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Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Baobab trees


Baobab trees are by far the best seller at both fairs and on the website - it's easy to see why, they are colourful, unique and just so gorgeous.  They are made by Moyo, a small business based in coastal town of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  Moyos skilled crafters start with the basic material - a baobab tree made from banana leaves, wrap them in strips of colourful Zanzibar fabric and decorate with beads and Moyo's classic PomPom design.   We have baby ones, medium sized ones ..... in fact any size ones!


Even really big ones, although not quite as big as the one recently erected on londons southbank ! 




Oh and I came accross a fab picture of some real life baobabs on Pinterest, they are just such an amazing tree.    

If you'd like to have one of our fabulous baobabs have a look at the website and choose your size.  The very big ones are not online, get in touch via the contact page for prices and delivery options.

You may also like to visit our facebook page for news, information and special offers. 


Friday, 23 March 2012

The Magickal land of Moomin Vally


The Magickal Land of Moomin Valley

Created by Tove Jansson, the Moomins are a family of small creatures consisting of Moominpapa, Moominmama and Moomintroll, although everyone is welcome in their tall blue Moominhouse in the Finnish countryside! I have been reading the Moomin books since I can remember, and they have always kept a special place in my heart. Full to the brim with charming characters such as the adventurous Moomintroll, the fiercely independent Snufkin, the mischievous Little My and the bashful Snork Maiden, these books have a unique innocence to them that any person, young or old, could only find delightful!

Although the characters are utterly wonderful, the setting of these books is what makes them so extraordinary to me! Positioned in a small valley surrounded by sea on one side and the Lonely Mountains on the other, Moominhouse is tall and blue and red-roofed, with rope ladders hanging from each window. The valley itself is a beautiful place with green sloping fields, rushing streams, fruit trees and hollows that are homes for all kinds of creatures. The Moomins have a boathouse at the small beach and a cave that is excellent for sleeping in on hot nights. There are several nearby islands where Lighthouses, ghosts and the Hattifatteners, whose sole goal in life is to reach the horizon, are waiting to be discovered.
Sounds pretty magickal, huh?

Whenever I feel melancholy I can pick up one of these books and it will ALWAYS put me in a happy mood. They make me notice the simple things in life, and leave me more determined to make some time for those things, like walking and reading and laughing. I have read these books again and again, and each time I find myself wandering back to Moomin Valley with its charming creatures and wondrous places.


By Maya

Saturday, 18 February 2012

Vintage china


I've been to the auction this week as I needed to stock up my etsy shop.  My usual competition for china wasn't there so I came home with quite a lot.

Sometimes it's sad to see peoples belongings,  collected over a lifetime,  relegated to a tray at an auction sale.  On the other hand I imagine elegant dining and tea parties using beautiful china ..... Ayr is much more glamorous than it appears to be on the surface!

And it comes in all different shapes and sizes - Some pieces have obviously been lovingly used , others are so pristine I imagine they have only been admired through the doors of some equally fancy display cabinet.  It's a good job I don't have one of those as this would be my tendancy!  ...... I could see myself getting seriously obsessed with collecting some of these beautiful things.

So here's a sample of some of the vintage china that is temporarily staying at my house.

This one is so perfect, I can't imagine it's ever been let out of the display cupboard.



Lovingly used shabby chic look!


Doesn't get more elegant than this .....




Or this!


And these teeny tiny coffee cups are so cute.