Our Story

A Letter from the Founder

Hi, I’m Matt.

I’ve always loved mechanisms, little things that click, spin, or move in a way that just feels right. Years ago, before they were everywhere, I bought a fidget spinner. I didn’t realise at the time why I needed it, only that it helped me focus and settle.

Later, when I discovered I’m autistic, it all clicked into place: the burnout, the constant anxiety, the way I’d always needed something in my hands. Fidgeting wasn’t just a habit... it was how I coped.

For years I worked as a teacher with neurodiverse students. It was rewarding, but also overwhelming, and eventually I found myself facing severe social and autistic burnout. I knew I needed to create a life that allowed me to work differently: to build, design, and imagine, while also supporting others who face the same struggles.

The problem was, most fidget toys never felt satisfying. They were flimsy, gimmicky, or just not built the way I thought they should be. So I started making my own.

That’s how The Quiet Forge began.

The Anchor was the first: smooth, steady, calming. Then came The Spark: sharper, textured, something you can spin in one hand when you need more energy. Each design is made to be more than just a toy — they’re tools for grounding, focus, and calm.

But The Quiet Forge is more than just fidget tools. It’s also home to creatures like Biscuit, the anxious dragon who finds comfort in his orb. Through these whimsical characters, I want to share something personal: that even the most fearsome creatures can feel overwhelmed, and that needing support is never a weakness.

If my creations, whether it’s a focus orb or a little dragon mascot, can bring even a small moment of calm or joy to someone who’s struggling, then I’ll consider my mission a success.

From stillness, sparks.

— Matt