DO IT YOUR SELF AND ME

My passion for do-it-yourself started at a very early age.
Since the age of 16? I used to create decorative items from bottles with iron forge and wood. That was only a hobby for me at that time as my real job was managing our family’s owned hotels.

Few years before the war started in 1975, I opened my own restaurant pub which I personally fully decorated using also my own artistic creations.  I felt that my dream was becoming true.  Unfortunately, the Lebanese war has destroyed the dreams of many people including mine and I had to leave the country and head to another warm and Thank God welcoming country, Brazil.

I lived there for about 8 years but due to a tragic incident in 1983, and to the love for my country, which was still suffering from the ongoing war, I went back home. With some money left aside and out of work because of the situation, I had no choice but to be as innovative and creative as possible. I bought some tools of Bricolage to fabricate some pieces for the house I have rented at that time. And one day, while I was hanging a hand-crafted picture brought with me from Brazil, an idea crossed my mind.

Since minimal material was available I could use wood as a base to copy pictures and Master’s paintings. I worked hard until I finally succeeded to reproduce some paintings very close to their originals. At the beginning, I shared this first work with friends who grew to like them and started placing orders. To my delight, soon many orders started coming in. Using the same techniques I expanded my work to include icons.  I was so delighted that I was able again to use my creative and innovative skills despite the political situation in Lebanon.  I have always wanted to be a professional artist and expand the reach of my creations to all of Lebanon and abroad. Thus, I continued to expand my creations to include reproductions of Gibran Khalil Gibran, pictures of oriental and Phoenician motifs, artistic tea boxes with special designs….only to name a few.

My creations are sold in  cleric libraries, artisanl shops, and shops selling decorative items in Lebanon, Brazil and soon the US.

And here I am with the adventure still ongoing and growing with many new creations and innovations in addition to a special touch, that of my daughter who has shown much interest in this profession and ready to continue my adventure…

I hope that you will share and enjoy my dreams….