HI, I am Irina, thanks for visiting Aniksa Pottery. Here and on my social pages I share my passion for handcrafted pottery, slow living, and sustainability.

Aniksa Pottery got it’s name from my surname written backwards and I use it as my nickname online. My real name, Irina, is Ancient Greek origin, derived from Eirene (Εἰρήνη), an ancient Greek goddess, personification of peace, strongly correlates to the slow living movement.

I am an expat, during the crazy pandemic of 2020 my partner and I moved to the Netherlands from Ireland with a strong desire to learn pottery. My influences are heavily based in Eastern European folklore and traditions, Irish picturesque nature, Dutch architecture & design, and brewed my creativity for many years.

I love handmade pottery, this is the process that embraces all of me. Clay is very pleasant to work with, I like its texture, flexibility, its opportunity to stretch. However, clay has its own temper, you need to take into account weight, time, dryness, dampness, sudden movements and little cracks. 

Why should you buy my handcrafted pottery? While creating it I build a special relationship with every piece, dedicate all myself giving the hug and rub to every millimeter. Such pieces are entirely unique and carry the love, soul and aesthetic of their maker.

I look forward to sharing my designs and creations with each and every one of you.

We all try to change our lives towards sustainable living. There is a huge demand and massive responsibility lying on each of us to try and lower our carbon footprint. The handcrafts, including handmade pottery, play a significant role here with its recycling, preserving, lowering waste and teaching appreciation of things around us. Furthermore, there were some calculations showing that there is way less kg CO2 spent on production of a kilo handmade pottery than, for example, on production of a kilo of meat (https://www.oldforgecreations.co.uk/blog/the-co2-cost-of-pottery?rq=CO2).

How do I minimize my carbon footprint in pottery making? First of all I recycle all bits of clay before bisque firing and I try to minimize glaze coverage of my pieces.

Secondly, I do not have a car, thus, all my business related trips I do on my bike or using public transport. I also offer free delivery by myself riding a bike within Haarlem, the Netherlands. 

I reuse as much as possible carton boxes, wrapping paper and wrapping bubble sheets which I have tons since our recent move to a new house. Please excuse me if my packages look not too glamorous :) 

However, I try not to print unless I have to, all my business cards, posters and other cards are printed on environmentally friendly paper at a local Haarlem print business. Additionally, I have designed the paper production and print in minimalistic black and white colours.

Workshops

You always wanted to try make ceramic pots yourself!? I give workshops at my cozy little home studio in Haarlem. The workshop is a private lesson for 1 or 2 people. I will teach you at your own pace in a relaxed atmosphere basics of handbuilding or thrown on wheel pottery. The cost is 30 eu per hour includes all materials and firing as well as tea or coffee. Usually the lesson takes 2-3 hours, but you can decide when you get enough. Give me a shout via email hello@aniksapottery.com or DM me in Instagram or Facebook, the links you can find in the bottom of the page.

Markets
I will be participating at the following markets in the Netherlands, come over to say hi!

Nothing planed yet, see you in 2023

Shops where you can buy my pottery

- TIESJURT

Organic | Sustainable | Recycled | Fairtrade | Cruelty-free | Vegan

Gedempte Oude Gracht 79 2011 GN Haarlem

https://www.tiesjurtconcept.com/

- Six and Sons

Europe's premier phygital platform for sustainable brands and conscious community.
Haarlemmerdijk 31, 1013 KA Amsterdam, Netherlands

https://linktr.ee/sixandsons

- Soypa Soaps

Artisan soaps on a mission to change your mindset. Plant based. Unisex. Inspired by Iceland

https://soypasoaps.com/

- Organic People

Your marketplace for sustainable clothing, shoes, personal treatments and lifestyle accessoires.

https://organicpeople.nl/