Small-batch pottery and playful print work for daily rituals, fresh starts, and good omens.
Named after both her last name and a Scottish tradition of giving lucky tokens at the start of the year, Handsel Mondays is Kaelyn Handsel’s way of offering thoughtful, functional art for your everyday life. Each mug, bowl, or print is meant to feel like a little gift, a good omen for your morning coffee or evening wind-down.
Kaelyn works primarily in stoneware, often drawn to warm, red clays that stain her hands and make her look like she’s just finished a spaghetti dinner. Her pottery is mostly wheel-thrown with handbuilt touches, and while her body of work spans different styles, her signature handles and neat finishing give it a clear throughline. Simplicity is key, forms are comfortable and well-balanced, letting any color or texture shine without fuss.
Her process is curious and ever-evolving. One week might bring clean-lined forms with soft glazes, while another turns toward punchy colors or seasonal experimentation. And when summer heat makes kiln work feel unbearable? She turns to printmaking, a creative outlet with fewer heartbreaks and more breathing room.
Kaelyn creates her work in a shared studio in a Pawtucket mill building, often late into the night after her day job. The space is open, bright, and full of community, much like the work she hopes to share through Bloom.
What You'll Find at Bloom
Small-batch pottery: mugs, bowls, and other functional pieces, seasonal or one-off experiments in color and form, and occasional print work: creative and joyfully low-pressure
Follow Along
With Handsel Mondays
Why Bloom?
“*I love Providence. I love how sweet, engaged, and tight the community is here. I'm excited to share my work and have a good spot to host workshops and for another way to engage with the providence community I love so much.” - Kaelyn, Handsel Mondays
Fun Fact
Kaelyn’s studio clay of choice leaves her hands dyed red, often making it look like she’s been up to something far more dramatic than making mugs.