There are many things I hold near and dear to my heart.

A black and white photo strip taken shortly after we found out we were moving here, dried flower petals from a bouquet that was delivered for no reason but to say, “I love you”, a vanilla perfume that’s instantly calming, and this crown-shaped ring that will always remind me of Arizona. It goes without saying how special these tiny bits and baubles are to me, but it was time to find a container that could match them.

Up in the Air Somewhere is a ceramic collection founded by talented artist and designer, Susan Dwyer. Three years after graduating from the Art Institute of Chicago, where she focused primarily on sculpture, Dwyer began creating a myriad of papier-mâché vessels inspired by the clean, minimal lines found within industrial architecture. Many of the warehouses, buildings, and water towers that dot the Windy City landscape have been beautifully transformed into elegant votives. My personal favorites would have to be the gold lip dish, as well as the silo vases. I’m also a fan of the spoon and well, which would be perfect for holding salt and pepper flakes, but what stands out the most is the one-of-a-kind nature of this line. Each vessel has been individually handmade without the use of a mold, giving them all unique character – just like the items that grace the inside.