One of the greatest joys of building Gala hasn't just been designing Paper Vases, it's been meeting the incredible people behind other small New Zealand businesses.
From early mornings setting up market stalls to sharing stories over quiet moments between customers, we've met passionate makers who pour their hearts into creating thoughtful products for the home and everyday life.
This Journal isn't sponsored, and nobody has paid to be featured. These are simply brands we've met, admire, and genuinely recommend. If you're looking for a meaningful gift, or simply love discovering beautiful independent makers, we hope you'll enjoy them as much as we do.
The Mad Plantist
A home always feels more inviting with a touch of greenery.
The Mad Plantist creates beautifully designed hanging plant racks that transform houseplants into part of your home's décor. Rather than placing plants on shelves or windowsills, these thoughtfully crafted pieces elevate them, adding height, texture and personality to any room.
Whether you're styling a cosy apartment, refreshing a reading corner or searching for a thoughtful housewarming gift, their hanging racks offer a simple way to create a home that feels calm, lived-in and full of life.
Each design is both practical and beautifully made, proving that everyday objects can be functional while still feeling like works of art.
Why it made Gala's List
We love how The Mad Plantist encourages us to see plants as part of the home's design, not just something to decorate with. Their hanging plant racks bring warmth, character and a little everyday joy to the spaces we spend the most time in.
Perfect for gifting to:
- Plant lovers
- New homeowners
- Apartment dwellers
- Anyone who loves bringing nature indoors
Discover The Mad Plantist
www.themadplantist.com | @mad_plantist
Ceci's Clay Art
Some gifts are practical. Others simply make people smile.
Ceci's Clay Art creates charming handmade ceramic balloons that capture the joy and wonder of a real celebration, except these balloons never fade away. Carefully crafted by hand, each piece becomes a playful sculpture that adds colour, personality and a sense of happiness to any room.
Whether displayed on a shelf, gifted to celebrate a birthday, welcome a new baby or brighten someone's home, these ceramic balloons are a beautiful reminder that life's special moments deserve to be celebrated long after the day has passed.
Each piece reflects Ceci's creativity, craftsmanship and love of bringing a little more joy into everyday spaces.
Why it made Gala's List
We love how Ceci transforms something so fleeting into a lasting keepsake. Her ceramic balloons feel joyful, nostalgic and completely unique—a beautiful reminder that home should always make you smile.
Perfect for gifting to:
- New homeowners
- New parents
- Birthday celebrations
- Colour lovers
- Anyone who enjoys unique handmade art
Discover Ceci's Clay Art
cecisballoons.com | @cecisclayart
The Pretty Collective
Every home deserves flowers...even the ones that never need watering.
The Pretty Collective creates handcrafted paper flowers that capture the beauty and softness of fresh blooms while becoming timeless pieces to treasure. Every arrangement is thoughtfully made by hand, transforming simple paper into delicate floral art that brings colour, texture and elegance to any space.
Perfect for homes where fresh flowers aren't always practical, these everlasting blooms become a beautiful centrepiece that can be enjoyed season after season. They also make a thoughtful gift, carrying all the sentiment of flowers while creating a keepsake that lasts far beyond the occasion.
Each creation is a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity and the beauty found in everyday moments.
Why it made Gala's List
We love that The Pretty Collective celebrates flowers in a completely different way. Their paper blooms are joyful, beautifully crafted and designed to be treasured for years, making them a truly meaningful gift.
Perfect for gifting to:
- Flower lovers
- New homeowners
- Mother's Day
- Birthdays
- Anyone who appreciates handcrafted design
Discover The Pretty Collective
theprettycollective.co.nz | @theprettycollective
The Tea Thief
Some of the best moments at home begin with a simple cup of tea.
The Tea Thief carefully blends premium loose-leaf teas designed to encourage you to slow down, savour the moment and enjoy the small rituals of everyday life. Beautifully packaged and thoughtfully crafted, each blend transforms an ordinary tea break into something a little more special.
Whether you're welcoming someone into a new home, creating a thoughtful gift hamper or simply looking for a quiet moment to yourself, The Tea Thief offers an experience that's as comforting as it is beautiful.
Every blend reflects a love of quality ingredients, mindful living and the simple pleasure of sharing a cup of tea.
Why it made Gala's List
We love how The Tea Thief reminds us that the most meaningful moments at home are often the simplest ones. A beautiful cup of tea has a way of slowing life down, bringing people together and turning an ordinary afternoon into a little ritual.
Perfect for gifting to:
- Tea lovers
- New homeowners
- Hosts and entertainers
- Self-care enthusiasts
- Anyone who appreciates life's slower moments
Discover The Tea Thief
theteathief.co.nz | @theteathief
Calma Sleeps
Home should be the place where we feel most at peace.
Calma Sleeps creates beautifully considered sleep essentials designed to help transform everyday routines into calming rituals. From luxurious silk pillowcases to thoughtfully curated sleep accessories, every product is made to bring a little more comfort, softness and rest into your daily life.
Beautifully designed and a pleasure to use, Calma reminds us that caring for ourselves doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, the smallest rituals—slipping into bed with a silk pillowcase, lighting a candle or taking a quiet moment before sleep—can make the biggest difference.
Whether you're treating yourself or searching for a thoughtful gift, Calma Sleeps offers pieces that encourage slower evenings and more restful nights.
Why it made Gala's List
We love that Calma Sleeps celebrates one of life's greatest luxuries—rest. Their beautiful products encourage us to slow down, create intentional evening rituals and turn our bedrooms into peaceful retreats.
Perfect for gifting to:
- Self-care lovers
- New homeowners
- New mums
- Wellness enthusiasts
- Anyone who deserves a little extra rest
Discover Calma Sleeps
calmasleeps.com | @calma_sleeps
Blushing Tea
Tea has a beautiful way of bringing people together.
Blushing Tea creates thoughtfully blended teas that turn everyday moments into small rituals worth slowing down for. Beautifully presented and inspired by the joy of sharing, each blend is crafted to bring comfort, warmth and a little everyday indulgence.
Whether enjoyed during a quiet afternoon, shared with friends or gifted to someone special, Blushing Tea invites us to pause, connect and savour life's simple pleasures. It's the kind of gift that feels both thoughtful and beautifully personal.
Every cup is a reminder that slowing down can be one of the greatest luxuries of all.
Why it made Gala's List
We love how Blushing Tea transforms an everyday cup of tea into a beautiful experience. Thoughtfully blended and beautifully presented, it's a gift that encourages us to pause, connect and enjoy the moment.
Perfect for gifting to:
- Tea lovers
- Hosts and entertainers
- New homeowners
- Friends who deserve a little pampering
- Anyone who enjoys slow living
Discover Blushing Tea
blushingtea.co.nz | @blushingtea
Gala Studio Paper Vases
Sometimes, the most beautiful designs are also the simplest.
Gala Studio Paper Vases were created to celebrate the everyday beauty already found in our homes. Designed in New Zealand, each reusable paper vase wraps around an ordinary glass bottle or jar, transforming it into a striking centrepiece in just a few seconds.
Delivered flat and easy to post, Gala Studio Paper Vases are designed to be gifted, displayed and enjoyed again and again. Simply unfold, wrap around your favourite bottle, add fresh flowers, and watch an everyday object become something unexpected.
For us, Gala has always been about more than creating a product. It's about encouraging people to slow down, bring flowers into their homes more often, and discover how thoughtful design can transform even the simplest moments.
Why it made Gala's List
Because Gala is the reason this list exists.
One of the greatest gifts we've received through building Gala has been meeting the incredible community of independent makers featured in this Journal. Their creativity, generosity and passion continue to inspire us, and we're honoured to share their beautiful work alongside our own.
Perfect for gifting to:
- Flower lovers
- Design enthusiasts
- New homeowners
- Hosts and entertainers
- Anyone who appreciates thoughtful design
Discover Gala Studio
galastudio.nz | @galastudio.nz
Supporting Small Makes a Big Difference
Every product featured in this Journal has one thing in common: it was created by someone who had an idea and chose to bring it into the world.
Building a small business is rarely a straight path. It takes courage, persistence and countless hours behind the scenes, often balanced alongside families, full-time jobs and everyday life. That's why we're so grateful to have met the talented makers featured here.
When you choose to support a small business, you're doing far more than purchasing a product. You're encouraging creativity, celebrating craftsmanship and helping real people continue doing what they love.
We hope you've discovered a new favourite today.
And if you know an independent New Zealand maker whose work deserves to be celebrated, we'd love to hear from you.
With love,
Camila
Founder, Gala Studio