Happy Winter Solstice

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

Colour Me LULU

Should your glance on mornings lovely

Lift to drink the heaven's blue

Or when sun, veiled by sirocco, Royal red sinks out of view,

Give to nature praise and honour.

Blithe of heart and sound of eye,

Knowing for the world of colour, where its broad foundations lie.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The lovely Lulu de Kwiatkowski, She paints, she designs fabrics,wallpapers, dinnerware, pillows , rugs, bedding and my favourite of all are her collages that she transformed into a handwritten and hand painted journal, travelogue, bio, titled LULU all created on from her kitchen floor.

All this amazing work and a mother to three boys, I should have paid more attention when we were in art an sculpture class together at school!

To view more of her work go to her website and wonderful blog where I was inspired to do this post,

Brava xo

www.luludk.com

Images via Luludk, 1stdibs & ClicGallery

Dior Couture by Patrick Demarchelier

This is the book of the year! Published by Rizzoli Dior Couture photographed by Patrick Demarchelier what a perfect collaboration. These are just a few pictures that have been released. The text is written by Ingrid Sischy ex editor-in-chief of Interview Magazine and International Editor to Vanity Fair's European editions.

Hundreds of portraits in incredible gowns from the entire era of Christian Dior Haute Couture designed by Dior ,Yves Saint Laurent , Marc Bohan and John Galliano. Shot all over the world with some of the greatest models.

Fashion History that should be on everyone's coffee tables , a perfect Christmas gift! C'est Magnifique

Order from Amazon

www.demarchelier.net

~INTERMISSION~

THE GREAT CHINESE STATE CIRCUS PRESENTS~SWAN LAKE~

SPECTACULAR!

Nadia Comaneci's Perfect 10.

Chocolate Layers

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 

http://player.vimeo.com/video/37876758

INTERMISSION: CHAI BREAK

Masala Chai is perfect for a cold winters day.

Video by High Beam Media

Via Fine Dining Lovers

TODAY IS VISION OF SPLENDOR'S 2ND BIRTHDAY! 

Enjoy the show. x

Photo by victor Liu.