Design

Essaouira: and a tale of Moroccan doors

I was thinking about how things change. How children grow and are gone.  How relationships begin and then end.  How jobs - once so shiny -- start to tarnish.  

Yes, I was thinking about how doors sometimes close.  And we are left standing outside wondering what to do.

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But if we have faith,  there are always always other doors.  Perhaps even more beautiful.  Perhaps even righter.  But we must see the world with trusting eyes or they won't appear.

And at that single moment when they do, we mustn't carry the burden of all that has come before -- the disappointments, the wrongdoings, the broken hearts. But let them go and be new again.

Then, we must reach out our hand, unlock the door

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and push it open.

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Treasures await each and everyone of us.

Images from Essaouira.

Marrakech: and a tale of a fabulous adventure that awaits *YOU*

Get out your pencils...........here's today's quiz.  

I love beauty: Yes/No

I love shopping: Yes/No

I love travel: Yes/No

I love (delicious) food: Yes/No

I love pampering: Yes/No

I love adventure: Yes/No

One last one............

I deserve to treat myself (I work hard!): Yes/No

Time to tally up your answers!

If you found yourself answering Yes more than No, maybe it's time to head to..............Marrakech. 

Peacock Pavilions (ahem, yours truly) is organizing a retreat filled with everything fun this May: 

*Amazing shopping in the souks, guided by me!  

*Moroccan wine tastings!  

*Candlelit dinners in the Peacock Pavilions embroidered tent!

*Visits to Kashbahs & palaces!  

*Henna parties and cocktails!  

*Expert talks about Moroccan interior design & shopping!

*Movies in the private outdoor cinema!  

*Belly dancers, camel rides, snake charmers........

*And of course, lodging at Peacock Pavilions, a boutique hotel made from scratch with love by, umm...me (and the sweet architect husband, of course.)

This  is a trip you will never forget (I promise!).  Very affordable and lots of surprises.  Talented Angela Ritchie of AceCamps is helping organize and this shiny girl is coming along to help.  

Don't just dream about it, make it happen!!!  See all the details right here.  Spots are already filling up!:-)

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6a00d8345204a169e20133f56db13f970b-800wiImage by Alkaline Sisters

Zoe Pawlak: and a tale of a Sky for Dreaming Into

If you've been reading this little blog for some time, you might know that I'm not very good at having babies.  And that was especially true when it came to making my little girl, Skylar.  

She was a tricky recipe. 

But ever since Skylar was born, she has amazed me by her steely determination to be good in everything. Everything.  I'm so proud of her.  But in Skylar's zest for the here and now and all things practical, she sometimes forgets to dream, to imagine, to think about what might and could be.

Here's the creative process behind the new addition to Skylar's room.  It's called, A Sky is for Dreaming into. It's Skylar's sky now and it's by talented Canadian artist Zoe Pawlak.  

Because there is always a new sky, new dreams, more chances.  Never forget.

Directed by Jesse Savath - jessesavath.com

 

Learn more about Zoe on her Website.  She's wonderful to work with.

 

Marrakech: and a tale of a party at Jawad Kadiri's house, high Moroccan decorating drama

Jawad Kadiri.  His house had been on the cover of Elle Decor.  His hotel had been home to the cast of Sex and the City II during filming in Marrakech.  He had an over-the-top night club with belly dancers.

But most importantly, he looked awfully darling in this shell encrusted hat. (French friend, Alain, looked rather pasha-like, too.)

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A handful of people -- including lucky us -- spent New Year's Eve with him at his eye popping house in Marrakech.

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Oh my.  High drama.

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Sculptural arches, saturated colors, tadelakt wall finishings, amazing light fixtures.

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Oh!

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Moody accessories.  

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Glamorous girls. 

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Dancing in a sunken lounge under a huge dome ....

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jumps for joy.

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Secrets....

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We left at around 3:30am but not without kicking up our heels.  (Ahem, Yes, that's my cigar smoking husband here, along with beauteous French friend Latitia.)

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Hope your 2011 is everything you want it to be.  (And that it include adventure!  Because that's the point really, isn't it?)