BESPOKE

LE SUR-MESURE

The inspiration

The mock-up

The execution

The artist 

Breatrice Knoch, 17 rue Andre del Sarte  75018 Paris  

It is my sister Joëlle's birthday today and I wanted to present her with something very special. She, like me, loves creative jewelry. But what could possibly please her? she already has a lot.

A friend and I were walking down a Montmartre street a few weeks ago and we spotted a cute shop with delicate jewelry in the window. We went in; the designer was sitting at her table working on a ring. We looked at all her pieces and I spotted tiny vermeil pine cones. I asked her if she would make long custom earrings for me. She answered that custom pieces were the bulk of her work. We proceeded to choose beads to add to the mini gold plated silver pine cones and in no time she had laid out the mock-up for me. I was sold!

When my sister comes to Paris she will be able to wear them. In the mean-time she will have to be satisfied with this post... and an early morning e.mail and a Skype video call and...

I will have to keep my fingers crossed.

I am not really that worried, they are just exquisite and she did mention looooong earrings.

Joyeux Anniversaire Joëlle!

au revoir.

INSPIRATION,WHERE DO YOU LEAD US?...

INSPIRATION, OU NOUS EMMENES-TU?

design_Toshiko_Horiuchi_MacAdam Sapporo knit playground

As all "creatives" know, a tiny little spark can light a fire under an idea. 

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, the 19th century French chemist, said "rien ne se créé, rien ne se perd, tout se transforme". Loosely translated it's this: Nothing is created, nothing is lost, all is transformed. He was talking about matter in general not design, but imagination is "matter" also. It's in your mind, that's all. An idea is not "created", contrary to popular belief. The word "creative" alone is a misnomer. All ideas are borne of another idea.

Then there is that fine line between inspiration and copy. Who is copying whom? who started first? does it not all start with nature anyway? 

This post is not about all that.

I'll just need to keep on working along. 

"Designing". 

"Transforming".

"Creating" nothing, surely .

We need a few new items for our winter collection. Inspiration will lead us to that idea, and then to this one, and hopefully to: "this is much better!", "that's going to be great!", etc. etc.

All these images will lead us to something else. 

To our abanjá line. 

To something concrete to produce and sell. Really mundane stuff if you think about it. And we are having fun doing it.

So, the big fat wheel of design keeps on turning. 

Au revoir.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW FLOWERS MAKE

LES FLEURS, ÇA CHANGE TOUT.

A little simple bunch of tulips and the whole mantle comes alive.

au revoir.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

ET QUE LA LUMIERE FUT

The electrician is coming on Wednesday and FINALLY we will have something other than bare bulbs hanging from the ceilings of our apartment.

I have been searching left and right for something that would make a statement in our living room cum dining area, something modern and spectacular but light and airy. Something that would not block the view to the windows of the space. 

My first choice was a fabulous piece by the wonderful Billy Cotton whose designs I adore. 

But the difficulty there, is that it is made in the US and shipping would be a big challenge. I need to keep things simple, and I need lighting now. So a choice was made: the Artemide Pirce.

It's huge but not overpowering. I am pleased as it won't block the view through to the French door style windows and it won't look took busy in a space already a little "heavy on the visual".

The next decision to be made was for the hall going to our bedroom and office. I will hang 3 decorative bulbs in a row with pretty orange wire. Fun and quick.

Then, one last issue: the guest room and its adjoining hall. I decided on a Philippe Starck for Flos design; a small size for the hall and the larger model for the bedroom. Simple and graphic. Perfect for a small room.

Done.

Well, as far as lighting is concerned. 

I still have to have the linen curtains made, glass shelves installed in the bathroom "niche", and a better kitchen faucet put in to replace the annoyingly short one from Ikea that is there now. 

No, we are not quite finished yet. 

By the time the weather is warmer, I want to be able to concentrate on planting bamboos on the window "sills" of the living room's 3 French doors. No, not balconies; yes, SILLS; just small spaces between the windows and the railings. 

It is going to be tight but I.will.get.them.in.there! 

After all, no terrace, no Eiffel Tower. The least I deserve is a little greenery... 

au revoir.

THE EXTRA MILE

EN FAIRE UN PEU PLUS

The small "art buyers" company where my youngest daughter works is having a launch party today. 

As it would happen,  it coincides - almost- with Valentine's day. 

So being the creative crew that they all are (the advertising planet and its satellites are bursting with creatives, to say the least) they decided that the 2 assistants- yes my daughter and her colleague-  would create a huge centerpiece for the buffet; or should I say the bar, as they also decided they would serve candy and champagne.

Valentine candy.

What other industry would get away with serving candy at a launch party?

Very outside-the-box. This particular box has the candy on the outside. We get it...

The brief? go for it.

The budget? pretty tight. 

Hence creativity needed to be HUGELY inversly proportional to it.

This is the result as of 5:00PM, 2 hours before the "gig". 

I say: BRAVO! Job well done.

au revoir.

LOVE AND OTHER TEEN-AGE CRAZINESS

L'AMOUR ET AUTRES IDEES D'ADOS

When I was looking at old ...very old, keepsakes our mother had kept in her attic bookcases one day (our mother kept EVERYTHING!) I found a diary; well maybe more of an end of the year "cute" notebook "thingy" that teenagers signed for each other at the end of the school year in the US. (I spent 4 of my teen-age years in Grosse Pointe, Michigan).

The said "diary" had a lot of signatures- some names I definitely remember well- and of course they had the predictable, typically teenager accompanying cute/clever comment/"poems".

One read: 

"Never kiss Jay by the garden gate 

Love may be blind but the neighbors ain't".

I know, I know...

Well after all these years I remember Jay. 

Cute and fun. Different, in a very "more-interesting-than-the-average-teenager-at-the-time" kind of way.

I never kissed him at any time- and we did not have a garden gate, so there!. 

I don't remember it was ever even the beginning of an idea- a kiss I mean-. I was too young and much too shy anyway. Being raised by relatively strict French parents was not a big help on Valentine's day or any other day of the year for that matter, romantically speaking!

Whatever others in the class might have thought, I must have said something or acted in some way to inspire the comment. I LIKED him, that's all. Misinterpreted body language surely.

And yet, I remember him...

Happy Valentine's Day Jay! 

Wherever you are!

au revoir.

A FEW BLOCKS AWAY

A QUELQUES RUES D'ICI

We take a walk to Montmartre after dinner sometimes; its only a few blocks away and the view from there is exquisite. I get to see my beloved Eiffel Tower from there, the neighborhood directly around the Sacré Coeur is very quaint, the hilly area with all its steps and curling streets is quiet and pleasant in the evening- at least in winter!

It's probably the nicest place to take an evening walk around our neck of the woods- if you ignore the tacky souvenir shops and some streets in need of serious gentrification on the way there and if you don't mind the seemingly endless climb. 

I took the funicular down the other day- the first time ever. It's a very short ride but I wanted to see the very Parisian buildings and peek inside a few very "Montmartre" houses from there, some with amazing views I am sure.

I have noticed a few places where I would not mind living. 

It will be in another life probably...

au revoir.

"I AM 26 TODAY; IT'S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE..."-Joy

"J'AI 26 ANS AUJOURD'HUI. C'EST LA PENTE DESCENDANTE A PARTIR DE MAINTENANT..."-Joy

I know, Joy, I know...

Well, shall we celebrate in spite of the bad news...? 

Shall we still set the table with Moroccan placemats and napkins?

the Venetian glasses? 

the 50's glass plates? 

Will that be alright? 

Or, are you just too old?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my Joy-Joy!

au revoir.

A LITTLE BIT OF ...RECOGNITION

UN PETIT BRIN DE ...RECONNAISSANCE

When my business partner Abbie and I decided to add playful water reed placemats to our summer abanjá line last October, we were miles from imagining we would have so much success with them. Most of our friends thought they were "fun" and we loved the oversized pompoms. But being "picked up" by House Beautiful for their February issue "The Best" article was not on the radar.

Yet, there it is! and we have to confess it feels very gratifying to see others sharing our enthusiasm. 

To say nothing of the repercussion on our sales. 

Ahhhhh, fame and fortune; 

Well, not exactly being nominated for an Oscar, but still...baby steps.

Sold retail by our friends at the great site www.libastyle.com

(abanjá is strictly a wholesale company)

au revoir.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN....

ON PREND LES MEMES ET ON RECOMMENCE.

My business partner and dear friend Abbie and I  are showing our abanja collection at  the New York International Gift Fair again this year. 

I'll fly to NYC tomorrow to spend a little over a week there; we have a lot of details to attend to before the show starts on Saturday: there will be last minute booth design decisions, we'll go over the check list to make extra sure that everything is ready to be taken to Pier 94 to our allotted 100 sq. ft "shop".

We have also added to the line of course; there will be a little more "neutral", a new line of brights and a more "Hamptons" style mini collection- straight from Morocco...

This is a shot of our Stripe line in progress taken right in the weaver's space on the pillar holding up his loom! The pieces are not finished but we wanted to see the overall effect of the group. Notice the Berber hat on top? We like this spontaneous mood.

We shot some of our pieces in Tangier, in 2 wonderful spaces; one is a very softly colors private home (the shot above was taken on a magnificent Syrian chair. Merci Clotilde!)

The other is positively our very favorite hotel in Tangier, the very comfortable and welcoming La Tangerina where my sister and I stayed during our numerous trips there to supervise the renovation of her house. (the shot above was taken on the upper terrace of the hotel that has a fabulous view of the bay and Cap Malabata. Merci Farida!)

These are the times when you think "Yes, some fun had to come with the challenges."

au revoir.

MAISON ET OBJET TRADE SHOW

LE SALON MAISON ET OBJET

There is a trend booth as you enter the the Ethnic Chic hall at the show and this year the "créatifs" outdid themselves:

Bread. Yes BREAD.

Wall treatments were varied, quirky, and how shall I put it? well basically French... as in a wall of baguettes?

I also noticed a trend in booth design that I thought very new: screening. A  number of them were enclosed by fine netting-like material. The result was a soft veil which delineated the space without totally enclosing it visually. 

This was a vignette in one of the trend areas and to convey fog and snow and cold, the designer had covered the front in a very fine voile, giving the effect of a frosty morning. 

Some booths were just spectacular, as in spectacle: this one was super tall, almost empty but for a few pieces of "organically shaped" molded poufs and a HUGE lion's head surrounded by a dramatic circle of light bulbs. I have seen, in a number of restaurants and shops and in fact in a booth at the show, a light fixture like this (but somewhat smaller...) and I admit I love the effect. So, let's see where to put one? on the mantle might be perfect.

There was a lot of linen in warm spicy shades and, in this instance, some very elegant acid dip dyed effects.

In the Czech Design area I spotted these pendants. So light and delicate! they seemed hand shaped and most probably were.

But I admit that my favorite "design" was that of Japanese pastries. (Trust the Japanese to "design" their food to perfection!) This lucite box -complete with a small glass of water so as to humidify its content- displayed 6 exact "golf balls" of something resembling marzipan -confectioned, it explained- from soy powder and sugar and other typically Japanese ingredients you and I don't necessarily rush to when baking...; the balls were precisely striated like japanese garden gravel, and what I assume was a presentation tray, was scored in the same way. Mind-blowing attention to detail, wouldn't you say?

There is my report from M&O.

My choice of subject for today?

"Yes, I can still be stunned, surprised and, yes, charmed after all these years..."

au revoir.

A VERY CREATIVE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DUO

UN DUO MERE/FILLE SUPER CREATIF

When Paris based mother/daughter team Chantal and Oceane Lubrina decided to throw their heart and soul into hand knotted jewelry design 2 years ago, the result was spectacular...a very gentle kind of spectacular. Just like them. 

The duo hand crafts exquisite pieces with fine cord, semi precious stones and finely carved mother of pearl. They weave jewel tone cord into knots and netting, trapping beads and flowers made from all kinds of stones. They mix rows of soft pyrite and aventurine or dark pyrite and aragonite with intricate knots and curlicues. They add crystal to pearls and onyx, to shape delicate earrings and graphic bracelets. 

A visit to the Oceane Lubrina shop on Etsy is well worth the 2 clicks. 

They will happily create pieces in custom colors if asked and will ship anywhere in the world.

Who could possibly resist?

au revoir.

NEW BLOG ON THE BLOCK

UN NOUVEAU BLOG DANS LA CLASSE

My sister Joelle and I have been going to Tangier in Morocco very regularly since 2007, the fateful year she bought and renovated a delightful Kasbah house there. I have delighted you with posts about Tangier just as regularly since and, have no fear, I'll continue to do so with clockwork timing!

However, if you really wish to discover this lovely, friendly, most always sunny -yes, sometimes very wet- dot on the map of North Africa, I strongly suggest you pay a visit to my sister's new blog, A PASSAGE TO TANGIER. Joelle loves writing, she adores Tangier, and she always has a very eclectic point of view. Great combination, you'll see.

She will lead you along the alleys, avenues and ubiquitous stairways of this intriguing town to its busy markets, historical sites, breathtaking views and surprising gems. She will open doors, seek out beaches and restaurants, tell the tales she has heard and display fabulous finds of all kinds for our pleasure. "Plaisir des yeux"- "pleasure of your eyes" as the merchants announce to entice you to enter their shops.

au revoir.

ABANJA UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT...SOMEWHAT

Abanja en scope et en couleur...presque

We are very proud to be on the cover of the Viva Terra catalog.
For at least 3 reasons.

First: we are on the cover! That in itself is fabulous because it is, after all, our first collection shown during our first trade show.
Also, the shot is perfection. We love the styling, the soft, somewhat Moroccan ambiance, the way the orange and silver embroidery and the cute silver tassels wake up the khaki linen.

Second: the exposure for our linen pillow is great! We are not exactly on the cover of Cote Sud or Elle Decor.
No, not exactly.
But, you know what they say: baby steps...

Third: The Viva Terra Catalog 's philosophy espouses ours entirely:

"Our name VivaTerra or living earth is inspired by our dedication to living in harmony with nature - for a healthier life now and for future generations. All of our products reflect a commitment to:

ecology and elegance: The finest goods that uniquely fuse exceptional quality and design with eco sensitivities.

organic, sustainable sources: The purest ingredients and sustainable resources possible - selected to be the best available.

earth and people friendly: Partners and suppliers who share our values and work to make a positive difference in the world.

handcrafted by artisans: Distinctive goods of uncommon value, handcrafted by passionate designers and artisans.

celebrate life: Celebrate life and human spirit by honoring traditions from cultures around the world."

- viva terra

However, the point is to be shown INSIDE the catalog not just on the cover: may I introduce you to our second pillow. Also linen with hand embroidery, this one sports a large cord circle and a just one fluffy orange cotton tassel.

Neat, hein?

You know what to do next...

Oh, and not to blow our own horn or anything, we will be featured in House Beautiful next month with our playful water reed placemats. 

au revoir.