The New Year is well under way, and how busy it has been already. I hope it has been a good start for you all.
 
Last year was a period of reflection and growth for me as I took the steps of turning daydreams into reality, and some of the projects I have been working on are finally beginning to see the light day, a development, which towards the latter half of the year took me away from posting on African Daydreams as frequently as I would liked to have done. Not complaining though, and as the year progresses I have my fingers-crossed that my projects begin to bear fruit... and I hope too, that your dreams come true for the year ahead, and that you will continue to join me on the journey of exploring and discovering the delights of contemporary African design and creativity on African Daydreams.

What a busy year it has been, and with the Christmas holidays just around the corner, once again I find myself mentally shutting down. I will not be posting between now and the New Year, so would like to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year. I hope the holidays will be a time of joy and togetherness for you and your loved ones, and may 2013 shower you with blessings of good health, happiness, success and seeing your dreams come true.

Until the New Year, take care!

Storage: Trunks, Chests, Boxes and Blogs
Storage trunks will always remind me of school. Although I was not a boarder the beginning and end of term would always bring the flurry of activity associated with arrivals and departures, and signalling a beginning or an end. Large storage trunks and chests, whether shiny and new, or battered and bruised, and filled with the owners belongings would be stacked to one side awaiting to be taken away and unpacked of their practical items and treasured memories. Storage trunks also call to mind a bygone era when travel to distant places meant embarking on a long, and often tedious journey and having to ensure that you had everything you would need with you, requiring something sturdy to keep them safe in. I came across some trunks and boxes that take inspiration from Africa, and through their designs tell the stories of journeys that began long ago, but are still continuing as they embrace and are reshaped by ever changing times. Created by textile graduate Siobhan Harrison, Blanche Dlys Designs breathes new life into vintage and discarded pieces of furniture, restoring them with colour, pattern and texture in the form of selected fabrics and surface treatments. Hand finished, no two items will be alike and each item bears the marks of its previous life which adds a sense of the preciousness of treasured items passed on for safe keeping, making them modern heirlooms. Siobhan has used a range of fabrics including vibrant wax cloth fabrics to line the interior of one trunk and on another to cover the exterior.

The words modern heirlooms, also describe Tattoo Dreams' wooden boxes, tables, mirrors and other accessories that feature rubber stamped designs, giving the sense of times gone by, and conveying the thoughts, imagery and inspirations of their creator, designer Patricia Hecker. The box shown here is adorned with Adinkra Symbols and was a commissioned design. The box's small size and sliding lid makes it ideal for keeping items like jewellery, keys or little bits of stationary safe; however I can easily picture the same style and design on much larger scale as a coffee table or storage box for household furnishings like blankets and linens, in fact when I first saw the image that's what I thought it was!

African Daydreams is Two
Marking another year of researching, writing and blogging African Daydreams turns two on Sunday; and as the storage for my inspirations it continues to take me on an amazing journey of discovery; one that has begun to overflow the confines of its space. African Daydreams has given me the opportunity to I meet whether virtually or in person many interesting and inspirational people, organisations and businesses. 

Thank you to those who have shared their finds and their own designs, and thank you to all who have stopped by to say hi, for your words of encouragement and for sharing in the same enthusiasm I have when I come across something that inspires and delights. 

Digital by Design Sessions
It has proved to be an exceptionally busy week, and I have been spending quite a bit of time either moderating, or thinking about issues surround creativity for Visible by Design's Digital by Design sessions running simultaneously at the V&A's Sackler Centre, the hub for the London Design Festival, and online. We have had attendees logging on from Kenya and Hungary and the sessions are open to anyone whether you are a creative or not, Wednesday session was joined by a medical student who brought her insight into how she uses creativity to the discussion. I have created a summary of the discussions on Beyond Daydreams which you can access here: http://www.africandaydreams.com/mentor-engage-inspire.html

The Digital by Design sessions over the last couple of days have revealed some interesting insights into discovering the similarities and differences in our creative practises. Tomorrow is the final session looking at experimentation and where to go for further research, so if you have some time why not join us from 11am GMT for an hour and a half. To participate follow the link - http://todaysmeet.com/DIGITALbyDESIGN-Experimentation
Add your name to login, hit join and start discussing.

The previous discussions can be viewed here:
Wednesday - http://todaysmeet.com/DIGITALbyDESIGN-Creativity
Thursday - http://todaysmeet.com/DIGITALbyDESIGN-Development
Just follow the same process as above to login or click on the transcript link, bottom right to view what has already been discussed. All the discussions are live for a year so keep popping back to add your thoughts.

For further information about the Digital by Design sessions visit: https://www.facebook.com/VISIBLEbyDESIGN

Nanga def, ('hello, how are you' in Wolof... and, also the name given to a rather yummy cocktail!). 
Four weeks in Dakar have come and gone leaving in their wake a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and colours. My time Dakar was amazing, surpassing my expectations. There are times when some things are just meant to be, when everything just comes together; I felt that during my time in Senegal. I went to Senegal with no real plan of what I was going to do, having deliberately chosen to adopt a-wait-till-I-get-there approach. Unbeknownst to me at the time of planning, my trip coincided with the Dak'Art 2012 Biennale, which quickly formed the framework to my days, as the city was taken over by exhibition openings, performances, and discussions centred on art and design. Although I knew about the Biennale I hadn't thought to check when the next one was being held, so it was a pleasant surprise, and I could not have planned it better; a whole month indulging in art, design and creativity in deliciously hot sunshine. And indulge I did... by the end of my holiday I was mentally exhausted, my mind saturated and trying to process all I had seen and done... and above all I came away fulfilled. My research had revealed Dakar to be a highly creative and cultural city, but to step into the midst of it whilst a month-long celebration was happening was something else.

Amongst the littered and dusty landscape beats the rhythmic pulse of a vibrant, energetic city going about it days; it wasn't brash, more like a continuous hum heard through voices blending in with traffic drifting up to shady balconies, and through open windows, backed by the steady beat of construction work in shaping new silhouettes across the city. I met artists, some of whom I've featured, others I had on my list waiting to be posted, and yet others who will now be added. I visited exhibitions and attended openings; some good, some not so good; some planned, others I just happened to stumble upon following the sounds of enticing music drifting in the air. I sought refuge from the heat in airy cool gallery spaces, such as the Raw Material Company and Biscuiterie de Medina. I peeked into open-air workshops to watch artisans at work, carving objects or recycling metals; and wandered round the studios of artists at Village des Arts de Dakar, near the airport. I engaged in lively dialogue, challenged my perceptions and conquered my fears. I had the pleasure of meeting with several readers of African Daydreams who took me to their favourite places in the city; introduced me to renowned local artists such as textile artist Aissa Dione Tissus; and toured art collections like the contemporary pieces from local artists that can be seen displayed throughout the sophisticated interior of the Radisson Blu; which I was told was designed by South African architectural practice, Stefan Antoni  Olmesdahl Truen, previously featured on African Daydreams. I saw and interacted with products I have featured on African Daydreams; including the innovative stools and tables by Bibi Seck. I sifted my way through colorful fabrics, jewellery and basketry as I 'discovered' local arts and crafts geared towards the tourist market; taking a particular delight in the colourful kitsch 'sous verre' glass paintings that ranged from contemporary illustrations to simplistic stylised renderings of Senegalese people and everyday life; and was overwhelmed by way too much samey-samey objects like the skillfully carved wood carvings lining the streets and gracing the stalls. I thought I knew what an 'African' market was like until came face-to-face with Sandaga; Zimbabwean markets are tame in comparison! Wow it was an experience, overwhelming... once was enough and I opted for the more smaller, quieter markets where I could practice my bargaining skills! A generalisation, the Senegalese marketeers know how to sell and can talk the talk! Away from Dakar, took the ferry to the beautiful, yet poignant Goree Island which invoked a period of quiet reflection; and spent another day strolling the beaches of Saly.   

Add good food, creamy cocktails and being serenaded by the sounds of waves crashing along to the shore, I could spend all day trying to capture the essence of my experiences. For someone who doesn't speak French or Wolof I didn't do too badly methinks. I got to know Dakar well, but I couldn't have done it on my own. Thank you, I am truly grateful to everyone who looked after me, translated for me, gave of their time to take me out and about or simply offered advice. PS: if you are reading this and wondering if that includes you; yes it does!     
      
Filed away in my mind, as the days go by I will be sharing my 'finds'