Journal

A Quiet, Rainy Day at Tobacco Factory Market
A Quiet, Rainy Day at Tobacco Factory Market
Today was our first Tobacco Factory Market of the year. From the morning right through to packing up at the end of the day, the rain was relentless, and the... Read more...
Coming of Age and the Furisode
Coming of Age and the Furisode
In Japan, mid-January marks Coming of Age Day, a time when young people are celebrated as they step into adulthood. One of the most recognisable sights on this day is... Read more...
A Cold Morning and Looking Ahead
A Cold Morning and Looking Ahead
This morning in Wales was minus one degree, with the landscape covered in frost. Despite the cold, the early light was beautiful, with a soft winter glow spreading across the... Read more...
The First Custom Order of the New Year
The First Custom Order of the New Year
The first custom order of the new year was a printed jumper created from an original design. The request was beautifully specific — an orca as the central motif, with... Read more...
The First Journal Entry of 2026
The First Journal Entry of 2026
The new year has quietly begun, and after a short pause, we’re slowly easing back into our rhythm. The Christmas markets feel like a distant memory now, and the studio... Read more...
Closing the Christmas Market Season
Closing the Christmas Market Season
We brought this year’s Christmas market season to a close yesterday, after trading continuously since November. Over the course of the season, the two of us traded at 21 markets,... Read more...
Two Markets, One Winter Sunday
Two Markets, One Winter Sunday
Today we traded across two locations — Maiko at St Nicholas Market, and Dan at Tobacco Factory. The morning was very quiet, but after around one o’clock the streets began... Read more...
The Busiest Saturday of the Season
The Busiest Saturday of the Season
Today was the final Saturday before Christmas, and it turned into our busiest day yet at St Nicholas Market. From morning until close, the stall was full of people stopping to... Read more...
The Final Christmas Market Begins
The Final Christmas Market Begins
Today marked the start of the final Christmas market, trading for the next five days. The weather was kind to us, with clear skies from the morning, and despite it... Read more...
A Rainy Day of Making in Wales
A Rainy Day of Making in Wales
It rained steadily all day here in Wales, and even in the middle of the afternoon the decorative lights looked especially beautiful against the grey sky. Today was spent finishing... Read more...
A Long Day, Worth the Wait
A Long Day, Worth the Wait
Today was one of those days where everything took far longer than expected. A painfully slow computer meant that editing product photographs and uploading them to the online store took... Read more...
A Busy Day in the Studio
A Busy Day in the Studio
Today was a really busy day — enquiries, custom orders, and product photography kept us going from morning to evening. It was hectic, but seeing everything come together into beautiful,... Read more...