#12 Someone Else: Britt Appleton
A monthly feature of Some Sundays! Plus pottery for people who like fun, the Tweet I can't stop thinking about, and a British Bake Off themed birthday...
Someone Else is a feature of Some Sundays: Once a month, I ask people I really like and am inspired by some questions about what they like and are inspired by. 🙂
Our paths have crossed a few times over the years (she may not even remember that we took a TikTok class togther at the Yo Store back in 2022 — she’s waaaay better at it than I am! Seriously, Britt’s TikTok is hilarious), most recently at a concert at Topaz Farm where I clocked her elegant caftan and did some light fan girling as a casual collector of her work.
Britt writes an excellent substack (HAMmer Time), and I thought it would be a real treat to ask the person behind (above?) the wheel at Ham Council some questions for Someone Else.
Portland is blessed with an abundance of potters, but none are doing what Britt Appleton is doing. A self-described “free spirit perfectionist,” her work includes wallpets, matrioshka mugs, and beaded pottery, as well as wall vases, dental hygiene magnets, and napkin rings.
Today she shares her go-to outfit for eccentricity, podcasts for many moods, and what qualifies as a mug drink. Make sure to read to the Tweet that I’ve been quoting at coworkers all week…
Favorite podcasts to listen to…
In the studio: American History Tellers. When I’ve just cracked the first ep of a multi part miniseries on a piece of American History I’m unfamiliar with and I’m sitting at my wheel with a pile of prepped clay balls next to me, full bucket of warm throwing water, HEAVEN.
While doing dishes: Somehow I usually end up listening to the New Yorker Radio Hour in the evening when I’m putting the house back together. David Remnick is my nighttime voiceover guy.
On a long drive: Ideally I’ve found a new-to-me miniseries on something historical, political, or otherwise relevant and fascinating. Something like a new season of Slow Burn (right now they’re doing the rise of Fox News), or 9/12 from Pineapple Street Studios, which is about how 9/11 the day became 9/11 the idea. It’s INCREDIBLE.
Favorite outfit to wear outside the studio:
I have a lot of clothes that I think visually are it. But the ideal for me is when I am merged so fully with what I have on that I am free from any self consciousness. For me, that’s something loose fitting and all black.
On dressing for a craft fair:
Craft fairs feel like a stage. My character is eccentric. Silver sequin pants with a grey sweater are my go-to.
The Perfect Pants:
I did a pop-up at Circle Round this past summer and I got to do the best thing ever which was go through every single hanger in the entire place and I found these incredible pants and they fit me perfectly (as long as I don’t eat too much 🤣).
Favorite clogs:
I just got the platform Crocs clogs in red and they are fantastic. I’ve been dreaming of no. 6 Contour Clogs with the shearling…
Favorite lampshades:
Ones made by Léa Mestres.
Last good read:
I recently finished The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates and I’m still thinking about it.
Causes to get behind:
Reparations and land back movements. What could be achieved if we acknowledged the damage of our history as a country and tried as best we could to repair it?
I also like to educate people about how underpaid professional cheerleaders are.
A favorite piece:
Back when I thought slipcasting would simplify my life I made a bunch of very patchwork-y playful cups with tinted slip and I kept a few of them. There is one in particular I’m obsessed with and my husband keeps putting it in the kid cups cabinet, or using it as a crayons cup, and I keep moving it back up to the regular let’s-be-careful-with-these-adult cups cabinet. Part of what I love about it is I could never replace it.
Mug drinks:
I am literal and only use mugs for mug drinks. Coffee and tea are mug drinks. No cereal or soup or wine or anything out of a handled vessel for me, pal.
Recs for media tender kids:
My particular kid is quite media tender. Most things are too intense for him still. I love watching Bluey with him and hearing him laugh so hard. I also love the Molly of Denali movie where she helps her grandpa achieve his dream of climbing Denali.
The joy of rewatching:
I am a big big big rewatcher. I want there to be sufficient distance between viewings, so I get very excited when I can feel that a rewatch of something is imminent. 30 Rock is a foundational text for me. When it’s time for a 30 Rock rewatch I am buzzing.
Favorite to watch in December:
I am from an incredibly historic town in the US, the Home Alone town, so I do find so much comfort and enjoyment in watching that movie. It definitely loses points for showing both barfing and spiders, but it’s great.
Favorite tweet:
Ok this is so hard. This is the one I keep thinking of and laughing at over and over lately:
Behind every great man is the drawer I need to get into why are you even in the kitchen right now
Best tool for combatting panic:
FRIENDS! Telling people I know how I feel lets the bulk of the air out of any yucky feeling.
On developing successful creative habits:
I used to think you had to wait for inspiration and usually it came late at night, etc. etc. Now I understand it’s about showing up routinely so the ideas know where to find you.
Favorite potters that aren’t you:
I really love the folks who are so opposite to me. I love Benna, which is like collage-y glaze magic. I love Sophie Farrar. Her work is immaculate and calm. And I really love The Object Enthusiast. Her work is just so pretty.
Something you’re really into right now:
I am obsessed with my neighborhood: our school, the soccer team I’m coaching, my neighbors, our community here. I am a fan of roots and I am deeply rooted here.
Favorite thing about yourself…
20 years ago: I was 19 and dating someone who was an exceptional communicator and so I was learning how to be vulnerable and take responsibility for myself and all kinds of incredibly important and challenging intrapersonal skills that changed my life. I wanted to be in love so badly that it made me brave enough to accept that knowledge.
15 years ago: When I was 24 I was in art school and I started blogging on Tumblr, which was the beginning of my relationship to being playful on the internet. I love that about myself, that I am playful on the internet.
10 years ago: I was deep into a group of friends that I’m very committed to and we were all motivated to keep friendship and group trips and sleepovers and intimacy and playfulness centered in our lives even as the sort of escalator of time drags you toward nuclear family stuff. We’re still in that place but now a lot of us have made people who are best friends too and it’s very beautiful.
5 years ago: I’ve reached the age where five years ago feels the same as today. I’m like: was I really so different at 34 except I had less neck pain? I think my favorite thing about me five years ago was I was working hard at establishing my identity as an individual right after having a baby. Also five years ago I became an aunt and I’m obsessed with my niece, and with my sister as a mom.
Last year: Well last year I finally achieved my dream of having a big Great British Bake Off themed birthday party. It was really delicious and I highly recommend.
I’ve been purchasing work from Britt since Ham Council was Pieces de Resitance, and I now have a colorful collection that lives all around the house and with friends, as they’re pieces I love to gift. Sebastian has a beloved mug that Britt made with a drawing by the boys whose handle broke off (with a house full of boys, we probably weren’t meant to have nice pottery), so I guess that means he can drink whatever he wants out of it??
Britt packages her pieces with a print-out of hand-drawn Tweets that she’s collected and it’s one of my favorite things. I’ve even brought it to work for everyone to LOL over in the kitchen. And if you don’t like giggling over Tweets, she also writes about seriously well-crafted sentences.
Ham Council has a little something for everyone — as long as everyone has a sense of humor and likes fun things! Britt’s put together a gift guide for the giving season here. If you live local, you can opt for pick-up to save on the cost of shipping (and still get a Tweet sheet!).
Thanks, Britt! ❤️
⭕️ What I’m making for Thanksgiving is (mostly) what I’ve been making for over a decade: Nigella Lawson’s Spiced and Superjuicy Turkey, Gingerbread Stuffing, and Allspice Gravy, Martha Stewart’s Cranberry-Pomegranate Relish (this recipe has mysteriously completely disappeared from her website (the link I had saved has been replaced with a different recipe), so I’ll share it below), Genevieve Ko’s Cranberry Lemon Bars, and Julia Reed’s Bourbon Pecan Pie (the last two are gift links).
⭕️ 2019 Little Women I read somewhere that Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is a fall movie and the 1994 Little Women with Winona Ryder is a Christmas movie. I recently watched the 2019 version and have to agree! Watch before we slide into the December season.
⭕️ A Visual History of the Harlem Renaissance “When the movement started a century ago, the United States was finally creating our own distinctly original culture — songs and dances, paintings and novels. We were looking less to Europe as a model of creativity. And in this moment — the 1920s, in New York City, both uptown and downtown — we became more wholly American.” Gift link.
⭕️ Martha Stewart’s Cranberry-Pomegranate Relish This recipe was published on Martha Stewart Living in 2010 (or earlier; I’ve been making it since then and it’s the perfect thing for leftover turkey sandwiches).
Ingredients
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 bag (12 oz) cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 c pomegranate juice
1/2 c dark-brown sugar, packed
1/2 c pomegranate seeds (optional, but not really, you want the crunch)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
To Make
In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add shallot; cook, stirring constantly, until softened, 3 minutes.
Add cranberries, pomegranate juice, and brown sugar; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst and sauce is slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in pomegranate seeds. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
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