Designed by eWWel.

I first discovered the ceramics of eWWel on display in the FACTORY in the medina of Assilah. In fact I treated myself  - a little birthday gift from me to me - with some of their lovely black and white ceramic cups. Not long after that I met Sarah , one half of the team, and found out a little more about their venture into contemporary Moroccan design and ceramics.

Q: Tell us a little about yourselves and eWWel.

We are Julie and Sarah, both from France and have been in Tanger for almost 3 years. Even though we are from neighbouring regions in France, we met in Morocco. We are both passionate about design and deco, and in January this year, decided to combine our ideas to create our own brand eWWel (which means DREAM in Berber). We work together every day on all aspects of the business from the creation and design side to the media and communication and updating of our website.

Nous sommes Julie et Sarah, deux françaises installées à Tanger depuis bientôt 3 ans. Même si nous sommes originaires de régions voisines, c’est au Maroc que nous nous sommes rencontrées. Passionnées de déco, nous avons décidé d’associer nos idées pour créer notre propre marque, Ewwel (rêver en langue berbère), en Janvier 2014. Nous travaillons chaque jour ensemble aussi bien sur la partie création que sur la partie communication avec des séances de prises de vue et la mise à jour de notre site internet.

Q: What made you decide to create contemporary ceramics in Morocco?

We love Moroccan craftsmanship, its diversity, its wealth, and its history. We also like the more contemporary decor. Having a foothold in Fez, our choice fell on ceramics, working the earth while being highly symbolic and with infinite possibilities. So we decided to combine the Moroccan expertise with western design in creating our first collection of ceramic tableware made entirely by hand by one of the best potters in the city. We wanted to create a a collection in our own image, a reflection of our different cultures whether by origin or adoption.

Nous adorons l’artisanat marocain, sa diversité, sa richesse et son histoire. Nous aimons également la déco plus contemporaine. Ayant un pied à terre à Fès, notre choix s’est porté sur la céramique, le travail de la terre, hautement symbolique et avec d’infinies possibilités. Nous avons donc décidé d’associer le savoir-faire marocain au design occidental en créant notre première collection de vaisselle en céramique, entièrement réalisée à la main par un des meilleurs artisans potiers de la ville. Nous avons voulu créer une collection à notre image, reflet de nos différentes cultures, qu’elles soient d’origines ou d’adoption.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind eWWel designs.

Being a veritable melting pot, Tanger inspires us. It is Africa, but with Europe is still visible in the distance . . . here everything is possible. It is an atmosphere that is conducive to creativity. We draw our inspiration from oriental graphics, but equally from Scandinavian and retro designs to create what we hope is an authentic and modern collection.

Véritable melting-pot, Tanger nous inspire. L’Afrique, mais l’Europe visible au loin… Ici, tout est possible. Une atmosphère particulière propice à la création. Nous puisons notre inspiration dans le graphisme oriental, mais également dans le design scandinave et le rétro pour créer des collections modernes et authentiques.

Q: What is the best part of creating your products for you?

We both like the creation and design part. But what we love most of all is the final realisation of our products - that moment when the product we had imagined and designed finally comes out of the kiln.

La partie création et conception nous plait énormément. Mais ce que nous aimons par dessus tout, c’est la réalisation finale de nos produits. Lorsque que le produit que nous avions imaginé et dessiné est enfin sorti du four.

Q: If people want to buy your work where can they find it?

Our products are available in many shops in Morocco: Las Chicas in Tanger, Factory in Asilah, End Awa in Marrakech as well as Casablanca Vintage Market. We can also be contacted directly via FaceBook 

Nos créations sont en vente dans plusieurs boutiques au Maroc : Las Chicas à Tanger, Factory à Asilah, Fin Awa à Marrakech et à l’Atelier Vintage à Casablanca.

Vous pouvez également nous contacter directement via notre page Facebook 

Q What are the plans and dreams for eWWel for 2015?

We are currently working on the next collection by broadening the range with new products (teapots, plates and trays). We would also like to create other types of decorative items using different materials such as wood and cotton. Our dream . . . ? Having our own workshop-boutique right here in Tanger!

Nous travaillons actuellement sur la prochaine collection en élargissant la gamme avec de nouveaux produits (théières, assiettes et plateaux). Dans nos projets les plus ambitieux, nous aimerions créer d’autres types d’articles de décoration en utilisant différents matériaux comme le bois ou le coton.

Notre rêve ? Avoir notre propre atelier-boutique, ici à Tanger! 

Q and of course . . . where is your favourite place for tea or coffee in Tanger?

We like to be creative around a mint tea in the cafe of the Cinematheque de Tanger -a place that we love with its authentic retro feel!

Nous aimons animer nos séances de travail autour d’un thé à la menthe au café de la cinémathèque de Tanger. Un lieu authentique, rétro et culturel. Tout ce qu’on aime!

Julie & Sarah getting creative over some mint tea at the Cinematheque!

a {bed}Room of ones own

Looking at the images I have kept on file as bedroom inspiration

this natural tones collage came to mind.

It seems to be the palette I am favouring at the moment

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I love the idea of not having to get out of bed to enjoy the view

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As much as I like the natural tones I am never able to discard colour.
I think these cushions are perfect to break the tasteful monotony
of a toned down palette.

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I've always wanted a four-poster bed - this one looks perfect,especially as we have a few trees that need chopping down!

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Another four-poster
&
another toned down palette,
 but this time a bit warmer with more pattern and textural detail.

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I really like the layout of the bedroom below with the bath behind the bed.

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Sometimes it is the smallest decorative detail that makes the difference,
like this posy vase attached to the wall.

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And of course no bedroom is complete without a place to put your book alongside the bed.

“So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say. ” ― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

for credits and these images (and a whole lot more)

have a look at our Pinterest page.

In Morocco with Billabong

I very rarely simply re-post images or posts, and do try to generate my own content, or at the very least put it into my own context - but these images via WolfCub Chronicles by photographer and stylist Brydie Mack   are lovely and, I thought, worth sharing.

They were taken while on a shoot for Billabong, and she has captured 

 the tones and textures beautifully.

If you enjoy gazing at these images, have a look HERE for more.

 

Beautiful don't you think . . .
Which is your favourite ?
I love the one of the sandals on the worn tiles.

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Cape Town

And a few of my favourite things . . .

I spent a few days in Cape Town last week - a fleeting visit so not really enough time to visit all that the city has to offer, but thought I would share a few of the places I tend to beat a path to.

1. Haas Coffee Collective: http://haascollective.com/

my favourite coffee shop plus a great gallery for a little visual stimulation while enjoying your caffeine intake.

2. Bree Street : worth finding a sought after parking spot here and walking!

Part of the First Thursdays initiative: http://www.first-thursdays.co.za/

3. Sarah Ord Interiors: http://www.sarahord.com/ 

for an eclectic burst of colour - it certainly brightened up my {rainy} day!

4. Neighbourgoods Market: http://www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za/cape-town 

 If your visit falls over a weekend pop across to the Old Biscuit Mill in woodstock

food glorious food - that's all there is to say!

5. Robert Sherwood Design: http://www.robertsherwooddesign.com/

back to Bree Street for this showroom - a beautifully curated collection of art and interior objets.

6. The Sushi Box: http://www.sushiboxsa.com/ 

out of the city and into the suburbs, a lovely tucked away spot and of course great sushi

7. Cassis: http://www.cassis.co.za/

a patisserie with 4 outlets in cape town so no excuse for not trying their macarons!

8. Cinema Nouveau: https://www.facebook.com/CinemaNouveau

have a quick look around the waterfront then see whats showing here - I managed (at long last!) to see The Grand Budapest Hotel although I think I might need to watch it again.

any other suggestions and additions?

a {slightly} more contemporary approach . . .

What struck me about this Tangier's home of designer Bruno Frisoni, was how it manages to combine a more contemporary feel while still showcasing a lot of the traditional elements of Moroccan design -  its bright colours and airy spaces are like a breath of fresh air as it perches above Tangier looking out across the city .

These words quoted below from the Vogue article in which it originally appeared struck home with me . . .

 "Accustomed to the more picturesque delights of ancient Marrakech and Fez, he was confronted by a sprawling place of “traffic jams and a lot of dust.” But he loved the house of their host, the garrulous decorator Yves Taralon, constructed like the prow of an ocean liner and set in the side of a sloping cliff with plunging views to the Spanish coastline some 20 miles across the water. Frisoni also warmed to the city’s madcap and fun-loving denizens, and the pale ribbon of empty beach stretching to the pretty whitewashed seaside village of Asilah down the coast. “It was not exactly a touristic town,” he remembers—and this, ultimately, was its appeal."

Photography: François Halard

Read the full feature on Vogue.com

images via  http://trendland.com/bruno-frisonis-moroccan-home/ 

dive right in . . .

While friends in the north are battoning down the proverbial hatches,shaking out their scarves as the days grow shorter and colder - I'm down south till the end of the month and it is getting warmer by the day!

While I was cooling off  in a friends pool yesterday, I started dreaming of the perfect pool to place amongst our olive trees . . . although our trees have a way to go before we can have a vista like the one below!

 Maybe we should go for something more decorative, a part of the house rather than the garden?

Or possibly something a little more private and personal to plunge into?

A more natural approach? (I do like this one!)

  or in the style of The Murano in Marrakech - something a little less predictable?

Well, dreaming and planning are part of the journey . . . 

any thoughts on these poolside ponderings?

{all images above with credits can be found HERE}