Have a GLAMOUROUS Weekend

The weekend is here and it's time to recharge your energy level................ breath deeper, wander and walk a little slower, enjoy a few days of slow-down time.

I took these pictures of the house that Richard owned when we first met. I had the pleasure of sharing this pretty house and property with him for a year before he sold it. There was an acre and a half of great tree's (primarily oak), and three interconnecting ponds.

Image : GB@H

It was on the weekends that you could find Richard laying out in the pagoda on a big lounge cushion, with pillows and reading his book. Of course the sound of the waterfalls helped ease him into sleep under the canopy of tree's; it was his favourite spot in the yard.

Here's to relaxing under the tree's and breathing in the tranquility of the weekend.

image : GB@H

Image : GB@H

Image : GB@H

image : GB@H

Have a GLAMOUROUS weekend.

Prince Charming

There has been a flood of images and stories about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge this past year. The media follows with much enthusiasm the style of Kate; and images of her latest dress, shoes, and hairstyle fill the pages of glossy magazines on every news stand.

But let's not forget how we came to know Kate in the first place, long before she became the Duchess of Cambridge.  William captured many hearts when he flashed his dimple smile as a little Prince, and now it is Kate's heart that has melted for her Prince Charming.

I thought it was time to feature a handsome man; one who has a killer smile that would make any girl sing, 'Someday My Prince Will Come'. Snow White isn't the only girl batting her eyelashes at this dashing Prince Charming.

The Duke of Cambridge, William

Young, sophisticated, and stylish......................and an active sportsman.

 

William has worn many uniforms throughout his service career.

 

William is blessed with his Mother's generous smile. He is at ease with a crowd and warmly welcomes the general public, never shying away from the tough task of small talk.

 

No - this is not William, it's Paul Newman. When I look at this image,I can picture William in his mature years. I think he will evoke the same easy charm.

Hello Handsome.

If there is one man who could steal some of the glances away from the beautiful Duchess of Cambridge, it is her husband William . William is handsome and stately in his presentation, a winning combination. There is one lady who enhances his already generous smile........ his lovely bride, Kate. They both shine when they look at each other.

 Cheers to all the Handsome and Glamourous Men!

A Little Change is Good

Well, at least I'm hoping that you will agree with the little change in my blog header.

The image in the header is one that I took three years ago while in France. This is the entrance to Hotel Particulier in Arles; a pretty boutique hotel that remains one of my favourite places. The hotel felt so much like 'home' to me when we were there, so it is appropriate that it takes center stage.

I hope you like the changes ...... your opinions matter, so do leave a comment or email me.

Here is more of the pretty spot - Hotel Particulier, Arles, France.

 

Holiday Shopping Early

Christie's Auction House is preparing for the sale of Elizabeth Taylor's complete jewellery collection. The auction proceeds will go the Taylor estate with some of the proceeds from the exhibition and publications about the vast array of gems going to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

The star's haute couture and ready-to-wear fashions, accessories, 20th Century decorative arts and memorabilia will also be auctioned. 

The treasured collection of extravagant jewels are estimated to raise $30 Million according to the worldwide auction house. But before the bidding begins in New York on December 13th & 14th, the collection will be on tour to Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Paris, Hong Kong and Geneva.

 

"I never thought of my jewellery as trophies. I'm here to take care of them and to love them. When I die they go off to auction, I hope who ever buys them gives them a real good home."

                       
                                                                                   Elizabeth Taylor from the book My Love Affair with Jewelry.


Elizabeth Taylor wore the lavish jewellery items with an easy elegance. The size of the individual pieces and the extraordinary collection requires a woman with sophistication and presence to wear the gems. Elizabeth Taylor evoked a dazzling beauty and glamourous style that highlighted everything she wore. 

Elizabeth Taylor wears the 33.19 carat diamond ring while she feeds 

her Daughter Liza.

The sales begins at Christie's in New York on December 13th at 7 PM; and just in case you need to help Santa with the details from your Christmas Wish List....... here are some images to assist with his shopping.

Emerald Ring estimated at $600,000 to $800,000.

The Granny Suite - A gift from Burton to Taylor upon her becoming a GrandMother. Estimated at $120 K to $180 K.

Charm bracelet with 20 charms. Estimated $25,000 to $35,000.

Bvlgari necklace, bracelet and earring set from Richard Burton.

Taj Mahal diamond necklace - circa 1627. Burton said 'I would have like to buy her the Taj Mahal'. It is inscribed 'to my beloved Mahal'.

Mike Todd Tiara - estimated at $60,000 to $80,000

The famous Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Ring.

 A gift from Burton, the diamond ring is 33.19 carats and estimated at $2.5 to $3.5 Million.

The Amethyst & Diamond piece was created by Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimated at $70,000 to $100,000.

Another incredible gift from Burton - by Bvlgari.

Prince of Wales Brooch is estimated at $400,000 to $600,000.

La Peregrina - an early 16th century pearl, ruby & diamond necklace by Cartier. A gift from Richard Burton, currently estimated at $2 to $3 Million. The pear shaped natural pearl was once owned by Queen Mary Tudor of England.

Elizabeth Taylor's fascination with jewellery began as a young girl when she bought a costume brooch as a gift for her Mother.
As the men and loves of her life showered Elizabeth in priceless gems, her maturity of the gift of jewels drew a much deeper meaning. She saw the jewels as an expression of 'God's Workmanship' and said that 'they're all from the ground. We didn't die them. This red is from God'.

With or without the sparkle of her world famous jewellery collection, Elizabeth Taylor was beautiful and elegant.

Elizabeth Taylor without her jewels. Image by Richard Avedon.

Body and Soul



NO REHAB  by John Newell



"We celebrate who Amy was as a person and as a significant musician. This painting is my effort of doing just that. Get lost in it."

"In this painting I've tried to portray the glamour that was Amy's, while at the same time illustrate how overwhelming the attraction of drugs and alcohol must have been for her." 

"None of us can judge Amy, but we can all feel the tragedy whether we knew her or just by knowing of her, whether we enjoyed her music or agreed with her lifestyle. She was undeniably a very warm person who was loved and now missed by her parents, many friends and fans."

John Newell, Artist

 

A month ago I was emailed copies of some artistic works of John Newell a painter from Toronto, Canada. His bold and eclectic style showcases a variety of subjects and seems to evoke the personal spirit of the subject featured. John's painting titled 'NO REHAB' hauntingly draws you in and highlights the controversy that revolves around this immensely talented young woman.

I connected with John Newell and asked for the opportunity to showcase the painting and his work. This painting, which has been created on masonite, is part of a series John is creating that deals with aspects of women's self esteem {visit back for additional postings featuring John Newell}. This is a snapshot of what inspired John to create this colourful portrayal of Amy Winehouse. 

"We all tend to get wrapped up in our inner worlds and our vulnerability prevents us from reaching out for fear of either being abused or otherwise taken advantage of. Sadly the only way to get past that is to take risks and in doing so, emotional injuries accumulate along the way."

John Newell, Artist

Today, September 14th, is Amy's birthday; she would have turned a young 28 had she not succumbed to the effects of a lifestyle that was too fast, and too overwhelming. Today also marks the release of the single 'Body and Soul' that Amy performed with Tony Bennett. It is a classic love song with the words taking on a new meaning without Bennett or Winehouse knowing it at the time.

The video of Amy and Tony (she lovingly calls him Tone) in the recording studio is heartbreakingly haunting to watch. Their harmonious sound together is an expressive whisper, the words are timeless and evoke forever..........

 For you, I sigh, for you, dear only

Why haven't you seen it, I'm all for you body and soul.

                                                                               Body and Soul lyrics

 

"It's a spirit that you're either born with or you're not. And Amy as born with that spirit."

                                                     Tony Bennett speaks about Amy Winehouse's talent and singing with her on his upcoming Duets II album.

It has been almost eight weeks that soulful jazz singer Amy Winehouse passed away. Amy's smoky, sultry voice was at times compared to Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone. But it was Tony Bennett's observation during their recent duet recording to song great Dinah Washington, that caused Amy to draw on her natural talent as a jazz singer and pour her heart into one last vocal gift.

The often troubled singer wrote gritty songs about her addictions and her endeavors to beat them. It was the Grammy Award winning song 'REHAB' that described a troubled life of addiction with a desire to please herself and others; yet simultaneously it was 'Rehab' that brought multiple accolades to the singer/songwriter.

Amy's heart guides her voice as she oozes out the melodies of our favourite Winehouse tunes, and 'Body and Soul' just may be added to the list of favs.

Amy's Father, Mitch Winehouse, announced that some of the proceeds from sales of the new single will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation. The foundation will assist a number of charities connected with children and young people. 'We want to make a positive difference and help a range of causes close to Amy's heart;' said Mitch.
In a twist of sick irony, the .com for the foundation's title name was captured purposely by a person who now hopes to cash in on the opportunity to sell the web name to the foundation.

"We had a beautiful time recording together in the studio, and I knew that Amy was very happy with how she performed that day," said Bennett. 

I thought she was absolutely brilliant, and this recording truly captures the essence of her unique artistry."

                                                             Tony Bennett speaks about Amy Winehouse recording for his Duets II album.

My life a wreck you're making

You know I'm yours for just the taking

I'd gladly surrender myself to you

Body and Soul

                   

                                                                                 Body and Soul lyrics

Artist John Newell can be contacted at : jondy@sympatico.ca
'NO REHAB' is the sole property of John Newell and cannot be copied without his written permission. 

Start the week in GLAMOUROUS Style

Monday's can be difficult...........take time to pamper yourself.

Anne St. Marie : Vogue, 1954

Be your GLAMOUROUS self all week long.

Cozy Seating

When I go in to a restaurant and I am asked if I'd prefer to sit in a booth or at a table, I most often prefer to avoid the booth. I don't know why - possibly it's part of the awkward sliding across the booth seats to get settled in to place thing.

But when it comes to thinking of a design for a kitchen table, I yearn to have a kitchen with a comfortable banquette to snuggle into to enjoy several cups of java in the morning. They just look so comfortable.

House & Home