RUNaWAY with STYLE

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel the need to runaway from everyday life, places to be, things to do, its crazy pace and not-so-crazy but nevertheless demanding  people  - and hide, almost retreat into my shell to a calmer, slower world. That doesn't mean actually running away or abandoning family to board a flight to some exotic location -no, I do not shy away from responsibilities-  but I do make myself  deliberately  inaccessible - go off the radar, put my phone on silent,  lay off tasks and meetings that I know can wait. Selfish I hear you say, yes maybe but that is the only way I can be fair to my true self. Even in my teens and twenties I was never one of those high energy, flitting from place to place person and never will be now that I am much older. Giving my self time to slow down is my way of acknowledging my value and worth to those who do matter to me the most and need me the most.  Sometimes I just feel the need to think and ponder and in the words of William Davies "... to stand and stare" at all the lovely, beautiful little things that would most certainly go unnoticed on a busy day! And when I do rejoin the crazy pace of the world, I know I can do that with grace and style, smiling, rejuvenated and having a fresh perspective on things.

Moji and Kristen Korhani in their workshop

Style and runways are synonymous , but normally you would not think of home style and runways in the same strand. But one Toronto based home fashion house Korhani, has changed all that. They have been launching their rug collections on runway for the last couple of years. The Korhani family and business had origins in Iran but moved base to the west with the Iranian revolution in the 1970s. Three generations of rug-making expertise and creative input of western ideas and style has come together in the form of a husband-and-wife team of Moji and Kristen Korhani  - who together have pushed this company to the forefront of all things synonymous with cutting-edge style and expert craftsmanship. I always marvel at the good, the interesting and the innovative designs and ideas that come out from east meeting west - different cultures coming together. Even children of mixed marriages and cultures are infinitely more attractive! On a serious note,  do visit their website www.korhani.com for inspiration and style tips. Meanwhile here are a few pictures of their rugs sewed into runway couture!

MESMERISING MESH

Benedetta Ubaldini's wire sculptures

Generally speaking, when one thinks of garden features or garden art, stone statues, water sprinkling fountains, rockeries and feature walls spring to mind first and foremost.  All things solid, heavy and (mostly) permanent. But some artists have blown away this myth by creating the most amazing outdoor art made entirely from chicken wire. Yes, you read it right -  plain old chicken wire that they mould and wrap around to create the most fabulously light, almost translucent and frozen-in-motion art that would be a talking point in any outdoor space. +Benedetta Ubaldini, +Derek Kinzett, +Kendra Haste, +Cedric le Borgne are amazingly talented chicken-wire artists who have created waves in the art world and (not to mention) all sorts of fine sculptures using nothing but chicken wire. Check out their profiles on their websites:

www.derekkinzettwiresculpture.co.uk
www.kendrahaste.co.uk
www.cedricleborgne.com
www.benedetta.info

Meanwhile here are a few examples of their marvelous meshes!