Oh Papi!

Hassan Hajjaj

I fell in Love with Morocco when I went on holiday as a child to Tangiers, the mysterious and exotic fragrances filled my young senses, the colours , hustle and bustle, charming people and food stayed with me forever. I always have a soft spot for artisans from that region and one of these has caught my imagination.

A mix of Andy Warhol and North African sense of humour with streetstyle makes Hassan Hajjaj's work unique and wonderful. Born in Larache Morocco in the 60's and moved to London in the 1970's were he found his creativity of mixing his North African vibe with the western world.

Hassan has an incredible amount of talents photographer, artist , furniture designer, think recycled tables out of street signs, fashion and the list goes on.He has decorated Riad Yima in Marrakesh and the hilariously named  Andy Wahloo in Paris owned by Mourad Mazouz of Momo's and Sketch in London who is a big supporter of unique talent and thanks to him I discovered Hassan's work.

If you are in London you can see one of Hassan's pieces in Harrods were at the moment there is a pop up exhibition called Inspiring Morocco or go to his studio in East London.

Click below to Play Thé a La Menthe by La Caution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=crrKWEVetUM

www.hassanhajjaj.com

www.riadyima.com

www.momoresto.com/restaurant/paris/andy-wahloo/about/

Sebastiao Salgado talks with Benedikt Taschen about Genesis and his profoundly moving experiences of what he has witnessed on his journey through the lens.

  TASCHEN

INSTITUTO TERRA

Uxua Casa Hotel

Last April my brother got married in Sao Paulo to my lovely Brazilian sister in-law. Thanks to this wonderful union, we got a chance to come to beautiful Trancoso and stay at the incredible Uxua Casa Hotel where my brother and his wife got engaged.

This is not your average hotel, its an Oasis of Tropical Splendor, little casas dotted around the grounds and out on the Quadrado, Tancoso's 16th Century town green.The attention to detail is heavenly, everything is made by local artisans, the staff are warm, friendly and happy. We had most of the hotel to ourselves so it felt as we were all living there, it has such a magical and seducing quality and none of us wanted leave.

Uxua is a labor of love and you feel it, an unforgettable experience and I hope to return very soon.

All pictures via Uxua except picture 11 which is taken by me on Uxua beach.

The website is also fantastic, am sure you will be seduced,

www.uxua.com

SURFING ON ART

Into the Waves, found via Pinterest.

Border Lines in Collaboration with Stephen Bowers

Trio Back

Matthew McConaughey's Airstream via Architectual Digest Photo by Jim McHugh

Paulownia Planing Hull in Collaboration with Gerry Wedd

Paulownia Planing Hull Detail in Collaboration with Gerry Wedd

California Surf Mobile via Pinterest

Paisley in Collaboration with Quentin Gore

Paisley Detail in Collaboration with Quentin Gore

1969, LeRoy Grannis surfing Hermosa Beach . Photograph © LeRoy Grannis.  All rights reserved. via The Selvedge Yard

Swastika 

 Floral Fish, One True Religion & Gun 

Vintage Surf Shop Via Tumblr

Burnt Fish

Burnt Fish Detail

Paddle back to your boat and spot the little shark, sadly no credit. Found on Pinterest via Roxy Europe. 

Finless Double Ender

Finless Double Ender Detail

1966 Iconic Documentary Surfing  film by Bruce Brown

Smoker

Antipodean Willow Mini Simmons in Collaboration with Stephen Bowers

Magic Sunset Ride, makes me think of Dreamland. 

"Out of The Water, I am Nothing" Duke Kahanamoku

One day I was walking on the street and I saw poster with the most vibrant colours with silhouettes of  men carrying surf boards and written across were the words "The Endless Summer ". I have such a passion when it comes to anything to do with the water, beach or sun that  I got the poster to put on my bedroom wall at school and  then rented the film. I was mesmerised and that was how my love for surfing began. The very funny thing is I do not know how to surf ( I did a little windsurfing) but that does not matter to me, I love the culture of it, the life, being in tune with the ocean riding those waves. It is so beautiful to watch, my favourite place to go and take it all in used to be a spectacular beach in Bali called Dreamland,  as it was perfectly named by the surfers. Sadly this magnificent beach was destroyed by the Indonesian Government but that is another story.

Back to present day I stumbled across the most beautiful image of a surf  board. I was not sure if it was a board or a piece of art, but had to find out who made this beauty.

Walker Surfboards designed and handmade by Artist Peter Walker in Adelaide Australia. He began his impressive career at The Tasmanian School of Art and worked in his own studio in Tasmania for 14 years . Then moved  to Adelaide to head the Furniture Design Studio at the JamFactory Craft & Design Centre. In between and after he headed so many departments that I cant keep track, including 10 years as Associate Professor of Furniture Design at the Rhode Island School of Design in the USA. The list is endless, obviously a very talented man. Combining his other real passion of surfing  with his artistic talents he produced this beautiful line of unique surfboards and collaborating on some with renowned artists Stephen Bowers,Quentin Gore and Gerry Wedd.

I love them, one day I will get one , need to find  a place to put it maybe its time to move to the beach or walk around London with one, now that would be a funny sight. 

I have included some links to articles about Peter and there is also more technical information, board designs & how to order on the site. You must buy one now! 

All Walker Boards Photographs by Grant Hancock, courtesy of Peter Walker,

Other images sadly were on the internet without credit.

Walker Surfboards

Further Reading ,

The Age Article 

Megadelux Article 

A Wally Of A Dream

"A man is never Lost at Sea " Ernest Hemingway

Darkness has set in here in England, and am craving the sun and the sea like crazy, for me there is nothing like that first dip in the ocean after cold winter months. As I live in London I try and escape by looking at images of islands , beaches and boats. I stumbled on this incredible image of  the sea and in it this unique beauty of a  power boat, what was it? The razor sharp perfect lines looked it had come from the future , am usually more old school but this boat has soul and spectacular craftsmanship.

Luca Bassani Antivari  a man with 40 years of sailing experience created his masterpiece when he could not find a boat that fit into all his requirements, so he decided to craft his dream into a reality. Combining his passion for design, performence and his passion for the sea Wally Boats was born. Whether its a speed power boat, a sailing boat or a yacht the Wally World of boats are innovative and intriguing.

Wally has a project in collaboration with Hermes called the WHY, is it boat, an island, a house on the sea? I think its all of them, what genius!!  The Wally Company are also famous for their phenomenal racing engineering , in the summer they stage more than 30 races called FT Wally Grand Prix Series. At the moment some of their boats are taking part in the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Regatta from Tenerife to Virgin Gorda.

Wally Designs are the two time winners of The Compasso D'Oro the world's most prestigious prize fro industrial design.  

Luca Bassani Antivari followed his vision and turned into a reality and boy am I glad he did, Would be perfect in a Bond movie. 

Have a look at the website there are so many choices to look at, more technical information for those who want it and a lot of interesting projects.

Ship Ahoy! xo    

All Images via  www.wally.com                 

The Serai

This glorious tented camp is set in The Great Thar Desert  a national park on the outskirts of the medieval kingdom of Jaisalmer which was founded in 1156 AD.

At The Serai you will feel as if you are back in in the Victorian days of The Raj in the middle of this vibrantly colored desert landscape, this small jewel only has 21 tents decorated with traditional and local furniture and modern amenities such as Ipod's and quiet air conditioning.

Relax in your living room with a nice drink or the veranda to take in canopy of stars at night. Shop at their magnificently well curated boutique filled with local refined artisanal caftans designed especially for The Serai , buy or admire local paintings , jewellery and more. 

Have your very elegant driver pick you up in a classic desert coloured jeep to drive you into the dunes and then arrive at a magical dinner under night sky with special local performances organized for the evening.

Sounds perfect to me!

Namaste xo

www.the-serai.com

INTERMISSION:   Made by Hand- Martinez Cigars NYC

VIDEO BY bureauofcommongoods.com

LOVE THIS XO

Al Fresco

Photo Via Architectural Digest House in Pebble Beach California

Photo via Elle Decor Courtney Cox in Malibu California

Photo via Elle Decor Courtney Cox

Photo Via Elle Decor House in Capetown South Africa

Photo via Elle Decor Southampton Long Island

Photo via AD house in Bodrum Turkey

Photo Via AD Silicon Valley California House

Photo via House Beautiful Farmhouse St Helena California

Photo via Elle Decor Hamptons Long Island

Photo Via Elle decor Cottage in the Bahamas

Photo via Elle Decor Brookhaven Hamlet New York

Photo via Elle Decor Amagansett Hamptons Long Island

Photo via Elle Decor David Adjaye Designed Denver Colorado

Photo Via Elle Decor  House of Rose Anne De Pampelonne Paris France

Photo via AD Robert Zemecki's house in Tuscany

Photo via Elle Decor Kevin Carrigan & Tim Furzer Home Hamptons Long Island

Now that summer is here, wouldn't be lovely to dine Al Fresco in any of these splendid locations. Bliss.

www.elledecor.com

www.architecturaldigest.com

www.housebeautiful.com

Looks like My Soul x

DI∆MOND ST∆R