Craft Techniques

Leather care basics: keeping your bags and belts in shape

Leather care essentials: a handmade leather bag, belt, soft cloth, conditioner tin and brush, flat lay

Every piece in our shop starts with a maker we know by name. Some weave in Inanda, some throw clay along the Umgeni, and some cut wood in Howick. They work in small batches, so no two baskets or bowls look quite the same.

Come and see the pieces for yourself at 45 Church Street. Pick up a bead strand, feel the glaze on a mug and ask us anything about who made it and how.

Meet the makers

Every piece comes from a maker you can name, working close to home.

MARKET INFO

“Winter Makers Fair” @Kraalwerk, Pietermaritzburg
45 Church Street, in the town centre
8 to 12 April, 09:00 to 16:00

Come along, meet the makers and see how each piece is made. Tea and rusks are free.

Hanging art on a wall takes a little planning. Lay your frames on the floor first and move them around until the spacing feels right. Keep gaps of about five centimetres between pieces. Start with the largest piece near the centre, then build outward.

Choosing your pieces

Our makers around Pietermaritzburg work with what the Midlands gives them: clay from the river banks, grass from the hills and wood from local farms. Every basket, bead strand and ceramic bowl is finished by hand, so no two pieces look exactly alike. That is the charm of buying handmade.

I make each piece slowly and I check it twice. When someone takes it home and uses it every day, that is the best reward for my work.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *