Welcome to My Journal

This is our quiet space—where my wife, Daisy, and I share ideas, encouragement, and creativity. We're just getting started, but we’ll be adding new posts regularly—stories from the studio, tips on starting a pottery business, reflections on daily life, and a look behind the scenes at IKKAI Ceramics. Whether you're here for inspiration, information, or simply to enjoy the slower side of handmade life—you're very welcome here. Grab a cup of tea and explore what’s here so far. More is coming soon.

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How to ship pottery – stacked IKKAI Ceramics parcels with fragile tape and shipping labels, ready for dispatch

How to Ship Pottery: Tips on Packaging and Shipping Handmade Ceramics

Daisy Pepping

Abel Pepping in his studio, drinking coffee in front of handmade ceramics.

10 Gentle Tips for Pottery Motivation When You’re Feeling Stuck

Abel Pepping
Fine dining desserts by Abel Pepping, reflecting his background as a chef before starting his pottery business.

From Chef to Ceramicist: My story so far....

Abel Pepping
Close-up of hands gently holding a handmade ceramic matcha bowl (chawan) with a natural matte glaze — crafted by IKKAI Ceramics.

How to Find Your Perfect Matcha Bowl: A Guide to Different Kinds of Chawan

Daisy Pepping

Abel pepping in home pottery studio inspecting a handmade ceramic bowl, with shelves of bisqueware and pottery tools in the background.

11 Simple Ways I Keep My Home Pottery Studio Clean, Calm and (Mostly) Under Control

Abel Pepping
A handmade ceramic matcha set including a chawan with a metal sifter, a bamboo chasen (whisk) in another bowl, and a chashaku (scoop) resting on a small dish with matcha powder — all beautifully lit by soft natural light.

The Ultimate Guide to Matcha Whisks and Accessories

Daisy Pepping

Fresh matcha tea powder in a handcrafted ceramic matcha bowl, with bamboo whisk and scoop in the background — a quiet moment before preparation begins.

Why Matcha Tea? A Quiet Ritual in a Busy World

Daisy Pepping

Hands shaping a ceramic bowl on a pottery wheel — part of the process of starting a pottery business

Starting a Pottery Business: How I Turned My Creative Hobby into a Meaningful Life

Abel Pepping