Meet our Soap-er Heroes

Handcrafted soap is a blend of both science and art. Whatever your needs, ARTE Markets features a number of soapmakers who offer natural chemical-free beauty & grooming options in a wide array of colours, scents, shapes, sizes and formulations designed for serious skin care. We asked a few of our regular soap-er heroes to share some secret skincare tips.

PAN Soaps by Nada Vukasovic

As one of the first soapmakers to join the ARTE fraternity, Nada Vukasovic is now fondly known at the ‘Papaya Lady’  – thanks to the amazing results reaped by customers who have regularly used her Papaya & Mango Papaya Soaps.

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Why should we choose natural handmade soap?

Nada explains, “Long ago soap companies began removing glycerin and other great natural soap ingredients to increase profits. This required the need to add other less “skin-friendly” chemicals. (Just try reading the ingredients label on your store purchased bar of soap.) This process made “soap” more detergent than true soap. We believe that nature, in its purest form, contains everything the skin needs to be radiant and healthy. We use only fresh natural ingredients in our original recipes. Our handmade products are made of pure organic ingredients. That is why our first choices are products from reliable local and international sources. Not only will you love the feel, you’ll find that true soap lasts MUCH longer than other ‘soap’.”

Nada recommends Papaya Soap

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“This soap bar is enriched with almond oil and fresh papaya juice. This soap is good for redness, acne, reduces and heals acne faster, reduces dark spots and gives a lighter tone to your skin. It is an all natural hand made soap free of artificial preservatives, colours and fragrances. It is miracle soap, our best one!”

Colibri Natural Beauty Care by Victoria Molnar

Victoria is one of the most recent soapmaker to join ARTE. It was her passion for solving health problem the way nature intended that she decided to create toxin-free, gentle & natural beauty products to make the skin feel soft and smooth while helping to retain it`s natural moisture.

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Why should we choose natural handmade soap?

Victoria explains, “Our skin is our largest organ and it will most definitely respond to the toxins we ingest from chemically overloaded commercially manufactured beauty care products. Our skin is not only the largest organ but the thinnest as well, which in turn, makes it the most permeable. What you put on your skin will be directly absorbed into your bloodstream and affect your health dramatically. My products heal and nourish and leave skin feeling smooth, soft, supple and looking great.”

Victoria recommends Lavender & Tea Tree Oil Body Butter

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“Lavender and tea tree oil are a power couple when it comes to healing problem, acne-prone, oily, and aging skin. Lavender oil is the one of the gentlest essential oils making it great to use for children and on sensitive skin. Combined with tea tree oil, they heal, protect and soothe the skin, regenerate and restore elasticity. Both these oils are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing. For skin problems like acne, eczema, dermatitis, and insect bites, this clean and fresh smelling body butter can be your best friend. No chemicals. No preservatives. No artificial colors. No fragrances.”

Desert Rose Handmade Soaps by Firuza Wragg

Firuza’s began creating bars of soap for a fun project to do with her children, but soon got addicted to the soapmaking process. When her recipes began building a demand, she jumped into the deep end and started my own business – that recently debuted at ARTE.

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Why should we choose natural handmade soap?

Firuza says, “Commercial soap manufacturers make it a practice to remove the glycerine that is produced during the saponification (soap-making) process. The glycerine is a highly profitable substance, often sold to other companies who use it to make lotions and moisturizers, which your skin, now dried out from the harsh detergent ‘soap,’ desperately needs. On the other hand, my handmade soaps are made with all natural ingredients which premium natural vegetable and essential oils. There is no water or filler. This makes for a very dense, longer lasting bar of soap. It feels as good in your hand as it does on your skin.”

Firuza recommends Beer & Coconut Milk Gourmet Soap

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“Seabuckthorn seed oil and fruit oil contain healing and softening fatty acids that nourish and replenish the skin. These oils improve skin conditions as rosacea, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis; heal burns and reduce the associated pain; shrink small capillaries, even skin tone, reduce the effects of sun damage and provide minor UV protection. 100% Vegan, 100% Natural. Free of artificial colours.”

 

Handmade Gifts for Men

We don’t know about you, but we find it notoriously hard to buy gifts for the special men in our lives. If there’s no one thing in particular that springs to mind, our fail-safe advice is usually a package of little treats, things to make him laugh, and useful objects. It’s a great solution and you can mix-and-match to fit the big guy’s personality.

What’s your guy’s personality? Dapper, foodie, adventurer, sporty, musical or geeky, ARTE has a little something for everyone…

Handmade Model Railways By Model Railways UAE

Handmade Mugs by Irene’s Pots

Scottish Tablet desert by Toffee Princess

Handcrafted Bottle Stoppers by Colin Roberts

All natural Shaving Soap Kit by PAN Soaps

Sterling silver Cuff Links and Tie Pin by Mr. Beaujangles

Elvis stencil art Cushion by Gorgeoustuff

Wrist Candy

For an instant wardrobe update this spring/summer 2012, all you need is some stunning chunky wrist-candy.

At ARTE, they come ranging from the sparkly Swarovski cuffs to some of spring’s most attention-grabbing and colourful bracelet. Each piece is an original and eye catching piece handcrafted by locally based artisans.

Ghawaiesh by Mona El Sanhoury and Radwa Abo Alam

Swarovski beads bracelet – vendor unknown

Daring to be a Superhero – Linzi Kan

There must have been a time in your life when you dreamt of being a superhero. Catwoman, Wonderwoman, Batman, James Bond, even Tintin and his dog Snowy. And who knows, some of us had wicked fascinations to be the bad guys – the Joker or Green Goblin.

Thanks to UK born Linzi Kan, superheros and supervillains come alive in this day and age.  Through her handcrafted line named ‘Gorgeoustuff‘ you can experience all the  ‘..man’ and ‘…woman’ super-stereotypes that you have ever come across in the comics world. This ARTE vendor has a degree in graphic design and has been a colourist in the film industry before she harnessed her inner feline strength to create funky cushions incorporating old graphics of comics.

So if you wish to have Thor-like strength…

… or be feline through and through, like the superhero gal below…

… or perhaps you like the vile Joker

… or debonair 007 James Bond, ‘Gorgeoustuff‘ is your one stop comic con shop at ARTE.

Linzi also has a fascination with skulls, which she thinks is cool (I am aware that many ARTE vendors love skulls, including myself).  Skulls remind me (Jan) of the ‘Ghost that Walks’ troupe – Phantom and his wife Diana, his pet wolf Devil and his faithful horse Hero. The Phantom reportedly wore a skull shaped ring, and with his mask on, he usually looked like a skull head.

Here are some of Linzi’s skull cushions.

The scary ones …

The super scary ones …

The in-love ones …

And the extra-cute ones!

Follow Gorgeoustuff on Facebook.

Photos supplied by Gorgeoustuff, with thanks.

Move Over Fulla!

Sarah’s Simply Sunnah produces unique Islamic rag dolls which are lovingly handcrafted. Made with carefully handpicked quality materials, these beautiful soft huggable dolls are put together by a group of experienced craftsmen from UAE.

These rag dolls are regulars at ARTE and are priced at AED 100 (an absolute steal, in our opinion). They are safe for children, loved by all age groups and make adorable gifts for every special occasion.

Join their Facebook Page for regular updates.

Enjoy sweets the Brigadeiro way

The original Brigadeiro from Brazil. Photos supplied by Simone Amaro.

The original Brigadeiro from Brazil. Photos supplied by Simone Amaro.

‘Brigadeiro’ is Portuguese for Brigadier. Brigadeiros are actually chocolate sweets (or candy whichever way you look at it) highly popular in Brazil.

For those who love a bit of history, it was Eduardo Gomes, a Brazilian Air Force brigadier, who first created the concept of a plain chocolate bonbon whose main ingredient is sweet condensed milk. Now, nearly 60 years later, thanks to Simone Amaro, Founder and maker of Brigadelly sweets in Dubai, vendors and customers alike can partake of this unique sweet at ARTE Time Square Centre.

Simone Amaro, Founder of Brigadelly - seen at ARTE TSC event

Simone Amaro, Founder of Brigadelly - seen at ARTE TSC event

Simone shares, “Every Birthday party must have Brigadeiros. It’s something that we have eaten ever since we were children.” According to Simone, Brigadeiros have more than thirty flavours, and she makes twenty flavours, all of which you can see below (the Portuguese version is also added).

Image 20 flavours derived from the original Brigadeiro concept! Photo supplied by Simone Amaro

Image 20 flavours derived from the original Brigadeiro concept! Photo supplied by Simone Amaro

Traditional (Chocolate) – Tradicional (Chocolate)
White Brigadeiro – Brigadeiro Branco
Mixed (White and Traditional together) – Casadinho
Dark Chocolate (Bittersweet Chocolate) – Chocolate meio-amargo
Pistachio – Pistache
Peanut Butter – Manteiga de Amendoim (coberto com paçoca)
Lemon – Limão
Almond – Amêndoa
Strawberry – Morango
Sesame – Gergelim
Coconut – Côco
Chocolate with Coconut – Chocolate com Côco
Hazelnut – Avelã
Nutella – Nutella
Corn – Milho
Chilli – Pimenta
NIDO – Ninho
Cashew – Castanha
Biscuit – Biscoito (estilo Palha Italiana)
Apricot (dried fruit around a Brigadeiro) – Damasco (fruta seca em volta do Brigadeiro)
Dates (dried fruit around a Brigadeiro) – Tâmara (fruta seca em volta do Brigadeiro)
Grape (whole fruit, seedless, inside a Brigadeiro) – Uva (inteira, sem semente, dentro do Brigadeiro)

We (ie. Jan) have tasted the plain original brigadeiro as well as the grape filled one which almost feels like a surprise when your teeth squish into the seedless grape. As Simone says, “That’s why it’s called ‘little surprise’ in Portuguese.”

Not to forget the pretty packaging. Photo by Simone Amaro

You can follow  Brigadelly – The Brigadeiro Company on facebook for sweet, Brazilian updates.

We’re so Sweet for this Jewellery

Meet Sophia Mattia of Funkme Designs, who recently joined the ARTE fold with an amazing collection of quirky, fun, vibrant pieces of individually handmade jewellery.
Sophia began making jewellery in 2008 with her very first necklace made was a liquorice allsorts. What began then as a dabble into jewellery making has now developed a range of sweetie jewellery made from polymer. Each piece is individually handmade by herself. She also produces “one off” necklaces, bracelets and earrings that are different from the sweetie range using the Millefiori technique. These are pieces that cannot be produced again to an identical copy and so are completely unique.
Sophia will be returning to ARTE in May with a new look to her stand and a whole new range of products.

 

 

Jazz & Craft: A Perfect Combo!

ARTE has gone mobile. Now you can find us at the Dubai International Jazz Festival until 24th February; represented by 3 amazing artisans Sue Tyson with her Jewellery, Gorgeoustuff by Linzi Kan with her flag cushions & comic art and Ragmatazz with their patchwork and embroidery bags.

While stirring up tons of curiosity about our monthly markets; we’re really having a grand time enjoying some great music and chilling out with some of the most interesting music-lovers in Dubai. A must visit event for all culture-vores.

Sue Tyson Design

Sue Tyson Design

Gorgeoustuff by Linzi Kan

1950s Circle Skirts by Gorgeoustuff

Ragmatazz

 

Soap-ernatural!

Last week’s ARTE Market smelled delightfully fresh with two talented soap & beauty products vendors joining the fold.

Completely natural, organic, handcrafted, rustic soaps and other body loving products with plenty of options for vegans too.

To top it off – they’re all handmade here in the UAE by locally based Artisans!

Handmade Love at ARTE

When it comes to Valentine’s Day (or any day for that matter!) there’s nothing better than a handmade gift from the heart. Here’s selection of a few  tokens of love handcrafted by ARTE Artisans.