Funky fans for summertime by Kukuxumusu

Although fans are rather associated with Southern Spain, they used to be very popular all over Spain for many years until the advent of the air-conditioning. In the summertime, our grandmothers used to carry them in their bags and those fans were decorated with handpainted flowers and designs.

Fans are a great way to get some fresh air in the hotest months while we sip a drink sitting in a terrace. That is why many of us still use them, although we look for more contemporary designs. The basque firm Kukuxumusu produces fans which are fun, very casual and not expensive.  

C/Argenteria 69 by Santa Maria del Mar (El Born)
Metro Jaume I (Yellow line)

Watchcelona: watches made in Barcelona

Founded in 1991, Watchcelona produces a variety of well designed watches.Some are inspired in classical models, with big numbers and leather straps, rather minimalist. There is also a line of digital watches quite original and models decorated with works by artists such as Joan Miró and Chillida. Well known designers have collaborated with Watchcelona (Miquel Milà, Quim Larrea, Mariscal, América Sánchez...) which has also produced watches for Spanish fashion designers (Amaya Arzuaga, Roberto Verino, Lydia Delgado...).
They are working on a new website but the catalog displaying all models is available online. 

http://www.watchcelona.com/

On sale at Items d´Ho at the Diagonal, by one of the entrances to the shopping center L´Illa. Metro Maria Cristina (Green Line)
La Capel, the shop of the cooperative of the Association of Architects of Catalonia at the C/ Capellans, by the Cathedral. Metro Jaume I, Yellow Line or Liceu, Green Line.   

Candy glam rings by Escribà

Over 20 models of glamorous rings made of candy by Escribà, a family owned pastry in business since 1906 well known for its creativity and chocolates. An original present to surprise your sweetheart, family and friends. New models in preparation in collaboration with well known designers. 

http://www.escriba.es/candyglamrings/index2.html

Available at Escribà, Ramblas 83 (Mero Liceo, Green Line)   

The tiles of Barcelona´s sidewalks on leather purses & wallets

The purses, wallets and keyrings decorated with the design of the tiles paving the sidewalks of Barcelona, which are  the symbol of the Modernism Route, are a good "souvenir" from our city. You can find them at Calpa, a shop selling handbags and luggage which was the first to have this idea and has registered its designs. They also sell purses and keyrings reproducing the hexagonal tiles designed by Gaudí for the Pedrera that you can also see on the sidewalks of the Passeig de Gràcia.  

Calpa
c/ Ferràn 53. There is also an entrance on the Carrer del Call.
Nearby the Plaça Sant Jaume, Metro: Liceo (Green Line) or Jaume I (Yellow line)
For more information about the Modernism Route www.rutadelmodernisme.com

Bow Tie: British style for men

A new boutique in Barcelona of this high-end British brand. Selection of shoes, ties and other accessories for men in a decor recreating a British club. They sell slippers, the shoes that British nobility used to wear at home which have become fashionable in the streets.

C/ Rosselló 230 between the Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla Catalunya.

Nearest Metro: Diagonal, Green line.

Woven horsehair jewelry and decorative objects by Cuenco (Chile)

I learned about Cuenco through a friend and I fell in love with their designs and the idea behind them. Cuenco is the brainchild of two young Chilean architects. They work with women artisans in Chile to bring a new look to a traditional horsehair craft known as rari. Together they produce unique and colorful brooches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other art pieces.

In 2008 they received the UNESCO Excellence Seal for Mercosur, and have been invited to participate in exhibitions in Spain, France, Japan and the United States. The designs of Cuenco are on sale in some museum shops in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and the USA.

I reproduce here the origin of Rari. “Rari is a small, pre-mountainous town near the city of Linares, 305 km. South of Santiago, in Chile, which is the birthplace of a specific form of horsehair weaving craft. This craft originated 200 years ago, when local women, doing laundry in the creeks near their homes, discovered that they could weave poplar roots into small figures. As they developed their weaving technique, they started experimenting with various fibers, thus replacing the roots with horsehair which were more ductile and required less pre-weaving preparation time. Later on, they added the plant fiber Ixtle, brought over from Mexico, which serves a structural function, creating a more voluminous and resistant weaving.

The technique has passed from mother to daughter and remains unchanged until today: the horsehair is washed, and dyed, and then woven by hand into numerous figures.In their traditional pieces, the artisans inspired by their inner female worlds, create delicate and colorful handcrafts to decorate themselves and their domestic world. These qualities and figurative inspiration have been passed on for many years, from grandmothers to daughters and granddaughters, which begin to imitate their elders’ technique in their early childhood.

Their typical motifs reflect elements from the rural world (flowers, butterflies) and others, the imagery of campesinos (local farm workers) such as huasos (traditional Chilean rural character) and witches. Non figurative motifs are rare and generally associated to objects used in everyday life through geometric compositions, such as cup holders and rosaries, and bookmarkers".

Find out more at www.cuenco.cl