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Goodbye Eleanor

Well its cyclone season once again in our part of the world. After the cyclone Belal which decided to hit Reunion rather than Mauritius about one month ago, this time its Eleanor who decided to remind Mauritians what the waiting game is like. The days and then hours following the different predictions on social media; wondering whether one should invest in a generator – all that lovely food in…

[studio44mauritius]

MAURITIUS IS OPEN !!!

MAURITIUS IS OPEN !!!

What truly great news it was to hear that statement from our Prime Minister. Since March 2020, the first lockdown in Mauritius, it has been very difficult for artists and crafters such as Jean Claude and I to earn a living. Our business, Studio 44 Mauritius, has suffered and we have had to re-invent ourselves. One year ago we started discussions with a non-profit foundation, PURPLE LIME NPC…

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AND HERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN ...

AND HERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN …

Never in my wildest nightmares did I envisage another lockdown due to Covid-19. After being confined since 5th March, we managed to get our Work Access Permits on Saturday. What an incredible relief! Although we cannot run our craft workshops yet, we can at least go to our new premises, where we move to at the beginning of March and get things organised. Our new building is situated amongst…

[studio44mauritius]

Reinventing our businesses

Its been quite an experience this Covid-19. I think it has made us appreciate the small things in life and people who we share it with. Its made us get back to basics and realize that we can do without some of the things that became a habit, which were not adding value to our health or daily lives.

As far as businesses are concerned, it has been difficult. Take for example our business STUDIO 44…

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11 months left ...

11 months left …

Well, 2018 has come and one month has already passed us by. It has been a turbulent start with 3 cyclones in the Indian Ocean in 3 weeks and then one week of torrential rains in Mauritius which caused more flooding and hardship to many of our poorest citizens, who have built their houses in lower lying areas. At least the sun has come out again, although the humidity is almost unbearable and the…

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Four months later .....

Four months later …..

Well, its almost four months to the day since we moved our home to Calodyne and moved our business into the building in front of the house. We are now just past the restaurant At Linda’s Place in Calodyne and just after the nursery school.

If you haven’t tried the food at Linda’s then you are missing a treat. She is an excellent cook and will take good care of you whether you eat in the…

[studio44mauritius]

Another great week!

Well its been an exciting week. We have met so many wonderful people from central Europe, United Kingdom and France. Thats one thing I love about our studio. Visitors just love to see how I make the glass beads, one by one, in the flame and I get so much pleasure out of sharing this passion of mine for working with glass.

I have also felt very creative this week and quite a few new designs are…

[studio44mauritius]

A new home and a new studio!

A new home and a new studio!

Well, a lot has happened since my last post. In May 2016 we move our studios from Roches Noires on the north east coast, to further north up the coast to St. Francois, Calodyne. We have now moved once again and this time we are lucky to have everything on one property. My studio, Jean Claude’s studio, our showroom, our Craft Academy and our home. It was a lucky break to be offered this amazing…

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"MURANO GLASS", MORETTI, EFFETRE - what is it?

“MURANO GLASS”, MORETTI, EFFETRE – what is it?

A number of things have happened lately to make me realize that consumers are confused when we say that we use glass rods which are manufactured in Murano and Venice, Italy. Most people are aware that the island of Murano has had a reputation for many centuries of producing the finest glass and Murano glass products are sought after throughout the world.

In 1291, the mayor of Venice, Italy…

[studio44mauritius]

2017 is almost upon us ….

2017 is almost upon us ….

It seems like a couple of months ago that we moved our studio from Roches Noires on the North East Coast of Mauritius further up the coast to St Francois, Calodyne. Since opening the shop/studio at the end of May we have been busy with one thing after another with little time to spend on anything not on the URGENT list.

I now appreciate how time consuming it is to handle the planning, production,…

[studio44mauritius]

Renewal .....

Renewal …..

As in nature, we have to continually renew, innovate and explore new possibilities. Change is the only thing we can be 100% sure of in this life and we must embrace changes as they occur with confidence and positivity, realising that it is a chance to grow our business and develop new skills on a personal level. This year has been such a year for Jean Claude and I. At times very stressful and…

[studio44mauritius]

At last, the last box is unpacked, the floor is swept and its time to get back to work again. Its been both exciting and exhausting fitting out and moving into our new shop at Calodyne in the north of Mauritius. Its a 25 minute drive from our old studio at Roches Noires, where we live, and I must say that its quite nice to separate home from work.

From just a shell when we first looked at the shop, its is now fitted out with lovely showcases, some of which were modified and moved from the old studio; lights and plugs have been installed; a new toilet; a kitchenette/bead washing and cleaning area and its very comfortable.

Unfortunately Jean Claude cannot fit his big fusing kilns or cutting table or all his glass painting equipment into our new shop, so he will be working from the old studio when necessary.

Its great to have our stock control and our costing in the same place as our stock at last which makes for much easier and quicker costing for new designs and easier stock control.

All in all, we are very happy and relaxed. The only item which needs to be completed is the connection for my oxygen to the two torches. We have now been waiting for one month for this to be done and today is supposed to be the magic day !!! Lets hope it comes true!!!

I will post two photographs of the new shop. The first will show where it is in relation to Intermart Supermarket and the second will show the front of the shop. Its very convenient for people living in this area as there is not much here in the way of a place to buy good quality gifts for occasions – birthday, wedding, anniversary. We are proud to have been awarded the much coveted trademark “made in moris” which guarantees both the quality of our products and the percentage of local content.

Hope to see you for a visit if you are in the area at any time. We would love to have your feedback on what we have done and perhaps even how we can improve the set-up.

Enjoy your week!

          At last ……. Whew!!! At last, the last box is unpacked, the floor is swept and its time to get back to work again.

[studio44mauritius]

And time marches on!

And time marches on!

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Tigers - don't you just love them ...

[studio44mauritius]

The disappearing blog ?

The disappearing blog ?

Well, perhaps my laptop is a safer bet when it comes to writing blogs. I just completed a long blog this morning and tapped the incorrect icon on my iPad and whoosh it has disappeared into the ether!!! Infuriating to say the least. So, let me have another go ….

Thank goodness the Festive Season is over. I ate far too much of the nice fattening goodies and have gained 3 1/2 kilos. So, this morning…

[studio44mauritius]

Crimson Travel Journal

What a lovely idea!

[studio44mauritius]

New meaning to the term CHOKE HOLD!

New meaning to the term CHOKE HOLD!

Its interesting to browse through the sites to see the jewelry trends for the new season. The new CHOKE HOLDdesigns will hopefully not have the same effect on the wearers! Some of them are so wide that only those women with beautiful long necks will be able to carry off the look. Perhaps to make a statement at a gala event or on the red carpet? Chanel has a beautiful wide bead choker in blue and…