About

Roshaan Ganief, Mokajade artist & wood carverRoshaan Ganief is a designer/author/craftsperson working out of her garage workshop in beautiful British Columbia. She was born and raised in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa, where she learned the value of hard work from her Grandma who raised 9 children almost single handed! A true inspiration!

She always knew from a very young age that she will follow the creative path in whatever career she chose.  With that in mind, she set out to pursue a career in Fine Art and Design.  
However,  she soon realized that her art not only had to be beautiful, but also, functional.

Fifteen years ago, she stumbled upon the fascinating medium of woodworking during her exploration of different mediums at Kwantlen University College in Surrey, BC, which included painting, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture. She was soon hooked on this new and wonderful medium.  She loves the natural characteristics of wood and the total sensory experience one gains while working with this medium. The way a piece of pine smells, the feel of a freshly sanded piece of walnut and the sight of a beautifully finished piece made out of mahogany. Woodworking can be both challenging and extremely rewarding.  A few years later, she discovered the scroll saw and fell in love with its organic and artistic abilities. It’s almost as if you’re using the saw blade like a pencil on paper. She has now found the perfect fusion, between her passion for woodworking, and her love of art and design.

Over the years she has taught herself as much as she could about this amazing medium, but soon realized that she needed to gain a better understanding of the technical aspects of woodworking.  She then enrolled in and now is a graduate of the renowned Fine Furniture Program at Camosun College located in Victoria, BC, where she also received a nomination for the Lt. Governors Silver Medal award for academic excellence.

She is now a published author of a DIY book on using the scroll saw to enhance your woodworking called Simply Wood , published by Fox Chapel.  She is a regular craft vendor at the Public Market on Granville Island.

She has also participated at various craft/tradeshows which included the One-of-a-kind District at the Interior Design Show West, Make It Vancouver, Bizarre Bazaar Whistler and GotCraft, Filberg Festival in Comox, BC and Circle Craft Christmas show at the new Vancouver Convention Center. She has also hosted woodworking seminars at Lee Valley in Vancouver, BC and works on private commissions.