A Sparkling Obsession

Truthfully, I had decided not to post anything else about Moroccan wedding blankets. Enough said about those amazingly beautiful blankets! But then I recently found a wedding blanket so remarkably well made it just breaths the love for the young Berber bride. It reminded me of the semi nomadic Berber woman I befriended and from whom I bought my very first Handira, fifteen years ago.

She lived with her family in a Berber tent on the high plains between the Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountains. I think we were about the same age but she already had many children and a very different life. She was beautiful, with incredibly long black hair that dropped and touched the ground whenever she removed her head scarve.

Her home was extremely basic and her family was poor but their hospitality was heart warming and I was always invited to eat whatever they could share with a generosity that is more often found in the heart of a poor man than with those who have everything.

I was fascinated with the woman who introduced me to the art of weaving and the Handira. I was eager to communicate with her but she only spoke the Berber language and our conversations never surpassed the level of basic greetings and gestures. Despite our verbal limitations she seemed to sense my interest about her culture and way of life. She made beautiful things for household use and my great enthusiasm for her craftsmanship often made her burst out in laughter. I bought my first wedding blanket from her, not yet knowing what it was or what it represented. The sparkles had caught my eye and I became irrevocably enchanted with the Handira.

H362 A Moroccan wedding blanket made with so much love!

Beautiful backside of the blanket with kilim patterned bands!

Even the shoulders straps are decorated with shiny sequins!

Handira Boutique

The Beauty Of Color And Simplicity

 Inspired by the Berber Boucherouite carpet these baskets are decorated with colourful scraps of rags. Three people are involved in the process of making these baskets. It starts with the weaving of the baskets. The second person decorates the bag with pieces of rag. This kind of work enables many women to earn a living while they work at home. A third person makes the lining and attaches the leather straps.  

The Boucherouite baskets are bouquets of color and I adore the simplicity.

Ps: I am really pleased to have contributed to the new virtual magazine A Curated World with my article 'Berber Inspirations'. The website was launched recently by Kay McGowan featuring Marrakech as its first destination. To read the article click here.

Pss: New finds of absolutely gorgeous vintage Beni Ouarain and Mrirt carpets here.

Psss: This week my interview was published on BlogExpat. To read the interview click here.

A Sad Little Tale Of Goodbye

Today I feel sad, so sad. I know the value of a cheerful story but sometimes it helps to share a thought or two that weighs heavy on the heart. Today my heart feels sorrowed, perhaps a little lost too. Today as the sun rose in all its magnificent glory I knew it would be another day of saying goodbye, letting go again.

My life is a blessing and I have all my heart could possibly desire. I often feel like a Sunday’s child, born with more than a fair share of fortune and a lion’s heart to combat the difficulties that inevitably make the path of life a bitter sweet experience. I believe that life is a creation and that each and every one of us is the artist. I also believe that I am not solely a defenceless victim of circumstance, my happiness depends on me.

It truly is a wonderful experience to travel and live in Morocco. I am grateful for the beauty that surrounds me, the goodwill and trust of kind and complete strangers, the sweet encouragements of dear and distant friends and the challenges that allow me to discover the length of my abilities and limits. But there is a dark side too; an irreconcilable sad side that sometimes casts a shadow over all that joy. Something that always makes me cry however hard I try not to. And it happened again today, the airport, a suitcase, a kiss, a hug, a turn, one more kiss, a wave, goodbye. 

Beautiful Stitches, Moroccan Embroidered Cushions

Another twirl in the souk of Marrakech and yes, something beautiful always awaits to be found and admired. A colourful pile of gorgeous silk embroidered cushion covers beckoned me to approach for a closer look. And yes, I bought more than I needed, loving them all and unable to choose!

Ps. These gorgeous embroidered pillow cases are available in the Handira Boutique at the bottom of the page. More colors and designs arriving soon.

Springtime And Fresh Camomille In The Souk

A Thousand Sparkles

This is a tale of patience. A tale of incredible beauty. A story of marriage and the hopes and dreams of a young woman who will forever remain anonymous. It is a story of an old Berber tradition but still very much alive. A tale about being pretty and protected against the evil eye. A story about blessings.

The tale continues in an old truck on the small and very bumpy road between a petite village in the Middle Atlas Mountains to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. In the story the truck finally arrives at its destination behind the ancient red walls of the city near the souks of the Jemaa El Fna square. There is a cart puller in this story, pulling a cart load full of ivory white blankets, all of them folded and embracing tightly their inner secrets.

The story is missing a few details, but it is unmistakably clear about the moment when a particular blanket caught my blissful eye. A story about searching and gratefully finding. It is a tale of a thousand sparkles, each and every one hand sewn onto the loomed wool. This is a tale about one of the most beautiful Moroccan wedding blankets I have ever seen!

H326 Absolutely stunning Moroccan wedding blanket!

The amount of work, the patience and the beautiful result!

More tales of patience and beauty in the Handira Boutique

Oh, and a new stock of vintage Handira pillow cases have arrived too!