A Little Ceramic Plate, the Kindest Customer Service

Sometimes the best small-business experiences aren’t just about the thing you ordered — they’re about the person behind it.

On April 10th, I ordered this beautiful handmade ceramic plate from Shannon at AblazeBloomCeramic. I had been looking for just the right piece to use in my jewelry photography, something earthy and moody with texture, movement, and enough character to complement my work without stealing the whole show.

This plate was exactly what I had in mind.

But then… shipping happened.

The package made it as far as New Jersey and then just sat there. And sat there. And sat there. After about three weeks with no movement, I reached out to Shannon to let her know what was going on.

She responded with so much kindness and immediately sent out a replacement from California. No hassle, no making me wait longer, no “let’s just see what happens.” She simply took care of it.

And somehow, that replacement made it all the way from California to Vermont in just three days.

When it arrived, tucked inside was the sweetest little handwritten card made by Kayla, age 6 — a bright, colorful drawing full of cats, flowers, sunshine, and hearts. Honestly, it made the whole experience feel even more personal.

And then Shannon told me that if the original plate ever does make its way here, I should just keep it. I offered to pay her for it if that happens, because as another small business owner, I know what it means to lose product to a shipping issue. But she very sweetly declined.

That kind of generosity deserves to be remembered.

The plate itself is gorgeous — textured, earthy, and beautifully handmade, with deep smoky tones, rusty edges, and that incredible turquoise bloom through the center. It feels organic and a little wild, exactly the kind of backdrop I love for my own nature-inspired jewelry.

But more than that, this plate now carries a story.

A story of one maker supporting another.
A story of customer service that felt thoughtful and human.
A story of a little handmade card that completely made my day.

So here’s a big thank you to Shannon at AblazeBloomCeramic for not only creating a beautiful piece, but for handling a frustrating shipping delay with so much grace and kindness.

This is why I love supporting handmade.