The term blank canvas has never had so much meaning, since artist Craig Tracy turned the untouched naked body, into his own easel and canvas board.

Since getting into body painting in 2002, Tracy has been contacted by countless models wishing to be painted, maintaining that he never uses agencies or websites to find his canvasses.

The models are incorporated into a large scale picture, sometimes with backdrops, sometimes solely a naked body transformed into beautiful art.

What began with a need to work with different surfaces, led to painting faces, then using the full body.

The artist’s favourite composition is entitled ‘Speed‘, which is relatively simple in comparison to other vast creations such as the country landscape.

Those among you with the body confidence to get involved can contact the New Orleans gallery directly through Craig Tracy’s website, along with thousands of others. Less than half the models that ‘apply’ get the honour of being painted.

If this fails, The World Bodypainting Festival is open to everyone, with the involvement of top photographers, make up artists and body painters worldwide.

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Blending several different elements of exercise, Bellyfit aims not only to give your body an exercise, but connect you with your roots and engage your mind, body and spirit.

The exercise is done in classes and uses cardio to begin with. They get the heart racing and the sweat dripping with various styles of dance such as belly dance, Bollywood and African dance.

This is followed by a relaxed second half of yoga, toning and tightening pilates and Mudra meditation to bring a relaxing end.

Bellyfit was solely founded by Alice Bracegirdle in 2003, after battling depression she allowed music to guide her back into exercise and Bellyfit was born.

It has naturally evolved through the years, incorporating more elements and different music styles to keep the fitness regime new and fun.

This exercise is designed exclusively for women and aims to bring inspiration and joy into their lives, connecting them with their ancient roots while remaining in the present moment and empowering them for the future.

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Bringing something amazing to the ordinary is artist Seung Mo Park, who uses an unusual material that would normally go untouched in a scrap yard in an interesting juxtaposition of delicacy of design, and coarseness of material.

The process begins with a photo shoot just like any other. Once the photos are chosen, Seung Mo Park goes into the studio and begins clipping away at the wire mesh, following the projection of the image.

Projections of the images are used as a reference, used to create light and dark areas of the metal. Several pieces of the mesh are layered on each other, each a few centimetres apart for depth. The patience and attention to detail that goes into each sheet of wire is intense, with even the moisture of the eye being recreated in some sculptures.

His New York exhibition was aptly titled ‘MAYA’, translated into ‘illusion’ in Sanskrit, with each individual portrait titled ‘MAYA’ followed by a number, giving anonymity to the real women used in re-creation.

Seeing the process from start to finish shows just how much detail goes into one sculpture, bringing a whole new level of appreciation to every piece.

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This week at Jules B H/O we’re writing this while looking out at the grey drizzle currently masquerading as the great British summer, and dreaming of a splash of sunshine to increase our serotonin levels. But do not fret! May is officially the chicest month in Europe…so where better to start than fabulous Cannes?

Situated in sunny southeastern France, the famous town of Cannes grew its roots as a small fishing village before developing into the European social hub and playground of the rich and famous it is today. May means only one thing in Cannes, and unless you’ve been living under a rock you will have heard of the Cannes Film Festival, which plays host to the worlds most famous actors, directors and producers every year. With a one-of-a-kind mix of designer boutiques, award winning restaurants and world class hotels, isn’t it about time you started planning your Cannes getaway?

Promenade de la Croisette is a popular waterfront avenue that stretches the whole length of Cannes, and is lined with picture perfect palm trees and a white sandy beach. Here you’ll find some of the most exclusive designer boutiques, hotels and restaurants, and is a great spot for celebrity spotting!

The Ils de Lerins lie just a short boat ride from Cannes and provide a fascinating insight into the history of the region, including several important forts and prisons. Ils Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of the islands and famous for its extensive fortress prison, Fort Royal, in which the legend of the man in the mask was held in the 17th Century before being transferred to Bastille. The man’s identity is still unknown, with over 100 names proposed including the son of Oliver Cromwell or the real father of King Louis XIV, but with no historical proof, his name or exact crime still remains unknown.

Le Suquet is the old town area that overlooks the Bay of Cannes and the Mediterranean sea dotted with yachts. It’s traditionally the fisherman’s residential area, and a mesh of winding cobbled streets oozing with quaint, picturesque French charm.

16-27 May marks the start of the annual Cannes Film Festival, and there’s no better place to celebrity spot than on the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals et des Congres. New films from all over the world are previewed here including documentaries, and the Marche du Film, one of the largest film markets in the world is held in conjunction. The festival’s origins date back to the 1930′s when Jean Zay, the French minister of national education set up an international cinematographic festival showing films from 16 countries with a judge from each.

Cannes has a glamorous reputation and a Mediterranean temperature that boasts 12 hours of sunshine in a summer day, so make sure you pack to impress. For daytime chic, ladies need look no further than a Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, teamed with bright accessories from Rachael Ruddick, and a pair of Bruno Premi shoes. For men, an on trend and go with everything pair of Sperry shoes provide all day comfort, just pair with Gant chinos and a La Martina polo shirt this spring/summer.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Palmetto dress, £349.95	Rachael Ruddick Govett tote bag, £274.99	Bruno Premi suede tie pumps, £89.95
Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes, £79.99	Gant New Haven chinos, £74.99	La Martina polo shirt, £94.99

Well known for up-market nightlife, come prepared for anything from sipping champagne with yacht hopping billionaires at premium nightclub Le Baoli, or enjoying the best seafood in town amongst Hollywood’s elite at restaurant La Palme d’Or. For ladies a fitted Forever Unique dress is ideal teamed with bright Melissa Vivienne Westwood shoes and pretty Patrizia Daliana necklace. For men, keep it slick with a fitted Acne shirt, smart Holland Esquire trousers and a great pair of Stemar shoes.

Forever Unique Eden dress, £274.99	Patrizia Daliana Cameo pendant, £384.99	Melissa Vivienne Westwood Skyscraper shoes, £127.99
Stemar Cremona Monk shoes, £264.99	Holland Esquire herringbone trousers, £119.99	Acne slim fit shirt, £119.99

A must see is the nearby Gasgonian Gallery which is currently showing the ‘Picasso and Françoise Gilot: Paris-Vallauris, 1943-1953′ exhibition, showing Picasso’s family life in his 60′s and 70′s with Françoise and young children Claude and Paloma.

Happy travels!

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The featured video below is entitled ‘Venice In A Day’ – captured by film maker Joerg Niggli. The video was shot on a Canon G10 camcorder and has been made as a timelapse piece. From daybreak through to sunset, the video captures the lifestyle and all that’s beautiful about this great Italian city.

As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, Venice is a busy and bustling place to be. As a hub for artists and culture vultures, the video has captured the vibrant colours, light and shapes that Venice is famous for, Niggli has also created this stunning piece using a relatively inexpensive camera and editing equipment. The light bouncing off the waterways creates a completely different feel from one minute to the next and you can certainly gain an insight into how the residents and visitors go about their lives in Venice.

For more on Joerg Niggli’s work please visit - niggli.com

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Who can resist taking a look around the house and wardrobe of some of the most influential and successful people in the creative industry? Certainly not the Jules B team, that’s for sure. After the discovery of our new favourite website, thecoveteur.com, we’re checking back daily to see who’s closet we can take a sneaky peak at. The Coveteur was founded by designer Erin Kleinberg and stylist Stephanie Mark, and gives us an insiders look into the creative process that makes the individual style of some of today’s hottest designers, models, editors, film makers and many more interesting characters, with photo genius Jake Rosenberg behind the camera.

We just can’t get enough of the website for its quirky insider home styling tips from the likes of Anna Dello Russo, the fashion queen editor-at-large of Japanese Vogue.

While we may not all decide to decorate our television’s with designer headgear, the website is a rare insight into how ‘the other half live’!

We also particularly enjoyed a good look around Keith Pollock’s New York apartment. As the Editorial Director of elle.com, one of the most successful online adaptations of a printed publication, Pollock has continued his casual yet always impeccable approach to fashion through to his super stylish apartment, with just the right amount of quirk.

Last but not least, we loved reading about Filipa Fino. With a career in fashion since 1995, she has worked for Harper’s Bazaar, Allure and Vogue before starting her own fashion firm: ‘Filipa Fino Inc‘.  Her profile on The Coveteur shows her life in fashion through her wardrobe, with hidden treasures from the years including amazing rare collection of Chanel bags.

If your interested in fashion, styling and new ways of expressing your personality through your home, then this is definitely the website for you.

http://thecoveteur.com/

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Since 1993 when the company began, UltraSlide has benefited athletes, sports teams and fitness enthusiasts alike.

The sustainably produced ‘slide board’ is created in Chicago in its entirety with reused, recycled and environmentally friendly means.

The UltraSlide exercise system is for training and building muscle, alongside providing a challenging but fun aerobic workout.

The ‘Slide Slippers’ enable you to slide across the baseboard and complete a full body workout, as they can be used on the feet or the hands.

Reality show, The Biggest Loser, endorsed the UltraSlide 7, specifically created for the show and at home use.

For sports such as tennis, skating and hockey, a side to side motion is needed. The UltraSlide allows you to practice this skill and develop muscles in the hip and the leg to make lateral movement possible and strengthen the lower body.

While the UltraSlide has yet to take off in the UK, classes have popped up country wide in the US to enhance various athletic skills and offer an alternative workout.

The cost affective apparatus can be purchased for around £150 for at home use from the UltraSlide website. View all the exercises talked through by their online trainer on their youtube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/TheUltraslide.

Looking at the intense detail, you’d never believe they were made out of clay, with everything down to the tiny tomato seeds being replicated.

Shay has created everything from miniature cola bottles, to a full roast dinner in equal size to a penny. Using polymer clay, he sculpts the miniatures from house hold items like toothbrushes, foil and table cloths, to get the texture.

His inspiration is sourced from around the world, constantly looking up new and interesting dishes to shrink down to 1:12 doll house scale.

Shay is currently in the process of creating the “ultimate doll house”, taking inspiration from his own collections of miniatures, he aims to finish one section a year.

If not just to stare at in awe, his pieces can also be used for style!

Virtually all of his tiny food creations have been transformed into jewellery, you can find the pitta wraps, buttered toast and shallot onion accessories on his Etsy store.

To lose yourself in the minute detail, see more of his work on his

Flickr and Facebook pages.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a talented and hardworking sales advisor. This individual will join a dedicated team at a New Jules B flagship store in Yarm and work to exceed the high level of customer service and attention to detail demanded from all the Jules B stores.

Responsibilities will include:

• Provide superior customer service.
• Deliver first-class shopping experience to drive sales.
• Dress mannequins and ensure product is displayed attractively.
• Monitor & report competitor activity and relevant industry trends, events and opportunities to appropriate staff.
• Work to proactively build on the favourable reputation of the Jules B brand.

Essential Skills and Requirements:

• Superior interpersonal skills.
• Experience of working in a fast-moving environment.
• Healthy dose of common sense and initiative.
• Confident, reliable and trustworthy.
• Great sense of humour and attitude.

Salary dependent on experience.

Please email a recently updated CV and covering letter to:

tom@julesb.co.uk

Responsibilities will include:

• Approve and inspire visual shop displays
• Oversee daily shop operations
• Idea generation: maintaining our competitive edge by delivering new marketing innovations and store strategies to increase sales
• Oversee inventory management
• Implement firm shop policies
• Motivate staff and work well within and for the team
• Monitor & report competitor activity and relevant industry trends, events and opportunities to appropriate staff
• Work to proactively build on the favourable reputation of the Jules B brand

Essential Skills and Requirements:

• Superior leadership and interpersonal skills
• Experience of working in a fast-moving environment
• Healthy dose of common sense and initiative
• Broad knowledge of business and merchandising techniques
• Excellent communicator of ideas
• Confident, reliable and trustworthy
• Great sense of humour and attitude

Full-time.

Salary dependent on experience.

Please email a CV and covering letter to Jesmond.Woman.Manager@julesb.co.uk