Meet the Dover Crafting Ambassadors: Linda Ellett

Last Tuesday we introduced you to our Dover Crafting Ambassador Program- a group of exceptional artists and crafters known for their dedication to Dover- with a tutorial for embellishing flour sack towels using unique and beautiful clip art from DoverPictura.

Today, we'd like to begin telling you a little bit more about some of our Ambassadors and show you some of the things they've been working on, beginning with Linda Ellett, owner of L'esperance Tile Works in upstate New York.

Dedicated to the art and preservation of handmade ceramic tile, L'esperance Tile Works is known nationwide for their artistry and expertise in the manufacture and restoration of Victorian and Craftsman-era tiles.

Using authentic pre-industrial techniques, they produce both original and reproduction designs for an impressive range of projects, including high-profile restoration jobs, and original tiles for installation by leading architects and individual homeowners.

Linda says she got her start at a very young age. "I've always liked to play in the mud...." says Linda, "but when my first glazed piece came out of the kiln I was hooked - 4th grade to be exact! What did I make? An ashtray for my Gram Collopy inscribed with the words "don't smoke" (!) and a guitar as a tribute to my fav new band - the Beatles!"

A lifelong love of art was kindled, and Linda would later go on to complete her BFA in Ceramic Art at Alfred University College of Ceramics in 1979. "After becoming addicted to tile at an apprenticeship at The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, PA, that summer, I established L'esperance Tile Works 3 weeks after returning home...and have been making tiles ever since!"

"I met my future husband in 1983," Linda adds. "He had a degree in economics, and an interest in small businesses (especially mine!), and the rest is history..."

Now let's take a look at some of Linda's beautiful work using DoverPictura!

Haeckel's Art Forms from Nature add idiosyncratic beauty to Linda's ceramics.

 

This lovely ceramic bowl features a bouquet from our Ladies' Flower Garden collection.

Want to see more? Visit the L'esperance Tile website, browse the Etsy shop. You can also like L'esperance Tile on Facebook!