Sunday, 10 April 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday #1 - 5 O`Clock Shadow

This photo really was taken at 5 o`clock today in Essaouira, Morocco.

It`s my first entry for Shadow Shot Sunday, which I first saw last weekend on Diane`s blog Random Thoughts  - Do or `Di`.  When I checked out the blog Hey Harriet, which conceived of the idea for readers to each Sunday post a photo showing shadow, I was excited to read that it was inspired by the light and shade photos on blog The House in Marrakesh, which is written by my lovely real life friend (yes I do have them) Elizabeth Wix!  What a small world we live in.  I know Elizabeth from when she lived with her artist husband Robert in the medina (the old town) of Marrakech until she left to live in New York  in 2008.  We belonged to the same book club. She is a writer, an artist, a photographer and generally multi-talented.  Check out her other blogs, here (photographic essays of Elizabeth`s observations of life in Manhatten) and here ( Buster, her dog`s blog). Also don`t forget to check out the great photos on Hey Harriet and perhaps get your camera out and post your own entry!

Saturday, 9 April 2011

A Morning Shopping...


...in the souqs.
Perhaps an orange from the orange seller...
...or a dollop of black soap for the hammam...
...a henna design (new for 2011)...
...a woolly hat for those chilly nights in the desert...
...a scoop from a jar of one of Mohammed`s plant remedies for that troublesome headache...
 ... treat yourself to a handmade bag from micro-hanout (shop) `Bloom` while admiring the quilty tiled floor...
or just `window shopping` in a beautiful market on a sunny day...
Hope you are having a little retail therapy this weekend...

A New Project

My lovely mum left earlier this week but hot on her heels was my dear friend Deborah who arrived in Marrakech two days later along with her sweet daughter Elicia.  Deborah is great fun to be with.  We`ve known each other for an unbelievable 23 years when we first met at law college.  Was it really that long ago?? Am I really that old?  She`s huge fun and like my mum loves and supports my interest in all things quilty and she found just enough space in her suitcase to bring this...
...several yards of these Liberty print fabrics for a quilt for her daughter Elicia...just like this one here
Elicia is half French half English  so perhaps I`ll have to make a tricolor quilt top next time (I think it would look fabulous)...
I`m always a little nervous as I take my rotary cutter to fabrics which I have bought but I think my hands will be quivering just that little bit more when I start cutting these beauties...I`ll be posting some progress photos but I think this quilt is going to be machine pieced and quilted.  Well Elicia is only 10 and she will probably want it before she goes to college!


Friday, 8 April 2011

Go on - Dip a Toe in the Water...


Has spring come and gone already??  It`s 35C (95F) here in Marrakech today.

Thursday, 7 April 2011

A Labour of Love

I love reading comments left by readers and someone recently described my hand quilting of Z`s quilt as a labour of love.  I had never before thought of it like that but with 30 blocks in total and only 4 completed, I`m beginning to think they are probably right.  Onwards and upwards!

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Wordy Wednesday -An Award

Forgive me for not sharing some silence today but yesterday I was nominated for a Stylish Blogger Award by Susan over at Canadian Abroad!  I was fortunate enough to come across Susan and her lovely blog through the Fresh Sewing Day at Lily`s Quilts last Friday.  As I explained here, Lynne of Lily`s Quilts wanted her readers to share a sewing project and to do some blog hopping.  Lynne  - your work is done. I have met some lovely people and read some great blogs as a result.

I`ve certainly never thought of myself as stylish so for someone to think my blog is stylish is lovely indeed. I only started blogging in January and it gives me such pleasure to know that albeit a small audience appreciate what I share.  So Susan, I willingly accept the award and thank you for nominating me.

Now, I have certain obligations to fulfill.  Firstly, I have to thank and link back to the person who nominated me.  So thanks Susan at Canadian Abroad.  Secondly, I must share 7 things about me, so here goes...
  1. I have a large gap in my general knowledge about natural history (my education started at a village school where singing took up most of the day with a healthy amount of English and a smattering of mathematics) - particularly anything ornithological.  So don`t ask me what species of bird or plant something is.  I probably won`t know.
  2. I speak Arabic and French badly.
  3. Past careers include lawyer, school teacher, school administrator, waitress, recruitment consultant and  washer upper (these careers are not entirely in chronological order)
  4. I am a meat eating vegetarian.  I love vegetarian food but eat meat.  Well, I am married to a carnivore.
  5. I met my handsome husband in Tunisia.  He is not Tunisian. He is Moroccan.
  6. We have a beautiful adoptive son.  He is the light of our lives.
  7. I have a secret crush on Javier Bardem. I have a certain appreciation of a Spanish actor.  I`m not telling you who.
Thirdly, I have to nominate 6 recently discovered blogs which I think fit the title of Stylish Blogger Award. If I could, I would nominate Susan`s blog as she makes beautiful and stylish quilts and amazing crocheted blankets.  Do pop over and say hello.  She is very friendly.  I would also nominate Nicolette at Dutch Comfort but her blog is award free  - but I`m going to give her a shout out anyway.

So here goes with my list...on the whole I have nominated relatively new blogs but not always.
  1. Two Hippos was one of the first people ever to comment on my blog if not the first.  She is a trained milliner (how cool is that?), she knits, makes quilts, bakes and is a huge source of inspiration.  All in all  - super talented!
  2. Run Quilt Knit Write makes the most exquisite socks in beautiful colours and gorgeous designs as well as patchwork quilts.  I haven`t seen a photo of Helen but I imagine she is super stylish. She has the best recipe for hot cross buns, (which is useful at this time of year) runs, writes, works and manages a busy household.  How she fits it all in I`m not sure!
  3. Diane at Random Thoughts - Do or `Di` looks one stylish lady and has a handsome husband too (Mr. Romance), beautiful grandchildren, makes wonderful quilts, crochets, shares fabulous recipes and takes lovely photos.  In her own words, she has a blessed life. Diane is someone else I met through the Fresh Sewing Day...thanks Lynne!
  4. Shelley at The Rebel Homemaker shares her wonderful life with us.  Living in California, she grows her own food and produces the loveliest of quilts.
  5. Nadilah over at Sweet Little Things was also an early commenter on my blog.  She lives in San Francisco and makes the most exquisitely decorated cakes. Really. She also just completed her second quilt after starting with Dresden plates so kudos to her!
  6. At Sew Wonderful Life, Catherine makes ambitious quilts (including her cathedral windows one) and  crafts them absolutely beautifully.  Like Catherine, Susan and I all started blogging around the same time.
That`s it - that`s my six newly discovered blogs.  Please pop over and take a look - I`m sure you`ll be inspired.  Thank you again Susan  - I`ve passed the baton!





    Monday, 4 April 2011

    Morocco Monday - The Fishing Port of Essaouira & Its People

    The old Portuguese town of Essaouira on Morocco' s Atlantic Coast
    Man in fish market
    Fishermen at work while the gulls watch
    Boy watching in the fish market
    In flight
    A tangle of fishing boats
    Baba oo wildoo (father and his son)
    Taking a break
    Gulls as tall as men
    Street art