Nicole Farrelly

Y: Hello Nicole, can you please introduce yourself?

N: I’m Nicole, the founder and artist/designer behind Cole & Cinder. It started as a ceramics brand but is now evolving into something more lifestyle-focused—a collection of items and objects that are useful in my everyday life. As I grow and change, the brand grows with me. That’s really the idea behind it. It’s a versatile brand, something that can travel and adapt with me wherever I go.

Y: How would you describe your creative process?

N: I usually come up with a lot of ideas when I’m asleep. For example, with the vases — I see them clearly in my mind before I ever make them. If I’m creating something from scratch, not for an order, it’s usually because I dreamt it. I’ve always had this ability to be very conscious while I’m dreaming.

My boyfriend wakes up around 5 a.m. to meditate and do yoga, and he’ll gently ask me if I want to wake up too. I usually say, “Yes, sure… I just need to finish something — I’m in the middle of a dream.” He loves telling people that, which makes me a bit embarrassed! But it’s true — I can carry on my dreams. I’ll wake up and then realize I want to finish the dream, so I go back into it. It’s always felt like a form of meditation for me, and it’s been incredibly useful creatively.

Y: How would you describe the values of your brand?

N: I never wanted my job to feel like a typical job. I’m not doing this just to make money — of course I need to earn a living — but what truly matters to me is the intention behind it. That awareness helps shape my mindset and attitude toward the constant work that comes with building a business.

When you’re creating something from the ground up, yes, it requires a lot of work. But I’ve found that choosing to see it as a privilege —being able to live from what I love—makes a big difference. That shift in perspective helps me stay grounded, even on the exhausting days.

It’s also reflected in how I build my team. I’m very intentional about the people I work with. I want to make sure they’re respectful, kind, and aligned with the energy I want to foster. At the end of the day, it’s about treating people like human beings — just the way you’d want to be treated yourself.

I believe you can’t create art and beauty from a place of negativity. I know many artists might disagree — they often say pain is essential for creating meaningful work — but I think it really depends on the kind of art you’re making.

For me, the vases I’m currently working on are all about softness, calm, and fluidity. I think I’ve mentioned this to you before, but when I’m having a bad day — whether it’s because of an argument or just being in a low mood — I can literally see it in the pieces. The shapes aren’t right. They’re not fluid or soft. The edges become harsh, the lines messy. It’s like the emotion transfers directly into the clay.

And I think the same applies to the people you work with. If someone isn’t happy or doesn’t feel good, it shows in the work. The energy is off, and you can feel it in the final piece.

Y: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

N: People often ask me this question, but I don’t really have one specific person or thing that I consistently draw inspiration from. Honestly, nature is the biggest source of inspiration for me — the sounds, the smells, the formations. That kind of environment sparks something in me more than other people do — not because I don’t find people inspiring. I actually believe everyone is inspiring in their own way. It’s just that I haven’t pinpointed one person in particular.

I’ve definitely been inspired by many people throughout my life, but if I had to name one constant source, it would be nature. I’d also say that daily life inspires me — especially routines. I think about what we do when we wake up, the objects we use, and how we interact with our surroundings. That makes me want to create beautiful, intentional pieces that elevate those everyday moments and help build a more aesthetic environment around the mundane.

Y: How did you come up with the name Cole&cinder? What does it represent for you?

N: People always called me Cole —it’s a simple nickname that comes from my name, Nicole. As for cinder, it represents something more personal. It comes from the reality of me starting things and never quite succeeding when it came to businesses in the past. A cinder is what’s left at the end of a fire — just before it turns to ash. But the thing is, cinder is still alive in a way. It’s still warm, still has potential. It can still ignite something.

That really spoke to how I felt — I’ve tried so many things, always coming back to the same place thinking, maybe it won’t work, and yet, I kept trying. I’d give up, then come back again. And now, here we are — it’s working. So Cole&cinder is both a reflection of my name and a metaphor for resilience and creative rebirth.

Y: What’s next for you and the brand?

N: I’m working on a bunch of things right now — jewellery, umbrellas, candles— there’s a lot happening. I’m also developing a line for the website that will be more accessible to a wider audience. The idea is to keep creating one-of-a-kind pieces, but also introduce molded versions of certain designs so more people can own a piece of the brand. It’s exciting because the demand is there, but of course, time is always the challenge. So the plan is to increase production and expand the range of products while still maintaining the spirit of what Cole&cinder is all about.

A conversation between Lisboa and Dubai, April 2022.

https://coleandcinder.com/