A blind box
by Souza Ceramics

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Wonky Legend of the month

This month’s (not so) wonky legend is Mohamed Babahoum—a late-blooming artist who didn’t pick up a pen until his 70s. At first, he cheekily passed off his drawings as his grandson’s, but now he proudly shares his whimsical visions of rural Morocco: donkeys daydreaming, goats in trees, palm-fringed wells, and cane-waving elders —everyday wonders from his world near Essaouira. His bold, childlike marks dance across old boxes and scrap paper, capturing life with honesty, humour, and heart. A reminder that creativity has no age limit.

Mohamed Babahoum

(Not so)

Source: Artsper.com

March Playlist

This playlist is for quiet awakenings and the starts of newness. Sit back and listen, the sun will stay a while longer soon.

Let's Deep Dive Into the World of Blind Boxes...

Let’s step into the world of blind boxes—where they came from, why they’re everywhere, and how we can rethink collecting sustainably

February Playlist

New year, new frequencies. February calls for moody and nostalgic music for the first glimpses of longer days ahead.

Now listening to...

GracieSouz
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Better in Space

Why not give this a read

Souza stockists and events

Crafty Fox Market - The Crossing, Granary Square, London, N1C 4AA - 12 April 2025, 11am-5pm (Souza Ceramics)

Salad Days Market - Battersea Power station, London SW11 8DD - 26 May 2025, 11am-8pm (Souza Ceramics)

This month’s (not so) wonky legend is Mohamed Babahoum—a late-blooming magician of line and spirit who didn’t pick up a pen until his 80s.

At first, he cheekily passed off his drawings as his grandson’s, but now he proudly shares his whimsical visions of rural Morocco: donkeys daydreaming, goats in trees, palm-fringed wells, and cane-waving elders. His bold, childlike marks dance across old boxes and scrap paper, capturing life with honesty, humour, and heart.

A reminder that wonder has no age limit—and neither does creativity.

Portrait source: Artsper.com
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#naiveart #morocconartist #mohamedbabahoum #childlikert #artinspiration #artinto #historyofart #undergroundartists #rurallife #learnmore #artdiscovery #discoverartists

Inspiration in Morocco.
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#TileDesign #ColorfulDesign #VibrantSpaces #MoroccanStyle #QuirkyStyle #DesignInspo #MaximalistMood #DoorsOfInstagram #MorocconTravel #BoldAndBright #ModernRetro #WhimsicalWorld #Moodboard #Inspiration

Two exhibitions, one ticket, whatever you can pay. That’s what you get at the Hayward Gallery on Tuesdays & Sundays from 4pm-6pm.

Souza took advantage of this offer. And it's well worth the price of £3-£20.

Linder’s Danger Came Smiling feels playful and rebellious, smashing conventions with art integral to Manchester's punk scene.

But the real surprise? Mickalene Thomas’ All About Love. The rhinestones, the vibrant exploration of Black queerness and culture—joyous, powerful, and so beautifully crafted.

Two complementary exhibitions bursting with color and collage. Highly recommend. ✨

Open until 5 May.
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#WorldOfSouza #HaywardGallery #Linder #MickaleneThomas #ArtExhibition #PayWhatYouCan #LondonArtScene #ArtExploration

New month, shifting moods. March lingers between seasons—it's still cold, but the sun is out and trying to give a more permanent spring. Souza's soundtrack follows suit, gliding through golden-hour grooves, and the kind of melodies that stretch time.

Don't worry, if you sit back and listen, the sun will stay a while longer soon.

Featuring @reggiroomers @dustinohalloran @leah__dou
@uglyofficialuk @strawberry_guy @clammbon_official and more!

Let's stay a while. Let's settle in, and let the music carry you somewhere new.

Find it on the website with the full track list.
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#MarchPlaylist #SmoothMusic #IndieMusic #GlobalSounds #AmbientMusic #MusicDiscovery #EssentialTracks #EclecticMix #SouzaSounds #SouzaLovesMonthly

A sealed box. A mystery inside. A moment of anticipation before the grand reveal.

On the blog, let's ponder the world of blind boxes—where they came from, why they’re everywhere, and how we can rethink collecting with sustainability in mind.

The earth's first blind boxes were fukubukuro (translated as lucky bags), which were a Japanese promotion often offered by department stores during the New Year.This evolved in the 1960s into the blind boxes we know today.

The industry isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The global market is expected to grow from $2.4 million in 2024 to $4.3 million in 2025. As brands scale up their production to meet increasing demand, much of this excess material ends up in landfills, raising concerns about environmental sustainability.

Enter The Elementals—Souza Ceramics’ handmade take on the blind box concept. No throwaway plastic, no mass production—just 4 collectible creatures, crafted with hands that care, inspired by the elements, and made to last.

Read the full article on the blog now 🎁❔🎉
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Second photo Tokyo, 1966. Asahi Shimbun file photo Source: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14693255
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#blogpost #historyfacts #blindbox #mysterybox

This month’s (not so) wonky legend is Leonora Carrington, a surrealist powerhouse who blurred the lines between dreams and reality.

A rebellious spirit, she painted mystical creatures, eerie landscapes, and stories bursting with folklore and magic. Souza reads from her beautifully illustrated tarot deck which was lost until 2017.

As a leading force in surrealism—especially for women—she rejected convention, fleeing high society and later becoming a key figure in Mexico’s artistic and political scene. Her work was both rebellious and deeply symbolic, proving that magic, myth, and activism could coexist on the canvas.
💘

All pictures from archive.org
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#surrealart #surrealism #leonoracarrington #dreamscape #artinspiration #artinto #femaleartist #historyofart #dreamcore #surrealist #learnmore #artdiscovery #discoverartists

It's a mood.

The aesthetic of the Souzaverse and an inspiration to us all.
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All images sourced from @pinterest and tagged where possible.
1. Bode on Farfetch 2. Source unknown 3. Pom Pom Sisters 4. Thierry Lechanteur 5. Dave Nightingale 6. Mandarake
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#BrightArchitecture #ColorfulDesign #VibrantSpaces #InteriorGoals #QuirkyStyle #DesignInspo #MaximalistMood #MoreIsMore #EclecticStyle #BoldAndBright #ModernRetro #WhimsicalWorld #Moodboard #Inspiration

New year, tuning into new frequencies and discoveries. February calls for moody and nostalgic music that can coincide with the quite reflections on Souza.

This playlist drifts between hazy nostalgia and warmth woven through melancholic grooves. It’s the soundtrack for soft moments, late-night thoughts, and the first glimpses of longer days ahead.

Featuring @uncle.twist, @rooskinband, @shabasonandkrgovich, @songofcoco plus many more!

Go ahead, and press play.

Find it on the website with the full track list.
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#FebruaryPlaylist #SmoothMusic #IndieMusic #GlobalSounds #Grooves #MusicDiscovery #EssentialTracks #EclecticMix #SouzaSounds #SouzaLovesMonthly

Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away...

Souza believes sharing affection shouldn’t be limited to a single day, but 14 February is a good excuse to support local and small businesses and show how much love you have for someone through a thoughtful gift.

Any excuse for nice things is recommended.

Makers are amazing and Souza is friends with loads, so here are 10 ideas that perfectly capture the essence of love and support small shops at the same time.

Featuring the wonderful brands @farine.kitchen
@lynnie.z @kirrouhome @harrietsayshi @sustainablemakers_london @souzaceramics @little_egg_design @suneetalondon @persona.uk @slowhandssociety

Read the full article on World of Souza
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#sustainable #shopsmallshoplocal #giftguides #shopsmall #valentineday #happyvalentineday #valentinedayspecial #intags #valentinedaygifts #valentinedaygift #shopping #giftguide #handmadegifts #holidaygiftguide

Imagine waking up one day and deciding that with all the money you've made you're going to start a collection. A collection of splendid things. Of ceramic pieces from across the globe, so much, you just have to open a museum. Well, that's exactly what George Gardiner did and the Gardiner museum was born in Toronto in 1984.

Come with us to explore after recently reopening after a full scale transformation.

A little mention, it's currently pay what you can until the full building reopens... That means for as little as 1 Canadian Dollar (roughly 55p), you can see so much world class art. Amazing.

Why Souza loves it...
🦇 Lots and lots of wonky creatures to spot.
👍🏼 Ceramics are great to look at. Thumbs up.
🎁 Amazing little gift shop selling affordable art and gifts from local ceramic makers.
🎨 Cute little space for ceramic classes in the basement.
💕 Acknowledgement of the Indigenous art as part of the collection and plans to highlight and celebrate this further.
💤 Good benches for sleeping on (a lady was there with her eyes closed for a while, so must be good).
🌍 Art from lots of different countries including Japan, South America, Europe, China and Canada. Something for everyone! Very inspiring!

Read the full article on the blog.

@gardinermuseum
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#souzaloves #artcommunity #museumlover
#museumday #comewithme #artinspiration
#creativejourney #artexploration #torontomuseums #ceramicstoronto #toart #canadianartscene #artinto #gardinermuseum #ceramics #pottery #artlife

🪐 Wonky Legend of the Month 🪐

Introducing a signature Souza monthly feature aiming to inspire and boost your general knowledge.

It's almost Christmas so...

This month let's celebrate the quirky Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd, where a ribbon-adorned horse figure—often made from a real horse skull—brings festive luck to homes! Meaning "grey mare," this tradition blends Celtic mythology and holiday cheer. Groups would sing for entry at a home, sparking a playful, musical back-and-forth with homeowners until they were finally let inside for a drink.

Wishing you a fun and spirited Christmas! Hope you see a load of horses skulls (in the form of Mari Lwyd of course!)

Only a couple of weekends left to shop before Christmas, but leaving it until the last minute isn't recommended! 😵‍💫

There's been a little stock refresh of Souza Ceramics at both Better Things (Forest Hill) and One Paved Court (Richmond).

Stop by and get the perfect gift in the bag before it's too late.

@souzaceramics @betterthingslondon @onepavedcourt
@paved_court_popup
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#shopsmall #smallbusiness #christmasshopping #handmadegifts #christmasgifts #handmadeceramics #maximalistinteriors #maximalistdecor #brightcolorsmakemehappy

The December playlist is here!

Filled with an eclectic mix of Japanese City pop, moody Indie and some essential tracks from across the planet that you must know.

Take a moment to reflect on the year, ignore the genres Spotify wrapped made up for you, and spend an hour discovering some sounds that have been orbiting Souza in 2024.

Including the legendary Hiroshi Sato, The Free Music, @maro.musica @dreamsontapemusic @26fix.26fix.26fix
and more!

Find it on the website with the full track list.
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#DecemberPlaylist #CityPopVibes #IndieMusic #GlobalSounds #HiroshiSato #MusicDiscovery #EssentialTracks #EclecticMix #SouzaSounds #SouzaLovesMonthly

Officially launched into the stratosphere! 👁️👄👁️

So, you want to know more about this planet?

Souza is a fusion of creativity, culture, and community—a space where cute wonky faces and bold ideas come to life. Souza is the convergence of artistry and sound, a realm where ceramics, music, and discovery intertwine.

The home of Souza Ceramics (@souzaceramics) — handmade treasures infused with abstract patterns, vibrant colours, and the charm of imperfection, inspired by relics and folklore from around the globe and rooted in sustainable practices.

Alongside this, Souza channels a passion for music, blending cinematic and experimental sounds with a spirit of collaboration.

Together, these creative forces shape the Souza universe.

Now, it’s a home for makers and dreamers, offering unique creations, curated playlists, monthly features, and a growing community fueled by art, culture, and connection.

Come with us and discover more. Join us, move to our planet and follow along. Visit the new website to find out more!
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#artsandcrafts #homedecor #maximalistart #kawaiiaesthetic #creativecommunity #ceramics #potterylove #cutehome #homeware #jewellery #handmade #shopsmall #music #culture #artblog #smallbusiness #alternativegirl #coolclub #itsavibe #discoverypage #creativespace

Where worlds collide.

Bringing together all the things forming and orbiting Souza.

Wonky faces, clay creations and inspirations. Good music. Creative friends. Thrifting finds. Bold aesthetics. Markets and more.

Welcome, it's nice to have you here.

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Follow along on Instagram

@worldofsouza

A blind box by Souza Ceramics