My Marrakesh

Morocco: and a little love story

She was in Casablanca, in a meeting with an important official.  Deep in discussions of program impact, of target setting, of gender mainstreaming.  It was then that her phone beeped with a message.  She looked at the phone distractedly –  she wondered if her next appointment was running late. 

The message read like this: 

It’s been ten years.  And I still love you and need you. 

Your husband

She looked down at the phone and paused, and then - just for a moment - she shut her eyes.  The important official leaned over and asked quietly, Is everything alright? 

She looked up at him and said, Yes. Yes, everything is fine. Just fine. And then she smiled - the kind of smile that she reserved only for very special occasions. 

Happy Anniversary, My love.

Moroccan Slippers just for you......?

Dear Friends,

I was so very touched by all your support and encouraging words in comments and emails about the Peacock Pavilions Shop.  Thank you or Shoukran.  It means so much to me.  I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about it all.....

I will be traveling to the US on business the week after next and wanted to see if I could bring a little Marrakesh into your homes, particularly for those who are not planning to come to Morocco any time soon.  For those living in the US or Canada, I wanted to offer leather Moroccan slippers for sale, much like the ones shown here.  Deliciously soft and rather glamorous, they are perfect to lounge around the house in or to wear for your dinner parties at home.  They also are all entirely handmade - a simple luxury in today's manufactured world. 

A pair for you or your wife?  For your sister?  Or perhaps your mother or mother-in-law?  So pretty and exotic -- they make for such memorable Christmas gifts, too.

If you are interested, please do email me [maryam at mtds.com] for pricing.  I would then pick the slippers out myself in your favorite color and size. The white is beautiful and the deep peony pink is also lovely but many other colors are available, too (red, black, orange, several blues....and more!).  Since I will be sending them from the US, you would save on shipping.

But act quickly, because I am leaving soon........!

Fond wishes,

Maryam in Marrakech

Nick Bantock's collaged Morocco

The brilliant and hilarious Persephone (How can you not fall for a girl with that name?) of the blog , What Possessed Me, dropped me line about Nick Bantock's new collage work. 

When I was young and still impressionable (she says, pretending things have changed), I was enchanted by his Griffin and Sabine books.  They were very Narnia in a love story-y kind of way.  I remember the clever interactivity of the books, with all kinds of letters tucked into collaged envelopes that could be pulled out and read.  Oh, the romance, the intrigue, the craft...My young heart hoped it would never end...

Well, ahem, it seems that Nick Bantock is all grown up now and has moved onto naked women of the lovely variety.  Rather Lehnert & Landrock inspired, Bantock's collages are said to be based on postcards from Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco and represent Nick’s fascination with turn of the century North Africa. Layered with varnish, bees wax or transparent film it is often difficult to see exactly how these unusual pieces have been created.

But perhaps you would like to see for yourself........?

See the rest of Nick Bantock's North African collages right here.

Cairo: and what to buy?

Oh, shopping in Egypt....What to buy?  (She says, wringing hands.) What ever to buy? 

Here's what I came home with....

Three petite Egyptian blown glass vases.  Just one white stem in each, please.

One large antique vessel with Arabic writing, hand incised.

  Some yards of Egyptian cotton textiles, hand block printed in a traditional pattern.  For bolsters in outdoor pavilions ....

Hand-blown glass balls in pale green and amethyst with glass loops for tying or attaching.

A selection of heavy hand-carved natural stone soap dishes.  So lovely for Peacock Pavilions.

A vintage suzani.  My obsession for embroidered ethnic textiles continues...

Lustrous Egyptian alabaster bowls.

A large hand hammered bowl for display or for salad...

Part of an antique light fixture.  I am going to have it rewired for Peacock Pavilions.

Many hand blown glass bowls to serve vanilla ice cream in...

A suzani bag for when I am feeling my most bohemian.

P.S.  I am launching the Peacock Pavilions Shop online.......A curated collection of lovely things.  Soon, soon, very soon. ...  What do you think?