Me? Liebster Blog Award nomination.

Posted on November 13, 2012 by tina

Something wonderful has happened to me, a total newby in the world of blogging! Lena from the blog, Mina Moka nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award for up and coming but still small bloggers this past week.

I am so pleased that Lena took the time to read my blog and think it worthy enough to list as one of her 11. Thank you so much, Lena! My blog is still very much a work in progress, but is sure feels nice to be noticed. This is so encouraging for me, which in turn makes me want to keep going.

In order to qualify for the Liebster Blog Award, I have to:

Answer the 11 questions Lena asked of me,
Post 11 random things about myself,
Nominate 11 more up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers (not always easy to tell the number of followers),
Notify them and link them to my post.
Create 11 new questions for these bloggers to answer.
Tag backs are not allowed.

To quote Lena at Mina Moka, “Of course it is nice and flattering that it is called ‘award’, but more than anything it is a nice chance to get small blogs a little more attention, to connect and to let your readers find out a little more about yourself”.

So here are Lena’s questions and my answers:

If you could pick any city in the world to live in for one year – which one would that be? London, England without hesitation. From its medieval roots to its innovative contemporary design, it is one of the most fascinating cities to discover and I would love to spend a year doing just that.

Coffee or tea? Coffee! I can’t function without my morning coffee.

Which sense is more important to you: sight or hearing? Sight. As an aesthetic person my pleasure comes from being able to see the beauty around me.

What is your most annoying habit? I can be bossy.

Pick a movie: Fiction or documentary? I must confess I like documentaries. I like to learn while I watch. Its part of my need to multi-task. One of my latest favourites is “Last Call at the Oasis.” A depressing, but ultimately uplifting account of the impending global water crisis.

What was your favorite book as a child? The books I seem to remember reading faithfully were the Nancy Drew series. I have always loved mysteries because I like to figure things out. I like puzzles too!

What is your favorite book today? I still love mysteries but I am not sure I could name one as standing out as the best. I like the author Elizabeth George, and now that I think of it, her stories are usually set in England. One of my favourite fiction books is, “Midnight’s Children” by Salmon Rushdie.

How many close friends do you have? Too many! Thank god for social media because now I can actually keep in touch with them.

Do you like questionnaires? I don’t mind them.

You have won one million (Dollars, Euros, whatever…) in the lottery- and now? My bags are packed, and I am ready to go live my year of exploration and discovery in London!

How are you today? I feel wonderful. I just spent an intensive week learning some new skills and I feel inspired to take action.

Wait there is more!!

11 random facts about me.

I am a first born. (hence the annoying bossiness)
I am a Leo (again, the bossiness – starting to get the picture?)
I love spinach.
I rarely take no for an answer.
I brush my hair only once a day and that is in the morning.
I love babies.
I give monthly to Amnesty International.
I belong to CISV, an organization dedicated to building global friendships, and to educating and inspiring action for a more just and peaceful world.
I have 3 kids.
My husband is also an architect.
I like rain.

Here are my 11 choices for up and coming bloggers!

Questions for my 11:

Why did you choose the shoes you are wearing?
What is your favourite colour?
What sunny destination do you like best?
If you could rethink your career path would you have chosen differently?
If you were to eat out tonight what kind of food would you choose?
Would you rather swim or run?
Do you prefer country music or rock n roll?
Do you have kids?
How would your best friend describe you in one sentence?
Where were you born?
Are you a party animal or party vegetable?

I hope you guys are keen to participate because I can’t wait to read your answers! Ciao xo

Photo by Victor Mironenko

The Scarf.

Posted on February 3, 2011 by tina

Paisley scarfing it in Rome.

When I was 12 I received an orange and yellow fine georgette silk scarf, from an adult American family friend, for Christmas. At the time I thought it was pretty but a really weird gift to give a kid. As a self conscious 12 year old there was no way I was going to wear that scarf, but strangely, I have kept it to this day. Even then I could appreciate the quality and beauty of the piece. Little did I know that this little scarf would turn me into a scarf collector; not systematically, like many collectors, but rather from a simple fundamental attraction when I see one that speaks to me.

I collect different colours of pashminas, and vintage travel scarves but my main love is the Hermes scarf, or if you rather, Les carrés d’Hermès. These 90cm x 90cm silk works of art are truly exquisite and the process to produce them is lengthy and complex.

Beloved India, Hermes

The first carré d’Hermès was made in 1937. Since the late 1930′s, over 1,500 different versions have been made, and Hermès tends to work with a number of different artists every season. Most designs start with the painting of a motif, which then needs to be translated into a scarf. Once the artwork is created, choosing the colour combinations is generally the next step in making a carré. Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the artistic director of Hermès, and the grandson of the founder of Hermès, describes their colour process as very complex. “Sometimes we discuss a single colour for a considerable time for a scarf that will include more than thirty (colours.) This research into colour is the work of incredible perfectionism. The palette is infinite, its variations at the limit of what the eye can perceive.” Leila Menchari, the director of the colour panel explains that “The work of colouring the Carrés takes time, because each design must be produced in around ten different colour schemes.” (from ‘Searching for Style’)

My fascination of these scarves led to me to join a number of ‘by invitation only’ on-line Hermes scarf collecting clubs. Who knew they even existed? I found myself learning about the designs, how to detect a counterfeit scarf, and the definition of colourway. I also learned that collecting Hermes scarves is an obsession for thousands of women and many men. These collectors, from all over the world, meet regularly in New York, Paris and Toronto. They team up and hit the rare Hermes scarf sales in Paris and they have formed incredible friendships over their shared love of Hermes. Some of these women are lawyers, doctors, and businesswomen, but all, regardless of origin or profession, are simply drawn to the feel, the beauty and artistry of these magnificent pieces of art. I entered a world few people even know exist.

My collection of Hermes scarves has grown to around 15 including a few duplications of some designs in different colourways. Most of my scarves are pre-loved, with only a few of them brand new because they are so expensive, even the vintage ones. The good news is that they seem to retain their value. This sentiment is echoed by one of my Hermes ‘Scarfie’ friends, Jan Goode, who was interviewed by The New York Times.

Shoppers, turned out in droves on West 18th Street for a Hermès sample sale (from The New YorkTimes.)

“I used to buy Sirius stock to keep myself from buying more Hermès scarves,” said Jan Goode, who was wearing a coral one and carrying a tote she had made to showcase another one. Ms. Goode, who is in her 50s, considers herself a serious collector of Hermès scarves, but stopping just short of considering herself someone with a serious problem. It turns out her addiction proved more profitable then her ‘sensible’ purchases: “Now my Hermès holdings are much more valuable than my Sirius stock,” she said. “Sirius is at 90 cents a share. I should have been buying scarves all along.”

It is not hard to justify the price when you think of each scarf as a beautiful piece of art, carefully crafted and executed. The only difference being that they are to adorn oneself instead of a wall.

I have passed down my love of scarves to my daughters who will one day enjoy my collection. Are scarves just for old ladies? What an absurd notion. Just try one on at any age and you’re in love. Let me know if you are, or might become a ‘Scarfie’.

Paisley wearing Hermes in Paris.

Hannah T. wearing Hermes In Paris

Oprah in Hermes

A.J. Donahue’s ‘Winnipeg Chair’

Posted on January 23, 2011 by tina

: A.J. Donahue’s ‘Winnipeg Chair’, source: Design Exchange

: Martha Stewart on a “Winnipeg Chair’, from Design Exchange

My husband, Graham, and I have always had an affinity for chair collecting. Over the years we have found and gone through many chairs. Usually we think we will recover them but often we don’t. Eventually we give them away or ‘store’ them in friends’ cabins. Graham found this chair at our local ‘Sellution’ consignment store. He was immediately drawn to its design. We did some research and found out it had a name and a very interesting history.

The ‘Winnipeg Chair’, also known as, the Canadian Coconut Chair, was designed by an Architect by the name of A.J. Donahue. A.J. studied at Harvard with Marcel Breuer in the 1940s and explored techniques of bent wood furniture construction. After Harvard, Donahue settled in Winnipeg to teach architecture. Donahue developed his lounge chair, according to Rachel Gottlieb’s book Design in Canada (Design Exchange, 2001), in the late 1940′s in his basement with the assistance of his students. Donahue only produced about 200 examples of the chairs and we happen to have one of them.

The Winnipeg chair bears some resemblance to George Nelson’s Coconut chair—which actually wasn’t introduced until much later, in 1955. According to Tim Borys, founder of the new furniture company HutJ, which is reissuing the Winnipeg chair, “That’s a classic Canadian story. Here’s a great design that gets swept under the rug and then it gets knocked off five years later,” Borys says, before remembering his Canadian manners. “I’ll be careful where I push that story. I don’t want to offend anyone.”