In the last 20 years of my mother's life, I think I can count on one hand the times when she did not have a delicate, artisan-woven scarf tossed around her neck.
About 20 of them were built of delicate wrought iron tracery by unknown artisans for Mexican VW dealers.
It's a minimalist store selling delicate, hand-crafted pieces by four artisans: Alison Berger (whose glassware is shown, with prices ranging from $165 to $1,100), Ted Muehling, Gabriella Kiss and Vibe Harslof.
The nine-panel ensemble of recurring spirals, a tree of life, a young girl in a meadow and a couple locked in an embrace was executed in gouache, gold and platinum leaf on several types of delicate paper, with handwritten notes to the artisans of the Wiener Werkstätte who installed the frieze.
Craft Victoria (No. 31, 61-3-9650-7775, www.craftvic.asn.au) sells designer housewares and jewelry by local artisans, including a plastic basket that looks like delicate woven grass (320 Australian dollars).
The artisans used wire armatures to reinforce the whole collections' delicate arrays of objects.
Rather than the fashion and hi-tech boutiques of Kuala Lumpur, traditional Malay culture is embedded here, and we visit artisan workshops renowned for batik printing, and pick up a pricey piece of songket, delicate hand-woven silk cloth with gold and silver threads worn at Malay ceremonies.
Reaching Out is fair-trade gift shop with, opening on to the river behind, an airy workshop where disabled artisans were making a too-tempting array of goodies: screen-printed silks, ceramics with delicate filigree trim, embroidered bags, greeting cards and fabric toys.
What lyric artisan arranges.
Artisan 275 Old Post Road Southport (203) 307-4222 artisansouthport.com DON'T MISS THE SPACE The attractive dining area, part of the new Delamar Southport hotel, has wooden floors, a wall with small panes of antiqued mirrors, delicate chandeliers and comfortable chairs.
