My name is Natasha, and I am a studio artist and owner of a small business called Kazoku Workshop. I moved in with my now fiancé, Jonathan, in a small cottage here in Cheshire 3 years ago, and fell in love with living the cottage-core life. I believe it encourages a simple lifestyle and sustainability rooted in traditional skills such as gardening, baking, and decorating your home with hand painted pieces. Particularly in the countryside, being amongst wildflowers, rolling hills, and wildlife, I am always surrounded by so much creativity. I often hand paint small floral motifs and whimsical patterns to glassware and decorative objects around our home to blend seamlessly into our cottagecore decor. They are the perfect conversational touch to our home and a simple way to express my creativity. 

 

While I enjoyed painting on different surfaces, I saw that hand painted candles became Instagram’s biggest interior trend. I absolutely had to try my hand at painting candles for myself, and began painting delicate wildflowers inspired by the view from my studio. These candles often served as a wonderful conversation starter and the most delightful home decor and gift for family and friends. One of my favourite ways to add a playful touch to my table setting is by arranging them in brass candleholders alongside ribbons and fresh flowers.

 

I wanted to explore my passion for creativity further by opening my first online shop on Etsy, selling semi-bespoke candles with an option to personalise the design with carefully hand painted messages of love, names, and special dates. I often hear people say that they are ‘too pretty to burn’ and ‘utterly impractical’, but they are equally delightful and safe to burn as the non-toxic paint burns along with the wax.

 

Kazoku Workshop has since blossomed into becoming a partner of one of the UK’s leading online marketplaces, Not on the High Street (NOH), who have been incredibly helpful in growing my small business. My listings include individually hand painted candles for special occasions including weddings, anniversaries, engagements, and 1st birthdays, alongside seasonal designs for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas. 

 

In September, I was lucky enough to join NOH at the Big Christmas Press Show in London, where I was able to display some of my cosy Christmas candles and host mini workshops for high-profile journalists and influencers. This year, one of my many projects has been to launch my website, offering a truly boutique hand painted service to bring each client’s dream candle to life. I always love showcasing their personalities and unique stories, including every special detail to ensure a personalised, artistic element in their wedding tablescape. 

 

As a small business owner, I am conscious about minimising my ecological footprint, particularly now I am living in the countryside. I believe the cottagecore way of life is a gentle return back to life rooted in nature, aiming for a lifestyle that is more sustainable and self-sufficient. With sustainability in mind, my candles are sourced and produced in Europe before they are individually painted, and hand packed by me in recyclable hive-wrap, before mailing out in brown boxes sealed with kraft tape. I am SO excited to see where my small business of hand painted candles takes me, and for all of the inspiration that is yet to come from our cottage garden.