The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite lifestyle piece, the reed diffusers are designed with a decorative hand- crafted ceramic collar with fragrances in a bottle that include the scents of White Jasmine, First Bluebell of Spring, Fresh Linen, and Rhubarb & Ginger to freshen up your home. Using natural rattan reeds to draw up the essential or fragrance oil, it slowly releases a lovely fresh scent all day. The designer revealed the first-ever ‘tangled web’ piece she designed was a little bowl constructed of only 6 or 7 strands of clay which she fired in a friend’s kiln as she did not have one at the time after just having started her business. “She said to me not to get my hopes up regarding the piece as it could just crumble during the firing process. The way I looked at it was an experiment and if it didn’t work then I move on, but if it did then I could develop the technique and concept. This was 18 years ago and now my collection features over 100 products all featuring this technique.” To date, Timea has had the privilege of working with some amazing companies, shops, and designers. As a ceramics designer, she has also achieved a few accomplishments. “I have won awards and have been featured in magazines and books, but to me, accomplishment isn’t really measured by any of that. It’s the joy when someone appreciates the piece I have lovingly made and wishes to buy it to treasure or to give it as a special gift.” To create a new piece from start to finish, it takes around two weeks, including drying times which can take days, with at least two firings. Timea tends to work on several pieces at the same time as each piece needs her attention at different points in the process. She believes a piece has to visually grab you first before you wish to engage with it. “Then it’s about picking it up and holding it to experience its physical form and texture. A quality piece has to be backed up by a beautifully skilled craftsmanship.” Whilst she loves working around and learning from other ce- ramicists, her inspiration is drawn from the bigger picture and using ceramics to enhance a room’s environment. “My inspi- ration comes from nature and everyday objects we surround ourselves with, hence my signature tangled design”. When creating new works, she usually has an idea and works it out in her head first, following by lots of little sketches to finalise the concept. With a lot of thought process going into the piece, it evolves as she is making it. Even when she’s not working, Timea says she constantly has to be doing something creative to relax. “My newest project is the renovation of an old French farmhouse we bought a few years ago. I love upcycling and giving unloved pieces of fur- niture a new lease of life. I like to visualise a space and seeing it transform into my vision. I have two beautiful boys who keep me busy so there is not much real time for relaxation as such. Spending time with my family is very precious to me and having a good laugh.” Her short term goals are to continue creating new pieces and expand her well-being range of scented candles and diffusers, and to fly the flag for quality handcrafted products. To aspiring ceramics designers, she would advise, “Always be true to yourself and your skill sets; never copy, [and] always innovate. Be patient as hard work is rewarded in time.” For 2020, Timea has some fantastic projects lined up, but they are at a very early stage, so we will be watching out for further developments from the designer. Timea Sido ceramic pieces can be purchased online or from stockists in the UK including Castle Gallery in Inverness, Scotland; New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, Surrey; Cecilia Colman Gallery in St. John’s Wood, London; Shakspeare Glass & Arts in Langport, Somerset; Shakspeare Glass Gallery in Taunton, Somerset; and SOTA Gallery in Witney, Oxfordshire. https://timeasido.co.uk