Valentino: The Last Emperor"What do women want? They want to be beautiful!" is the motto that Valentino has based his life on. This is how provokingly simple reality is construed in the movie 'Valentino The Last Emperor'.
This weekend I went to see the movie Valentino: The Last Emperor for the second time. It has finally arrived in Vancouver. The first time I saw it I drove to Seattle because it wasn't out here yet. It is one of the few movies I have been to in my lifetime that everyone in the theatre clapped at the end. I was moved to tears as the great maestro Valentino took a bolt of his signature red fabric and started draping it over a live model, creating and sculpting the design for a new dress. He was truly the Master of Couture, a dying breed in the times we are living in. Valentino: The last Emperor is a documentary that was filmed over a two year period chronicling Valentino's life work. It is a must see, not only for the view into the life of a great Master of Couture but also for the great love story it is.
Valentino: The Last Emperor Valentino's 5 Pugs who go everywhere with him. This picture is taken on his private jet. Please let me know if you have seen the movie and what you think about it byleaving a comment.
great designer, secure man, author, successful businessman & non judging
it's no secret that gwd has ruffled feathers. this blog is not the usual. it is an anon blog. gwd has no e-mail contact, no blog list, & comments anon only in this blog with a gwd signature. the readeship is small & select. gwd tried an experiment in blogging. mainly a picture blog, an image bank to use as u wish. no ass kissing mash notes, no personal back story, & only a link 2 something once in awhile, with no real attempt to build an audience. gwd put it out there just 2 see what would happen when a girl doesn't follow all the rules of blogging. gwd tells u about her via the inspiration board in the right hand margin. gwd works hard. the picture research is time consuming and thought out. gwd has published over 300 posts in 6 months. the most succesful post ever was about the girly awards HERE. why? gwd never said who is best or worst, but presented a list of a few of the many blogs out there. the comments were very snarky & honest & mostly written under the protection of anon. what happened is that we talked to one another in our real voices & not the fakey blog voices we all use to seem nice, wise, & worldly. we talked to each other on a real level and it was great. gwd seldom appears on another bloggers list. today gwd found herself on a very respectable high tone blog: Vicente Wolf. how illuminating. many fear gwd for no reason other than their own insecurity. gwd is no one. just a twit with an opinion or 2 like u. gwd is considering adding a blog list because she reads & loves & hates many blogs. gwd has already been banned by a few of her fellow twits. but gwd will still put u on the blog list even if she thinks ur lcd or amazing.
The Ten Broeck Cottage by Messana O’Rorke Architects is a modern way to appreciate classical 18th century architecture. Located in Columbia County, New York, this farmhouse beautifully blends the old and the new. Built in the mid-1700s, the original wing of the Ten Broeck Cottage houses a main-floor living room and dining room divided by a fireplace, and two bedrooms and a bath on the upper level. Interiors are an artful juxtaposition of old and new – plaster walls butting up against limestone floors, and richly oiled woods exposed against cool stainless steel.
more information about traditional cottage[via]modern house design.
I recently returned from a road trip through the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. The Okanagan Valley is the home to a budding Wine Industry. I was pleasantly surprised with our stop in Osoyoss to visit The Nk'Mip Winery and Resort. NK’MIP Winery Resort is a four-season aboriginal tourism resort destination that features deluxe accommodation and visitor experiences including an award-winning winery, gourmet dining, desert golf, a cultural centre and full-service spa.
It was a feast for my eyes to view the walls of the Cultural Center from the parking lot at Nk'Mip Winery. I was struck by the beauty of this facade that looked like a giant slab of the most sumptuous marble. On closer inspection and inquiry I was informed it was built with "Rammed Earth Walls".
Rammed Earth Walls at Nk'Mip Winery and Resort also known as pisé de terre or simply pisé
(above left) Notice how thick these walls of rammed earth are - approximately 20% thicker than standard concrete walls. (above right) The rammed earth walls are formed in layers of approximately 6" thick , which gives the walls a beautiful horizontal variegation resembling quarried marble.
Rammed Earth, also known as pisé de terre or simply pisé, is a type of construction material. Pisé de terre (rammed earth) walls are an ancient building method that has seen a revival in recent years as people seek more sustainable building materials and more natural building methods. Traditionally, rammed earth walls or pisé de terre walls buildings are common in arid regions where wood is in scarce supply.
The basic recipe for rammed earth walls starts and ends with plain old dirt.
RECIPE FOR RAMMED EARTH WALLS - Soil about 5 litres Water - Water about half a litre - Cement 10 percent - Pigment 1 percent (about 1 tablespoon)
The mixture for rammed earth walls is compacted in layers between forms. Each layer of the rammed earth walls is approximately 6 inches deep. As each form is filled, another form is placed above it, and the process begins again. This is continued until the desired height of the rammed earth walls is achieved. Forms can be stripped off as soon as the form above is begun, as the compressed rammed earth walls are self-supporting immediately. Most builders of rammedearth walls use pneumatic rammers to compact the earth within the forms.
Deep inset Window detail in Rammed Earth Walls Nk'Mip Winery. My Dad and me.
Some interesting facts about Rammed Earth Walls and Rammed Earth Walls Construction:
Rammed earth walls are 20 percent thicker than most concrete walls so it is better insulating against heat and cold.
Rammed earth walls improve Indoor Air Quality because of the simple finish of exposed rammed earth walls have no toxic finishes.
Rammed earth walls are so solid that they boast superb acoustics and rank with the best in terms of fire resistance.
Because rammed earth walls don't rely on wood the structure will never rot, nor will it be host to carpenter ants or termites.
Rammed earth walls evolved in hot dry climates, where wood is too rare and precious to be used as a building material.
Rammed earth walls have been the standard in house construction in Southern Europe and the Middle East since biblical times.
None other than the Great Wall of China, or at least most of it was built of rammed earth wall construction.
Does anyone know why it is called Rammed Earth Walls?
Great Wall of China - Rammed Earth Walls construction
Rammed Earth Walls
Rammed Earth Walls Construction in Residential Bathroom with a Stump window made from base of tree that was growing on the house site.
Rammed Earth Walls
Iron oxide layers have been added to these rammed earth walls in sedimentary layers with inset of abalone. Above 2 photos or rammed earth walls Terra Firma
Additional Resources on Rammed Earth Walls Construction Wikipedia Rammed Earth Walls Construction Terra Firma Rammed Earth Walls Builder / Why Rammed Earth Walls in Construction? Walls of Rammed Earth Rammed Earth Walls DIY Rammed Earth Walls Construction Nk'Mip Winery and Resort, Rammed Earth Walls Cultural Center Rammed Earth Walls Construction Diagram You Tube Rammed Earth Walls Video Images Rammed Earth Walls
Co2 saver house designed by Peter Kuczia, located in Lake Laka, Poland.
Using untreated larch wood and black fibre cement panels to optimise solar energy gain, this lake house in Poland is a pretty good example of how to be sustainable and respectful with the environment.
The built form is designed to optimise the absorbance of solar energy. Approximately 80% of the building envelope is facing south direction. The single storey living space on the ground floor is externally clad with untreated larch boarding. The passive and active solar energy concepts and a high standard of thermal insulation are enhanced by a ventilation plant with thermal recovery system. The house consumes only about 1/10 of the average energy use of the existing single-family houses in Poland.
Architect: Peter Kuczia Location: Lake Laka, Poland Area: 175sqm Construction year: 2007 Usage: Single family house Materials: Wood, Fibre cement
More Information about Co2 saver house [via] modern house design.
between naps on the back porch here is a great blog, that gives u a lot of good ideas. i luv tablescape thursdays. this week she did a guest room with breakfast in bed, and it gave me my idea for this week. i hope you like the instructions of how 2 serve breakfast in bed. i gathered some photos for you 2.
Step 3: Purchase fresh flowers. It adds a nice touch.
Step 4: Cancel all morning appointments. Turn off the phone. Make this a morning when you can relax at leisure.
Step 5: Prepare some of the ingredients the night before. If possible, set your coffeemaker for 8:30 a.m. (or whenever you get up), so the scent of the fresh brew will wake you up. Set the tray with plates, silverware, cups, and so forth. Use linen napkins.
Step 6 Make the bed with fresh sheets before you go to bed.
Step 7: Get up in the morning and prepare your breakfast. Take your time.
Step 8: Finish setting up the tray. Put the flowers on it. Add the food.
Step 9: Arrange the pillows in bed before you get back in. Use several large ones to give your back support. You want to be comfortable as you eat.
Step 10: Climb back into bed with your bed tray. Take care not to tip it as you get back into bed.
Step 11: Savor your breakfast. Enjoy the food. Sip your coffee slowly. Have a second cup.
Step 12: Catch up on your reading. Read the entire "New York Times." Read past issues of your magazines.
Valentino: The Last Emperor "What do women want? They want to be beautiful!" is the motto that Valentino has based his life on. This is how provokingly simple reality is construed in the movie 'Valentino The Last Emperor'. 
