Nicole and I met years ago in Denver through mutual friends. I was always so fascinated by the fact that she had set up a little ceramics studio in a tiny closet in her loft. There sat her wheel on top of plastic that protected the carpets beneath. To me, it was as if she went to work by day and by night had this little secret. A secret that she was insanely creative and a beautiful creator by night. Years later, she moved to California and took her ceramics to a new level by creating Clay and Craft by Nicole Novena. I just find her work so beautiful, and I was dying to get to photograph her at work at her wheel.

The next time I went to California, I made her garage studio my first stop. I had recently taken a wheel throwing class so I had a rough idea of the steps involved and the way the smooth clay feels as it spins through your hands, but watching Nicole start with a lump of clay and quickly mold it into a sleek minimalist vase was just incredible. There is a reason why this art form is addicting. Photographing it, might just be equally so!

Nicole's work is simple, sleek, perfection. You can check out and purchase a piece of her work at www.ClayandCraft.com. Its by far my favorite gift to give (often to myself).