Discover Unique Handmade Treasures -Expolore Now
We bring you a curated collection of unique handmade treasures crafted by talented Ukrainian and Croatian artists. Our selection includes ceramic items, jewelry, charity merchandise, and posters, each piece telling its own story. Every purchase supports local artistry and connects you to the heart of these cultures.
Production & Behind the scenes
1st Step: Sculpting
In this video Valeriia is sculpting a Vase
At Sea of Cups, every piece is hand-sculpted, making each item truly one of a kind. Even when the same glazes or illustrations are used, no two pieces are ever identical.
The entire process is done with hand building techniques, mainly by one artist—Valeriia Pohrebniak Bednaić - from the initial sketches to sculpting, painting, glazing, and firing. Creating a small collection can take up to 1.5 months, ensuring every detail is carefully crafted and just right.
All of our ceramics are produced and fired in our small studio in a Croatian village in Istria. As a family-owned business, Valeriia focuses on the creative process, while David takes care of the technical side.
In addition to our in-house creations, we collaborate with talented Ukrainian and Croatian artists, who contribute their unique craftsmanship to enhance our collection.
Each piece carries the warmth of handmade artistry, connecting you to our story of passion, tradition, and creativity.
2nd Step: Drying
After the item is sculpted it needs to get “bone dry” this is a slow process and takes upto 3 weeks.
Drying too quickly can lead to cracks, warping, or structural weakness, so we let our pieces dry naturally. Ensuring the clay is thoroughly dry before firing is key to producing a durable, long-lasting ceramic.
3rd Step: The Bisque Firing
Once the items are bone dry - completely free of moisture - they’re ready for their first trip into the kiln: the bisque firing.
At this stage, the pieces are still extremely fragile, so loading them requires steady hands and great care. We use a modern electric kiln that precisely controls the temperature to avoid thermal shock and ensure even firing throughout the chamber.
The bisque firing takes around 8 hours and gradually heats the ceramics to over 1000°C. This process transforms the clay into a porous, stone-like material that’s much lighter, stronger, and ready to absorb glaze.
In our case, this is also when the clay undergoes a beautiful visual transformation — changing from raw grey to a clean, brilliant white. Each piece emerges hardened but still breathable, which is essential for the next step: glazing.
4th Step: Glazing
The bisque fired items can now be glazed. Glaze is essentially a coat of powdered glass mixed with minerals that melts in the kiln and forms the glossy or matte surface you see on finished ceramics. Glazing is done by dipping, brushing, or spraying the surface. Areas that shouldn't be glazed — like the bottom of a cup — must be carefully cleaned with a damp sponge. That’s because glaze melts like lava in the kiln and will permanently fuse the piece to the kiln shelf if applied where it shouldn’t be.
Since glaze contains very fine particles — including powdered glass — it can be harmful to breathe in. These tiny particles stay in the air and, if inhaled, may cause lung damage. That’s why we always wear a full face mask with a proper particle filter when working with dry glaze. Glaze needs to be applied carefully. Too thick, and it can crack or ruin the piece during firing. Too thin or uneven, and bare spots might show. Once glazed, the piece needs to dry fully before the final firing.
⚠️ Many mass-produced ceramics — even from well-known brands — still use glazes that contain lead, cadmium or other toxic metals. These can leach into your food or drinks over time, especially with acidic or hot contents.
At our studio, we take health seriously. That’s why all of our glazes are 100% non-toxic, lead-free, and food safe once fired. We only use professional-grade, EU sourced and certified materials that meet the highest safety standards — because beautiful design should never come at the cost of your well-being.
5th Step: Glaze firing
Once the glaze has fully dried, it’s time for the second and final firing: the glaze firing. This is where the magic happens.
During this stage, the glazed ceramic items are carefully loaded back into the kiln. Placement is even more critical now - if two glazed surfaces touch, they’ll fuse together permanently. That’s why we always leave space between pieces and never glaze the bottoms of items that sit on the kiln shelf.
The kiln is again brought up to temperatures slightly higher then the bisuqe fire. This firing takes about 6 hours and follows a specific heating curve to allow the glaze to melt, flow slightly, and bond with the ceramic surface.
Inside the kiln, the powdered glaze turns molten, forming a smooth, sealed glass layer - quite literally turning to glass and fusing with the ceramic body underneath. Once cooled, this becomes the glossy, durable surface you see on your finished cup or plate.
We use a modern electric kiln with precise digital controls to ensure consistent, food-safe results every time. This also allows us to fire more efficiently. Kilns consume a large amount of energy, so we carefully schedule firings to maximize kiln space and reduce wasteful loads.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we:
Fire only when the kiln is full
Reuse and recycle our packing materials
Choose lead-free, non-toxic glazes that are safe for both people and the environment
After the firing, the kiln takes about 24 hours to cool down completely. Only then we can safely open it and unload the final, finished pieces — each one vitrified, durable, and made with care for both your health and the planet.
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