AN AFTERNOON AROUND THE WORLD

I’ve been writing this blog for 3 years now and for those of you that have followed me for awhile, you know that I have gone through some changes in my perspective and a major shift happened about a year ago where I started producing all of my own content.  I’ve lost some readers during the process, but I haven’t let that concern me.  For me, this blog has become all about sharing what I am passionate about and what inspires me and for the past year I think you have gotten a much better glimpse into who I am creatively.  I’ve always known that as long as I was true to myself and my perspective, I would have a following.  Over the past year, I have had random encounters with my readers and it is always so inspiring to me to find out who you are and to know that there are actually people out there paying attention to what I am writing!

While in Las Vegas for Project, I had one of these random encounters with a Zimbabwean artisan who has been following The Sche Report for a few years and told me how inspired she and her fellow artisans are by my love for handmade luxury.  Needless to say, I was blown away to realize that I had a fan base in Africa.  As most of you should know, I have a fascination and extreme love of the African artisan culture and their amazing use of color, textiles and natural resources.  So realizing that they are inspired by ME, really made me feel special.

My follower, Christie B. from the Ndau Collection

Christie B, is one of 9 artisans that design and create for the Ndau Collection based in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  She spent some time in Los Angeles last week and invited me over to her friend, Scott Goetz’s, amazing house for an afternoon of champagne and inspiration to view the collection she had brought over for the first time to the U.S. Between the jewelry and Scott’s amazing travel inspired house, I was blown away and felt so blessed to be there and a part of Ndau’s journey to the states.

There is so much detail and information that goes into every single piece by Ndau and I wish that I could remember and properly explain it all to you! Their sterling silver pieces are all made using the centuries old African lost-wax casting technique, handmade from beginning to end which gives such a beautiful feel to each of the pieces; the detail is amazing to see first hand. They combine these cast pieces with a collection of rare antique African Trade beads, semi-precious and precious stones, natural horn and bone, exotic leathers and treasures they find in their travels. Their range goes from delicate animal inspired silver pieces to full on bespoke designs incorporating bones, feathers, claws and many parts of exotic animals that you never knew existed.  As a company, they believe in recycling as many materials as they can and they utilize every part of the animal in their process from skin to teeth as well as eating the meat.  Take a look at some of my favorites from the collection.

A beautiful merchandised display of the Ndau Collection

The sterling silver Creature Feature collection was a favorite of mine.

Love!

I’ve seen jewelers use bugs before but never quite like this.

The Wildlife conservation Range is cast from hand carved originals by artisan Justice Ncube and 20% of every sale goes to combating poaching locally.  Many designers out there might try and copy this horn look, but this is the real deal people.  I love that they use more interesting and unique horns such as elephant tusks, rhino horn ends, lion claws and kudu horns.

Another favorite collection

And this range of unisex bracelets replicate snake skin, croc skin, pangolin scales and tortoise shell.  I want a series of these to stack and I love this line for men as well.

Tribal Textures

One of their side specialties is their use of croc skins in exotic colors for creating bracelets and amazing bags ( a little secret, Louis Vuitton buys their croc skins from Ndau).  Ndau utilizes all parts of the crocodile ensuring that nothing is wasted in the creation process.

love this cuff!

Here is an example of one of their one of a kind pieces made with Chrysoprase matrix stone and green amethyst and sapphires.

Amazing!

And this collection of one of a kind rare african sinter chameleon glass trade beads and filigree silver really caught my eye with the filigree detail and delicate nature of the pieces.

After being blown away by the jewelry, I got a tour of Scott’s collection of rare finds from all over the world.  Known as The Fierce Traveler, Scott is an amazing travel writer and editor for some of the top travel magazines in the world including The Robb Report, Elite Traveler, Town & Country and many others.  He is considered a luxury adventure travel journalist and safari expert which is how he met Christie B from Ndau.  For his work, he has traveled dozens of countries and has picked up one of a kind treasures along the way.  Scott believes that travel is a lifestyle, not a vacation and his home proves that he is very much inspired by the world at large.

Christie and Scott my high energy hosts

The entrance and living room of Scott’s house

Moments of Asia, Bali and Thailand are felt in the interiors.

He created these arms chairs out of Wildabeast. Amazing!

Check out these crazy goggles.

This door nob from an old mailbox masterfully hides his speakers in the wall.

Scott has a fascination with African witch doctors and has a collection of pieces given to him that serve as talismans.

His office

Love this vintage wheelchair.

Cabinet of curiosities like I have never seen before

Scott obviously loves to decorate with his finds and he also creates interiors using pieces from his travels so he could also be considered an interior designer.  One of my absolute favorite things in his place was in his bathroom. It was a vintage suitcase with custom stamps all over the outside that he mounted to his wall which serves as a cabinet for his toiletries. Seriously died when I saw that!

The bathroom with a tub of floating flowers to set the mood.

The vintage suitcase on the wall

How amazing of an idea is this?

And if that wasn’t enough, Scott’s backyard is as if you have entered into Bali with koi ponds, a bamboo forest and couches aplenty.

The gorgeous backyard

My other two hosts :)

Another view

So peaceful and beautiful!

What I imagined to be an hour meeting, ended up being five hours and a million inspired moments.  Wow, its so amazing how the world works and comes back to you if you are open and follow your path.  This is a true example of that working in my life and I feel really blessed to know both Christie B and Scott Goetz and I will always remember this special afternoon at his house.  Stay tuned for more on Ndau Collection and The Fierce Traveler.…this is only the beginning!