Wheel Big Deal! Houston Ceramicist Gets Nod from Etsy, JoJo Fletcher

An exclusive collection touts Box Sparrow Studio’s handmade pieces — and they’re selling fast.

Wheel Big Deal! Houston Ceramicist Gets Nod from Etsy, JoJo Fletcher

In 2012, Abbie Preston Edmonson, a newly minted art-school graduate, moved from her home state of Georgia to Houston to partner with the local chapter of The Art Project, a nonprofit that channels the power and process of art for healing and empowerment among the homeless. Her stint in Houston was supposed to last one year — but, inspired by how the city embraces creatives, Edmonson stayed, renting a space in the Hardy & Nance studios and working retail to make ends meet.


il_1588xN.2508799909_7byq

Fast forward to 2020, and her Box Sparrow Studio is quite evidently a full-time endeavor — one that was recently called out by Etsy and JoJo Fletcher. Fletcher teamed up with the art-forward, small-biz-promoting e-commerce site to curate a summer collection of special handmade décor, and Box Sparrow Studio's ceramics are among the top-selling items.

il_794xN.2509658425_66gc

Edmonson's collection of hand-thrown tea cups, serving dishes, vases and vessels — simultaneously minimalist-chic and impossibly detail-oriented — caught Fletcher's attention, and for good reason. Brush strokes of warm grays and golds sweep across smooth, pristinely formed pottery; a mid-century aesthetic is recurring, but a modern splatter of blue is not uncommon. For the Etsy x JoJo Fletcher line, Edmonson created a slender serving pitcher in satin-matte white with 22-karat-gold detailing, and a selection of pink-tinged tumblers (10-ounce and 12-ounce) with a similar look.

Edmonson also takes commissions for full custom dinnerware sets. She believes that, through her art form, she and her customers will be rewarded by an ability to resist society's demand for instant gratification.

AT TOP: JoJo Fletcher with Box Sparrow Studio ceramics

People + Places
Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less

Christopher Salazar stars as troubled-genius chef in the Alley's 'Seared'.

ONE OF HOUSTON'S favorite theater makers — Alley Associate Artistic Director Brandon Weinbrenner — has gotten some delicious news about his latest show. The run of his Seared, a sometimes-funny and sometimes-intense tale of life in the kitchen at a suddenly hot New York restaurant by playright Theresa Rebeck, has been extended beyond its original schedule and will now be up through March 9.

Keep Reading Show less
Food+Travel

Flora Choy, Vanitha Pothuri and Blanca Beltran-Robinson

IT WAS A memorable evening for art lovers, to be sure. Connie Kwan-Wong and her independently published CKW Luxe magazine hosted an elegant event amid priceless works of art at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties