profile : sally cassandra

Sally Ellis creates a delightful range of ceramics, including jewellery, dainty dishes, candleholders and functional home wares too. Often her porcelain has intricate lace impressions in the surface and all of the Sally Cassandra range is rich with beautiful textures and patterns, transforming simple ceramics into items of beauty.

Do you have a day job, if so what is it?
I am the mother of two beautiful little people.

When did your business begin and why? 
After finishing art school in Tasmania I moved to South Australia for a couple of years to do a ceramic associate ship at the JamFactory. I was inspired by friends in the jewellery studio at the JamFactory to experiment making jewellery with porcelain. This is when I started selling my pieces to galleries, I guess it just snow balled from there.

Inspiration/design aesthetic? 
I am a collector. I like objects with intricate patterns, fabrics with different textures. I collect things of different shapes and colour, things of aesthetic and sentimental value, objects that once had a story. I love vintage patterns and objects that are worn through overuse. I use these found objects in my work giving them a second life, making the old new again.

Designers you admire? 
There are a lot! One of my favorite old ones in William Morris for his beautiful wall paper designs. And one of my favorite new ones is ceramic artist Honor Freeman, she sees the beauty in everyday objects, things that are often overlooked.

What is your favourite part of Tasmania? 
Bicheno, I love the beach and listening to the waves crash. We have a shack up there, it has retro wall paper and awesome vintage lino!

What do you love about what you do...and any little gripes or niggles? 
I love seeing images in my sketch book come to life in porcelain. Gripes – too many ideas and not enough time!

What can our lovely customers expect to see you exhibiting? 
Some of the old and some of the new! Jewellery, dishes and tealights which have been at the market before, plus some new products focusing on functional homewards.

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Want to see who else will be at our November event? For more interviews with our exhibitors check out our look book.