by guest contributor Jessica Van Den
Tel Aviv is the second-largest city in Israel, situated on the coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. With hot, humid summers and cool rainy winters (with the last snowfall occurring in 1950) Tel Aviv has a climate amenable to a lot of breezy outdoor activities, and the designs coming out of the city definitely have a fresh feel to them.
Tel Aviv shore lights by snoopy022
David Kaufman named it the “Mediterranean’s New Capital of Cool” – and if the talent on Etsy alone is anything to go by, Tel Aviv is full of amazing talent – artists, designers and makers.
Be Happy Now
Jenny Meilihove is a freelance illustrator, originally from Russia. She studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design in Jerusalem, majoring in Illustration. She now lives outside of Tel-Aviv in a big house with her boyfriend and fur baby cat, and spends her days drawing and making tiny dolls.
AurumJewelry
Orit Kanner resigned her secure day-job this year to focus on her new jewelry label – opening her Etsy shop in February 2010. She fell in love with design and jewelry making a long time ago, but only recently took the plunge to making her own work. Her style is modern, with a slight organic edge. She does a low of work in gold-plated sterling silver, which sets her work apart from most metalsmiths who focus on sterling.
The Knitting Boy
Erez Solo Rimon is a self-proclaimed ‘knitting boy’ – he’s been knitting for 11 years, since he was 15 years old. He’s now in his 3rd year of Textile Design Studies at Shenkar College in Israel. His work spans the disciplines of craft and art, with a range of unique designs.
The Time is Now
Naomi is another graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design, which is where she discovered her love of papercutting. She also makes charming cross-stitch artworks with a bit of an Elizabethan twist. She describes her journey to becoming an artist as “long and twisted – like a forest. I’m making my way through, being careful not to be waylaid by candy houses and scheming wolves.”
Art is Everything
This clock is one of many fresh decor pieces by Iris, a graphic designer. Her love of bold colour and retro designs is clear in her work. Her range also includes coasters, jewelry racks, business card holders and more. Her simple, minimalist designs reflect the style that seems to be emerging from Tel Aviv.
About the contributor: Jessica Van Den is crafter, entrepreneur, and advocate for handmade goods and crafty micro-business. She creates sleek, modern, eco-friendly sterling silver jewellery (Epheriell.com), as well as editing two blogs (Epheriell Designs & Crafting a Business) and a zine (*bespoke*) that support, inspire and nourish the handmade community.