Sop Moei Arts blog

"Sakura" Promotion 2012

2012-02-24T16:49:00.000+07:00

Welcome to our annual "Sakura" Promotion in the Bangkok Shop!

28 Feb (Tue) - 24 Mar (Sat), 2012

Open everyday from 9.30 am - 5pm
Excluding Sundays 4, 11, 18 March

The collection includes mats, runners, boucle scarves, and newly designed pom pom and clutch bags in pale pink and fuchsia.

10% discount on promotion items to Sop Moei Arts members

Also, don't miss our Spring Sale of stock items at the Bangkok shop!

28 Feb (Tue) - 10 Mar (Sat), 2012

10-30% discount on most stock items in the shop (baskets excluded)

Open everyday from 9.30 am - 5pm
Excluding Sunday 4th March

For further information, please call the Bangkok shop at 02-712 8039
or Masako at 081 639 4869

Chenille cushions - New Arrivals

2012-02-20T11:41:00.000+07:00

New Chenille cushions in the Chiang Mai shop in six lovely muted shades.

Size: 67 cm x 67 cm

Karen Blouse Blues

2012-02-16T09:46:00.000+07:00

Each Karen blouse bag and cushion in our shop is unique - the latest additions to our range feature shades of bright blue with contrasting hot pink embroidery and white Job's tears seeds. More stock coming soon!

Shoulder bags - Back in stock!

2012-02-13T13:29:00.000+07:00

The shoulder bag has been one of our most popular bags for five years now - so much so that we're often out of stock! It really is a great bag for casual, everyday use - it is sturdy, roomier than it looks and has a convenient inside zip pocket. Works perfectly with jeans, or why not choose one of the more vibrant colorways for a fun beach bag?

Gift Ideas

2012-02-09T14:59:00.001+07:00

Silk-lined Jewelery Trays
THB 290

Stainless steel dessert spoon and fork sets in decorative box
THB 1,080

Set of 8 Coasters
THB 200

Silk bouclé scarf with complimentary gift box

THB 1,900

Looking for a gift for someone special? Here at Sop Moei Arts we have a large range of gift items! Welcome to the Chiang Mai and Bangkok shop for more ideas!

Brown Check Bag Collection

2012-02-03T16:20:00.001+07:00

Following the success of our Green Check canvas bag collection we have added some new colours to the range - lovely, neutral shades of tan, chocolate and indigo! Check back soon for more shapes and new fabrics.

Launching our Personal Shopping service!

2012-01-30T16:34:00.001+07:00

Would you like to buy a gift for someone special? Commission a set of table mats in your favourite colours? Or did you stop by our shop while you were visiting Chiang Mai and regret not buying that wall-hanging behind the dining room table? Sop Moei Arts can help you! Although we have been offering personal shopping service for years in an un-official capacity, we are now launching the e-version. Find out how it works at http://www.smapersonalshopping.blogspot.com/

Basket ideas II - Table settings and display

2012-01-29T08:55:00.000+07:00

Wine holder

Shan Tobacco basket, Medium size

Tray basket with decorative rattan handle and trim

Serviette holders

Nut baskets

Oval tray with rattan handle

Most of the baskets made by the Karen men who work with us start as items used by several ethnic minorities, from the highland mountains of Vietnam to the Burmese plains. From necessity they are strictly functional, used to carry or transport goods, storage, or other processes such as threshing rice. Over the centuries craftsmen have added the details which give these baskets their ethnic distinction and beauty.

While we at Sop Moei Arts do reproduce traditional baskets, we are also part of this tradition of modifying the baskets, making them even more versitile for contemporary use. Many of our baskets, for instance, look as great on the table as they do hanging on walls; while keeping the detail integrity of these baskets intact, the baskets may have multiple uses - to hold fruit on a kitchen counter, flowers on a coffee table, pressed laundry in upscale hotel rooms - or as a statement on the wall.

New Pom-pom Swirl Cushions

2012-01-17T10:08:00.004+07:00

Now also available in white, black and orange!

Lao Panel Cushion Covers

2012-01-13T16:04:00.000+07:00

New Lao panel cushions in the Chiang Mai shop! These lovely fabrics come from Laos with designs ranging from geometric patterns, Nagas and spotted deer. Available in different sizes and perfect for mixing and matching with our chenille cushions and pom-pom throws.

Silk Pom-pom Throw Collection

2012-01-02T13:12:00.001+07:00

Our new collection of silk pom-pom throws have arrived just in time for the New Year! These versatile throws look great as bed runners, tossed over a sofa or wrapped around your shoulders. The silk used in the weft is called Kibiso, a slubby, thick, yarn drawn from the outer surface of the silk cocoon. The pom-poms and pick-up work at the ends of the throws are inspired by details which are traditionally used in Pwo Karen women's clothing.

Season's Greetings

2011-12-23T14:12:00.000+07:00

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year! The Chiang Mai shop will be open as usual during the Festive season, so do drop by and see us if you're in town. The Bangkok shop will be closed from Dec 27 and will re-open again on Jan 3, 2012.

Kachin Cushions

2011-12-13T10:34:00.000+07:00

New 'rustic feel' cushions in the Chiang Mai shop! These are made from Kachin sarongs and are reversible, with a simple design on the back that make these cushions perfect for mixing and matching!

Cushion size: 42 x 44 cm

New Karen Blouse Bags and Cushions

2011-12-08T08:36:00.000+07:00

Finally they're here - the new collection of Karen blouse bags and cushions!

New arrival! Bamboo basket with beads

2011-12-06T10:45:00.001+07:00

Looking for Christmas gifts or just want to decorate your home for the Festive Season? Check out our mini bamboo baskets which also double as candle holders! Available in White, Silver, Gold, Red and Black.

Electric Chenille

2011-12-02T09:02:00.000+07:00

Our latest addition to the Chenille cushion range just arrived a few days ago - in electric blue, shocking pink and aqua!

Cushion size: 70 cm x 50 cm

Mosquito Net Cushion Covers

2011-11-28T11:21:00.001+07:00

New stock of viscose and cotton cushion-covers in the Chiang Mai shop! This pattern is a detail taken from a Lao textile which was traditionally used as a border on mosquito nets. The bold pattern works well in a contemporary setting; choose from dark red, plum tricolor, pink, burgundy/gold tricolor and beige for your sofa or armchair.

Cushion size: 40 x 40 cm

Basket ideas - Flower arrangements

2011-11-24T15:25:00.000+07:00

Ikebana basket with flower arrangement

Mini Storage baskets with orchids

Rattan Rooster basket with white orchids

Japanese Flower Arrangement Basket

Sop Moei Arts carries a large collection of baskets in different shapes and sizes. The various models are sourced from all over Asia including Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Burma. Many of our customers ask us for ideas of how to use their baskets. This is the first in a series of posts with our suggestions and tips, starting with flower arrangements.

Some of our baskets, such as the Ikebana basket, are perfect for tall flowers while others are suitable for more unusual and creative arrangements. When selecting a container or pot for the arrangement, try to find one that will fit snugly inside the basket. Plastic water bottles make great receptacles, as they come in different sizes and can be cut to fit the basket. Paper can be stuffed around the container if it does not fit well. Check for water leakage, as this may damage the basket. Arrange with your favourite flowers and you will have a unique center piece for your dining room table or living room décor!

Pwo Karen Blouses

2011-11-18T09:50:00.000+07:00

Here's a sneak peek of some of the gorgeous Pwo Karen blouses that came down from the mountains earlier this week. They are hand-woven on traditional back-strap looms and come from several Pwo Karen villages in Sop Moei District. These blouses are worn by married women only and are as unique as they are colorful. Each woman has her own style of embroidery and preference for seed appliqué, pom-pom's and other embellishments.

Check back soon to see the bag and cushion collection we will be making out of these blouses!

Up in the Clouds

2011-11-15T13:11:00.000+07:00

Traveling to and from Mae Tola and Thi U Lu where we do most of our weaving is a long journey on a rutted dirt track that winds its way through the mountains of Sop Moei District. These spectacular views were taken early yesterday morning, traveling back to Mae Sariang.

November Promotion in the Bangkok Shop

2011-11-07T14:25:00.001+07:00

9 Nov - 2 Dec, 9.30 am - 5 pm except for Sundays

Promotion items include:

Green check fabric bags with rattan, washed canvas and leather details. Available at a special price during this promotion!

Mini mats and narrow runners - mix and match from a large stock of unusual and playful colour combinations.

A new collection of table runners and mats in blue and pale yellow. 100% Cotton and hand-washable. Some of the runners are decorated with bead applique.

Special deal: 10% off for any purchase over 1,500 Baht!

Bouclé Silk Scarves

2011-11-07T14:25:00.000+07:00

They are finally back in stock - 100% Bouclé Silk Scarves, now in two sizes! The silk is spun in Switzerland and has a lovely sheen and weight to it. Choose from colours that we have carefully selected and hand-dyed for this limited edition collection: Black, Indigo, Blue, Tangerine, Red and White. Available in the Chiang Mai shop while stock lasts.

Chenille Cushions

2011-11-03T11:09:00.000+07:00

New Chenille cushions in the Chiang Mai shop! These cushions are inspired by the intricate and time-consuming chenille tufting that decorates the lower portion of a Pwo Karen unmarried women's tunic. The tufts of thick cotton thread are inserted by hand during the weaving to form the pattern. These cushions are perfect for a large sofa or a King Size bed and lend a rustic, under-stated elegance to any room.

Turban-weave Tapestries

2011-10-19T13:17:00.001+07:00

New Turban-weave Tapestries coming soon to the Bangkok Shop!

Pom-pom Swirl Cushions

2011-10-04T09:19:00.003+07:00

Brighten up a dull sofa with these playful cushions inspired by Pwo Karen clothing and jewelry! Currently available in coral red and midnight blue with colorful swirl-pattern stitching. More colours coming soon to the Chiang Mai shop.

Dimensions: 40 x 40 cm

Price: THB 450.-

Green Check Bag Collection

2011-09-20T11:22:00.003+07:00

Searching for the perfect bag? Check out our latest collection of nine different styles in natural hues of green and blue. Choose between rattan details, leather trim or a simple tote. Available in the Chiang Mai shop. More bags coming soon!

Bangkok Shop Summer Sale 2011

2011-07-20T06:25:00.000+07:00

July 20 (Wed) - 25 (Mon)

9:30 am - 6:00 pm

at the Sop Moei Arts Bangkok Shop

Open every day, including Saturday and Sunday, with extended hours!

Table Linens 10% off

Medium and Large Wall hangings 10-30% off

Silk Scarves 20% off

Fabric Bags 10% off

Baskets 10% off

"Colourways only for me" Promotion

2011-06-05T16:36:00.001+07:00

Visit our Bangkok shop and choose you own colourway from a palette of 20 colours. We will weave the textile and make a bag only for you!

Promotion Period: 9 June - 10 July, 2011
Open everyday from 9.30 - 17.00, except Saturdays

You can order a variety of products in your colourway:

Shoulder bags (3 sizes)
Stripe bag
A newly designed bag specially for this promotion!
Cushions and teamats can be ordered too!

Sample Colourways:

10% off standard price for members

There will be selected items from our stock on 10%-25% discount during the promotion period, including silk scarves, mini wall hangings and some bags.

Hand-quilted by Eva Danker

2011-05-09T10:57:00.003+07:00

This May we are exhibiting a small collection of hand-quilted wall hangings in our Chiang Mai shop. These hangings are the work of Eva Danker, a part-time resident of Chiang Mai.

Eva has worked with us at Sop Moei Arts for the past three years, designing many of the items found in our shops. As her specialty is patchwork quilting, she has assisted us greatly by introducing new and interesting ways to use our fabrics. These products include scarves, handbags, cushions and wall hangings.

Eva has also helped us in other ways, such as volunteering to keep our shop doors open when we are short of staff, promoting and selling Sop Moei Arts products in her native Germany, and soliciting funds to give Karen children from our area a good education.

The textiles for the wall hanging collection are combined from several sources. Some of these we have woven ourselves, but others are antique pieces from Laos, Vietnam and Japan. Each piece is hand-stitched and unique.

Hand-quilted Hmong wall hanging

Chinese Coin Pattern Log Cabin quilting with Lao textile

Fabric scarf Patchwork bag

Songkran Staff Retreat

2011-05-03T10:28:00.003+07:00

It is not often that Sop Moei Arts closes its Chiang Mai and Bangkok shops, but every year during the Thai New Year we do. This year we took the opportunity to take our staff up to the mountains where we work, visiting the textile and basket weavers in Mae Tola, Thi U Lu and Mae Ra Ma villages in Sop Moei District.

It’s a long drive – four and a half hours from Chiang Mai on the paved road, and two and a half more on a dirt track which winds up over the mountains. Our first stop was Thi U Lu; this is the village where we first started our weaving work, in 1988. In those days there was no road to Thi U Lu; the first loom that we acquired - still in use - was shipped in on elephant back. Today there are fourteen women weaving in our weaving house.

After spending the night in Mae Tola, we drove to Mae Ra Ma village the following day. This village contains 18,000 refugees who have fled the various conflicts in Burma. Here we weave most of our baskets.

To reach the section of the camp where most of the basket weavers live you have to cross a suspension bridge which spans a river. This river also forms a natural boundary between Mae Hong Son and Tak province.

The remainder of the trip we spent in Mae Tola, relaxing and working on new designs. Early next morning most of the staff headed for different destinations to celebrate Songkran with their families.

However short, it was a rewarding trip. Most of our staff had never been to Thi U Lu and Mae Ra Ma, so this was their chance to gain first-hand knowledge about our operations and to become acquainted with the weavers.

-Kent Gregory (Director)

Chiang Mai Fest

2011-04-05T13:48:00.001+07:00

Come visit us at the Chiang Mai Fest!

8-10 April 2011

3 Kings Monument, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Sop Moei Arts will be located in the Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre on the second floor as part of the Arts Exhibition. Artists featured in this exhibition are:

Somluk Pantiboon, Doy Din Dang Pottery
Water Painting by Eng-on Homsuwan special fusion of watercolor paintings artist together with National artists
Kent Gregory, Textile and Basket Weaving, Sop Moei Arts
Klaus Dietrich, Sa Paper and Origami
Gilbert Medam Art of the 5L: Listening, Looking, Learning, Loving, Living
Asian Paper Maker (Saa Paper & Okami Paper)
Pichai Nirun, National Artist, Baddish Arts

The Arts Exhibition will run from 8-30 April

open daily 08:30-17:00

Check out the full program at http://www.chiangmaifest.com/

Sop Moei Arts at Nichada Thani

2011-03-16T16:56:00.002+07:00

Join us for our annual sale at Nichada Thani!

Date: Friday 18 March – Saturday 19 March

Time: 9.30 – 17.00

Location: In the Function Room by the lake and Villa Supermarket

We will be bringing products from Chiang Mai that are not in our Bangkok shop, including a new collection of cushion covers and new wall hangings, so do drop by and see us.

Wallhanging detail - Silver & Gold collection

Cushions 40 cm x 40 cm

Nichada Thani is located adjacent to Chaeng Wattana Road, close to the Phase II Expressway entrance and exit which also links directly to the Suvannaphoum International Airport. For a map, visit Nichada’s website www.nichada.com/location

Hope to see you there!

New Arrivals in our Chiang Mai Shop

2011-03-07T13:31:00.005+07:00

All members receive a 10% discount on new arrival items until the end of April!

Storage pouch set @ THB 500

Karen Sarong cushion
cover (50 cm x 70 cm)
@ THB 750

Accessory bag set
@ THB 950

Not yet a member? No problem! Apply at our Chiang Mai shop at any time to receive 10% discount on promotion items.

"Sakura" Spring Colour Promotion

2011-02-23T20:17:00.001+07:00

Welcome to our "Sakura" Spring Colour Promotion in the
Bangkok shop!

All Sop Moei Arts members will receive a special 10% discount on Spring colour items, including:

Table mats, mini mats and runners
Framed mats and runners
Shopping bags
Jewelry trays
Newly designed cosmetic bags

Promotion dates: February 24 (Thu) - March 20 (Sun)
Open every day during the promotion except for March 19 (Sat)
Time: 9.30 - 17.00

From 24 Feb to 6 Mar there will be many items from our regular shop stock on discounted price (10-30%) Please come look for a good deal!

Feeling creative?

2011-02-15T17:02:00.001+07:00

In January we in Chiang Mai started off the New Year with a new development - we moved our office and textile assembly workshop to our shop on Charoenrajd Road. The room which was once our "bedroom showroom" has been transformed into a space where textiles rest on shelves and in baskets and where anybody can wander in, ask questions and become inspired to put together their own product colour-ways.

One of the biggest draws is our textile remnants, carefully folded into rattan baskets. These have in turn created a new product; collections of colour co-ordinated textiles, cut and packaged much as one would buy an assortment of origami papers.

So if you're feeling creative, please do stop by and have a look through our fabrics! Customers who want to select their own colour combinations are welcome to choose from our current stock. For those who have less time or are looking for gift options, we now provide ready-packaged collections in our Chiang Mai shop.

Update from the Mountains

2011-01-11T15:29:00.002+07:00

All products have a story. At Sop Moei Arts, 95% of our woven textiles and all of our baskets come from the Sop Moei area and travel far before they reach our shops. The area where we work lies two hundred and eighty kilometers south-west of Chiang Mai in one of the least accessible areas of Mae Hong Son Province. The journey takes 6-7 hours depending on weather conditions.

I spend roughly ten days to two weeks a month working closely with the weavers, dyeing threads and preparing orders along with my co-designer, Po. On our latest trip (Jan 6-9), my daughter Linnea joined us. Linnea also works with Sop Moei Arts and helps to co-ordinate the colours which we use in our textile collections.

January 6

Thi U Lu village is our first stop. This is our second largest weaving center among the Pwo Karen in Sop Moei district. Here, ten women weave the textiles that you find in our Chiang Mai and Bangkok shops. Our stop is to deliver thread, collect fabrics and have a chat with the weavers. Apart from weaving, they have also been busy harvesting chilli, which is an essential ingredient in any Pwo Karen dish. After we have measured the fabric and paid the women their wages, we are given bags of chilli to take with us and continue on our way to Mae Tola.

Mae Tola is our main weaving center and the place where I brought up my family. Linnea grew up here until she was thirteen, so going to Mae Tola is like returning home. I still live here when I am not in Chiang Mai. We arrive just as it is nearing dusk and hurry to make preparations for the night because there is no electricity in the valley.

January 7-8

The next two days are spent working with the women in the weaving houses, sorting yarns and dyeing silk for wall hangings. At present there are six women who weave for us in Mae Tola, though the number fluctuates according to the Pwo farming cycle.

(photo above by Blaise Kormann)

January 9 – Back to Chiang Mai

On Sunday at dawn we begin the long journey back to Chiang Mai – with the truck loaded full of baskets and textiles.

- Kent Gregory (Director)

Nagas, Suns and Diamonds

2010-12-31T10:28:00.002+07:00

Chiang Mai is a treasure trove of textiles and ethnic handicrafts. Although at Sop Moei Arts we carry textiles woven almost exclusively by the Pwo Karen, we sometimes come across pieces of fabric that are so special that we can't resist making a new collection. Such was the case with this menagerie of mythical beasts and celestial bodies. The textiles are the patterned border of sarongs, and come from Laos. We have joined these with naturally dyed indigo cotton, transforming them into cushions. Buy a matching pair, or mix and match!

Pattern details:

Cushions @ THB 1,400

Available in our Chiang Mai shop. More stock coming soon!

Ethnic Chic

2010-12-16T08:11:00.002+07:00

Brighten up your living room this festive season with our new collection of ethnic cushions! Pwo Karen blouses and skirts are transformed into colorful cushions which make a statement.

Blouses are hand-woven on back-strap looms with home-grown and hand-spun cotton. The appliqué uses Job’s tears seeds that the Pwo Karen grow on their hill-farms.

Karen Blouse Cushion @ THB 1,900 each

Karen Skirt Cushion @ THB 550 each

Available in the Chiang Mai shop while stock lasts.

Basket Polishing Service

2010-11-12T16:31:00.001+07:00

Ever wondered what to do when the beautifully polished basket that you bought from Sop Moei Arts turns dull?

If you live in Chiang Mai there is a quick and easy answer to this: Bring it back to our shop. We will wax and buff it again for you - free! It will take us about a week to do this, but when the job is done we'll call you so that you can collect it at your convenience.

If you do not live in Chiang Mai, here's how to keep your baskets looking great:

1. Don't expose your basket to direct sunlight. If you do, the bamboo and rattan elements will grow dull and brittle.

2. Don't keep your baskets in damp rooms or places, especially if you live in an already humid environment.

3. When your baskets begin to turn dull, buff them up using a medium-stiff shoe brush or nail brush. If they are very dusty you may need to hose and scrub them off with water first, but let them dry in sunlight, and take them in as soon as they are dry. DO NOT USE DETERGENT!

4. If your baskets don't respond to this, wax them with a bees-wax based paste, or even normal clear floor wax. This will nourish the bamboo and rattan. After applying the wax, using a toothbrush, let it dry for an hour or so before buffing it with a shoe or nail brush.

These measures should give your baskets long life - and keep them gleaming for years!

Monkey Ladder Vine Baskets

2010-11-05T17:06:00.001+07:00

Finally the Vine baskets are back in our Chiang Mai shop! Since our 'Bending the Rules' exhibition at La Luna last year, Karen master weaver Phu Khler has been busy. Our new collection features a range of his latest baskets, all in different shapes and sizes.

The Vine baskets are woven with rattan and jungle vines called "Monkey Ladders". Not a traditional Karen basket, it is an example of the innovation that Phu Khler as brought to Sop Moei Arts. Each basket is truly unique; a meeting of the whimsical and the organic.

In the Chiang Mai shop while stock lasts!

Patchwork Riot

2010-10-27T15:15:00.002+07:00

An eclectic mix of triangles and stripes in a riot of cheerful colours. Don't miss our new patchwork bag promotion in the Bangkok shop from 26 Oct - 24 Nov. Members get a 10% discount!

Available in the Chiang Mai shop from mid-November.

Monsoon Wallhanging Collection

2010-10-08T14:07:00.002+07:00

Lush greens, vibrant purples and muted golds...

Here's a sneak peek of our new Monsoon wallhanging collection, fresh down from Mae Tola yesterday!

Available in our Chiang Mai and Bangkok shops from mid-October.