Category: Art & Design

  • Creative Exploration: Japanese Joinery

    Creative Exploration: Japanese Joinery

    Japanese joinery is a traditional woodworking technique that eliminates the use of screws, nails and glue. Instead they are joined together with very precise cuts and fittings. This type of wooden joint has been around for centuries and is known for its strength, beauty and ability to accommodate the movement of wood in different environments.

    Influenced by ancient Chinese woodworking techniques that were brought over to Japan, this style of joinery has greatly evolved over centuries to suit Japan’s fluctuating climate and natural resources. Wood was and still is the main used material because it’s durable, easy to work with and easy to get. Where metal for screws and nails was a limited resource back in the day, Japan’s forests offered a range of different types of wood to build with.

    Japan is home to numerous temples, houses, and other structures built using traditional woodwork and intricate joinery techniques. Not only buildings, but also a lot of furniture is made using this technique. With Japan suffering from frequent earthquakes, a great advantage of these joints is that it allows buildings to flex and absorb seismic shocks while still remaining strong. Japanese joinery is still used today in both traditional and modern architecture. Some of the world’s oldest wooden buildings are build using this technique.

    Now we know it’s functional and durable, but also very stylish. Japanese joinery has gained a lot of attention in other parts of the world, especially among architects and furniture makers who are interested in its precision, sustainability and simple appeal. The Japandi style for example, a mix of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality, is popular for its clean, harmonious aesthetic. This design style incorporates natural materials, often using natural wood in furniture and the seamlessness of Japanese joints.

    If you enjoy working with wood, this could be a valuable technique to incorporate in order to create clean and seamless transitions with wood. There are many types of joinery within this style, some designed to create different angles, others to join several pieces together seamlessly. Some are complex, but there are plenty of beginner-friendly options to get you started, allowing you to progress at your own pace and refine your skills along the way. You don’t have to start with large pieces of furniture either, you can start small by making items such as shelves, cutting boards, planters or stools to practice and experiment with.


    There are a bunch of great books that explain all the different types of joints and what they can be used for. A couple of popular ones are The Art Of Japanese Joinery by Kiyosi Seike, or The Complete Guide to Joint-Making by John Bullar. Both of these go into detail about the different types of joints, combined with information about the history of Japanese joinery. If you want to start making furniture immediately with some step-by-step instructions, there is Simple Japanese Furniture by Group Monomono. Another place to get information and inspiration from is online platforms, there are a number of creative people on Instagram who share their process and final products. For inspiration on creative design ideas, Pinterest is a great resource. If you need some more visual guidance, YouTube will help you out.

    Whether you’re an experienced woodworker or you want to try some new crafts, Japanese joinery is a sustainable way to expand your skills and create tastefully crafted pieces. The blend of strength, precision and aesthetic simplicity of this centuries-old technique continues to inspire creative makers. By exploring books, online resources and practice, you can start to craft pretty quickly. So why not pick up some wood, try a few simple joints and start creating something you’ll want to brag about?

  • See Through Art: The Craft of Glass Jewellery

    See Through Art: The Craft of Glass Jewellery

    By heating a mixture of raw materials, Silvia knows how to transform molten glass into carefully crafted jewellery. Inspired by her great aunt’s craft and the rural landscapes of Galicia, Spain. She decided to start her own brand Toda Frágil.

    Demonstrating how glass jewellery is shaped with a torch

    Ever since she was little, Silvia has been drawn to different forms of creative expression. “Growing up in a rural area with long, rainy winters and being an only child meant that I had to find ways to express myself artistically (apart from being incredibly mischievous). I would draw anything that moved and make sculptures out of things that were about to be thrown away at home. My father always let me use his tools, which gave me the freedom to experiment without limits. One of my great-aunts was a seamstress. She used to sew most of my clothes, and thanks to her, I developed a love for fashion and high-quality finishes.”

    But the idea of mastering the craft of glass came later. After studying graphic design and exploring a wide range of creative fields, techniques, and materials, Silvia started her first brand of crochet necklaces made from recycled fabrics. She never thought she would work in fashion or become a ‘traditional’ artist. “I found my way into the world of jewellery because I’ve always been fascinated by pieces that stand the test of time (even if some of mine are made of glass, haha). I spent the last ten years working in advertising, an industry that’s both fast-paced and fleeting, until I realised I was losing my passion. I needed to slow down and free my mind with a new project”.

    So she started Toda Frágil, for which she now mainly creates jewellery pieces, but that is certainly not all she wants to focus on. As she develops her knowledge and creative skills, she’s exploring new materials and techniques to expand her collection. Check out her Instagram for a glimpse of how she is branching out into wine glasses that double as sculptures for the home.

    The glass jewellery result

    Her creative process for Toda Frágil varies. Sometimes she takes inspiration from her surroundings, such as shapes, trends and textures, from which she creates a mood board to define a design direction. Other times she finds unique glass, colours or textures from suppliers and starts experimenting.

    “I currently work from my home in Barcelona, handling all the conceptual aspects and social media management, but I produce my pieces in a co-working studio where I share space with other artists. It’s important to remember that creatives are not just inventors – we need to understand the materials available and draw from references to create something new. There’s also a collaborative aspect to my work; bouncing ideas back and forth with others often leads to new concepts and perspectives”.

    Hand made glass shaped flower earring

    On the future of Toda Frágil, Silvia says: “Like anyone with a vision, I would like Toda Frágil to become a reference in the industry. My aim is to grow while remaining true to myself”.

    While she works on launching her own website, her jewellery pieces are currently made to order and sold through her DM’s on Instagram. They’re also available in selected shops in Barcelona, with more locations to come.

    Photography by: Silvia, Toda Frágil