At its best, travel reframes our perspective of the world around us. When everything feels new, we slow down and take note of the details: the distinctive quality of the light; the taste of fresh air; the mysterious din of nature. As makers, a truly inspiring trip can nourish our creativity for months, creating a wave of momentum that drives us to rethink what’s possible with our materials as we pursue new modes of expression.
Such is the case with this winter’s collection. Heath Co-Chair Catherine Bailey journeyed through northern Norway and was overwhelmed by the sensorial richness of her experience: the colors and textures of the Nordic wilderness, the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, and the thrilling scale of the mountainous autumn landscape.
“One day, I walked in a landscape dusted with the first October snow and felt the euphoria nature can bring: immense beauty stretching as far as I could see, and me present in it for the first time.”
Initially, this sense of awe moved Catherine to paint—to capture the stark magic of the Nordic wilderness right then and there, while it was still fresh and alive before her eyes. This inspiration stayed with her even after returning home to California, where she continued exploring her experience through clay and glaze. The resulting collection is both a reflection of the sights she saw—a palette borrowed from nature, a glaze technique inspired by the texture of local flora—and an expression of the pure, unclouded joy of being truly present in a new place for the first time.
The Palette
Winter’s palette draws direct inspiration from the varied hues of the Nordic landscape, where muted stone faces contrast with the unexpected freshness of plant life. Cool-toned Soapstone is punctuated by earthy greens (Pesto, Cypress, and Tomatillo) alongside brighter shades like Sunflower, Turmeric, and Burnt Red. Two-tone combinations (Pesto / Cypress, Sunflower / Turmeric) mix glossy and matte textures, revealing hidden depth upon close inspection.
Special Technique: Skog Moss
To recreate the texture of Norway’s hardy winter vegetation, we used natural grass brushes to etch concentric patterns into three classic shapes: the Coupe Dinner Plate, the Shallow Salad Bowl, and the Deep Serving Bowl. Dark, earthy Cypress reveals bright green Tomatillo where the glaze is etched away, giving each piece one-of-a-kind depth to complement the rest of the season’s palette.
Dinnerware & Accessories
Alongside a selection of staple shapes in limited glazes (including a trio of bud vases, candleholders, Plaza Trays in two sizes, and two-tone dessert bowls), winter brings some exciting additions to the lineup: a Large Mug in Burnt Red and, for the very first time, a seasonal-exclusive Coupe Dinner Bowl, glazed in Pesto. Rounding out the collection are favorites like the Vegetable Bowl (glazed in Sunflower / Turmeric), a Mini Container in Sunflower, and a Multi-Stem Vase in cool Soapstone.
Heath Clay Studio
The Clay Studio team drew inspiration from another side of the Nordic wilderness—specifically, the hidden beauty of birds’ eggs. Often patterned with natural camouflage to blend in with the environment, these small treasures are invisible to all but the most observant. The Robin Egg Vase makes use of this season’s grass brush special technique: first, a Soapstone fade is layered atop a base of Pesto, and then carefully etched away to create an intricate pattern. The larger Ostrich Egg Vase combines three glazes: a base layer of Tomatillo, a fade of Soapstone, and then a speckling of Cypress on top. Each vase is thrown and glazed by hand in the Clay Studio.
Luckily, you don’t have to travel across the globe to see the world with fresh eyes. Winter’s collection invites you to embrace everyday wonders—to imagine your home and your table In a New Light.
