Blog
Meet the Midlands makers behind our new decor range
This season we welcomed several new makers from around the Midlands. Their work covers hand-knitted soft toys, driftwood candle holders, string art and printed cotton pouches. Each piece is made in small batches in a home studio or workshop, and every maker signs their work. We visited them, drank too much tea and chose the pieces we would happily put in our own homes.
Local makers
Every maker in this range lives within an hour of Pietermaritzburg. Some started out selling at weekend markets, others learned their craft from a grandmother or an aunt. They share a habit of finishing things properly and keeping their prices fair.
You can read their stories on our Maker Stories pages. We also list how each item is made, what it is made from and how to care for it, so you know exactly what you are bringing home.
Our new decor range brings together wood, clay, fibre and thread. Most of it is small enough to fit on a shelf or a windowsill, and some pieces are big enough to anchor a whole wall. Prices start at R75 for soap and go up to R850 for larger boards.
Everything is available in our shop at 45 Church Street, and online. If you cannot decide, pop in and hold the pieces. Touch is half of the story with handmade work.
Handmade decor does not need to match perfectly. A rough clay bowl and a smooth wooden block can sit side by side and look right, as long as the colours are related. Start with a theme such as earthy neutrals or bright beadwork tones.
Choose pieces you can picture being used every day, not only admired from a distance.
Then add one new item at a time. Over a year, a room slowly fills with things that mean something.
When you buy handmade, you are paying for hours of skill, not a factory run. A knitted bear takes an evening. A string art board can take days. We think that effort should show in the finish, and our makers agree.
Ask us anything about a piece, from the wood used to how to wash the fabric. We know the people who made it, and we are happy to pass on their advice. Visit us or send a WhatsApp on 082 555 0138.
Natural textures
Our new decor range comes from workshops across the Midlands. Each maker works with local materials, from clay dug near the Umgeni to grass cut in Inanda.
We visited every studio before choosing a single piece. We watched the weaving, the firing and the stitching, and asked how long each item takes to make. The answers surprised us.
Every piece in the range carries the name of the person who made it.
Beadwork has a long place in Zulu life. Colours carry meaning, and a necklace can tell a story about love, home or family. Our makers at Ubuhle Beads sew every piece by hand, using small glass beads and strong thread. A single bracelet can take an afternoon.
Ask the maker about the colours in a piece. They are always happy to explain what they chose and why.
