Well, I finally picked up the roll of film from the lab of my trip into New York last week, when I finally met the lovely bloggergal Frida and now I finally can show and tell you all about it!
I had been looking forward to my get-together with Frida for weeks, ever since she emailed me to say that she would be visiting the States during her next leave from work. Now have you met Frida? Have you visited her blog, Frida's Notebook? Frida is a human rights worker currently living in Afghanistan. She's also the only western woman living and working at her post in a northern province there. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be a human rights worker stationed in a war-torn country, go visit her blog. Her posts are down-to-earth and she tells it like it is from right there on the ground. She's making a hands-on difference in that country and in this world of ours. Frida also has a photoblog where she posts photographs that she's taken during her trips across Afghanistan.
Anyway, we started our day with a morning walk through Central Park where I bombarded her with a million questions about herself and her work (sorry about that, Frida!). I learned about the organization she works for there, about her coworkers, how she got started, where she was first posted... You'll have to check out her blog for her perspective but I will tell you that she's is an interesting woman living a fascinating life. I had my eyes opened regarding human rights workers from across the world - there were things I hadn't even thought of before.
After our walk around the reservoir in Central Park, we caught a subway down south. We discovered a couple cool little shops, including Ochre, a home decor store in Soho with the most delicate little bowls and elegant, modern lighting fixtures. Everything was so natural and textural. A saleswoman at Ochre directed us to another shop just down the street. Well, be still my heart, I think we discovered my new favourite store in all of New York! Michelevarian is a real visual treat to visit - two walls full of beautiful silkcreened pillows in deep jewel-tones (we could hear the sewing machines whrrring in the back room so these pillows are handmade right there in the shop) along with gorgeous leather handbags, unique lampshades, and my favourite - the "objects and gifts". I swear, the experience of entering Michele Varian's shop is like entering a very cool great aunt's attic and discovering treasures on every shelf and on every wall. Exquisite jewelry, tiny sculptures, dramatic candles and chocolate... Here's what caught my eye...
Death by Chocolate! Really, is there a better way to go?
and this murder of raven shakers... I especially like their carved lines...
Just before we said goodbye to one another - I had to leave for home in NJ and Frida had another Halloween party to attend in the city - I took this last photo...
Thanks for spending the day with me, Frida!
