Stylish Spaces

Thankfully -  there is a revival movement churning its wheels silently but surely to reinstate the age old crafts of knitting, crotchet and embroidery - which we saw decline as children of the sixties and seventies growing up. It first came on the ramps - designers showcasing knitted jackets and scarfs, hand embroidered blouses and cute little crotchet tops over smart lambs wool pants - and slowly but surely as it always does, the trend spilled over into home decor - and that is where creativity really hit the jackpot. We saw knitted pouffes, chairs covered in knitted wool, knitted and embroidered lampshades just to name a few. I am a great believer and supporter of carrying on the traditions and crafts of our forefathers- but not blindly reproducing what existed before - rather giving a newness to age old crafts and reproducing them in meaningful context in today's world - and what has appeared on the home scene has been a source of pure joy. I have collated some evidence in pic...

I was out dining last night at a lovely Italian restuarant and the only thing that spoiled the otherwise perfect evening was the temperature - it was too chilly and even though I asked the waitress to turn up the temperature control at our end of the restaurant, it still remained a tad uncomfortably cold making me wish I had brought my jumper or shawl with me. Living in Abu Dhabi with 40 plus temperatures in the summer, I tend to forget that it can get quite chilly in malls and restaurants with the aircon on full speed - a mistake I have made repeatedly, but who can blame me, it is unbearabily hot outdoors and picking out a shawl or cardigan seems ludicrous when you are getting ready to go out. But a light and  warm pashmina is a must here in the summers  - more so because it folds easily in the tiniest of bags and unfurls to provide you the warmth when needed. There is something real comforting about throws and shawls in general. The cocoon effect they improvise is reminisc...

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...