Tag: Artisans of the Emirates

Rocking the UAE the handmade way this Christmas

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With the holiday season upon us, ARTE is pleased to announce that we are participating at the Market and Winter Fun Fest, an event put together by the fabulous folks at the Green Community.  This in addition to our regular markets at Times Square Centre, RAK Al Hamra Mall and the Arabian Centre, Mirdif; making it so easy for you to catch up on your last minute shopping the handcrafted ARTE way at different locales around the UAE. At the Green Community festive event, there will be a Santa’s Grotto, a fashion show, dance performances and the lighting of the Christmas tree with carol singing. So, mark your diaries – Saturday, 13th December, 12 – 7 pm, and pop by to buy some colourful festive decorations.

Speaking of which, decorating is always a fun and festive activity.  Making decorations are even more fun.  That’s why the artisans at ARTE offer an array of handmade items to transform your home and entertain your family, friends and special guests like Santa Claus (and his Mrs.). Here are a few examples for festive decorative inspiration.

 

Wreaths  by The Flowerful Project

Welcome guests to your home with these natural, fresh wreaths by floral designer Alisa Sokoliuk. Serving as door, window or table decorations, they bring the distinctive pine smell of a traditional Christmas tree to your home.

Images courtesy of Alisa at The Flowerful Project.

 

Knitted decorations by Marjan and Bahar

Iranian sisters Marjan and Bahar knit these nifty little tree decorations. They also have a selection of Santas in all shapes and sizes to fit into any nooks and crannies. You can view more of their knitted works here and read an interview with them on knitting for success.

 

 

Textile and quilts by Tessa

For a warm and cosy Christmas feel, have a look at South African crafter Tessa Jahnig’s textiles and quilts.  See her selection from wall hangings and stockings to dinner tableware to add a festive flair. More of Tessa’s work is available on her blog.

 

 

Christmas crackers by Wayne

Have some fun around the dinner table with these imaginative crackers by Wayne. Customize the colours, the words, the sizes, as well as the fillings, to entertain everyone. Wayne’s crackers also contain Whimsies by Wade (collectible figurines from the UK). They were even featured in the film “Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets”. To read more on the history of crackers, see Wayne’s website.

 

Nativity scenes by Miriam The Felt Lady

Iconic to a traditional Christmas celebration, every home needs a nativity scene. For a variation on conventional sculptures, Miriam Walsh fashions these intimate scenes from felt and wood. You can find more information on Miriam here.

Once again, here are the dates for ARTE markets in December:

There are three more official ARTE markets before Christmas:

Friday 12th December at Times Square Center,  Dubai

Friday, 13th December at Green Community, Dubai

Friday 19th December at Al Hamra Mall, Ras Al Khaimah

Saturday 20th December at Arabian Center, Mirdif, Dubai.

 

Please visit our website for further details.

Images taken by Stephanie Neville unless otherwise credited.

Hats off to the Milliner

For French American Nadege Brunacci, fashion is indisposable. So she takes it upon herself to handcraft each and every piece of art in the form of hats. You will never see the same hat, colour, stitch twice at Nadege’s stand and hand.

Nadege, the lady behind these lovely handcrafted hats.

Nadege, the lady behind these lovely handcrafted hats.

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The girl who grew up loving the styles of Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn, wants to recover that sense of  ‘femininity’ so lost to women. If you want a hat, bring in  your favourite dress, and she will stitch a hat just to compliment that dress.  You can be sure that if a hat doesn’t suit you, then Nadege will say so and instead draw your attention to the hat that does suit your countenance, your style, your figure and also add inches to your frame (if you happen to be petite).

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Visit ‘Hats by Nadege’ on Facebook.

New ARTE Bookmarks for 2013

The best part of the ARTE Souk is that you have three choices: You can take part in either the souk at Dubai Festival City (First Friday of every month) or the souk at Times Square Centre (Second friday of every month). Or both!

Introducing the new ARTE Bookmarks for 2013. What do you think of the more simplistic approach to the design?

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The above bookmark is for the Times Square Centre souks (note the orange). Please print them and distribute to your friends and those interested in buying locally handcrafted pieces of art and craft.

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The above bookmark is for the Dubai Festival City souks (note the blue). Please print them and distribute to your friends and those interested in buying locally handcrafted pieces of art and craft.
See you there!

Have a hUmorki day

Aneta Dersley narrates how hUmorki (notice the capital U) starts with her daughter Amelia and her different moods. She takes the chance to make stuffed toys that also look sad or angry, something so unusually in stuffed toys.

At kindergarten Amelia couldn’t find any toys to play with. So Aneta came up with the idea to start sewing stuffed toys which encaptured various moods and various creatures that the world has probably never seen in such form.

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Amelia is the rigorous tester of all the handmade hUmorki toys by taking them on her own adventures in daily living, whether that be in her messy bedroom or on picnics. She has also named many of the toys, such as rabbit Jenny, Bobby, Peli and more.

Aneta feels inspired to create new hUmorki characters thanks to the people who appreciate the work done and the moods that the toys feature that resonate with the people’s hearts.

Visit hUmorki on facebook.

Have a Handmade Halloween!

Our ARTE Artisans have been very busy creating Halloween themed handmade products. From fun decorations to toys and delicious treats, each piece will help you stand out at your upcoming Halloween party.

Crochet Zombies and Pumpkins by Komeropuoti – Little Craft Shop

Pumpkin Toffee by Toffee Princess

Halloween inspired Crystal Tree by Sahar’s Luxury Handicrafts

Halloween inspired Cat-Shaped Decorative Cushions by Eva’s Cats

Stuffed toys by Natalia Sukhanova

Halloween Inspired Miniature Sculptures by Orange Jar

Halloween Bunting by Bright & Beautiful ME

Trick or Treat Buckets by Bright & Beautiful ME

Halloween inspired Cupcakes by Farah Nausheen Arshad & Sana Ayesha Arshad

Little boys set by In The Sand Pit

Polymer Clay Earrings by Mojeperle

Skull Cork Stoppers by Colin Roberts from 2RGalleries

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

There’s Something about Mary’s Designs

Mary Falconer’s handmade clutches are one of the most coveted items at ARTE. These pieces exude classic feminine sophistication, with a dose of glamour to boot.

Without any formal training, and mostly self taught, Mary is the maker and talent behind the sewing machine, creating these colourful and trendy clutches, one design at a time.

Mary Falconer with one her handmade clutches

A stay at home mom of three children, she decided to give entrepreneurship a go. It has since turned into something more remarkable for her. Her business is something she looks forward to each day, and is a constant source of gratification.

“I strive for difference and oneness with my pieces. Finding materials and then finding ways to challenge the perceptions held by people about the boundaries of these materials is what drives me. I therefore embrace vibrant colours, intense prints and textures and fuse them together to create a unique and expressive design.”

Image courtesy of Mary Falconer Designs

“I really do enjoy both the creative aspect of dreaming up new things and the business side of making it all work. It is not an easy process and certainly not quick as one might think, but it is a wonderful experience when the end product works out and it can be enjoyed by my clients.”

Image courtesy of Mary Falconer Designs

“My goal as a designer is to create a brand that truly defined a woman; a brand that embodies all the qualities I see in them: Strength, Fun, Independence, Elegance and True Beauty…”

To learn more about Mary Falconer Design, join her on facebook  or visit her website: http://www.maryfalconerdesign.com

Image courtesy of Mary Falconer Designs

Artistry in Wood

We just love the rustic simplicity of these driftwood candle holders by Kariba Arts; so organic, beachy and simply beautiful.

It all began less than a year again when German national, Kathrin Rinner-Baudy, fell in love with uniquely-shaped bits of burnished driftwood, tossed ashore by the sea and tide.

Kathrin explains, “I have always admired the driftwood I saw on UAE beaches and so after months of seeing their beautiful shapes just lying there on the beach like rubbish, I decided to collect some to decorate my home. And that is how the idea was born!”

Kathrin’s process is simple: collecting the wood, sorting it by size & thickness, drying, cleaning and then just being creative.

She explains, “I like to consider driftwood as my muse and my medium. I usually choose pieces that stand out as natural sculptures or have the potential to become something more. And then I let the pieces tell me what they should be.”

Today, Kariba Arts is a regular at ARTE, and had already built a large base of regular clients and fans, who enjoying visiting her every month to see her latest creations.

Visit Kariba Arts on facebook or email Kathrin here.

A trip down memory lane with Sue Tyson Designs

Sue Tyson is one of ARTE’s most loyal vendors. Part of the original core team formed more than 6 years ago, Sue was probably the first handcrafted jewelry designer maker on the scene. I (Jan) remember her from the days when ARTE had its first exhibitions at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza. Woah! It’s such a long time ago; however, sometimes a trip down memory lane is vital in helping handcrafters understand how their work has evolved in time, and also how they have, as human beings, evolved. No judgement, no criticism. Only a learning exercise.
Sue Tyson has remained true to her niche – which is using authentic Murano glass from Italy in her designs.  Her display is by far one that I enjoy stopping by every ARTE market without fail, because it depicts an artisan who has taken time not only to make beautiful jewelry, but also make the display appealing that you want to touch her jewelry and perhaps buy it!
Sue Tyson designs at one of the recent ARTE markets

Sue Tyson designs at one of the recent ARTE markets

Another of Sue Tyson Designs display at March 2012 (ARTE market). Love the cage!

Another of Sue Tyson Designs display at March 2012 (ARTE market). Love the cage!

Sue shares with us the first ARTE poster that was used at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza exhibitions. You can see a piece of her work on the bottom right corner of the poster.
Her first experience in displaying and setting up was at the Marina Market. “It was definitely a baptism of fire for me as the market was every Friday. It was always outdoors including during the summer months and exhaustingly hot. If there was a Shamaal or rain, that was even more fun. Backing onto the Marina, you always got wind in every direction!  You always had to drink at least 3 litres or more of liquid /water during the day. Even though I was used to Hong Kong heat & humidity, Dubai’s summer was quite a shock.”
Marina Market display all those many years ago - Sue's first exhibition in Dubai

Marina Market display all those many years ago - Sue's first exhibition in Dubai

Note the previous design of Sue Tyson's business cards. Sue now has a silver foil emblem on her business cards and gift bags.
ARTE markets then moved to Al Ghazal mall for a very short season. The dark corridors meant that most photographs taken were dull and uninspiring. Still I’m glad Sue did take some photos, as part of her design evolution kit.
At Al Ghazal Mall

At Al Ghazal Mall

Even in those days, Sue's table displays were very imaginatively put together. Note the sponges used as displays.
Early Studio Display by Sue Tyson Designs
Not only has Sue’s display changed over time; the branding of her jewelry line has also evolved. She shares with us a photo of her earliest packaging kit.
Sue Tyson Designs - packaging in the early days

Sue Tyson Designs - packaging in the early days

Sue says, “So much depends on appearance, especially in Dubai.  One’s first visual image/impression that seems to be the key to whether someone sells/buys or not.”
“My main focus, I think is always best quality that I can currently offer, affordability, durability, authenticity, honesty, and good customer service. So that covers packaging, gift bags, add-ons eg. silver polish cloths if they buy precious metal, tips on how to maintain pieces (So many ask if they can go swimming wearing Sue Tyson jewellery.  I would say that one wouldn’t go swimming in one’s  usual clothes/dress so why keep all your jewellery on?).
Early Expo days

Early Expo days

In keeping with the whole Sue Tyson Designs brand, Sue has started to incorporate the PERLAVITA! range of Italian Murano Glass beads in her existing Murano Glass designs. “These are made by Italian craftsmen following a long family led tradition since the 14th centure, I believe.  They compliment my existing Murano themed designs perfectly.”
Sue Tyson Designs as they are currently. Evolution at its best!

Sue Tyson Designs as they are currently. Evolution at its best!

So here’s a note to newbie vendors.  Be authentic. Create your brand from your heart. Start somewhere. And the path will open up, slowly but surely and beautifully.
Follow Sue Tyson Designs on facebook.

In the Mad Potters Laboratory

We recently visited Maria Pearson aka The Mad Potter in her private pottery studio.

Tucked away in the backyard of her Jumeirah Residence is The Mad Potter’s not-so-secret laboratory, equipped with her Potters Wheel, clay and an abundance of ceramic glazes.

For Maria, what began as a mindless hobby for stress relief quickly grew into a passion for clay. She has been working with clay for over 7 years now and is a regular at the ARTE Arts & Crafts Markets in Dubai.

While designing a piece, Maria always thinks about functionality… but ultimately she lets the clay tell her what it will be. She then adds some quirkiness through the colour choice of the glaze and texture finish to make each creation one of a kind.

The Mad Potter’s designs are as unique as their creator. Maria explained, “Over the years, I found my own voice and discovered that I preferred the utilitarian forms when combined with both the beauty of perfection and the element of imperfection. Living in a world of quickly reproduced identical forms, it’s the depth of character and inability to duplicate the organic imperfections that intrigue me. It is my goal to create spontaneous patterns and forms keeping that ingredient of uniqueness in every piece.”

We were especially surprised to learn the rather complicated yet fascinating glazing process behind her work. The glaze application is achieved by both brushing and dipping, and then fired in a kiln to over 2,000 degrees.

We were fascinated with her incredible selection of glazes and glaze chemicals. Much like cooking or chemistry, glazing pottery properly requires thorough knowledge of materials and technique, and Maria has spent years developing and perfecting her style. While her application of dynamic colours and glazes may seem like a reflection of her title i.e. The Mad Potter, in reality it is a laborious process involving, brushing, dipping and dripping.

To follow Maria’s personal journey, visit her website and facebook page.

She is a regular at the ARTE Markets in Times Square Center.