Drop the bass, pass the champagne

Another Week in the Court of Clay and Cake…Darlings, gather close. This week at Kiln & Kettle was another chapter worthy of a novel. There were moments of tenderness, riotous laughter, meticulous art, and just a touch of scandal. Shall we begin?

A Love Letter in Glaze

The week began with a very pregnant beauty and her partner—American and Spanish, a pairing already straight from a film. She painted a name plaque, one name for her daughter, one for the baby still tucked safely inside. He? He got utterly verloren in the moment—choosing a milk jug and conjuring a delicate fairy garden across it. He even wrote out every colour he used, in Spanish, on our brown table paper—azul cielo, verde hoja, rosa pastel. He sat for hours, and it reminded us again: when men are given space to create, they don’t just paint—they tell stories.

The Queens of the Office

Our first ladies office outing arrived like a parade of joy. They chose large platters (King’s Blue was the unanimous favourite—perhaps the pull of Delfts Blauw is deeper than we know?), made bubble art, laughed, and shared cake. It felt like an afternoon of connection and creativity. Dames, jullie waren geweldig. Thank you for choosing us.

Through the Lens: A Family of Artists

A photographer and her dashing Scottish husband brought their two daughters and a friend—what a trio! One painted a croissant at the back of her plate (charmant!), another tackled a jewellery box with such precise, confident brushwork we still can’t believe she’s a teen. It became an afternoon of echte gesprekken—deep chats about the world, travel, art. We loved every minute.

Nine and a National Treasure

The award for Aunt of the Year goes to the fabulous woman who brought her two nichtjes. One giggled non-stop, painting in between sips of Chocomel. The other? Quietly focused, completely in flow. At just nine years old, she painted the Dutch tulip fields, a windmill silhouetted in the background, even a plane flying overhead—with composition and contrast that stopped us in our tracks. A little artist, without a doubt.

Hillegom Girls Drop the Bass

Two vriendinnen from Hillegom swept in and absolutely served. One painted a fish—technically a bass, but let’s be honest, it was a masterpiece—and beneath it she boldly added: “Drop the Bass.” Applause. Her friend painted ethereal blue dandelions—light as whispers.Girls, we are obsessed.

Letters in Porcelain

Two elegant guests came in quietly, chose a bowl and a delicate cup, and got to work. One added text in her mother tongue to the base.There’s something so intimate about putting your own language on clay—it feels like a quiet reclamation of space. We felt lucky to witness it.

Cake, Coffee & the Soft Buzz of Friendship

Saturday brought the spontaneous ones—guests popping in for a cappuccino and a slice of chocolate cake, some just to be in the space. No paint, no pressure, just good energy.

These are the days where gezelligheid reigns supreme.

Pannenkoeken, Kiwis & Cups of Seafoam

Three lovely ladies sat down with creative determination and boy did they deliver. The platter covered in “pannenkoeken” had us craving syrup and Sundays. The serving spoon with hand-painted kiwis? Te schattig. And the ocean-cup? Still thinking about her. It’s giving deep sea, late summer, salt breeze. We might need to copy it (with permission, of course).

The woman on the pink bike

Let us now speak of her. She arrived like a vision—on a flamingo-pink bicycle with a woven basket, dressed head-to-toe in coordinated fabulousness. She stepped through the door and, mon dieu, the room shifted. With a glass of champagne in hand and a glint of mischief in her eyes, she selected a plate and painted three simple, perfectly formed words: Le Bébé

A tribute to her daughter, who’s about to become a mother. Pink glaze, effortless elegance, a moment that felt straight from a French film.

She finished her champagne, posed like she belonged on the cover of Madame 

Figaro, and cycled off into the sun. Charlotte may or may not have fainted. We are not okay. Coup de foudre, indeed.

Until Next Week, Lieve Mensen

It’s never just painting. It’s never just cake.

It’s laughter, storytelling, and those little flickers of joy that live in memory long after the glaze sets. And this week, like so many before it, was full of them.

Thank you to every guest who shared their time, their creativity, their heart.

It’s not just paint—it’s a full-on affair. Cake-fuelled, glaze-dripped, occasionally scandalous.

Catch you next week for more heat (in the kiln and in the gossip).

Behave yourselves (or don’t),

Charlotte Kiln

Half glaze, half gossip - helemaal fabulous.