Pattern and Design

Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern....
~Alfred North Whitehead

In the old markets, which by now you all know are my favorite places to hang out, there is pattern everywhere! The most mundane objects are arranged into pleasing displays that allow the viewer to see the most merchandise. As most shops are very small, this gives the effect of showing the customer an abundance of style and variety, while allowing the shop owner to relax and bargain rather than running back and forth to a storage area. Clever!

Stemming from these groupings of like objects is....... you guessed it! Pattern!

Line, shape, form..... this display exhibits these building blocks of design, along with unity, harmony, and balance.


Here is pattern and design in a stack of colorfully stripped rugs.

And cusions!

And tassles!

And yet more cusions!

And more tassles!

How could you not be cheered by sitting in a room furnished with these traditional, colorful textiles?

I could spend an entire weekend taking photos in this market and still find more of interest that I would have to return for the next weekend. In every shop, around every corner, I find a feast for the eyes. The textiles, the jewelry, the people. Even the above 100F can't keep me away!

Close up and beautiful

I just adore rummaging around through old markets. The grungier the better. On these days I go out early in the morning and leave my daughter home, since she does not share this love of grunge with me. I never buy too much, never spend too much money, but I search and I dig, and sometimes I enjoy my time. I know that there is treasure out there. I also know that my idea of treasure does not necessarily coincide with the general population's idea of treasure.
These bits and pieces of chain, for example. Not shiny, not sparkly, but they catch my eye regardless. Partly because of the pattern, and the shadoes they make hanging in the shop. I wonder where they come from. And how old are they? Often times the shop owner doesn't even know. He may not even remember where he picked them up from.


I love this display. I love the composition! The repeating circles. The horizontal, vertical, and radiating straight lines. The color. My eye is pleased.

Treasures indeed! Old metal. Pendants. Beads of amber, turquoise, and coral,,,,, the real mixed in with the fake so that only the practiced eye knows the difference. And if it's pretty, who really cares?

Old bedouin rings. The style is big and clunky and it drives my husband crazy trying to reason why women would have wanted to wear these rings that would have been so impractical to their lifestyle. I look and don't question. I come only to enjoy.

Amber beads! Big, bold, and luscious! I want to take the entire bowlful home and spend my days gazing at them, but the price prohibits me from following through on that particular whim......

Portraits of a culture

I love taking pictures. I especially love taking pictures of people, but thus far I have refrained from posting or blogging any of the portraits I have taken. I have a few reasons for this. The main reason being privacy, and my fear of having those portraits misused. Saudi Arabia is a very conservative culture, and most people aren't terribly receptive to having their pictures taken to begin with. Especially in Riyadh! So when I find someone gracious enough to allow me to take their photo, the last thing I want to do is to put that photo out there where there is a chance of abuse.

Today, however, I break my self imposed ban on posting portraits on my blog. With full permission. I was in the older section of Riyadh taking pictures of sandals, textiles, rugs,,,,, anything in which I could find some pattern that to catch my eye, when I came across two young men in a shop. They were kind and patient enough to stand while I made adjustments on my camera and took a few pictures, and then they were curious as to where they might see the photos later. When asked if it might be alright for me to post their portraits on my blog, they said that would be no problem. So there you go....

I really appreciate the people who trust me to take their pictures. I show respect, and I do my best to get an interesting and flattering shot that the person will be happy to see. So thanks, guys. I hope you are pleased.

Afghani Jewelry and Inspirations

Beads and antique jewelry are weaknesses for me! So when I went to Deerah to see what I could do about some precious (ruby, sapphire, emerald, and topaz) beads that I had bought, whose holes are way too small for any of my wire, it was only natural that I would find MORE beads that I absolutely Needed! Coral, jade, pearls, garnets, and ohhhhh, the turquoise! How could I possibly say no to these things??? After all, I had made the earrings a while back to match my friends Syrian necklace, and I had been inspired!


The earrings above are garnet, seed pearl, and silver lined tubular beads with hand forged sterling silver wires. I love the vintage look!

This pair is made with turquoise, pearls, and crystal. A little shiny for my taste, but I do understand that not everyone subscribes to "the older the better" point of view that I hold to. So for anyone who likes a little more sparkle.......

These are also made with turquoise and pearl, but the turquoise is a duller variety and the pearls are seed pearls. Definitely inspired by the antiques around me, and the pair in turquoise and coral that I had made for my friend.


Then, just as I THOUGHT I had finished my shopping, I ran into an Afghani shop owner that I had been looking for! I had bought a blue pashmina and a couple of antique "dillahs" from him at least 2 months ago, and had been trying to find him again ever since. I wanted to buy another pashmina from him, and in 3 trips to the market, just couldn't locate his shop! Ironically, he was just standing on the street, and greeted my husband and I as we walked past. "That's him! That's the pashmina guy!" I screeched after we had taken another 3 steps. We turned around and followed him to his shop, and of course he knew I needed this choker and earrings, as well as 2 more pashminas! Oh, Happy Day!
Now, I am off to make some more earrings!