Thursday in Dubai is synonymous to Friday in all parts of the world. Busy bees are thrilled to start the first weekend of 2013 early. I found this ultimate home cinema on In Pursuit of Fabulous. If I have to sum up what a perfect Thursday night would be like in a place where it rarely rains, this image would be it.

How lovely is this?  Event styling inspired by FFS, Food+Flower+Style suspending white ranunculus up in the air with candles on clear nylon wires or using crimped thin Inox holding each transparent tube. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

XOXO,

Arni

Images via Food+Flower+Style

I'm excited to feature this fun baby shower on a post this week. With all the baking and the decorations, lack of sleep, it turned out to be a creative fest of food, color and games. Mini Eiffel Towers popped in the apartment and check out  dragées for the party favors.   We even created a  blog site for the party, where we will post all party photos that the guests can visit and check later. 

Catching up with things we love to do this weekend in the middle of errands is just the right amount of dose of love we need,  giving ourselves a pat on the back after a tiring week.  Books + Coffee + Dark Chocolate porridge.    

Getting Lost in a Good Book - To those living in the UAE (Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai),  I've recently discovered  Readers Paradise, a book rental club that delivers book of your choice to your door step.  In this way, you can save money by renting up to 8 books which is equivalent to a price of 1 book. There are also books that you can purchase from them, signed by the authors.  I can't wait to try.

Artist Feature is a segment in Design Gourmande to celebrate creativity by engaging in a conversation with an artist about their work, source of inspiration and what fascinates them.  

I was flabbergasted when I first saw my talented and creative cousin, Makee de Rivera's miniature art of a french bakery-la boulangerie.  Since then I have been following her weekend project posts and I'm delighted to see them every time.  I thought of sharing her works with you. 

Arbitrage is a suspense thriller directed by Nicholas Jarecki, about a billionaire and hedge fund tycoon, Robert Miller played by Richard Gere who tries to sell a large portion of his firm to cover crooked accounting, as a result of bad deals.   The movie is narrated through Robert Miller's point of view as he struggles with a shaky merger relying heavily on the  reputation of his family run business with implications on his wife, Ellen (Susan Sarandon) and daughter, Brooke (Brit Marling) as his chief financial officer.  Miller's sheer confidence, calm  and collected persona conceals the desperation  underneath,  as he arrogantly gains control over unforeseen events that would explode into a catastrophic loss of everything he has extremely worked hard to build.   The story challenges one's moral grounds and how love, loyalty and family are outweighed by one's priorities.

# 1  Finally nailed baking that carrot cake for my Mother- in-law's birthday. 
There was no Kraft cream cheese available in France.  I used Mascarpone, 
a thick creamy soft Italian cheese used in Tiramisu instead.

A walk on the beach completes one's summer.  As we were staying in the Western part of France, the closest one is Les Sables d' Olonne meaning "the sands of Olonne"   It is a seaside town of the  Vendée  Globe, a legendary round the world solo yacht race.  It is the sailing capital of France by the Atlantic Ocean.

 "You know, the smallest thing can change a life. In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance - and when you least expect it - since we're on a course that you could have never planned, into a future you never imagined. Where will it take you? That's the journey of our lives: our search for the light. But sometimes, finding the light means you must past through the deepest darkness. At least, that's how it was for me."  - The Lucky One

Beef for tacos and mango salsa salad

Crazy and Sultry Pose

I am thrilled to feature another talented and creative lady,  Sanaa Merchant of  Sanaa's Art Gallery.  She's based in Dubai.  A graduate of an International Business degree who's now a full time Artist.   Life eventually led her to discover an innate passion and enthusiasm in the Arts.

What inspired you to pursue a life as an Artist?

Love with the different and various forms of art, where there is no barrier to stop me.  As an artist, I can talk and walk art. It doesn't have to be confined to just canvas.  Although, canvas always helps one to not only put their thoughts down on it, but it also helps to overcome any dilemma one is in.  Art gives me an ease of mind and helps me focused.

Hard work!!!! The path isn't easy, neither it is impossible.  I worked hard since the very start and still continue in doing so.  There is constant improvement as I believe learning has no end.

How did you start in this path?  

It started in school when I took art as a choice, just so that I do not have to pursue history and geography as my future study subjects.  I did not want to be bounded by books so I chose art as one of my subjects, by which later it developed in a passion it is today.  Today, I am glad at the choice I made years back.

What is your painting style?

My painting style is more of where details are.  I love details, but at the same time, I love to work with bright vibrant colors, especially turquoise blue, being one of my favorites.  You will see a lot of blues and other bright vibrant colors are usually always there.

In school, I never did realize I would exhibit in prestigious places or that I would own a website with my works on it.  Neither did I know I would  be featured in newspapers, university journals or even blogs.  I feel totally so overwhelmed and happy what I pursued then to what I am today.  And yes, I still have a long way to go.

What was your favorite work out of all your masterpieces?  What ties to you to this particular piece?

My favorite piece of work is this traditional pot.  It is an enlarged painting of one of the images that I did in school.  The left one is when I was 15, and the right one is accomplished around 7 years after.  One can already see the difference.  I love this piece, as this is my identity where many people after having a close look at this piece of art inquire about me  and my works, and as well as give me commissions to do for their homes, offices, hotels, etc.    What I totally love about this work are the details attached with it, and the flow of color.  As you well know, watercolor is one of the most difficult medium to work with.

Your advice for aspiring artists?

Break free from the norms and do not be hesitant to work out experiments.  I often see some of my private students who wish to learn like me and do works like me, yet, they are scared to break fee and try something themselves.  One needs to be totally relaxed and scare free in order to achieve a timeless classic.

Well said!   Any upcoming exhibitions?

Ramadan Night Market @ DWTC (Dubai World Trade Centre)  from August 10 - 19 

The next one is at The Address Hotel Lounge, Dubai  from September - October (Exact dates to be announced)

Contact Information:  

Email:  artistsanaa@hotmail.com, info@sanzarts.com

Website:  http://www.sanzarts.com/

Telephone:  +971 50 9862106

Visit her facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/sanzarts

Follow her on Twitter:  @artistsanaa

This makes me want to pack my bags and  head out to scenic mountains for a romantic camping weekend.   The only thing missing in this picture are bicycles.  This retro Volkswagen camping car is such an inspiring decorative piece.  Imagine, barbecue dinners, star gazing, a lot of reading, hiking, outdoor painting or writing, playing music,  tranquility in the greens under the perfect weather.  I could just dream...

Let's go camping this weekend.

XOXO,

Arni

A romantic comedy about a road less traveled. I just finished watching this film. An illegal taxi cab driver in New York, Thom is hired by a heartbroken woman named Claire to drive all the way to California, in order to see her estranged father who had suffered a heart attack.

Sometimes, when we least expect it, love and adventure find us.

Happy Wednesday!

XOXO,

Arni