[therealstore-blog]

These exquisite porcelain tea cups have become a new favourite at the r.e.a.l. store. The simple, understated impact of perfectly smooth porcelain looks amazing in almost any context. Beautifully finished, you could easily imagine sipping your favourite tea from these amazing pieces.

This set is made in a porcelain factory in Cluny, a small town in Burgundy, France. The factory was opened in 1798 in the waning years of the french Revolution and still operates today, producing perfectly simple pieces like these.

This is the only set we have available for purchase. Come into the store for a closer look, or purchase online here.

[therealstore-blog]

A reflection on 2011

Welcome to 2012.

This is our second year at The r.e.a.l store and we are loving it even more than the first. 2011 was a year which saw the beginning of a long-time dream of mine start to manifest.  We are taking small steps to create our own unique retail space, and it is quickly becoming a destination for like minded people. People who care, who love beautiful products, that understand the energy that a product or space can offer to nurture yourself and others, without it being mutually exclusive.

We occupy an amazing space (well we think it’s amazing! ), not only because of it’s interior - the french windows, the light, the courtyard, our flooring - but also because of the community that we share in Woolloomooloo. For me it is a wonderful window into the diversity of our world and the larger picture of humanity - Woolloomooloo is a microcosm of our world, that is created through differences; of individuals, characters, and businesses all with their own story and journey. I hope to be able to also see this reflected in our online community.

The S.E.A.T. Project for Indigenous literacy

Last year we launched our SEAT project in partnership with ALNF (The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation). SEAT went to 3 schools in Victoria, 3 schools in NSW, 2 ALNF pre school communities in Kempsie, a sustainable design show in Melbourne, and an Art & About Exhibition in Sydney. We were filmed by Saturday Disney, featured in the December issue of MiNDFOOD, and were guests of honor at the Girl Talk charity lunch in the Barossa in SA.

Tackling conflict minerals

Our other charity initiative this year was Protect the Child, generating awareness for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the issues surrounding the use of conflict minerals in everyday electronic devices. We've been slower to create an impact than I had hoped, but as with many of these issues that occupy our world, it doesn’t not go away, and  we will continue to try and do more for Protect the Child in 2012.

Sustainable, ethical design

In our store we showcased the wonderful and sustainable tableware from Wasara - a testimony that when you see great design, you witness the aesthetic and how it has a classic timelessness intertwined in it. On the interior design side we worked with some custom-made pieces with Water Tiger in recycled elm: tables, consoles and sideboards. The wood that our carpenters use is over 200 years old, reclaimed from old buildings in Northern China. We can really only imagine the stories that these pieces might tell. We then have our collection of  ‘one off’s’ from Water Tiger. Those special unique pieces - the painted Tibetan cabinets and sideboards that have found their perfect home, and in many cases are adding a rich warmth to beautiful contemporary homes.

So the journey for The r.e.a.l Store will continue this year in 2012. We have lots planned, lots to share and lots to do. So please stay with us as we discover, celebrate and share our journey with you.

Happy New Year and may 2012 bring all your dreams to reality.

Virginia  

[therealstore-blog]

If you were to leave one message to humanity, what would it be?

Hands That Shape Humanity is a social enterprise which asked this question of  76 extraordinary people including Desmond Tutu, Carlos Santana, Queen Noor al Hussein, and Isabel Allende.

The Hands mission is to inspire human potential; we each have the capacity to shape not only our own worlds, but also our greater community and consequently humanity.

You can wear the words of Desmond Tutu and Queen Noor al Hussein on these beautiful tees below. Produced by Egedeniz Textiles, Turkey's first certified organic textile company, they not only inspire human potential by reflecting the words of two amazing participants in the Hands project, but they provide a valuable opportunity for this Turkish community.

We're offering free postage within Australia on these two products in the lead-up to Christmas for purchases made at our online store. Enjoy.

[therealstore-blog]

One of the many beautiful things about a sustainable approach, is that often it forces you to be creative, and approach an existing situation from a completely new angle in order to come up with an innovative solution. This new range of Hands furnishings from a co-operative in Nepal is a great example.

Inscribed with the beautiful words of Isabel Allende, these cushions are made from lokta paper, a material derived from the Lokta bush (Daphne papyracea) which grows at ranges of 2000-3000 metres, high in the Himalayas. Traditionally, it's been used ceremonially by Nepalese monks and many ancient (and modern) scriptures take advantage of the paper's durability, and the availability of it's source.

A co-operative, named Womanpower, aims to bring together traditional Nepalese skills and materials with western design, to find new and innovative ways of using this material. That's right: these cushions are made of PAPER!

So why is lokta paper so sustainable?

A few reasons:

Much like bamboo, the Lokta bush grows very quickly

The bush grows in the shade, which means farming it doesn't require the cutting down of forests

The paper is handmade and sun-dried, so doesn't require the use of machinery

The part of the bush which isn't used for paper is extremely useful to be burned as fuel for cooking, so literally no part of the bush is wasted

Perhaps most importantly, this innovation is providing economic and social empowerment for a large group of women in Nepal

Read more about Womanpower here, and take a closer look at these innovative products here.

[therealstore-blog]

Tis the season to be jolly, right?

So don't let your ever-growing Christmas to-do list get you down. All you need is one of these sweet homeopathic bach flower (updated 31st jan) remedies from the very lovely Ann and Kirsty at KinKit!

Ann, an aromatherapist, and Kirsty, a naturopath and herbalist, have been making home remedies for friends and family (kin!) for years, and decided a few years ago to share the love.

With cute concepts like 'Cool Yule' (for when you need to deck the halls, without hitting the deck), and 'Smile & Glide' (for helping you learn to dance on a shifting magic carpet), they make a really cute, inexpensive gift for someone extraordinary (or to provide the kick that you need).

There are six varieties, of which we have five each, and we're offering free postage while they last, so be quick! Shop here.