So much to tell you!!
Wow! our last few weeks in Morocco have been a whirlwind of events!
So here are a few posts and pics to share our latest adventures with you.
Photo courtesy of Riffat thank you
Henna classes at henna cafe Marrakech!
We were delighted to offer Henna classes to Fatiya.
Fatiya is a wedding cake artist in Morocco who works with Emma to make beautiful wedding cakes.
Emma and Fatiya joined our Henna classes to add a new henna design to their cake icing range!
Here Fatiya shows off her Henna which was done by Nic Tharpa Cartier as a gift at the end of long day of studies!!
thanks to Riffat for use of the photo.
Welcome to the team
This is Fatima, a local Nquasha who has joined our team full time.
come along and have some of her beautiful henna as a unique and traditional souvenir of your visit to Morocco.
Welcome tot he team Fatima!
Riad africa
A huge thank you to Nick at www.riadafrica.co.uk for supporting the Henna cafe by giving us accomodation in Marrakech last week.
some thank you’s!
Huge gratitude to Nic Tharpa Cartier ( www.nomadhearthenna.com) and Riffat Bahar (www.riffat.co.uk). for their boundless energy and support during our educational trip to Marrakech.
We were able to give intensive henna lessons to six Moroccan ladies, who we hope in time to support to start Businesses as Nquasha.
As you can see I was treated to two very different and very wonderful henna designs.
Spoilt…just a lot!!
A million thank you’s to both of these wonderful generous artists
photo courtesy of Riffat
Its all about the Education!
Each week we offer free lessons at the henna cafe. This is one of our english classes being taught by our manager Mohamed. We have a timetable for lessons available to see at the cafe. If you are interested in taking part as a pupil or a teacher please drop in and say hi!
Thank you to Barnardos in Watton for donating books to us.
Thank you Georgina x
So after what seemed to be a superfast 3 months our Volunteer manager Georgina has returned to the UK.
During her time in Morocco Georgina has made huge steps for the future of the Henna cafe.
We would like to send her a huge thank you from us all.
Many Marrakshi’s will miss you and we hope you will have a fab summer hennaing at the festivals in the UK.
Welcome Back anytime missy! x
This pic shows Georgina with a local Henna artists in the old Slave market in the centre of Marrakech. The Henna pattern is for Barakka ( Blessings ).
thank you to Riffat for the pics
Lunch with Uma
I met our winner of the henna design contest at the Henna Cafe.
Uma drew us a beautiful design, and we had lots of beautiful postcards printed featuring her 
winning art….drop by to ask for a free copy to send home when you are in town.
We made a special lunch for Uma, she chose a dipping platter with yummy fresh salad, fruit and cream cheese dip.
As we just happened to have a famous henna artist in town, we arranged for Uma to have a really special henna tattoo too!!
Henna Cafe does Jemaa El Fna
To celebrate my return to England next week we took a rare trip out of the cafe for dinner in jemma el fna square last night. It was a lovely evening despite Mohamed making me eat tongue!!
Many thanks, Riad Laksiba
The Henna Cafe project has had fantastic support from all quarters of the Marrakech community but we have to give a special mention to our friends at Riad Laksiba who not only recommend our lovely cafe to their lovely guests! but also have made the incredibly generous commitment of sponsoring a full time employee here at Henna Cafe. Young ‘Abdou’ introduced and funded by Riad Laksiba has been a great asset to the team since he joined us last month.
Riad Laksiba, no ordinary guest house,was conceivedand renovated by brilliant designer Simon Hawkesley who has managed projects on every inhabitable continent but seems to have found his spiritual home in Marrakech.
Fantastic opportunity to be hennaed by the finest artists here in the UK
An evening of wondrous adornment with the incredibly talented Nic Tharpa Cartier. ( www.nomadhearthenna.com ) 
And also celebrated Asian wedding henna expert Riffat ( www.riffat.co.uk )
This is an amazing gathering of creative talent….
Nick is one of the worlds very finest Henna artists. He specialises in traditional North African designs.
Riffat is the top name in the UK henna scene, and her diary is filled each year with Henna for weddings.
We are delighted that Nic and Riffat have generously offered their time and expertise to support our Henna cafe Marrakech Project. ( www.hennacafemarrakech.com)
We will be holding an exclusive (30 tickets) henna adornment evening here in the UK .
This really is a one night only opportunity to meet and be adorned by the finest of Artists. on the 18th of April from 7.30 – 10.30 pm
come along and enjoy some music, some drinks and nibbles and some very very special henna.
Tickets cost £20 each and include drinks , nibbles and henna by Nic or Riffat!!!
To reserve a place please e mail sarah@hennacafemarrakech.c
Henna blog post
Our friends have Riad Ariha have an excellent Henna article on their Marrakech blog.
Many thanks Barbara and Bader for suggesting your guests visit Henna Cafe. They are assured of a warm welcome!
How to sift henna powder
If your henna powder is not fine enough it will make a lumpy paste, some powders will come pre-sifted but if yours isn’t you this is a simple method to sift out the finer powder. You will need a tub with a lid, a stocking without reinforced toes (this is very important) and a hand full of coins.
Place the end of the stocking in to the tub and put in the coins.
Then add the powder and make sure the lid is on firmly.
Shake the tub, this may take a while.
The finer powder will be sifted through the stocking in to the tub and is ready to be made into a paste.
Happy hennaing 
New Henna Kitchen
I’m very excited to announce that we now have a henna kitchen! A specially designated spot for all our hennaing needs. This means we have better space for henna demonstrations so if you want to learn how to mix and use henna come along and have a go. Don’t forget we have the amazingly talented Nic Tharpa Cartier coming to the cafe on the 24th and 24th of april for two days of henna workshops. Email us or come into the cafe to book your place for this extra special event.
Our kitchen has moved :)
After lots of work and running up and down stairs we’ve finished the move. Here’s Najat in our lovely new kitchen…
Exciting Changes at Henna Cafe Marrakech
There’s some exciting new changes happening today at Henna Cafe. We are moving our kitchen to the ground floor to make better use of this lovely building. The move will help bring more life down to the street side of the cafe and create more space on the terrace for relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. Although it’s not so sunny in Marrakech today…seems like we picked the right day for the move!! Watch this space for pictures of the new improved Henna Cafe.
The Henna Cafe Family
There’s been a few changes here lately and there’s a few new faces about so I thought it’d be nice to introduce everyone new and old…
Najat is the newest member of our team, a sweet, gentle lady and an awesome cook, she works in the kitchen preparing delicious meals and generally helps create a warm welcoming atmosphere with her beautiful smile and kindhearted ways.
Abdou has been working with us for about a month now and brings a happy lively energy to the team. He always has a massive smile and a lovely charm to greet customers and make everyone feel welcome.
Mohamed has been at Henna Cafe since the very beginning. He runs the education aspects of the association and teaches several classes in English. He’s a kind and caring guy, with a passion for helping others.
And then there’s me. I came to Marrakech at the end of January to help with the running of the cafe and to adorn our customers with my hennaing skills.
We also have another member of staff called Houda who has so far eluded my camera but I will do my best to get a picture of her soon. She helps out here at weekends and is also a budding henna artist, so watch this space to see pictures of her and her henna work.
New Henna Designs
We are adding new designs to our menu all the time, here are a few of the latest additions…
Naturally Morocco
Our friends at UK based travel agency Naturally Morocco, are offering great value three night Summer Marrakech breaks including a free lunch or table side henna here at Henna Cafe!
Shopping, Marrakech style
We are making a few changes at Henna Cafe, bringing our kitchen downstairs to its new home with a window onto the street so that the preparation of our lovely food, and our Henna, is on view for all to see.
Mike and Georgina had a fun time searching for furniture in the Souk LKhemis, the biggest Marrakech wholesale market. Just look at that blue sky as Georgina prepares to ride ‘shotgun’ in the back of a truck with our precious purchases. There are worse places to be than Marrakech in March!