You probably know the feeling: your favorite mug falls from your hands and shatters into a thousand pieces. For a moment, you're deeply disappointed. But what if this mishap isn't the end, but rather a new beginning? Because even in repairing broken things, small joys can be found. The joy of fixing something with your own hands, the pride when it works again, or the beauty that emerges from a break or a crack.
Kintsugi, the golden connection
Let's start with that broken mug, vase, or plate. Don't throw it in the trash in frustration, but first see if you can put the pieces back together. If so, Kintsugi is a wonderful way to give them a second life.
Kintsugi literally means "golden bond" and is the Japanese art of repairing ceramics using gold lacquer. With a Kintsugi repair kit, you mix glue with gold powder and reconnect the shards, leaving the gold-colored glue beautifully visible. The result is often a unique and beautiful object that not only gets a second life but can also give you years of enjoyment.
Creative textile repair
It's not just ceramics that can be repaired in a unique way. Clothing and textiles also lend themselves perfectly to creative repairs. And precisely because they remain visible, they gain added meaning.
With visual mending, for example, you can transform a hole or stain into a striking detail. A gold or silver fabric sticker over a stain, or contrasting stitching around a tear: what was once a nuisance becomes a decoration that makes your clothing unique.
Techniques like dry felting are also surprisingly simple. With loose wool and a special needle, you can pierce holes, almost like magic. Working with contrasting colors creates a playful and cheerful result. Or try sashiko , the Japanese embroidery art of "little stitches." Once used to reinforce and repair the clothing of farmers and fishermen, it has now evolved into a decorative embroidery art. This creates clothing that not only lasts longer but also tells a story.
Repairing together at the Repair Café
Of course, there are also things you can't fix on your own. Fortunately, there are Repair Cafés: meeting places where volunteers help you repair furniture, appliances, bicycles, or toys. It's not only convenient, but also fun and educational. How nice is it to see with your own eyes that your coffee maker or bicycle is working again, and that you helped make it happen? Find a Repair Café near you here: www.repaircafe.org
Small happiness in great value
In a world where it often seems easier to throw things away and buy new, repairing them can actually bring great satisfaction. It requires some attention and creativity, but gives a lot in return: pride, a connection with your belongings, and a unique story in every repaired object. Little accidents happen. But it's precisely in repairing them that you can find great happiness.
Don't know how to start?
At Maison KOOS you will find several nice different sets with the right materials and a nice explanation.
The author: Kirsten Oosterwaal
Kirsten from Happlify crew member Maison KOOS has had a keen eye for Scandinavian, minimalist, and sustainable design for years. In her shop, you'll find the most beautiful brands, lovingly curated by her. Kirsten's blog posts >
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