Chocolate Layers

Peter Fetterman Gallery

Macaroni Penguins in Zavodovski Island, The Sandwich Islands by Sebastião Salgado

Church Gate Station, Western Railroad Line, Bombay, India by Sebastião Salgado

Kafue National Park, Zambia [lion-two brothers] by Sebastião Salgado

Menatwi Man Indonesia

Arizona, USA by Sebastião Salgado

Bryce National Park, Utah, USA by Sebastião Salgado

Cactus:Trichocereus Schickendantzii, San Martino, California by DonWorth 1977

Miconia Magnifica, California by Don Worth 1977

Succulent: Agave Victoriae-Reginae, Mexico by Don Worth 1975

Succulent: Echeveria Subrigida Hybrid, California by Don Worth 1968

Tropical Leaves, Fittonia Agyroneura, California by Don Worth 1958

Succulent:Agave Parryi Var. Huachucensis, California by Don Worth 1969

Peter Fetterman Gallery Santa Monica, CA

The only reason I ever go to a Contemporary Art Fair is to see the Photography. To me it marries the visual with the traveler and the storyteller.

I found these amazing works while browsing 1stDibs as I do religiously every week and fell for The Peter Fetterman Gallery. They have incredible Artists on their books and these two immediately stood out.

Sebastiao Salgado was born in Amoires in the state of Minas Gerais Brazil, he started his career in Economics and began his serious  photography in 1973.

Sebastião Salgado has been awarded numerous major photographic prizes in recognition of his accomplishments. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States.

Sebastiao and his wife Leila Wanick Salgado formed their own press agency Amazonas Images. Together, Lélia and Sebastião have worked since the 1990’s on the restoration of a small part of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. In 1998 they succeeded in turning this land into a nature reserve and created the Instituto Terra. The Instituto is dedicated to a mission of reforestation, conservation and environmental education.

Don Worth Iowa USA 1924-2009  Went to Julliard School of Music and Manhattan School Of Music. In 1949 he began professional photography and assisted Ansel Adams for several years. Worth's childhood on an Iowa farm sparked a life long interest in horticulture and he designed and maintained a large subtropical garden at his home near San Francisco. Most of his photographs use plants as their subject matter. He has traveled widely in order to photograph. Don Worth's photographs  made, generally, with large format cameras, have an incisive clarity and quiet meditative mood. Many images involve enormous spaces, and often use the transformative power of fog, mist and other atmospheric conditions.

Love his vision of plants , especially the huge range of Cactus, one of my favorite type of plants. I find them so sculptural and mystical and his images of them spectacular. Would love to own some of his pictures one day.

http://www.peterfetterman.com/artists/sebastiao-salgado/

http://www.peterfetterman.com/artists/don-worth/

http://www.1stdibs.com/

Nomadic Airstream

This wonderful 1969's Airstream trailer owned by Designer Rachel Horn and her husband  Justin Kreizel , who were inspired when they deiced to attend the Burning Man Festival.

Found on Craig's List fro $5000 , they gutted and totally renovated the trailer into this beautiful Moorish Inspired design. Beautiful Kitchen with stainless steel appliances and Corian counter tops. Living area with a day bed using luxurious fabrics from Nobilis, Donghia, Larsen , tribal inspired rugs in shades of blue and grey. The bedroom is separated by curtains and Moorish arches and clever storage under the beds.

What a beautiful and well designed Trailer, in this small space they thought of everything, there is even air conditioning and a Cappucino maker. I would not mind going anywhere in one of these! They should be the official designers of Trailer Chic or  Nomadic Trailer Hotel were you can rent them and have room service and depending the season be in different locations....

Happy Trails! xo

All photos via www.nytimes.com

Amangiri

Earth, Teach Me

Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.

Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.

Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.

Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.

Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.

Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.

- An Ute Tribe Prayer

Set in the majestic Desert Canyon of Utah on the border to Arizona , Amangiri meaning Peaceful Mountain is in complete unity with its incredible surroundings. This is a resort that reaches into your soul and connects you to the Desert with Panoramic views from every angle, the colours of the pink sky and the splendor of the Canyons as your companion.

With 34 Suites in total with different layouts and categories some with larger terraces, Sunset views or sunrise views, some with pools and its two special suites the GiriJaala and the Aman Suite with dining al Fresco, terraces and large pools a home away from home. All Suites are designed with minimalistic but warm decor in Desert tones to blend the surrounding nature into your room. There is also an outdoor bedroom were you can sleep under stars for the very brave!

At the centre of the resort resides the Main Pavilion were you will find the dining room, cellar, library, Art Gallery where they showcase the regions best Art, Jewellery and Handcrafted wares from the Navajo tribes.

There is a a beautiful pool that blends into the canyon with king size sun loungers, and  next to the hot tub there is a fireplace area for the colder days. The vast 25, 000 Sq ft spa with floatation therapy, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms , even the indoor treatment rooms have spectacular views of the Canyon. The spa menu was created to reflect the Navajo Healing and Culture Traditions. There is also a a yoga pavilion and a the classic gym for those in need, which I find doubtful as Amangiri organizes the most incredible trips in the surrounding areas, hiking trails of different levels with names such as Coyote, Studhorse, Cave Peak and Hodoo. 

Visit the Naional Parks such as Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, North and South Rim and Monument Valley. Or if water is what gets to you visit Lake Powell or go Fly Fishing in the Colorado River. Last but not least take it all in from the sky with Hot Air Baloon Flights or a Private plane, not too shabby this Amangiri.

Wait there is still more, they do some specials tours and events during different times of the year. Full Moon Yoga on a sandstone platform a 15 minutes hike away from the resort . Presentations  and lectures "Dinosaurs of the Grand Staircase" were you will learn about the creatures that used to live in the area from archeologists that will bring some artifacts from the dig site. Love the stars? Then watch the stars via a Dobsonian Telescope with Amangiris Astronomy guide who will give you a tour of the night sky. For culture fanatics there is outdoor Opera in the amphitheater formed by the rocks.

Yes I am obsessed with hotels in the desert. Are you dreaming yet? xo

Photos via Amangiri, Flickr.

http://www.amanresorts.com

COFFEE BREAK

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

Source PINTEREST

I Loewe You

Clockwise: Founder, Enrique Loewe Roessberg (1844-1929); Enrique Loewe Hilton (1879-1934), charmed high society to Loewe; Enrique Loewe Knappe (1912) pioneered international expansion; Enrique Loewe Lynch (1941) launched ready-to- wear in the 60’s, and created the Loewe Foundation, 1988.

Most people when they see the name Espagana , they think of Flamenco, bullfights, passion, paella, sangria, tortilla and Ibiza.

Let us not forget the incredible history of this country that brought these worldwide famous painters like Velazquez, Picasso, Goya and Dali and the legendary story of Don Quixote de la Mancha written by Miguel de Cervantes to name a few of the top of my head. The other well known Spanish expertise comes from craftsmanship and leather.

This is where the House of Loewe (lo-ay-ve) comes in, in 1846 a leather goods workshop was created  by  a group pf craftsmen on the year of two royal marriages, that of Her Majesty Isabel II of Bourbon to the Duke of Cadiz and that of Princess Maria Luisa Fernanda to the Duke of Montpensier. In 1872 Enrique Loewe Roessberg, a German craftsman specializing in leather working arrived in Madrid and decided to join forces with the these craftsmen and established the Loewe brand. With the precision and technique of Enrique Loewe and the creativity, leather and sensuality of Spain the house of Loewe rose in popularity becoming the Official Supplier to the Spanish Royal Crown in 1905. Famous stars such as Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Maria Callas and Ernest Hemingway would all purchase from the Gran Via store in Madrid.

Loewe started expanding all over Spain and in 1963 opened its first boutique in London's New Bond Street. Loewe then branched out into the Fashion Industry, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani and Laura Biagiotti were behind the first Women's Ready to Wear Collections. From there they created perfumes, Men's ready to wear and opened shops all over the world, in 1988 the Loewe Foundation was created including the Annual International Poetry Prize . In 1996 on the 150th Anniversary of the House of Loewe  LVMH took over the ownership of the brand, now with by Stuart Vevers as the Artistic Director of the brand.

What wonderful history this brand has, and if you ever get a chance to pass by their store go and view their collection "Clothing as Light as Air, as Soft as Silk", the leather is so so soft you can't believe it , the quality is just perfection.

Ole! xo

All photos via,

www.loewe.com

Research via,

www.wikipedia.org

Carl Kapp

South African born , Australian based Carl Kapp has designed a beautiful and fresh Summer 2012 collection . Having worked at Kenzo and Donna Karan to name a few, his pieces are draped sensually but elegantly on the body.

With a customer base of Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne who all wear his dresses with style, this young man has a  a gained a good following. The lucky people of Sydney were is shop and atelier is based can have his dresses made to order.

One on my list of must haves... shame Australia is not round the corner.

G'Day xo

www.carlkapp.com

Read All About It

I love books, it would be so wonderful to have my own library but with a built in database that curates your books according to the choices you put in and of course then delivers them to you onto your coffee table with a butler to make you drinks.

Back to reality, I have selected a variety of choices all of them which intrigue me for different reasons, some for its images others for their design aspects, others to learn something and some are from my favorite Authors. There are so many to choose from so am sure I will do several of these postings.

All books are available at the following sellers,

www.amazon.com

www.rizzoliusa.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Happy New Year 2012

A new dawn is here, may it be  blessed, may you have the strength and courage to make the changes you always wanted to make, may your dreams come true and your spirit soar. Remember you are not alone, 2012 here we come! Happy Happy New Year to you all! With Love xoxo

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."

Rumi

Mirror Mirror in the Desert

“Lucid Stead is about tapping into the quiet and the pace of change of the desert. When you slow down and align yourself with the desert, the project begins to unfold before you. It reveals that it is about light and shadow, reflected light, projected light, and change.”

Take  a Desert, a Shack, some mirror, Led lights and the vision of a young man named Phillip K Smith III , put them together and voila you have this wonderful imaginative but yet so simple installation. it just fits perfectly with its location that you think that it should have always been there. 

Over the course of the day the Lucid Stead metamorphoses into different visions, the sharp and shiny mirror bands reflect back the shapeshifting landscape, one minute the mirror image is picture perfect and then slowly with the moving sun it starts to soften its mirror image and starts to glow within as the very clever use of LED lights come alive in its changing colours.  

Very well executed Mr. Smith, I so wanted to see this , as millions of others this has been posted all over the world!! I had to share too, its just too damn beautiful! I want one ! 

I wonder what the animals in the desert thought of this! 

For more info on the Phillip K Smith III see below, and for Miami Basel his work will be featured in Untitled Fair from today. Also the great photography are by Steven King and Lance Gerber all courtesy of Royal Projects in Palm Desert California. 

http://pks3.com

http://royaleprojects.com/

Farewell Baroness Thatcher

Baroness Thatcher in 1974 by Terry O'Neill

October 13 1925 – 8 April 2013

"Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country." 1979, the year she became prime minister.