We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kayley Vandenberg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kayley below.
Kayley, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity has always been a huge part of my identity, so keeping that fire alive is key to my well being. For me, having different methods for self-expression is essential, so along with making ceramics, I also love to write, sew, collage, etc. When one of my creative interests isn’t sparking, oftentimes another one will and I’ll focus on that for a little while. That being said, ceramics and writing are two of the ways I generate income, so I can’t step away from them for too long. I’ve found that trying a new style of writing or playing around with handbuilding instead of wheel throwing is sometimes enough to shake things up. Other times, putting pressure on myself to create just makes things worse and taking a break is what is needed. I used to feel guilty when I was in the midst of a creative lull — I’d worry I’d never feel motivated or inspired again. Fortunately, time has shown me that that’s not true. So, lately, I’ve been trusting that taking breaks is a part of the process, giving myself the space I need, and waiting for the next creative wind to come sweep me away… History has shown that it always does.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a ceramic artist who specializes in functional ware. My intention is to create items that make everyday moments more meaningful. Creating “perfect” pieces is never my goal, and many of the things I make are infused with reminders of the making process — small dents, subtle glaze drips, etc. To me, imperfection is beautiful, and I strive to create work that reflects this belief.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One quality that helped me in my journey is dedication. I believe that the art of making ceramics is an ongoing practice, and treating it as such when I first got started was so important and kept me from getting discouraged. There’s a sharp learning curve at the beginning but I was committed to improving and showed up at the studio day after day because it mattered to me. One piece of knowledge that greatly impacted me when I was first getting started was being let in on a little secret: a community college in my area that had affordable ceramics classes and an open studio every day of the week. I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in getting into ceramics look into similar programs in their area. It made all the difference for me.
A skill I developed in the process of building my business was learning to listen to myself first. When I first started conceptualizing my brand, I really leaned into my own aesthetic, which is something I had never done before. In general, my sense of style is adaptable and often influenced by others, but I tried my best to focus on my own vision when creating She Made and I’m so glad I did. It’s the most authentic project I’ve ever worked on and something I think I’ll be proud of for years to come.
How would you describe your ideal client?
First and foremost, I love working with other women, whether business owners or customers — I often feel our ethos align and we have similar values. Additionally, it’s imperative that my clients understand that my turnaround time is somewhat slow. All of my pieces are made to order, and I give each one the time and patience it deserves to meet my standards. My clients also appreciate the one-of-a-kind nature of my work. My wholesale accounts don’t expect every like-item to be identical – they embrace variations in size and shape and see beauty in work that is made by hand.
Contact Info:
- Website: shemadeceramics.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/she.made
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@she.made.ceramics?_t=8jrVNaiNxQ5&_r=1
