It’s a Breeze by Georgina Hart
I have been working on my finances lately and decided I wanted to invest in art as well. Being Australian I want to invest in Australian artists.
I did some research and came across some wonderful Australian artists with some beautiful paintings. One of my favourites and whom I bought two paintings from is Georgina Hart. I love the rich colours and beauty and sweet innocence of her paintings. I doubt I will ever part with them.
Another artist I came across is Steve Graham. I needed a painting in the kitchen and came across his Provence Lemons. It’s perfect. I also fell in love with his Roosters paintings but they will have to wait for another day. But it could be your day?
Jane Donaldson is also a favourite. Her paintings are topsy turvy twisted and colourful which I love with haunting eyes. Jane paints what she feels rather than what she sees. Her paintings have themes of love, attachment and relationships.
In the near future I intend on investing in some art from the late great Australian painter Pro Hart and his son David Hart. Pro’s granddaughter Chloe Hart also has some very interesting abstract paintings as well.
If you are looking to invest in Australian art a place you can start is the online gallery of the David Hart Galleries which is where I purchased some of mine. The service is excellent and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.
A little side note. Where you can purchase direct from the artists as art galleries can take up to take 50% in commissions. Let’s feed the artists and keep them going. The world can always do with more beautiful artwork to inspire us all.
On May 9th, 1958, Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece “Vertigo” had its American premiere in San Francisco. More than 50 years later, the luxury brand Montblanc presents a thrilling web special that brings to life all the craft and unparalleled talent of the cinematic genius remembered for his spine chilling movies.
Celebrating the launch of Montblanc’s Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition writing instrument, a number of interactive tools, many of the most memorable scenes in movie history created by Hitchcock himself can be experienced in an innovative fashion following www.montblanc-alfred-hitchcock.com. This digital tribute to the British filmmaker is shaped by his famous film sequences and uniquely stages the collector’s edition writing instrument.
Corresponding to the electrifying features of the web special, every detail in the design of the Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition is inspired by memorable movie moments:
- The dark staircase featured in his masterpiece “Vertigo”, for instance, represents the vertigo effect on the cap and barrel of the pen.
- The sinister knife from Oscar-nominated “Psycho” is featured prominently on the writing instrument, as the pen’s clip with an elaborate inscription from the film’s reel is engraved on the cap’s ring.
The Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edition is a must for any Hitchcock fan. Is that you?
The 65th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will see luxury whisky brand Chivas Regal increase its commitment to cinema and film by unveiling plans to raise awareness of its global charity partner FilmAid International – http://www.filmaid.org/
One year on from launching the global partnership in Cannes, which was supported by FilmAid Global Artists Council member Robert De Niro, Chivas will hold a screening of a new short film, which brings to life some of the work that has been made possible through the partnership to date.
FilmAid is a non-profit organisation that uses the power of film and media to transcend language and literacy, bringing life-saving information, psychological relief and much-needed hope to refugees and other communities in need.
The Clark Pink Diamond sold at Christie’s last month for US$15.7 million far exceeding their estimate of US$6 – 8 million. The successful bidder was U.S. diamond, gem and jewelry specialist Brett Stettner of Stettner Investment Diamonds.
This is the second most valuable private collection sold in the United States in the last decade, just behind the legendary jewels of Elizabeth Taylor.
The diamond is a very rare 9 carat cushion-cut, fancy vivid purplish pink which set a new record for a pink diamond sold at auction in the U.S.
The buyer Brett Stettner of Stettner Investment Diamonds says he plans to “refine the gem a bit” and rename it the “Clark Grenald Stettner” Pink. The name “Grenald” is in honor of Stettner’s grandfather.
The Clark Pink was part of the collection of Huguette M. Clark, an heiress and philanthropist of the Gilded Age.
Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s Americas’ head of jewelry, told Reuters that the ring was part of a collection sold for $21 million.
Clark, who died last year aged 104, lived a reclusive life after 1930 and her activities were virtually unknown to the public. Upon her death in 2011, she left behind a vast fortune, including the sold jewels, most of which was donated to charity. Substantial sums were also left to her longtime nurse, her goddaughter, some employees and her attorney.
Other highlights from the Clark collection included a 20-carat D-color diamond ring which sold for $3.1 million, beating its high estimate.
Sauter Carbon Offset Designs (SCOD) presents the Emax Super Marine 45′ the World’s First Zero Carbon Superyacht Tender.
The Emax utilizes Allison’s Hybrid technology which has years of proven reliability from Arctic to sub tropical environments is employed in thousands of hybrid buses the world over as well as the GM fleet of Hybrid pickup trucks, the Hybrid Cadillac Escalade and surprisingly the Hybrid Bluetec S Class Mercedes Benz .
Whether shuttling passengers and supplies back and forth or embarking on an exhilarating adventure, the luxurious teak decked Super Marine 45 can seat up to 10 people, plus 4 sunbathers on the sun bed. Inside the cabin beneath the Solar Center Cockpit she provides a shower room with stand up head and a sumptuous double bed. For excursions there’s a kitchenette with fridge/freezer, stove, microwave and a foredeck table for setting out a buffet or having a sit down luncheon for six guests.
Richard Sauter Head of Design commented “With a top speed of 80 knots, no other Superyacht tender compares to this upper echelon of performance combined with luxury, style and versatility.”
As a jet propelled Zero Carbon recreational watercraft she is the safest and by far the most Eco Friendly boat of her kind.
Jaguar’s newly released models are sure to bring luxury motor enthusiasts something to look forward to in 2012.
The Jaguar C-X16 features a 3.0L Supercharged V6 engine with a performance boosting electric motor inspired by Formula One’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).
There is also high-tech features including Smartphone Connectivity that is integrated into the cockpit’s touchscreen and the Intelligent Venting System that rapidly alters the cabin temperature based on the climate.
The 60 Sunreef Power was made in response to the growing demand for compact yet highly impressive powerboats.
60 Sunreef Power Rear
This yacht has all the features of the popular 70 Sunreef Power, except its 27.8 ft / 8.5 m beam makes it more convenient for crowded marinas. It is also an alternative to tradtional motor yachts with its low fuel consumption, long range, superb living space, secured guests intimacy, customized interior design and stability.
60 Sunreef Power Master Cabin
The first unit of the 60 Sunreef Power has been commissioned by a French owner, and will be laid out in a semi-owner version with two double cabins in the forward section, two double cabins in the starboard hull, and one double, one bunk-bed cabin in the port hull. All cabins have private bathrooms and abundant storage.
60 Sunreef Power Salon
The interior of the main deck will feature the galley and a dining area, while a mezzanine floor located in the midship will feature the internal helm station and lounge, providing access to the forward guest cabins and the flybridge. The spacious sun deck, Sunreef’s speciality and trademark, comprises the external helm station, wet bar, dining area and a huge sun pad, ideal for outdoor lounging in the sun.
60 Sunreef Power Guest Cabin
The interior design is modern and minimalist, based on wenge and oak contrast, finished with cream and white upholstery and brushed stainless steel details.
The first unit is due for launch in late May 2012.
Interested in ordering your own 69 Sunreef Power? Then contact Sunreef Yachts for more information.
A huge 12.76 carat pink diamond has been uneartherd by mining Giant Rio Tinto in Australia. It is the largest of the rare and precious stones ever found in the resources-rich nation.
Named the Argyle Pink Jubilee, the huge rough stone was found at Rio Tinto’s pink diamond operations in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and would take 10 days to cut and polish, the miner said on Wednesday.
“This rare diamond is generating incredible excitement. A diamond of this calibre is unprecedented — it has taken 26 years of Argyle production to unearth this stone and we may never see one like this again,” said Josephine Johnson from Rio’s Argyle Pink Diamonds division.
The light pink Argyle Jubilee is a similar colour to the 24-carat Williamson Pink given to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift which was later set into a Cartier brooch for her coronation.
The Williamson was discovered in Tanzania in 1947 and is ranked among the finest pink diamonds in existence.
Rio produces more than 90 percent of the world’s pink diamonds from the Argyle mine, and said large stones like the Jubilee typically went to museums, were gifted to royalty or end up at prestigious auction houses like Christie’s.
Christie’s had only auctioned 18 polished pink diamonds larger than 10 carats in its 244-year history, Rio said.
When the Jubilee diamond has been cut and polished it will be graded by international experts and showcased globally before being sold by invitation-only tender later this year.
According to local Aboriginal folklore, the Argyle mine was formed when a barramundi fish jumped through the net of three local hunters. The diamonds are its scales glinting in the sun and the pink ones are the fish’s heart.
Everyone has their favourite cocktail, but have you wondered what cocktail actually fits your personality? Take the Discover Your Winter Cocktail quiz and find out by answering a few simple questions!
To make it more fun why not take the quiz while enjoying a Chocolate Snowball, Spring Fever or a Winter Breeze cocktail all recipes are below.
Drink responsibly and enjoy life!
Chocolate Snowball
Ingredients:
60ml (2oz) Coconut rum
60ml (2oz) Irish cream
30ml (1oz) Hazelnut liqueur
105mls (3 1/2 oz) melted chocolate
105mls (3 1/2 oz) cream
1 dash chocolate syrup
Preparation: Place the chocolate syrup around the glass then place the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass.
Spring Fever
Ingredients:
23mls (3/4 oz) lemon juice
23mls (3/4 oz) mango syrup
45mls (1 1/2 oz) pineapple juice
60ml (2oz) blood orange juice
Preparation: Shake well over ice cubes in a shaker, and strain into a collins glass half-filled with crushed ice.
Winter Breeze
Ingredients:
30ml (1oz) Creme de Cacao
30ml (1oz) Vanilla Schnapps
30ml (1oz) Irish cream milk
Preparation: Pour liquors into a beer mug, and fill with milk. Stir, and serve.
Charles Tyrwhitt has launched their new Spring Collection and to celebarte have a few offers just for you. How about 4 Charles Tyrwhitt shirts from their new Spring Collection for $199!
Or what about this offer of beautiful woven Charles Tyrwhitt ties at $49 each or 2 for $80.
Renowned for their quality shirts, ties and cufflinks Charles Tyrwhitt can also offer a unique monogramming service enabling you to add up to four initials to your chosen item – you can have it gift wrapped too. And let’s face it; a gentleman can never have too many shirts so this really is a fantastic gift idea.
Charles Tyrwhitt also offer 6 month guarantee and free returns on all products.