|
β
β
Well hello Reader!
If you've been here a while, you might know that once a year I share a special edition of this newsletter. It's a small tradition of mine, and it's all about celebrating the independent creators and small businesses I genuinely love and want to support.
I know firsthand that running a creative business isn't easy - it can be beautiful and brutal in equal measure - but I believe that when people build work around what they care about, and create things with heart, the world genuinely becomes a better place. And honestly? I'd much rather help channel attention and money towards independent businesses with heart and empathy, than keep rewarding billionaires.π«€
So if you're on the hunt for thoughtful, well-designed gifts for someone with a good eye (and yes, that includes you... you deserve beautiful things too π), this is my Beautiful Things Vol. 4 edition. A little celebration of independent makers, artists and craftspeople I'm very excited to share with you.π€
BOWLED OVER
βMade from a solid block of Ash wood, this hand-turned footed bowl centrepiece - with a traditional Japanese yakisugi exterior finish - ticks all the boxes for me: Natural, hand-crafted, minimal, and absolutely beautiful. Made by Aquiles Gutierrez in his studio in Granada, Spain it is a one-off - but there are others that may catch your eye too!
|
|
|
TIME WELL SPENT
βThis minimalist wall stand calendar from Mark Ours feels like a quiet daily ritual AND a graphic design marvel. A simple black aluminium frame with warm wooden detail that turns time into something to be noticed rather than rushed. Proof that typography can be used to elevate and engage.
|
|
|
TAKE NOTE
βYou know I'm a fan of Ugmonkβs Analog system, but this year I wanted to shout out their beautiful disc-bound journals. The flexibility of a ring binder with the elegance of a bound notebook. And the disc binding system lets you easily add, remove, and rearrange pages. Plus it just looks & feels made of quality materials. Because it is. Taking notes to a whole new level.
|
|
|
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
βThis handmade Orin meditation bell from Shi Zen creates a soft, grounding tone that feels more like a breath than a sound. Simple, considered, and quietly powerful they are traditionally used to symbolize the start & end of meditation. A mindful object that completely changes the feel of a space....but honestly, everything that Shi-Zen produce could be added to this list.
|
|
|
BE AWARE
βIf you fancy something a little more casual but with an edge, I adore this t-shirt from the fantastic Awarewolf Apparel. Subtle, but always with a message of inclusivity and affirmation, the design has a retro-skater feel, but is clean, super-stylish, and JUST the right amount of sass to get a double-take.
|
|
|
ROCK, PAPER, MAGIC
βFor those who like to color outside the lines, this limited edition crayon set from Karst and Odujej is creativity elevated. More sculture than stationary it is raw, tactile, and incredibly calming to look at. It encourages you to touch without thinking, slow your mind for a second, and let creativity flow. Definitely not your Meemaw's crayons.
|
|
|
AFRICA INSPIRED
βA nod to my motherland, hand-textured and full of depth, this white repeating pattern wall artwork from 54kibo is a tribute to tribal art and culture in the most subtle way. Calm, graphic, and architectural without shouting. A piece that brings quiet, earthy rhythm to a room.
|
|
|
SIMPLICI-KEY
βThe MOEBE key ring is design reduced to its purest form. I know it's just a keyring, but it's a single, elegant bend of metal that feels almost invisible until you use it. Clever, tactile, and impossible not to admire every time you pick it up. I can't promise you won't lose your keys again though.
|
|
|
LIGHT CAPTURED
βMade by master glassworkers in Syria, these mixed teardrop glass baubles from TOAST catch light in the softest, most joyful way. Little pieces of colour and movement that feel festive without being loud. Delicate, balanced, and quietly magical on a branch or shelf.
|
|
|
TAKE FLIGHT
βThis embossed lino print of birds in flight is full of movement, life and calm at the same time. I am always in awe of the time and skill it takes to hand-carve such intentional and delicate shapes with such a gentle tough. Storytelling made visual, Oceana's beautiful, soulful pieces of wall art bring softness, texture, and air into a space.
|
|
|
THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT
βA simple and yet profoundly striking concept, the Melo wall sconce by Catalin Filip feels more like a light sculpture than a fitting. With custom options, I love the tactile, natural materials, soft curves and warm diffused light that create enough presence to make any wall feel considered. Calm, architectural, and beautifully atmospheric.
|
|
|
CUTTING EDGE
βI don't need a utility knife. But now I WANT one. The HMM utility knife and perfectly angled custom stand turn a practical tool into a small desk sculpture. Clean lines, beautiful weight, and an almost ritual-like feel in daily use. Functional, minimal, and strangely satisfying just to look at. Plus I adore how the the natural colors and materials just take the edge off.
|
|
|
WAX & WALL
βThis wall-mounted clip candle holder from Audo Copenhagen is a small piece of quiet theatre. It grips a candle directly to the wall with a simple mount, creating floating flame moments that add a little drama to any room. Warm, graphic, and beautifully out of the ordinary it's a beautifully modern take on a simple object from homes past.
|
|
|
FUTURE: PROOF.
βI'm a sucker for gadgets and tech that feel like a tribute to the past - but is perfectly suited to the future. The Aulumu MagSafe stand looks like a small piece of future-desk architecture. With clever design (and some ingenious magnets) the clean, floating handle & stand holds your phone perfectly in place - wherever you need it. Perfectly engineered and quietly impressive, it makes me feel like an extra from blade-runner!
|
|
|
SLOW POUR
βI couldn't NOT include some inspiration from my spiritual life-blood. A beautifully edited visual journey through independent cafΓ©s by Softer Volumes - composed with care and intention - this book celebrates light, texture, and the quiet poetry of everyday coffee rituals and placxes that gather people together. Slow, tactile, and deeply satisfying.
|
|
|
PLAY HOUSE
βCreated by master furniture craftspeople Ethnicraft, these architectural models are a beautiful tribute to a range of global and cultural styles of home. These hand-carved objects are a testament to the skill of the artisans themselves, and are intentionally designed to not just prompt a sense of wonder, but a feeling of home and belonging.
|
|
|
BE PRE-SCENT
βA simple and elegant collaboration between two of my favourite brands, this beautiful set combines an elegant oil warmer in glass and warm metal from Kinto, with the uplifting scent of Finnish forests from Hetkinen - 100% natural and enclosed in a pine wood case for simple and beautiful storage. When you need a little shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)...but at home.
|
|
|
CALL OF THE WILD
βThis black ceramic antlered wall sculpture by MASSA Design Studio feels like a quiet nod to the wild. Hand-formed from natural stoneware and finished in a soft, matte black, it has a calm, grounded presence that brings a confident but gentle presence to any space. Each piece is artisan-made, unique, and ready to hang.
|
|
|
IS IT ART?
βI don't hide the fact that I am a recovering perfectionist. So Plan's art kits were a dream find. Their art kits come with a handcrafted wooden frame, premium canvas, paints, tools and simple guidance, so you get everything you need to just enjoy the process. Itβs creating an experience rather than just buying art. And when itβs done, you have a piece thatβs both handmade by you, and deeply personal.
|
|
|
NOTHING TO HEAR
βNot the kind of gift you buy just anyone, but I couldn't resist including the recently launched Nothing(1) headphones. I am obsessed with the design and the sound quality is exceptional! I a world of bland copy-cats I love that they are taking risks with design (all with reverant nod to Dieter Rams).
|
|
|
I really hope you enjoyed this collection. In case you were wondering, none of these links are affiliate links or sponsored...this is just me celebrating other creators and sharing beautiful things that I hope will inspire you π.
Take care, support small businesses, and have a fabulous week. Normal service resumes on Thursday. π
Kluvyoubye. π€
β
|