Hello I'm Louise Crookenden-Johnson.

I hand make and illustrate happy pottery gifts and home décor.

I live in Kettering, Northamptonshire in the UK.

I was inspired in my early teens by a local potter to start making pottery and went on to do a Degree in Ceramics at Loughborough College of Art 1987-1991.

I enjoy making things people treasure and use and most importantly give them pleasure and make them smile, it’s wonderful to also design bespoke pieces - a super challenge!

The little animals and birds are my best-sellers - based on the sorts of things that I like to collect and own, they have a slightly retro feel with a fresh bright slant.

I have a beautiful light, purpose-built pottery studio surrounded by garden. Much of the workshop is fitted out with valued equipment and furniture that was given to me or reclaimed, such as my grandmother’s lovely old armchair where I sometimes just sit, look at the garden, birds, clouds, and ponder what to do next......

Kettering is a small, interesting town with a healthy community feel. It’s a good place to be based for my business and family. It’s also well-connected to Midlands transport routes - only an hour from London by train, you can book to learn pottery with me, I regularly run ‘throw a pot’ experiences for beginners and other sessions with clay.

The radio is always on, BBC Radio 3 is my favourite for working to, clay teaches you to pace your day, be in the moment and have patience. Clay is recyclable before firing in the kiln, so infinitely reusable and this theme of sustainability permeates my values, I have been moving to only smart paper bubble wrap, card and natural twine and I reuse all packaging that comes my way.

My husband is a postie, so helpful in getting parcels out the next day. My mum is a big part of my business, often helps me at markets and I couldn't do it without her!

I’m always working on tons of ideas, and at the moment that includes more complex built pieces for galleries and smaller less complicated pieces at an accessible price point. Find all my work on the shop page