Ciao Italia

Happy New Year 2013

May your blessings be bountiful, your health sparkling and your love contagious.

2013 is the Magic Number, just believe. xo

INTERMISSION

Dora Daar

INTERMISSION

LUX AETERNA

A Journey of Light, from distant galaxies to small drops of water

3D Animation by Cristobal Vila

www.etereaestudios.com

Music Theme "The Gift" by Johann Johannsson

www.johannjohannsson.com

Food is Art II

Maggie Austin started her career as a classical ballet dancer, then having been accepted at L'Art de la Patisserie program at the French Pastry School, Maggie trained with the best world renowned chefs and pastry champions learning the top techniques in this art using the finest of ingredients. She Graduated from the program with honors, after which was accepted for internship at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago , a Mobil Five Star, AAA Five Diamond and 10 time James Beard Foundation Winner that is recognized as one of the finest restaurants in the world.

Truly an Art, her Haute Couture cakes are just perfection, inspired by Edwardian Botanical prints, fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen and Carolina Herrera, Flowers , textiles and more. They are lovingly made by hand at her Washington DC Studio, yes even the flowers are made from sugar, impressive. I have never seen such elegant and beautiful cakes, there are such perfection that you just want to throw yourself a party to have one made.

Just Splendid xo

All Images via,

www.maggieaustincake.com

Chinese Splendor

Raise The Red Lantern via National Ballet of China

Yellow Chinoiserie Wallpaper via NSR Handcrafts Co.

Wedgewood Jasper Conran Chinoiserie Green via Matching China

Raise the Red Lantern Film by Zhang Yimou

Midnight Blue Chinoiserie Wallpaper via Made in China

Mint Green Chinoiserie Wallpaper via de Gournay

House of Flying Daggers Bamboo Forest

Ralph Lauren's seems to have China on his mind, this is my favorite  collection in years.

I see some influence from Bernardo Bertolucci's wonderful 9 Academy Award winning film The Last Emperor which had incredible costumes, music and set design.

Also the colours in this collection made me think of Director Zhang Yimou films, The stunningly visual House of Flying Daggers with its incredible vibrant Jade Green Bamboo scene, the reds and blacks from both Hero and Raise The Red Lantern which was also made into a Ballet by China's National Ballet.

On 8.8.2008 Zhang Yimou directed the unforgettable Beijing Olympics opening Ceremony. So wish I could have been there.

Here are some links to view clips of these wonderful movies,

The Last Emperor www.criterion.com/films/254-the-last-emperor

House Of Flying Daggers www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLkedDMb8vI

Raise The Red Lantern www.youtube.com/watch?v=vivaoPZhIH8&feature=related

Hero www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFhXDZhUZI

http://www.ballet.org.cn/en/home.htm

www.ralphlauren.com

The Wapping Project

All Pictures taken by Vision Of Splendor on an Iphone.

Last night to celebrate a friends birthday I finally got to go dinner to The Wapping Project based in an old Hydraulic Power Station with constantly changing Art Exhibitions.

We were luckily to have booked on  a night that "Yohji Making Waves" Installation was on, by Yohji Yamamoto. Set in the 1890's Boiler Room filled with water you are taken around in a small wooden boat by their version of a Gondoliere as Yohji's Wedding dress Installation hangs Illuminated from the ceiling.There is such an ethereal ambiance that you feel enveloped in its cocoon, we so enjoyed that little trip.

Even if you are having dinner in a industrial space they manage to make you feel at home with their very warm service and the visual feast of architecture meets art. On old Tv's dotted around the vast dinning space Yohji Yamamoto's catwalk show video's were shown to tie in with Exhibition.

Outside there in a little patch of green sits a Garden Shed turned Bookshop where every Thursday evening an artist, author or poet is invited to give a reading or a performance.

There were other areas to explore but wanted to save it for a next time, where am sure it will be different again.

I loved every minute of it and will certainly return.

http://www.thewappingproject.com/

http://thewappingprojectbookshop.com/

http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/

MUSICAL INTERMISSION

DAFT PUNK GET LUCKY Ft PHARRELL WILLIAMS (Live Performance )

Happy Summer feeling song, perfect for this Sunny Friday in London! Pharrell is feeling it too! 

Via www.theinspiration.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

Picnic Splendor

Photos via Rolls Royce

Photos via Krug

Photos via Bonhams Auction House England

Photos via Bonhams

1957 Ford Carbeque Photos via Top Speed

Martell Trunk made by Pinel

Gorgeous summers days, perfect for a luxurious picnic.