How the Artist Behind Notary Ceramics Crafts Heirloom-Like Essentials

Rip & Tan: The design and craftsmanship of your ceramics are such clear indications you were meant to do this—talk to us about rediscovering your passion. How did you find your way back to the wheel?

Sarah Van Raden: I had been working as a photo stylist for nearly a decade when I felt like I needed to find something a bit more creatively fulfilling. I started taking an evening class one day a week at a local ceramics studio. I found myself looking forward to that night each week more than any styling job I was working on, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Eventually, I found a used wheel on craigslist that came with a free (very old) sitter kiln. Both pieces were pretty quirky and heavily used, but I didn’t care a bit. I was just elated to be able to work with clay in the evenings after I would put my daughters to bed. It became something that brought me so much joy and invoked the kind of curiosity I hadn’t felt since I was a child. I was hooked.

Rip & Tan: You’re based in Portland, a notoriously art-inclined city. Do you find yourself drawing a lot of inspiration from the surrounding nature and community of the Pacific Northwest?

Sarah Van Raden: Since I am a bit of a late bloomer, finding ceramics at age 30, I am unfamiliar with a lot of other potters’ work and with the overall culture of ceramics here in Portland. I have found inspiration from my daughters and the magical way they see the world. I am inspired by the beautiful palette of natural colors that are all around us in Oregon. I find that pieces that reflect our surroundings help to create an environment where the inside and the outside worlds feel harmonious.

Rip & Tan: From choosing your clay to glazing and firing, hand-thrown pottery is all in the intricacies. What is your own process like? Are there any methods or steps you enjoy more than others?

Sarah Van Raden: I am truly drawn to the physical act of throwing. It is by far my favorite part of the ceramic process. I love the way that clay feels when you open a new bag, like 25 pounds of possibility. It is so freeing to work with a medium that most of us played with as children: mud! I generally throw while sitting behind my wheel, tucked under the stairs, listening to a podcast, watching a new series, or chatting to my employees. I do love those rare moments when I am in the space alone, all is quiet, I have a beer open, and I am at peace. But that is rare, and usually, the shop is busy, employees are running around doing all of their own work, and I am content to create in the chaos.

Rip & Tan: From the materials used to the ingenious detailing, the pieces in this collection are truly stunning and deserve a place in any home. What was the vision for this line?

Sarah Van Raden: I wanted to make pieces that would sit as well in a Jenni Kayne showroom or interior project as they would in a relaxed apartment or curated home. It was important that these shapes and finishes reflect the Pacific Northwest style that Jenni’s line embodies. The colors we chose are muted and calm, and the finishes are natural yet refined.

Rip & Tan: How would you describe the defining characteristics of Notary Ceramics? What sets your pieces apart?

Sarah Van Raden: My ceramics are a direct reflection of my hands, my personal aesthetic, and my interests. They reflect my interest in the natural world, my rural Oregon childhood, and my obsession with simplicity.

Rip & Tan: What is it about a piece that signifies its potential as a future heirloom? When do you know something is worth an investment?

Sarah Van Raden: Heirloom pieces are those that carry value beyond the monetary investment. These are products that hold a sentimental or emotional weight, be that because they were made by hand, or that they were purchased at a particular time in a person’s life. We create products with a soul, one that will bring joy and peace to your home, and that will live to tell a story long after we are gone.

Rip & Tan: Do you have any styling tips for people who want to incorporate one of these handcrafted lamps or vases in their own home?

Sarah Van Raden: I suggest incorporating these pieces into your daily routines. If you purchase a lamp, be sure to place it somewhere that it gets turned on and off each day. Where you get to enjoy the satisfying click of the unlacquered brass switch. I love mine beside the bed, or next to the couch, in a spot where I get to interact with it each morning and each evening.

If you end up with a vase, I suggest filling it often with fresh blooms, dried stems, and the occasional small, blooming branch. In every season there is something new to forage or collect, and these vases are the perfect backdrop for your collections.

Rip & Tan: How do handmade pieces contribute to a lifestyle of living well?

Sarah Van Raden: When you purchase a handmade item you are interacting with another human being. You are supporting someone’s craft, their passion, and their way of earning a living. It is undoubtedly more rewarding to hold a hand-crafted item than one that was made on a machine.

Please know that I have put my back, hands, heart, and soul into each of these pieces, and I hope that you will feel the positive intention that was poured into each one.