Baboushkas, Boxes - Woodland Sprites

Long ago, the fairy race would visit the human Celtic lands in the form of a white birds adorned with gold and silver charms or in human form like the swan maidens wearing cloaks of feathers. They would stay for a while enchanting those who crossed their path and then return to their immortal lands where time has no meaning and anything is possible. The fairy folk worked with the flora, fauna and land to slip through the veil between the two worlds. The entrances to their world and the messages they send are hidden from all but the keenest human eye. There are still many magical places in this land where time moves a little slower and man’s hand has not had an impact on the land and its creatures. When you encounter a place such as this, slow down and be still, you may just catch a glimpse from the otherworld.

Honouring the mindfulness of the making process, these lidded boxes are all hand painted and designed by Carys. Each design slowly comes to life as the layers of special ceramic underglazes are applied to the wheel thrown and hand built form. There are many different design techniques applied over the 3-4 weeks these piece take to create.

To find out more about the making process click here.

These items are handmade at every stage in the making process and so each is unique. From creating the form, to hand making each batch of glaze, to hand carving and hand painting the designs, many variances are found at each stage of the process. Each piece is mindfully created in my studio over a number of weeks, with each finished piece having its own subtle differences. That is the beauty of handmade.