We recently received one such email from a wonderful customer in Vermont that first contacted us in May, ‘visionkeeper’ of Peace of Mind Emporium Julie White RN:

“We are Vermont’s Premier Stress Reduction Store and Wellness Center created by Nurses. Our name, Peace of Mind Emporium, and lovely buildings and grounds, draw people in who are looking for an oasis from their stress – filled lives. They often remark that they want to take a piece of Peace of Mind home with them after visiting in our store…”

“In honor of our 15th anniversary we were looking for a new logo item, not a tschatkees you find in the personalization catalogs, or the business ID catalogs. We accidentally came across a Deneen Pottery mug when visiting a nearby Vermont Inn, and were impressed. Our artistic staffer, Brenna Flanagan, worked closely with Niles and designer Teena, to create our look…”

Originally We thought that an image of the sign would work and we came up with this version:

It became clear that this design wouldn’t be it so we went back to the drawing board with the idea to “… capture the lovely building and gardens on the logo. We wanted to squeeze as much as we could into the logo and [Teena] did just that.” Working from a photograph and taking a bit of artistic license to remove the roofline and replace it with heavenly clouds we came up with this version:

“We love the luscious rich color palette and mug styles. We placed our order and waited with excitement for the results. We were thrilled. We choose the colors used in our logo and the results were terrific!”

“We began selling the mugs at our 15th anniversary sale. Customers were thrilled to see our wonderful building and logo on the mugs. They were delighted to find the mugs MADE in the USA! They proudly bought mugs for gifts and one of each color for themselves. We set a breakfast table (even though we are NOT an Inn) and love watching customers stop and look at the table as they walk by. We now can offer customers a way to begin every morning with ‘Peace of Mind’. We Accompany the display mugs on the table with daily meditation books, affirmation calanders, wellness CDS, green and herbal teas, and Peace of Mind body card products.”

“Congratulations Deneen Pottery on customer service, and a tremendously well-made and exquisite mug. We are glad to be your customer and sell your delightful mugs. Here’s to many more orders (and colors) in the future!” Julie White RN and Brenna Flanagan

We are proud to post this blog and hope that all who are in need of reducing stress will visit Peace of Mind Emporiums new website by clicking here!

Thanks for reading our blog,

Niles Deneen

]]> http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/2009/10/peace-of-mind/feed/ 1 http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/2009/09/something-special-for-the-holidays/ http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/2009/09/something-special-for-the-holidays/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:05:53 +0000 Niles Deneen http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/?p=287 In the throws of summer we begin to prepare for the holidays… It’s crazy to have to think down the road 4 months, but when it comes to making handmade stoneware everything takes time!

In August we send out an email to all of our customers offering a free set-up for anyone that hasn’t ordered our ornaments, or 5 additional free ornaments to those that have ordered them in the past. We started doing this about 3 years ago and with that first special I received an email from Emily Hoche-Mong the Innkeeper at the Goose & Turrets:

“One Christmas season I gave all guests a handmade ornament from Deneen Pottery with my Goose & Turrets logo. One guest, a young lady from Australia, began to cry, and she flung her arms around my neck and said, “You are just so sweet, that’s the only present I’ve gotten this Christmas.” I will never forget that experience nor that Deneen Pottery was a part of it.

Here is what that ornament looks like:

Real ornaments are threaded with golden string, and depending on the graphics can incorporate a solid glaze color. below is an actual image of one of the ornaments that we are currently making for Valerie Larrea, the Innkeeper and Owner of Abbington Green B&B. When I was talking with Valerie last week about her re-order she said that she loves giving them out around the holidays… “Giving away an ornament to guests upon departure is such a nice thing… An unexpected and truly appreciated feeling. It is my hope to remembered, and that my act of kindness will lead into a story, to others, about the stay.” It really is the small things in life that can have the most impact and are what we truly remember.

From small to large properties keeping your name in front of your guests and customers through giving is a wonderful way to embrace the spirit of the holidays. We are thrilled this year to beginning a tradition with the Bar Harbor Inn, in Bar Harbor Maine:

Deneen Pottery will be making an ornament that will feature a different building on the grounds of the Bar Harbor Inn. The first year is pictured above and features the Main House. We aren’t sure who is going to be the lucky reciepients of these handmade keepsakes, or what the next year’s ornament will feature, but we are proud to be a part of this tradition!

Each ornament is made by hand, pressed from a white stoneware clay body that is specifically engineered for our company. From beginning to end each ornament will be touched by 12 pairs of hands, fired twice, and finished off with golden thread. Like all of the stoneware mugs that we make, these ornaments are lead and cadimum free. Clarity and detail, memories and kindness, love what you do and do what you love!

If you are curious about the special, or have any questions, give me a call! Thanks for reading today’s blog.

Niles Deneen - VP, Marketing

]]> http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/2009/09/something-special-for-the-holidays/feed/ 1 http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/2009/04/amazing-stoneware-mugs-amazing-images/ http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/2009/04/amazing-stoneware-mugs-amazing-images/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:33:58 +0000 Niles Deneen http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/?p=146

Recently I was working with Sarah Stotts, from BedandBreakfast.com, on an article about my family’s Custom Pottery Mug business When she asked me for any new images of our handmade stoneware Jumping Rocks popped into my head. So I got on the phone and left a message for Matthew Lovette, Photographer, and Mark Smith, Photo Stylist, to give me a call. These two amazingly talented guys previously owned and operated a successful and nationally-recognized country inn, The Woolverton Inn in New Jersey before they founded Jumping Rocks Photography… Their pictures have been published and reproduced by countless publications and hospitality websites. You’ll find  them in Washingtonian Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, Country Living, National Geographic Traveler, Forbes, among othersIt is not uncommon for our handmade mugs to ‘pop up’ in many of the distinguished properties that Jumping Rocks works with. Here are a few of the images that Matthew gave me permission to post online. I am pleased to share these images with you!

We are passionate about the work of our hands, and when photographed in the setting in which our handmade mugs are found – they look stunning! Visit these properties and enjoy the time you have, purchase a mug to remember that time… And every time you drink from that handmade coffee mug you will be able to recall the details you loved the most!

If you have a property or business that is in need of mugs just give us a call – we look forward to hearing from you! Toll Free 888-646-0238 or visit us online by clicking here!