Table-top decor

Dubai-based home crafts artist teaches the art of festive table decoration

Miriam Walsh likes to go back to the basics - but in a positive and relaxing way. She is one of the few people who takes pride in the fact and sincerely believes that moving ahead with the aid of technology, though necessary, does not have to be a way of life.

Meeting her at her residential workshop studio made me realise there was no other way to do her craft.

Walsh is involved in three things at the moment - crafts that include felting, dyeing and painting with different mediums and textures like wool; handmade Sun child dolls for children (an extensive collection of which is up for sale at Sunny Days in Jumeirah Centre) and seasonal tables.

Conducting regular workshops for all her three passions, she feels that unless one doesn't sit down and hand-sew the natural fabrics, the feeling of creating something special and worthwhile doesn't come from the heart.

She feels that in a world filled with fast-paced technology one must find small pockets of time to take you back to yourself - but in a positive, relaxing and therapeutic way. With the relaxing tunes of Mozart filling our ears, it really feels like going back to nature and the basics.

Elaborating on her seasonal tables craft Walsh explains, "A season table is a place in the house which is meant to reflect particular moments or themes in the year and should relate to the particular season.

A season table scene can be found sitting on a shelf in the bookcase, behind the glass panels of the cupboards, on top of the piano, or simply on a dedicated table in the lounge or hall way.

"The space is dressed with sheets on which animals and figurines, together with other relevant decorations are sitting.

The scene can be also based on your child's favourite book relevant to that season or it complements a celebration of an annual festival or perhaps a vacation that is coming up, or that has just been. It is a place for treasures from the beach, desert, garden, school playground."
Walsh's workshops for table decorations include most feasts of the year including St.

Michaelmas, Halloween, St Nicholas, Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, St John and many more. There are also excellent designs for winter, spring, summer and autumn. She organises weekly walk-in craft sessions for adults and fortnightly workshops for children.

Sewing parties for birthdays is another of her specialities. And considering that she hasn't yet felt the need to use a sewing machine she is one of the few people really making strides by using 'old-fashioned ways' and natural materials that the earth gives us.