Places that Inspire
The precipice of the new year often leaves me nostalgic for moments passed. I like to reflect on the people, places and things that inspired us to be where we are at this time. We received news earlier in the month that one of our favorite customers passed away. The last time she visited we spoke at length with her and her husband about places to visit in France for their upcoming trip. It was a magical moment with kindred spirits! Beyond our need to make a living, it reminded me of one of the reasons I first wanted to open a store and the place that inspired it.
The first twinge of desire to open my own shop appeared when Laurent and I visited Rocamadour. We were still living in France at the time. I saw this little store and my heart nearly burst with joy! The crooked roof, the tiny door, all tucked into the rocks…sigh…even now, I sometimes imagine The Curious Nest in this tiny building. Sitting at the foot of the largest shrine to the Black Madonna, a place ancient and blessed.
Now I imagine our friend peering up at those same rocks, hand clasped with her beloved, soaking in all the mystery of Rocamadour. The reason I first wanted to open a store was to share with others the things and ideas that made my heart delight. Not just physical items but also the places they came from or the idea that sparked their creation. We’ve noticed more people coming to us asking about where we find things or what inspired a certain piece of artwork (be it jewelry, books or paintings). I think we’re all craving those moments of connection and inspiration in a world that often leaves us bogged down in the quagmire.
So this year, instead of simple shop updates, I will also be writing about places, people and ideas that inspire. For those of you who are too far to visit in person, I’m hoping the pictures and words will transport you to our little nest. For obvious reasons, to keep the nest open we must sell physical items. More importantly, to keep the desire alive in us we must continue to create those little moments of kindred appreciation of all things beautiful, curious and divine. I hope 2014 is a year of discovery and joy for all.
This entry was posted on Monday, December 30th, 2013 at 12:44 pm and is filed under Musings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.