Our Story

When my mum’s 60th birthday was approaching, my siblings and I wanted a gift that truly expressed our appreciation for the love, support, and guidance she’d given us over the years. It needed to be something meaningful, personal, and something she’d treasure forever.

We quickly realized that finding an off-the-shelf gift to convey our gratitude just wouldn’t work. It had to be something unique and personal.

We decided on a memory box, with four categories that represent my mum’s core qualities: The Loving Mother, The Spartan, The Governess, and The Adventurer. Each year, we’d write a memory that reflects a specific moment from the past and share how it shaped us as adults. The first batch of memory cards was given to her along with the Memory Box on her 60th birthday.

Here’s what I wrote for my mum under The Adventurer in 2009:

“I remember taking you abseiling. You were slowly making your way down a 130-meter waterfall at 53. I thought, ‘My mum is actually kinda cool.’ Thanks for your adventurous spirit and unwavering support for all my wild ideas. Your freedom has been a big part of my growth, and I plan to do the same with my kids.”

Every year, my siblings and I spend an hour recalling memories in each category. They email me their memories, and I compile and print them. On mum’s birthday, we all read the cards aloud, and she guesses who wrote each one. The cards go into the Memory Box, and she can revisit them whenever she wants.

My mum loves her Memory Box, and we do too. It’s a meaningful way to express our love for her without awkwardness. Plus, it’s the perfect gift for the rest of her life—no more scrambling for presents!

What makes a good wedding present? For me, it was about finding something truly special. Inspired by the success of the memory box I had given my mum for her 60th birthday and working with my wife (then my girlfriend), we came up with the Wedding Chest. We wanted to help my sister and her partner articulate their core values for marriage and allow their guests to share in this vision.

My wife and I created a list of Value Words, which we emailed to my sister and her partner for discussion and selection. They chose 15-20 words and added a few of their own. I then compiled these Value Words into a set of guest instructions and placed them in DL perspex holders on all the tables at the reception. At the wedding, guests filled out a card during the sit-down portion and placed it back in the holder. The cards were later collected and placed in the Wedding Chest. My sister appreciated not having to organize a separate guest registry, and the wishing well was incorporated into the chest.

Guests loved it because it broke the ice and let them contribute to my sister and her husband’s vision for their marriage. It also gave them a chance to share advice from their own experiences. My sister continues to use the Wedding Chest to collect cards and poems, and it’s become an ongoing treasure.

We also used a Wedding Chest at our wedding. In addition to the above, reading the cards gave us insight into our guests’ perspectives. Choosing our Value Words sparked meaningful conversations about our values as a couple. Over time, we’ve added categories like “My Valentine,” “Our Anniversaries,” “Adventures,” and individual sections for us and our kids. Now, for every anniversary or Valentine’s Day, I create a memory card. We also use this format for our kids’ birthdays, preserving cherished memories as they grow. We capture milestones like promotions or moments that are hard to photograph. Recently, we added a photo sticker option, so we can attach photos directly to the memory cards.

The Wedding Chest/Memory Box has made gift-giving easy and allowed us to preserve and celebrate meaningful moments in life. It’s now the most cherished possession we own.

My wife turned 30 just before our wedding, and she had agreed to take on my surname. She had mentioned wanting a ritual around “losing” her last name—a sort of symbolic farewell. The idea of combining this with something truly memorable started to form. The solution? A time capsule.

After some research, I discovered a few key things: preservation is crucial, it should be displayed if not buried, and it needs to be aesthetically pleasing, durable, and sealed. The contents should also be protected in case it’s ever opened.

What I created were two stainless steel tubes: an inner one with wooden caps, engraved with a secret message, and an outer one with her first name, old surname, and the inscription:

“Predictions, ponderings, and present perspectives… a gift from family and friends.”

The outer tube also listed the sealing date, the opening date, and a reminder of its contents to help when it’s opened in 30 years.

At the BBQ/party, I introduced the concept and provided stationery for each guest to write an A4 letter. They wrote their predictions or reflections about her life, which would be read on her 60th birthday. Afterward, the letters were sealed in the time capsule, which could only be opened with an angle grinder or tube cutter (much to the amusement of the guests and my wife).

Now, the time capsule is proudly displayed in our home, waiting to be opened when she turns 60.

The guests loved the experience, as the 30-year wait made them more open and thoughtful in their letters. It meant a lot to my wife that her family and friends, many of whom helped raise her, could leave messages for a time when they might not be around. Giving her a 60th birthday gift 30 years early symbolized the trust I have in our relationship and my optimism about being there to open it with her. She absolutely loved it.

When we first launched the business, our focus was on the Wedding Chest product, which led us to realize the need for stationery sets for each table. This sparked the design process for our own pencil tins, which were compact, aesthetically pleasing, and perfectly suited to complement wedding table decor.

During this process, we aimed to pair each color with key value words that embody the core values of meaningful relationships and are often celebrated in weddings. By carefully selecting vibrant, standout colors to align with these values, we ensured that each pencil was not only visually striking but also deeply meaningful. The result was “A Little Tin of Calm.”

In addition, we introduced the 14 Memory Card Packs to provide a framework around the Memory Box product, helping to capture, remember, and celebrate meaningful moments as we journey through life. A core feature of these cards is the mindful coloring process, which, when paired with our colored pencil sets, offers a truly unique experience. This pairing adds depth and personalization to each card. We wanted to create something more accessible than traditional adult coloring books, offering simple, versatile designs suitable for various occasions. We also recognized the appeal for kids, who love coloring in birthday cards. The easy-to-color cards quickly became a hit, blending creativity with everyday moments, all with a mindful twist.

My experiences creating these gifts got me thinking about the meaningful gift-giving market niche. When I was looking for a gift that was highly personal, with artisan design and quality that would be cherished for a lifetime, I could not find what I was looking for. As a result, I went through the lengthy and expensive process of building it myself. The gifts were so well received and talked about that I continued to refine the design and manufacturing process to solve this gap in the market and make it accessible to everyone. Highly meaningful, affordable gifts that can be easily personalized by you at home.