Making art from fish scales in Brasilia Teimosa

I always feel fortunate when I am able to join outings with the Mulheres Internacionais de Recife (International Women of Recife). The group has a nice mixture of social get togethers and good works in the community. The ladies come from all over – Brazil, the U.S., France, Belgium, Holland, Canada, Japan, Peru, and more.

Before the holidays, everything lined up with my nanny for me to go with the ladies to a part of Recife known as Brasilia Teimosa….a peninsula of Recife that touches the river and the ocean.  In the midst of the community is a refurbished home-turned workshop, where local women fashion art and decorative items out of dried fish scales.  It’s an elegant use of a media that is plentiful here….and a cool way to be ecologically friendly.

We entered the artistically decorated shop in Brasilia Teimosa.

Mar & Arte - the sea and art. The owner is committed to aiding local women in employment while preserving the ecology of Brazil.

The fish scales from a VERY large fish, dried and set out on the table before they were to be strung together.

The art shop employs local ladies to create jewelry and home decor items.

A beautiful rose, made from dried fish scales.

Fish skin is also used....died and dried to resemble fabric that is used in purses, as furniture covering and more.

The fish skin leather covers a model.

Fish scales used as elements of a necklace....the shop keeper recommended this necklace to be worn with your bikini. (Look at the strands of fish scales hanging off the lamp in the background...wow!)

The artists used the fish skin leather to cover this traditional birthing chair, whose special shape is specifically from the northeast of Brazil.

My favorite application of the fish scale art - napkin rings! Interesting, unique, elegant, and durable! Fish scales don't break when you drop them.

The shop has the most incredible view of downtown Recife.