Apparently interest in skateboards made of fragile materials is still high. Charles Krafft sells his – made of porcelain – for $2,500. The pieces are hand painted and made to order by the artist. (via WBE).

Theory meets practice in Apparatu’s “FTC” collection. In collaboration with Spanish designer Alex Trochut, Apparatu (artist Xavier Manosa Ciria) arrests motion with a series of ceramic skate decks representing various stakes of destruction. Some pieces hit directly on reality, the decks simply broken, others are more abstract in their disintegration. The complete series happily mixes colors and shape to produce a winning whole. (via DesignBoom).

More ceramic skate fails after the jump.

From Wallpaper*, “In the January issue (W*142), Wallpaper* investigate the increasing trend for designers to desire an audience for their creative processes. While once designers used to be the people behind the scenes, these days its the making of that everyone wants to see. One such design team are Studio Glithero (Sarah van Gameren and Tim Simpson). An important part of their process is to produce films that document the making of their products in an attempt ‘to capture the spirit that exists in the moment that things are made’. Here they document the making of their latest Blueware collection. Plants are pressed and dried before attached to the surface of the vase. The vases are then exposed to a UV light on a rotating spit, causing them to change colour while leaving a clear white silhouette of where the plants were attached. The vases are then rinsed in a special type of acid to reveal a deep blue hue which contrasts beautifully with the ghostly white shadow of the plants.”

Since they’ve just invaded NY from their fancy digs in Yorklyn, DE, you already know what House Industries brings with their holiday markets. Beginning this week, they are in LA, hosted by the fabulous Heath Ceramics. Kick-off begins with a party, December 11, 2010 from 4 to 8pm. The shop will remain open until December 31, 2010.

Heath Ceramics, 7525 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif.

The guys offered up an exclusive picture (above) of an unfired House x Heath ceramic. I’m proud to show it, as well as to share their promotional video after the jump.

Zitta Schnitt’s “Morgenland” tea service is a lovely balance of Oriental form and Western tea ritual. The angularity of her handles also juxtaposes nicely with the heart shapes and gentle curve of the pots spout. Made of porcelain, of which Schnitt says, “To design something made from porcelain is a big challenge.” She’s achieved, however, with flying colors. A perfectly charming set of objects, and a beautiful tea service. (via Industrial Design Served).

More images follow.

Known for impossibly cool stiletto heels, Insa’s attention has been diverted (perhaps just momentarily) to tea sets. The ceramics feature the artists signature ‘Graffiti Fetish’ design and are numbered in an edition of 250. Available through Clickforart. (via MashKulture).

Further looks at the ‘Graffiti Fetish’ tea set after the jump.

Art lovers and dog lovers can rejoice together. PAWS/LA – a charity devoted to assisting the disabled and senior citizens with their pets – has enlisted an A-grade class of artists (including the above Kenny Scharf, Ed Ruscha, David Hockney, Charles Arnoldi, Ross Bleckner, and Robert Longo) to create decorative dog bowls for auction. The bowls hit the block and Bonham & Butterfields on November 23, 2010. (via SlamXhype).

Presented last week in Tokyo, Spanish designer Jaime Hayon’s new ceramic series for Kutani Choemon taps his love for Japanese culture. In particular, Hayon focuses on traditions tied to the dinner table, and his unique graphics add flare to traditional forms associated with dinning. In the end, the goal was to provide links between food, people, and the table. (via Dezeen).

More of Hayon’s ceramics fro Kutani Choemon after the jump.

Brand new to the OHWOW store, Julia Chiang’s ceramic Black Apples.

Brooklyn based artist Julia Chiang presents an exclusive edition of 50 glazed porcelain apples available at OHWOW. Chiang chose the apple because it is a symbol of desire and an icon of the city of New York. Each unique apple is handmade in porcelain and glazed a glossy black (3” high x 3 1/2” diameter) and is packaged in a wooden box that has been burned with the details of the edition and is signed and numbered (5” long x 6” wide x 5 1/4” high). According to Chiang, “Most of what I do reveals the unevenness and imperfection of my hand.” “I am interested more in what are viewed as flaws rather than perfection, and in finding objects and materials that hold a story and history.”

They hit for $200 and are only available here.

Kult (the crew behind Kult magazine and a new shop) has teamed with Mojoko on a commemorative vase inpsired by the current “Year of the Tiger.” The ceramic vase is 30cm high and features traditional blue on white decoration (think Porcelain as inspiration), but draws on Asian popular culture for the graphic identity.

The vase is the first product to highlight Kult’s efforts to create new platforms for established and up-and-coming artists.

More images of the vase after the jump.