Inside the Tinkerbox Studios

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Inside the Tinkerbox Studios

I make everyday things that solve problems; pro-sustainability; made to order. Got a problem to solv

14/05/2026

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘

If you haven’t yet noticed, I adore colourful fabric and today’s colour is blue. When I saw this blueberry fabric, I had to have it, and I ended up buying it in all three colourways; I am a huge fan of ’s Under the Apple Tree collection and this fabric inspired me to eat blueberries!

Did you know that blue is a very rare colour in natural foods? Blueberries are blue from red and purple pigments in anthocynins 𝘢𝘯𝘥 a visual trick of the eye from a wax coating that land plants naturally produce? And did you know that anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that reduce inflammation and improve heart health?

Anthocyanins are also present in foods like cherries, blackberries, aubergine (skin), and red cabbage; thankfully, I enjoy eating all these foods. I had my anthocyanins with ice cream and with Greek yoghurt, honey and homemade muesli. I also love British braised red cabbage, which is popular in the winter, great as leftovers, and I think will work well with the Asian palette!

So which is your fave blueberry 💙🩵🤍 and would you like a simple braised red cabbage recipe so you can cook your own? ☺️

03/05/2026

Hello I’m Kay, and my earliest memory making something was an origami family and origami furniture, with my favourite grandma, when I was about 5.

Most people who know my brand know it for the 𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄. And most of you then think yellow is my fave colour. It’s not. I’m a brand strategist and this is the story behind my brand visual identity [so much more than just a logo].

***

When I developed my brand, I wanted it to convey happiness. Most sustainable brands are green and beige and I didn’t want to disappear in the crowd. I also didn’t know what future paths would be. So I eschewed the green and beige colour palette, and the limiting conjugation of the verb “to sew” in my brand name.

This translated to a primary brand colour that stands out from the crowd that conveys positivity; and a logo built with different tools and hardware - besides a sewing machine, a hacksaw (and yes, I do own one) spanner, and screws. No AI was used in this brand development 😬

I’ve always tinkered with stuff, hence “𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿.” I’ve been fascinated with the “what if” possibilities of thinking inside the box vs. outside and the box hence “𝗯𝗼𝘅.” 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗼𝘅. As for my IG handle, a simple “Tinkerbox” wasn’t available so I put in the element of discovery, “What’s inside the box?”

So there you have it! The strategy behind my brand’s visual identity. If you’re a small business, I consult on brand strategy development so your logo isn’t just a pre-kerned font and arm@you with a tool kit for communicating your brand.

💛 I even choose to use a yellow heart

14/04/2026

These days, adventure looks like being able to walk to places that and I haven’t been to before, coz walking is our default way of getting from A to B. It’s much slower than bus, train or car, and the heat is brutal.

I’m largely confined to the Village at the moment because I don’t want to leave Whiskey alone at home. He’s blind and he’s lost strength in his legs, and I don’t want him to feel distress from being alone, even if he sleeps a lot these days. He’s doing a lot better now hut he is a senior mister and needs more care. So I was very happy I could take him with me when I fabric shopped at a sewing studio within walking distance.

I got my hands on a few odd-sized rolls of fabric, only about 25 cm wide. It turns out that these chubby rolls were cut from bespoke printed rolls – there was unprinted space left on the width of fabric and the studio asked their supplier to print something - completely random – so that the fabric could be used for small projects in their classes! That’s such a good idea!

The macaron fabric brought me back to my flat in London, when I loved macarons and was obsessed with making them myself. I made them the French meringue and way and my fave flavour pairing was a matcha shell with raspberry dark chocolate ganache. I didn’t have enough confidence to attempt macarons in SG’s humidity and hung up that apron.

The floral fabric is a bit of a deviation from my usual choice of fabrics but I couldn’t put it down. I can’t even articulate why I’m drawn to this print but I love it and looking at the fabric just makes me happy.

I hope you like these two prints. I have one more waiting to be laundered, and that’s another print and colour palette that isn’t my typical. I hope you’ll like all of them. I plan on turning all these into snack baggies to maximise the fabric, and generate the last amount of waste.

The macarons is the most limited so if you like macarons too, please DM me to place a custom order, until I get my act together and list them on my website 🙈

💛💛💛

21/02/2026

I didn’t want to share this, and I can’t even bring myself to show you my epic fail so I’ve blurred the image. I’m a perfectionist and I learn quickly but life doesn’t always play by my rules. But first:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? This is a tissue pouch.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲? I don’t buy individual packs of pocket tissue; I buy tissue packaged as minimally as possible, and decant them into tissue holders because I don’t like printed tissue cardboard boxes. Sometimes I want or need tissue instead of a handkerchief, so having them on hand is necessary. I have an old pocket tissue cover, but it doesn’t hold much so sometimes I run out. The most painful thing about that is refilling is because I have to fold each sheet individually and I find that tedious.

𝗦𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 spend as little time refilling my tissues, in order to minimise the inconvenience of both refilling tedium and running out? I need a pouch that houses more than 5 or 6 full-size sheets of half-fold tissues, no unfolding and refolding of individual sheets, with a tab for a carabiner (you know how I love my carabiners) and in pretty fabric ☺️

I’m not a professional bag maker or pattern drafter so constructing this involved a lot of mistake making:

• My first attempt, I was over confident and couldn’t figure out the construction — so much unpicking and a finish I wasn’t happy with;
• ⁠3 mini prototypes from old bedsheets to not waste more pretty fabric;
• ⁠1 mistake in measurements and using the wrong type fabric
• ⁠Then finally something I’m happy with and am currently using

I was told tissue packs come in larger sizes now but this was made specifically for me so it fits what I buy.

The latest version seem promising and it’s in my bag. I don’t know if I’ll keep this design or return to the drawing board. I’ll assess it after some use.

And finally the question — extra or useful? I guess it depends on the user. It’s defo very useful for me!

11/02/2026

I’m so excited to announce that these scrunchies made from upcycled Japanese obi fabric have launched on my website! Three designs are available:
1. Peaches n’ Cream
2. Sweet Pink
3. Abstract Watercolour

https://insidethetinkerbox.com/collections/solid-scrappie-scrunchies

My website is still chaotic but 2026 is my year of learning to manage stock across website and in-person sales, and this is the first batch that’s made it up with available quantities.

I also wanted to report that together, we raised $112 for the migrant brothers in my neighbourhood from the sale of the 2025 batch. For those of you who purchased a scrunchie, thank you 💛. The contribution will go towards their food and/or dental fund, managed by a co-founder of . I am also setting aside a portion of proceeds from this new batch, so know that every purchase will do our migrant brothers good, just as we’re doing good for the environment by using leftover fabric and not letting it go to waste 💛💛💛

04/01/2026

*Greetings from far and away*

Hey guys, it's been a minute! I haven't really shared much recently, and as I said in my New Year's post, it's been 14 months of busy; even after my final 2025 event, I didn't stop working till the day before my flight. I'm finally on a much-needed holiday – peaceful suburbs, sprawling woods, busy city, and coastal quiet.

Even though I'm a small business myself, I'm not immune to the draw of mass market discounts, but I love experiencing local and shopping small.

One of the local shops in NYC that I've had on my list is The Locavore Variety Store . Owner Caroline Weaver does such an amazing job talking about small business in NYC I had to go see her shop in person. , if I ever produce in your radius, please stock me! We bought a matzoh ball kit because have you had good matzoh ball soup? Hard to make but OMG. In Philly, we spent an afternoon checking out .co and – lovely refillery sustainable general stores where we bought some loose laundry pods coz we'll have clothes to wash soon and a few dishwasher tabs. Oh yes, I'd love to have a cozy little shop like these but SG rental makes it so hard.

Small business is tough work and tiny business (I'm a tiny business) might even be harder. We don't benefit from economies of scale and even batch making is piecemeal.

This year, my guiding principle is to take care of the little things, however insignificant. I'd love your support; if you think what I do is useful and sparks joy, shop with me – small, local, and personal. If you don't need anything right now, take a moment to read a post and interact with it. These little things make such a difference – from awaking the algorithm to a digital pat on my back.

I plan to share more about this trip and what I'm up to. Taking the time to personally write this post brings me much joy as I get to exercise creativity differently, through words with rhythm and cadence.

Happy 2026 guys! Thanks for journeying with me 💛

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+65 81892807

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