The Story of Sotto Studio
The making, the meaning and the quiet influences that shape Sotto Studio.
The Story of Sotto
When I heard the word "sotto".. it spoke to me..
It touched a special place in my heart.
Upon discovering that the word existed in both Italian and Japanese, it seemed to take on an even deeper meaning.
In Italian, sotto means beneath.
In Japanese, it carries a gentle sense of softness and quiet.
How could one word bring to me so much meaning?
To me sotto speaks to the quiet layers that exist beneath the surface of our lives. The thoughts we carry, the memories that shape us, the questions we continue to explore, and the quiet parts of ourselves that often go unseen.
And that is why I feel so connected to the name Sotto Studio.
It reflects something deep in how I experience life — looking beneath the surface of places, people, creativity, and myself; moving gently through the world; and creating from a place that is deeper, quieter and more intentional.
"The beauty found beneath the surface
is often the most meaningful"
'Born from a Season of Rebuilding'
Sotto Studio, born from a season of rebuilding.
After many years focused on responsibilities, expectations and the pace of everyday life, I found myself searching for something that felt more grounded, more meaningful and more connected to who I truly am.
I found that connection through making... through clay... through fibre... through writing... and through the simple act of creating something with my hands. What began as a creative expression and exploration gradually became a way of understanding myself and the world around me...
Each piece carries a story... sometimes it begins with a memory... sometimes a landscape... sometimes a question I am still trying to answer... and sometimes it begins with nothing more than curiosity and exploration...
Being drawn to nature, to the imperfect, the weathered, the textured and the handmade. The things that reveal their character slowly over time.
What began as a way of finding my way back to myself gradually became the beginning of Sotto Studio — a place where making, writing, curiosity and the stories gathered along the way could belong together.
At the Heart of the Studio
At the heart of Sotto Studio is a simple hope: to live thoughtfully, to understand ourselves a little better, to find beauty in ordinary moments, to preserve stories worth telling, and to create things that quietly bring people together.
This may take the form of a handcrafted piece that becomes part of someone’s everyday rituals, a journal that gives language to a feeling they have never quite known how to describe, or a book that offers a different way of understanding ourselves and the people around us. It may also begin with a story gathered while travelling, a shared meal, a quiet afternoon in the studio, or a small creative act that reminds us to slow down.
I believe creativity is more than simply making beautiful things.
It is one of the ways we notice more, understand more deeply, and contribute something meaningful to the lives of others.
Every piece begins with the same quiet question: How might this contribute something meaningful to another person's life?
That philosophy sits beneath every journal, publication, collection and piece I create.
Whether it becomes a story, a ceramic vessel, a woven piece or a future workshop, I hope it encourages curiosity, kindness, creativity and a greater appreciation for the beauty that already exists around us.
"Because sometimes the quietest things leave the deepest impression"
In sharing these pieces, I share a small part of my story.
And when a piece finds its place in your home,
I hope it quietly finds a place in your heart
and becomes part of your story too.
Quiet pieces... together... inviting you to pause...
...to look a llttle deeper and
discover what lies quietly beneath the surface.
Every story offers another doorway into Sotto Studio
... wherever your curiosity leads next, I hope you'll find something that speaks quietly to you.
A few journal articles shown below to get you started,
or click on the Journals tab at the top of the screen for a full overview Studio Journal articles.
Why I Chose the Name Sotto
Quiet Reflections
Read article...
The Freedom to Shape Our Own
Wisdom Gathered
Read article...
Wrapped in Moss, Held in Time
From the Studio
Read article...
A Quiet Place for Noticing
Nature Notes
Read article...
Why Italy Keeps Calling Me Back
Journeys of the Heart
Read article...
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Meet the Founder
A short introduction to the person behind Sotto Studio.
Sotto Studio grew from my own search for a quieter, more meaningful living.
Alongside creating pottery, writing journals and exploring creativity, I continue to gather stories that remind us to slow down, notice more deeply and appreciate the beauty found beneath the surface.
