NAMASTE

Happy Thanksgiving

Autumn Via Flickr

Turkey Spread via Country Living

Autumn Wreath via lost the credit.

Cheese Twirls and Wine via Martha Stewart

Autumn Decor Via Pottery Barn

Thanksgiving Rustic Decor via Lost the credit again.

Gilded Pears via Martha Stewart Living

Warm Spiced Cider via Country Living

Autumn Flower Bouquet via Project Wedding

Suzani Table Linens via Pottery Barn

Harvest Tablescape via Martha Stewart Living

Rustic Bar via Project Wedding

Nutty Name Settings via Martha Stewart living

Turner Falls Massachusetts

Berry Red Tablescape via Country Living

Petrus via Petrus

Blue and Gold via Martha Stewart Living

Rustic Chic via Elle Decor

Roasted Marshmallows via Slim Paley

Grape Decor via Martha Stewart

Fall Decor via Preston Bailey

Happy Thanksgiving America, love this holiday, the food , colours , wine and if you are lucky a nice fireplace, keep cosy. Enjoy it for me here in England. xo

COFFEE BREAK

Now that's what I call a Pumpkin Meringue Pie...

Source PINTEREST

Cathleen Naundorf

Hamiltons Gallery in London is Exhibiting for the first time the works by German Cathleen Naundorf. Her Haute Couture series titled  "Un Rêve de Mode", Cathleen had the incredible opportunity to work with the greatest couture houses, Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Elie Saab, Lacroix & Gaultier. her work is so outstanding that the she was given complete access to choose gowns from their archives for her production of this series.

Her attention to detail is obvious as she researches her work thoroughly , cataloging her journey in handmade journals that develop into her storyboard. Including text, sketches, composition, everything carefully thought of, the models, hair, makeup, locations. Would love to see that journal, there will be a book published on her work sometime this year.

I have seen two of her images at Hamiltons stand in the PAD Fair London and they were breathtaking , they really are from another era, I believe that Cathleen Naundorf is going to rise as fast as a Shooting Star.

Dast ist Wunderbar xo

Exhibition is on from 1-31 March 2012

Hamiltons Gallery

13 Carlos Place

London

W1K 2EU

Images via ,

www.cathleennaundorf.com

www.hamiltonsgallery.com

This is Not A Hippie Bag

 One day a lovely friend of mine walked in carrying an incredibly beautiful piece of work, a handbag with such beautiful fabric and detail that I had to ask her where in the world she found this, from a designer in LA she said, you have to look at her collection you won't know which one to pick. Am not a big handbag person, but am into craftsmanship and unique pieces that have a story.

Fast as flash I looked her up, Simone Harouche a wardrobe stylist had been over the years collecting 19th  dowry textiles, to antique tribal costumes, wall hangings, beading, coins, Afghan bridal jewellery and more from countries such as Nepal, India, Morocco, Peru, Pakistan and Egypt.  With such a exquisite collection she was inspired to create for herself a handbag made out of some of these findings, the bag was so eye catching that a friend saw it and commissioned one for herself and from there the orders started to come in, thus the line Simone Camille was born. 

All the bags are handmade and unique so you will not see anyone wearing the exact same one as you they come in different shapes and sizes, I always stopped when I wear mine, these are not your average Hippie Market bag, more like luxury Bohemian.

Have a look at the Website on where to buy and a huge array of choices, perfect for the summer,

I Just love xo

Photos via ,

www.simonecamille.com

www.c-a-n-o-p-y.tumblr.com

www.sisterhimalaya.tumblr.com

www.earth-age.blogspot.co.uk

Hacienda de San Antonio

Set on the outskirts of the Municpio de Comala one of Mexico's Pueblos Magicos (Magical Towns) Hacienda de San Antonio  is another of Sir James Goldsmith properties , who obviously had very good instinct for magnificent properties. My previous post was on his beach property Cuixmala, this 19th Century Hacienda is built on a plantation estate on the foothills of Volcan de Fuego. This two story hacienda sits on a 470 acre expanse within a 5000 acre working ranch, coffee plantation and organic farm.

Originally completed in the 1890's by Don Arnoldo Vogel an immigrant from Germany who found that the cool highland was ideal for growing Arabica coffee, which was so successful that it was exported to the German Imperial family. The Vogels built a chapel dedicated to San Antonio when in 1913 the Volcano erupted but spared the plantation.

Works in the hacienda come from Mexico's leading artisans, rich in tradition that make you feel at home, the beautiful rooms come  views and fireplaces for the cooler nights. Dinning on Mexico's traditional recipes, a wide range of organically grown fruits,vegetables, cheeses and meats all provided by their farm El Jabali . For me it would be drinking the fresh coffee straight from the plantation that you can also visit, with views on the volcano.

The activities are special , archeological sites visit , Volcano Excursions , horse back riding , Ariel tours, cheese factory , Coffee roasting tour, Colonial Towns and Museums and Galleries. Phew!

You can also visit the town were you can watch a traditional rodeo, shop some artisan crafts or you can drink some of the local drinks made from tamarind, and other fruits called Ponche or La Tuba a fermented semi alcoholic drink made from palm tree sap, which originates from the Philippines.

Cielito Lindo xo

Click below to Listen to this beautiful famous Ranchera song

Cielito Lindo Lola Beltan

www.haciendadesanantonio.com

www.comalamexico.com

Petite Noir, La vie est belle. www.visionofsplendor.com

#petitenoir

Kelly Wearstler's Vision

The lovely , beautiful and talented Kelly Wearstler. What can I say but this woman is a genius! Love her vision, how she mixes all different styles, colours and textures to create these magnificent interiors. Her choices are bold and always elegant, pieces are well curated and thought of. I chose the images of her more subtle palette of colours as she is more known for her bold and vibrant one.  Just want to show how versatile she is.

You will never get bored in any of the rooms Kelly has created, whether its a house on the beach or a mansion in Beverly Hills. Her talents are vast,  including all The Viceroy and Tides Hotels, has collaborated with Schumacher fabrics, Sferra Linens, Pickard, The Rug Company, Lee Jofa and Bergdorf and Goodman where she created the elegant Restaurant. There is also a section in the store where you can buy some of her great homeware.

It doesn't even end there, as a woman of eclectic and chic style herself I always wondered why she never designed her own line of jewellery and clothes, et voila her  first collection of clothes and accessories has been created. Today her online boutique launched, have a look, you can view all her work, shop and also read her blog where she takes you on her sourcing adventures where you really get to see how magical her eye is for great pieces and the way she views colour and details. You can also buy her pieces at Neiman Marcus and Net-a-Porter for accessories.

Lastly for the piece de resistance, I was recently in LA where I went to a hair appointment which was in the same building as her studio, I was so tempted to ring the door bell and run inside to be surrounded by all her talents.

Oh and her first stand alone store is opening around the Corner on Melrose (see below) Will go back to LA to hopefully see it open and do another post on Kelly as there is so much I could not put on one post.

Enjoy xo

Pictures via the following links ,

www.kellywearstler.com

www.tidesresorts.com

www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

www.net-a-porter.com

Jaime's Italian

Photo by VOP

Photo Courtesy of http://www.jamieoliver.com/italian/westfield

Located at Westfield Shopping Centre in London, Jaime Olivers take on Italian Cuisine.

Love the Italian Gelato truck and the Vespa Headlights wall.

Fun interiors and affordable prices.

The Incarnations of Kimiko Yoshida

LOUIS XIV AS THE RISING SUN IN "LE BALLET DE LA NUIT" AT VERSAILLES. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY PACO RABANNE

SULTAN SALADIN THE GREAT. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY PACO RABANNE

GODDESS OF WAR ATHENA BY KLIMT. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010.   COURTESY PACO RABANNE

WISE KING MELCHIOR BY MANTEGNA. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY PACO RABANNE

THE GOLDEN BRIDE FROM FEZ, SELF-PORTRAIT 2005. COURTESY OF THE ISRAEL MUSUEM, JERUSALEM

QUEEN OF FRANCE MARIE DE' MEDICI BY RUBENS. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY PACO RABANNE

EL CONQUISTADOR HERNAN CORTES AS EL DORADO. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY PACO RABANNE

LAST SAMURAI KATSUMOTO. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

THE TORERO BRIDE WITH A BLACK SUIT OF LIGHTS , REMEMBERING PICASSO. SELF-PORTRAIT 2006.

ASSOMPTION OF VIRGIN MARY BY TINTORETTO. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

SAINT AUGUSTIN BY EL GRECO. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

WOMAN OF ALGIERS BY DELACROIX. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2007-2009

PHARAON BY GUSTAVE DORÉ, SELF-PORTRAIT, 2007-2009

SISTINE MADONNA BY RAPHAEL. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

KING OF FRANCE FRANCOIS I BY JEAN CLOUET. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010.COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

JUDITH BY CRANACH THE ELDER. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

THE CAPRICIOUS GIRL BY WATTEAU. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

ZAPATA BY DIEGO RIVERA. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

QUEEN MARIANA OF AUSTRIA BY VELASQUEZ. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

HECATE, THE GREEK GODDESS OF THE MOON AND THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD, BY WILLIAM BLAKE. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010

DON QUIXOTE BY PICASSO. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2010. COURTESY OF PACO RABANNE.

THE SILVER BERBER BRIDE, MOROCCO, EARLY XX th CENTURY. SELF-PORTRAIT 2005. COURTESY OF THE ISRAEL MUSUEM, JERUSALEM

THE MEXICAN BRIDE,  SELF PORTRAIT 2012

THE RED EGYPTIAN BRIDE (HARRY WINSTON). SELF-PORTRAIT, 2008

THE BRIDE GRAND COMMANDEUR DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR. SELF-PORTRAIT 2006

THE RED PALESTINIAN BRIDE , EARLY XX th CENTURY. SELF-PORTRAIT 2005. COURTESY OF THE ISRAEL MUSUEM, JERUSALEM

THE MAO BRIDE RED GUARD RED. SELF-PORTRAIT, 2009

"A fundamental part of Japanese culture is linked to the notion of disappearance.

Unlike the West, in Japan we use makeup in order to disappear, to erase our identity. The basic idea behind my makeup is tied to the geisha’s traditional use of a ghostly-white makeup, called ” doran ” which leaves only the outline of her eyes and bright red lips visible. Makeup in Japan is not perceived as a way of making a woman become more beautiful, but rather as a way of transforming her into an abstraction of a woman. She becomes an “idea of a woman “, rather than an “ideal woman.” It is a way of dying." text by Barbara Oudiz

Transformation, Metamorphism, Shape Shifter. These are the words that come into my mind when I look at Kimiko Yoshida and her impacting self portraits. All the pictures use always the same setting, same subject, same lighting, same framing. She does her own make-up, lighting and design using a Hasselbald camera with no retouching or editing. 

I find these images so deep and mesmerising, the Series "Painting, Self- Portrait" where she transforms herself into people from famous historical portraits with pieces from Paco Rabanne's Haute Couture collections works of art in themselves are my personal favourites. 

Do go to her website and see her extensive portafolio of work I had a hard time not putting all her work on this post, then this would just be pages and pages long. I spent hours reading, there are also lots of in depth articles on her and great interviews, Kimiko you are a fascinating lady!

Am hoping that she will do a show in London someday soon. 

All images Via Kimiko Yoshida

Gem Palace

Gem Palace Showroom

Diamond, Emerald and Gold Bib Necklace Magnifique

Mughal Sarpesh. 72 Carats of Emeralds, 110 Carats of Diamonds with a cluster of South Sea Pearls.

The back view of the Sarpesh is just as incredible as the front. Gold-Silver Lacework pattern with little diamond flowers.

Gold and Gem set Flower Bracelet Gem Palace via Harry Fane

Ancient Egyptian Inlaid Lotus Earrings with Turquoise Drops and Lapis Lotus Blossoms , with handcarved Carnelian Cabochon stones.

Gold and Rose Cut Diamond Bib Necklace Gem Palace Via Harry Fane.

Cabochon Spinel  ring mounted on Platinum and Diamonds. Gem Palace Via Harry Fane.

Diamond, Emerald and Pearl Lariat Necklace Circa 1930's

Indian Jewellery is one my greatest passions. These are from Gem Palace in Jaipur that was established by the Kasliwal Family in 1852. I hope never to be let loose in there as I may never leave.

http://www.gempalacejaipur.com

http://www.harryfane.com