UAQ
Unfrequently asked questions. All of them were really asked, some of them more than once.
- 01
“WHAT'S YOUR WEBSITE?” (a full email we received)
Hello, nice to meet you too!
www.odakahome.com
You are welcome ;) - 02
“Love the cups! Can you make them bigger?”
No. Every piece is cast in a mold, and a mold makes one size: its own.
Each cup is designed to be exactly the right size for the drink it holds.
If a cup feels small, LUKKA-L holds 300 ml / 10 oz. - 03
“Hi, your work is so nice. Is it all made on the wheel?”
Thank you.
Most of the process is casting. We use the wheel along the way, but casting is at the heart of it. - 04
“Wait, it's all slip-cast?! So it's a no-brainer”
The molds, the forms and the glazes are our own, so the brains went in before the clay did.
Making something good always takes understanding and experience.
Over the years we have refined our process, and we are very proud of the way we work. We combine 3D printing, casting and the wheel, all to make the best pieces we can. - 05
“So... Who taught you all of that?”
Thank you so much.
What's special, and moving, about ceramics is that the learning never ends. There is always more to learn and explore.
David began his journey studying with Noga Ashkenazi. - 06
“Hi, I love your work. Are you looking for an apprentice?”
We get asked this quite often, and it's always flattering.
We are not looking right now. When we are, we'll do it properly, with an application form and an equal chance for everyone. - 07
“Can I come and watch you work for a day?”
That sounds like fun.
Sadly, this is a working studio, busy every day. We are always happy to have people over and explain what we do and how.
But we can't have someone stay a whole day. The studio is intimate, and we need space and focus. - 08
“I want to surprise my friend. Can I bring her to a workshop at your studio?”
That sounds like a wonderful gift.
We don't run workshops at the moment... - 09
“Hi, can I bring my dog when I visit the studio?”
We love dogs, cats and squirrels.
Cats and squirrels are not invited, but well-behaved dogs certainly are.
You are welcome to bring your dog, as long as it is well behaved and on a leash. - 10
“Hi, I'd love to come to one of your workshops. Where in Portugal are you?”
We are not in Portugal.
The studio is in south Tel Aviv, and we don't run workshops. - 11
“Your cups are lovely, but why don't you make big vases? I would buy those.”
Over the years we decided to focus on what we love and do well: cups.
We work on small pieces, with a technique that gives us control at that scale.
Bigger or different pieces take learning, research and preparation that we haven't done yet.
(But maybe one day.) - 12
“My cups broke. I bought them a year ago. Can I get a replacement?”
Sadly, there is no warranty on ceramics.
Ceramic is a delicate, breakable material, and it needs to be looked after.
Its worst enemy is a moment of inattention. - 13
“My friend's wedding is in 5 days. Can you do a custom order?”
Congratulations to your friend.
Sadly, we can't do a custom order in 5 days. To be honest, we can't make any piece in 5 days.
The process is long, with many steps, and each one takes time. An order usually takes 3, 4 or even 5 weeks (and sometimes longer!). - 14
“What is your favorite cup?”
What is your favorite child?
We love all of our cups. They're our babies.
It's true that we are not always 100% satisfied with the result. That's why we keep updating and improving all of our designs over time...
And KUBO is definitely a wonderful cup.