Zamil's Curiosity Shop

When we first moved to Saudi Arabia in 2000, one of the first places the ladies took me to was Zamil's. They told me it was a staple amongst expats for the wide variety of craft supplies and friendly staff. I think the clean, western style toilet had something to do with it also.

Mr. Zamil was an interesting man. He loved art in all its forms and loved to stock his shop with everything it took to create things. Sometimes he bought odd lots of things so he could get one certain thing he needed. That is why he had shelves of scientific glassware. I thought it was great because at the time, I was doing a lot of polymer clay and the volumetric flasks were perfect for being covered with clay and being turned into vases. I was fascinated by these little doodads. I had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I felt sure that I could come up with something. I haven't yet, but I take them out every once in a while and give it a think.

I always enjoyed scrubbling around Zamils. He had a whole wall of buttons! They were in tubes with the example on the lid. The button man was there to help you get however many you needed. Many, Many wonderful memories there.

[Walks @ 7]

Strange and lovely. The reflections and the unique glass shape are most unusual.

[Helen Jane]

I love the idea of this shop, like a creative hardware shop. Great that you have held on to this fascinating glass too. They look like they could form part of some kind of decorative candelabra. I hope you are still on 365 when you have worked out what to do with them and you can show us the result! Thanks for the story about Zamil's Curiosity Shop.