Marrakech: and a tale of my Moroccan vanity in House Beautiful Magazine

Oh my goodness.....So happy to be in the October House Beautiful, one of my favorite magazines!  I love the new global direction that Editor in Chief Newell Turner has taken this issue!

I'm flattered to be in the What's on My Vanity feature sharing my sculptural Barcelona basin and Xenon faucet, favorite jewelery from Bouvier and Azza Fahmy, as well as makeup tips:-)  The vanity itself was stenciled by former Peacock Pavilions staffer Todd Oberndorfer using a stencil from Royal Design Studio. 

My shop Red Thread Souk was mentioned in the story and the hooks I designed were also  featured (yippee!). 

The jewelry hands in Red Thread Souk were also featured!

You can see the House Beautiful story in detail right here.  Many thanks to talented editor Lora Yoon.  This girl is so adorable it's ridiculous (and I was lucky enough to meet her in real life during my book tour for Marrakesh by Design).

Marrakech: and a tale of marriage

Oh, it's happened.  We forgot.

We were having drinks with friends in downtown Marrakech.  The music was going, the lights were glowing, the drinks were flowing.

And confidences were being revealed.....

My husband was immersed in discussions with the husband of a friend.  He told him that he was training for a half marathon.  I thought to myself,  How come I don't know that?

It was then I remembered.....our wedding anniversary.  We had forgotten it.  15  years.  15 years married.  Wasn't that a Hallmark something anniversary?    

The day had come and gone.   The day before.

I leaned forward and tapped him on the shoulder.  We forgot, I said.  We forgot what? he asked.  Our wedding anniversary, I said.  I got you that picture, he responded.  That was for my birthday, I said.  My birthday in three weeks.  And I picked that out myself, I added.  

Our wedding anniversary was lost in the shuffle.  The shuffle of to do lists and projects.  Of clients and children.  Of groceries and chores and emails.  The shuffle of horseback riding lessons and basketball tryouts and teenage angst and.......and things going wrong and others going right.  

Oh.  

PS So tell me..... What's the secret, you think, to marriage?  {Inquiring minds want to know....}

Image by Christine Johnson

Marrakech: the universe and a tale of so nice media mentions

Dear friends,

It has been a bad, sad, and not-so-good couple of weeks. Let's just say that I've had disappointments.  {The kind that totally threw me for a loop and took my breath away.} 

But you know how when things go wrong, the universe intervenes and tries to make things right? 

Because in addition to the bad, sad and not-so-good news, I have had the good, very good and even-a-little-bit-great news.  Speaking of which, a few media shout outs in my world... 

There were three (!) very kind media mentions due to the uber-talented Stephanie Von Watzdorf of global chic brand, Figue.  Stephanie is a favorite friend and client.  I couldn't be more excited about her new store in Soho!  I shrieked when I saw my name mentioned in yesterday's Women's Wear Daily as the contributing interior designer for the Figue store's look and feel. (And yes, those are copies of my book, Marrakesh by Design on the shelf!)

I am also so happy to see Peacock Pavilions in the September issue of Zink Magazine!  And even closer to my heart is the mention of my little non-profit association, Project Soar, that benefits girls between the ages of 6-12 in my Moroccan village.  Many thanks to adorable writer, Ariane Marder and photographer Christine Johnson!

Also, it's ridiculously thrilling to see my shop, Red Thread Souk, as well as Peacock Pavilions mentioned in the September Harper's Bazaar (pinch me!)!  

Finally, loved seeing this super nice review of Peacock Pavilions in The Independent!  Thank you, thank you Sarah Gilbert!

*********

{And thank you, universe.  You always know how to pick me up when I'm feeling down.  I won't soon forget the lessons you send my way -- bad, good, and somewhere in between.}

love from an olive grove in Marrakesh,

Maryam

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: and a tale of the weavers

In Addis Ababa, they’re everywhere.  The weavers. 

With their warps and wefts a pristine white, the weavers’ hands move smoothly across the looms.  Their shuttles whirring back and forth are silent but efficient.  But it takes time for the pattern to emerge -- there are no shortcuts. 

I’ve returned from Ethiopia.  I’ve brought back with me many lessons.  About people, about work, about life.  There are things I won’t soon forget.  There has been beauty but there has also been pain.  There were moments where I felt alone and moments where I felt misunderstood.  And as I sat in my hotel room with a long distance phone in my hand, I sometimes wondered if it was all worth it.

But I’ve learned from the weavers that there are no shortcuts.  And despite the broken strings and the blistered fingers, faith in oneself is often rewarded...

with goodness, with truth, and yes, with beauty.  

If not this time, then the next.

I hope I will remember that.  And I hope that you will, too.