After a much too long break from blogging — I’m back!

I have a serious infatuation with tiles. Especially when they’re as beautiful as these Moroccan made tiles by Popham designs. Colorful handmade cement tiles are beautiful – inspired by their Moroccan surroundings and would enhance any room.

Learn more about the tiles and how they’re made (very cool) here.

London-based artist, Slinkachu adds to his Little People project with this mini installation called “Chicken Tikka Disasta” for a group show.

“The show is in aid of the Bhopal Medical Appeal which aims to raise awareness and provide medical care for people still suffering the after-effects of the calamitous toxic gas leak that blighted the Indian city of Bhopal in 1984 – even today kids are still being born with birth defects and the environment is still affected. My installation is titled ‘Chicken Tikka Disasta’ – and is pretty much the closest most people in England to India and it’s people “ – Slinkachu

Cool finds – Designs inspired by South Asia on the wonderful world of Etsy!

(1st row – left: ring inspired by turkish design $10, right: Indu patterns $2.50 (sheet); 2nd row – left: delhi pigment ink framed art $18, right: waafia “beards grow on you” pin $2; 3rd row – left: Cairo inspired scarf $27, right: Turkish tea pot tile bracelet $35; 4th row – left: turkish design earrings $18, right: photo print on wood block $28)

Famous Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid does stunning flatware($199) and beautiful jewelry(bracelet $347)  for Atelier Swarovski. I’ll take both!

Inkling prints are pretty and fun – available on pillows and totes, each design is handmade in the artist, Kiran’s studio in the UK. All prints are on natural linen. See more at her studio site! Great work, Kiran!

First, I want to say thanks to all my readers out there — Visually Arrested has hit the one year mark and its been a good learning experience. I hope the new year brings new ideas, blogs and readers!

Second, I randomly came across an image on FFFFound and traced back the source to Ibraheem Youssef – a designer/director from Toronto! His custom appreciation cards are fantastic and personalized. I instantly found myself drooling over the design, consturction and wishing I got one in the mail myself. Check out some of his other cool stuff here!

“The Hive”, made of lacquered wood, inspired by both the natural shelter built by bees and traditional forms of Arab Andalusian architecture. The storage modules of hexagonal shape overlap so as to draw a landscape in space and become a structuring element around which the user can move.

Designed by Mostapha El Ouhlani, from Morocco. This would be a great element of design and function in any home.

Also from Mostapha El Ouhlani, this clock design made with geometric shapes inspired by the work of zellige, resembling Moroccan tile work. Simple and beautiful – I’d love to watch that clock anytime!

Sun screens and shades at Delia Shades will never make you want to open up your blinds. Moorish and Indian jali styles are a few of the wonderful designs and patterns available. Each design is custom designed and fitted for your windows. Simple and subtle decor to make any room beautiful! How fantastic would they look on a summer day! See more here.

Dia Batal – another fabulous Lebanese furntiture designer creates sleek and modern furniture using wood and steel. She uses poetic texts in free style Arabic calligraphy to give her furniture the unique edge. See more here.

I really like how she combines different materials creating a really unique and beautiful piece of furniture.

Nada Debs, Lebanese designer, uses the philosphy of “less is more” to create chic, contemporary furniture. The combination of disciplines creates pieces with clean lines while the unexpected use of a variety of mediums – mother of pearl in the ‘East & East’ collection, perspex in the ‘floating stools’ (below) – have become the epitome of her design.

Living in various countries, Nada’s multicultural background creates inner tension and leads her to express the vast breadth of these influences through her designs. “The creative process is therapeutic. It allows me to express all my cultural influence, which aren’t always compatible, in a harmonious way.”

Beautiful colors and lines, Nada creates furniture that is unique and modern–something I’d love to have in my own home!
See more at Nada’s site here.