London Culture Galore Autumn 2012

Fortuny Splendor

Photo via Fortuny

Photo of Mariano Fortuny by Fortuny

Photo by Ars Regia

Photo via Fortuny Blog of Showroom

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo of Pallazzo Fortuny

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Architectural Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo of Melagrana Marmalade via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Photo via Architectual Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo via Ars Regia

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Architectural Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo of Pope Urban VIII and  Fortuny Melagrano via Fortuny Blog

Photo Via Kips Bay

Photo via Architectual Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo of Cardinal Guilio Mazzarino via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo of Fortuny Dress in Box via Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photo via Architectural Digest Fortuny by L'Objet

Photo via Fortuny Blog

Photo of Fortuny Delphos Dress via Fortuny

Photo via Ars Regia

The brilliant, enigmatic Mariano Fortuny was born into a family of renowned artists in Granada, Spain, in 1871. 

He entered the fashion industry in 1907, with the introduction of one of his most notable achievements, the Delphos gown, inspired largely by Greek sculpture.

He was truly a Renaissance man who made his own photographic paper, bound his own books, and designed his own lamps and furniture.  He created one of the first dimmer switches, invented a boat propeller, and made his own paints, dyes, brushes and machinery.

To Read and see more of this mans incredible talent look at the great Fortuny website,

The New collection by L'Objet will be intoduced  at Bergdorf and Goodman and Neiman Marcus from September.

http://www.fortuny.com/

Vision of Ibiza

Photo Ibiza Town via White Ibiza

Photos via Amante Beach Club

Photos Via The Giri Residence and Cafe

Photos El Chiringuito via White Ibiza

Photo Es Vedra

Photos Ibiza Beaches

On my way to Eivissa as they say in Catalan the local dialect, for a little holiday.

Hasta la Vista!

Henri Biva (French, 1848-1928)

Pond in the mist, 1910

Oil on canvas

9.11.11 10th Anniversary

For Our World a Poem Written by 11 year old Mattie Stepanek on 9.11

We need to stop. Just stop. Stop for a moment. Before anybody Says or does anything That may hurt anyone else. We need to be silent. Just silent. Silent for a moment. Before we forever lose The blessing of songs That grow in our hearts. We need to notice. Just notice. Notice for a moment. Before the future slips away Into ashes and dust of humility. Stop, be silent, and notice. In so many ways, we are the same. Our differences are unique treasures. We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts To nurture, to offer, to accept. We need to be. Just be. Be for a moment. Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting, Like children and lambs, Never judging or vengeful Like the judging and vengeful. And now, let us pray, Differently, yet together, Before there is no earth, no life, No chance for peace.

September 11, 2001

http://www.mattieonline.com/

Bvlgari Hotels & Restaurants

Bvlgari Hotel Uluwatu Bali Indonesia

Bvlgari Ginza  Shop and Restaurant Tokyo Japan

Bvlgari Hotel Milano Italy

Bvlgari Hotel London Opening Spring 2012 in Knightsbridge .

I had a lovely dinner in the Bvlgari Mialno's gorgeous garden, and I have visited the spectacular one in Bali. Seems that Bvlgari are doing a very good job with their hotels.

Shame they can't have an outdoor garden restaurant in London, Hyde Park is only across the street. Maybe they will do a roof terrace , the views would be beautiful.

All Photos Via http://www.bulgarihotels.com

Picnic Splendor

Photos via Rolls Royce

Photos via Krug

Photos via Bonhams Auction House England

Photos via Bonhams

1957 Ford Carbeque Photos via Top Speed

Martell Trunk made by Pinel

Gorgeous summers days, perfect for a luxurious picnic.

Leonardo da Vinci

"Leonardo da Vinci :Painter of the Court of Milan is the most comlete display of rare surviving paintings ever held. This unprecedented exhibition, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, brings together sensational loans never seen before in the UK"

                                                                                                        The National Gallery

I am so excited to see this show, London Culture at its best. GO NOW, but make sure you buy tickets in advance they are giving time slots, I presume so it does not get overcrowded. The website explains everything so prepare before you go.

Enjoy!

The National Gallery

Trafalgar Square

London

WC2 5DN

www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Video on the exhibition

www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/leonardo-live

Most photos via The National Gallery and Taschen

Brazilian Chic

Aline's family home in Jau

Aline de Almeida Prado Atalla was born and brought up in the beautiful area of Jau in the State of Sao Paulo were the land is dotted by emerald green landscapes and Fazenda's (farms and plantation houses)  were they grow coffee(the best ever!), sugar cane and cattle. The land expands as far as they eye can see and at night the sky is a blanket of stars.

With a  fashion degree from Sao Paulo's Marcelina College and IED Instituto Europeo di Design in Milan, design was all ready in Aline's blood. Her career started with interior design and jewellery. This knowledge led her to put all her talents into one place in the creation of this line of handbags named Lane Prall which is a combination of letters taken from her name. Her experience in jewellery inspired the design of her ornamental handles which are made from materials such as resin and metal and are inspired by Art Noveau , Art Deco and Nature. The resin, brand identity, is first sketched by the designer. Then each piece receives special treatment, the wooden moulds are hand carved  and then the resin gain color and brightness through the painstaking work of the goldsmiths

The exotic materials which the bags are composed of come from her knowledge of using them in her interior design work. The company cares about sustainability, and therefore, all materials are free from heavy metals, as well as the exotic skins, that she uses, stingray, alligator and python-are exclusively purchased from farms that comply with rigorous rules management, and sustained, controlled by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources). Her bags are hand made, one by one, by craftsmen who carefully turn a dream into reality. Aline does not follow trends, and the main goal is to create timeless bags, following her intuition and always looking for the perfect finish and the proportion of its parts. The bags are made to order and can take around 60 days to be produced.

This only a small selection of her beautiful collection, to order or enquiry please email Aline directly on her email alinealprado@gmail.com.

Que Maravilha xo

Images via Aline de Almeida Prado Atalla and landscape pictures of Fazenda Atalla taken by Vision of Splendor.

The Need for Speed

Confederate X123 Hellcat Combat photo by Jerry Garns

Salt Flats Photo by Simon Davidson

1952 Buick Super Riviera photo by Gunther Maier

JCB Dieselmax 'Streamliner"

Indian Motorcycle photo by Jerry Garns

1952 Buick Bombshell

Sunset over the Salt Flats by Dirk Ehrentraut

Spectre Speedliner

Looks like a rocket bike photo by Simon Davidson

Love this Buick photo by John Michael Cooper

A little shade needed photo by Jerry Garns

Technical Support photo by Simon Davidson.

Bonneville Salt Flats Utah photo by Yawara on Flickr.

If you like Speed and the magical desert, and am not talking about Burning Man, this for you! Welcome to the Annual Bonneville Speedweek.

This famous race has been around since the early 1930's. There are some cars and bikes here that I have never seen in my life and they are here in the majestic Salt Flats of Utah to beat world speed records. There are over 500 entries for this race and speeds going over 400MHP. That is crazy, but these wonderful pictures caught my eye and I became fascinated. 

This ain't Driving Miss Daisy! xo

If you want to see how fast these people go, here are some amazing videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGGzdG7RAuA

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/confederate-x132-hellcat-combay-bonneville-lsr/#more-35506

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonneville_Speedway