The main gates to our ten-acre compound where we live and work on beautiful Tiwi Beach.

Situated 18 kilometres south of Mombasa on the main road to the Tanzanian border, Tiwi Beach is a quiet, largely undeveloped stretch of coastline with no hotels—just a few small bars, a campsite, some cottages and us.

All our work is carried out Jua Kali—in the open. We use traditional tools, no electricity, and employ only local craftsmen from the nearby village. At present we employ more than 20 staff members, all of whom walk or cycle to work.

Seen here is Bernard applying our famous "Geko" logo to what will eventually become a mirror frame. Bernard has been with us for more than ten years.

The beginnings of a bed leg, carved from an old piece of driftwood found almost five years earlier. You can still see the holes made by borer worms during its time in the ocean. These natural markings will remain visible when the piece is finally completed, about six months from now.

We have been known to spend as long as two years creating a single piece of furniture.

Another old piece of driftwood is laboriously being fashioned into an elephant table. This process will probably take at least another year.

One of our carvers, Juma, adding the final touches to another desk leg. See the finished product here.

Juma is also the leader of our own traditional band, The Funzi Fundis.

Our own band, The Funzi Fundis. Every member either works, or has worked, with us. They perform traditional village music, write all of their own songs in Swahili, and play handmade instruments. Even the drums are fashioned from plastic water containers. Their sound is extraordinary, and they perform regularly at nearby hotels.