offers recommendations on where to pick up tools or learn something new in London. Want to get started making bread, ceramics, or embroidery, distilling your own booze, or taking your first steps in glassblowing, wood and metalworking? They have you covered! Two of my favourites are Crown Work Pottery and the St Bride Foundation. 

Do Maintain. This is also part of an excellent and long standing series by the Do Book Co. Maintenance is often overlooked but if you invest in a good quality (and often expensive) kitchen knife, then knowing how to sharpen it properly is a skill you need to become good at (I’ve been guilty of letting mine go blunt from time to time… but no more!). This book focuses on sharpening knives, scissors and garden tools.

Mundo Mendo, Book One. Luis Mendo is a Spain-born, Netherlands-made and Japan-based artist and illustrator that I like a lot. I first came across his work during the 2020 lockdowns when I bought his 'The Home Stayer' prints. A year ago he started publishing his non-commercial work on his own website, Mundo Mendo. This chunky soft-cover tankōbon is a selection of the best stories from the past twelve months. They’re full of joy and Luis approaches illustration and storytelling with a craftsman mindset that I admire. 

Illusory Dwellings: Aesthetic Meditations in Kyoto. In retrospect, I’ve probably encountered Allen S. Weiss' writing in the past but it wasn’t until potter Tarragon Smith recommended Weiss’ book ‘The Grain of Clay’ that I consciously engaged with his words. Craft and pottery crisscross the chapters, whether the author is talking about Kyoto’s museums, gardens or restaurants.  

Craftland: A Journey Through Britain’s Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades. I’m still in the first third of James Fox's book on the disappearing craft skills and traditions that were once central to life in Britain. He traces back how these were foundational for entire communities and a way of life that, if you look closely, is still present in some shape or form… but not for much longer.

Disclaimer: I received free copies of Make London, Do Maintain and Mundo Mendo. 

Ceramics

“If we want to see a thing well, we must use it well.” - Sōetsu Yanagi

Open Studio & Kiln Opening: Lisa Hammond’s Maze Hill Pottery (London), 6-7 December 2025. As per tradition, Lisa fires her Big Bear kiln in early December and then opens it during a weekend of shopping, mulled wine and chats. What I love about her open studios is that it has a deep community vibe and I get to catch up with fellow ceramics lovers.

Open Studio: Tokobo Pottery (London), 6-7 December 2025. I took my first pottery lessons about five years ago with Mizuyo Yamashita, the founder of Tokobo Pottery. Once or twice a year she opens the doors of the workshop to share (and sell) her work and that of the pottery’s residents and teachers. Great for picking a gift for a special someone.

Open Studio: Cockpit Arts Deptford (London), 5-7 December 2025. Another bi-yearly appointment I try not to miss (but I couldn’t make it to the Bloomsbury one last week). Meet dozens of brilliant artists and craftspeople, buy unique gifts and - my favourite thing to do - have a peek inside their workshops and ask questions about their tools and methods. 

Korean Fine Living by Han Collection. One of London’s great Korean arts and crafts galleries, Han Collection, has just launched a complementary website offering one-of-a-kind tableware rooted in Korean traditions and modern design. 

Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan at Japan House London, 3 December 2025 – 10 May 2026. Delight your eyes (no touching though!) with this astounding selection of thousands of contemporary handmade pieces by artisans from all over Japan. Ceramic, glass, urushi, metal and wood works  laid out on an impressive custom-built winding table that covers the full gallery space. 

Ken Matsuzaki at Goldmark Gallery. Last Saturday I did a daytrip to Upphingham with Andrew and Haru to meet Mashiko-based ceramic artist Ken Matsuzaki, who’s having his eighth solo exhibition at Goldmark Art. The breadth of his work is impressive. Check out the exhibition's video-tour. I can neither confirm nor deny if I got a little something for myself.

Bonus

Labour and Wait has a new shop in Covent Garden with their evergreen essentials for home and life. The William Morris Gallery sells hand-painted baubles that are perfect for decorating the Christmas tree (my mum loves them). Postcard Teas sources and blends teas from small producers and one of their end-of-year specials is a chocolate and tea blend they made for Kyoto tea caddy maker Kaikado. The guys at the Blenheim Forge have made these lustful cheese and cocktail sets. Cutting Edge Knives have received a new batch of sharp tools by Makoto Kurosaki. Finally, if you're curious about how ancient ceramics are restored and preserved, check out this three-part documentary by the BBC on legendary art restorer Koji Mayuyama.

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つづく