Creative Finds Blog — Meet the maker

have you visited "My Fave Finds of the Month" page lately? It's right up there at the top right hand side of the home page...!

The next instalment of my monthly favourite finds is over here now... Each month I'll add my fave 3 x handcrafted products that I've either stumbled across, bought or received as a gift and you'll be able to click on the image or the link to shop directly from the maker yourself...

People often ask me "where do you find all those lovely, hand-crafted gift products?" This is what I tell them... Firstly, I love nothing more than a rummage through market stalls and I can scan those gazebos pretty quickly to determine if the items on offer are something that I'll pursue. The calibre of products is much higher than the twee little local fetés of days gone by. Clever makers are aware of branding and the importance of positioning themselves as designers as well as craftspeople. I for one, am a sucker for a stylish market stall selling unique products, made...

Whilst in Bali on our girls vaycay, I made sure to visit the lovely makers responsible for bringing my leather slide designs to life. Tucked away in the back streets of Kuta, are Iwan and his wife Retno who have a family business that they operate in a shed outside their home. Here they make leather sandals and slides with their team; Imas and Hadi. Here they are with their adorable baby Amira:   The slides are made from start to finish by hand. Each one meticulously produced, step by step by this team of (rather short!?!) Balinese Gentlemen.  ...