This week I interviewed: @misshavishamcuriosities!

1. Tell me a little bit about your business:

“One half of my business is customizing vintage china with modern day sentiments. The other half is made up of new pieces that we design ourselves start to finish. We take our inspiration from the past, so even our new pieces feel vintage.

Our new cups are all made from a vegan china that replicates the look and feel of traditional bone china but without the use of animal bone. So whether you are a collector of fine antiques or you want dishwasher safe china for everyday use, we have something snarky for you.”

2. What are the top 3 selling products in your store and why do you think they are so popular?

“Our insult cups are what put us on the map. They’ve been showcased by Bust Magazine, Boing Boing, House Beautiful and are the official teacups of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s Tea4Tuesday segments. Our memento mori vases and stash boxes are also wildly popular. I think people love the juxtaposition between the high brow china and the low brow sentiments we add to each of them.”

3.  I see you are working on your memoir: What inspired you to start one and what when is it coming out?

“Gosh, I wish I knew when it will be finished. I’ve been hacking away at it forever, even before I started my teacup business. I started it because I grew up in Youngstown Ohio which is a very complicated place with a sad history. The town itself is being erased in a lot of ways. Rather than trying to maintain the more blighted sections of the city, the mayor elected to let forest takeover. There are whole parts of town that I knew that are now just giant walls of trees. My high school, elementary school, the hospital I was born in, my grandparents house…all those places have been torn down and replaced with nature. Because it’s a memoir, the process has been an emotional roller coaster. I take long breaks from even thinking about it and then suddenly I’ll write two chapters in a week. I’ve also been distracted with a few other projects so as much as I’d like to have a finish line in my future, I don’t. “

4. What movies and/or books have left a memorable mark on you in regards to creating your products?

“Well, Great Expectations obviously. I love the character of Miss Havisham. I think all the women in my family have a little Havisham in them. I’m descended from a long line of antique obsessed women and most of them wore their frustrations like Ms. Havisham wore her wedding dress. I also love the notion of elegant decay. I also love a good grudge.”

5. Is there any exciting news or events that you would like to share ?

“We’ll be releasing brand new cups in October and I have to say, these are the most decadent cups we’ve ever made. We’re also working on a décor book and a super secret Airbnb project that we cannot wait to reveal to you. If you’d like to say hi in person, we’ll be vending at the Oddities Flea Markets in both Los Angeles and New York later this year.”

If you would like to learn more about this business. The following contact information is below:

Website: https://www.misshavishamscuriosities.com/#/

Instagram: @misshavishamscurisities