Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallori Jalaie.
Hi Mallori, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from San Diego County (Vista specifically) and never found a shortage of things to do here. When I moved to Seattle in 2019, I realized I needed an indoor activity to keep me occupied because it is so dang cold and rainy there. I had taken ceramics classes here and there throughout my life – I went to an arts magnet school and did a few community college classes – but never kept up with it consistently. I found a community studio is Seattle and instantly was hooked.
If you know anything about ceramics, you know that when you start making you accumulate a TON of stuff… I’m definitely a minimalist so after gifting a bunch of pieces to friends and family I needed to make the decision if I was going to continue making or stop. I COULD NOT STOP… and Saffron Ceramics was born.
I ended up relocating back to San Diego in November 2021 and although my time in Seattle was short-lived, I’m happy that moving to a new city forced me to pick up ceramics and pushed me into this maker life.
I’m so stoked to continue making in the San Diego maker community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I love to make and I would love to be able to sustain life with this craft. This is my side hustle and I struggle to give it the time it deserves to get it where I want it to be. I wish I had all the time (and energy) in the world to be able to run with this but I’ve come to the realization that you have to walk before you run. I’m okay with that. I think a lot of people see super successful artists and think it’s so easy to get there but it’s extremely challenging. Worth it, but challenging.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m typically creating handmade, wheel-thrown, functional ceramics. Mugs are one of my favorite pieces to make – I love how creative you can get with handles. I also make planters, ring dishes, multi-purpose dishes, and bowls.
What sets my art apart from others is my modern style mixed in with geometric shapes, patterns, and carving. I’ve been doing ceramics more consistently for about two years and I’m so proud of the fact that I can see my own point of view and style in my work.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Ceramics has a sharp learning curve. At first, it was super frustrating starting out and trying to re-learn how to center the clay. I had done it before so I thought it would be like riding a bike. IT WAS NOT! I was pretty hard on myself at first but after a while, I got back into the groove of it and improved!
Through this process, I’ve continued to learn that we will never be perfect at something from the start. It’s important to give yourself time to learn and grow. We are human and constantly improving.
Contact Info:
- Email: mallori@saffronceramics.com
- Website: saffronceramics.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/saffronceramics/
