Today, we're letting you know that our brand-new Flying Blackbird Trio is finally available on our website! To welcome them, I thought I'd share their backstory before they're set free into the world.

After 35 years in business, I've returned to making little black birds. Initially, in my degree show, I created a small flock of handmade crow sculptures in a satin glaze finish; now, 35 years later, I've gone back to very similar territory, but this time elevating the humble blackbird and creating them to fly across your wall.

Here are some examples of the kind of stuff I was creating back then:

I was also inspired by the 5 resident blackbirds in my garden; they keep me company when I am in my veggie patch, picking up exposed worms and watching my every move with interest. They steal my strawberries and raspberries, and I love watching them every morning on the lawn. I've also seen very sweet moments in France between a mum and dad blackbird 'dancing' with each other whilst their baby explores in the trees. Now they are immortalised in this trio! They're such charismatic and iconic British garden birds, so I hope I've captured their personality well.

Another inspiration for my ceramic blackbird ornaments was the House Bird that Charles and Ray Eames kept in their amazing LA home. The bold simplicity of the design is so charming to me; I wanted to have my own take on it. 

I also thought it would be fun to do them in black clay to save painting them black, and I am really enjoying how they have come out. Black clay is quite a different process from my usual white clay. The coloured glaze of the beak has to be much thicker to cover the black, which results in an amazing colour contrast.  

Made from stoneware ceramic with a decal decoration, the Blackbird Flying Trio comes beautifully presented in a recycled card gift box with an illustrated sticker, and packaged in eco-friendly and plastic-free materials.

I hope you love them as much as I do!