Two Peas Ceramics
Two Peas in a Pot is a ceramics company run by Sarah and Rachel here in Victoria, BC. Their work is so beautiful and delicately crafted that I thought I would share it with you! I found them on Instagram and reached out to them through there. We corresponded through email for the first little while and then, this past weekend, I went and met them at a local craft fair! The girls were so kind and their products were even more beautiful than in the photos.
Without further ado...
How do you know each other?
We met about three years ago while working at Discovery Coffee together.
Where did you guys grow up?
Rachel: I grew up in Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast. I moved to Victoria in 2007 for school and have been here ever since
Sarah: I'm from Calgary, but I moved here for school as well 8 years ago. I pretty much call Victoria home now, but my roots are in the prairies!
When did you start making ceramics?
R: Two years ago I took a beginner pottery class at The Arts Centre at Cedar Hill with a couple of girlfriends. Sarah invited me to come along to pottery with her last fall at Yunomi and haven't been able to stay away!
S: Maybe a year and a half ago? My friend took me to a drop in class at Yunomi and pretty soon I was going as often as I could! I knew Rachel had done some pottery so I convinced her to come check out Yunomi as well. The rest is history!
Where do you make your products?
At Yunomi Studio in Victoria, owned by Ann Coleman. I think we'd both recommend it to anyone that wants to learn, or to people who already know what they're doing. It's just great there.
What’s the best part about making ceramics?
R: I like the transformation each piece makes through each step of the process, but I’d have to say that I am enjoying glazing so much right now. Layering different colors and textures feels like an experiment and I can’t wait to see the final product.
S: I love playing with mud and working with my hands. I also love the transformation and the anticipation of seeing something go from shapeless clay to something functional and (hopefully) beautiful! I also like how humbling it can be - you never know how something is going to turn out, and it's a good lesson at not being too attached to things.
How long does it take to create a product?
Each piece takes three sessions, which translates to about three weeks, depending on the season and the kiln loads.
What are your short term dreams for your shop? Long term dreams?
R: It has been so much fun having a hobby and passion grow! We are working on setting up an online shop. The dream would be to have a studio space and be able to out even more hours towards ceramics. We have recently bought ourselves a small kiln and kick wheel, so it’s something we are working towards.
S: I'd love to do some more markets, and we're working on getting an online shop going. Now that we have a little kiln and a wheel, finding a place to do pottery on our own time would be awesome as well. As for long term dreams, I'd love to start or be a part of a a big artist collective that all work out of the same warehouse - somewhere that we can collaborate, hold workshops, or just observe what everyone else is creating.
What are your sources of inspiration?
Ann at Yunomi is incredibly supportive and inspiring. Being around people that are doing something that they love is something you can’t ignore - both at Yunomi and in Victoria in general. We both follow a lot of artists and studios on Instagram, too. It’s easy to get excited about trying something new.
Where can people purchase your products?
We have items at Picot Collective in Fernwood, but we can also be found at markets once in a while.