Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine APRIL 2019 | Page 480

Saba’s Artisans
People are drawn to Saba for many reasons. Some like the cozy, non-touristy feel, beautiful
scenery and tranquility it off ers. Others like its fascinating underwater world and the superb diving
experiences you can enjoy here. Saba is also home to talented artisans whose amazing creations
continue to impress visitors to the island, one of whom is freelance photo journalist, Brandi Mueller.
Brandi visited Saba last year on a diving vacation with diving hosts, Sea Saba. [Click here to read about
her week’s stay on the island.] This April, she will be returning, with friends. Diving with Sea Saba is on
their itinerary but they will also be incorporating some hand-on artisan experiences during their stay.
Their evenings will be spent with art - learning and attempting to create artistic pieces of their own.
These Saban artists will be the gracious facilitators:
Jo Bean Chambers
"I have worked and been
enchanted by hot glass since
1989 when I took my fi rst
class. I then apprenticed in a
furnace glass studio for over a
year. My initial experience was
with fl ame working or lamp
working on a bench torch.
Since that time Hot Glass has
been my passion and career.
I have studied with several
artists including the Italian
Masters at the prestigious
Corning Studio. I have also
been a teaching assistant
for two separate courses
at Corning.  I was honored
to be a part of the fi rst two
week workshops given by El
Vetro in Venice, Italy. I studied
there with Lucio Bubacco
and Vittorio Constantini. I
have also studied with Shane
Fero, Cesare Toff olo, Emelilo
Santini and Robin Michels.
I have had my own studio
in Booby Hill on Saba since
1992 where there are daily
demonstrations and classes
by appointment.
Most of my production
work is glass jewelry for
which I design and form the
beads. The jewelry is then
made with silver and gold
wire and chain sometimes
incorporating crystals, pearls
and semi-precious stones. I
also do glass sculptural work
on the torch. I was hugely
honored to have Queen
Beatrix of the Netherlands
presented with one of my
sculptural goblets on the
occasion of her visit to the
island of Sint Eustatius.
I am also available for larger
commission pieces using
fl ame working and glass
casting techniques together.
I am constantly enchanted
by the rain forest and ocean
reefs; much of my work
refl ects their light and magic.”
Susan Tenholt
Meghann Halfmoon
Anna Elizabeth
Keene
Susan has lived on Saba
for 22 years but grew up
in Hereford, the center of
England.  Encouraged by her
seamstress mother, Susan
can’t remember not painting.
She holds a Honors Degree in
Fine Arts and a post graduate
degree in art education. After
school, the yearn to travel
found her in southern Europe
and Africa before she applied
for a teaching position on
Saba.  She has been an
art teacher in secondary
schools on both Saba and
St. Maarten and is part of
the artist community that
regularly paints together at
diff erent natural venues. You
can enjoy her mural art on
the walls of The Bottom Bean
Café on Saba or stop in to her
studio on the main road in
Windwardside to observe her
painting.
Susan paints every day.  It’s
what she does; it’s who
she is. Her studio in
Windwardside is her escape
room…producing what
moves her.
After moving to Saba in
early 2015 with her husband
and two small children, she
transitioned her business
from designing and creating
handmade clothing and
leather bags to focus purely
on the design in 2017.
Meghann now sells her
designs as sewing patterns
under her halfmoon ATELIER
label continues to encourage
the use of ethically and
sustainably produced
materials.
Meghann began making
leather bags in 2012 under
her label – halfmoon ATELIER
–  where she merged
minimalist design with
premium vegetable tanned
leather from the Tuscany
region of Italy to create
simple, functional bags
that highlight the beauty of
quality over quantity. 
“I believe that simple design
can have a big impact.”
“Inspired by the smell and
feel of working with natural
items, Anna Keene is a
woman of many talents. She
is known for her incredible
weaves and handmade
garments, but is also an
amazing jewelry maker. Anna
creates unique pieces with
natural items found on Saba-
-from seed pods and wood
chips to glass and pottery
shards. She uses these
items and her creativity to
construct unique, statement
pieces. Anna is often holding
jewelry making workshops
and classes to spread her
passion for the arts to
tourists and locals on Saba.”