Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where creative female thinking meets thoughtful execution—and harks back to slow living, timelessness and the value of handmade craft to create truly precious objects.
The Kindred Lantern Studio
Each Kindred Lantern is handmade across the studios of A Little Light (Jo Schoof) and Unearthed Ceramics (Katrina Carling), both located in Northern Melbourne/Naarm. The lantern combines traditional craft techniques with a focus on slow, intentional making.
Every lantern is made to order and carefully packed by Jo and Katrina.
The Wax Lantern
Each wax form begins with a hand-etched clay prototype by Katrina. This single carved piece established the rhythm and texture that carries through the final form. From this, Jo developed a bespoke mould, refined through a steep learning curve and extensive testing.
Individually hand-poured from a blend of microcrystalline and paraffin wax, the ultra-hard wax is chosen for its durability, high melting point, and gentle translucence.
As the candle burns within, its flame does more than glow through the wax—the play of light and shadow through the etched surface draws the eye, revealing the depth, variation, and movement held within the original hand-work.
The Ceramic Plinth
The ceramic base is formed from a blend of two Australian mid-fire clays. It is wedged by hand and thrown on the wheel using traditional methods, before being individually carved once leather-hard and fired. Each piece is then glazed with one of Katrina’s studio-developed recipes and fired at 1200°C, forming the supportive base of the lantern and echoing the etched surface of the wax form above.
A small hand-built ceramic dish holds the internal candle and anchors the wax lantern in place. Made from Australian clay, it is pressed with the A Little Light & Unearthed Ceramics collaboration mark.
The Lantern Candles
Handcrafted in the A Little Light studio, these candles are designed specifically for the Kindred Lantern.
They burn cleanly and brightly, casting a luminous glow across the hand-carved surface of the wax form. Each candle is hand-poured in Jo’s backyard studio using her signature textured cold-pour technique.
The Packaging
Each Kindred Lantern is carefully packaged within a custom-designed, hand-painted tube. The surface is layered with brushstrokes, a pattern designed to echo the unique hand-carved texture of the lantern it protects. No two tubes are the same, each carrying its own rhythm and variation through the hand-painted process.
An assembly and care booklet sits within, printed on delicate washi paper made from natural fibres. Its subtle translucence echoes the wax form itself. Each booklet is trimmed, folded, and bound by hand with thread and saddle stitch.
Each lantern is accompanied by a hand-signed card from the makers, marked with its unique edition number.
Sustainability
Every aspect of Kindred Lantern has been considered with sustainability and longevity in mind. From materials to packaging, each decision is made with care for both environmental and social impact.
Kindred Lantern is designed to be kept, reused, and carried through different stages of life. The hand-painted storage tube is intended for safekeeping and ongoing use, becoming part of the object’s extended life rather than disposable packaging.
The A Little Light studio operates from a purpose-built, 7-star energy rated workshop powered by rooftop solar. The Unearthed Ceramics studio is powered by 100% renewable energy, with a highly efficient kiln and systems in place to minimise clay and water waste.
Our approach to packaging prioritises recyclable, compostable, and reusable materials, with a focus on keeping resources in circulation wherever possible. This includes recycled tissue paper, paper-based protective wrap, water-soluble plant-based packing fill, and water-activated paper tape.
We work with environmentally and socially focused local printing houses to produce small runs of our labels and postcards, while our bespoke tubes are individually hand-painted by a local artist.