The shape of a bowl is enough to delight me...

Do you ever wonder if you’re too easily pleased? I used to!

Then, many years ago, I realized that it’s the simple stuff that makes up most of our lives, and that we should pause and enjoy the extraordinary joy of the everyday.

Things like the shape of a bowl are enough to delight me.

This type of happiness happened this week when we received a new shipment of Emma Bridgewater pottery.

But let me back up: In 2016, on our first trip to the Cotswolds, Chris and I stayed with friends in a cottage called Longwood House in the picturesque village of Lower Oddington (and yes, there is indeed an Upper Oddington) near Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh.

Amongst its many charms (in addition to its location as a home base for exploring the many sites nearby), Longwood House boasts the quintessential honey-colored Cotswold stone and duck-egg-colored doors on the exterior.

The interior is replete with charm, including oodles of overhead beams, an AGA in the kitchen, and cozy nooks and crannies throughout.

One detail that I fell in LOVE with was the dishware that we dined on for all three meals. That kitchen was fully kitted out with (new-to-me at the time) Emma Bridgewater pottery.

What exactly do I love about Emma Bridgewater’s tableware, you ask?

Let me count the ways: the generous sizes, the curvy shapes, the weight of it, even that it is microwave and dishwasher safe.

I love the clever wording hand-stamped on each piece (I mean, “Don’t let the cat get the butter” on the butter dish? Adorable!)

I love that every time I read an British home décor magazine (or even peruse the property listings in Country Life) I am guaranteed to see at least one piece of Emma Bridgewater’s Black Toast line of ceramics.

It truly is a fixture in the English country home.

Liberty London stocks stacks of Emma Bridgewater - I took this photo in December.

I love that Liberty London has an entire section devoted to this heritage British brand, which is crafted in Stoke-on-Trent, the traditional home of pottery production (think brands like Spode, Wedgewood, and Royal Doulton) since the 1700s.

And, as with Annie Sloan’s eponymous paint brand, Emma Bridgewater is indeed a real person.

Emma started her ceramics business in the 1980s when she could not find the exact cup and saucer she wanted as a gift for her mother. So, she drew up a design and had a prototype made in Stoke-on-Trent. That was in 1985. The rest is history, and this year her company is celebrating 40 years!

Not only that, but Emma was made a DAME earlier this year, in recognition of her revitalizing the UK's traditional pottery industry and being a champion of British manufacturing.  

But, most of all, I love that we have carried these beautiful artisan dishes in our shop for years, which also means that my kitchen has its own cabinet full of Emma Bridgewater pottery.

I’m a big believer in only having things in your home that are useful AND beautiful (my take on the famous William Morris quote), and Chris and I use these dishes EVERY DAY.

And THAT makes my heart sing.

So, you can imagine my joy when our latest shipment revealed a new-to-us bowl style: the pasta bowl.

It’s deep, it’s wide, and it’s good for so much more than pasta.

We have this new style, plus much more, in stock at the shop. I would love for you to visit and see it in person!

xo,