Hand-Stitched & Hand-Printed Valet Tray - Cherry Tomato + Red Goatskin Lining

Observations

The Signature Collection is my foundation. It consists of a few, intentionally limited designs that are permanent and built to last. Observations are different. They're designs inspired by what I see and experience in Motril: small things, details, moments of local inspiration that catch my attention and won't let go. I sketch them, carve them into Lino, and print them onto leather in limited runs. They're tied to specific moments of paying attention.

This is Cherry Tomato.

A valet tray that's also a small work of art.

This is a tray with a hand-carved cherry tomato design printed on the interior bottom. Keys, wallet, phone, watch - hold what matters to you on your desk, nightstand, or entryway table. Each print is unique. The interior is fully lined with a soft red goatskin that complements the weathered colors of the lino design. It's both practical and meaningful. Handmade and hand-printed in Motril, Spain.

What it's inspired by:

There's just something about Motril on the Costa Tropical - the light, the warmth, the abundance of fresh, local produce year-round. I buy fresh cherry tomatoes from small produce shops that dot the city. Green vines with ripe tomatoes clustered on them, just picked that morning. I've appreciated their local importance, eaten my weight in cherry tomatoes for years now, and decided to translate this local observation into leather.

The design is hand-carved, then printed one by one onto the interior bottom square for each tray in this limited series using traditional print methods. No two are exactly alike.

What it's made from:

Natural vegetable-tanned leather for the exterior and the interior square (where the design lives). Red goatskin lining - a warm, striking complement to the hand-printed design.

The details:

✔️ Hand-stitched construction throughout

✔️ Red goatskin lining 

✔️ Hand-carved Lino design (cherry tomatoes on the vine), each print is unique

✔️ Hand-sewn leather reinforcement on the interior bottom for structure 

✔️ Sealed with a topcoat finish and leather conditioner to protect the print

✔️ Finished edges, buffed and sealed with beeswax

✔️ Cream thread

✔️ Dimensions: ~7" wide at widest points, 5"x5" center square, 1.5" height (17.8 cm x 12.7 cm x 3.8 cm)

✔️ Holds keys, wallet, phone, glasses, jewelry, watches, coins

✔️ Solid brass rivets at the corners

Why the investment:

This tray is very labor-intensive. Every single stitching hole is hand-punched. Every stitch is sewn by hand. The interior is carefully lined with goatskin. The interior bottom is reinforced with a hand-sewn panel for durability and structure. The lino design is carefully translated and carved, then printed onto each reinforcement panel. The edges -- even the square reinforcement piece -- are finished, protected with beeswax, and buffed. It's the kind of piece that sits on your desk for years, becoming more beautiful and more yours as time passes. It's meant to be seen and used.

How it lives with you:

The exterior leather develops marks, color variations, and darkening over time - part of the intentional design. The hand-printed design on the interior bottom is your own secret: a small reminder that you're using something made by hand, with intention, by someone who was paying attention to the place she calls home.  

Limited Edition:

Only 5 are available with red goatskin lining. Each one is hand-printed, so slight variations in ink coverage and placement make each tray unique.

Care:

Condition the exterior occasionally with a quality leather balm. Clean the interior with a soft cloth. Avoid prolonged water exposure. Let it develop its own gorgeous patina.