SOME BEAUTY TO SHARE...

...Today I am pretty busy with some work, but anyway, can't let my blog stay idle :) 

So, while I am tugging at the oars behind the scene, enjoy this beautiful image in the shades of malachite green!

via Hurricane Lungs

Happy, Passionate Weekend!

If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.
T. Alan Armstrong 

Elle Brazil Nov2010~Rainha da Tribo. Model - Caroline Trentini

Culture Through Objects: INCENSE ART

The fuming of incenses is a sacred ancient practice, a form of art, helping us to re-unite mind, body and soul through a blissful harmony enveloping with each inhale. Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan used to say that our prayers ascend to God faster while incense fumes are rising.  He advised to inhale aromatic herbs and oils to create a sublime mood the would lead to spiritual harmony and unity with the Divine Spirit...

{...rose flowers were processed to give rose oil and rose water /Gulab/. Since very old times, rose oil has been used as a perfume and remedy to relieve a headache if rubbed into temples, and rose water was used in ablutions, including sacred ones, and helped to cure poor digestion and heart problems...}

{...dried in shadow, rose petals were finely ground and mixed with a special, light kind of clay; and then, with a pestle and mortar, it was converted into aromatic soap...} {...fragrance infusions, balms, lotions and perfumes were kept in tightly sealed glass flasks that preserved aromas for a very long time...}
The flasks found in Azerbaijan are dated first centuries of the Common Era

{...Üzerlik plant was used to remove the evil eye curse: a handful of crushed stems, leaves and seeds a few times pulled up over and around the head was then thrown into fire...} 
{...fragrant incenses were kept in special, ornamented ceramic and porcelain flasks...}

 {...Dried seeds of zosima plant, called in Azerbaijan Atıl-Batıl, contain fragrant essential oils. This plant was burned to turn away the evil eye, aromatize and disinfect rooms...}

All images and accompanying text are from Baku magazine
Photography: Dmitry Livshits
Styling: Dilyara Muradova

A GLIMPSE at PAKISTANI BRIDAL COUTURE WEEK 2010

I've just found these images saved some months ago to my computer for sharing in the future but somehow unfairly forgotten. Now re-discovered, here are some absolutely magnificent looks created by famous Pakistani couturiers Fahad Hussayn and Sehar Ali!

FAHAD HUSSAYN

SEHAR ALI

ROSE ARRANGEMENTS

Though I am one of those who prefer roses solo (especially it concerns the garden), but I still like how these bouquets are arranged with all this greenery that even accentuates the refined, nostalgic beauty of roses. 

 

Images from here

ORCHID ARRANGEMENTS

I always stayed rather indifferent to orchids (at least, I thought I did) but with time, 

I 've noticed they are getting me captivated with their  noble elegance,  refined delicacy and rich varieties of form and colour! 

...if you are puzzled what this image might have to do with orchids, just take a closer look at the bird cage ;)

This horn is made with an air plant, Grey Tillandsia! It doesn't need soil and, creeping upon trees or stones, gets necessary nutrients from air.

This spiral base is made with burdock.
 

Images are from here

FANTASTIC VOYAGE ~ ELLE Magazine

Morocco doesn't let me off :) This time, here's a Moroccan photosession - beautiful play of light, colors and textures - of Danielle Zinaich photographed by Serge Leblon and styled by Samira Nasr for Elle US, September 2010.  Don't forget also to watch an exquisite film, below, by Marcus K. Jones!

Images via real life is elsewhere

...if you feel the need to continue your Moroccan voyage, you may enjoy a Beautiful Tango by Hindi Zahra here.

MOROCCAN STYLE for YOUR HOME - I

...though the spring weather may be still gray and dull, and not looking like spring at all (like what i am seeing now behind the windows), but making our home colorful and sensual is quite capable! For example, with the help of all these ideas below..!

Elle decor via CasaSugar

Elle decor via here 

Elle decor via DesignManifest

via Lona de Anna

Elle decor via JuBella

via Moroccan-House-Style