Monday, May 31, 2010
Oreo truffles recipe .
Oreos. Cream cheese. Semi-sweet chocolate chips or squares.
That's all you need.
We've found that it's best to let the food processor do the heavy lifting for this recipe. Finely grind the Oreos in the processor (save a bit for decorating) and then add the softened cream cheese and pulse until it's well blended. All that's left is to roll the dough into small balls and dip in melted chocolate.
It's a bit of a messy process, but we've never seen a dessert disappear so quickly. They also make great gifts – just wrap four truffles in a small box.
Restaurant Laurier , Paris 9 .
Renowned trend forecaster Li Edelkoort and art director Andreas Mavrommatis designed Restaurant Laurier, located within the flagship Galeries Lafayette store in Paris. They hired Netherlands-based Studio Ina & Matt to carry out the vision; the designers mixed Moroccan touches (hammered brass lights) with modern white pendant lights and randomly painted black and white chairs.At the Laurier the whole of the Mediterranean can be found on the menu ! This superb restaurant managed by the Greek Mavrommatis brothers is on the first floor of the Galeries Lafayette in central Paris. The Laurier pays homage to food from all the Mediterranean countries. You'll find Spanish tapas, Lebanese and Greek mezzés, Italian antipasti as well as genuine Kemia Mezzia, sardine Keftas, and lots of other dishes from sunny climes! The wine like the rest of the menu comes from the south. The décor is modern with cream tiling, oriental cushions and Egyptian lamps.
Blossoming flowers .
Inspired by flower blossoms found in nature, this table lamp features a shade which collapses and expands to release or contain light. The shade is 3D printed as a single piece, including hinges that in one movement, transform the shade from a bud to a blossom. www.moss-gallery.com
Red & Blue .
Tables :The main body of the tables is conceived as a free form balloon onto which the table top of hand-made sheet glass is attached. The sensation of the piece lies in the large scale of blown glass as well as in the combination of translucent Venini colours. »Chairs :Ligne Roset is celebrating their 150th anniversary with a trio of limited edition products, in a run of 150 only each, numbered with a special anniversary logo.
First are two editions of of the Pumpkin chair by Pierre Paulin, one in red shades and one in blue shades. The original was designed in 1971 for the drawing rooms of the Elysee Palace and only made available to the general public in 2008.
Arty business .
The Long & Ryle Gallery , presented saucy etchings by Spanish artist Ramiro Fernandez Saus and the German Burkhard Eikelmann had a whimsical piece inspired in Andy Warhol by Alexander and Marina Royzman.
A very interesting object was “The Soup Dress” at the Hilary & Georgie Gerrish Gallery, consisting on a paper dress issued by Campbell’s Soup in 1966. The dress, a symbol of the fusion between art, fashion and commerce, was originally valued at USD1 and two empty cans of soup. Today it is worth £6500.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Louis Vuitton ads banned
With its handbags selling for thousands, Louis Vuitton has built its reputation on the highest quality.
But advertising watchdogs have found the French design house guilty of misleading customers with two advertisements depicting its 'craftsmen' - because the bags are not actually made by hand.
Despite ads showing a 'seamstress with linen thread' and boasting of 'infinite patience', bags bearing the trademark pattern of an interwoven 'L' and 'V' are predominantly created by machine.
The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) will today ban both advertisements. Louis Vuitton has argued the ads pay 'homage to the craftsmanship' of its employees rather than an accurate depiction of the manufacturing process.
Three people complained to the ASA, saying they did not believe the designer bags were made entirely by hand.
And after being challenged by the ASA, the designers admitted that sewing machines had been used, but said production of the bags was 'not automated' and that there were over 100 stages in the making of each bag.
The controversial ad showed a photo of a seamstress stitching the handle of a handbag, with the text reading: 'The seamstress with linen thread and beeswax.
A needle, linen thread, beeswax and infinite patience protect each over-stitch from humidity and the passage of time.
'One could say that a Louis Vuitton bag is a collection of details. But with so much attention lavished on every one, should we only call them details?'
A second ad showed a woman making a wallet, with the text stating: 'The young woman and the tiny folds. In everything from Louis Vuitton, there are elements that cannot be fully explained. '
'What secret little gestures do our craftsmen discretely pass on? How do we blend innate skill and inherent prowess?
'Or how can five tiny folds lengthen the life of a wallet? Let's allow these mysteries to hang in the air. Time will provide the answers.'
In 2007 the label launched one of the world's most expensive handbags, called the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag - which cost around £24,000 and was snapped up by celebrities including singer Beyonce.
Bosses at Louis Vuitton told the ASA that its 'artisans were trained over many years to be able to carry out the various activities involved in the creation of one of their accessories' and said the models in the photos were 'instructed' how to pose by experts.
Bosses at the fashion house admitted that sewing machines were used as they made the items 'more secure and (were) necessary for strength, accuracy and durability'.
But ASA bosses found that Louis Vuitton were in breach of the truthfulness clause, saying it 'considered that consumers would interpret the image of a woman using a needle and thread to stitch the handle of a bag in the ad to mean that Louis Vuitton bags were hand-stitched'.
They also found that the advert featuring a wallet being made would also lead people to believe it was almost entirely hand-crafted.
The ASA said that although Louis Vuitton provided it with evidence that many 'hand-crafting techniques' were used in the production of the bag and wallet, it fell short of what was needed to prove the products were made by hand.
It stated: 'We noted that we had not seen documentation that detailed the entire production process for Louis Vuitton products or that showed the proportion of their manufacture that was carried out by hand or by machine.
'Because we had not seen evidence that demonstrated the extent to which Louis Vuitton products were made by hand, we concluded that the ads were misleading.'
Jonathan Adler New York
Jonathan Adler is one of the most joyful homegoods designers in America. He brings brightness and happiness to any home. I visited his store in Soho and I was in shoceked with all the color and graphics in his collection. Jonathan Alder is a modern designer with a fun spirit which you can feel when you walk into his store or visit his website.Bookbook for your Mac book
Check this fun computer sleeve I found this week made by Twelve South. Another example of vintage styling for modern products. They come in different sizes to fit your precious MacBook. They are available here.
Smythson
A new year calls for a new day planner from Smythson! This one is one of the most luxurious brands out there. Smythson was started in 1887 by Frank Smythson. The company started in London and now has flagship stores all over the world.
Its long standing reputation for high quality goods is still what keeps them on the top of the list. They also make stationery, travel goods, handbags and other small leather accessories.
I browsed throughout their website for hours and their design, colors, and customizing options made things even harder. This purple collection is my favorite, the blue pages go so well with the leather!. Visit their website here.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
String gardens .
log into their website to view more of
their beautiful string gardens .
www.stringgardens.com
East meet west collection by Nada Debs
Nada Debs' creations are unique as the designer herself. This global fusion of cultures influences her distinctive designs that capture attention and seductively draw one nearer for a closer view.
“My designs are all form and function,” says Debs of her current collections and commissioned pieces, “that's quite Japanese.” With Japanese minimalist values Debs is reinterpreting traditional decorative Middle Eastern design. Debs has again transformed an ancient craft (inlaid mother-of-pearl) to create chic, contemporary furniture. The combination of disciplines creates pieces with clean lines while the unexpected use of a variety of mediums - mother of pearl in the ‘East & East’ collection, perspex in the 'floating stools' - have become the epitome of her design.
www.nadadebs.com
Slow and steady wins the race handbags
Loving SSWTR’s take on iconic handbags - each one is stripped down to the essence of the original in shape and hardware, and sewn in plain muslin or twill. From the site: “Through this process, the hi- fashion designer bag becomes a lo-fi object sketch and consequently an alternate icon of itself.”
Inspired by: 1. Dior bag; 2. Hermes Birkin bag; 3. Chanel bag. The fourth one shown is the Ultimate bag - a hybrid of elements from Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Balenciaga.
Inspired by: 1. Dior bag; 2. Hermes Birkin bag; 3. Chanel bag. The fourth one shown is the Ultimate bag - a hybrid of elements from Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Balenciaga.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Dezso jewelry .
Sara started her fashion career as a stylist in New York, and then started to create her own personal pieces. She now lives between Mumbai and Jaipur where she produces her jewelry. Her line came out of her obsession with the Ocean, and her inspiration comes from different beaches she's visited around the world. A lot of her jewelry is made of shells that she collects from the ocean, and molds and casts in 18K gold (mostly pink gold). Sara also loves to use raw material such as polki diamonds, kyanite stones, fossilized shark teeth, and fossilized shells. Being in Jaipur has allowed her to discover a new world in stones; she is carving stones in a the shape of shells. Whether it's a strand of diamonds or a Mexican friendship bracelet, Sara's line has a wonderful beach life aesthetic to it. And if you are looking for boho-chic jewelry, Deszo is the line for you. www.dezsosara.com
Spread your Wings .....
Dia Diwan
Summer is calling @ Dia Diwan site , shop for their top five items
log into their site and start shopping .
www.dia-boutique.com
Nujood Boodai shop @ Salhiya
Nujood Boodai shop at Salhiya complex , mezzanine , has new beautiful hand bags ,shoes , furniture and many other accessories for both women and kids .
Thursday, May 27, 2010
today's moto
for someone who needs it desperately , just hold on , God is with you , God bless you all .
Love you all .
Have a miracle day .
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