Marrakech: and a little news round up at Peacock Pavilions

Dear Friends,

It's been a little quiet here on the My Marrakesh blog with life, work, and travel getting in the way of blogging.  But there are some fun things happening.  Here's some news:

* The editors at Amazon named my book, Marrakesh by Design, a Best Book of 2012 and a top ten book of 2012 in the House and Garden category (I just managed to squeak onto that list!).  Perhaps my book would make a good gift for design and decorating enthusiasts, new home owners, or the culture and travel lovers in your life?:-)

* I did some Christmas shopping Moroccan-style for this amazing pop star.  So fun!  {Coincidentally, Marrakesh was just named the 9th best city in the world for Christmas shopping.  Read more here.}

* Annie Waterman of the fantastic HandEye Magazine interviewed me on Moroccan craft.  Take a peek HERE {& check out my photos}.

* Saw an advance copy of the Raven and Lily Spring catalogue that was shot at Peacock Pavilions.  I shrieked out loud!  

* An Irish TV crew has been at Peacock Pavilions for several days shooting a reality TV show episode.  The show follows the story of two (adorable) people, Maggie and Colin, making their way around the world WWOOFING (WWOOF=World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).  Peacock Pavilions is a working olive farm and one of the show's six episodes takes place here!  The show airs in February 2013.  Stay tuned!

    Here I am with some of the sweet camera and sound crew (I am wearing my favorite Tory Burch tunic!).

* I was a source for this hot off the presses article on Marrakech in New York Magazine written by Julie Earle Levine.  Julie was kind enough to include this little blog in the story here. 

* Was in great company when asked by Cisthene to pick out the pieces that I would most like to find under my Christmas tree HERE.  Hint: jewels.

* I just sold a gorgeous Moroccan Beni Ouarain carpet from my Red Thread Souk to this amazing artist.  I am in love with her new album, The Haunted Man.

* So excited to see my livingroom at Peacock Pavilions on the cover of a design magazine (in Russian no less!).

Leaving for Cairo for work tomorrow. Oui, tomorrow.  Yikes, better pack.  

    Love from Marrakesh,

    Maryam

PS Would love to hear your news, too,  Pls share! xo

PPS Crazy about Pinterest these days.  Check out my boards right here.  Also let's chat on Twitter here if you are so inclined.  

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Marrakech: and a tale of a J Crew shoot for Madewell at Peacock Pavilions

Marrakech: and a tale of my house in Living Etc. Magazine

Marrakech: and a tale of being featured on Tory Burch's blog

Marrakech: and a tale of a girl with violet eyes

Marrakech: and a tale of Thanksgiving at Peacock Pavilions

Oh just because we live in Morocco doesn't mean that we don't celebrate Thanksgiving.  

And so it was that invitations were made...and the Peacock Pavilions kitchen was abuzz....with good food.

We gathered in the salon where a fire was roaring.

There was a late harvest cocktail and appetizers:

* pears wrapped in prosciutto and arugula, with shaved parmesan drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette

* white bean paste crostini with black Hawaiian sea salt 

* mini zucchini cakes (zucchini, toasted bread crumbs, scallions) with a dot of spiced yogurt 

Then we moved to the Peacock Pavilions dining tent and friends filled their plates....

 

We sat at low tables that had been dressed for the occasion.

We dug in...

The menu included:

*2 kinds of turkey, one smoked and one slathered with organic honey, and two accompanying gravies & cranberry relish

* Roasted pumpkin with sage brown butter sauce (made with pumpkin from our garden instead of squash)  

* Mashed potatoes with crispy shallots (We added roasted garlic as well as toasted garlic.)

* Sauteed parsnips with dates and spiced yogurt

* Roasted brussel sprouts with garlic and onion 

* Green bean and roasted red pepper salad in a sherry vinaigrette

* Wild rice with mushrooms

We went around the table and gave thanks, all 20 of us.

We were thankful for friends & family, a freshly elected president and even a book that had been published.  We were also grateful we weren't living in Gaza and our hearts went out to families living in conflict.....

One 13 year old boy was thankful there were girls in his class....

While another thirteen year old was grateful that we had evolved from homo sapiens to be the very people we are today...

And after the gratitude there was....dessert:  

* pumpkin pie made from scratch (no canned pumpkin here) with whipped cream

* apple tart with vanilla ice cream

And tea, of course.

Why we ate so much that even the fancy dogs that had been invited for Thanksgiving could barely roll out the door....

Happy Thanksgiving to you no matter where you live today and every day....

PS  Merci to Michelle, Alexia, Bob, Lise and Kimo for all their help in making this Thanksgiving so delicious and pretty.  You all are swell.

Marrakech: and a tale of my jewelry

I was sitting in a Marrakech cafe having lunch.  As I walked across the patio a hand reached out to grab my arm.  It was a a French designer I knew.  He smiled and said, My friend asked who the woman was with the beautiful rings.  Apparently, that woman was me:-)

And so, I thought I'd show you some of my jewelry stash...

organized in sterling silver boxes....

and stored in a snake print jewelry case from Zara Home and in vintage Moroccan hammam bowls...

The sterling flower brooch is from Bouvier.

The gold & silver scarab ring is from the Azza Fahmy Nostalgia collection.

Bracelets by Liz Manyan & Stephanie Allman.

Necklaces from vintage Sudanese glass beads.

Old heavy Moroccan Berber bangles.

My collection of dangly sterling silver earrings from Bouvier.

Antique talismanic rings from Yemen and Tuareg agate rings from Mali.

Bronze Egyptian bird ring & labrodorite ring.

Leather wrap bracelet & tortoise cuff from Tory Burch.

Rings stored on hand etched mannequin hands, sold HERE .

 Would love to hear tales of your jewelry.  Do tell...

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Marrakech: and a tale of a J Crew shoot for Madewell at Peacock Pavilions

They arrived at Peacock Pavilions, 18 of them --a crew from the UK, from Japan, from Canada, from the US.... and, well, from J Crew.... (Can it be?  Pinch me!) 

With their cameras....

and with their huge screens set up in our olive grove...

They were at Peacock Pavilions to keep a watchful eye on their model, Alana...

And watch her they did....

There was hair....

And there was makeup...

And by the light of the moon, by the light of the stars...

Alana was transformed.....(but I can't show you those pictures.  You'll have to wait for the Madewell April lookbook....)

Suddenly Madewell gave a whole new meaning to what it is to be in  Marrakesh by design....

Special thanks to the adorable Tara Rehak from J Crew!

PS New stock of gorgeous Moroccan handiras (wedding blankets) and Beni Ouarain carpets in Red Thread Souk.  Check it out!