Amanda Gaudelet is the owner of Backcountry Mercantile, a place for celebrating “les arts de la table.”  It is a place that melds vintage treasures with new, carefully curated and sought-after ones.  I was delighted to capture Amanda and her stunning tableware. I asked Amanda a series of questions to learn more about herself, her business and her thoughts on her personal branding experience.

Please Explain Your Experience and Background

For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to heirloom elements, such as glassware, cutlery, teacups, and linens.  My passion for blending these vintage elements with those that are new is where my appreciation for setting a table was born. 

Antiquing from Greenwich to Palm Beach to Paris, I am always on the hunt for heirloom treasures.

With a professional past in the hospitality industry, and being married to not only a restaurateur but a classically trained French Chef, there is an innate desire to set a table and entertain at home.  After sourcing vintage wares and designing custom ceramic wares for several restaurant projects, the idea to create custom, bespoke tableware for the home was born.

Designing and importing custom maiolica from Deruta, Italy, as well as bespoke porcelain from Limoges, France, is what I would call the meat and potatoes of my business.  The vintage wares and the accouterments.

Married to my husband Alexandre, we reside in backcountry Greenwich, Connecticut, with our two daughters and our Goldendoodle Carmel. 

What makes your products unique?

We produce ceramic ware the same as was done during the Italian Renaissance (it is a 6-7 day process to create one piece).  With so much mass production in today’s world, we are extremely proud of this handmade process. 

The 'handwork' of creating these masterpieces begins with the raw clay material which is molded into the object's final shape. Aside from flat plates, which are sometimes hard-pressed to achieve their perfect shape, most objects are spun on the potter's wheel.

After about two to three days of air drying, and prior to the first firing, the pottery is cleaned and sanded of small imperfections or bumps. Each object is then dipped into a 'bath' of fast-drying liquid glaze, usually white or cream, that serves as an opaque base before decoration is applied with mineral paints.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?

Without roadblocks and failure, one can never truly succeed. In other words, don't expect to succeed right out of the gate. How could one possibly succeed at their utmost potential without realizing the downfalls and roadblocks needed to avoid along the way?

What is your favorite mantra? 

I live by “work hard to play hard” philosophy.  In recognizing the importance of balance.  I have learned to maintain a high level of productivity with intense periods of focused work, followed by periods of utter relaxation.  I suppose it is perhaps because of the line of work I started out in, which involved long hours.  Having a reward at the end of a project, or simply a long day is what keeps me focused and in line.

What was your absolute biggest challenge prior to doing a personal brand shoot?

My biggest challenge still remains finding that comfort zone and being comfortable in my own skin, in front of the camera. Melissa helped me feel natural, and not goofy, per se. Melissa also has great tips and tricks when one doesn't want to necessarily highlight a feature that one might feel self conscious about.

What changed after getting your images?

I was so pleased with the outcome of the photo shoot. Not only did Melissa make me feel at utter ease during the shoot, but the results of the photos were glorious. Never did I dream that I would feel comfortable sharing images of myself. Melissa has a way of creating a very natural poses, which is important for achieving desired results.

What would you say to somebody on the fence about booking a shoot?

Having hair and makeup done, as well as fresh nails, allowed more ease. Feeling confident about how you look is of utmost importance, especially given possible jitters the day of the shoot. Furthermore, communicating with the photographer as to what you'd like to see, versus not, or most importantly how you'd like your images perceived, is key. In order for the shoot to be successful, both parties must have a clear understanding as to what the desired results might be.

Anything else to add?

I would say that the planning prior to the shoot was key. Melissa was extremely helpful in relaying all the pertinent information including the importance of selecting multiple outfits, nothing too bold, nothing too patterned. I really understood this key focus after seeing the results. The white dress stood out far beyond any other outfit, as the focus was turned to my product, versus what I was wearing.

Where can people find Backcountry Mercantile?

www.backcountrymercantile.com amanda@backcountrymercantile.com Instagram - @backcountrymercantile Facebook - @backcountrymercantilegreenwich (https://www.facebook.com/backcountrymercantilegreenwich) Pinterest - @BackcountryMercantile (https://www.pinterest.com/BackcountryMercantile)

Be sure to check out Backcountry Mercantile and start your own collection of beautiful tableware!