Matters of the Heart

To hearts that beat in sync. Happy Valentine's Day!

A Personal Record

I kept a diary every year as a child but when I would read back on past entries I'd cringe in embarrassment thinking "I wrote that??"…So in 8th grade a friend gave me the idea of a pictorial diary. That medium worked really well for me and so it stuck.

This daily ritual is going on 17 years now. I never thought I would continue keeping a diary into my adulthood, but each year I've felt compelled to continue recording the events of my days... some trivial, some pivotal, and some just the meals I ate.

I used to not be very picky with which diary I used, until I came across the French Country Diary. Its provençal fabrics lured me in and after becoming acquainted with the format and quality, I haven't used any other in 10 years. 2011 started off a little different however.  Despite several attempts I couldn't find the diary anywhere and was afraid that my long tradition would finally come to an end.

Ron encouraged me to contact the author of the diary, Linda Dannenberg. Feeling discouraged, I reluctantly emailed her. I didn't expect a reply considering her website stated in bold letters "THE FRENCH COUNTRY DIARY 2011 IS NOW SOLD OUT!" I made a note that I worked at Fishs Eddy to add a little more dimension to my desperate email. Two days later at work, I was told there was a woman on the sales floor asking for me. I ran downstairs to meet Linda who had unexpectedly found herself in the Flatiron district that day.

After a conversation about our serendipitous meeting and a flurry of emails, she sent me a copy of the 2011 French Country Diary-- and in return I sent her a gift of my Floorplan plates. I have some catch up to do, but I'm relieved I don't have to break my record.

Working Out

It's taken some time since the move to set up a new work space-- but alas, it's done. I no longer have an alcove to call my own, but I've transformed the corner of our bedroom into an area to sew/ make prints/ draw/ wrap gifts/ get inspired...

I was able to use the same desk by removing the legs and propping the top on two 6-drawer units from IKEA- instantly doubling the storage space while keeping everything very compact. Putting the shelf up unified the space as a separate work area and gave me some more room for display, as did the over-sized bulletin board.  In between projects everything is tucked away and out of site so I can approach my work area like a blank canvas-- vacant, full of potential, and up for anything when I feel the urge to create.

The serigraph of the nude was printed by my mom in college, circa 1972. I just love it.

Forcing Spring

At this point in February it seems like Spring can't come soon enough. Dreary skies, slushy sidewalks and yet more snow in the forecast. On the upside, without the balcony to tend to my houseplants are getting a little more love and attention from me. They remind me that spring is really just around the corner... and I'm encouraging the optimistic sentiment by forcing paperwhite bulbs indoors. The bright green shoots make me so happy that I'm willing to overlook their pungent scent.

On the Right Track

While Ronak and I were driving through France we got really into the songs we heard over and over again on the radio. From scraps of paper with scrawled names and fragments of lyrics, I finally got around to finding these tracks (some french, some hip-hop, some german alternative rock...) and compiled a soundtrack that will continue to conjure memories of this extraordinary trip.

Something to Write Home About

Shopping in Mumbai didn't offer the same feeling of instant gratification as other places, say Paris or New York for instance. But with an open mind and some patience, the city delivered quite a few treasures. Ronak and I got around in a Cool Cab (with our trusty driver Harish) and scoped out Mumbai's hidden gems, most notably Chimanlal's and FabIndia.

Located on a side street behind New Excelsior Cinema, we almost missed Chimanlal's unassuming entrance. The door to this paper shop was a portal into a world of saturated color and pattern, insulated from the sounds of traffic outside. The prices were so good, I left with a huge stack of paper and a guilty smile feeling like I had gotten away with something.

Next stop... FabIndia, a local chain that provides a platform for rural artisans to sell their handicrafts in the urban marketplace. I love the concept of this store and was happy to support their mission with my purchase. With my increasing interest in embroidery I was drawn to these pillow covers that showcase traditional Kantha stitching techniques. They look perfect in our bedroom and complement the pillow we already have from Anthropologie.

Snow Day