Every piece has a story. This is ours.
Twenty-six years ago, my husband and I left South Africa to begin a new life in Canada.
Leaving wasn’t easy. I wasn’t just saying goodbye to family and friends; I was leaving behind a successful ceramics business, a weekly market, and a loyal community of customers who had welcomed my work into their homes.
When I arrived in Canada, I slowly began building again. As my business grew, there was one thing I knew I needed: a new name.
I wanted a name that connected both my past and my future.
In South Africa, we call ladybugs “ladybirds.” Ladybird Ceramics felt right not only because of the connection to home, but because ladybirds have always appeared in my work, reflecting the natural beauty that inspires me. Almost at the exact moment I decided on the name, I looked up and saw a ladybug crawling across my kitchen windowsill.
From that day on, I never questioned the name I had chosen. With a small kiln and a lot of determination, I rebuilt my business one piece, one customer, and eventually one craft show at a time.
Every design begins with nature—the changing seasons, the garden, and the quiet beauty that surrounds us every day.
Every piece is painted by hand in my Ontario studio. Ladybird Ceramics has always been a family business. My husband glazes every piece, my sons help at craft shows and carefully pack every order, and together we’ve built something that means more to us than we ever imagined.
When I’m painting, I often imagine where each piece will end up: a favourite mug for morning coffee, a vase of fresh flowers on a kitchen table, a birthday cake served on a beautiful cake stand, or a pot of tea shared with a friend.
Those are the moments I hope my ceramics become part of. I hope that years from now, one of my pieces is still sitting in your home—used often, well loved, and quietly woven into your family’s traditions. Because the most beautiful ceramics aren’t the ones saved for special occasions.
They’re the ones that become part of everyday life.
- Tammy
