Words by Nettika, Founder of Tajmi
At Tajmi, we have always believed that beauty lies in the dialogue between heritage and modernity, in the objects that carry stories, memory, and meaning into our daily lives. It’s this belief that drew us to the playful work of Lameice Abu Aker, the founder and designer behind Ornamental by Lameice.
Lameice works between Milan and Jerusalem, two cities that have profoundly shaped her aesthetic sensibility and understanding of material culture. But it’s in a small workshop in Jaba, a Palestinian village in the West Bank, where her creations truly come to life. There, she collaborates with the Twam family, master glassblowers who have kept this ancient craft alive for generations. Together, they transform breath, fire, and patience into vessels of emotion and resilience.
Her practice sits at the intersection of ancient craft and contemporary materiality. What she calls “defiant playfulness” , the embrace of whimsy and imperfection, shines through every curve and ripple of glass she creates. Rooted in a 4,000 year old Palestinian glassblowing tradition, her pieces refuse to treat heritage as something frozen in time. Instead, they let it breathe, evolve, and play in the modern world.
Each collection tells a story:
-Teta Edition carries the scent of jasmine afternoons and the echo of clinking tea glasses... an homage to her grandmother’s glass vitrine and the warmth of domestic memory.
-Eye Candy, by contrast, is bold and experimental, intersecting circles of colour and transparency that test the very limits of glass itself.
Both series share a common soul: a quiet declaration that Palestinian creativity doesn’t just survive, it thrives, dreams, and dares to laugh with fire.
In Lameice’s words, creativity is “a conversation between intention and accident.” It’s a process of collaboration, not only with the Twam artisans but with the material itself. Every piece is hand-blown, without molds, guided by gravity, breath, and imperfection. The result is glass that feels alive... fluid, expressive, and beautifully human.
Her connection to the craft runs deep. Working with Palestinian glass allows her to channel centuries of ingenuity while infusing it with her contemporary voice. She describes glass as a mirror of her own nature; transparent, adaptable, yet always true to its essence.
When asked what “home” means to her, Lameice says:
“Home is where you can be all your contradictions at once, without explanation.”
At Tajmi, this sentiment resonates deeply. We see in her work a reflection of what we stand for; honouring heritage craftsmanship while shaping it into the rhythm of modern life. Her glass pieces are not static objects to admire, but living forms that belong in daily rituals; holding flowers, catching sunlight, accompanying morning coffee.
We are proud to carry Lameice’s creations and her message. One of history, legacy, and resilience. Her work reminds us that craft is not only about preservation but about evolution, about giving timeless traditions a place in today’s homes and hearts.
Each piece by Ornamental by Lameice is, at its core, a bridge between past and present, between memory and possibility. And we are honoured to have it as part of the Tajmi collection.
Nettika xx
