Welcome to Notes & Twine

Every Gift Has a Beginning.

One of my favorite parts of owning Keppel & Kismet is imagining where the things we make will end up.

A cutting board might become a wedding gift engraved with a new family’s name. A personalized journal might hold someone’s next big idea. A piece made around our workshop table might go home with a story about the friend who came along.

We get to play a small part in those moments. That’s something I never take for granted.

Welcome to Notes & Twine, a place to share the stories, ideas, and little observations behind what we do at Keppel & Kismet.

I’m Nichole, founder and Maker-in-Chief. I created Keppel & Kismet around a belief that continues to guide our gift shop and creative workshop studio here in Baltimore: thoughtful gifts and time spent creating together can help us build and nurture connection.

This blog is an extension of that belief.

I remember the first time I stood in Camp Small, surrounded by stacks of walnut, maple, oak, and more, harvested from trees that once shaded Baltimore streets.

I was there selecting wood that would eventually become cutting boards and charcuterie boards for Keppel & Kismet. As I looked around, I couldn’t help but wonder where each piece would end up.

One board might celebrate a first home. Another might become the centerpiece of a family’s Christmas table for years to come. Another might be given to someone who always makes room for an extra guest.

Long before the laser begins engraving, before the ribbon is tied, before a gift is unwrapped, there is already a story. Sometimes that story begins with a tree that spent decades growing in our own city.

When I choose materials, I think about those possibilities. What will someone love using? What could make this feel personal? What moments might it become part of?

Those questions are among the best parts of my work.

Making Room for Connection

I think about similar things when people gather around our workshop table.

We all have full calendars. Getting together can become something we keep meaning to do, right alongside finishing the book on the nightstand.

A creative workshop gives us a reason to put a date on the calendar, pull up a chair, and spend time together. There’s something easy about conversation when our hands are busy. We can try something unfamiliar, laugh at a crooked brushstroke, and help each other figure out what comes next.

You might arrive thinking about what you’ll make. I hope you leave with something you love and a memory of the people you made it with.

What You’ll Find Here

In Notes & Twine, I’ll share thoughtful gifting ideas, ways to bring your people together, and stories from behind the scenes at Keppel & Kismet.

Sometimes we’ll talk about recognizing a team or thanking a client. Sometimes we’ll explore a creative project, introduce a maker, or share what’s happening around our workshop table.

And sometimes I’ll share a thought that stays with me long after the shop closes.

My hope is that you find something useful here: an idea for someone you love, a reason to gather, or a little encouragement to make time for your own creativity.

I’m glad you’re here.

A Thought to Carry With You

The best gifts don’t begin with shopping. They begin with noticing the people around us.

Until next time,

Nichole
Founder & Maker-in-Chief
Keppel & Kismet

Connect. Create. Repeat.