As a technical consultant for Aid to Artisans, Egypt Project , I had the opportunity to work with their Project manager, Shereen Shirazy and to design a wood decorative furniture for their Maison et Objet 2012 collection. I also had the opportunity to visit with the workshop in the renowned town of Damietta known for woodworking. The owner, Mohammad Al- Relly, in his sixties, was a complete pleasure to work with. His passion for quality wood working, progressiveness and drive was inspiring to work with.

We stayed in Port Said right before Ramadan so all the lights and decoration were going up for the holiday celebration. The drive was about 45 minutes to an hour each way.

At the workshop the owner and his sons greeted us each day. We worked morning to night. We met with master wood carvers, turners and finishers all talented and hard working in minimal conditions in hot dusty temperatures. Egyptian mushrabeya or turned wood lattice is magical and exotic and made its way into the collection with ease.

The collection was inspired Old and New by the fascinating fusion of cultures and history found in Egypt. My designs merge ancient Egyptian forms found in their architecture and design with contemporary arabesque patterns. I used updated patterns inspired by henna the temporary tattooing tradition in muslin countries as woodcarvings inlayed onto ancient Egyptian proportioned tables, tabourets and candlesticks. I also used traditional arabesque geometric patterns in fresh new ways, inlaying them into side tables and mirrors frames. I also wanted to fuse new color ways and finishes into traditional Mushrabaya to give it a contemporary feel appeal to western markets.

Stay tuned for more when ATA launches the collection in January 2012. Visit http://www.aidtoartisans.org/where_we_work/handmade_in_egypt_egypt