There's more than one way to keep your butter, and I'd say there's more than one beautiful way, too.
Butter is one of those things we reach for every day without much thought. It goes on toast in the morning, on warm bread at dinner and into the cookie dough on a Sunday afternoon. Because it's so ordinary, I like the idea of giving it a lovely place to live.
At Ladybird Ceramics, I make two kinds of butter keepers: the French Butter Crock and the classic Butter Dish. Both are made to be used every day, and both are painted by hand. Here's how they differ, so you can figure out which one belongs on your counter.
Meet the French Butter Crock
Have you ever used one?
A French Butter Crock is a traditional two-piece butter keeper. It lets you leave butter on the counter and still have it soft and spreadable when you want it. You don't have to wait for it to warm up, and you don't have to fight a rock-hard block straight from the fridge.
It works with a simple bit of physics. Cold water forms a seal that helps protect the butter from the air.
How it works
- Soften your butter. Let it come to room temperature so it's easy to work with.
- Pack it into the upper cup. Press it in firmly so there are no air pockets.
- Add cold water to the base. Fill it to the level that suits your crock.
- Turn the cup upside down into the base. The water creates the seal that protects your butter from the air.
- Change the water every 2–3 days. Keep the crock away from direct heat and direct sunlight.
That's really all there is to it. The reward is soft butter ready for toast, fresh bread or baking, any time you want it.
Or Are You a Butter Dish Person?
Sometimes you just can't beat the classic.
The hand-painted Butter Dish keeps your butter covered and ready to go. It looks just as good sitting on the kitchen counter as it does carried to the table for a family dinner. There's no water to change and nothing to remember. You set it down, lift the lid and enjoy.
If you like a simple routine and a dish that goes from everyday use to a special table without a fuss, this is likely your match.
Functional, and Beautiful Too
I believe the things you use every day should be a pleasure to use. A butter keeper works hard in a kitchen. It gets picked up, opened, washed and put back over and over again. It doesn't have to be plain just because it's practical.
Each piece is individually hand-painted in my studio in Ontario, Canada. I paint every dragonfly wing, every cherry blossom and every daisy petal myself. That means no two pieces are exactly alike. Yours will have small differences in brushwork and color that make it one of a kind.
Each one is available as a Butter Crock or a Butter Dish, so you can choose the style that fits how you keep your butter and the design that fits your kitchen.
Whichever way you keep your butter, an everyday kitchen piece doesn't have to be ordinary.
So, which one would you choose?
Tammy
Ladybird Ceramics
