A Little Space To Be Creative

Qraftie Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary in Hong Kong

Qraftie celebrates its 1st anniversary in August 2020. Qraftie.com is a Hong Kong based online marketplace for buying and selling handcrafted products, artwork and design gifts. Qraftie was founded a year ago with a passion for arts and craftsmanship and it has been running with a core mission of supporting local independent artisans, artists and designers. The Qraftie blog was introduced soon after the launch of the platform to provide insightful stories related to craftsmanship, lifestyle and culture.

6 Reasons Why Hong Kong Handmade Goods Are So Loveable

Handmade goods keep traditional craftsmanship alive in the modern world and bring uniqueness to the community. When you shop handmade, you are helping individuals to turn an idea into reality and supporting a dream. If you are thinking to send someone you care about a gift or treat yourself, support your local community. There are a various reasons why handmade products are loved by many people, here are some common ones.

Meet the Qrafties: Chiara Degan, Bath Bombs and Soap Maker in Hong Kong

Chiara Degan is an Italian artisan based in Hong Kong. Chiara started her handmade journey with making bath bombs and sugar scrubs and gradually expand her skill and knowledge on making Cold Process Soaps. Her aim is to combine the Italian soap tradition with technique in other countries. Outside of her handmade work, Chiara is a proud mama of two and a fellow animal lover.

6 Simple Ways to Support Hong Kong Small Businesses

It is upsetting to see so many local businesses shut down during the pandemic. The once busy streets becomes empty and thousands of business have shut down. Small businesses are our go-to places whenever we have a need - grabbing a quick snack at the corner shop, release our stress at the neighbourhood gym, buying some handmade products from the local makers who remember your needs, getting a haircut with the hairdresser you trust, dining at the local family owned restaurant that just know how you like your food to be served (Many of them probably start serving you food since you were a kid) and so many more. Local businesses keeps the local economy growing and we can all do our part to contribute.

Meet the Qrafties: Thomas Williams, Dedicated Carpenter and Wood Artist in Hong Kong

Thomas Williams is a passionate carpenter and wood artist in Hong Kong. Thomas has handmade many wood furniture from zero to one and he continues to develop his skills through different new projects. He also enjoys hand-making smaller pieces of woodcraft such as a jewellery tree that hold and display jewellery in an artistic way. The river coffee table made from wood and resin is one of his signature works. Thomas came from the UK and he has been living in Hong Kong for nearly four years. The things that he is interested to do in Hong Kong are quite different compared to the time when he is living in the UK.

18 Artistic Leaving Hong Kong Farewell Gifts and Souvenirs

Being one of the biggest Financial Hubs in Asia and having a diverse range of regional opportunities across industries, Hong Kong has attracted talents across the world to come to visit or work on a short-term basis. This makes HK a multinational city where we can easily meet and make friends with people from different cultures. It is sad to say goodbye but the friendship and beautiful memories always stay.

Meet the Qrafties: Laura Pezza, Watercolour Artist in Hong Kong

Laura Pezza is an Italian self-taught artist based in Hong Kong since 2018, after living in Italy, the US, Germany and Ireland. Her art journey started in 2017 when she realised that she wasn’t spending enough time doing the thing she loved most: painting. Since then, she has created The Quiet Place Art, taught multiple painting workshops, and participated in two exhibitions in Dublin and five in Hong Kong.

Explore Unique Hong Kong Cultural Experience Through Art

Hong Kong is a modern city full of cultural heritage. While new technologies and modern inventions bring a lot of convenience into our daily life, many of the traditional and cultural activities are still being appreciated and valued by many locals and tourists. In this blog post, we would like to share with you some of these unique cultural experiences in Hong Kong.

Meet the Qrafties: Fabienne Veryepe, Acrylic Artist in Hong Kong

Fabienne Veryepe is a self-taught artist in Hong Kong. Fabienne find her inspiration from many of the beautiful sceneries in Hong Kong, a place she called her new home. The iconic skyline, the Ding Ding tramways, the busy streets full of neon signs and the local markets. Fabienne enjoys painting with Acrylics and Watercolours.

Thoughtful and Useful Hong Kong Father's Day Gift Ideas 2020 `

Father’s day is coming up very soon. Let’s thank our Dad for his unconditional love by giving me a thoughtful and useful gift. Here are a selection of gifts ideas that are handcrafted or designed by independent artisans on Qraftie. From sweet and meaningful gifts that bring a smile to your Dad’s face to stylish functional gifts that your Dad can use on a daily basis.

Meet the Qrafties: Karen Cheung, Illustrator Continues Hong Kong Hand-carved Mahjong Craftsmanship

Karen Cheung is a Hong Kong based self-taught illustrator specialised in travel and cultural theme sketches. Inspired by her grandfather and father who ran a large mahjong factory, Karen designed a series of Mahjong artwork and design gifts with a passion to continue this traditional craftsmanship in the modern world. Her mahjong story’s illustrations bridges the gap between traditional cultures and modern lifestyles.

Explore Famous Hong Kong Food Through Art

Hong Kong is well known for the wide variety of food you can find in a city and has been named by many people as a foodie heaven. From Cha Chaan Teng (fast food restaurant), Dai Pai Tong (open-air food stall), corner snack store (yes all those yummy fish balls), and seafront restaurant to Michelin stars restaurant. In this blog post, we would like to share with you some signature Hong Kong food.

Meet the Qrafties: Francis Kirstein, Talented Craftsman in Hong Kong

Francis Kirstein is the founder of tectonihks; an independent artisan in Hong Kong. Francis came from Manchester and studied Architecture in Edinburgh before moving to Hong Kong in 2009 and worked as a tradesman in the marine industry till 2018. Hong Kong is not only a place where he started tectonihks, it is also where he met his wife Fifi, a wine consultant in Hong Kong and married in 2013. Together, they raise a distinct looking half poodle (fellow dog lovers!), half Chinese Crested rescue dog called Rudolf (Rudy).

Explore the Beauty of Hong Kong through Art

Hong Kong is known by many people as a modern city with tall buildings and gorgeous night views. It is amazing that we can also chill at many beautiful beaches or go for a hike with a 30 minutes ride. In this blog post, we would like to share with you some of the beautiful places in Hong Kong.

Sweet and Thoughtful Hong Kong Mother's Day Gift Ideas 2020

For sure we are thankful for the amount of unconditional love our mother has been giving us and we appreciate not just on a particular day but every single day. No matter how old we are, we are always a child in Mum’s mind. Mum always has thoughts about us and takes care of us no matter which stage of life we are at.

5 Ideas For A Productive And Enjoyable Time At Home

Many of us are spending more time at home these days. Working from home can be productive and efficient. There are many benefits when it comes to working from home such as the amount of time we save on commuting and the flexibility on taking care of home and work tasks. Working from home is not an uncommon thing for some industries. For people who are used to working in an environment outside of home, they might face some challenges. A common challenge people are facing is the ability to stay focused and be productive.

Qraftie Chat: King Y. Chung, Experienced Hong Kong Model Maker

Have you ever spent time looking at the Hong Kong skyline, gawking at how fluorescent and intricate it all is? Well behind every building project there is a person who builds an architectural model to exact specifications, up to the screw and hinges, so that the project can be visualised and completed. We chat to Mr King Y. Chung, a pioneer of architectural model making in Hong Kong, who handmade models for many of the buildings that dot the Hong Kong skyline.

Qraftie | Hong Kong Arts Month 2020

March is Hong Kong Arts Month. Every year in March, the city has a strong art vibe full of creativity and excitement. You can find different kinds of art initiatives happening in the city, from art exhibitions of local and international artists to art events where art enthusiasts get together to share knowledges with each other and discover new artworks.

3 Simple Ways to Boost Your Creativity

We were all born with creativity. Think back to when you were a child and used to have all sorts of weird notions and daydreams, no one taught you to use your imagination, but there it was. But when we grow older, and become bound to the routine of our day to day lives, we might notice that we have less of that unbridled thoughts that we used to be able to conjure up. If you aren’t in a creative industry, you will probably notice this more. But what if you can get it back? And make yourself more creative than ever! Here are a few ways

Unique and Thoughtful Hong Kong Valentine's Day Gift Ideas 2020 ❤

Handcrafted and design goods make wonderful gifts and keepsakes for Valentine’s day as each piece of handcrafted good is individually made and design goods often comes with a meaningful story. Whether you are looking for something unique for yourself (Self-love, Dear!) or for someone you care about, here are some unique thoughtful gifts and keepsakes ideas. Gift giving doesn’t have to be about luxury goods, a thoughtful sentiment would makes this gesture even more meaningful. Everything is more beautiful when it is made with heart.