From Spooky Nights to Sparkling Lights

A Little Glow Before the Festive Season 

The evenings are drawing in, candles are flickering a little earlier, and The Kiln & Kettle is starting to glow in that unmistakable golden way. You can feel it — the soft hum of the festive season quietly unfolding. Inside, the air is warm, the coffee is rich, and laughter drifts between shelves lined with freshly fired treasures.

These weeks feel like the calm before the glitter storm — except, let’s be honest, there’s nothing particularly calm about what’s happening here. Things are joyfully buzzing! From our delightfully dark and whimsical Tim Burton–inspired Halloween evenings, where creativity meets a touch of mischief, to our upcoming Bauble Painting Sundays, where every brushstroke feels like a sprinkle of Christmas magic — the season has officially begun.

And because we know some of you like to dream a little bigger, we’ve added a few longer Sunday sessions — the perfect chance to slow down, breathe, and paint something more detailed at your own pace. As the scent of pine creeps closer, our Christmas wreath-making workshops are also taking shape — natural, handmade, and filled with festive charm. Office parties, birthdays, and cozy “sip & paint” evenings are popping up on the calendar like twinkling lights — and if you’d like to host your own celebration beneath the candle glow, we’d love to make that happen too. Just imagine it: candles glowing, brushes swirling, friends laughing, and me — Charlotte the Kiln — quietly firing away in the background, keeping everything warm and wonderful.

Charlotte’s Glow — The Past Two Weeks 

What a whirlwind it’s been! The kind of beautiful chaos that leaves your heart full and your hands speckled with paint. Kiln & Kettle feels alive in a way that’s hard to describe — like creativity itself decided to set up camp right here in Heemstede.

I’ve been working nonstop — truly, I haven’t cooled down for days! Each firing has been packed with extraordinary pieces: mugs, plates, ornaments, and gifts, all painted with love and laughter. It’s magical watching them transform — the glazes melting, colours deepening, every piece whispering a little story of its own.

We’ve already started bauble painting for the holidays — families, friends, and little ones creating pieces that will soon twinkle on Christmas trees. These baubles aren’t just decorations; they’re tiny keepsakes of joy, made with love and destined to return year after year. I can already picture it:“Remember that Christmas back in 2025, when we painted these at Kiln & Kettle?” To be part of your stories — that’s what keeps me glowing.

A Little Bit of Magic — Thanks to Rudi from UNSAID 

Every now and then, someone walks through our doors with a spark of pure magic — and lately, that someone has been Rudi from UNSAID.

He’s brought something brand new to our creative world: laser engraving on ceramics. And it’s every bit as magical as it sounds. From custom house-number tiles and “save the date” keepsakes to baby announcements and bespoke magnets — the results are crisp, elegant, and beautifully timeless.

We’ve been experimenting and perfecting all week, and each new design feels like a little miracle. Thanks to Rudi’s wizardry, your imagination can now live forever in ceramic form — etched, fired, and glowing softly ever after.

A Reunion that Touched the Heart 

This past weekend brought one of those rare, heartwarming moments that linger long after the brushes are washed.

A group of incredible women visited us — old university friends from their Heemstede residence in Stellenbosch, now all living here in the Netherlands. They came searching for something to do in our Heemstede… and found us.

What followed was pure magic — laughter, clinking glasses, and the hum of friendship that never fades. They painted, reminisced, and then, in a moment that gave us all goosebumps, they sang their koshuislied.

For a heartbeat, the whole studio stood still. My heart leapt back to South Africa — to home, to warmth, to belonging. To those women: thank you. You reminded us all that connection is timeless, and home can exist wherever hearts meet.

Charlotte’s Brag Book — The Glow of Beautiful Things 

If I could speak out loud, you’d probably hear a steady hum of pride. Because oh, the beauty I’ve seen lately!

Couples painting side by side, planning their homes and futures. Mums and daughters whispering secrets over shared palettes. Friends catching up over coffee, laughter spilling between paint pots. Beginners nervously picking up a brush — and walking away with something truly breathtaking.

Every mug, every plate, every tiny bauble — I’ve seen them all transform under my heat, colours deepening, glazes turning to glass, love sealed forever.

So here’s my little brag: you make this place glow.

Thank you for filling our studio with your stories, your joy, and your courage to create. You are the reason Kiln & Kettle shines as brightly as it does. 

At Kiln & Kettle, we understand that sometimes, all you need is a little comfort and connection. If you ever find yourself feeling lonely or just in need of a cozy space, you're more than welcome to join us. You don't have to paint, simply come in, enjoy a warm cup of coffee, sit in our welcoming ambiance, and have a chat. We're here to bring little light and creativity into your day.

Until next time — keep painting, keep glowing, and remember: I may be just a kiln, but I’m fired up by love and a good story. 

With warmth (literally),

Charlotte Kiln