Hello, beautiful souls! Welcome to the brand-new, independent digital home of Örsay Örs Ceramics. If you have been following our artistic journey and supporting our sweet ceramic creations over on Etsy, you already know how much love, meticulous care, and whimsical joy goes into every single piece that leaves our studio. Today marks a massive milestone for our brand. By transitioning to our very own Shopify store, we are building a more sustainable, direct, and intimate relationship with you—our cherished community.
One of the most frequent, exciting, and inspiring questions we receive in our direct messages and emails is: "How can I get a custom piece made just for me?" There is truly nothing quite like drinking your morning matcha or coffee from a mug that was sculpted, painted, and fired specifically with you in mind. Whether you are dreaming of a pastel-toned plate adorned with your favorite cute animals, a highly personalized ring dish for a wedding, or a completely unique sculptural vase that perfectly matches your home's aesthetic, custom orders are the absolute heartbeat of our studio.
However, handmade ceramics is a slow, methodical, and scientifically complex art form. It requires earth, water, air, and fire to cooperate perfectly. To ensure that your experience on our new website is seamless, transparent, and absolutely delightful from start to finish, we have put together this comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how our custom order process works. Grab a cozy beverage, get comfortable, and let’s dive into the magical process of bringing your ceramic dreams to life.
The Magic of Bespoke Pottery: Why Go Custom?
In a world filled with mass-produced items, choosing a custom, handmade ceramic piece is an act of intentionality. When you commission a piece from Örsay Örs, you are not just buying a cup or a bowl; you are collaborating with an artisan. You are investing in hours of wheel-throwing, hand-sculpting, delicate underglaze painting, and multiple high-temperature kiln firings. A custom piece carries your personal story, wrapped in our signature sweet and joyful aesthetic. It makes for an unforgettable gift for loved ones or a perfect daily companion that sparks joy every time you open your kitchen cabinet.
Our Step-by-Step Custom Order Process
We have designed our new Shopify store to make the custom order process as smooth and intuitive as possible. Here is exactly what happens when you decide to turn your vision into a tangible ceramic reality:
Gather Your Inspiration & Dream Up the Concept
Every beautiful piece starts with a spark of inspiration. Before reaching out, we highly recommend browsing through our past collections on our website or taking a scroll through our Instagram feed. This will give you a solid understanding of the Örsay Örs aesthetic—which focuses on sweet, charming, and pastel-infused designs. Think about the form (do you want a mug, a bowl, a trinket dish?), the color palette, and any specific illustrations or sculptural elements you desire. Feel free to create a mood board or save reference images!
Select Your Form Factor and Specifications
The next step is defining the physical parameters of your piece. If you are ordering a mug, do you prefer a wide, cozy latte shape or a tall, elegant silhouette? How many ounces (or milliliters) should it hold? Do you want a thick, chunky handle that feels substantial, or a delicate, dainty one? We offer a variety of standard base forms that we can customize. Knowing the rough dimensions and functional purpose of the piece helps us determine the amount of clay needed and the structural design required.
Submit the Custom Order Form
Once you have a clear vision, head over to the dedicated "Custom Orders" page on our new Shopify site. Here, you will find a beautifully streamlined submission form. You will be prompted to upload your reference images, describe your desired color palette (we specialize in soft pinks, dreamy blues, sage greens, and creamy whites), and detail any specific text, names, or character illustrations you want included. The more detail you provide here, the better we can capture your exact vision.
Consultation, Review, and Pricing Quote
After you submit your form, our team will review your request within 48 to 72 business hours. We will evaluate the technical feasibility of the design (because clay has rules we must obey!). If we need to make any artistic adjustments to ensure the piece survives the kiln firings, we will discuss them with you via email. Once the design is finalized, we will send you a secure Shopify checkout link with your final custom quote. Production officially begins once this invoice is paid in full.
The Crafting Journey: Mud to Magic
This is where your patience pays off! Your piece will be hand-thrown on the pottery wheel or meticulously hand-built. It must then dry slowly to a "bone dry" state to prevent cracking, which can take over a week. Next, it goes into the kiln for its first firing (the bisque fire). After it cools, we hand-paint your custom designs using specialized underglazes, dip it in our food-safe clear glaze, and fire it a second time to over 2200°F (1200°C). This entire transformative process takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Eco-Friendly Packaging & Safe Shipping
Once your custom ceramic piece emerges from its final firing bright, glossy, and perfect, it is time to travel home. We take packaging incredibly seriously. We use sustainable, eco-friendly honeycomb paper, biodegradable packing peanuts, and heavy-duty corrugated boxes to ensure your sweet ceramics survive the postal journey. You will receive an automated email from our Shopify store with your tracking number the moment your shipping label is created.
⚠️ Important Things to Keep in Mind
To ensure we maintain a healthy, sustainable e-commerce structure and that you are 100% thrilled with your purchase, please read these essential guidelines before placing a custom order:
- The Nature of Handmade: Ceramics are not machine-made. Minor variations in size, slight asymmetry, or tiny pinholes in the glaze are not defects; they are the beautiful, authentic birthmarks of handmade pottery.
- Color Variations: Glaze is chemistry, not paint. While we use highly consistent recipes, the intense heat of the kiln means colors can shift slightly. A pastel pink might fire slightly warmer or cooler depending on its placement in the kiln.
- The 4-6 Week Timeline: Clay cannot be rushed. If we dry it too fast, it warps or cracks. Please factor in our standard 4 to 6-week production timeline, especially if you are ordering for a specific holiday, birthday, or anniversary.
- Food Safety & Care: All of our functional wares (mugs, bowls, plates) use 100% lead-free, food-safe glazes. While they are technically dishwasher and microwave safe, we strongly advise hand-washing your custom pieces to preserve the longevity and brilliance of the hand-painted details.
- No Exact Replicas: Even if you ask us to recreate a piece we have made before, it will have its own unique soul. We cannot make identical clones, and we will never copy another ceramic artist's intellectual property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do! Our new Shopify store is fully equipped to calculate live international shipping rates at checkout. Please note that international buyers are responsible for any customs duties or import taxes that may apply upon arrival in your country.
What happens if my custom piece breaks in transit?
While we pack our pieces to withstand drops and bumps, the postal service can sometimes be unpredictable. If your piece arrives broken, please email us a clear photo of the broken item and the packaging within 48 hours of delivery. We will immediately begin remaking your custom piece at no additional cost to you.
Can I change my design after I have paid the invoice?
Because the ceramic process begins very shortly after payment—often with the wedging and throwing of the clay within 24 hours—we unfortunately cannot accept any design changes, form alterations, or cancellations once the final invoice has been paid. Please be absolutely sure of your design during the consultation phase!
Do you accept bulk custom orders for weddings or corporate events?
Absolutely! We love creating bespoke wedding favors or branded gifts for small businesses. Bulk orders require a significantly longer lead time (usually 8-12 weeks) and are subject to availability in our studio schedule. Please use the contact form on our website to inquire about wholesale or bulk custom pricing.
Transitioning from Etsy to our own independent platform allows us to serve you better, communicate faster, and pour even more creativity into our work. We are so incredibly grateful for your continued support of Örsay Örs Ceramics. We cannot wait to hear your beautiful ideas and turn them into ceramic treasures you will cherish forever.
Ready to start? Click here to fill out your custom order form today!
