I’m writing this from Porto, which still feels slightly unreal to say!
I’ve been here for two weeks, and most of that time has been spent doing the very unglamorous parts of an international move: setting up utilities, opening bank accounts, coordinating customs, tracking a shipping container that currently holds most of my studio somewhere between continents.
My tools are in transit. My routine is not established. I’m working off a temporary setup and rebuilding piece by piece.
Due to the move, I had to put my energy to finishing the logistics. So sorry I have been MIA! Moving a life and a business overseas took a lot out of me, and I wanted to make sure I was finally here before checking in again!
This move wasn’t impulsive. It’s been something I have been planning with my team for over 4 years. Being in Portugal means I’m closer to cork production, closer to European partners, and closer to materials that have shaped my work from the beginning. When you build physical products, proximity changes everything.
On the exciting side: our Japan tool shipment is finally almost here. (I know. It’s been a wait.) Pre-orders should start shipping in the next few weeks. Thank you for sticking with me on that.
There will also be some price adjustments coming soon. International shipping and production realities are very real, and I want to be transparent about that. I’ll share details before anything changes.
Right now, I’m in the in-between — setting up, learning, walking everywhere, slowly building the next version of this business from the ground up.
Thank you for being here while I do it! I can't wait to share more on how things unfold here as i set up my life and business.
XO,
Melanie