On the tiles

It's funny how things come in waves . . .

earlier this week I put a link on my facebook page to my Pinterest board: on the floor

because I had been seeing {and loving} the tiles from the Popham Design studio.

In a previous post - a tile is made - I've chatted a bit about the traditional artisan process involved in making these cement tiles. Popham Designs, based in Marrakech, have taken this traditional tile and transported it into a contemporary aesthetic which I just love. 

graphic and monochromatic

along with some wonderful bursts of colour

all images via

This assymetrical circle is one of my favourites, along with the colour!

 What do you think?

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!

tea in . . . Arenas del Rey

A brief ferry trip across the straits takes you from the Port of Tanger to the shore of Spain,

and just a little further inland,

towards the Siera Nevada,

is this pretty house in the Andalusian village of Arenas del Rey.

It can be found on a quiet street

just across the way from the bakery - so not far to go for a morning treat with your coffee!

And not far from magnificent scenery like this

Take a peek through a window 

into one of the three bedrooms.

Touches from the owners travels add to the ambiance.

And the double volume living area creates a sense of space.

Step out from the kitchen into the privacy of an outdoor living area.

Some Moroccan  blues are a perfect addition to this Spanish holiday home.

Finally candlelight and shadows at the end of the day.

bathrooms on file . . .

I have a file on my laptop ambitiously titled

 "Maroc : plans and idea",

 and some of these images have slowly found their way onto my pinterest (to which I am just a little addicted) boards as well.

I thought I would share some of the inspirational images I have been saving for my {future} dream bathroom, as that was partly the starting point to this blog - the path I am creating that is going to take us there.

                             

  Nothing quite as ambitious as this however - I veer towards a simpler approach.

 Have a look and see what you think.

                                                                                                

   

Despite the natural tones of all the images above, 

right now I think this one below is my favourite . . .

And then of course there are the details . . .

 how is a girl to bathe without a selection of silver hammam bowels to wash away the soap?

    

 cotton towels to soak up the suds

and subtle lighting to soften the edges.

     

It's the attention to detail that transforms the ordinary into the extra-ordinary.

one day . . .

all images with their credits can be found HERE on my pinterest board

and a tile is made . . .

one of the {many} things I love about morocco is the continuation of traditional crafts in a completely functional day to day kind of way. 

In the town there will be a glass man, the well men, the henna ladies and of course, the tile man! These concrete tiles epitomise Mediterranean design and surface pattern, and pop up regularly in beautiful homes from Morocco to Monaco. What amazes me every time I walk through the tile  workshop, is that every single one is hand made, individually coloured and pressed  - and all in a matter of seconds (ok, well maybe minutes, but a little poetic licence is surely allowed ?)

So , in a very functional workspace

 sand is shovelled, 

designs are picked, 

and colours are put - quite literally - into the mix . . . 

 and a tile is made

and then another

and another

until you have a floor -full

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