Camel Cuteness: Souvenirs from Jeddah

Having been in Jeddah town for around five years now, and having gone back at least eight times, I was fast beginning to feel like I had exhausted all options for my ‘Arab souvenirs’. Friends and families back home had had just about enough of our regular take-homes of assorted dates and fancy nuts from Roasters. Most of the souvenir shops at Jarir Mall and Red Sea Mall were drastically over-priced.

When I come back to Jeddah, I often bring back traditional stuff for my Arab colleagues, something deeply traditional, with a strong feel of place, like Ajrak-printed bedsheets, embroidered cushion covers, and winter shawls.  It leaves them elated and asking for more. I was looking for something along those lines, something that makes a very strong statement without necessarily inducing bankruptcy.

As they say, if you’re not a Muggle, magic finds a way to happen. So, where do I hit upon this goldmine of cuteness? In the departure lounge at the airport. Yes, apparently a new or a very recent addition, because I did not see this before, a brand called The Camel Company, which operates from Dubai UAE, has a whole range of souvenirs including notebooks, pens, wallets, cups, decorative plates, cushion covers, key chains, mouse pads, coasters, fridge magnets, paper weights and such.

The motifs are very Arab with a strong dash of color and spunk. The most refreshing part is definitely the colour palette, with bright and deep colours that just leap off the racks and beg purchase. The images for the brand are mostly clichés of the Arab landscape and way of life, but they are very artfully appropriated for a fun effect. They would have to be Arab in the broadest sense of the word, not necessarily Saudi per se, but I don’t think the benefactors of these souvenirs would be overly fussy about that.

Camels and more camels

Camels and more camels!

I don’t know what takes the cup for cuteness, the multi-hued camel with the drooping lower lip, the palm-sized Bedouin girl and boy in authentic Bedouin costume, the mosque sprouting out of desert ground on a set of coasters, the notebook with the ornate calligraphy or the fridge magnets that look like little jewels. For the moment, they look like they’re all winning, and I’m taking them all!

 

“My Life as an Artist in Saudi Arabia”

Acclaimed artist Dorothy Boyer will be speaking to a select audience about her life as an artist in Saudi Arabia. She will be talking about her commissioned mural work here in Jeddah, and also about her own personal work.

Roshan with Figure. Watercolour on Paper. 18ins x 16ins.

If you would like to attend the talk, My Life as an Artist in Saudi Arabia by Dorothy Boyer at the Saudi Arabian Natural History Society, then contact Susie Zaidan for details at arabianaccents@yahoo.com. The event will be held on Saturday 6 April from 7:30-9:15 pm. The venue will be sent to confirmed attendees. The fee for non-members of the Saudi Arabian Natural History Society is only SR 20 and for members entrance is free.

To register, send in your name ID or Iqama number to the email address above asap. Dorothy Boyer Fine Art products will also be available for purchase at this event.

Massive Puma Competition – We Have a Winner!

Last Tuesday we ran our exclusive Massive Puma Competition where we promised to give away a coveted Puma Collector’s Item to one lucky reader. We had lots of responses – thank you to all who participated.

This is the question we asked:

EvoSpeed collection was inspired by the fastest man in the world.

Who is he? 

a.) Tyson Gay

b.) Usain Bolt

c.) Nesta Carter

The answer was b.) Usain Bolt

Now coming to the results of the contest,

We used Random.org to choose a winner for us out of all the entries and this is what it came up with:

Jeddah Blog Puma Competition winner as selected by Random.org

CONGRATULATIONS to Nabiha Khan !!

Nabiha, please get in touch with us so that we can arrange for your unique Puma Collector’s Item to be delivered to you.

To all the rest, stay tuned! – there will be more competitions and opportunities to win in the future.

Treasure Hunting at Hamed Carpets

A feeling of elation, a rush of excitement. Discovering a hidden treasure evokes such feelings as these, and this is exactly what I feel every time I walk into a little hidden gem of a shop called Hamed Carpets.

    

The wondrous store is jam-packed with exotic souvenirs and handicrafts from Saudi Arabia and all over the world, and for those who have already experienced the disappointment in finding keepsakes for loved ones from Jeddah, this treasure trove is the perfect place to hunt.

 

From antique locks to intricate trinket boxes, beautifully carved antique furniture and handmade rugs to glittering baubles, Hamed Carpets has all one could wish for, and more. There is even a gorgeous traditional wooden swing begging to be bought and lovingly displayed in one’s home.

So, next time you would like to aesthetically treat yourself, or purchase some pre-vacation souvenirs, or simply browse away while time flies past, head to Hamed Carpets tucked away on the top floor of the City Plaza (also known as the Dome Plaza) on Prince Sultan Street, and indulge to your heart’s content.

– Sabaa Ali