SMALL CHANGES BIG IMPACT

LES PETITS DETAILS QUI CHANGENT TOUT

My sister and I made a few changes in her house the last time we went to Tanger. 
The lower bedroom got a spectacular head board, a Moroccan double tier wedding table was moved near the sofa, vintage wool pillows were added and the very faded Toile du Soleil on the lower terrace were replaced with bright wax fabric.
Ahhh, those little things that make a big difference.
1st world worries? yes.
And yet...

au revoir.

OFF TO TANGIER TOMORROW

DEPART. TANGER. DEMAIN

I just cannot wait to take off for Tangier tomorrow. It's that wonderful time when my twin sister, 4 of our very best friends and I go on our yearly trip to her house in Tangier, northern Morocco. The weather is going to be fantastic, we have a list of new places to discover and we are staying a little longer than a week this time.

We all cannot wait to once again enjoy all the bright flowers and the majestuous palm trees.

 A strong glass of mint tea will be so welcome!

We have a themed "event" the evening of our arrival at the house, each year.
The first time we had to bring a champagne glass of our choice. That was clear cut and we all "shined". There are now 6 fabulous champagne flutes at the house waiting to be filled as soon as we have settled in our rooms. 
Last year, 4 of us dressed as ONE camel -it had a lot of legs- complete with a fabric-covered-broom "camel neck" (there was,however, one belly dancer; (no, not me…) We did a short, messy, disorganized but hilarious and fun "number".
This time around Joëlle has chosen "La vie est belle!" (Life is beautiful) 
Quite a wide subject and we all agree, we have found it rather challenging. There is an additional twist: whatever our "project" (it can be a song, a poem, art, a tutu dance even, anything we judge fit for the idea of "La vie est belle"), each one will draw a name to choose to whom our "project" will be  addressed.
I can't wait to discover the madness; and it is definitely madness as we each want to surprise, amuse and, let's admit it, humbly impress the others…

au revoir.

PHOTOREALISM. TALENT AND SERIOUS FOCUS.

PHOTOREALISME: TALENT ET CONCENTRATION

Pedro Campos

I am absolutely in awe of the talent demonstrated by these pieces. I can't begin to understand the amount of patience needed for this. I don't need to even mention what the hand must do to translate what the eye sees with that much realism. In fact, I am not 100% certain I can believe these are actual paintings. I mean, the plastic bag around the apple? the glass bowl?

The ultimate trompe-l'oeil.

Not an iota of doubt.

Richard Estes

Pedro Campos

Mark Van Crombrugge

In the mean time I'll just make believe and keep doodling an eye with a ball point pen...

au revoir.

NO PARKING... BUT YOU CAN SMILE

NE PAS STATIONNER... MAIS SOURIRE.

Street art as anti-ism.

The ubiquitous anti-parking posts lining almost all of the streets of Paris and surrounding towns have been a great source of "blank canvases", so to speak, for irreverent artists. Some have just painted them over in bright colors, but a lot have embellished them with all kinds of fun and quirky patterns. 

The one who adds those large eyes signs his work le Cyklop

Very cheeky, very Parisian...

au revoir.

REALITY or MAKE BELIEVE?

REALITE ou FICTION?

These images look like 2 illustrations. They are not. One, a photograph of a bedroom in Morocco, the other, a painting of a street in New York City. Both were guided by a human hand and envisioned by the human eye. One was created and enhanced through technology alone.

What a great era we live in.

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that caught my eye

The celadon hue, the contrasting floor, the metal details, the clean sharp lines, the clinical minimalism, the 20's mood.

TAROUDANT MOROCCO THE COLORS OF A FRENCH DESIGNER'S HOUSE

TAROUDANT 

LES COULEURS D'UNE MAISON AU MAROC 

Bright colors spice up the softly hued architecture 

The colors of Tamgrout pottery accent rooms inside and large spaces outside

Moroccan arches leading to restful rooms

Baroque mirrors break the simple lines of the bathrooms

and the fabulous pool with its orange wall and lush greenery.

FROM NORMANDY WITH RAIN… sometimes

LA NORMANDIE SANS LA PLUIE…parfois.

2 of our very best friends, adorable sisters, bought 2 houses on the same piece of land. The properties are only separated by a low hedge and a cute gate with a rose harbor on top.  Even though they live 2 blocks from each other in Neuilly, on the edge of Paris, that's where the "duo act" stops. They never know until the last minute if they will both be in the country unless they really plan for it on a special occasion. 

This was the case this long May week-end; much to our benefit.

It rained, the wind blew like crazy on the Houlgate beach, sleet came down at the train station on the way home (we avoided a car ride back on Sunday at all cost: it was the end of the April school break and of a 4 day week-end. And we all know what that means in France: BIG, HUGE traffic jams.

In spite of very capricious weather, a fabulous time was had by all. Great food, fun get-togethers, gorgeous houses, roaring fires, green, very green, postcard-perfect scenery and even a fun game of Scrabble in the train back to Paris.

Can't wait to be re-invited!

au revoir.

TAROUDANT, MOROCCO DAR ZAHIA

DAR ZAHIA: LE RIAD PARADISIAC

Our March trip to the south of Morocco started in Taroudant, near Agadir. We had opted to stay in Dar Zahia and what a great decision that was!

A low-ceilinged entrance way with spectacular beam work. I love the guard-of-honor row of leafy pots.

Curvy lines everywhere, proof that most of the work was done by hand.

One of many cosy corners for a quiet moment between excursions

The riad was drenched in the earthy shades of "pisé", the local adobe-like mud, with a few bright shots of color here and there.

The weather did not quite permit a dip in the zellige covered mini pool.

As we took over  the whole riad, the living area was turned into an elegant bedroom.

Simplicity throughout.

Our hosts Zahia and Marc could not have been more extraordinarily pleasant, helping us in everyday possible, guiding us endlessly all over Taroudant. 

Well above and beyond the call of duty.

au revoir.

THE COLORS OF TAROUDANT

LES COULEURS DE TAROUDANT

This is the Sunday market in Taroudant, southwest of Marrakesh, Morocco. We found a lot of plastic and a lot of Chinese made items. 

Mixed in were a few truly Moroccan ..displays. 

The fresh-squeezed orange juice vendor.

Tomorrow, back to Tanger to check on orders and to work on the next few additions to our line. 

Pompoms, neutrals and texture. Big pieces.

Oh, and will I ever find decent cotton labels? 

I did find great looking hang tags. That's the way to go. 

But labels are compulsory and they stay on the item. You can never have enough exposure...

au revoir.

THE BIRDS OF MARRAKESH

LES OISEAUX DE MARRAKECH

I just came back from Taroudant, Marrakesh and Tangier, Morocco. Half leisure, half work, all great!

Tomorrow I will share some photos of our accommodations and our delightfully helpful hosts as well as an exceptional house owned by our friend London-based French designer François Gilles, all in Taroudant.

For the time being here is a quirky look at the avian offerings on display in Marrakesh. The downside: we were asked- rather aggressively- to pay for taking pictures (even when the subject was a vendor's street stall and in the case of the shot above, a "showman" amusing everyone with his white bird "pièce montée" ("stack", translated loosely).

I love the minimal, clock-like stork motif on the door above!

FYI, Taroudant is a "mini Marrakesh" with no peddling, no pretense and wonderful architecture in "pisé", the adobe-like material typical of the south of the country.

au revoir.