A small toy with a big message

Having mastered the art of ‘less is more’, two crafty local moms have specialised in turning everyday items into something special, bringing natural living back into your home.

Erin van der Merwe is the Quirk.e one who is known for her custom made toys and scatter cushions, while Nicole Maurel is creating toys full of character with her crochet needles.

“We are always dreaming about raising children simply and naturally and making stuff for them, ” said Nicole, a mother of five and postpartum doula who moved to Ballito seven years ago.

She met Erin pretty much as she arrived and the two became instant friends.

“Both of us are passionate about living simply with our families. People always think with five children, your house is bound to be a mess, but my home is always neat because we do not have a lot of stuff on purpose.”

The two friends beamed with excitement as they chatted about their children playing together.

“Having less toys and things that keep them in the house, makes them play outside more and encourages them to use their imagination,” said Erin, who is a mother of two children and has been creating unique gifts with her business, Quirk.e.

Also read: A home with hygge

“And they are little entrepreneurs – constantly making things and selling them. It gives them drive and they are always dreaming, like we do,” said Maurel.

After years of dreaming, they took the bold move of starting a little business last year called Écrou. The soul of the business is straightforward – quality not quantity.

“Our motto is ‘everyday things for everyday kids’, which was also the inspiration for our business name which means nuts and bolts in French.

“Our quest is to create locally made, good quality toys using natural materials designed with clean-lines. We make super hero toys, adoption rocks and other crafty goods.”

But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“To start with, we are just using what we have to build towards the bigger dream – creating a brand that focuses on raising children simply.

“We want to go beyond the toy and become part of people’s lives to help them declutter their busy homes and tone down their hectic lives through our practical tips and design ideas.

“It is about being mindful of what you are buying and being sustainable, as you want your stuff to grow with you.”

Erin can be contacted on 0833214997 and Nicole on 0727026728.

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