Jonathan Adler steps away from the design world for a second to reminisce and spin a few with Gay Life on About.com:

What's the best thing you've ever designed?

I gotta go with the Giant Dora Maar Vase. I love it and I can stare at it for hours.

Is there one thing you've made in the past that you look back on today and say, "Why?"

Squintillions of things. I am lucky to be able to design a diverse range of stuff and lots of it, although there have been some real duds in the mix.

But, better to put it out there and fail sometimes than to be creatively constipated.

The timeline of your life on your web site is quite candid. You poke fun at your upbringing and development as an artist. Is being able to laugh at the perils of life the key to success?

I am incredibly serious and passionate about design. I don't take life quite so seriously.

Like many of us, you made your first pot at summer camp. My parents said they liked my pot, but it quickly became a dusty candy bowl. What happened to your summer camp masterpiece?

Not much of a masterpiece, I'm afraid. I do still have some of my teenage pots and, to be honest, they ain't bad.

In 1979, Star Wars action figures were the 'it' thing. That was also the year Trivial Pursuit was born. Yet, instead of asking for Ewoks or the board game, you begged for a wheel and kin. What were your parents' reactions?

They were totally into it. My dad was a lawyer by trade, but he spent every spare moment of his life painting and sculpting so he was thrilled to nurture my interest.

My mom was digging it, but there were lots of tussles over me trailing red clay dust on her white carpet.

Was it better or worse than when you told them you were gay?

Easier to come out as a potter than as a gay. But, they were pretty cool about it and recently my mother said that she's glad I'm gay because it led to Simon [Doonan] being in our family.

I met your Norwich terrier Liberace in Miami. He was the most well behaved dog I've ever seen. Is he always that good or was he putting on a show for the cameras?

I think we had just given him a Xanax. He's a very naughty, but always adorable little boy. Well-behaved isn't the first description that comes to mind. Kidding about the Xanax, by the way, don't want any animal rights activists freaking out.

Will Liberace be the only baby in your household?

I'm the only baby in the household. Liberace is very mature compared to moi.

Spin a few with Jonathan Adler at jonathanadler.com.