Creative partnerships are happening everywhere these days. From Target to Crate and Barrel, big box stores are recognizing the power in openly joining creative forces. Of course, artists of all kinds have always influenced one another but nowadays, rather than keep these influences secret, companies are loudly celebrating their collaborations.

This month’s Creative Partnerships’ post is a whopper – all collaborating with a old favorite, Heath Ceramics. Born in the late ’40’s in Northern California, Heath embodies what I love most about design, craftsmanship with a mission of timelessness, trend-lessness, and a goal of enhancing people’s life experiences. With every single piece of Heath Ceramics, you get the sense of the hand behind it’s making.  Over the past several years, Heath has seen a resurgence on the design scene, even opening an outpost in Los Angeles in 2009. Today I focus, not on their solo work, but on the company’s collaborations with some new creative voices.

Dosa + Heath Ceramics tea set. Photo from Remodelista.

1. Top o’the heap for me is Dosa. Almost everything Christina Kim touches is something I covet. (Occasionally, I have gotten a glimpse Ms. Kim in person, and I just am awestruck with her personal style. Her Dosa clothing line evokes a one-of-a-kind handmade feel and timelessness.) Fittingly, her collection for Heath is a tea set -four little hand formed cups and a small rectangular tray. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the ritual of tea drinking. This lovely celadon set was produced in 2009.

Julie Cristello + Heath Ceramics. Photo from www.heathceramics.com

2. Next on my list is a new discovery for me, necklaces made Julie Cristello with Heath. What I love about this collection is the earthiness of it. The pieces remind me of some of my most favorite treasures I had as a (wannabe hippie) child. The leather, the tassles, the ceramic beads all give me that groovy ’70’s/Laurel Canyon vibe, yet feel cleaner and very today at the same time. Currently, I see only this one style of necklace on the Heath site, but I am hoping they collaborate some more.

Alabama Chanin + Heath Ceramics. Photo from www.heathceramics.com

3. A recent collaboration is between Alabama Chanin and Heath. If you’re not familiar with Alabama Chanin, let me be the first to tell you how hot and hip Natalie Chanin and her line are. In 2000, Chanin returned to her hometown of Florence, AL when she was unable to find a workroom in New York who understood the kind of stitching she wanted for her new line of t-shirts. (For more on the evolution of her fashion line, see this recent article in TakePart.) For me, Chanin’s pieces for Heath conjure up images of freshly washed laundry drying on a prairie line. The delicate floral patterns, reminscent of eyelet, are engraved by hand in the glaze on the dinnerware. I love the frontier spirit of the dinnerware and certainly of Ms. Chanin herself.

Perhaps you have longed for something from one of these designers for a while. Their collaborations with Heath offer you the chance to bring home their designs and incorporate their fine craftsmanship into your every day. And just maybe it will open your eyes to ways you can collaborate in your own creative endeavors.

*Photo of Heath Ceramics from www.heathceramics.com