This week we’re staying close to home, and visiting the über talented ceramicist Diana Fayt, right here in San Francisco. I met Diana through our dear, mutual friend, Eszter Rabin, who had given me a piece of Diana’s beautiful pottery as a gift. Later, I kept running into Diana at local art openings, and became a huge fan of her very prolific body of work – from incredible drawings, to her gorgeous ceramics. Diana has her own kiln and works out of a charming studio in the Bayview District. When I saw Diana’s flickr photos of her amazing, cozy home, I just knew I needed to invite her to Unexpected Guests. Thank you so much for sharing, Diana. You can shop for Diana’s ceramic pieces in her etsy shop, and for more about Diana and her work, visit her website, and her blog, One Black Bird.

What neighborhood do you live in?
I live in Duboce Triangle; A small neighborhood nestled between, The Castro District, The Lower Haight and Market Street. It is a lovely area, with tree lined streets, great views and is smack dab in the center of San Francisco.

What don’t you leave home without?
A handkerchief.

What are your favorite local shops?
Rare Device, Alemany Farmers Market, and Ceramic Craft and Supply.

What’s on your wish list?
A potters wheel and a camera.

What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
Chinese paint brushes. I have been using them for my work forever and I have lots of them. I often use up to fifteen at a time.

What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
Closets. I can never seem to get mine in order and the one in my apartment was never meant to be one so it makes for difficulty in organizing it.

Who is your favorite artist? And why?
Gosh I love so many Artists but if I were to pick a favorite it would be Louise Bourgeois. She demystified art making for me, she is herself, and she has never stopped making work.

Where do you find inspiration?
Traveling, gardening, running, romance, meeting people, looking at photos, walking down the street (not in any particular order).

Who do you admire and why?
My mother. She has survived an immense amount of adversity in her life. She has done more work than anyone I know to right her wrongs and is a truly happy person. She is my hero.

Do you collect anything?
Well, I was just saying to my buddy Lisa Congdon, that the only reason I might need to move to a larger place is to house my growing collection of ceramics and pottery. I am also currently collecting red drawings and prints. I also collect pine cones and weird old tools. I used to collect kitty whiskers when I had cats.

What’s your favorite feature in your home?
That I have a garden out my back door and that it is very quiet even though I live in a city.

If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
Eva Zeisel and Nelson Mandela.

Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
All of you.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Hmmmm, I suppose it might be buying plants and flowers for my garden. That’s not very good is it…I’ll have to think about it some more. I am certain I have a guilty pleasure that is more juicy than buying plants. Ahhh, yes, driving my car long distances while listening to music. Not very kosher these days. I also like cookies, a lot!

What is your most treasured belonging?
A basket that was my grandmother’s. She carried it with her when she escaped from Hungary in 1956.

What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
A black,white and gray crochet blanket, a carved wooden bowl and a ceramic bowl with a luscious brown glaze.

If you could be any other nationality, which would it be?
I love being Hungarian…wouldn’t want it any other way.

What’s your greatest indulgence?
Maribelle Hot Chocolate. The stuff is the price of gold and I really can’t afford it. Though when I am a little flush with dosh, I’ll splash out on a tin. It is so delicious!

What is your idea of living hell?
Being stuck in a plane with a bunch of people cracking their gum and clipping their fingernails. (Both sounds make my skin crawl.)