Nov 29, 2014

Travel planning: Art and Artisans of Morocco

The first thing that ever got me hooked to Morocco/Marrakech was the blog 'My Marrakech' (now M.Montague) by Maryam Montague. Maryam's blog tantalizes by weaving rich images with stories from the faraway land.

And just as Maryam says in her book Marrakesh by Design, "Moroccan style is attainable yet exotic, practical yet mysterious". There's amazing craftsmanship and detailing in the everyday life and architecture of Morocco. 


Planning your culture trip to Morocco

Here is a travel plan for artsy, bohemian Morocco. Just hop in here with me... let's walk through cobblestone sidewalks, leather tanneries, visit artisans and vibrant markets and much more

Visiting Marrakesh is a no-brainer for the artistically inclined traveler, and enough has been written about the town. So I will leave it to the Rough Guides and Culturists to guide you on Marrakesh.

But for now, let's move on to two other places which are definitely not to be missed - Fez and Asilah. 

Morocco's capital of art and crafts, Fez 

The best way to explore Fez is by visiting artisan workshops with a native Fassi guide. Here are 5 things you should do in Fez.


1. Walk through the labyrinthine Medina 

Visit its teeming local markets and workshops, eat local food and wander with an artistic purpose. Visit the backyard workshops of the traditional craftsmen – zellij tile masters, weavers, tanners, coppersmiths, and potters. And not just watch them in action, but I recommend you go slow, meet them and try out some of the techniques yourself. However, if time is a constraint, you could go through Culture Vultures Fez and let them do your planning

2. Visit the leather tanneries in Fez 
Imagine giant watercolor pools like these!

The picture above shows the leather dyeing vats "containing natural vegetable dyes, such as poppy flower (red), indigo (blue), henna (orange), cedarwood (brown), mint (green), saffron (yellow), and pomegranate powder." These tanneries process the hides of animals, transforming them into leather products - all manually. The process has apparently remained unchanged "since medieval times, which makes these tanneries absolutely fascinating to visit." (AmusingPlanet)

3. Roam the Fez Medina to catch up with the classical artisans at work

Ceramists 
                     
Watch this video by the Exposé Artisanal project as a teaser.
                 

4. Don't miss the carpet auctions in the Middle Atlas Mountains

                                            

And visit textile weavers in the little caves and co-ops of the village Immouzer (off Fez).

5. Do a Food Tour through Fez

Of course, with this heady cocktail of arts and crafts, anyone would be hungry as hell. So do a food tour with Plan-It Fez or Fez-Food

That would be a perfect end to your stay in the city.  

Next stop: Asilah, a seaside town near Tangier

Asilah is a small fortified fishing village and is not to be missed by art and design lovers. Isn't the idea of "cobalt blue–painted window frames, emerald carved doors, fruit stands selling fresh orange juice, and donkey-drawn carts clattering down sun-dappled alleyspure bliss

Add to it that Asilah is a village that is blessedly removed from Morocco’s busy tourist circuit. would recommend wandering around the place on foot or on bicycles, and not following a top-10 list here :-)

I will let these pictures and captions do the talking.
Gawk at the walls of this village splattered with graffiti
calligraphy and other gorgeous work

Shop at these pretty hole-in-the-wall stores
Hunt for paintings and antiques in Alkamra
And swoon over calligraphy as effortless and bold as this.
Doesn't this virtual trip give you a happy-high?

Impromptu travel planning with the help of local hands would work best for those who like unplanned surprises. Alternatively, if you are based in India and looking for India-based travel planners who help with customizable travel packages, you could check out Discover Morocco by TravelTours.in. They offer some interesting plans for hassle-free travel.
TheWanderersTUI, and EquinoFunHolidays are other organizers you could check with.


Click on the pictures to go to their rightful sources.
Disclaimer: All suggestions are based on my interviews, experience, research and tastes.

Nov 22, 2014

Three More Beautiful, Beautiful Artist Videos

These artists-in-action inspire me no end. As they work on their canvases, creating beauty out of their fingers and right brains, I am filled with a sense of awe which pushes me to Get Up and Create.
You might have come across these videos someplace or the other... yet watch them again, soak in the magic, be inspired to handcraft a thing of joy, out of nothing!

Just watch this beauty by artist Jai Vasicek and be amazed.
"Expect bold colours, tropical motifs and ladies draped in vibrant textiles and jewellery"
Video via the Malachi exhibition by the artist at Fenton and Fenton. A post on Jai Vasicek and his work is warranted, and coming up soon!

Here's another video - Kelly Rae Roberts, a hugely successful artist and "possibilitarian"
This colorful video was shot by Vivienne McMaster and view it in Kelly Rae's own words "We spent an entire afternoon in and around my studio and she took photos and videos of the studio, of me, of my cowgirl boots, of my paints, and more. There was dancing involved. And skipping. And other ridiculous silly fun."

And this one was a bonus find for me, in the sense that it let me into Indian artist Aarohi Singh's home, a glimpse of her studio (albeit before the gorgeous painted walls), and some of her work which I hadn't come across otherwise... view it here!

If you loved these, don't miss my earlier post on a few more beautiful artist videos.

Nov 15, 2014

Leather and Fabric

Leather and Fabric... One Hot Couple!
Seen often, hand in hand, with characters in stark contrast to each other, one staid and the other more fun and adventurous. The latter breaking the monotony of the former. Both equally versatile, and create a spark in each other's company.

Been drooling over a few products which combine the two. The moment leather goods are embellished with a bit of fabric, it transforms to something bohemian. The two are very different textural elements, but they combine well resulting in a more personal and fun product.  What do you say?

LOVE, love love these boots designed by Guatemalan company Teysha
An Indian, bohemian art and design blog

And then, these oversized travel bags from Amy Butler
An Indian, bohemian art and design blog


Native print mocchasins... more for the feet, and just too good! (source unknown)
An Indian, bohemian art and design blog

Ikat and Leather! Ikat messenger bag from the fabulous Nappa Dori

An Indian, bohemian art and design blog
Rug-made bags by Rugberry
An Indian, bohemian art and design blog


Love this elephant camera strap suit made by Inspiration Work :-)
An Indian, bohemian art and design blog


And here's how you can bring it to your rooms - bring home this stylish midnight Ikat chair from Anthropologie
An Indian, bohemian art and design blog


Or re-upholster some of your leather furniture just the way Kelly of The Polished Pebble has transformed her old worn leather sofa with an old Navajo rug!

An Indian, bohemian art and design blog


Inspiration in plenty, right? Do you have any leather-fabric favorites or ideas?

Nov 8, 2014

The Journey of a Blog, and other Stories

As much as urbanization has taken its toll on the city, I can see quite a good green-cover, as I sip coffee at my workplace in the 21st floor of a building. Ah, the beautiful Bangalore weather makes me ponder, I guess. Just wanted to share a few things with you readers, fresh out of my mind.

A Sunny Yellow Window
Thinking back... a A Sunny Yellow Window started off mostly as directionless rambling, and did take a few turns in between. But it has eventually reached its happy state, and has settled down comfortably as an art and design blog - where I share mainly interesting artwork, artists, inspirations and anything artsy related to travel and decor. And of course, occasionally DIYs and my paintings. I know now that this is my niche - where my passion lies - and that's where my posts have been heading towards over the past couple of years. I am ever grateful to you readers for dropping by now and then. 

The art/design/decor blogging community of India
I am not sure if you think so too... I miss several active bloggers who were sizzling a couple of years back. BUT, there are several newer blogs who have taken aesthetics, writing and photography to a whole new level! I must say, the art/decor/design blogging community in India is awesome, with a few of them turning entrepreneurs too. A beautiful trend indeed!

Blogging & Creative Routines
In my case Blogging and Artwork have had to take a backseat over the past couple of months. With a 9-6 corporate job and a busy toddler at home - I have had to excuse myself from pouring over a canvas with my paints and brushes, or blogging as frequently as I would love to.
I have paintings pending for a few friends, and thankfully they have not given me any deadlines. At it very soon. I often wonder how some of you manage to churn out consistently beautiful posts, in terrific rhythm, and manage work, hobbies, family and friends. You simply rock!

Pinterest
Oh, there's one other thing I am pretty kicked about.

My Pinterest followers have picked up from around 1,500 to 1,68,000+ over the last few months. I guess it is the effect of pinning crazy for the last couple of years. If you are on P, pls do connect.

Have a good weekend dear reader! I will see you shortly. 
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