The sheep of the Levantine and Middle East regions of Lebanon, Israel, Syria and environs are not like the sheep in New Zealand or New York. The Awassi sheep are a breed of their own. They are used for fashion, warmth and food. Their tail fat is used as a hearty seasoning in Bukharian food traditions and in maqluba. And when weaved, braided and spun, the Awassi is a wool like no other with memories of its place. Like the Babaa sweaters made in Spain. 

A textile artist in Beirut explores the local sheep as culture and identity that he weaves into his creations. 

The Awassi is a local sheep breed in South-West Asia originated in the Syro-Arabian desert. Other local names can also be Arab, Baladi, Deiri, Syrian, Ausi, Nuami, Gezirieh, or Ivesi. It is a fat-tailed type and is multi coloured: white with brown head and legs. The ears are long and drooping.

A local Levantine artist Adrian Pepe in Beirut, Lebanon explores the ancient textiles produced in the Levant region from the sheep. He works to unearth ancient craft practices and to weave into them a contemporary message.

Throughout his work, he performs a sort of creative shadowgraphy, crafting objects and experiences as tools to enable an open discourse on materiality, our morphing cultural landscape, and our present condition.

This body of work begins with an ancient animal: the Awassi sheep, bred in the Levantine region for over five-thousand years. This particular breed of sheep is a central figure in the human narrative, traditionally within the contexts of biblical fables and ritualistic practices of Abrahamic religions.

Through the process of spinning, weaving, braiding, and felting, the wool is transformed into artefacts laden with perspiration and emotions, mythologies and symbolism.

It is an “intimate association that transpires between the craftsperson and the crafted object, as the raw material becomes large scale tapestries that summons themes of trans-corporeality and biocentrism,” says Pepe, who has also worked with human hair.

The Lebanese have a strong desire to promote local craft. After the explosions in Beirut, see how it banded craftsmen and women together. 

Adrian Pepe’s work was displayed at Dubai Design Week earlier in November, 2021. You can also find him here.

The post Adrian Pepe’s Lebanese culture, craft and identity through local sheep appeared first on Green Prophet.

This time of year with kids returning to school, many go on shopping spree spending lots of money on branded notebooks, agendas, and bags.

But why not for a craft and green option for a pencil case?

I’m all for using a reusable personal water bottle filled with tap water, but there are still plenty disposable plastic bottles around, so here is the step by step tutorial how to upcycle it to a cool pencil case!

Crafting has many benefits, in this case not only you are making your own personalised creation – using a water bottle allows for additional benefit: it’s transparent so you can easily see what’s inside your case. See below for instructions.

Tools and materials

– Small water bottle
– Decorating materials of your choice: markers, stickers, fabric left overs, etc.
– Zipper matching the bottle’s diameter (20cm length would do )
– Craft Glue UHU or similar
– Cutting knife
– Scissors

Step 1.
Remove all tags / stickers from the bottle, make sure it is clean & dry.

Step 2.
Decorate the bottle.
Use permanent markers, stickers or cut-out, colourful bands, write your name – whatever you feel like!
Keep a clear undecorated strip at the bottom of the bottle.

Step 3.
Glue the zipper around the bottom (undecorated) strip of the bottle.
Wait till the glue is completely dry.

Step 4. Adults assistance required
Open the zipper, place the cutting knife between the zipper’s teeth and cut through the bottle.
You may switch to scissors at this point if more comfortable, in any case keep cutting till the bottle is cut all around.

That’s it – you pencil case is ready to use.You can make more cases, for your coloured pencils or crayons keeping your work space nice and organised this way.

Have a successful and green back -to – school!

This post is brought to you by Aya Tager, of AyaKaya Sustainable Design

The post Turn Disposable Water Bottle into Pencil Case: Upcycling Tutorial appeared first on Green Prophet.