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Ceramicist Richard Carter fires up his minimalist line of dinnerware at his 85-acre Pope Valley ranch, where he also creates sculptures and other works on display at his downtown store. Thoughtfully curated kitchenware, home-design items, and hand-crafted clothing by other artisans are also for sale.

Restaurants like The French Laundry, Auro, and Cyrus, many wineries, and Martha Stewart herself rank among the fans of ceramicist spouses Nikki Ballere and William Callnan III. The two create art and dinnerware ceramics—and exhibit the works of other local artisans—in their studio east of St. Helena in Angwin. It's worth the 6-mile trip halfway up Howell Mountain (call first) to see what Ballere and Callnan are up to.