Our Staff

SALLY AND BOB

Pioneer potters in Park Slope! Recent graduates from Alfred U.'s Ceramic College --- an abandoned store front offered us the possibility of making and selling pots. - Probably not the most practical "career choice", but from the very beginning, Park Slope has enthusiastically supported The Clay Pot. The business has gone in many different directions over the past 39 years, but who would have thought back when this photo was taken that we would be floating in cyberspace!

TARA

Q: What are you looking forward to most this spring?

A: Crewing on the Luna for the Figawi race between Hyannis and Nantucket. Have I ever really sailed before? NO! Am I looking forward to it? You betcha! 

Q: Favorite TV show at the moment?

A: I'm giving a shout out to my old college chum, Juliana Margulies, whose show, The Good Wife is just about the best hour out there.

Q: Recommendations for a rainy day?

A: In this order, bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies, while they are cooking, have a glass of wine and play a game of Rummikub (Turkish tile game based on gin rummy) Who ever wins gets the first cookie and the loser has to clean up the kitchen.

Q: What are you going to add to your collection for the spring?

A: Im all about the hoops this season. I'm thinking of a silver pair, soup can size!

Q: Best thing you've read recently?

A: I did love Kathryn Sockett's The Help. I am about to start Ian McEwan's latest, I'll let you know what I think.

HEATHER

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Breakfast at Tiffany’s- Audrey Hepburn is amazing in this movie. The little black dress and oversized sunglasses will forever be part of fashion because of this movie.

Q: Your recommendations for a rainy day?

A: There are two great ways to spend a rainy day. In the winter, watching movies and curling up on the couch are the way to go. In the summer, I either like to take a walk or visit a museum…there is always something interesting to see in the city.

Q: Who are your favorite designers?

A: I would have to say Elizabeth Ryle and Alex Sepkus. Elizabeth Ryle made my engagement ring, which is 18KYellow gold with 22KYellow gold accent granulation. The center stone is a blue-green oval sapphire. It is very special not only because it is my engagement ring but also because it is truly unique. Alex Sepkus is the designer of my wedding band and is an amazing artist. His work in so beautifully detailed and compliments my engagement ring perfectly.

Q: What advice would you impart to customers shopping for engagement and wedding bands?

A: I understand how overwhelming it can be looking for an engagement ring and wedding band since I did it not too long ago. It is good to have an idea of what style you are looking for but also important to be open-minded. There can be a lot of pressure when it comes to weddings but I think people should wear what feels right to them.

SHONEE

Q: How do you spend your weekends?

A: My weekends seem to be frantically split between the four parts of me who all need a piece of my time away from The Clay Pot. My chef side loves to get into the kitchen and get dirty. Eating, learning, teaching, and cooking for friends and family. My writer side likes to spend a couple of hours locked in my home office, toiling away at my dual burdens of an unfinished novel and an unfinished cookbook. The nerd in me loves to jump onto my Xbox 360 where I get to lead squadrons of elite troops, fight for my life against an ever increasing zombie horde, and invariably, when my willpower wanes, trade insults with verbally abusive 14 year olds over whos better at what, until my girlfriend unplugs me and the NYC native in me can't stay home, so I generally finish my nights out and about with my friends darkening the doorstep of our favorite SoHo lounge until the sun comes up.

Q: Read anything good lately?

A: I just finished Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem. Him being a Brooklyn native and myself newly transplanted Manhattanite, I wanted to see if he could write with the same flair and mastery about my borough as he did his own in Motherless Brooklyn and fortress of Solitude. I was so far from disappointed, that I was almost disappointed. If that makes any sense. I'm also giddily awaiting Anthony Bourdain's new book, Medium Raw.

Q: Have any guilty pleasures?

A: Aye, almost too many to list. My current vices are collecting vintage ties and pocket watches, wrapping any and everything I can in bacon, playing Words With Friends on my iPhone, (scrabble on steroids) collecting antique chandeliers, and slowly but surely distilling, and bottling my own bourbon. That last endeavor will probably be promptly shut down after my girlfriend reads this.

Q: If you could pick ten bands/musicians to be on the soundtrack of your life, who would you pick?

A: In no particular order:

Johnny Cash, Bon Iver, Portishead, Ghostface, Explosions in The Sky, Elliot Smith, The Decemberists, Ratatat, Radiohead, Frank Sinatra

JENNIE

Q: Who are your favorite jewelry designers?

A: I’ve been enamored with Becky Kelso’s collection for years; I had a dogmatic aversion to yellow gold through my late teens and twenties, but her gorgeously lacy metalwork was integral to my ongoing conversion (although I guess you could say rose gold is my gateway drug). I also love Dream Mullick’s intricate designs; they remind me of mendhi tattoos. And in the “Ahhh, someday…” category: Van Craeynest has these lattice-filigree showpieces that are just magnificent—their craftsmanship is truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Q: What's the most unusual metal or ring style you've seen?

A: A wedding ring is a personal symbol, and there was no better evidence of that than my friend who forged his own original band out of an actual railroad spike. Of course, a wedding ring should also be functional for a lifetime, and that one proved to be rather impractical for day-to-day wear, so he soon upgraded to an unconventional design in a more wearable metal.

One of the most unique engagement rings I ever helped design at The Clay Pot was an amazing platinum antique style setting with a cushion-cut sapphire in a very rare shade of olive green, and triangular-shaped white sapphires on the sides. The effect was at once classically beautiful & totally distinctive, and my customers were thrilled with the results.

Q: What’s your favorite place to eat in the neighborhood?

A: In no particular order:  La Villa  (unpretentious Italian with huge portions); Bogota   (yummy pan-Latin dishes and happy hour three nights a week!); Song  (delish and ridiculously cheap Thai); The V Spot  (extensive all-vegetarian menu); Ghenet  (arguably the best Ethiopian in NYC—and how primally satisfying is it to eat everything with your hands?!?)  Was recently treated to Al Di La for my birthday and it was worth turning a year older for; I now totally understand the cult of Al Di La. Sublime. I must also give a little love to the South Slope and extol the caffeinated virtues of DUB Pie Shop, as well as the gorgeous & decadent confectioneries of Ladybird Bakery.

Q: What good books have you read recently?

A: Two novels by Brooklyn authors have really rocked my literary world recently: The Brief Wondrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz  (those Pulitzers sure know what they’re doing)  and The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. Both stories are blessed with the scope, beauty, and poignancy that characterize classic works of fiction.

Q:  Do you have any pets?

A:  Beyond my ever-growing collection of ukuleles  (see “Serendipity Petunia” in the photo), I have two very cute and animated tabbies:  Zelda and Elliott  (or “Zelliott”, if you want to get all zeitgeist-y). They’re identical twins, less than a year old, and they should really have their own sitcom.

MEREDITH

Q: Who are your favorite designers?

A: Todd Reed has an amazingly developed understanding of his materials…where else do you see raw and brilliant diamonds so harmoniously and sleekly juxtaposed?  I also absolutely love the elegantly bold simplicity of Jamie Joseph's designs (just like everyone else on staff…) and the organic beauty of the golden pieces by Nava Zahavi.  Reed, Joseph, and Zahavi all have such a raw appreciation for the stones they use, it is hard not to fall head-over-heels for a gorgeous rock (or few) enveloped in warm gold…

The unique, symbolic, and handmade quality of Pyrrha's sterling silver replicas of wax seals is so appealing to me – I feel as though I have my own crest of arms when I wear these pieces.  Also, you can't beat anything fun / retro / edgy for a reasonable price, so I am in constant admiration of the collections of Joli Jewelry and Hotcakes.  Tashi also wins a spot in this mention as their jewelry is stylish, trendy, and AFFORDABLE.

Q: What is your favorite gemstone?

A: My favorite gemstone is actually a favorite four:  opal, tourmaline, emerald, and ruby - I have great taste.

Q: What is your favorite metal?

A: I prefer jewelry made from multiple metals, as opposed to choosing between gold and silver.  There exists a harmony and balance in the combination such opposites on a single piece of jewelry.  Not to mention, multi-metal jewelry is more practical because it goes with both the gold and silver in your collection!  It is all about practicality.

Q: What is the best thing you’ve read recently?

A: A favorite book I re-read recently is Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay; the chapters are designated by color, in rainbow order (once you get past the ochre, black, and white).  Finlay shares stories of her travels to find out the histories and origins of natural pigments, detailing how they were once produced and distributed and how those traditions relate to pigment production today.  It is a fun and easily digestible read, yet incredibly informative.  I love that it takes you all around the world searching for the ingredients that comprise how we see the world today – which is something usually taken completely for granted.

NINA

Q: Do you have a favorite gemstone?

A: My obsession with citrine has moved onto yellow sapphires but I’m not sure how I landed on yellow in general.  I used to have a vintage citrine ring with marcasites  around it which has turned into my latest ring, of a large yellow sapphire surrounded by small diamonds.  There seems to be a lot of labradorite and chalcedony being used by many, many designers right now, and I love both but its interesting to see them both get such attention with so many designers.  My latest obsession is from Katharyn, which is rubies, which is inspired from her necklace, which is a strand of faceted rubies she got from the Clay Pot.  I never was so drawn to rubies until I saw this strand she has. So gorgeous.

Q: Is there a particular designer or piece that you are obsessed with right now?

A: I sound like a broken record because I know everyone feels this way but I too am a huge Jamie Joseph fan and plan on owning one of her rings when the right one comes my way.  I love larger rings and the different stones she uses in a more asymmetrical setting really draws me in.  I was surprised to also find that her oval diamond pave ring and sand textured ring (together) as wedding/engagement rings, really interest me, and I love the idea of mixing metals with your wedding/engagement rings. I have a love of sterling silver as well, especially large silver earrings as I have a collection of vintage and new Mexican sterling earrings.  There is something about the Me & Ro hammered disc earrings that remind me of that same quality.  I love to wear multiple necklaces at a time, so I find MANY pendant style necklaces in the store that I fall in love with.  My first purchase here was an Adam Smith necklace which was a clock-like pendant on a silver chain, with moving gears…very funky and (ta-da) multiple metals. Love.

Q: Best thing you've read recently?

A: I am so happy to have been reading so many good books lately but HANDS DOWN Sloane Crosley’s ‘I Was Told There’d Be Cake,’ was the most amazing thing I have read in a while. I love short stories, especially because I can fit a full one in on one subway ride, or before bed.  Lately everything is becoming a movie and I am working hard to read the book first, to get the genuine experience.  I did that with ‘The Reader,’ and was so amazed by the book and there was so much that didn’t translate into the film, it almost made me only want to read books, and not watch movies. 

KAT

Q: Who are your favorite designers?

A: Denise Betesh makes some of my favorite fine jewelry at The Clay Pot. Her craftsmanship and attention to detail always blow me away, and I love the materials she uses. The quality of her work is really amazing. I also love Jamie Joseph’s candy-like stones, and Rebecca Overman’s fabulous silver pieces. 

Q: Do you have a favorite gemstone?

A: This answer is always changing as we get in new beautiful things, but our new sapphire strands are currently my favorite because of their forget-me-not blue color and the way they sparkle.  I also love rubies, aquamarines, and moonstones. We’re getting in some new pieces by Jamie Joseph in pietersite, which is an amazing swirly midnight blue that I also think is incredibly beautiful.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A:  I have an orange cat named Aslan who just turned two. He’s the sweetest cat I’ve ever known, and he’s great at keeping me company and helping me get up in the morning. Aslan really just acts like his only job in life is to be unbearably cute… which it is. He’s my little lion.

Q: What is your creative outlet?

A: I am a painter on the side and do a lot of large figurative watercolors and oil paintings. I have a studio in South Park Slope, and have been showing my work in Brooklyn for the last few years.  Drawing and painting have always been the best way I’ve found to express myself, and I can’t imagine not having art as a part of my life. 

COURTNAY

Q: Is there a particular designer that you are obsessed with right now?

A:The Nava Zahavi pieces are amazing and they have the feel of a lot of pieces from Greece that I inherited from my Mimi.  The colors are very intense, as is the physically raw texture to the gold, and how well they reflect the feel of the Mediterranean environment.  Dream Mullick and Joli Jewelry as well, they have this quirky complexity that packs a lot of “ oomph “, without being overwhelming. They have the visual intensity of Hubble telescope galaxy photos – simple and expansive, but all together a well organized collection of beautiful symmetry. 

Q: Favorite vacation spot? 

Q: Best thing you've read recently?

A: I’m a big Scientific America Magazine fan. I’m currently reading Bury Me Standing, by Isabel Fonseca, an anthropological history on the Roma (Eastern European gypsies). She represents a thoughtful and graceful portrait of them, lifting the Carmen stereotypes and revealing things about the culture around them . Favorites? The oversized version of Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, anything by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Zadie Smith, Marjane Satrapi, Dr. Helen Fisher, art and photography books – my favorite being Wangechi Mutu’s, A Shady Promise. Cookbooks too – lots of Nigella Lawson.  This question unfortunately taps the most reptilian part of my brain- I sort of go consumer crazy when I step into bookstores. 

JOBETH

Q: what is your favorite piece of jewelry?

A: When it comes to jewelry, my taste tends to vary with my mood, the weather,the tide, the barometric pressure, what kind of morning I had, etc. However, I do adore my floral Joli ring. It simultaneously reminds me of painted flowers on the side of a teacup, some toy I would've played with when I was three years old, and flowers that an elfin princess would put in her hair. Joli Jewelry is all about the whimsy. Another favorite of mine is Danielle Welmond's textured gold rings, which look like tiny ancient artifacts. If I were a medieval maiden, it is exactly the beautiful ring that my outlaw-poet-man-in-tights would present to me, after hammering it out ofs tolen riches and storming the kingdom. I believe the term I'm coining here is 'medieval-chic'.

Q: What is your favorite stone?

Q: Best thing you've read recently?

A: I’m a big Scientific America Magazine fan. I’m currently reading Bury Me Standing, by Isabel Fonseca, an anthropological history on the Roma (Eastern European gypsies). She represents a thoughtful and graceful portrait of them, lifting the Carmen stereotypes and revealing things about the culture around them . Favorites? The oversized version of Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, anything by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Zadie Smith, Marjane Satrapi, Dr. Helen Fisher, art and photography books – my favorite being Wangechi Mutu’s, A Shady Promise. Cookbooks too – lots of Nigella Lawson.  This question unfortunately taps the most reptilian part of my brain- I sort of go consumer crazy when I step into bookstores.