About this Product
Ceramic Arizona Christmas Ornament with optional 2024 Charm, by S. Amaral Pottery.
This is my original design, Hand stamped and cut from off white clay and kiln fired. This Arizona Christmas ornament is then hand-painted in a water color fashion, gloss glazed and kiln fired once more producing a lasting keepsake.
Here is what influenced my original Arizona ornament design: The copper color star represents the large amount of copper Arizona produces. The star is rising from the same field of blue as the United States flag. Gold and red beams represent the sun setting over the western desert. Arizona is home to the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine trees in the world. The protected majestic saguaro cactus can grow to a height of over 50’.
Optional metal gold year charm.
This ornament is an ideal holiday gift for anyone who enjoys Arizona.
Available in Bulk when ordered well in advance. Message me with requests.
Beachwood
Meet the Maker
Everything I offer for sale is designed and handmade by me. I enjoy creating art of natural mediums. Pottery is my favorite thing to make, followed by Sea Glass and Wampum Jewelry.
I live along the coast of Massachusetts. The shoreline I walk daily with my dog is the one I played on as a child. The stories of hurricanes and homes swept out to sea are always on my mind when I find unique ocean tumbled shards of glass, pottery and bricks. Sharing the history and simple beauty of the sea treasures I find is why I opened Beachwood Street Designs, an online business I operate from a loft looking over picturesque Buzzards Bay.
My pottery line is now celebrating it's 35th year. My slab built pottery is slump molded on beach stones and impressed with shells and flowers. My work has sold throughout the country in many storefronts. My cranberry pottery line was carried by Ocean Spray’s “Cranberry World Visitors Center” and shipped worldwide.
My family tree dates back to the 1600's and includes both the Mayflower Pilgrims and Native Americans. Samoset, who befriended the Pilgrims, is my 11th great grandfather. It is often my ancestry that inspires my original artistic designs.
Please enjoy browsing my designs. May you always have a shell in your pocket and a love for the ocean in your heart!
Susan Amaral
Artist
How it’s Made
This is a hand cut ornament. I start by rolling out a slab of clay. Then impress the wet clay.
When dry, I clean it with wet clay and a sponge. After my large kiln is loaded with several weeks of work, I start the bisque firing. Over the course of 20 hours, my kiln reaches about 2000 degrees to set the colors and then cools down enough to unload. I apply the food safe Gloss glaze and the kiln is fired again. The end result produces a unique lasting keepsake.
Shop Policies
Returns
Returns are accepted. Contact me first with any concerns or questions within 3 days of receiving your order. Please return item in the original packaging. Buyer is responsible for return shipping costs and any loss in value if an item isn't returned in original condition. Most items are shipped USPS and do come with a small amount of insurance. Damaged items and lost items can be refunded by filing a claim either in person (preferred) at your local post office or online at USPS.com
Custom and personalized orders
Custom order pottery pieces from start to finish take about 4 weeks on an average. I make every piece by hand from a wet piece of clay. The clay takes time to dry. Each piece is them trimmed and rough edges are smoothed. I hand paint each piece, fire it in my kiln, glaze it and fire it again. Sometimes I have blank piece partially the process, so message me with any questions. I'm happy to work with you.
Personalized ornaments are done within a day. I use an oil paint pen to add names to my ornaments after I make them.
Custom jewelry orders take about 5 business days.
Care Instructions
Jewelry Care Instructions - Use a polish cloth on Silver and sliver plated findings.
Pottery Care Instructions- All glazes used on my pottery is food safe and can be treated like regular dishes and cared for with regular dish washing methods. I suggest hand washing, however many pieces of average size can be placed in the dishwasher's top shelf.
Pottery is Eco-Friendly and Sustainable. Selecting Beachwood Street Designs, when making sustainable lifestyle choices that impact the environment, is the right choice. My handmade pieces are eco-friendly. Made of natural clay and lead-free glazes, my pottery is durable and longer lasting than other materials. The making of pottery does not require the use of any other natural sources, like trees, and makes a sustainable contribution to protecting forest and landscapes across the globe. Because pottery is considered sustainable in sourcing, making, distributing, and disposing of, it has little impact on the environment.
Jewelry is Eco-Friendly: Wampum and Sea Glass is used in the shape that I find on the beaches along a historic whaling harbor.
Gift Messages: A personal gift note may be added to your order on request. Holiday tissue paper is used November through December.
Packing Slips and Receipts are not included with an order to reduce the carbon footprint. They are emailed or available in your account
