The Glow Of Handmade Magic

Little Love, A Little Paint, and a Whole Lot of Heart

The air has changed, hasn’t it? The mornings are misty, the evenings sparkle a little sooner, and here at Kiln & Kettle, the shelves are beginning to whisper their Christmas stories. 

Each one tells of something made — not bought — and that makes all the difference.

Handmade Gifts with Heart

There’s a kind of love you can see in handmade things — tucked into every brushstroke, hidden in the tiny smudge of paint on a fingertip, glowing from that quiet smile when you realise, “Oh, this one’s for Mum.”

At Kiln & Kettle, we believe the best gifts don’t come from a shop shelf — they come from your hands. A mug that greets someone every morning. A little dish that keeps a favourite ring safe. A bauble that will hang on a tree for years and years to come.

They don’t have to be perfect — in fact, the tiny wobbles and brushstroke quirks are what make them precious. Because those are yours. That’s the charm of handmade: it’s honest, it’s heartfelt, and it’s forever.

So this festive season, instead of rushing, come and slow down with us. Sit, sip, paint, and make something beautiful that carries a piece of you. After all — gifts from the heart never go out of style.

A Night with Tim Burton

Some nights just hum with magic. Our Tim Burton Ceramic Painting Evening was one of them — full of moody candlelight, laughter, and paintbrushes that seemed to have minds of their own.

The tables were covered in gothic castles, curly moons, and skeletons with just the right amount of charm. There was an electricity in the air — a mix of creativity, curiosity, and a touch of spooky whimsy.

Burton’s world reminds us that imperfect can be beautiful, that strange can be stunning, and that art always finds its own rhythm. By the end of the night, the studio looked like a gothic dreamland — every piece hauntingly lovely, every heart a little fuller.

We’re already plotting the next one… stay tuned, my dark little dreamers. 

Featured Artist: Jeanri

Every now and then, someone’s art arrives quietly and then refuses to leave your mind. That’s Jeanri.

A South African artist and tattooist based in Haarlem, her work feels like poetry — soft, detailed, full of emotion that speaks without words. Her porcelain piece for Kiln & Kettle glows with calm and grace, like something you could stare at for hours and still discover something new.

Jeanri’s fine line tattoo artistry seeps into her ceramic work — precise, delicate, yet deeply expressive. Watching her paint felt like watching a secret being written in slow motion.

Her piece brings a beautiful stillness with it. It’s a quiet reminder that art — whether on skin, paper, or porcelain — connects us all.

You can discover more of her work at:

www.jeanri.nl

and follow her creative adventures on her Instagram:

jeanrrriii

A Little Magic in the Making

Mornings at Kiln & Kettle begin softly — the clink of brushes, the hum of the kiln (that’s me!), and the comforting smell of coffee that seems to say, “Something lovely is about to happen.”

The shelves wait patiently, lined with blank ceramics that are anything but empty — they’re full of possibilities. Then, the first guests arrive, and suddenly the studio begins to glow.

There’s chatter and calm all at once — friends catching up, parents painting with little ones, quiet laughter floating above the tables. Brushes swirl, tea steams, and the world slows down, just a little.

And later, when the painting is done and I (Charlotte the Kiln) take over, that’s when the true transformation begins. Glazes melt, colours deepen, and something simple becomes something special.

Every piece that passes through my warmth carries a story — a moment frozen in glaze and love. And that, truly, is where the magic lives.

Because here at Kiln & Kettle, we don’t just make painted ceramics — we make memories, one brushstroke at a time.

With warmth, whimsy, and a cheeky wink —

Charlotte Kiln

(always firing up something magical)