Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Barron-Rice.
Alisha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My husband is a Houstonian. He was smart and introduced me to Houston on a New Years trip… the perfect, cool, non-humid month. I am originally from the hills of rural West Virginia and City life was new to me. The thought of living in a very large one really was not appealing… but I was in love! I soon had a child upon moving to Houston and took some time off from work to focus on motherhood. After about a year, I was itching for some interaction. I took to Craigslist to find employment. I have a degree in business management and was crafty, but not what I would call creative…. and definitely not an artist by any means. I saw an ad for Manager at The Mad Potter, which is a paint your own pottery studio. I thought to blend my craftiness with business sounded like fun! I had not worked with ceramics before so I was excited about a new adventure! Working for the Mad Potter opened up my world to a whole new passion… I loved it! I am so grateful for my time spent at The Mad Potter, but after five years of managing someone else’s business… I knew it was time to start my own.
My business started with me selling personalized, finished ceramics on Etsy. My mother-in-law started taking me to local artisan and flea markets and I thought… just maybe… I could start selling my ceramics in person. I still can’t believe how quickly my business has evolved over the last two years. Nothing is more gratifying than to have someone LOVE what you MADE! I now attend several popular artisan markets which include The Market at Sawyer Yards, Flea by Night at Discovery Green, and the HeartMade Market in the Downtown District. I also do other various markets around the Houston area.
My ceramics are truly a blend of who I am as a person… loud, bright, colorful, quirky, and silly. I love a good pun and love to make people laugh. Laughter is a cure to any ailment and I strive to make life sillier one cup at a time!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Have you ever heard of an artist having a smooth road? We are called “starving artists’ for a reason.
I would NEVER have been able to quit my full-time job and pursue my passion without the support of my best friend, my husband, Peter. He genuinely believes in me and what I do! He is with me most markets selling all of my wares and his tagline is… “Everything here is handpainted by this lovely lady…” I joke around and say this is the only time he calls me lovely… I’m an artist and sometimes hard to live with. My life is messy but full of laughter and love!
It is not always monetarily rewarding, but it enriches my life in so many other ways. I get to meet amazing new people at every market and see their eyes light up when something I’ve created strikes a chord within them. It’s so cool…. and that’s enough for me!
EarthlyChic Ceramics – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
EarthlyChic Ceramics is a one-woman show. Every piece is drawn, hand painted, glazed and fired by me. I am proud that when you buy a piece from EarthlyChic, you are literally getting a one of a kind. No two will ever be the same and it should be that way as no two people are the same.
I am known for having a lot of “pricks” around me… I have a line of ceramics that include succulents. Like I said… I love a good pun. The name EarthlyChic is two-fold… 1. you will see lots of plants when you walk into my tent and 2. all of the ceramics are Earthenware.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Setting monetary milestones, getting large corporate orders, etc. are very rewarding…
BUT it is the single person that comes to see me, knows my work, knows ME that makes me proud. I’m proud that I am able to create something that people love. They love it so much that they must take it home and use it in their daily lives. They leave a mark with me and I’ve literally sent a piece of myself home with them! That is what makes me proud…
Pricing:
- Most pieces range in price from $20-$40.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.earthlychicceramics.com
- Email: alisha@earthlychic.com
- Instagram: @earthlychic
- Facebook: @earthlychicceramics
- Other: www.earthlychic.com
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
