Johannesburg,South Africa: and a tale of change and images

It feels different somehow. Johannesburg.  It's been years since I've been here but I used to live next door in Namibia, and so South Africa was a destination for conferences and vacations.  Everyone talked about the violence back then.  About the gated compounds and safe rooms and car jackings.  There was a kind of tension in the air -- a low level alert, a static electricity that wouldn't go away.   As my cab driver pointed out, Those years right after apartheid we didn't know each other.  We just assumed about each other.  And what we assumed wasn't good.  

That suspicion, that worry, that constant looking over the shoulder seems to have dissipated.  It's easier now.  There's more mixing between people and colors and neighborhoods. Everyone says, Oh, it's much better now.  Much better.  And it seems, really, to be.

I've been working and working.  But a few photos I've taken.

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PS If you read this blog from time to time, please, please like it on Facebook here. I'd so appreciate it:-)

Morocco: and a tale of {finally} on Instagram

{Sigh} I'm a late bloomer, behind the 8 ball, last to the party. But yes, I'm finally on Instagram. It' a little behind the scenes look at my day-to-day life, all taken with my iphone.....Family, friends, travel, food. Love.

Here glimpses of last week, spent at the beach in Mirleft, Morocco.

My  husband, Chris, and his pink surfboard.

My son, Tristan and his board.

A bestie and me:-) 

 

And yes, I even did a little video!  Cough, don't mind my singing.

So, come visit me here, on Instagram and follow along if you'd like.  

PS Are you on Instagram?  Do you have recommendations of lovely feeds to follow?  I'd love your advice.

Marrakech: and an exciting design update

Dear Friends,

I can't believe it's the end of Summer already.  It's flown by, hasn't it? 

I wanted to share a special design update with you! 

Husband Chris Redecke and I are incredibly excited to be in a feature story in this month's House and Garden Magazine!  Many many thanks to the HG editors and especially to amazing writer Dominic Bradbury and fabulous photographer Richard Powers.  It's always such a pleasure to share Peacock Pavilions.

Also thilled to see Peacock Pavilions and my book, Marrakesh by Design, play a tiny role in Rachel Zoe's Zoe Report!  See adorable Figue designer Stephanie Von Watsdorf with it in this great feature here.

Thanks so much for taking time to come by and check in with me:-)

        Warm wishes from even warmer Marrakech (yikes! HOT!)

        Maryam 

Bamako, Mali: and a tale of the witchdoctor's assistant

His father had named him Gauche, as in "Left" in French.  I wondered if Gauche was left-handed but didn't ask -- it was a commonly held belief that those left handed were bad luck.  But perhaps his father was able to turn Gauche's luck around.  You see his father was a Malian witch doctor and Gauche, himself, was a purveyor of magical goods.  It was all there -- the skins and bones and hooves and claws -- in his, ahem, pungent shop in Bamako. 

I asked Gauche if he had "the gift" -- if he knew the secrets.  He said that his father had told him a few things but not many.  Magic was powerful, after all and black magic, in particular, was dangerous -- it could hurt someone, or even kill them.  His father had said he would reveal more to Gauche later, when he was sure that his son would use the information responsibly and when Gauche became enlightened with the gift.  Until then, Guache was tucking the information away.  Away for one day, when he was the witch doctor, not his father....

And now...for some magic.....

If you want to make someone fall in love with you or listen to you, place your gris-gris (voodoo amulet) inside the head of a crocodile.

Cowrie shells have many magical purposes, including for divination.

Beware -- a monkey head can be used to make someone sick or....crazy.  Extract the brain of the hyena to ensure prosperity.  Put fur from a rabbit's head in hot water or tea and inhale the vapor to treat headaches.  Rabbit vapor is also helpful for treating children's bloody noses.

Use the teeth of bats to help children suffering during teething.
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if you want to ensure that your fields are fertile, place your gris-gris inside the head of a wild dog and bury it on your land. 

Turtle shells can be ground and used to "treat" adulterous women.

PS  Be wary of the leg bones of ostriches.  They can be used to make someone leave and never come back.....