This month sees ARTE The Makers’ Market’s 10th anniversary! Drop by on Friday 11th September for unique handmade goodies in Times Square Center Dubai. Here’s just some of the things on offer.
Sparklefairy
Laila Lambert is a British crystal expert based in Dubai. Laila makes crystal bracelets, necklaces and rings to help attract different things into your life. Whether you are looking for love, cleansing, protection or help with health issues such as eczema, there’s a bracelet for everything. They also feature charms with inspirational sayings such as ‘love’ or ‘dream a little dream’.
When you stop by Laila’s stall she’ll be happy to explain what each crystal is for and advise which ones are best for you.
Ylabes
Jawad Sebaali is a Lebanese Canadian and has lived in Dubai for 20 years. Jawad learnt how to make soap in Marseille, in the south of France where the famous savon de Marseille is produced.
He will happily chat about his products and the soap making process, and often takes feedback from customers and incorporates suggestions into the next batch of bars for the stall.
Many of the soaps are fragranced with vanilla or cocoa for example, but there is also an un-fragranced option, which is extremely popular for those with sensitive skin. If you like a good old soak in the tub then treat yourself to some Ylabes bath salts!
ICI ET LA, mes petites pochettes
ICI ET LA is a textiles stall run by Frederique Declercq from France. Sewing is a passion of hers and she runs up toiletry bags and little bags to conceal things like underwear, socks and other everyday items.
Frederique loves gathering fabrics for the bags she says it’s ‘like being in a sweet shop’! These homey bags have colourful checks, polka dots or stripes and some have little labels that say things like ‘my pyjamas’ or ‘my socks’.
Zandra’s Fairy Trees
Alexandra Mirovska from Slovakia has been in Dubai for four years and makes ‘fairy trees,’ decorative miniature trees that light up and are popular with little girls. The trees are made with beading wire, Swarovski crystal and glass beads.
Knitting, embroidery, drawing and sculpture have long been part of her life. When making the products, Alexandra keeps her customers in mind, which is why she chooses quality crafting materials, such as organic, recycled or bamboo cotton.
Favourite Things
Australian potter and mosaic artist Roberta Jack makes functional stoneware as well as decorative and sculptural ceramics.
Her hand cut pashmina pins are a big hit, and Roberta’s influence from Middle Eastern culture is evident in her hand of Fatima pashmina pins.
Her crockery comes in various styles; earthy pieces sit happily next to more modern off-white plates and you can expect to see anything from a blue peacock to a red love heart finishing these everyday pieces. There are also wheel-thrown pots available, that come in a variety of glazes, so there’s something for everyone.
inthesandpit
Adele Manwaring grew up in rural Australia. Her mother, an art teacher, taught her how to create patterns and make clothes. From just 5 years old Adele was running up clothes for her teddy bears on an old Singer sewing machine. After 20 years in architecture, Adele realised her passion for fabrics was still strong and enrolled in a fashion course in Sydney where inthesandpit was born.
Adele makes children’s clothing. Maxi dresses in florals and pastels for little girls, which sit alongside moustache shorts for boys. She loves using quirky labels like ‘Washing instructions: remove child before washing.’!
ARTE The Makers’ Market anniversary market will be at Times Square Center Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, on Friday 11th September from 12 noon to 7pm and then again on Friday 25th September. The Ras al Khaimah market will be on Friday 18th September at Al Hamra Mall.
Visit www.arte.ae