Erika Ceramics: A Collaboration That’s Been Over a Year in the Making
A Collaboration That’s Been Over a Year in the Making
(photo credit | Sarah Coleman Photography)
Over a year ago, I set up my booth at East Hill Makers Market. Erika Young of Erika Ceramics happened to be set up in a booth right over from mine, and before long we struck up a conversation.
It felt so natural talking with her. She is so friendly and easy going. I felt like I had known her. I grew up surrounded by art, clay, and ceramics. My mom worked in the medium for most of my life. We started talking about glazes, stoneware, and all the little details that make pottery so special. That shared love for the craft made me feel an instant connection to her work. Her pieces weren’t just beautiful; they carried that same sense of care and artistry I had admired growing up. That day, I didn’t just discover Erika Ceramics, I gained a new friend who understood what it means to pour yourself into the work of your hands.
About Erika
Erika Young is the artist behind Erika Ceramics (www.ericaceramics.co) , creating small‑batch, handmade pottery right from her home studio here in Pensacola, Florida. Her work is inspired by the idea that the things we use every day should be beautiful, functional, and meaningful. From mugs that make your morning coffee feel like a little ritual, to bowls and vases you’ll reach for again and again. Her designs are timeless and crafted with care.
When she’s not in the studio shaping clay, she’s teaching classes at First City Art Center, sharing her love of ceramics with others.
The Idea That Wouldn’t Let Us Go
Since that first meeting, we’ve dreamed about collaborating. Every time we’d see each other at markets or chat online, the idea would come back up:
What if we combined her handmade vessels with one of my clean-burning candles? What if we could create something people would use and treasure long after the wax was gone?
Life got busy between running our own businesses, market seasons, and personal commitments, the timing never felt right. But we kept talking about it. We knew we wanted to make it happen.
And now, we finally did.
Introducing Our Limited Edition Drop
On July 21st, we’re bringing you something truly special: a limited‑edition candle poured in one of Erika’s handmade ceramic vessels. Each one is unique—no two are exactly alike. That’s the beauty of handmade.
And because you all ask … here are the scents:
☕ Coffee Shop – rich notes of coffee, caramel, sugar, vanilla, and milk.
🍵 Morning Matcha – bright notes of bergamot, lemon, and orange over green tea, black tea, sea salt, with a smooth finish of sandalwood and cream.
These are two of our most requested scents, and now you’ll be able to enjoy them in a vessel you can treasure forever. When the candle has burned down, your vessel becomes part of your everyday life. A coffee mug, a tea tumbler, a little planter, or simply a piece of art you keep on display.
When I decided to move forward with these scents, it started to feel like a "pre-fall" coffee shop theme. Who doesn't love a good coffee or matcha?
More Than a Candle
This collaboration means so much more than just a beautiful product. It’s about women supporting women, it’s about local art, and it’s about celebrating the makers who bring so much heart into their work. It’s also about slowing down, lighting a candle, sipping something warm, and savoring those little everyday rituals.
We’re so proud of what we’ve created together, and we can’t wait for you to experience it too. I can promise you this will not be our last collab...
Mark Your Calendars
🗓 Launch Date: July 21st
✨ Where to Shop: Exclusively at pensacolacandleco.com
📦 Details: Limited edition, free shipping, and truly one of a kind
Thank you for cheering us on, for shopping small, and for allowing us to keep creating pieces that bring a little bit of joy into your home. I hope when you hold one of these vessels, you feel all the love and care that went into making it, from Erika’s hands to mine.
💛
Hannah