10 Birds by 10 Designers

When we asked ten KIN designers if they could each make a bird for our World Earth Day Window Exhibition, all that we specified was that it should fit in the palm of one's hand and be made from a material with which they love to work. The results are incredible - each personality and individual sense of creation is beautifully evident. All the proceeds the birds and MOKO's exquisite houses will go directly to Soil for Life in support of their food-gardens initiative.

Belinda Ormond

One of three delicate ceramic seagulls with oxidised wing-tips sculpted by hand by Belinda.

 Chasteau de Balyon

We just love this happy crocheted parrot created by Cynthia of Chasteau de Balyon

Font and Heart

Melany Hodgson of Font and Heart's bird is made entirely from paper and wire with hand-cut feathers.

Gillian Fuller

This glamorous "Cape Startling" beaded bird is designed and made by Gillian Fuller from high quality seed beads.

Gillian Fuller's intricately beaded "Cape Starling" made from high quality seed beads.

Head on Design

Joanna Orr of Head On Design created a beautiful wooden bird scene that is easily assembled in 4 pieces - too clever!

Henri Kuikens

In true Henri Kuikens style, Jesse Breytenbach skilfully hand-printed a bird for the exhibition.

Inge Marais

No challenge too daunting for Inge Marais Jewellery - she created an exquisite, fully-functioning, brass Kingfisher puppet, with copper feet and st silver pins. Each part is cut and assembled by hand.

Keri Muller

Keri Muller of Simple Intrigue created a beautiful 3D bird with multiple layers of paper - transforming discarded sheet music into a very classy little creature.

Nick Marcus

You may recognise the signature smile of our bright little friend, Woodstock, skilfully sculpted Nick Marcus.

Skaapie

Tamryn Kastern of Skaapie created a small flock of beautiful hand-made felt birds with beaded legs.

And what do our birds nibble on while they expectantly wait to be purchased? Why a bunch of bright hand-made felt apples by Skaapie!

World Earth Day Window Exhibition

 

For this year’s “Green Cities” themed World Earth Day, Dagmar Grimmelikhuysen of MOKO, Soil For Life and KIN have worked together to create a fresh display for our Kloof Street store's window boxes. 

Dagmar installing her collection of beautiful bird houses

Ten generous KIN designers have made unique birds and these hang amid MOKO's handmade wooden bird houses above Soil for Life's garden boxes. The bird houses are wonderfully unusual and feature different shapes, textures, techniques and materials.

Begun in 1970, Earth Day has grown to be the world’s largest secular civic observance and this year’s focus, on the need to create sustainable communities, is playfully illustrated with this collection of unique birds and their homes. 

Prince planting the lush window boxes created by Soil for Life

KIN is proud to be the platform for the collaboration’s message and all proceeds from the sales of the bird houses and the birds will go directly to Soil for Life to support their township gardens initiative.

World Earth Day is on 22nd April 2014 and our Earth Day window exhibition will run from 28th March to 24th April.

All birdhouses by MOKO

Birds created by : Belinda Ormond, Chasteau de Balyon, Font and Heart, Gillian Fuller, Head On Design, Henri Kuikens, Inge Marais, Nick Marcus, Simple Intrigue, Skaapie

In support of Soil for life:

Happy Inspiration for March 2014

"Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire." - St Catherine of Sienna

March at KIN is all about showing off your colours - not just accepting yourself, but really celebrating all the individual qualities, quirks and weird talents that make you who you are. 

1. Cards by Schwarzie
2. Colour-In Postcards by Henri Kuikens
3. Mini Print by JA! (sold in sets of three)
4. Felt Heart String by Skaapie
5. Thought Card by Keri Muller
6. Wooden Rainbow by Moko
7. Notecards by Artymiss
8. Colouring Book by Colour Africa
9. Animal Magnets by Design Werkstatt (sold in sets of two)
10. Notebooks by Font and Heart
11. Stickers by judith+kevin
12. Knitted Octopi by Wolmer

Colour Outside the Lines

Our new window exhibit went up at Kloof Street yesterday! 

Colour the city - a rainbow made of 210 dangling pencil crayons above a sketchbook city.

Font and Heart is the brand behind the riot of colour that is determined to catch the eyes of passers-by.

Melany Hodgson trying hard to achieve zen-like patience while untangling the rainbow after the big move from studio to store.

Let Font and Heart Capture Yours

Our very own Melany Jane Hodgson, who until recently managed our Kloof Street shop, is currently celebrating the launch of her brand Font and Heart. Which you can now find in KIN on Kloof Street and KIN at V&A.

Each of these A6 notebooks has a cover that has been stitched, drawn or collaged by hand. Within are 100 blank white pages just waiting to be filled with elegant prose, unfathomable haikus and sketches of absurd objects.

Luckily, they are just as interested in grocery lists, measurements of the hallstand and random telephone numbers scrawled without names. 

Above all they want to be light-hearted and used without deliberation – the most important thing is that they get used! Get yours from KIN now.