25 Feb 2011

Palm Springs: Playground of the Beautiful People

Every day is a holiday, and every holiday a poolside cocktail party, entertained by beautiful views stretching beyond the manicured lawns and over the sierra, while the hostess with the mostest and her chic lady friends strike a pose and discuss couture, husbands, children, travel, hobbies, gossip and (speculatively) young lovers... and not necessarily in that order.


Source: Poolside Gossip, by American jet-set photographer Slim Aarons (1970), featured on Photographers Gallery. The background to the photoshoot is Kaufmann Desert House, a jewel of mid-century California architecture designed in 1946 by architect Richard Neutra. The ladies sat at the front are Nelda Linsk and Helen Kaptur (the wife of Palm Springs architect Hugh M. Kaptur). Ambling towards them is actress Lita Baron.

23 Feb 2011

Floral Geometry

If we ever got tempted by the belief that lines, curves, symmetry, repeated patterns and angles abiding to some form of geometrical logic (Fibonacci) were associated to the realm of the man-made (translated pragmatically and/ or artistically through architecture and design), let's pause for a moment; nature too has cultivated the idea of order and linearity to serve its own purposes, let's just take a look at the vegetal world...


Source: Above pictures featured in the Photography section of National Geographic, Patterns in Nature: Flora. (1) Giant Lobelia (Mount Kilimanjaro's Shira Plateau in Tanzania), by George F. Mobley, (2) Sunflower Florets, by Jozsef Szentpeteri, (3) Hair Cap Moss (found virtually worldwide), by Rich Reid, (4) Prickly Pear Cactus (Galapagos Islands), by Tim Laman, and (5) Hairpin Banksia (native to Eastern Australia), by Jason Edwards. Find out more fascinating illustrated facts about floral geometry, from Espace Graphique.

18 Feb 2011

Functional Design: 1930s Coat & Umbrella Stand

It is universally accepted that a coat stand is first and foremost a functional item of furniture, hardly producing enthused glances and column inches, despite being redefined by contemporary designers via man-made materials, challenging geometrical shapes and bold acid colours; however we will make a note of the one herewith as it strikes the right balance between functionality, personality, integrity, timelessness and style.


Source: From its base in Old Spitalfields, London, U.K, Elemental offers a wide range of beautifully-restored vintage and retro industrial furniture, antique storage solutions, reclaimed factory and shop fittings as well as period lighting and objets d'art. The shop is a treasure trove of unique and original finds for the design-conscious with a vintage penchant. (P.S: The above coat and umbrella stand was advertised for sale back in Nov 2010). Check Elemental's website regularly to spot the latest arrivals.

14 Feb 2011

Cut & Paste with Hollie Chastain

Chattanooga collage artist Hollie Chastain gives vintage scraps of paper and old book covers a second life, whilst playing on their natural imperfections (scratches, marks, discolourations and even scribbles and doodles from the original owners!) to give her artwork depth, substance, uniqueness and a certain rawness too; in her own words, "The subject of the piece is often influenced by the materials as opposed to building around a sketch or idea".





Sources: Respectively (1) 'After School' (giclée art print), (2) 'Gilbertville Public Library I' (giclée art print), (3) 'Adalyn's Party Trick' (art print), (4) 'That Thursday Evening' (art print), and (5) 'Community Chorus' (giclée art print), all above prints are available for purchase from Hollie's Etsy shop. Find out more from Hollie's website and blog. Meanwhile her work is also featured on Poster Cabaret.

10 Feb 2011

L'Heure du Thé à Paris

Eye candy on a plate, small and perfectly formed bite-sized pastries to delight the senses half-way through the afternoon, an accompaniment to tea-time as part and parcel of life's little pleasures and treasures, either solo or shared, and where calories are not given much more than a second glance and a sigh of enjoyment...


Source: Pict 1-12: All pastries featured on Marie Claire Maison (each with its own detailed recipe), as part of an article on party puddings:
  1. Financiers au Thé Matcha, by Anaïs Olmer, founder of Bogato      
  2. Petits Choux à la Pistache, by pastry chef Philippe Andrieu c/o Ladurée
  3. Pandoro Gourmand, by Laura Zavan, Italian cookery writer and food stylist 
  4. Petits Pots de Crème à la Rose, by pastry chef Philippe Andrieu c/o Ladurée
  5. Salade d'Oranges aux Epices, by Gontran Cherrier
  6. Pavlova aux Marrons, et Meringue Façon Mont-Blanc, by Tartes Kluger
  7. Fondants Pommes Caramel, by Philippe Conticini c/o La Pâtisserie des Rêves
  8. Cupcake à la Pistache, by Cupcakes Berko
  9. Cantine d'Hiver, by Anaïs Olmer, founder of Bogato
  10. Chocolat Chaud au Caramel, by pastry chef Sébastien Gaudard
  11. Affogato à la Crème, Sauce au Chocolat, by ice-cream chef Romuald Herbaux c/o Amorino
  12. Cupcake à la Framboise et Cupcake à la Myrtille, by Cupcakes Berko.

6 Feb 2011

Man vs. Nature - Northern Corsica

From the origins of human life, the great architect of the universe has "pitted" mankind against the elements and the natural world; in our daily peregrinations we may appreciate the evidence of complementarity between man and nature, their challenges and frustrations too, for in the quest for existence is a battle of the fittest, a Darwinistic illustration of every second spent on Earth...


Source: Pict 1-6: Taken by Mirabelle (2010) in the Northern Cape area of the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, where like elsewhere man and nature fight it inch by inch, tooth and nail, for territory in sometimes harsh climatic and toponymic conditions. The indigenous vegetation has demonstrated its incredible adaptability and resilience to poor soil, rocky terrain and high temperature variations between night and day/ Summer and Winter. Some plants develop rampant networks of roots for that extra grip and quest for the precious water commodity.
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