AWOL

Mr. Blog: Why haven't I been updated since a week? Why why?

Me: Umm...because I went on a vacation?

Mr. Blog: Whaat? And why wasn't I informed about it!?

Me: Umm...sorry?

Mr. Blog: mutter mutter splutter splutter..

Last week, we went on a trip to Mashobra, a lovely hamlet in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh. I can gush about the majestic views, our cosy cottage, the salubrious weather, the sparkling conversations...or I can let these pictures speak for themselves...

We stayed at a lovely cottage called Inayat, managed by the warmest of hosts. 

Made a few furry friends too..

Views during our walks

Spring blossoms in Inayat's private garden

Mr. Blog: And to think that you didn't take me along!

Me: Umm...I tried, but well, there was the laptop and then there were the mountains.

Mr Blog: Oh well, alright! My dear readers...let's indulge her today and I'll get her back on track in a couple of days. You have a great rest of the day, folks!

 

[All pics: Me and my Nikon]

Valérie Barkowski

 

It was a fine spring afternoon, when Valérie wrote to me. By the time I was done ooh aahing through her brilliantly creative projects, it was evening. In this post, I can showcase but a glimpse of this talented wearer of many hats - just a couple of the many projects that she has conceptualized and run successfully over the last decade or so.

Valérie, when not living out of her suitcase, is based in Marrakesh. Her work consists of art direction, concepts, consulting, design and sourcing in the fields of home textiles, hotels, retail, interiors and fashion. Besides this, Valérie is an art lover, and has worked as an art dealer in Moscow. She also started a lifestyle brand Mia Zia to fund the foundation she used to run for artists retreat in Marrakesh.

Dar Kawa: A 17th century ryad Valérie renovated recently

In the ryad, Valérie used furnishing from Bandit Queen, a luxury home linen brand, she conceptualized and developed from scratch, working with Sunita Namjoshi (of Yamini fame) in Mumbai.

 

Her latest venture - SoKistan, the land of socks!

  Psst: If you ever wanted to see an embroidered ambassador(!), please, click right here. Yes, one more quirky project!

And, here's what Valérie says about her love affair with India:

"I started to work in Jaïpur 9 years ago since I wanted to explore techniques and Indian traditions - work that was not available in Morocco. That is how I started to work on block printing, rugs, hand made paper, recycling. In India there are so many handcraft traditions, that I fear my life will be too short to explore all of them....  

Beside the working aspect, what I really appreciate in India are it's people. I love their spirit, their mind, their lifestyle. I like the feeling of being in this emerging country and even if I know I will not be able to explore all the paths, I want to be there! I love the idea that I still have so much to see and to learn."

 [Image credits - Dara Kawa: Tania Panova; Bandit Queen: Sameer Tawde. More credits]

And now add...

just a pinch of color..

How easy is it to recreate this look in your backyard/balcony? Perfect for balmy summer evenings.

Love the unconventional use of tiles..

Who needs over priced art when quirky prints abound?

This fabric is all over the place these days!

...And your dish (room) is done!

Serve with love :)

[All images from The Earth House]

From Here & There

Hola chicas y niños!

A warm welcome to visitors from Apartment Therapy too!

[Thank you Catrin!]

Bringing for you a quick blast of ethnic inspiration today

From different corners of the world

Click on the links to see more...

A boutique hotel, with Indian design influences, in SA

 A home in Lamu, designed by E. Claudio Modola

A B&B in Tanzania

The much celebrated home of Liza Bruce, in Morocco

Quirky and proudly over-the-top hotel/B&B in Srilanka, known as Helga's Folly!

 Thank you folks for your get well messages...

...they worked!

I'll be back later this week

with a whole new post

and the promised goodies for the facebook gang

Adiós amigos, till then!

This week's trivia

It has been an exciting week for me. Not good exciting though. I crash landed in the hospital with a condition that apparently strikes in very young children and is rare in adults. And the complication that I had was even rarer (only one measly page of relevant google results). The good news is that the bad news is over. I am back home recuperating and thinking that it must have been my baby soft skin that mislead the 'condition' into gracing me with it's presence. Ahem. [And Mr. Blog, you can stop that sniggering right this very moment!]

I had planned for a bunch of showcases and a special gallery for the facebook gang this week. Alas, it was not meant to be. Instead, like any self respecting individual with a shiny new camera, I shall shove show pics from my last vacation to you. Oh, and some from my home too.

  As you can see, I have a strong predilection for shiny light thingamajig, commonly referred to as chandeliers

Hmm...who do I love more? Paris or Cats? 

And a few from my home...

I'll be back next week hopefully. All ya folks out there - have a healthy weekend. No falling sick with rare conditions, OK?

[All pics have been taken by me and are owned by me and Mr. Blog] 

Once bitten, Never shy.

...if bitten by the travel bug that is!

After last week's quick trip, it's only natural that I would long for more travel. Surfing and day dreaming about exotic and not so exotic far away lands, I found these gems on Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the boutique hotel specialists.

And what do I do when I find gems? I share them with you!

What I like about these rooms is that they are not your typical hotel rooms, but have a character of their own. And, with a little ingenuity, I think it is possible to recreate the look in our homes.

Take a look and let me know what you think?

 [Except for this one of course...Ah, to have this view!]

Have a refreshing weekend folks! 

Next week, apart from the posts, I will have a special something for the awesome gang on An Indian Summer's page on Facebook. Thanks for connecting ya all! :)

Rajasthan beckons again...

The husband and I made a quick trip to Rajasthan last week. As I fumbled with my new camera to capture the magic that is Rajasthan, I wondered why had I taken so long to visit this glorious desert state again.

 Discovered two new lovely places to stay: Badnor House and Khatipura Haveli

 I promised myself and all the sundry camels I saw (and named) on the road, that I'll be back soon.

What about you? When will you visit Rajasthan?

Maybe, you and I can meet at this fort called the Ranvas (the abode of queens), one fine winter afternoon...

 

[Ranvas pics from here. All other pics fumbled by moi]