ARTE’s Artists

Moonberry Studios by Lene

March is the month of horse racing, art and literature in Dubai which makes me want to race on down to ARTE at Times Square, tomorrow, Friday, March 10, 2017. Do not forget our new hours: 10am – 6pm.  Looking for that special hat to wear to the races or a gift to share with your favourite jockey? Than ARTE is the place to be! Remember, our artists make what they sell and everything is handmade with love in the UAE. Plus, look out for ARTE this weekend at the Emirates Literature festival.

This week’s ARTE artist is Lene of Moonberry Studios

(Instagram: Moonberry_Studios, Facebook: Moonberry Studios1, e-mail: Lenepieters@gmail.com)

Lene is originally from South Africa, but has been living in the UAE since 2005. Lene’s first ARTE market was in 2008. Shortly after her first market, Lene learned that she was pregnant with her first child. Lene decided ARTE would have to wait.  Today,  Lene  has two beautiful children who inspire her art work everyday.  In 2015, Lene decided to return to ARTE and she’s been with us ever since.

I asked Lene how she became involved with card making and she told me that one day she saw a page with a rose and writing on it. She loved it so much that she started talking to the artist, who introduced her to scrapbooking. Lene was hooked!

My photos do not do justice to her beautiful work. Lene creates each of her designs by hand. There is a great amount of love and care that goes into each card.

Lene believes in quality over quantity. A card is just as important as an art piece. This is why she uses pigment inks which are not heat dried. They take longer to dry but, are worth the wait.

She cuts out her images by hand, as well as using the latest embossing techniques.

Plus, Lene’s work is environmentally friendly, as she uses recycled books and paper to create her gorgeous cards.

Lene’s cards are perfect for holidays.  With Easter and St. Patrick’s day right around the corner, (and don’t forget all those birthdays!) you must come and check out her latest cards at ARTE.

Lene also handcrafts the most adorable gift tags.

for any occasion:

They even make great bookmarks:

Although Lene, loves making her cards, her true passion is mixed media. In 2008, Lene was a finalist in the Red Bull art show. When you visit Lene’s table, you will also see her art pieces for sale.

Lene describes her art as “historic ephemera”. She uses items from the past which would normally have a short term use like tickets to a movie, and transforms them into something beautiful. Here is an example:

If you look closely, you will see tickets. These tickets are from the 1970s. Originally, they were used to raise money for a trip to the fresh water angling world championships in Europe.

In this piece, Lene has taken pieces that her grandmother crocheted and incorporated them in her art. Lene feels that art is a way to connect our pasts and futures. If you are interested in learning more about her mixed media pieces or if you are interested in taking a morning mixed media art class, for adults only, Please stop by Lene’s table at ARTE for a chat.

Don’t miss the next ARTE, The Makers Market!
Like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/arte
Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/arteuae
Check out our next market www.facebook.com/arte/events

ARTE’s Vintage Artists

ARTE would like you to meet their vintage artists: Hmakesbags by Heather, Audrey’s Cat by Lynda , Lunetiervintagedxb by Zarina.
Available at the weekly ARTE martkets – click HERE to find our next market.
 

Audrey’s Cat sells Original Vintage Jewellery and Accessories.

Every item is unique and has its own story to tell. It is my passion to inspire new owners to love, cherish and to take it on its next journey.

I am personally driven by my passion of Vintage. I have been carefully hand selecting and collecting investment pieces for over 40 years from all over the globe. In my current collection, I have many iconic styles and designs from past decades that will never date.

Owning a piece of Vintage is a way of revealing your individual style.  The more you enjoy your piece of vintage, the greater your pleasure will be dis​​playing it to the world. Vintage pieces are all one-off pieces which will last beyond our own lives and can be worn with your contemporary wardrobe to give you that unique individual style.

Audrey’s Cat has carefully selected costume jewels, antique gold and precious stones, bags, hats, scarves, scarf clips, cufflinks and other accessories dating back to the by gone eras of Georgian, Victorian, Art Deco, c1930’s, c1940’s, c1950’s, c1960’s , c1970’s, c1980’s  & 1990’s. 

Hmakesbags by Heather

Hmakesbags creates unique handmade fabric handbags. Every bag is one of a kind, many using vintage fabric. Heather’s designs take inspiration from vintage styles throughout history.

Many of her bags are made from upcycled  fabrics. She recycles  jeans, old clothes, curtains  and duvet covers. Heather loves the idea that reusing and upcycling is her small effort to Save the Planet one bag at a time.

Heather can also custom make bags using any available fabric. Do you have a favourite dress or old shirt that you hate to part with? Why not get Heather to make a bag out of it? Do you have an item of clothing from a dear departed loved one? Heather can custom make you a Remembrance Bag.

Heather’s creative process is ever changing and although she might start to make a bag with one idea, it could end up much differently as there is an organic flow to each item. This also means that her bags are always changing and this keeps her work unique. So dare to be different. Why follow the crowd, be yourself and let your personality shine through with one of  Heather’s handmade vintage fabric bags.

 

Lunetier Vintage dxb run by Zarina

The exclusive vintage sunglasses business .. Lunettes Vintage of Portobello is now in Dubai .. and at ARTE!


In a city that demands the exclusive, the quality, the individualism .. where the sun shines every day .. who wouldn’t want Mint Condition, Never Worn, Vintage, Original Sunglasses .. that can make a big statement and give that touch of truly unique style that Dubai is all about.

This is the most secretive and select corner of the Fashion Industry .. sourcing New Old Stock from Opticians and Boutiques around the World! Zarina carries vintage Stock from the 70, 80s and 90s. In the past,  the fashion houses and designers, all had individual designs, production and innovation which set the template for Timeless Quality & Style. So Timeless that those in the know can look at all the Modern Collections and see exactly where the Inspiration/Blue Print came from!!

The current Dubai Collection ranges from Vintage Cartier, Cazal, Christian Dior, Carrera, Gerald Genta, DuPont, Ultra, Versace .. the list goes on and on. These vintage glasses need to be seen to be appreciated!

Don’t miss the next ARTE, The Makers Market!
Like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/arte
Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/arteuae
Check out our next market www.facebook.com/arte/events

ARTE’s Artists

The Camel Lady by Darcy

Eid Mubarak – Here’s wishing you and your family a safe and joyous Eid Al Adha.

For those of you who are not travelling this Eid holiday, I invite you to join us tomorrow, Friday, September 9, at ARTE in Times Square Dubai. ARTE is the perfect place to work up an appetite before you go to your Friday brunch. ARTE starts at 11:oo, but many artists are open for business by 10am. There is plenty of FREE underground parking to keep your car cool while you walk around the gorgeous arts and crafts. What’s more, Biela and Caribou Coffee are open early for all your breakfast needs.

This week’s artist is the Camel Lady by Darcy (empressdarcy@hotmail.com, Facebook ).

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Darcy is originally from Los Angeles, California, USA, but has lived in the UAE for 17 years. She has been a member of ARTE for over 6 years. Darcy makes handmade papermache camels.

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For many years, Darcy combined her love of theater with her love of papermache. Many of you may remember the yearly Christmas pantomimes that Darcy directed in Ras Al Khaimah and the myriad of set decorations and props that she made – from  palm trees to sea monsters. She even made a giant camel head so it was no surprise when she started making smaller camels.

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Darcy’s camels travel well. Here are the two camels (Camill and Oswaldo) she took to the RIO Olympic games in August. They travelled around the country, often in just a plastic bag, and have returned home safely. Come meet them and learn about their adventure tomorrow at Times Square Center.

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Each of Darcy’s camels is made individually by hand and has its own character. No two are alike.

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Darcy’s camels come in many sizes and colours.

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And are perfect for holidays, too.

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Darcy decorates her camels using many textures:

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styles:

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travels:

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and paper. Darcy has been collecting paper for years. Whenever she travels, she always checks out the local paper with her camels in mind.

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Darcy welcomes special orders and is always up for the challenge of coming up with new designs. Of course, her camels take hours of work and orders take time. Being handmade, not every camel is perfect, but the flaws remind you that these camels are not made by machine or in a factory. They are made right here in the UAE and are exclusive to ARTE.

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Stop by Darcy’s table tomorrow, near Etisalat, anytime from 10:30 – 6:00 and say hi.

#Wemakewhatwesell

#handmadeintheUAE

#ARTE,themakersmarket

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surat Journal – a world of leather and words

The word ‘surat’ has many meanings in different languages. But when we refer to the word in ‘Surat Journals’  it means ‘write’  in one of the Philipino language dialects.  At Surat Journals, you will find the ‘irresistible combination of leather and recycled paper’ as the proud owners and handcrafters say. The leather is imported from the Philippines, but the products are done right here in Dubai – the home of ARTE  handcrafts.

The journals that started it all.

The journals that started it all.

It all started when two handcrafted journals were used to doodle coffee sketches and paintings. What evolved is what you can see in the photos below – an explosion of handcrafted leather journals to appease the ‘journalling’ appetites of those who love to journal whether by writing or sketching.

Happy Leather, happy buyers!

Happy Leather, happy buyers!

As seen at arte

As seen at arte

Don't waste. Leather is used to create some awesome bookmarks!

Don’t waste. Leather is used to create some awesome bookmarks!

Exquisite sketches and writings in an exquisite Surat journal

Exquisite sketches and writings in an exquisite Surat journal

Like Surat Journal on Facebook

Follow Surat Journals on twitter

Sources of Photos : Surat Journals

Ways to Go Green! (Recycled Gift Ideas & More)

Our ARTE Markets are an invaluable resource for visitors to discover a wide variety of beautifully locally crafted items for the home. Among others, ARTE also welcomes a variety of locally-based artisans, who are committed to using sustainable, eco-friendly practices.

Here are a few green gift ideas for any occasion, – hand produced by ARTE Artisans, who have put their skills and love into making the products.

Scrabble tile cuff links by Theresa Tsui

Old zippers transformed into attractive rings

Old zippers transformed into attractive hairbands

Sock monkeys by Sandustar Socks Toys

Sock monkeys by Sandustar Socks Toys

Upcycled driftwood candle holders by Kariba Arts

Hand painted bottles by Artmitul

Hand stamped old spoons 

Old CDs transformed into Candle Holders by Pretty Dezines

Fabric scraps transformed into reusable envelopes

Sale of Second-Hand Books in support of Feline Friends

Artmitul – A Labour of Love

Artmitul, an arty brand driven by Mitul Bhattacharya, is a stunning series of mixed media paintings that capture a sense of a story, through a painstaking and labour-intensive technique, which is evocative of Madhubani folk art from Bihar, India.

Mitul, can spend days – sometimes even weeks – creating one of her masterpieces. She explains that each artwork represents a journey of exploration related to her personal experiences and memory as well as history and mythology. The working process proceeds from the inside out, unveiling an inner landscape of image, symbol and surface.

It represents that blend, which is pure and creative, exploring the intricacies of life, and some of the most wonderful things, events and objects whose inner values we miss everyday.

Mitul adds, “Contemporary art is fascinating, as the border between fine arts and craft becomes even less discerning. I say, only the prudes sit and distinguish between this and that, missing the art itself. I have always believed that art goes a step further than life. My art aspires to capture life in my own colours, in the way I want my world to be.”

A recent member of ARTE, Mitul has already received a tremendous response to her art with demand for her works on pebbles, stones and bottles growing everyday. Her work on paper, canvas and fabric have been also well appreciated.

To learn more about Artmitul and follow their journey, connect with them on facebook or on their website: http://artmitul.weebly.com/