Today's blog comes from Deitra Kalyn, Central Library staff:

Have you ever wanted something so badly for your home that you were willing to travel 1000’s of miles to get it? Well I did and I did!

I’ve always wanted a beautiful carpet that I could love and cherish for years to come. As a result of coveting something for a very long time, I became quite picky about the characteristics of this yet-to-be-found treasure. In my mind it needed to be

-Something vintage

-Something soft

-Something that matched my couch, and

-Something unusual

So with this seemingly impossible set of criteria, my boyfriend and I planned a trip to Morocco where I was convinced that my dream treasure would be found. (Okay, we didn’t ONLY go for the carpet.)

Knowing very little about carpets and even less about how to find one once we got there, I found two books that I studied extensively. The Rough Guide to Morocco and Moroccan Carpets by Brooke Pickering helped me learn the differences in quality, fiber, how to spot fakes and, most importantly, how to buy one.

This was the most intimidating aspect to me. Being a ‘nice’ Canadian, the idea of ‘arguing’ or ‘haggling’ a price seemed very stressful. But after reading the tips and tricks, I felt somewhat confident that I could at least try the renowned mint tea and bargain for what I wanted.

So, after many hours, planes and trains, we found ourselves in Fez, Morocco. Luckily for us, the Moroccan husband of a friend of a friend graciously showed us around the maze streets and took us to the best shops.

One was this little hole-in-the-wall place which sold antiques and was packed floor to ceiling with some of the most beautiful treasures that I’ve ever seen. Ironically, we popped in only because the owner was a friend of our guide.

It wasn’t until AFTER the mint tea and wonderful visit that it occurred to me that my treasure might be there. I asked if he had carpets – and he did.

He pulled out several and then I spotted the mystic impossible thing – on the floor – of this filled-to-the-gills shop. It was vintage, soft and matched my sofa (YES!) And, by virtue of it being predominantly purple, I knew that I had found a special piece.

The bartering began. We both wrote our ideal amounts on a tiny note pad that he pulled out and exchanged prices back and forth until we came to agreement. It was $20 CAD less than my max price and he certainly had a big grin on his face.

Together with a few other gifts, we shipped the carpet home from a local post office. My treasure arrived three weeks after we returned home.

I loved it even more when I saw it again – a very happy ending to a wonderful vacation.

-Deitra

I have a bedside table that I bought from a co-worker more than 25 years ago. It was part of an undistinguished set that included a mattress and bed frame. When I got the set, the finish was tired and worn.

Initially, I painted it a pretty violet shade, a colour chosen from my quilt. Then I moved to another house and bedroom and repainted the set a soft green to complement the floral print of a new duvet cover.

Somewhere along the line, I parted company with the bed. Perhaps it left home with one of my children – I can’t remember. But I still have the night table, which is one of those small flexible pieces that can be tucked into any room. It’s a keeper.

About ten years ago, I repainted it again with a finish that I will probably keep for as long as I own the piece. The finish looks perennially fresh and fits as an accent with any style of décor.

The source of my inspiration was (and is) a lovely old book in our collection at Central: The tiger rugs of Tibet by Mimi Lipton (Thames and Hudson, c1988).

According to Lipton, the origin of Tiger rugs is speculative and their history may date back more than 1000 years. Tigers enjoy a prominent place in Tibetan art and culture.

Tiger rugs have distinct types. Some depict one or two tigers; others are abstracted designs from the markings on the pelts. The finish on my night stand is based on the latter type.

Although tiger rugs are still being made and sold, I have not often seen them in Calgary. I recently spotted a small one at Tibetan Trom in the Eau Claire market. The shop had a copy of Lipton's book on hand as a resource for shoppers. You can also find tiger rugs online.

To create the finish for my night stand, I used water-base enamel paint. After painting the background colour, I drew the pattern on lightly with a marker and wrapped it around the edges of the drawers onto the sides – a pleasing effect. Then, I painted the stripes with black enamel. The casters were added many years ago to improve height and mobility. Recently, I replaced the handles with spiffy new ones from Lee Valley.

The powerful tiger continues to inspire contemporary artists. Check out the enchanting table in cast bronze by Judy Kensley McKie. I saw it first in American Craft magazine at the Central Library (November/December issue, p 30) and followed the trail online.