It’s National Simplicity Day!

This holiday honours the birth of Henry David Thoreau, who was born 205 years ago today on July 12, 1817.

As Thoreau famously said: “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”

Many people take the occasion on Simplicity Day to declutter their homes and get rid of unwanted items. For those of us living on the Gulf Islands, it’s not surprising Thoreau’s experience of moving into an isolated cabin in the woods resonates. The wish for a simpler life probably motivated many ex-city dwellers to build their island lives.

Taking a minimalist approach to material possessions is also very much in line with our thinking at Artcraft. Our hope is that people will bring objects into their lives with more careful consideration — choosing a few well-made, unique or artfully made items to treasure, instead of having a house full of disposable factory-made goods.

As another oft-quoted passage from Thoreau has it: “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”

Image: Black walnut Charcuterie Board and elm Sugi Ban Table by Anna-Karolina Szul with porcelain vase y Margo Zak.