Mirjam is like a golden thread that is woven throughout the Kalk Bay community – a community that she cares deeply about and that we are lucky to have our studio and shop in.  She has a special knack for tapping into someone’s talents and gentle guiding them to their full potential.

I (Abi) first met Mirjam as I joined her art classes in her stunning studio that is above the iconic Olympia Café and overlooking the local harbour.  Her art classes have inspired our series of cards in our shop – watercolours I did in her class.  And we also regularly sell artist’s work from the class in our shop.  Mirjam also introduced me to Gracie who had worked with Mirjam in the past - Gracie now works in our shop and cooks our studio the most delicious Ayurveda meals – all learnt through Mirjam! She has since become a good friend and often helps with visual inspiration for our shop space.

Please can you tell us a little bit about yourself
- where are you from originally, where do you live now and what do you do?

Hi there, my name is Mirjam. I'm originally from Switzerland, but have lived for many, many years in Cape Town and for 40 years plus in a little fishing village called
Kalk Bay.

Here, right near the tip of Africa, one can hear the boats going out early morning and then coming in at lunchtime to sell their catches of fish; and also the trains that
go by every half an hour along the coast. It’s a very special place to live and a place where

I also have a studio, called Studio Muse, that I hold art classes in. My studio is also my Ayurvedic production venue where we make all sorts of Ayurvedic products like ghee and masalas. And most importantly, my studio is a place for community; for people to meet and also a place for people to host different community events.

The studio is an incredible space with the most spectacular view of the harbour. And like the harbour is a safe space – the studio is also a safe space.

What do you think makes Kalk Bay special?

Kalk Bay is special because of its people.  The people in Kalk Bay are extraordinary people. There's a real sense of community
here with caring people always willing to help you.  It's a place to meet friends for a  tidal pool swim with coffee afterwards.  It's a place where you can watch the moon rise
over the bay.

So there's lots of beauty that we all enjoy
together and a lot of artists living here, a lot of creative people doing
interesting things. And I think there's a special weaving between people that
just lives in the atmosphere and the air of this little village.

You have started The Ayurveda Larder; what does living an Ayurvedic lifestyle look like for you?

The Ayurvedic Larder was started about two years ago with myself and my wonderful friend Nicole.  The aim of the Larder was first
and primarily to make ourselves beautiful Ayurvedic products to use that we
then share with others. 

An Ayurvedic lifestyle to me is living a simpler life, a life where I make things and do
things for myself.  I make body oils that
I use for my Ayurveda abhyanga body oil massage.  I make ghee, which I eat with most of what I cook. I  make my own masalas. Ayurveda is something I eat, sleep and dream and love every day.

For me, Ayurveda allows me to have the life that I want to have and to be healthy. I think that's the big thing. And it's really the way of joy. I always think in Ayurveda, we don't prescribe, we make space for something new to arrive.

What role do you think art in society will hold in our future?

So art is the future. I do believe
that if you want to know where the world's going and what's coming next, go to
art galleries and have a look and see what artists are making.  Artists are always deeply connected to the future.  They're, I guess, in some way connected to the invisible world, allowing us to have an insight into what's
coming.  I think with the whole rising of
AI and technology, that everything that involves the hands, the human hands, is
going to become very, very valuable.

Everything we make is going to become something very valuable. I also believe that beauty creates wholeness. It gives us a
sense of wholeness. And I think it's going to become very, very important for
us to look at beautiful things and to make beautiful things and to make our
lives beautiful.

They say home is where the heart is.  What
does ‘home’ mean to you?

I'm Taurean, so my home is definitely my
home. I love my home, and I love
investing in making my home beautiful. But home for me is with my family, my friends, in a beautiful place.

Home is anywhere where I feel at ease. When I have that feeling that I can breathe out and relax and be at ease, then I know I'm home.

So I guess home is somewhere deep inside of me.

What are your favourite SOUL Design pieces  to travel with?

My favourite SOUL Design piece that I like to travel with is my linen shirt.  I never feel very comfortable in an aeroplane - I'm neurotic about radiation and I feel like my hair has been put into electric sockets when I'm flying.  But I find if I wear my linen shirt, I feel protected and safe and it definitely
counterbalances the sort of electrostatic, whatever that is, in the air.  And I know it protects me from radiation. In fact, in the olden days, air stewardesses wore linen uniforms for that reason.

So me, travel, my Soul shirt comes with me. 

I also love all my SOUL rings - especially the Bone Ring and wear them most days! Along with a selection of SOUL bangles and Juju bracelets.

Mirjam's Instagram handles: studiomusekalkbay and theayurvediclarder.