shouf!

There is a chill in the air as autumn settles in here, which has prompted me to try and cosy up the shop

ochre mountain boujid rug

some new, things some old favourites . . . still very much a work-in-progress!

ewwel sugar bowls

Please follow the link and have a look -would love to know what you think!

www.shouf.co,uk

vintage cushion

xPauline

hard at work . . .

Admittedly its been a little quiet on my blog of late,

but just to let you know that I am working hard behind the scenes 

to make sure everything is working just how I want it to!

in the meantime
don't forget you can find me attempting to be arty
on
 INSTAGRAM

philosophising
on
PINTEREST

and just generally sharing the stuff of life
on
FACEBOOK

please keep in touch & I will be back to the blog soon!
x

Holidaay!

its that time of year

time to step away from my laptop

shake out the beach towels

and head for some sunshine

Flights have been booked

and we are looking forward to taking time to slow down

enjoy leisurely and warm summer evenings

and sunny beach days

and maybe even a little time to play . . .
but as they say
i will be back
see you in a few weeks time
x

La Maison de Tanger

As you may know - I am currently living in Assilah - yes the blog is called tea-in-tangiers, I know

but that's just because I have a thing for alliteration, and it had a nice ring to it . . .  but if you look at the small print it does say its about Tangiers, Assilah, and the places in between!

Anyway - the point of that little introduction is to explain how I came to spend the night at this lovely place : La Maison de Tanger!

Having been invited to a little soiree one Friday evening in Tangiers, I thought I would spoil myself and stay somewhere nice overnight rather than driving back late.
We decided on La Maison for a few reasons - some practical (parking,central etc) and others just because it looked pretty!

And it didn't disappoint on any accounts.

It is a beautifully restored and gracious home nestling surprisingly close to the grand socco.
Take a right at the arches -  just before you hit the metal workers.
I know the word "oasis" gets used an awful lot when talking about places to stay in morocco,
but this really is an oasis in the middle of the urban chaos of Tangiers.

The images above all give you the "big picture" which is undeniably impressive
but
to me
its always the details that make the difference . . . 

and La Maison de Tanger is full of details like this that make your stay there just that little bit more special
x

Casabarata Tangiers

La Casa Barata - translated directly simply means "the cheap house", which pretty much sums up this sprawling indoor-outdoor market place in Tangiers. It is a place to buy anything . . .  from a satellite  to a soap dish.

But I was interested in the salvedged and reclaimed building elements and furniture so spent most of my time looking at vintage metal work and old window frames.

These sun loungers were the first thing that caught my eye . . . but I passed them by thinking it was more important for me to get windows right now rather than things to lounge on - plenty of time for lounging later! 

So it was off to the building materials we went!

I ended up with a substantial amount of metal work for windows.

Now we just need to build the windows!

It was a little chilly walking around the market yesterday - so we finished up at a tiny stall selling

Bessara - a fava bean soup that is typically eaten for breakfast here but perfect at any time of the day to warm and fill you up.

While writing this post I searched for a recipe for the soup - and found one, along with some lovely images of Tangiers on this food blog by Jenny Chandler.

Perfect.

x

Tapenade

When life gives you olives . . .

Having had our fair share of meals at Port XIV in Assilah, we have also consumed WAY more than our fair share of their signature tapenade that gets put on your table with a flourish as you settle in to decide what to order. 

So we thought we would, in collaboration with Port XIV and their head chef Youssef,

show you how to transform

these . . . 

Into this.

There are a few subtle variations  to the traditional tapenade, but that is kind of the point.

 We are in Morocco after all!

so to your 1/2 kilo of black olives

add: 

1 teaspoon of cumin 

  1/2 teaspoon oregano

        2 teaspoons of olive oil - preferably from your own trees!

        1 teaspoon of fresh coriander chopped

        1/2 teaspoon of harissa 

The rest is simple - mix it all together and blend.

Then a bit of fresh bread, a glass of wine . . . .
Perfect.

Luckily, I don't have to don an apron to make any for a while as we were given this lovely jarful of the results of this recipe to bring home.

I will confess that there is already considerably less tapenade in above jar after 24 hours chez Brettell!

Thanks to Port XIV & Chef Youssef for sharing their recipe.

x

A Riad in Assilah

We were lucky enough for our first Christmas in Morocco to be a true family affair, but it did mean that we needed some additional space to fit everyone in.

With this in mind I perused the pages of Airbnb 

(it seems to be the thing to do at the moment!)

and found this riad in the medina, literally just around the corner -  perfect!

The house is typically designed around a central courtyard with bedrooms and niches like this arranged around it - it was a bit chilly in December but in the summer I think this would be the perfect place to escape the sun with a book,

 or end the day lounging with a cocktail?

The living areas are open plan and full of light.

And are a great mix of traditional and contemporary design - an eclectic approach which I love.

Plenty of communal space for the whole family to gather, 

as well as private places to escape to.

The main bedroom has this great ensuite bath - the first arrivals managed to get the best bedroom of course . . .  such is life!

The terraces wind up on a few levels.

A real summer time bonus is this plunge pool on the lower terrace.

 I think I could spend a lot of time here!

And then of course at the end of the day, 

the view over the medina

palm trees, white walls and blue sky.

Perfect.

This property is available to rent HERE on Airbnb

x

Looking for a Beni Ourain?

Wether on Pinterest, Instagram, or the latest edition of your favourite interiors glossy, you cannot miss the trend for these beautiful handwoven rugs made in Morocco.

 One of the reasons (I think . . .) for the appeal of these carpets is that despite often having strong patterns marching across the pile, the natural colours raise them above trends and allow them to fit seamlessly into a range of interior  - especially the modern Danish look that is still right on trend.

You just have to have a quick look at the Pinterest board I share with my friend Urban Boer to get the general idea.

via

So with all this in mind, when I walked past the shop I often work with in the medina and saw this glorious display of  carpets in the winter sunshine I had to do the Instagram thing - but then decided to take it a step further

 just in case one of you wants one of these, 

right now, 

    in your home . . .

All you have to do is let me know, and we will get it to you

by hook or by crook as they say!

so
"shouf - shouf"
{have a look}
and see if you find the perfect beni for that space on your floor.

#1: dimensions 194cm x 113 cm

      price ex postage - $815 /  Euro:687

#2: dimensions 262cm x 153cm

      price ex post - $938 /  Euro:791

#3: dimensions 245cm x 112cm

     price ex post - $818 /  Euro:690

all prices excl postage

please feel free to contact me with any questions and queries about these carpets or any other carpet you might be looking for.

via

 if you want to find out a little more about these carpets have a look here where Gebhart Blazek, specialised dealer and curator in Moroccan textiles shares some of his extensive knowledge.

x

monday moodboard- in black and white

Using the beautiful graphic black and white designs of eWWel ceramics as a starting point, this mondays moodboard is a simple one in black and white.

One of the hardest parts of doing the moodboards is leaving stuff out
like this . . . 

or this . . . 

for more black & white inspiration have a look here
all images and credits via

have a good week
x
Pauline

Reading in the Medina

#readinginthemedina on Instagram

If I don't have a book next to my bed or on my kindle I start stressing - so often message a few well read friends for suggestions. We thought an easy way to share titles would be to post a cover on instagram using a common hashtag : #readinginthemedina
So - if you have read a book recently that you think is worth sharing, it would be great if you could post it on instagram using that hashtag - creating a mini instagram library for us all to share!

looking forward to some literary inspiration!
x
Pauline

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!