Notes from the workshop
Guides, size comparisons and honest notes about how handmade pipe cleaner art and knitted hats are really made — written by the people who make them in Fujian, China.
What Is Chenille? The Material Behind Every Pipe Cleaner Dragon
Chenille — the fuzzy wire craft material most people know as a pipe cleaner — explained from the maker's bench: how it is built and why it behaves the way it does.
How to Measure Your Wrist for a Bracelet (and Get the Fit Right First Time)
Wrap a soft tape above the wrist bone, read the number, then add 1–1.5 cm of ease. Here is the exact method, a size table, and what to do if you are between sizes.
Gemstone or Glass Bead? How to Tell What You Are Actually Buying
Natural stone is cool to the touch, has internal variation and tiny inclusions, and costs more per bead. Glass is uniform, warmer and lighter. Here is how to check in ten seconds.
How to Stack Bracelets Without Looking Like You Tried Too Hard
Start with one anchor piece, add contrast in texture rather than colour, keep to an odd number, and leave one wrist bare. Five rules that make a stack look deliberate.
A Practical Guide to Giving Handmade Jewellery (Without Guessing the Size)
The four things that decide whether handmade jewellery lands well: correct size, a material they actually wear, enough lead time for a made-to-order piece, and packaging that does the explaining for you.
How to Measure a Dog's Neck for a Collar (the Two-Finger Rule)
Measure around the neck where the collar sits, high and snug, then add 2–5 cm. Two fingers should slide flat underneath. Here is the method, a size table by breed, and the mistakes to avoid.
Pet-Safe Fabrics: What to Look For and What to Skip
Breathable natural fibres and tightly woven synthetics are the safe defaults. The real risks are loose threads, thin elastic, small glued-on parts, and coatings that trap heat. A material-first guide.
Cat Bandana vs Dog Bandana: Why the Sizing Is Not the Same
Cats need a breakaway or tie-on bandana sized to the neck with room to lie flat, and most cats will not tolerate a collar-mounted one. Dogs take a collar-slide bandana sized to the neck plus 5–10 cm. Here is how to measure each.
Custom Pet Gifts That Actually Get Used (and the Ones That Don't)
The gifts that get used solve a real problem — fit, comfort, identification. The ones that don't are novelty items sized to a photo rather than a measurement. Here is how to tell the difference before you order.
What to Buy for Someone Who Has Everything (A Handmade Gift Guide)
A practical way to choose a gift for the person who already owns everything — start from a moment instead of a product, and why made-to-order pieces solve the problem that bought-out gifts don't.
Pipe Cleaner Dragon Sizes Explained: How to Choose the Right One
Our pipe cleaner dragons are priced by length, from $159 to $299. Here is how to work out which size suits a desk, a shelf, a gift or a centrepiece.
How to Clean and Care for Chenille (Pipe Cleaner) Art
Dust, sunlight, humidity and packing — a practical care guide for handmade pipe cleaner dragons and long-pile knitted hats, written by the people who make them.
What "Made to Order" Actually Means (and Why Nothing Is in Stock)
We do not keep inventory. Every dragon and every hat is made after you order — here is the real timeline, why overseas orders go first, and what happens before your parcel ships.
All 12 Animal-Ear Hats Compared: Cat, Fox, Wolf, Bear and Bunny
Every Lumi atelier hat is $96 and hand-knitted in long pile. Here is how the twelve designs actually differ — by ear shape, colour mood and who suits them.
How Custom Colour Orders Work (and What the 20% Surcharge Covers)
Send us a photo of any colour and we will match it. Here is how custom colour requests work for dragons and hats, what the surcharge covers, and how to get the match right first time.
Wholesale, Bulk Orders and Sourcing from China: How We Work With Buyers
For retailers, studios and anyone sourcing handmade craft or other goods from China — our wholesale terms, how batches are scheduled, and how the sourcing service fee works.
How a Pipe Cleaner Dragon Is Made, Step by Step
Wire core, chenille wrap, segment by segment — a look at how a Lumi atelier dragon is actually built by hand, and why two pieces are never identical.
Looking for something specific? We take custom colors, sizes and wholesale orders.
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