On a late afternoon last January our woodworker, Jessie, was visiting a neighboring workshop when a faint meow could be heard from behind a tool chest and two wary eyes peeked out through the shadows. With a handful of food scraps and a good dose of patience, she slowly coaxed out a small, scrappy kitten. Her name as given by the mechanic was “Makita,” after the tools that surrounded her - “Keita” for short.
First ever image captured of the illusive shop kitten
… 2 hours later
We were a new woodworking venture - still hunting for the right name. We’d gone through pages of ideas, when this little rescue landed in our lives, and KEITA the brand took shape. She came as a reminder that unexpected moments can guide us toward something lasting.
We had just moved into our space at Big Art Labs, a hub of maker studios in Downtown Los Angeles. The day we found Keita, help came from every direction. We quickly learned that the surrounding community is as much a resource as the raw materials we work with.
Big Art Labs- Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles
Building 3- Home of Keita Design wood working studio
Our work is more than crafting beautiful, lasting furniture from reclaimed wood. It’s about the relationships between maker and material, natural history and thoughtful design, and the communities that make it all possible.
Keita came to us at just the right time to give a name to the vision we were about to bring to life.
After a little clean up and a vet appointment Keita the cat is living the good life with Jessie at her new home in Glassell Park.
The Day of Discovery! An instant connection.
Bathtime.