From Slip to Sip: The Vertically Integrated Micro-Manufacturing of Alex Ceramics
Alexandra, the creative force behind Alex Ceramics, has been playing with clay for as long as she can remember. What began as a fulfilling hobby grew into a career, and after a brief hiatus, she’s back in full swing. A resident of Roberts Creek since the 1990s, Alexandra has raised two children, cared for five dogs, and even rescued a few buildings, all while maintaining a steadfast relationship with ceramics. Decades of learning from others, combined with the ease of modern online resources, have enabled her to build a solid repertoire of skills. When you take a sip from one of her mugs, you’re experiencing the finest craftsmanship ceramics has to offer.
It all starts with slip, a liquid clay Alexandra learned to perfect years ago. From her early days working with earthenware, she has continuously upped her game, now producing some of the highest quality stoneware slip—exclusively for her products. This attention to detail ensures that the mugs she creates are more than just vessels for your morning coffee; they are crafted to elevate the experience of sipping.
Firing is another art form in itself—one that Alex has mastered. She regularly fires her pieces to cone 6, achieving a toughness that ensures each item is as durable as it is beautiful, built to last a lifetime.
When it comes to design, Alexandra has carefully honed her skills to consider every aspect of the drinking experience. The width of the rim, its smoothness, shape, and finish—all these subtle details play a role in the feel of the mug. Designing not only the original piece but also the master mold is a craft unto itself. Working with plaster to create long-lasting, commercially viable molds requires technical know-how that Alexandra has mastered over the years.
Art and decoration are where Alex truly shines. After a lifetime of artistic exploration, she now feels fully capable of expressing herself through her designs, weaving a bit of her character into every piece. Her artwork is transformed into underglaze decals in-house, ensuring the perfect blend of creativity and consistency. Burning screens to create these decals is a highly technical process, one that requires years of experience to perfect.
Not content with commercial glazes, Alexandra has taken it a step further, developing her own glazes and colored slips to give her ceramics that unique touch. Each step of her process, from forming the clay to applying custom glazes, is done entirely in-house, showcasing how being multi-disciplined can reduce costs while unlocking endless creative possibilities.
Alexandra’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved through passion, perseverance, and the willingness to learn. Her vertically integrated micro-manufacturing process not only allows for full control over quality and design but also embodies the craftsmanship that makes every sip from an Alex Ceramics mug a special experience.
Each mug is hand signed by Alex so you know its up to her level of excellence and leading to a sense of collectability, only time will tell. Until the She makes one heck of a mug, you should buy one. www.shafferfoods.com/alexceramics or alexceramics.com