The vessles we drink out of every day are very personal. Your mug should be the size, shape, and feel that you want. Most of us can't describe our perfect mug, but we sure are disappointed when we get to the cabinet and someone is already using our favorite. 

Teapots can take many different forms, no matter the form then are really hard to make. 

Most of the time my feeling is why use a plate when you could use a bowl. Bowls are my favorite thing to make and my favorite thing to use. 

The best thing about plates is that they are the closest thing to a flat blank canvas you can get in pottery. I use plates to experiment with brushwork and colors.

Pieces that pour liquids from one vessel to another, such a simple task and yet so many forms to explore. This category includes jugs, pitchers, gravy boats, sauce vessels, salad dressing containers, etc.

Really just about anything can be used as a vase, but this category is for pieces that are meant to be used as a vase. Each vase shape informs the type of arrangement works best in it, it's all about the ratio of the width of the top and bottom. A wide base with a narrow top creates a wide fan arrangement. A wide base with a wide top creates an open arrangement or you need a lot of flowers the fill it in.  A narrow bottom and wide base is a bowl for votives and floating flowers. A narrow base and narrow top is best used for vertical arrangements. A home needs a variety of vases on hand. 

Cups, aka handle-less mugs. Includes any and all drinking vessels for any beverage of choice. The best size is determined by what you intend to drink from it, a tall tumbler is not the best choice for a sipping whiskey, for example.

Includes both canisters, jars, boxes, and salt cellars both the lidded and un-lidded varieties. Canisters are defined as storage containers, jars are defined as smaller than canisters but still for storage, boxes are small for storing trinkets. 

Punched and pierced lanterns meant to be used with a candle or light inside to light a table or space.