Hi, I’m Josephine.

I grew up in the woods of Western Massachusetts, where my days were spent building fairy houses under pine trees, mashing berries into wild potions, and tinkering in my dad’s woodshop. That blend of imagination and making has never left me. It shows up in my work now as hand-drawn florals, illustrated scenes of home, and forms that feel good in one's hand. 

Josephine Mae Design began in November of 2022, but the story started long before that.

I was first introduced to clay in 2013 through my best friend’s mom, who ran the ceramics program at my high school. I had always loved working with my hands, but something about clay stuck. For me, it was the perfect combination of utilitarian form and creativity. It stuck with me in a way no other art medium had and I kept coming back to it. (Maybe because I had trained in mud play since a little girl in the creeks of Western MA.)

In college, I pursued a degree in Sociology and Visual Art at Wheaton College, MA. My senior thesis was fully dedicated to clay, and it became clear that ceramics was more than a side passion. My education shaped how I think about form and function, especially through the lens of social connection, comfort, and daily rituals. I loved the idea that art could be useful—something to hold, sip from, gift, or pass down.

After graduating, I dove into teaching ceramics in the Greater Boston area and apprenticed under two ceramic artists. In 2021, I followed a dream and spent six months in Hawai‘i doing a work exchange on a farm. That time deepened my understanding of why I make art: to connect, to slow down, to live intentionally. So when I return back to Massachusetts I was craving a reconnection to my favorite medium. 

Back in Boston, I continued teaching at Indigo Fire Studio and began producing my own line of work through an independent study. That was the beginning of Josephine Mae Design.

Now based in Kealakekua, Hawai‘i, I’m building my small business from a place of joy and rootedness. My pieces are sold in person and through seasonal online shop updates, with each release crafted around my current inspirations from the land, shapes that feel marvelous in the hand. 

At the heart of my business is a belief that handmade things matter. Whether it’s a mug, bowl, or illustrated print, I want my work to feel like an invitation—to pause, to enjoy the little things, to feel at home wherever you might be.

Thank you for being here and taking the time to learn a little about me. I hope you find something in my collection that brings you warmth, wonder, or a sense of place.

Warmly,

Josephine Mae