Journal

East Fork Off-Duty

Special works from the artists and craftspeople of East Fork, on display and for purchase at East Fork Off-Duty.

Poinsettia, The Patron Plant of Christmas

Pointing at you, poinsettia. The old Mexican legend of the plant, cool facts about it's growth, and it's history as an iconic Christmastime symbol.

Table Talk

Eating together is something that makes us human, and it's an indispensable East Fork value. We make dinnerware because we believe in the quiet power of sharing meals, not only during the holidays, but year round. 

A Bathing Ritual in Five Steps

A super stress melting bathing ritual in five easy steps.

Clay Buddies: Richard's Five Things

Meet Richard. Richard is our Fulfillment Coordinator. He is always running around and bringing your dishes to and fro whilst keeping them safe and sound until they arrive at your doorstep.

Clay Buddies: Annie Bourgeois

"I found these boots at a thrift store about 10 years ago and the longer I've owned them, the more I wear them. I've had to re-sole them 3 times and probably coming up to needing a 4th time here pretty soon. Every time they come back from the cobbler they look so nice and shiny, but secretly, the dustier they are, the happier they make me."

On the Color Red

It’s the pop in your favorite lipstick, the depth in a dramatic sunset, the power in the world’s most revered paintings, and the life force flowing through your body. It is symbolic of war, love, life, passion, power, danger, vitality and luck.

East Fork Drinks: Boo Brew

A spooky brew to drink with your boos. Halloween is the best time to break out the cheese-factor and get a little weird with your cocktail ingredients. 

Clay Buddies: Corey's Five Things

"I will just say it was harder than I imagined to be a new Dad. I had all these expectations of what it would be like and some of those expectations were realized and some were completely wrong."

The Fire Burnt Out

"Personal growth and good life. All of that, stored up, and radiating outwards now." Some of East Fork's veterans share stories from the early days.

Vote, vote, vote!

We wanted to be one more little cricket on your shoulder encouraging you to register to vote and cast your ballot this election season.  A lot of us are focused on Presidential elections, which is awesome but the mid-terms are equally worthy of our attention.

East Fork's Definitive Ranking of Breakfast Cereals

It was the 90's and all was chill. Bill Clinton was president, cell phones hadn't fully caught on, I was a terrible mother to my pet Tamagotchi, and we were eating cookies for breakfast.

All Hands On Deck

A dreamy little exposé about hands, how we use them, and why we love them.

Recipe: Molasses Pound Cake with Golden Raisins + Malted Whipped Cream

Our beloved Brand Manager, Erin, baked a yummy Molasses Pound Cake with Golden Raisins — along with a malted whipped cream to slather on top — to share with you. We also reached out to one of our favorite home bakers to ask their favorite way to use malt. 

Clay Health

To us, clay is the stuff of pots, but clay can be utilized well outside the bounds of pottery, and has a wide spectrum of health benefits for us humans! Read more.

Still Life

The still-life is just that: life captured in a moment, an impossibility in exaggerated light, a bounty that exists forever, to remind you that nothing does. Set the table, get the lighting right, and eat everything on your plate. And don’t forget the wine. 

Seconds To Some

What Even Is Slipcasting?

East Fork chats with Nick Moen of The Bright Angle about all things mold-making and slipcasting.

Come on Baby, Light My Fire

Odd Woods + Tender Earth. Cotton wick, soy wax, candles in gorgeous reusable vessels. East Fork x Joya Candles are a hunk of burnin' love.

Clay Buddies: Cierra Bateman

Meet Cierra, Lady of the Jigger. We sat down with her for our Clay Buddies series to talk about her five favorite things. Read on about her rad hand-made journals!

Today's the Day

We've been working toward this all year: East Fork's flagship items are now 15-30% more affordable.

Recipe: Tajín Clásico

Guest post alert! This recipe was sent to us by Kendra Aronson, and we decided to share it, because she loves East Fork and we love Tajín. Match made in heaven. Enjoy!

The Asheville Dating Guide (Bonus Material Included!)

Four Asheville date ideas that make the most of our little mountain town. Plus, take a quiz to see if you are a match for a blind date with our CFO John Vigeland! Swoon. 

Cocktail Recipe: Aviation-ish Sour

 It tastes how a day-drunk nap in a springtime garden smells—you know what we mean?

Interview: Talking Book

A chat with locals Kris Hartrum, David Burr and Dani Harris to talk about their non-profit audiobook publishing house Talking Book and all things literary. Please enjoy this spirited interview with Asheville's premier book-heads that goes off the rails when their son Max finds a bug!

Library Picks: First Edition

A big shout-out to public libraries, y'all.

Clean House, Clean Mind

Isn’t it a little satisfying to tidy up a space? Beat the dust outta the rug? Wipe the sills? 

Thoughts on Flower Arranging & Ikebana

A very brief, amateur intro to the Japanese art of arranging flowers. 

Grown-Up Picnic

Dionysus (the god of wine and unrestraint) comes rolling into Thebes with a hoard of long-haired groupies (The Bakkhai) just sort of feeling the energy. 

Clay Buddies: Jo's Five Things

A very exciting Clay Buddies interview with our Executive Coordinator Jo!

Recipe: Shishito Peppers w/ Orange & Soy

Shishito peppers are a cinch to throw together, and eating them is like playing a game of less-lethal Russian Roulette - about one in every ten is fiery-hot. 

Cocktail: Pomelo Daiquiri

This week, Erin brings us a Pomelo Daiquiri.

Clay Buddies: Max's Five Things

Meet Max, East Fork potter, crayon pot drawer, Asheville store window illustrator, and resident workshop joke maker. 

Recipe: Fritto Misto

Fritto Misto literally translates to mixed fried. The recipe called for anchovies, but we used smelt because it was fresh at our local grocery store. 

Scenic Route No. 5: Giving Back

5 actions to take, 5 organizations to support, and 5 gifts you can buy that benefit something greater.

The Potter’s Coat + Gifts for Makers

A selection of other special objects to show your dearest craftsperson that you understand them, you value them, and you wish they'd take better care of their hands.

Recipe: Rosemary Pine Nut Sugar Cookies with Big + Little Rolling Pins

Classic enough to fire up all those nostalgia sensors in your reptilian brain, but intriguing enough to keep you coming back for another bite.  

Down to the Brass Tacks

Lue Brass's handmade tableware, serving ware, and useful instruments are store staples that are made for the very purpose of bringing objects of beauty into the everyday. 

Let’s Get Technical

Process-lovers, this one’s for you.

Recipe: Ribollita

A hearty, warming Tuscan soup with endless variations.Key components are veggies, tomatoes, beans, greens, and day-old bread, but every Italian family throws in a little something different.

Hint, Hint: Gift Picks from Team East Fork

We asked everyone on Team East Fork to choose their favorite objects in the store and tell us a little about why they think it'd make a great gift.  

The Thought That Counts

Sadly, budgets are real, but we pretended they aren't for just a moment and discovered it's a great way to get inspired when you're stuck in a gift-planning rut.

Clay Buddies: Sarah's Five Things

Oh, You Shouldn't Have...But I'm Glad You Did

There’s a pesky, deep human urge to celebrate and honor each other through gift giving.  

Scenic Route No. 3

This Monday morning, I'm starting my week a day behind on horrifying news.  

Scenic Route No. 2

Some weeks, walking around town and just watching the world turn feels like worshipping.  Some weeks, it all collapses and it's truly a wonder we manage to keep going.  Lately my weeks have felt like both.

Scenic Route No. 1

Give 'em a click to help yourself ease into your work week and don't be shy to share some of your recent faves in a comment down below.

Living with Giants

"I grew up in a large, converted, New England Baptist church.  The kind with a steeple and a bell and white clapboards.  We didn’t have a typical fireplace, so on Christmas mornings, our stockings were hung from the clapper under the bell."

Hex: Asheville's Bi-Monthly Benefit Dance Party

An interview with Hex organizers Francesca Downing and Gray Hales.

Heart Of Glass

It’s taken me some time to get into glass, but the beautiful range of glassware at the shop has been the perfect starting place.