It may not be obvious when you look through my catalog of tiles, but I have always had a fondness for the aesthetics of the atomic age, including classic 50s starbursts. They showed up again and again in many different forms throughout the decade, and Jessica's grandpa's take on it was simple yet striking. I got curious about what it would look like in ceramic, and decided to give it my best effort. 

We decided that I should reinterpret one fourth of the pattern as a 4x4 inch tile, make a mold, and then make multiples of that one tile that could be combined to create a larger 8x8 inch medallion. That gave us the visual impact of a larger medallion without having to sculpt every part of the starburst individually.

She wanted to keep the black and white color scheme from the original floor, so I designed the tile to work with the night sky glaze. I applied black underglaze to the tile then wiped it back off the high points to allow the clay color to show, and then finished with a clear coat. 

They turned out really nice! Jessica thought so, too, and it meant a lot to me that she trusted me to preserve this bit of family history.

She also gave me permission to add this design to my website in case anyone else wants a piece of the 1950s in their home. (link)

I love how the honey glaze haromonizes with the craftsmen style wooden mantel, and the green glaze echos the color in the painting that hangs above. The customers completed this project themslelves, and planned every detail with great care! 

A "birds on a branch" triptych sits over the firebox, surrounded by leaf green field tiles and honey border tiles.

The sides of the firebox are decorated by a combination of 4x4 inch honey feature tiles and leaf green field tiles, as well as more honey border tiles.

I was delighted when these pictures arrived in my inbox, along with this note:

"I wanted to share with you my project using your tiles. The fireplace used to be all white wood with a standard brick front. I replaced all of the wood. The tiles are so beautiful and we are very pleased. It was a fun project."

Thank you so much, J&C! I love what you've done with the tiles. 💚

Each panel is different! The color pattern repeats, but no two are alike.

Some feature trees, and all feature animals.

I love that the dog and cat are looking at one another from either side of the sink. (Cats are a recurring theme in this kitchen and home, more on that later...)

The largest of the panels was originally designed with a few white tiles mixed in, but after seeing them in person, she decided to swap them out with other colors. Here is the final version installed:

And here are all the panels before they left the studio, with the white tiles in the central panel:

I think she made the right call! Good thing she ordered a few extra tiles, just in case!

The project was a collaborative effort. The layout for each panel was carefully drawn by hand by the very creative and diligent homeowner, L.C. The tiles were made by me (naturally!), and then expertly installed by Justin of "Premier Flooring" in Hernando, MS. This is one of those situations where careful planning really paid off!

The white field tiles look handmade, but are actually commercially made by "Anatolia." According to the homeowner, “They are 3 × 12 Marlow tiles in the color Cloud, matte finish (Stock #4000-0071-1). They were not especially expensive tiles, so that helped my budget.” I personally love the new generation of "handmade look" tiles since they blend so beautifully with the ones I make, allowing my wonderful customers to make a big impact with a smaller number of handmade tiles while keeping costs under control.

This project was an absolute delight to work on! The homeowner genuinely loves ceramics and is an artist in her own right. As evidence, she made this ceramic cat decades ago in a high school art class. She received a well deserved "A" for it and has kept it with her all these years.

Here is a lovely video she kindly made of this fantastic space. If you watch it all the way through, you see one final cat... and I don't mean the ceramic kind! 

Thank you so much, LC, for including my tiles in your happy home. You were a delight to work with.

The project features a collection of animal tiles set among simple white field tiles, creating a bright background that allows the relief designs to stand out. For this installation, I made the animal tiles along with the bullnosed edge pieces that frame the backsplash.

The white field tiles have a softly handmade look that blends beautifully with the relief tiles, but they are actually from from Home Depot. The brand is Ivy Hill, and the color is called either Kingston White or Amagansett Gin. From the photos, the color match between the two types of tile looks nearly perfect.

One of my favorite details from this project is that the homeowner made sure all of the animals had appropriate distances between them. As someone who has spent years sharing her knowledge of animals with zoo visitors, it seems only fitting that the creatures in her own kitchen backsplash would be thoughtfully arranged as well.

It’s always a pleasure to see the tiles find their way into homes where they connect so naturally with the lives and interests of the people who live there. Big thanks to W.S. and your mother for including my tiles in this project and for taking the time to send pictures!

And yet, certain projects do stick with me. This was one of the sets I found myself wondering about from time to time. The homeowner took such care in planning the layout that I suspected she would do a wonderful job installing them, and these photos confirm that to be true.

The tiles were specially made to exactly fit an inset area above the client's mantel.

The white subway tiles in the tile panel perfectly mirror the white bricks of the rest of the fireplace surround, and the spearmint green tree-themed tiles add a subtle colorful focal point.

This project included a first for me: the client sent a full-sized, hand-drawn template so I could check the tiles against it before they shipped. I’m proud to say everything fit! It was incredibly satisfying to lay out the tiles in their proper spots in the studio before packing them up.

Ten years ago, a project like this might have intimidated me. Now it felt like a treat.

There is a link at the end of this post to an instagram video that shows more of the layout process. I love that the client also remembered to take photos of her installation process!

Thank you so much, P.V.—I love what you’ve done with the tiles!

Here is the layout video for anyone who is interested:

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These two rooms are each bonafide masterpieces, so it feels fully appropriate that pictures and videos of them arrived in my inbox with titles attached. I will start by showing you the “Salish Sea” bathroom first (two sinks, three-wall shower), then move on to the “Chuckanut Coast” bathroom (one sink, two-wall shower.) 

I'm quite proud of the combined 26 linear feet of decorative border that I made for these two rooms. It was a true collaboration because every inch of the layout was carefully planned by the homeowner, and I was able to work from her map. It felt like putting together a puzzle in the best possible way!

This project is one of the best things I've ever made, and I’m over the moon that my amazing client took the time to document the installations so well. One of the coolest things about handmade tiles is that they almost always look better in real life than they do on camera... but that can be frustrating when trying to document a project, especially one featuring a subtle glaze like this white. But W.L. did an exceptional job of capturing their essence using only her trusty cellphone!

Each of the two bathrooms feature handmade tile backsplashes behind the sinks, and a "frieze" or border running around the generously sized walk-in showers. This panel is from the "Salish Sea" bath...

And the next one is from the the “Chuckanut Coast” shower:

The vertically grooved field tiles complement the texture of the feature tiles perfectly, and all the tiles feature a subtle combination of white and off-white colors that go together like whipped cream on french vanilla ice cream. And the gleaming brass fittings are like butterscotch on top!

Design elements repeat in each bath, but the layout and specific tile designs differ. You could say the rooms are sisters, not twins.

It is hard to for me to find the words to fully express my gratitude to this client for making my tiles such an important feature in her beautiful seaside home and for documenting it so thoroughly. When I tried to thank her, she replied with:

"I am so pleased that you like how it turned out! It truly looks much better in person. Your tiles are the defining element of each room’s ambiance. If seeing these videos and photos gives you even a fraction of the joy that we get from your gorgeous tiles themselves, then I imagine you are tickled pink right now."

Tickled pink is exactly how I feel every time I look at these pictures and videos (see video tour below- 3 videos total) Thank you so much, W.L., for trusting me with these two very special spaces and for being such a delight to work with! I believe that your keen eye and attention to detail is what made this project so successful.

Video Tour

The tiles are mostly 3x3 and 6x6 inch plain field tiles in honey glaze, but the client also decided to place a single matching 3x6 inch cypress tile in the center to make a subtle focal point that draws the eye but doesn't compete with the gorgeous stone arch above. The honey glaze harmonizes perfectly with what appear to be original floors.  

I got a kick out of seeing the heron theme repeat in the tiles and the painting over the mantel. A pair of herons flank a cattail tile to create the central focal point of the tile installation. Other animals (and a few plants) also make an appearance on either side. The Herons and cattails are each 4x8 inches in size, and the other feature tiles are 4x4 inches each. You can see them all in these close-ups:

 Here is an in-progress photo from before the tiles were grouted:

It may be obvious, but I made both the feature tiles and the matching field tiles. If you want to see a video of the tiles before they left my studio, you can see it on my Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNjXUlOJAUj/

Before the remodel, the hearth looked ok from a distance but had some issues. The homeowner shared: "The columns were removed, and if you look closely you can see that they were not the same height. We think the columns were not original as they appear to have been set on the sloping floors in an way to fool the eye to make you think everything was square.  In fact, the sloping floor was due to a foundation issue that has been corrected."

Big thank you to T.D. for making my tiles part of the long history of your lovely home! I hope it is still standing (and loved) 150 years from now. 

The rest of the backsplash features Heath Ceramics’ Myrtle Green, which complements the tiles I made beautifully. With high ceilings, soft grays, natural stone, and warm wood floors, the whole space feels calm and grounded and the tiles add just the right touch of character.

The homeowner shared:

“Your tile is very happy in our new kitchen and we are beyond thrilled. It’s EXACTLY what we wanted — thank you so much for helping us execute our vision. Your tiles will make us happy for years to come!”

It was such a joy working with you, M.E! Thank you for inviting my work into your beautiful kitchen! 

The Scribe highlights artists and arts organizations across Ohio, and I am grateful to them for shining a light on my work! You can see the rest of the issue on their website:

https://the-scribe.org/read-edition.php?file=The+Scribe+20th+Edition.pdf

The bath and shower area is tiled from top to bottom, with colors that echo those of the stained glass. The custom wave and heron tiles add a graceful focal point in an already rich and sophisticated space. Each wave tile was specially cut to slightly under 1×4 inches and installed alongside Daltile’s Artcrafted Collection. The colors (Pacific Blue for the waves and Spearmint for the herons) create a subtle, playful combination that brings an unexpected sense of movement to the room.

Here is a close-ups of the waves:

And the herons:

Here is a photo of some of the tiles before they left my studio:

I just can't get enough of this bathroom! Shelly planned with her sisters as well as her installer, Dave of Dr Tile LLC, who did a fantastic job. 

It’s always such a treat to see my tiles come to life in a real project. Thank you, Shelly, for trusting me with your bathroom and sharing these gorgeous photos!

This beautiful bathroom features a tub surround designed with a variety of my tiles, all glazed in “celadon” and set among white field tiles. The combination, framed by natural woodwork, a picture window, and happy houseplants, creates what I think is a perfectly serene spot to enjoy a relaxing soak.

The homeowner shared:

“Loving my new tub — and especially your gorgeous handmade tiles that make this the ultimate customized project!”

The second and third photos show the tiles in my studio before shipping. This particular grouping has a little story of its own: the original set was lost in the mail, so I made the entire set again. Fortunately, the replacements arrived in time for installation, and everything turned out beautifully.

The loss of this order at one of the busiest time of year is what inspired me to switch to UPS ground for all orders except glaze samples.

A huge thank you to S.C. for being such an angel about the delay and for sharing these wonderful photos with me. I’m so grateful my work gets to be part of a space as peaceful as this one.

The homeowners set the handmade feature tiles among coordinating field tiles from another source, and framed them all beautifully with honey-colored woodwork. The combination feels warm, welcoming, and just right for the space. Here are some close-ups:

I’m so grateful to them for sharing photos and letting me be part of their project. Seeing my tiles in their home truly makes my day.  For more glimpses of life at Green Heron Pond you can visit their blog: Life on Green Heron Pond.💚

The homeowner shared this lovely note with me:

“It makes a huge difference! The tiles get noticed and complimented all the time because our home is open concept. People get up to see all of the different critters. I have seen all of the animals on our property.”

Hearing that my tiles connect so closely to the natural surroundings of their home means the world to me. It’s one thing to create tiles in my studio, but quite another to know that they spark joy, curiosity, and conversation in daily life.

A heartfelt thank you to D.O. for making my tiles part of your home and for taking the time to share these beautiful photos! 🫶

This project was a true collaboration: Syrie designed the layout, and I made the tiles. Few things are as satisfying to me as following a client’s “map” while creating the tiles, and Syrie's mock-up made that process a joy. It never would have occurred to me to mix these patterns and colors in quite this way, and I absolutely love how bold and visually rich the result is. The picture below shows the layout she sent me before ordering (top) and the tiles, prior to being glazed (bottom):

Here is what the fireplace looked like before, with some glaze samples for reference:

 Witness how helpful the resident cats were during installation! 😻

Here is is before the moon tiles were added:

The fireplace surround is original, while the hearth tiles on the floor and the moon phase tiles are new, and they all look perfectly at home together. And of course, the cats look perfectly at home, as well! 

Thank you so much, Syrie, for being lovely to work with, for sharing these photos, and for trusting me with your vision. I’m truly honored to have been part of this project.

The gorgeous first kitchen was installed in her former home in 2015 and still looks just as warm and inviting today. Happily, I'm told the new owners love the tiles and plan to keep them!

The second, equally beautiful kitchen is brand-new and was just installed in Jody's current home.

Both kitchens feature 2x6 inch field tiles in spearmint glaze sprinkled with matching 2x2 inch feature tiles throughout. The new kitchen features some 4x4s, as well.

Apparently, there were extra field tiles left over from the first project, and Jody cleverly stowed them away for the future and recently ordered more feature tiles to mix with them.

 I am delighted by how beautifully the old and new tiles blended together. Jody told me that the tiles make her new place feel like home. I can't think of higher praise than that! Thank you so much, Jody! 🥹🌿🫶

Kim is a talented painter originally from Cleveland, now based in Florida. (The Ohio diaspora is clearly alive and well; I’m fortunate to meet so many wonderful Ohio transplants through my work!) Her vision for this home bar was elegant, thoughtful, and impeccably planned. It’s no surprise, really- artists make some of the most detail-oriented clients.

The soft gray glaze turned out to be a perfect match for her cabinetry, and the overall effect is both polished and personal. I especially love how the natural ocean theme adds a sense of place and quiet charm to the clean lines of the space. This set includes waves, herons, dolphins, turtles, and a scallop shell- each tile echoing the coastal surroundings in a subtle, handcrafted way.

Working with someone who values handmade work is always a joy, and Kim was a dream collaborator in this regard. Thank you, Kim, for choosing my tiles and for bringing your artistic eye to this project- I’m honored to be part of your beautiful home.

The happiness is multiplied when they are accompanied by a wonderful message like this:

"We love our new fireplace so much!! I admire it every day :) Our house is from 1920 so we feel your work fits perfectly <3. I've attached some images. We would 1000% use your same tile again if we had to do it all over!"

Thank you so much, K., for including my tiles in your project, for taking the time to share photos, and for sharing the brand of field tiles you used: Magma Zellige Italian Porcelain Subway Floor and Wall Tile by Tonalite Italy from Encore Surfaces. They look perfect with the leaf green feature tiles, which are pictured below prior to shipment.

This installation features my heron tile set with a 2- and 3-inch border in watercolor blue, along with coordinating 2x2s and 4x4s featuring birds, trees, and a few whimsical cats. Here is a close up of the heron set over the stove:

The blue glaze has a bright, sky-like quality that pairs so nicely with the surrounding whites and the natural light coming through the window.

The plants on the sill add a touch of green that feels fresh, hopeful, and full of life.

This kitchen looks like the perfect place to watch the world outside change with the seasons. 

I usually give credit using initials, this couple requested I identify them as H.C. for "happy customer," so big thanks to H.C.!

This beautiful kitchen in Pennsylvania features warm wood cabinetry, mottled green field tiles from another maker, and a glowing mix of my honey-glazed tiles sprinkled throughout.

A 6x6 sunflower takes center stage above the stove, with smaller 3x3s featuring plants and animals adding charm and character all around the room.

The honey glaze plays so nicely against the green, and I love how everything comes together to create a homey, inviting atmosphere. Here is a close-up of the feature tiles before they left the studio:

Big thanks to A.P. for sharing your photos and including my work in your new kitchen in such a thoughtful way!

Above: close up of the birds on a branch set over the stove

Above: the whole kitchen; Below, the tiles along with other design elements before they were installed

The photos came with a lovely message: 

"We've been telling people this is our dream kitchen, and your art is a central part of that dream, having people join together in a welcoming warm space. I always say, "we're feeding many birds with one scone," and your tiles say that to us."

What a wonderful vision and compliment! I use the phrase "feed two birds with one scone" whenever possible, too. I'm so happy to have such fantastic customers who intentionally send positive energy out into the world. It matters! Thank you, E.V.! 

Jeanie and her husband brought tremendous thoughtfulness to the design, selecting a calm, natural palette with just the right amount of warmth and contrast. The field tiles (Tangier in Desert White from Architessa) add subtle movement and texture to the space. Over the range, they installed a large panel made up of my plant and animal tiles in soft gray glaze, giving the space a gentle rhythm and a strong visual anchor. A few more of my feature tiles are scattered throughout the room, bringing unexpected moments of detail and delight.

Adding even more soul to the space is a beautiful original painting by Michele Montalbano, installed on the back wall. The connection between Jeanie’s tile choices and Michele’s painting feels natural, like they were meant to live in the same space.

This installation is a perfect example of what happens when a room reflects not just style, but personality: layered, expressive, and alive. Many thanks to Jeanie for sharing the photos above and the video below, and for making this project such a joy to be part of. 

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Above: The kitchen before the handmade tiles were added

She discovered my work and selected a variety of handmade feature tiles to bring her vision to life. The glazes she chose: Honey, Gray, White, and Night Sky, could not have been more perfect. Here are the tiles prior to installation:

The tiles were installed with great care and precision; each one perfectly aligned and spaced to let the handmade details shine without disrupting the flow of the existing backsplash.Honey ties in beautifully with the wood cabinetry, Gray and White blend seamlessly with the counters and backsplash, and Night Sky echoes the dark drawer and cupboard pulls, adding depth and contrast.

The tiles were carefully added to the existing backsplash, turning quiet surfaces into places where the eye can linger.

Each one adds a little spark of texture and color without overwhelming the original design. It’s a great example of how handmade tiles can layer onto a space that’s already finished and still feel completely intentional.

One of my favorite parts of this project is the Heron set installed over the stove, framed with two- and three-inch border tiles. I’ve made this design many times before, but this is the first time I’ve glazed it in Night Sky, and I absolutely love the result. The deep, inky black gives the piece a dramatic presence and creates a grounded, striking focal point in the heart of the kitchen. Here is a close-up of that set before it left my studio:

After the tiles were installed, the client sent me the kindest note:

"...they look absolutely wonderful in our kitchen! They add just the right amount of punch and interest... Thank you again for creating these lovely pieces of art and for just being who you are. It's been a joy from start to finish."

It really was a joy on my end, too. I'm so glad she trusted her instincts and followed the spark of an idea that turned her already beautiful kitchen into something truly one-of-a-kind. Big thanks to D.S. and her installer, H., for making this project happen and for taking the time to share the results!

Hello tile lovers!

I’m thrilled to announce that the next ordering window will open on Saturday, May 10th at noon EST! I’ve been busy working through previous orders (thank you so much for your patience!), and I’m nearly ready to accept new orders and so I can continue creating beautiful, custom tile work for your homes.

What You Need to Know:

• Order Window Opens: Saturday, May 10th at noon EST. Be sure to mark your calendars if you’ve been waiting for this moment! The window will stay open as long as I can keep up with demand. 

  I’m not sure how long the window will stay open, so if getting Emu Tiles is a priority for you, it’s a good idea to order earlier rather than later.

• Tile Orders: As a one-person operation, I handcraft each tile specifically for your order. Because of this, I don’t keep a stock of finished tiles on hand. Once your order is placed, I’ll get to work making your tiles with care.

• Ship Times: I aim to ship most orders within 4-6 weeks from when they are placed. While I can’t predict exactly how many orders I will receive, I will be working as quickly and efficiently as I can to get your tiles to you as soon as possible.

Glaze Samples Available:

If you haven’t already selected a glaze for your tiles, don’t worry! You can check out and order glaze samples via my website. Ordering samples ahead of time can help you decide which shades will work best for your space. Visit my Glaze Samples page to get started.

A Heartfelt Thank You:

I’m so grateful for your patience and support during this time. Every tile I create is made with passion and care, and I consider it a privilege to be able to make tiles for you. Whether you’re decorating your home, workplace, or another special space, I’m honored to be part of your project!

Thank you for being part of the Emu Tile community. I can’t wait to see what amazing projects you all have in mind!

See you on May 10th at noon EST!

Warmly,
Emily
Emu Tile LLC

Original post from February 14, 2025 follows:

Hello everyone,

First, thank you so much for your continued support of my one-woman operation! I’m incredibly grateful for each and every order and truly appreciate your patience as I fine-tune my process to keep up with demand while maintaining the quality and care that defines my work.

After much thought, I’ve decided to adjust the way I accept orders (again!) to create a more sustainable workflow. While scheduling in advance initially seemed like a good idea, booking too far ahead makes it harder to provide accurate timelines, and managing ongoing scheduling and invoicing alongside production has also become increasingly challenging.

This new system will allow me to fulfill each batch of orders in a more reliable time-frame, ensuring that every tile receives the care and attention it deserves.

How Ordering Will Work Going Forward

I will open an ordering window approximately every 4-6 weeks. During these windows, you’ll be able to place an order directly through my website.

How the New System Works

• When an ordering window opens, I will post an update here and on instagram.
• During that time, you can place your order directly through my website and submit payment at checkout.
• The window will remain open as long as I can keep up with incoming orders. Once I reach the maximum number of tiles I can complete within 4-6 weeks, I’ll close the window to focus on production and shipping.
• Most orders will ship within 4-6 weeks from when they are placed.

If you’d like a reminder email when the next ordering window opens, please contact me and I will add your name to the list.

This system will help me balance my workload while ensuring that I can continue creating tiles without the added pressure of new requests. With the growing demand for my work, I realized I needed a better way to manage orders while maintaining the quality and care that go into each piece.

For those planning ahead, glaze samples are still in stock and ready to ship.

Thank you, as always, for supporting my one-woman art business. Your home is a sacred space, and it’s truly an honor to create something meaningful for you. I take my work seriously and want to be as transparent as possible about my capabilities as I navigate this new phase of both my life and my work.

Warmly,
Emily

For this exhibition, Tim took an innovative approach—starting with works by other artists and then adding his own embellishments in enamel. I was honored to be one of the 12 artists involved, and I was thrilled to see how he transformed one of my ceramic sunflowers into something entirely new.

Tim shared that my sunflower reminded him of his Indigenous grandmother, who always planted her garden in accordance with the phases of the moon. Inspired by this memory, he created an enameled metal border featuring the moon, sunflower petals, and seeds—beautifully tying together personal history, nature, and craftsmanship.

Since I wasn’t able to attend the opening in person, I was incredibly grateful that Tim sent me high-quality photos of the show. Seeing my work incorporated into his vision in such a meaningful way was truly special. It was also a treat to see the other collaborations. Here are some of my favorites:

The other participants, in no particular order, are: Ellen Blaubergs  – Archaeologist, Sandra Fraser  – Curator, John Crown  – Musician & Songwriter, Valerie Davidson  – Silversmith, Susan Edgerly  – Glass Artist & Educator, Heather Dynes Smit - Ceramic Artist, Derek Coulombe – Author & Art Dandy, Gary Evans – Contemporary Painter, Jillian Messervey – Weaver and Conservator, Michael Ciesielski  – Woodblock Carver, Tamara Benoit  – Printmaker

If you're in the greater Toronto area, I highly recommend stopping by the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery before the exhibition closes at the end of the month. It’s an amazing showcase of collaboration, creativity, and cross-disciplinary artistry.

A huge thank you to Tim for including me in this project—it’s been an absolute joy to be part of!