Notary Ceramics, based in Portland, Oregon, is a lovingly curated shop with Sarah Van Raden (shown left) as both the owner and creator of beautiful ceramic objects including lamps, bells, and candle holders.
Sarah also curates a gorgeous collection for her customers of special things for the home that fit her paired-back, clear, clean aesthetic.
After nearly a decade working as a photo stylist, Sarah found her way back to creating pottery – she once took classes during a semester in college. She remembered how much she enjoyed it, and decided to take a class once again – this time at a local art school, “It was filled with people from all ages and walks of life. I instantly fell back in love with clay. I love the way it makes me feel like a child again, carefree and full of possibilities.”
After class, Sarah jumped headfirst into ceramics. She bought her own wheel, saved up for a small kiln, then created a small work area in her basement… Her passion drove her to make the beautiful lighting that you see in this post which has me smitten. All of the photos are styled by her, so she is also able to still use her experience as a stylist. Today, her ceramics studio has evolved into a gorgeous shop and studio space.
Everything in Sarah’s world feels very natural and laid back. There are many natural materials, textures, patterns, and colors. A bit wabi-sabi meets a little Scandinavian on the west coast of the United States.