Mark Tudose is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. I had the pleasure of talking with him at length and learning of the different crafts in his store during a recent visit to Sighisoara. The Art & Crafts store is filled with many unique handmade items. Mark is known as "The Spoonman" because of his artistic ability to carve beautiful wooden spoons with each spoon telling a story. If you make a purchase, he will package it with care so that you can be sure it will get home safely with you. It is a must place to visit if you are in the area. RandyIllinois, USA
This is one of the most beautiful examples of folk art I've ever witnessed firsthand. After returning to the US, I emailed the shop to order even more products, as I couldn't get the intricate carvings out of my mind. Really lovely and thoughtful designs.
While visiting Sighisoara on a tour of Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania, I discovered this lovely shop which sells the most unique, authentic, and beautifully hand made arts and crafts that I had seen in any of the three countries: clay figurines, icons, carved wooden spoons, and much more. I was particularly intrigued with the intricately carved wooden spoons, each of which has its own story based in Romanian tradition. Thespoonman's Maternity spoon depicting a stork feeding her baby below a crown representing the family unity kept by mothers was the perfect gift for my pregnant daughter-in-law, and the Good Luck spoon with the stork and its nest on the roof of the house protecting it from fires, floods, and thieves made the perfect traditional souvenir for me. Now that I've completed my tour and seen crafts in many other shops, none of which compared with the quality and authenticity of the crafts in this shop, I wish I had purchased more items from thespoonman.
Mark's shop is a fairy-tale land, where you don't just come in to buy a souvenir, you get a piece of the real Romania. Reuniting some of our countries most important craftsmen, whose works are appreciated worldwide, Arts&Crafts is the only authentic souvenir shop in Transylvania.Mark is the story man, with a legend behind each object he sells. You think you buy only a wooden spoon to bring back home, instead you take away with you a piece of our history and tradition. The Spoonman tells you the most beautiful stories about some of our most representatives items of our culture, you just have to be willing to listen.People are able to emerge themselves into a culture and have fun designing and creating a souvenir of their own, during Mark's workshops that are organized here.A visit to Art&Crafts weights more than a visit to a museum, you certainly learn a lot more and gain a valuable friend at the end - Spoonman,an original craftsman and gifted story teller.
I met Mark &his wife two years ago and first of all, they are a great couple, beautiful and nice people. Second, their work is amazing, they make awesome Romanian traditional spoons in the this magical city - Sighisoara and also in their shop you can find and other traditional objects from romanian artists. So, if you visit Sighisoara, Mark's shop is a must!!!
This shop is one of a kind: beautifully organized with beautiful traditional handmade souvenirs. I bought a remarkable preset for my Polish friends from here.It is a pleasure to enter it! It's worth visiting!
I visited this shop in October and it is amazing. I really got to see first hand the fine arts and crafts that were made by Romanian and local craftsman. I purchased some of the really cool spoons and loved the packaging that explained what the spoon represented. I got home to the States and realized I needed more for the gifts so I am currently work with the shop to have some shipped. Great location too. Really fun area with alot of history.
This shop has a great atmoshphere. The items are handmade and traditional. The staff was very helpful and could discuss the local customs represented by the items. The wooden spoons will help keep my memories of Romania alive!
I walked into this shop when I was exploring Sighisoara and I really liked what I saw! One could tell that the items at display were of higher quality than the stuff you'd find in your everyday souvenir shop in Romania (or anywhere else for that matter). I didn't buy anything though, mostly because I'd already bought similar and in some cases the same items at other locations in Romania (and at a cheaper price). But I could definitely see myself buyng something from there if I go back.
If you are going to Sighisoara, Romania, there are many places to buy souvenirs. However, the best place to see the work of local artisans is here. The prices are reasonable, but the pieces are lovely. I bought an angel icon on glass here a gift. Don't miss it if you are in town.