Sketching issues

Kate for David Yurman Jewellery, this is by me, here are other two drawings of mine (check!)

Sketching is hard. I mean skecthing WELL is hard. And sketching is more important than you may aspect. At least when it comes to designing. You have to make it quick, easy and understandable, without detailing it, details are not welcomed. At least not always. It has to present a clear idea in it. Idea that speaks for itself. And before sketching, you already need an idea. For getting one of those? Well it's not like you're in a grossery shop and ask: " One for me, please." It's the hardest part- the part of being inspired. (But about being inspiered I'll write in another post).
I'm not bad at drawing, it quite never has been a problem for me, but sketching is a thing I don't know how to do, I mess up with too many lines. And less lines you have the greater sketcher you are.
I have to sketch every day in architecture lesson (and you must be really precise, millimeter by millimeter, but my hands tremble a little) and now I should do another work: a bracelet or a watch. The last one is way too complicated...
I'm willing to share with you guys my horrible sketches of the lake house I had to project for school, I tried to sketch without any stress, just with a free hand (AND YOU CAN SEE IT):




I hope I have improved since September..
Here are some sketches from some very famouse creative people which really inspired me to improve my sketching skills!

Epic chairs, the right one is my favourite: Barcellona Chair by Mies van der Rohe


Gianfranco Ferrè


Bilbao Guggenheim Museum by Frank O. Gehry


Yves Saint Lauren


A random illustration

The Wizard Oz Shoe Edition: A.Testoni, Botkier and the last one I couldn't figure out.


A tower, great sketch, really great.


Frank Lloyd Wright (the King of sketching)


KENZO parfum, so essential!


Donna Karan
LOVE THIS SKETCH, I can imagine so well this outfit shining on the runway


Frank Lloyd Wright (the King of sketching)


Gianfranco Ferrè


Jason Brooks, a fashion illustrator.


The Wizard Oz Shoe Edition: Sergio Rossi, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Moschino


A random jewel sketch I liked


I don't know the author but I really liked this sketch, you can help me out on it, if you know who made it;) (it was an important Haute Couture designer)


Giorgio Armani


Frank Lloyd Wright (the King of sketching), the Waterfall House



There's also a book released in the honour of 100 years of fashion illustration, curated by Cally Blackman, take a look on Amazon (check!)
I love the cover, don't you find it just gorgeous?

La Ex Dolce Vita

Things are changed since the late fifties when life was all about fame and spotlight on Via Veneto, the street where the "Dolce Vita Romana" was born. Here you could see the "intellectual" aristocrats, nobles, hollywood jet-setters and divas living or rather showing off their sweet, and yet bitter, I tell you!, life of the "only few and selected ones", chased by paparazzies day&night trying to catch every moment, scandal, fight, secret, failment, kiss there was...

And it was a great blast, every international star dropped by to have a taste of the Sweet Life: Liz Taylor, Gary Grant, Ava Gardner, Richard Burton, Audrey Hepburn, Kirk Douglas, Anita Ekberg, Andy Warhol, Sophia Loren.. just naming few.

Federico Fellini pictured by Andy Warhol, on Via Veneto.

There is one particular episode which is remembered as the most scandalous happening of the time, which, in fact, may have signed the begginning of the uncontrollable exploration of sin and joy (always in big contrast with the Church, and it still is):

It's 1953, a birthday party is held in one of the most chicest restaurants in Trastevere- Il Rugantino. Obviously after too many drinks a young turkish woman Aiché Nanà decides to do a little belly-dance and ends up entirelly naked, this all witnessed by photographers.

Shocking front-page news of improvvisated striptease inspiers The Master of Cinema Fellini to add a scene in his movie colossal La Dolce Vita and seven years later, when the film is released, it gets banned by censores. Still it broke all box office records and still it got the Palme d'Or at Cannes (in 1960).

The most famous scene from the La Dolce Vita: Anita Ekberg with Marcello Mastroianni in the Fontana di Trevi.

Now..
well nothing is left of those glamourouse days that Rome City senter used to witness. Via Veneto is sadly empty and when I went there a couple of days ago, in the aspiration of taking some pictures to write this post... there was nothing to photograph. Nothing. Even on flickr you don't find anything good or special. Via Veneto is now full of expensive traditionally boring hotels for busy business men and empty restaurants with few lost tourist inside eating something not worth even a third of it's price. In the evening some escorts try to make money by stepping from one bar inside another. There are one or two restaurants and lounge/bars which try to keep up with the modern city nightlife with a cool interior design or a deejay set, but there's nothing much left to do. La Dolce Vita is gone. And I seriously doubt it's going to resee it's glory days.

Marcello Mastroianni in the final scene of the film.

PS! There is still one pearl lieing in it's dusty shell- a fish restaurant with a quite interesting interior design. I'm going to post about it;)

I've got the fever. The Christmas Fever (thanks to Ralph Lauren)

Today's post is going to be about having the fever. The Christmas-is-almost-here oh-my-God! I-need-to-think-about-presents-and-everything-before-it's-too-late fever. (I have the other fever too and that's why I've got the time to spend it in the bed whole day and entertain myself with magazines, all full of editorials and ideas for the holidays). (So much about my busy-busy week I wrote you about, lol). In these busy-busy times to enjoy the holidays fully you should anticipate the fever and prepare yourself before. And actually, not have the fever at all.

I guess when we are younger Christmas is all about getting presents. Then we get a little older and find out that Santa is just fairy-tale, oh-what a delusion!, and for a while it all losts it's magic. But then we discover the joy of making and giving the presents and finally when we're all grown-up we realize that Christmas is not about the preparation, the presents or about the stress of making them, it's really all about spending some cozy time with your dearest ones. It's all about the mood, the peace, the atmosphere. That special Atmosphere: dimmed lights, spicy mixed smells and aromes of tangerine, gingerbread, cinnamon, chocolate, spruce (the Christmas Tree)..., music (not just the typical Christmas songs like "All I want for Christmas" by Mariah.. but also jazz and instrumental..).

That's what's Christmas all about for me. While looking at magazines, I came across Ralph Lauren's Home Collection named "Indian Gove Lodge", I found it really cozy and homie, with a perfect Christmas atmosphere and mood in it. A glamorous mix of rustic and baroque. Really classy. And american. Just what's Ralph Lauren all about. If I'd had a nice winter Cottage in the mountain, here's how I'd decorate it:

Have a great evening and start feeling the christmas mood just doing simple things like relaxing at home, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate while watching movies.
My hot spicy tea just got ready;)

PS! What's Christmas about for you and what are the favourite things about the holidays for you?

Deliciously feminine

Girls! Here's something for us! Take a look at these delightful shoots from Valentino book (who's film, by the way, was nominated on the Academy Award (check!) ).

I think Valentino is simply a genius.

His elegance is impeccable, his talent unique. A true master.. oh I get lost while describing him, I ain't got enough words.. I mean, you get what I mean, don't you? I think there is no woman who wouldn't like to wear his gowns...

I also wanted to thank all my dear readers who keep coming back and my followers- although you are few, you are true! And a special thanks goes to my dearest friend Kadri-Ann back in Estonia who may not be near me now but gives me all the support I need and can get (becuase of the distance).

XOXO