When she was in elementary school, Géraldine was hanging up baby pictures everywhere. As a teenager, she dreamed of working in an orphanage to care for the children. With the disappearance of this type of nurseries, she had to find another way to earn a living, one that would keep her close to the little ones. And so she did, unstoppable that she is!
The Ateliers du Manoir, a collective workshop created on the Magdalen Islands by a group of young and creative minds, gave her the opportunity to train as a potter. For 4 years, she benefited from the many learning experiences that were part of the adventure. When the project ended, she set up her own workshop in the family house, where she was able to continue to make pottery surrounded by her children. Between home cooked meals for her loved ones and the boutique where she shared her art, she had found a way to have it all, and all under one roof.
That's exactly who Géraldine is: never-ending energy supplies and the ability to do so much, all at the same time!
As both the workshop and the boutique grew in size and in importance, Géraldine decided to move to a more spacious environment. She's now settled in one of the most beautiful spots of the whole Islands, near the small church and the old school in Old Harry, with sea and cliffs as far as the eye can see.
As an artist and as a woman, Géraldine's strength comes from her practical mind and her talent for efficiency. As a potter, she favours utility. The members of her team are just as meticulous and perfectionist as she is, and together, they create with a purpose. Every object should be useful, beautiful, functional and made to last.
All around the boutique, handmade and hand-painted mugs, bowls, plates, casseroles and tagines shine brightly. At the back, in the workshop, visitors can witness the potters in action among shelves loaded with creations waiting to be completed and pieces ready to be adopted.
The visit is a window on the effervescent nature of the production and the immensity of the work that gets accomplished here. It underlines and reinforces the unique character and value of the pieces.
Géraldine has been sailing her ship for more than thirty-five years. Always with her heart on her sleeve, she loves to share her experience and knowledge. Her parents, generous and kind, gifted her with this love for the others, this ease in connecting with people and this talent for taking her time. It's a legacy that she's more than happy to pass on to all who enters her Maison du Potier, where she welcomes us like family.
