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Cork-backed ceramic coasters from Alyssa Ettinger in vanilla, fir, ocean and honey colors. (By Naheed Choudhry)

Alyssa Ettinger majored in ceramics at college, then worked for magazines and wrote a book. But she went back to the kiln last year and now makes beautiful pottery at her studio in Brooklyn that she sells on her Web site, http://www.alyssaettinger.com/. Check out her open stock of cups, plates and mugs that range from $19 to $109. We like the cork-backed coasters in the cable-knit pattern (set of four, $39) for a housewarming or wedding gift.