Craftsmanship - Blog Posts
Great Room in New York Example of a modern, medium-sized great room with white walls and no fireplace and a dark wood floor.
Galley - Home Bar
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
Craftsmanship.
I am beginning to realize that I appreciate those who value true craftsmanship. Modern life is full of products and services but the true art of creating something, or doing something with a genuine passion is usually lost behind the desire for profit and ease. Items, relationships, general interactions... the true attention to detail, effort for quality, and non profit desire to build something that will serve the receiver well is so hard to find. For me, it's not so much about the prize, but rather the process of creating that prize. Whether it's a friendship, a deeper relationship, a product, a service of some sort, it should be more about what you are creating than how easily you can make a certain profit. Shallow human connections and poorly made products have definitely helped me see the real value in craftsmanship, and those who truly seek it. hah Well there's this round of food for thought. Laters!
Outdoor Kitchen Outdoor Kitchen in Bridgeport Large transitional stone porch photo with a roof extension
Based Upon ~ Metal Storytelling
Set up by twin brothers Ian & Richard Abell Based Upon is a team of incredible craftsmen, metalworkers and artist that create spectacular designs out of liquid metals and resins. Personalized large scale Artwork, Sculpture and Furniture is painstakingly made with outstanding results. We all have a story or a memory that we want to have with us always, Based Upon can manifest this for you in an unforgettable way.
Browse their website which is full of interesting information on what they can create for you.
Storytelling in Liquid metal, now that is unique. xo
Images sourced via their site,
Based Upon
Based Upon Unit A121 / Faircharm 8-12 Creekside London SE8 3DX UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 83202122 info@basedupon.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
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
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