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Present Studio

VoyageLA: Exploring Life & Business with Joyce Chai of Present Studio

Congrats Ye Rin Mok–one of Architectural Digest's Approved Interior Photographers!

The Book of Good Feelings

The Book of Good Feelings, tomato tanlines, savory granola, and Wim Wenders

Present Walks No. 2

Cece Xie and Max Zidel are the founders of 

, a NYC-based art and entertainment law firm with clients in film, design, photography, art, production, content creation, and more. After several years of practicing at a top New York law firm, Cece and Max decided to start Studio Legal to cater to their ideal clientele: artists and creative businesses. Present is lucky enough to count itself as a client of Studio Legal and we are pleased to share the joys of this brilliant duo with you today. You can get in touch with Max and Cece via 

Max Zidel & Cece Xie

Coffee creamer, client chats, seeking softness

 encouraged and reminded of the joy that comes from living a life that's true to one's self. Read on for our recent chat with Tess, the inspiring founder of 

Tess Twiehaus of Tess Interiors

Present Walks No. 1

Thrilled to feature our friend and artist, 

, for our latest Present Joys! Jon possesses a rare kind of talent that runs both wide and deep, as seen in his work that spans 

. We appreciate the quiet nature of his work, often inspiring introspection and an appreciation for the natural world. See his latest work in 

, a group show featuring pieces by Jon and six other artists, up until May 20th.

Jon Chao

Packing lists, estate sales, extreme cashmere, and (not) banana bread

Katie Vonderheide is the talented muralist, sign painter, and founder of 

. You’ve likely seen her bright, spirited work around town as her client list includes 

, and so much more. We love seeing how Beautification Solutions continues to contribute to our city’s rich history of signs and murals–read on for Katie’s Joys!

L'artichouette: Jeux à déguster by Michael Schuyt, Joost Elffers et Sally Foy

Eighth Assembling: A Collection of Otherwise Unpublishable Manuscripts by Richard Kostelanetz

Katie Vonderheide

Movies with Bruce, karaoke cleaning, sleep stones, and working with pride.

Sofia Stephens & Victoria Fayad are the owners of 

, an Echo Park based provisions shop offering Mediterranean imports for the pantry and home. Yes, their space is incredibly charming and the curation a delight, but what makes us ultimately swoon is how they’re able to do all this with such warmth and generosity. Whether it’s by sharing unique finds with us lucky Angelenos or throwing the loveliest events to foster connection, Sofia & Victoria are hands-down the hosts with the mosts!

Sofia Stephens & Victoria Fayad

Presenting Ceramicah at First Round Conference

Pasta perfection, imaginary bridges, running again, and pantry fixations.

 last December where he was selling wares from his respective brands, 

. A conversation (and a couple google searches) later, we’re completely charmed by his creativity which is somehow as varied as it is intentional. From founding clubs inspired by a love of walking and cereal(!) to sketching to composing, Theo boasts many talents. Read on for a glimpse into his world.

Theo Martins

Collaborations, cooking, darning, dates, and a Conversation Starter.

, one of our favorite spots in the city to stock up on stationery. Simply put, Aya is a lovely example of style plus substance. She has a knack for instilling beauty in the everyday–from the outfits she assembles to the meals she makes–and also contains the most kind and curious spirit. Read on for Aya’s latest joys!

Aya Yamasaki

Waffles, Almond Butter, Yogurt, Blueberries…finito!

Breakfast on repeat, mushroom babies, impromptu New Year's Eves and solo escapades.

Popcorn, passing seasons, chocolate frogs, and yearly reflections.

Kiana Toossi is the brilliant mind behind 

, a creative studio specializing in crafting immersive visual worlds for hospitality and e-commerce businesses that appreciate the finer details. We first met Kiana during our 

 (RIP<3) where she previously led the brand’s design and art direction. She has an impeccable eye for all things nostalgic–be sure to give her a 

 for inspiration from New York, Cuyama, and beyond!

Last but not least, Happy Birthday, Michelle!!

Kiana Toossi

Saba Jam featured in SF Chronicle!

LA again, toilet paper towers, purple plates, and puppy play dates.

Saba Parsa is the lovely founder of Saba Jam, her namesake company in which she crafts seasonal jams from locally sourced produce. Her flavor combinations are thoughtful, unexpected, and incredibly delicious. Read on for a peek into her present moments.

Saba Parsa of Saba Jam

Max Simon is a Los Angeles-based baker and the mastermind behind 

. Peep his feed to stay up to date on all his epic bakes and pop-ups, like 

 giant challah bánh mì sandwich made in collaboration with 

. Read on to partake in Max’s present joys:

Max Simon

A wedding, a muse, beans and a half banana.

For Holly Howard, a two-hour walk is a benchmark for a good day. We recently caught up with Holly to talk time and the uniquely personal ways in which she spends it.

Holly Howard of Ask Holly How

We were first introduced to photographer 

. Elizabeth's work is contemplative, sincere, and effortlessly artful. Be sure to peruse her 

, but in the meantime we hope you enjoy reading through her present joys below.

Elizabeth Carababas

Next chapters, a fungi foray, freshly milled flours, and Sanrio sleeves.

Present Moment

Beauty, connection, slugs, and silver shoes.

Brand Strategy: Process, Benefits, and Outcomes

Three Women on Language

Joys found in threes and (mostly) food.

Yi-Mei Truxes is the New-York based founder of 

, a beautiful line of accessories crafted by artisans around the world. Yi-Mei imbues her life and work with a kindness and trust that is at once refreshing and heartwarming. Lucky enough to count her as a client and friend, we’re thrilled to share her present joys with you here.

Yi-Mei Truxes

Popsicle pouts, homemade gochujang, falling fruit, and pub dogs.

Gary Wolin is the kind, passionate owner of 

, a paper supply shop located in Los Angeles' MacArthur Park neighborhood. A true Los Angeles gem, the shop has been been around for 100 years(!) with Gary at its helm for the past 59. I stopped in recently to peruse some samples and have a chat.

Gary Wolin of McManus & Morgan

Kimberly and Nancy Wu are sisters, designers, and co-owners of the beloved brand, 

. We've long admired the pair’s discerning taste and ability to navigate their business in a way that feels ever true to themselves. It's always a treat to get a glimpse into the BB world, so we're delighted to share a few of Kim and Nancy’s joys below.

Kimberly & Nancy Wu

Covert pipes, namesake cookies, beloved newsletters, and dinosaurs.

Maude Paquette-Boulva is a Montreal-based designer, art director and owner of 

. Through our various studio chats and collaborations, we have grown to admire her impeccable taste as well as the ease with which she approaches both work and life. It has been an absolute delight getting to know Maude and we hope you enjoy her thoughtful reflections as much as we did.

Maude Paquette-Boulva

Week of June 5, 2023

Frizzy hair, bakeries, fartlek runs, and Koreatown bar food

Birding

Sonora wheat pancakes, dream dresses, Turkish ceramics, and foraging wild garlic.

Braiding nature, Wendell Berry poetry, nostalgic meals, and a podcast indulgence.

A frozen yogurt obsession, the "Father of Video Art," Dana Schutz, and preserved lemons.

Nora and Matt are the lovely founders of 

. Their delicious dips have found a special place in the heart of Angelenos, us included. We can't wait to see all the places Sunny goes!

Nora and Matt Kramer of Sunny Fine Foods

 is a Los Angeles-based artist, writer, photographer, and friend. We worked with Erik during our early Present days where he helped us compose our studio's own strategy and tone of voice. A pure delight of a person, Erik keeps us inspired with his talent, kindness, and infectious optimism. He shared his recent joys with us–relax, read on, and enjoy!

Anna B Savage’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Erik Benjamins

Ceramicah selected as a Fonts in Use Staff Pick

A Retrospective: Insights from our First Year in Business

Quick kinships can feel especially rare, so we're supremely lucky to have found one in 

. She's an incredibly talented LA-based designer and letterer who heads her own practice at 

. Endless admiration for the care and craftsmanship that's evident in all she does–read below for a peek into her practice.

Char Gladden of Char Gladden Studio

Weekly reads

By way of books

Frank Lloyd, riiiight.

Challah platters, voice notes, 90's/00's K-pop, and the Hollyhock House.

Ceramicah featured in The Brand Identity

Pastry passage of time

Breakfast read

Cozy socks because it’s still freezing here

The Great Pottery Throw Down

Another heart-warming British competition

Schnitzel is for lovers

Reggaeton history lesson

Pastry holidays, Anne Truitt, randomized Google street views, and Valentine's schnitzel.

Valentine's Traditions

A year in a square

French Eataly

The specific satisfaction of smashing boiled potatoes

Mother knows best

Dream come true

Pitas in Paris, French Eataly, Rachel Cusk, and dream bake sales.

Ceramicah featured in SightUnseen's American Design Hot List

Downtime playtime

A podcast that simultaneously serves our appetite for true crime and art world fodder.

A dirty discovery 

Cross-border cobijas

Happy flowers for gray days

THE BLUE AND WHITE BOOKS

Dirty martinis, presents by parcel, cozy cobijas, and Fitzcarraldo Editions reads.

Ye Rin Mok is a Los Angeles based photographer who’s amassed an impressive array of clients over the years. A self described “passive” photographer, she patiently waits for the right moments to arise, resulting in work that reflects her instinctual, observant style. Read on to see what’s been comprising her present thoughts and moments.

Ye Rin Mok

Sunny Fine Foods featured as Typewolf’s Site of the Day

Partners in work and life, Micah Blyckert and Alexandra Cadiz are the founders and creative forces behind Ceramicah—he the skilled craftsman, she the brand & operations extraordinaire. Read on to see what’s been comprising their present thoughts and moments.

A good old-fashioned blog. Visit often, stay a while.