Mosaic making

I love mosaics and a large part of The Craft Company is devoted to making mosaics. I am working hard this year to come up with mosaics that have brighter colors and are applied to functional items. 

Walking around my factory this morning I took some pictures of the new frames that are going to go in the stores soon. They are waiting to be grouted all piled up and unpolished yet. I find it a real challenge to design items that can support mosaics and look good for people to buy and display in their homes.

My new hot plate mosaic design yet unpolished and grouted.

 I also make mosaic lamps and these are from the 
carpentry department all lined up ready for the mosaic to be applied on. I have chosen a colorful design like the one in my new hot plates above.

I would love to discuss mosaic making and help and share all my experience with mosaics. Please email or comment and I will be happy to write back

Bridge Morning

Every Thursday morning I play bridge and today was my turn to host. I love baking and I was just gifted a huge slab of Pecorino Romano cheese So I decided to make a zucchini, porcini mushroom, pecorino cheese and onion tart. I also made my own invented recipe of a black currant and toffee cake and a pear tart since pears are in season. The pears are supposedly from Afghanistan but I suspect the fruit walla just says that to make them sound delicious and dangerous. 

Zucchini, porcini mushrooms and pecorino tart

As far as the bridge went today was my lucky day and I won four hundred rupees at bridge or the princely sum of about five dollars!

The pear tart dusted with powdered sugar

I live in Karachi, known to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world.  I own a design house with retail outlets in Karachi and Lahore and export my creations all over the world. But my inspiration starts here and I want to write about it.

Amidst the chaos that comes with a city of the sub continent I find inspiration for my work. I want to write about what captures my attention in Karachi or wherever I travel to in person or virtually and show you glimpses of how my world translates into the products I design and the paintings I make. I also love food, cooking, gardening, collecting antiques and of course travelling. I will start by introducing The Craft Company.

This is a mobile pouch we embroidered and beaded showing a girl on a scooter.   

 This is a sight you will never see in Karachi because social norms do not allow girls to own or use scooters or cycles. I hope more people can get used to seeing women on scooters in Karachi and not only as passengers. To read more about this sad phenomenon follow this link Motorcycle Diaries.