Triumphant Baz

Despite the nay saying critics, Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby looks like being a stellar Box Office success : the only success that really matters.

Yesterday US cinemas had raked in over over $90M in takings in the USA alone and that's before it opens in the UK, throughout Europe and ahead of Australia's gala premier this Wednesday evening when 1000 guests will front up for a sensational premier and after-party.

Luhrmann continues to defy movie snobs with his lavish productions : from his Oscar winning Romeo & Juliet to Moulin Rouge and the critic panned Australia, each production has reaped huge financial rewards and now the influential Huffington Post has given the flick the seal of approval with this article:
 Why the Critics are Wrong About Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'
And get set for a year of Gatsby 1920's fashions as illustrated in the latest The Lady Magazine, the first off the rank. 

Diamonds Are Forever

Top jewellery designer Stefano Canturi who has been wowing them in New York threw a cocktail party to launch an exhibition of artworks and accompanying creations at the MiCK Gallery in Paddington, featuring some of his best works from the past 25 years (he began when he was just 17).

Neale Whittaker, Stefano Canturi, Patricia Canturi , David Novak Piper

Jessica Rowe

Of special interest is the amazing 'Satine' necklace commissioned by movie director Baz Luhrmann and Academy Award winning costume designer Catherine Martin. This amazing necklace was worn by Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge. Other confirmed Canturi fans include Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Minogue, Linda Evangalista and Miranda Kerr.

 The Louis XVI inspired Satine design features open lace patterns,scrolls and a splendorous bodice with 1308 diamonds totalling an awe inspiring 134 carats ! .Nice.
Stefano's exhibition is worth seeing for that alone but there are a wealth of beautiful sketches and wondrous jewels on display and it's a must see for everyone.
The exhibition Journey is open until the 12th February at 44 Gurner Street, Paddington. Tel : 02 9231 1799

Stefano Canturi Shines

rare gems....and beautiful baubles

Stefano Canturi has come a fair way in 25 years of designing precious jewellery and now numbers the likes of Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Oprah Winfrey, Melissa George and Madmen star Christina Hendricks amongst his fans and customers. He's even received the ultimate accolade : designing a necklace for Barbie! (the necklace sold at a New York charity auction for over $300,000)

Stefano Canturi, Silvia Colloca & Richard Roxburgh

During the week Stefano hosted a dinner at the social set's fave new restaurant Apollo in Macleay Street, Potts Point with the restaurant kitted out with Stefano's original design sketches for his creations including the amazing diamond necklace worn by Nicole Kidman in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge.

Amongst the guests: designer Carla Zampatti (left) and Moulin Rouge star Richard Roxburgh and his beautiful Italian wife Silvia Colloca.  Roxburgh, a friend of Canturi's from the Moulin Rouge days had another reason to celebrate that night-his hit show Rake  premiered it's second season that night on ABC TV.

Christina Hendricks wears Canturi

       














left : Nicole Kidman wears the Stefano Canturi creation

Great Gasby Inspired Rugs

 To Iona, the Darlinghurst home of movie director Baz Luhrmann and his designing wife Catherine Martin who is the genius behind all those fantastic sets on Moulin Rouge, Australia , Romeo & Juliet and the upcoming Great Gatsby 3D epic staring Leo Di Caprio.

Iona is fairly unique in Sydney-a huge mansion with gardens more suited to the ritzy eastern Suburbs. It's bang smack in the middle of trendy Darlinghurst and East Sydney, surrounded by blocks of flats, terrace houses and just a stone's throw from bustling Kings Cross. Once through the large wrought iron gates, it's an oasis of calm.

 Martin has designed a set of Art Deco inspired floor rugs which really are sensational. With The Great Gastby due to be finished by November and released in early 2013, there is bound to be a surge in interest in Roaring Twenties design similar to the impact Moulin Rouge had for around 2 years (it was impossible to avoid a Parisian style party in Sydney or Melbourne).

 The last time the Shuttle visited Iona it was in a run down state with parts of the roof missing. Baz & Catherine reportedly spent a million dollars restoring the listed house. In parts it resembles a lavish film set as can be seen in our snaps of Catherine's rugs, pictured in various rooms in the house.

Iona-surrounded by apartment blocks (http://mydarlingdarlinghurst.blogspot.com.au)

You can see more of Catherine's rugs here :
www.designerrugs.com.au   www.mokumtextiles.com   www.anthropologie.com