HAND MADE

We love to make things by hand at Old Joe's Kaia... and with the unpacking and sorting of a million boxes into the Craft centre recently - we are REALLY starting to play!

We are currently refurbing rooms - and instead of dashing off to town for new pictures, curtains, cushion covers and even Christmas Trees - we have LOVED making them from scratch. 

Our kitchen makes delicious jams and preserves which go into our shop. And we aim to build using recycled objects, tin cans, bottles and more. 

So watch this space and enjoy our journey into Handmade, upcycled and recycled exploration that we either make ourselves- or buy from other amazing projects all over South Africa....

  TUNGA EMBROIDERY STUDIO in KwaZulu-Natal

On a recent trip to the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal I was privileged enough to visit the beautiful Tunga Needlework Studio.  This rural upliftment  programme has a humble beginning when Beulah Meintjes, owner and manager of the studio recognised the embroidery talent of a local woman. She realised that there must be more women in the vicinity with similar skills and started a small initiative to motivate and inspire them.

 
Today the Tunga Studio’s work is used and displayed in many corporate buildings and curio shops, locally and internationally, and is still growing from strength to strength by employing numerous women who are now able to feed their children. Please have a look at the website www.tunga.co.za to view some of their amazing handiwork.

Well done, Beulah, and thank you for the time you spent telling me all the stories and history of the haven you feel so passionately about. It was inspiring and refreshing to meet you and we are truly proud of being able to stock your studio’s products in our little shop at Old Joe’s Kaia!   

Love Marian.