The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala

As a guest of Graydon Carter, Editor of Vanity Fair,  who co-hosted the event with Evegeny Lebedev, this  gala held at Lebedev's house in Hampton Court for The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation for children with cancer and the UK's leading cancer charity, Marie Curie Cancer Care - a goodly sum was raised for these splendid charities. Colin Firth Geri Halliwell


Prior to the auction, there was a spectacular sight of a floating moon with an acrobat attached-sensational!  Hampton Court Palace has some of the oldest trees in England, some of which were skilfully lit to highlight their magnificence.

NEW John Stefanidis Fabric "Promenade"

This Autumn John Stefanidis Fabrics launches a seriously chic new stripe.

"PROMENADE"

An elegant, 4 colour stripe with colours that will coordinate with and complement other designs in the John Stefanidis fabric range.

Clockwise: Steel, Blue Fudge, Orchard & Melon.

Available from:

London:          Tissus d'Helene, Chelsea Harbour, London, SW10 0XF

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7352 9977

                        Email: tissusdhelene@mac.com

                        Website: tissusdhelene.co.uk

Miami:            Monica James, 40 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL  33137
Phone: + 1 305-576-6222

                        Email: sales@monicajames.com

                        Website: monicajames.com

Los Angeles:   Harbinger, Almont Yard, 636-A North Almont Drive, CA 90069

                        Phone: +1 310 858 6884

                        Email: Info@HarbingerLA.com

                        Website: harbingerla.com

John Stefanidis Fabrics Website:      stefanidisfabrics.com

Il Trittico at the Royal Opera House

Suor Angelica

A BRILLIANT evening at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden last night.  Il Trittico [The Triptych], three one hour operas by Puccini: Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, directed by Richard Jones, marvellously conducted by Antonio Pappano, gloriously sung...opera at its very best! Hurray for London! Followed by a late dinner at the incomparable J. Sheekey, a perfect ending to a splendid evening. 

John Stefanidis' London House in The London Magazine [September, 2011]

"...Now this extremely erudite and well-read man spends his time writing a blog called The Developed Eye about books and places that inspire him" Hugh St. Clair in conversation with John Stefanidis

To read the article, follow the link below....

http://www.thelondonmagazine.co.uk/Homes/John-Stefanidis.html

Fourth London International Airport

Simon Jenkins in the London Evening Standard [20 Sept 2011] wrote a well argued article championing a fourth London international airport in the Thames Estuary and thus supporting Boris Johnson. Hurray!.....the Evening Standard to the fore, as indeed it is with their Get London Reading campaign! 

THE ROMANCE OF TARTAN

THE MOST ROMANTIC of all patterns is tartan - you find it all over the world, in India and Asia in particular - not only in tribal Scotland.


My favourite is Fraser hunting tartan - left.  

My Scottish friends kindly gave me permission to create my own Stefanidis tartan, woven in Scotland on heavy silk, designed on a computer with Annie Stewart from Anta with me looking over her shoulder www.anta.co.uk


Right  - John Stefanidis Dress tartan [red]
             - John Stefanidis Hunting tartan [blue]    

                                             A tartan themed room I designed in Ohio, USA

..and another in England.

Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement

I have just been to Degas and the Ballet at the Royal Academy--highly recommended!  Fascinating insight about the influence of photography in the 19th century. 
Until December 11, 2011





www.royalacademy.org.uk/Degas 

The Knight of Glin

I had determined never to have pictures of people on this blog but I am making an exception – Desmond Fitzgerald, the Knight of Glin has died.  The photograph shows Desmond, Thalita Getty and Mariga Guinness, all stylish, not only in appearance, but in their depths.

The Knight was handsome, erudite, funny, urbane and sophisticated, not unlikely to take offence but he was always a forgiving, constant and loyal friend.  The 29^th  Knight, the most romantic of all titles will cease to exist.  He will be missed. 

Frank's Campari Bar

Before it's too late, venture south of the river for a an Italian truck driver's cocktail at.............................
Frank's Campari Bar --a pop-up bar on top of a multi-story car park in Peckham with breathtaking views of London, run by Frank Boxer--open until end of September 
..................................................................................................................http://www.frankscafe.org.uk/.  

The Bonnington Square  garden opened in 1994 on a bomb damaged
area managed and maintained by local residents.

On your way, stop for an espresso at Charlie Boxer's delicatessen & cafe in charming Bonnington Square in Vauxhall http://bonningtonsquaregarden.org.uk/

BIZARRE FABRICS

William Hogarth - The Spode Family 18th C.

It is very difficult to distinguish where Bizarre fabrics were woven in these extraordinary and strange patterns since they were made in Venice, Constantinople and London at Spitalfields.  My collection does homage to these unique designs: www.stefanidisfabrics.com

Alexandrine / Acid Green

Alexandrine / Soft Blue

Alexandrine / Hot Pink

Alexandrine / Citrine

Spitalfields - Azure/Magenta 

Spitalfields - Viridian / Plum 

Istanbul

Venice

FAREWELL TO SUMMER

LEFT - An Athens terrace, seen through a pinoleum blind, an all time favourite as it filters light so well.


BELOW - Tote bag from LL Bean [U.S.]--still the best, available in many colours, washable and can be monogrammed, containing a lap top in a velvet case and traditional 'adieu' - a rose or gardenia when in season.  

         FAREWELL TO SUMMER

MARSDEN WOO GALLERY

A very interesting interpretation of Vermeer: 


CAROLINE BROADHEAD
MAISIE BROADHEAD
Taking The Chair
15 September - 30 October, 2011




Marsden Woo Gallery
17-18 Great Sutton Street, London, EC1V oDN 
+ 44 (0)20 7336 6396
www.marsdenwoo.com

Nostalgia - Sea planes

Sea planes that took me as a child from Cairo to Khartoum in Sudan on my way to join my parents in Eritrea.