In Honor Of Halloween, Some Spooky Skull Shoes & Boots From Martin Margiela (+ 100 more things)

Martin Margiela's leather skull boot and canvas skull sneaker (or trainer) are frightfully scary to some but may be eerily attractive to others. Either way, they're the perfect kicks for All Hallows' Eve.

The hand-painted leather boots (limited edition):





The hand-painted sneaker:




The skull print sneaker or trainer is available for purchase here.
Or here.
Or here.


The hand spray painted limited edition skull leather boots can be found here.

To see over 100 purchasable items I've chosen with skulls or skull-related imagery and design, check out my "Death Becomes You" list here. Or simply use the left and right scroll arrows on the widget below to see them all.

In Memorium: Ethel Sweet (neé Weitz) 1911-2008

I suffered a personal loss today. And the world suffered the loss of one more artist.

My grandmother, Ethel, was an artist.
She wasn't a Georgia O'Keefe or a Grandma Moses. She merely painted for herself, her friends and local art shows her whole life. She garnered several first place and honorable mentions at local shows and growing up, my parents' home was filled with her artwork.

She spent countless hours sitting with me as a child teaching me how to 'draw' and always had fresh pencils, paints and paper ready and waiting upon our visits for me, my sisters and my cousins to play with. I couldn't wait to visit her, spend time with her and draw and paint to my hearts' content.

She never stopped painting until she simply couldn't do it anymore... and that was just a year ago at age 96. Just this year, 2008, her work was included in the Hyatt Classic Residence Artist Series.



She was married to my grandfather, Sol Sweet for over 60 years (he passed away in 1990 at age 85) and she was very close to her two sons, my uncle Bob and my father Larry, as well as her daughters-in-law and her 5 granddaughters and her great grandchildren.

She was Yoda-like in her wisdom. She spoke gently, but deliberately, and never judged people or was even the slightest bit catty. I don't think she ever once uttered anything remotely close to sarcasm. She often referred to her five granddaughters as 'cookie' or 'dolly'.

Always patient and kind, she made killer brownies and potato salad. She was the grandma who snuck me to the mall at age 13 to get my ears pierced, despite my dad's insistence that I not 'put holes in my ears.'

Despite being financially comfortable, she was never showy. She was modest in her dress and jewelry and didn't believe in spending money recklessly. She could have worn designer clothes and drove fancy cars, but she wasn't comfortable with that.

She liked beer, sourdough and candied ginger. She didn't like pictures of herself and bizarrely, never had any photos of herself in her homes.

Of all my family, she was the animal lover, the one who thoughtfully always asked about my dog (being her only granddaughter who didn't have children).

Being an 'artist' for a living made me feel a special kinship with her. But she was the type of woman who made each of her children and grandchildren feel that way. As if they each had a unique personal bond with her.

Her life in pictures:




She had a wonderful marriage to my grandfather Sol, for over 60 years:



Below: with my father, the eldest of her two boys



And in recent years:

above: July 2004

above: last summer, June, 2007

As an artist, she actually began her career doing advertising illustrations for department stores that ran in newspapers, so you could say she was the first 'art director' I ever knew.
She painted with oils and acrylics as well and in her later years became an adept water colorist.

Some of her early work:

Golden Gate Bridge, 1967

Honorable Mention winner, 1967

As she aged, she continued to send me handmade cards for my birthday and the holidays. Even last year, I received a handmade hand painted birthday card:



Incredibly talented until her final days, my gran even taught watercolor at her Senior Living home until her early 90s. And her work, shown below, was used on holiday cards printed by Hyatt Senior Residence at La Jolla.



I will forever have a hole in my heart now.
She will be greatly missed. And the world will be a little less colorful.

Obama Loses By One Vote: Blame Your Friends With This Customizable Video by MoveOn™

Above: It's all my fault.

In an effort to get people out and voting (and in this case, for Obama), this hilarious mock newscast blames the loss on a single non-voter. A customizable non-voter to boot.



All you do is fill in a name and the newscast blames he or she for Obama's loss by one single vote, watch below:



The mock newscast is laden with hilarious knocks at the intended target complete with accompanying articles.



Now go make one! And don't forget to vote!
Special thanks to Andrea Goldman for bringing this brilliant piece of viral propaganda to my attention!

The customizable video was created by Move On.
MoveOn.org Civic Action is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues. MoveOn.org Political Action is a federal political committee which primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect our values through a variety of activities aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election. MoveOn.org Political Action and MoveOn.org Civic Action are separate organizations. Learn more about Move On.org here.

Due To High Demand HP Releases Vivienne Tam Edition Early, Reserve Yours Now.

Attention all you Fashionista cum Nerds, due to such a popular response for the new HP-mini Vivienne Tam edition notebook, they've decided to move production up so you can get one in time for the holidays!



Introducing the world’s first digital clutch by award-winning designer Vivienne Tam. Featuring the peony-inspired design in the vivid shades of violet and sophisticated reds found throughout her Spring 2009 collection, this HP Mini coordinates perfectly with stunning Vivienne Tam pieces and adds polish to everyday wear.



Product Specs:
· 10.2" High Definition display
· Under 1-inch thick
· Just over 2 pounds
· Windows® XP Home with SP3
· Intel® Atom™ Processor



* Express ultra sophisticated style with an original Vivienne Tam design
* Stay connected with the world’s first digital clutch
* A perfect accessory at only 2.25 lbs and a mere 1” thin
* Ideal for email, IM and chatting face-to-face with built-in HP Mini Webcam
* Experience the frameless look of the 10.1” diagonal BrightView Infinity LED display
* Greater peace of mind with 1-year HP Accidental Damage Protection
* Get fast, reliable answers to your questions about your new Mini, anytime 24x7 with the 6 month SmartFriend Calling Card


Prices start at $699.99 with protective Vivienne Tam silk sleeve
Reserve a Vivienne Tam Mini by phone at 1-800-230-5752 or online here

Don't Be Frightened: Good Work For Goodwill Of Southern California

Above: advertising for Goodwill this Halloween season in Los Angeles

If you live in Los Angeles, you may have seen this wonderfully graphic Halloween campaign for Goodwill, created by The Miller Group. For those of you who haven't, I wanted to share it with you because it's an example of a cohesive campaign based on a simple premise that is both hard to ignore and hard not to love.

The campaign consists of nicely designed and illustrated newspaper ads, posters, outdoor, iPhone wallpaper, banner ads and a television spot that all utilize graphic 'spooky' versions Goodwill's iconic lower case 'g' character and logo (shown directly below).



Take a look at some of the charming 'spookified' iterations of the Goodwill character:






The wild postings look great around town:


And the accompanying tv spot is a simple way to bring these characters to life complete with music score by Harry Manfredini known for scoring horror films like Friday the 13th.



CREDITS:
Client: Goodwill of Southern California
Spot Title: Halloween
Break Date: October 22, 2008
Agency: The Miller Group, Los Angeles, CA
Executive Creative Director: Renee Miller
Creative Director: Greg Collins
Art Director: Shin Kawase
Copywriter: Greg Collins
Agency Producer: Gary Bettman
Illustrator: Andy Mueller
Animation Company: Mind Over Eye, Santa Monica
Executive Producer: Andy Dellenbach
Animation Director: Mat Fuller
Editor: Dave Wein
Music Composer: Harry Manfredini
Voices: Greg Collins, Heidi Cotton

Smart, simple and memorable.
The only thing they didn't do which I wish they had? Sell these posters with part of the proceeds going to Goodwill! It's such a natural idea, good fit and wouldn't have required and extra designing or production. I know many people who'd buy them, starting with myself.

Let's hope they make it an annual campaign!
I can already see the Christmas one... rudolph, santa, mrs. clause, elves, the grinch....

Nice work Miller Group. Good going Goodwill. And Happy Halloween!


The Miller Group


Goodwill Southern California | 342 San Fernando Road - Los Angeles, CA 90031
Toll Free: (888) 4-GOODWILL or (888) 446-6394 Local: (323) 223-1211

If You've Never Seen The Eyewear of Linda Farrow, You Could Use Some Glasses.

Anyone who's a true fashionista is already familiar with Linda Farrow's collection of luxe, vintage and limited edition designer sunglasses. They appear in the chicest of boutiques and on the runway models of the hippest designer's shows, fashion mags and more. If you've never heard of Linda Farrow or their eyewear, then this will be a treat for you.

First, a little background for those of you who do not know of Linda Farrow eyewear.



First established in 1970, the Linda Farrow brand of luxury eyewear rose quickly to acclaim amongst stylish Londoners and the international jet set. Originally a fashion designer herself, Linda Farrow was one of the first to treat sunglasses as fashion, producing collection after cutting-edge collection, her finger always on the pulse of the times. A tireless experimenter, Farrow pioneered many of the shapes and styles that remain au courant today. Exploring the use of screws on frames, for example, Farrow developed the avant-garde wraparounds that became Yoko Ono’s trademark style in the 70s. Farrow’s relentless pursuit of luxury, innovation and cutting-edge design continue to mark the brand almost forty years on.


Above: Simon Jablon

It was in one of their warehouses in London that the artistic director, Simon Jablon, son of the legendary designer Linda Farrow, rediscovered old models of original sunglasses created in the 70s and 80s by his mother. In April 2003, Linda Farrow Vintage was launched.

They now carry three collections; only a few of which from each line are shown below.

The fine jewellery collection which are glasses whose frames are made with precious metals, diamonds and other gemstones:




A few from The Luxe collection:




And some examples from the Vintage collection:







The Linda Farrow Vintage range consists of 2000 models, which includes styles produced in limited edition of only 500 copies. The glasses are sold in their original packaging, through exclusive and international distribution.

But what I find more interesting than their three lines are the collaborative efforts with other fashion designers and the sunglasses worn by the runway models during fashion shows.



Above: Models sporting Linda Farrow designs at the runway shows


Above: Model wearing the collaborative effort of Linda Farrow and Jeremy Scott

Linda Farrow Vintage has launched several collections in collaboration with brands such as Giles Deacon, House of Holland, Dries Van Noten, Peter Pilotto, Yohji Yamomoto, Ponystep, ACNE, Basso & Brooke, Bernhard Willhelm, Buddhist Punk, Eley Kishimito, Jeremy Scott, Sophia Kokosalaki and Linda Farrow Vintage for Tsuba.

Many of these were designed for select fashion designer's runway shows, below are some of my favorite collaborations with fashion designers:

With Bernard Wilhem:







With Jeremy Scott:







With Luella:


Above: Model wearing the Linda Farrow Luella Cat glasses on the cover of Mario Testino's book





With Rodarte:




With Erickson Beamon:







Learn more and see more at Linda Farrow Vintage

Today, Linda Farrow Vintage and its original concept, Linda Farrow Gallery, are produced exclusively for other designers, and are present in more than 300 outlets. Several styles (not all) can be found only at specific boutiques like Harrods (London) Joyce (Hong Kong), Le Printemps (Paris), Harrods Men's Department (London), L'Eclaireur (Paris), Maria Luisa (Paris), Penelope (Italy), Quartier 206 (Berlin), Jeffrey (New York) and Isetan (Tokyo).


Linda Farrow
51, Calthorpe Street - Unit A
WC1X 0HH London, Great Britain
T : +44 (0)207 713 1105
F : +44 (0)207 713 1106
www.lindafarrow.co.uk

Funky Find Of The Week: Ingo Maurer's Seven Rats Table Lamp

The Seven Rats table light.
Designed by German Artist Ingo Maurer and team, 2007.




This unique lighted art piece depicts seven plastic rats (four black and three white) locked inside a steel, gold, brass and plastic cage structure measuring 33.5 x 15.7 x 15.7.




The whole piece is lit with a 50 watts halogen WFL 55:, socket GU 5,3, 230/125/12volts and has a continuously variable transformer-dimmer. You can purchase it for $4,680.00 USD. Buy it here at Unica Home.

German born artist and light objects designer, Ingo Maurer has been the recipient of many design awards and his work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including the museum of modern art in new york. Considered an outsider with rare artistic style, Ingo Maurer adds provocation and fun to the world of design.

See more of his wild 'art' lighting at his site here.

Lavazza Continues Their Tradition Of Stunning Calendars With Annie Leibovitz for 2009

I'm a huge fan of Lavazza products, the company and their corporate culture. And each year I look forward to their new calendar, which is unparalleled in its quality and production. Armando Testa of Italy deserves as much of the credit as does Lavazza. A collaboration that has yielded some of the most impressive forms of communication for Lavazza's product lines for 48 years now!

Last year I did a long post on their 2008 Majestic Calendar and this year, I will continue the tradition with their newest release. To learn more about the past calendars, shot by the world's greatest photographers including Helmut Newton, Albert Watson, David LaChapelle, Elliot Erwitt, Erwin Olaf, Eugenio Recuenco and more, go here.



Focusing on the best Italy has to offer from history, art and cinema to food, this years' calendar is "The Italian Espresso Experience" and celebrates things ultimately and divinely Italian. From the Colosseum and Leonardo Da Vinci to spaghetti and romance.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz, Nicola Crivelli, the Director of Client Services for Armando Testa in Italy (who has been involved in all 17 amazing calendars), Creative Director Michele Mariani, art director Andrea Lantelme and copywriter Cristiano Nardo have continued the tradition of lust-worthy calendars with this one for 2009.

Below are all the photos from the stunning calendar, just off the presses. The calendar also features Italian supermodel Electtra Rossellini Wiedemann, daughter of Isabella Rossellini in the image for September/October.

The models are:


Be sure to click on each photo to enlarge and see them as they should be seen.

The Cover:

January/February:

detail:

March/April:

detail:

May/June:

detail:

July/August:

detail:

September/October:

detail:

November/December:

detail:





Annie Leibovitz is probably the most well-known living photographer in the world today and an impressive addition to the roster of world-class photographers for Lavazza. Below are some photos from 'backstage' at the shoot:













And here's the "making of video":


Unfortunately, these calendars are not available for purchase, so you'll have to scour ebay in hopes of getting your hands on one. Please don't bother writing me asking where you can get one and no, mine is not for sale :) Psst. try ebay..every once in awhile you can find one.

To see last year's Majestic Experience Calendar, shot by Finlay Mackay, go here.

To see Annie Leibovitz' equally magical shots for Disney's Dream Portraits series, go here.

To see more of Armando Testa's impressive work, go here.

A Better Use For Beanie Babies: Road Kill Art By L. Mylott Manning

ROAD KILL STUFFED ANIMALS
L. Mylott Manning




As a part of the Art In Odd Places exhibition, NY artist L. Mylott Manning has placed mutilated stuffed animals (not actual 'beanie babies', by the way.... I don't want to get sued by TY) soaked in dirty water at various 14th Street locations.



The fabric carcasses resemble the aftermath of real animals that have been hit by a vehicle but delve further into psychological symbolism as the viewers realize the uncannily realistic animals are made out of cloth.

Take a look at some of the reactions from passers by.





Where and when?
Time and Location: Saturday, October 11, 18, 25 (12-4pm). 14th Street between University Place & Broadway; between Third & Sixth Avenues; between Ninth &Tenth Avenues.


Today is the last day to view this art installation. See more of the Art In Odd Places exhibit here.

Short On Room But Big On Style? Here Are Some Great Options For Small Spaces

What do you do when you love good looking furniture and design but reside in a 400 square foot apartment? The following products are a few examples of ways to make the most of your small space without sacrificing design.

The WallFlower Wall Office


The Wallflower Wall office by Jonas & Jonas has a scratch- and shock-resistant body of made of laminate (HPL: high pressure laminate) and allows for any kind of strain. Wall office offers room for folders, books, writing,phone and lamp. WALLFLOWER Walloffice is available in widths of 1100 mm and 960 mm.




Jonas & Jonas

The Corner Flame


Made by Radius Design, it is a wall mountable fireplace that doesn't use wood, burns cleanly, appears to be floating and takes up minimal space while giving you maximum warmth. Available in multiple finishes.



Radius Design

The Square Sleeper Chair


Buy it here

The Corner lamp


This is such a bright idea (pardon the pun) that I'm amazed I didn't see it long ago. Created by Design House Stockholm, designed by Roberto Cardenas. Made of pergament plastic lamp shade & steel pole. measures 66" tall


Design House Stockholm

Got a bathroom the size of a closet?
Then maybe the Ego Tower by Aquaware is just the thing for you. It's got the mirror, sink, towel rack, shelf drawer and light all in one:



Shown above in both oak and in wengé wood. Learn more here.

Flat Life by Finn Magee


"Flat Time" and "Flat Light" are posters with photographs of a clock and a lamp that have a built in LED light and 7 digit LED readout, so rather than take up space on a surface, your clock and desk lamp are wall mounted!



Learn more about Flat Life here.

Wassup... For Obama.

The Wassup guys are back- 8 years later, in a world of tumbling markets, inane wars, natural disasters, unemployment and unaffordable health care.

60Frames works with talented artists to create, original internet programming. This week they're featuring "Wassup 2008" (not at all affiliated with Anheuser Busch. ) Ah, how soon the state of the world can change.



Special thanks to Tricia Ting for bringing this to my attention.
60 Frames

Big News For A Little Car: The First Electric MINI Has Arrived

The new, and first, electric Mini, named the MINI E, has just been released. With zero carbon emissions and powered by a 100 % electric motor, it accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 152 km/h (95 mph).




Up to 500 MINI E will hit the streets in the US shortly and you could be one of the first people to get a chance to drive it if you're lucky enough to reside in Southern California, New York City and/ or New Jersey.

Additional photos (exterior):





Interior:





Some technical specs of the new MINI E (click to enlarge):





Sign up here for more information on the application process.

Rossignol Has Artists Depict The 7 Deadly Sins On Skis.

For the first time ever 7 prominent board culture artists, some of them skateboard legends like Steve Cabellero and Andy Howell, have been asked to create original art for the new Rossignol twin tip ski line.

The concept is simple: 7 Skis, 7 Artists, and a mission to artistically express the 7 Deadly Sins.

Curated by Spacejunk gallery, the Seven Artistic Sins project provides a canvas for the artists who's work drives the board culture movement. The art created for the Seven Artistic Sins will be showcased globally in exhibitions, websites, and gallery books, thus injecting fresh, artistic, cultural relevancy into the ski world.



With the seven artistic sins, skis are not just generic graphics and sidecuts, They become ridable art. The only odd thing you'll notice is that two of them seem to have depicted "greed" and no one seems to have depicted "pride" at least not according to the information from the project.

Check them out!

S7 By Steve Caballero (GLUTTONY)

artwork detail:


S6 By Caia Koopman (SLOTH)

artwork detail:


S5 BC by Will Barras (GREED)

artwork detail:


S4 by Squindo (WRATH)

artwork detail:


S3 BC by Andrew Pommier (LUST)

artwork detail:



S2 Park by Mr. Jago (ENVY)

artwork detail:


S1 Park by Andy Howell (GREED)

artwork detail:


Learn about the 7 artists and their processes here.

2 New Wild Watches From Storm London

About Storm (from their own site):
London fashion brand STORM is renowned for its exclusive, contemporary watches and other stylish fashion accessories. For the individual seeking a distinctive and unique expression, STORM offers a range of styles from funky edginess to sleek sophistication.

Today STORM is a global brand with a presence in more than 45 countries around the world and standalone STORM stores in numerous countries including Shanghai, Riga, Prague, Bratislava, Dubai, Melbourne and Delhi. More STORM stores are planned in India, China Nigeria and the Czech Republic during 2008.

Below are two of their newest watch releases. While not super easy to actually 'read' and 'tell time' they are stylish, unusual and already back-ordered.

The MK V:



A shutter mechanism shields the watch face and once opens reveals the time. The chunky case is made from brushed stainless steel and sits on a sleek rubber strap. Available in black, slate (below) and rose gold (above).



MK V, technical specs:
Movement Japanese Movement
Battery Standard Type
Case Material Stainless Steel
Case Diameter W : 42mm X H : 50mm
W/R ATM Not Water Resistant
Lens Mineral Glass
Caseback Stainless Steel
Crown Stainless Steel
Band Type Rubber Strap
Total Length N/A
Max Fitting Length 210mm Adjustable
Clasp Type Stainless Steel - S-Fold Clasp

The MK2 Circuit:



The futuristic design is complemented by an unusual LED time display. The band and case are made from high grade stainless steel.

Available colors:




MK 2 Circuit Technical specs:
Movement LED
Battery Standard Type
Case Material Stainless Steel
Case Finish Brush / Polish
Case Diameter 30.6mm X 50.8mm
W/R ATM 50m
Lens Mineral Glass

Order them here and browse their complete collection.

Pumpkin Carving Continues To Grow Even Geekier

Above, clockwise from upper left: nerd pumpkins include a nod to Mac OS, Mario of Mario Brothers video games, The Pi symbol, and a Space Invader from the video game of the same name.


All Hallow's Eve (aka Halloween) always brings out the geek in everyone, especially when it comes to carving pumpkins. Being a geek myself, I carve my pumpkins each year in the shape of my dog (without a stencil), and turn them into Halloween cards, two of which are shown below.



More and more carving pumpkins seem to be inspired by technology and sci-fi. Each year tons of pictures are uploaded to flickr, sent to Wired magazine and blogged about by tech nerds everywhere.

Below is an impressive collection 'Star Wars' inspired pumpkins from 2007 (you really should click on the image to enlarge it):



And , of course, the Death Star pumpkin:

Wanna carve your own death star pumpkin? here's a tutorial for you.

I was sent a round up of carved jack o' lanterns that would appeal to the tech set, sci-fans or just plain 'geeks' from reader Eran Abramson that are worth taking a peek at. It's clear he found several from last year's WIRED magazines "show us your geeky pumpkins" contest (which, by the way, received over 2000 entries).

Why people are carving internet browsers and feed reader icons into pumpkins, I'll never know, but they clearly are:


Above: RSS, internet explorer logo and firefox logo's carved into pumpkins

Wanna see more? Read the full post of Eran's 34 Geeky Pumpkins here.

Like carving pumpkins? check out these ongoing carving pumpkin contests:

Yanko Design and Lubix:


Serious Eats and Viking Knives.


Crunch Gear's Jack O'Lantern carving contest


Don't Miss These!:

Maniac Pumpkin Carvers Are Sick. And A Successful Business.

Scott Cummins Doesn't Carve Pumpkins, He Sculpts Them

Met Home Hooks Up With Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz For A New Accessories Collection

For the first time, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz for the Metropolitan Home Collection has been working with Phillips Collection to create a home accessories line.



Above: Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz

In developing a collection for Phillips, Benjamin expanded his vision of interiors as a still-life and created accessories as sculptural pieces. The collection, which varies from small candle holders to full scale "golden trees," reinforces Metropolitan Home's vision of contemporary modern living. Inspired by forms and colors found in nature, Benjamin expresses his taste for sensual imaginative shapes through many of his pieces, which seem almost animated.



The collection has recently been revealed at the showroom in Las Vegas Market. The new accessories line is gradually exposed to the public from showrooms to public retailers nationwide. More information will be available soon, but here's a sneak peek for you!


Flying tea light holder:


Anemone vases:


Dripping ceramic trays:


Tables and stools:



Phillips Collection is known for their well-made, luxury art and furniture pieces and is available to the trade only.


Met Home Collection

Joshua Hoffine Brings Your Nightmares To Life In His Beautiful Horror Photography

In honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday, I wanted to share with you the ghoulish photography of 35 year old Joshua Hoffine of Missouri.




Don't let his boyish looks deceive you, he's definitely dark. Designing sets that emulate small movies, he artfully brings horror to the medium of photography.

By capturing every fear and phobia from monsters under your bed and lurking under the stairs to spiders, zombies, cockroaches and clowns. I get the heebie-jeebies just uploading the pics!

All the prints shown below are available for purchase in 2 sizes on his website.










Purchase the prints and see his portfolio here.
Joshua's myspace page


Read his horror blog here

Modern Mosaic Art For Interiors, Tubs, Lamps & Rugs: SICIS- The Art Factory

With showrooms in Milan and New York, SICIS The Art Factory does things with mosiacs for both residential and commercial spaces that are contemporary, fun, elegant, functional and frankly, unmatched.

A huge selection of everything from rugs (which are backed and ready to put on the floor) to wall tiles, lamps, mirrors, mannequins, sculptures and bathtubs, SICIS has taken the ancient art of mosaic and translated it to modern and contemporary interiors.

I can hardly show you all of their pieces , so I'll share with you some of my favorite collections of theirs.

Their Pin-Up collection is a series of mosaics that are either mounted as individual cut out wall pieces or as part of a wall mural:






See the whole pin-up collection here.

Their bathtubs are available in traditional or modern silhouettes with several designs:







See their full range of mosaic bathtubs here.

They also have several mosaic rug collections:


See their Magic rugs here.



See their mosaic Bizanzio rug collection here.

Their Pix All collection is a stunning alternative to wallpaper:



See the Pix All collection here.

They create unusual wall tiles with inlaid mosaics too:



see the ColiBrick collection here.

They have a stunning and varied selection of mirrors:



See their mosaic Mirror collection here.

The Tip Toe Lamp comes in varied mosaic patterns and your choice of three different lampshades:


See all the Tip Toe Lamps here.

And even sell mosaic sculptures and mannequins:


See the sculptures and mannequins here.

The Hedonism collection is a series of black and white nudes for the wall:



See the whole Hedonism collection here.

There's more to look at on their site.


Contact info:
Showroom Milano
48100 Ravenna, Italy
Ph +39 0544 469711

North America, Inc
470 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
Ph 212 965 4100




See the recently updated post that includes their newest high-heeled bathtubs, The Audrey and their new Atmosphera lighting collection here.

Poking Fun By Poking Around At Palin As President Site

This fun website invites you to click all over Sarah Palin as she sits in the oval office for some tongue in cheek poking at her and her policies. From "Drill Baby Drill" to "lipstick on a pit bull", Sarah's unforgettable comments are humorously immortalized in this flash site designed solely for fun.


Above: Be sure to click on the 'red phone' too.

This is the type of site that someone sends you via e-mail or IM and you immediately think to yourself "someone has too much time on their hands." Nevertheless, you find yourself drawn in and amused, if not absorbed, by the clever and sarcastic images and actions on this interactive page.


Above: Clever and hilarious narratives appear behind the side door each time you click on it; from the poisoning of Katie Couric, to book burning and bunny hunting.

Be sure to have your volume turned up and click on everything you can, multiple times as well, since some of the scenes change each time you poke on them.

Before clicking:


After some clicking:


Even more fun is that the site is updated daily until November 4th, incorporating all the latest 'news'. So you'll have to bookmark it and go back day after day.


Above: Joe the Plumber's Van is a recent addition

Close up (before):


Close-up (after):


Palinaspresident.com

Credits:
Sean Ohlenkamp, Art director and programmer/animator
Steve Yee, Art director
Forrest Boleyn, Writer
Rebekkah Voss, Voice

Dré Wapenaar's Tents: Artful Environments Cloaked In Canvas

Dré Wapenaar is a Rotterdam-based artist whose primary medium is tents - environments designed to shape encounters, whether between individuals or for large groups. Dre's portfolio includes a tent for reading newspapers, a birthing tent, "Deathbivouac," the "Pavilion of Loneliness," "Tree Tents" and "4GPP" - a pavilion for the performance of Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt's "Concerto for Four Grand Pianos."


Above: Artist Dre Wapenaar

Most of his tents are art pieces or sculptures and are not sold for commercial use. In the blogosphere, he's best known for his unusual looking tree tents, first created in 1998:



Here's a little background. The first 3 Treetents were produced for Campsite De Hertshoorn in Garderen in 1998. They were built by brothers Gertjan and Dré Wapenaar, as well as the steel frame as the manufacturing of the canvas.




In 2005 they built a new edition of the Treetent or Boomtent (this one can be loaned out and used for shows directly from Studio Dré Wapenaar).

TREETENT 2005 EDITION/ BOOMTENT EDITIE 2005




Only ten were produced of the 2005 edition in the following colors:
- forest-green
- dark-grey
- dark-beige
- bright-white

Engineer: Technisch Buro Cor de Heer


Steel Frame: Constructor Dick van Campenhout, Waalhaven Rotterdam.
Canvas: Ten Cate Technical Fabrics

And I bet you didn't know that he actually has little ones for birds as well! Birdtent orders can be made directly via the studio.



As mentioned at the beginning of this post, he's created a lot more than just the Treetents or BoomTents (as they are called in the Netherlands). Below are a few from his portfolio.

Tent Village, begun in 2001 and revisted in 2007:






A Shower Tent, 1997:



A BBQ Tent, 1997:



A Birthing Tent, 2003:



The Four Grand Piano Pavilion, 2004:




Camp Tent, 2008:




The Recital Pavilion, 2008:




More tents to see at his site.

Studio Dré Wapenaar
Vaandrigstraat 10,
3034 PX Rotterdam
The Netherlands

It's A Jungle In There: Ceramica Cielo's New Collection For The Bathroom

Ceramica Cielo of Italy's Jungle Collection has finally hit the market. I saw it a year ago at a trade show and have since seen some of the pieces on various blogs. Now the haute couture collection of crocodile, snakeskin and other reptilian textured wash basins, bidets, toilets and shower trays are available for purchase.

Super sexy and stylish, they turn an ordinary bathroom into a jungle.













Learn more here at Ceramica Cielo.

Pinc House: Scandanavian Modern Housing & Prefab Developments

Pinc House is all about bringing life into style. An Ittur Group owned company in Sweden, they conceive of, create, develop and build housing developments, prefab homes and projects that are modern, sustainable and great-looking. Here are a few of their impressive accomplishments and projects.

The Sport:





Above: their original model home, the Sport range are available in two categories, "Leisure" and "Residence" with sizes ranging from 20 to 160 square meters.

Boxland:



Above: Boxland was developed in 2007 for HSB Helsingborg. This project consists of 33 box like homes, 15 green grass ping pong tables, 29 magnolia trees and one exceptional living environment.

SeaPoint:



Above: Seapoint consist of 16 semi-detached contemporary villas overlooking the ocean and situated in a secluded yet very accessible maritime resort near Stockholm.

Delight 66:



Above: The award winning prefab home collection is now technically being redeveloped by the Ittur Group, one of the largest privately owned groups in Sweden, and will meet EU technical and energy standards.

The Black Barn Project:






Above: A luxurious and simple interpretation of the ancient Long House, the Black Barn, is made of a material called black calcimine and has a tarred roof and visible wood beams. It has many bedrooms, lots of storage space and is ideal for a family. It's affordable, stylish and even has an exclusive spa facility.


About Pinc House:
The Pinc House Design Team runs a Concept Development Studio within the company – a specialized, internationally acclaimed, high-profile business unit with innovation, evolution and emotion as core values.

In 2003 they launched their first (highly acclaimed) prefab house model. That was the start of their very own little crusade for stronger visions, better houses and higher quality of life for ordinary people.

Within the Ittur Group, Pinc House is now responsible for all larger (one to three stories high) housing projects. Be it row houses, semi-detached houses, vacational homes or villas. Rentals, condos or freehold. From a genuine (innovative and ambitious, but always sustainible, always conscious and always long-term oriented) overall master plan, concept and specific target group analysis, they develop larger areas and turn empty land into attractive residential landscapes.

Besides working on their own projects, they are here to help other developers turn their visions into reality – and their ideas into profit. With a powerful platform provided by the Ittur Group they offer a highly industrialized building process, a truly cost-efficient perspective, a high level of customer support and all the experience and resources necessary to keep their promises.

They provide a one-stop shop for the entire operation, regardless of scale, budget and time frame. They can offer a comprehensive one contract commitment, a full guarantee agreement, a shared responsibility or limited activities – all depending on the nature and conditions of each project and the demands from their clients.


contact info:
Pinc House® Stockholm
Pinc House AB
Nackagatan 4
116 41 Stockholm
Tel: 08-442 79 00
Fax: 08-442 79 01
Mail: info@pinchouse.se

Pinc House® Skåne
Pinc House AB
Hesslegatan 3c
291 31 Kristianstad
Tel: 044-20 36 90
Fax: 044-20 36 911
Mail: info@pinchouse.se

See all of their work here.

Deborah Sengl's Logo Pin Up Girls & Erotic Narratives

Much has been written about Austrian born artist Deborah Sengl's symbolic animal portraits, drawings and sculptures, which you can see more of here and her "Of Wolves And Sheep" exhibit but there are two other series of work that she's created that you might find of interest. I certainly do.

The first is a series of works clearly mocking the value we place on brand names by having them literally 'taking over' the female human figure in classic pin up poses. A commentary on our obsession with sex and branding.

CHANEL:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2007

PUMA:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2007

Burberry:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2007

Dior:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2007

Missoni:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2007

Unknown to me (if you know, send me an e-mail):

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2007

Those shown above (done in 2007) are printed on canvas and measure
120 x 85 cm each and are available for purchase.
€ 3.000,-- each. buy them here.

The image below with the NFL logo is also available:


Above: Untitled, 2008 ink on paper
h: 42 x w: 59 in / h: 106.7 x w: 149.9 cm
Galerie Michael W. Schmalfuss
If interested in purchasing, Send Email

These are not available for purchase:
Fendi:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2006

Gucci:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2006

Louis Vuitton:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2002

Gucci:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2002

Fendi:

Above: Aus "Sich den Luxus erzüchten", 2002

The second is a series of erotic tapestries and assemblages (think Roy Lichtenstein meets Larry Flint). Some are assemblages of little plastic pieces glued together which are mocking 'ads' for sex toys, complete with the clicheés of advertising such as "NEW" and starbursts. Clearly illustrating society's preoccupation with sex in advertising.

Please note, the following images are inappropriate for those under 18 and NSFW.










Others are actual woven, embroidered or stitched narratives of orgies and oral sex, framed in heavy gilded classic frames.







The artist:

Austrian born artist Deborah Sengl (b. 1974)

See more of this talented artist's work at her site here.

Freehands; Gloves For Mobile Device Users. Keep Those Hands Warm While Texting

Josh Rubin (of Cool Hunting) and his father, Stanley, have designed gloves with a patent-pending design which enables everyone with a mobile device to keep in touch, literally. A quick flick exposes your thumb and forefinger without removing your glove. Small magnets keep the tips from getting in your way.





The gloves are available in three materials and five sizes: XS, S, M, L and XL. Fleece retails for $20; Stretch for $30; and Leather for $40.

Leather, $40.00 a pair:


Stretch, $30.00 a pair:


Fleece, $20.00 a pair:



In case you're wondering.. which apparently some people are... Josh says that "the magnets are just strong enough to hold the finger tips back, but not so strong that they’ll interfere with watches or gadgets"

Buy them here.

Eatable Of Many Orders: Clothes & Bags That Focus on The 'Ingredients'

What do they mean by Eatable?



The phrase “Eatable of Many Orders” comes from Kenji Miyazawa’s “Restaurant of Many Orders”. It is a story about a wild cat restaurant which gives orders to customers rather than taking orders from them. Like the story, Eatable of Many Orders would like to provide customers an eatable menu for complete understanding of their products.



On their site they say they "..would like to present their products like food and its ingredients with an aesthetic sense and sensibility." Not sure they've really achieved that yet. However, the materials they choose (not all of which are appealing.. like say, natural horse leather) have very interesting visual stories of their process.



They have a collection of natural shoes, bags and clothes made with tamo wood, vegetable tannin cow leather, rope, twine and sometimes twigs. Below are images of some of their products (admittedly, I've not shown many of the clothes here, they're a bit like a natural organic asian bag lady) as well as some of the visual processes.


















Learn more about Eatable of Many Orders here.

Nobody's Sweetheart, Dyna Moe, Captures TV's Madmen In Illustrations Befitting The Genre

AMC's Mad Men is the hot tv show du jour. With multiple Emmy nominations (two wins, including one for Best Drama) and a rapidly growing cult following, it's been the subject of many a water cooler conversation.



Graphic designer/illustrator Dyna Moe (hopefully a psuedonym) has done an honor to this show by capturing it in her many whimsical retro styled illustrations that can be downloaded as wallpaper for your computer from flickr or available for purchase here.




So, how did she get into this? She's clearly a talented illustrator and graphic designer and was asked to create a Christmas card for Rich Sommers, who plays character Harry Crane on the show, to give to his office mates. Seems that a passion was born because that was just the beginning.


Above: the Christmas Card she created for Rich Sommers (Harry Crane)

She then began drawing a commemorative image as desktop wallpaper from each episode (sometimes more than one) and has created downloadable icons, iPhone wallpapers, placemats and more. Customizable prints of her most popular illustrations are for sale through zazzle.com.

On flickr, she describes herself as follows:

"I'm a freelance illustrator and designer in New York City, who also does comedy on occasion. Sometimes at the same time.

The bulk of my work is for the alt comedy scene -- flyers, posters, logos, etc. I have been the unofficial official house designer for the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in NY since 1999. I also have done a ton of CDs and 7" designs for local indie pop/punk labels."

Well, she's certainly busy. And funny. I enjoyed reading her commentary on both her blog and flickr as much as I enjoyed her illustrations.


Her blog, "I let My Fists Do The Talkin'" can be viewed here.

Below is a series of downloadable icons, the perfect 'must have' for any Mad Men lover.




She's been so prolific that I can hardly share all her work with you, for that you'll have to visit her set of Mad Men illustrations on flickr or her website.

Here are just a few of her renderings from seasons 1 and 2 of Mad Men:










Buy her prints here.
See her entire portfolio here.


Above: Get your iphone wallpapers here

A generous soul, she writes "Feel free to download and use any of them as wallpapers or write in your blog or website about them. I give everyone blanket permission to do so... you don't even need to ask. Just stop with the incredulous eye-rolls about my name. "

I like her already and don't even know her.

Update: Months later, everyone on social networks and the web are "Mad-Mening" themselves, a fun AMC sponsored Avatar generator. So, who's the artist behind it? You guessed it, Dyna Moe!



The software allows you to customize an icon, a cell phone wallpaper and computer wallpaper, here's mine in all three sizes:


MadMen yourself here

2008 Chanel Sports Gear For Fashionista Athletes

Everyone knows Chanel for their purses, make-up, fragrances, skin care and couture, but what you may not know is that famous french fashion house also makes some very luxe sporting equipment and work out gear.

So if anyone you know is an athletic Fashionista, here are a few items they might appreciate. Although Chanel has come out with skis, racquets and footballs before, here's their latest collection which includes new skis, a snowboard, a fishing rod with lures and much more.

Rosewood fiberglass and aluminum parabolic snow skis (price unknown):



Resin, wood and fiberglass Snowboard, $2,750. USD:



Fishing rod with Double C flies in quilted case, $18,000. USD:




Chanel couture bicycle, $12,000.USD:



Graphite tennis racquet complete with matching CC balls, $255. USD:


Chanel neoprene dumbells ( a pair is $760. USD):

The above items are available at various Chanel boutiques.

From last year (in case you never saw these)....
The 2007 Chanel pigskin football, tennis racquets and trompe l'oeil quilted skis:



Chanel

Chanel fan?
Be sure to read these Chanel posts:
Chanel's Acoustic Guitar
Chanel's mobile art exhibit
Chanel's new pavilion in Venice
The Story behind the Iconic Chanel Bottle
Keira Knightly in New Coco Mademoiselle Ad Campaign for Chanel

Confederate Motorcycles: Raw, Rugged, Rebellious & Rare (and rockin' design)

Confederate motorcycles are raw, rebellious, rugged and very rare. With really rocking design and technology produced in limited editions, they are motorcycles for the exclusive set with some serious coin.

Founded in 1991 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by Matt Chambers, Confederate Motor Company set out to create machines utilizing a holistic, avant-garde process for celebrating the art of rebellion.




Above: The B120 Wraith broke the world land speed record this past September, 2008 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Wraith took a speed of 166.459 in the A-PF 2000cc push rod and unfared class, shattering the old record of 141 mph.

Their models include The B120 Wraith (production limited to 250 - 88 available before the book is closed), The F131 Hellion Combat (production limited to 150 - 7 available before the book is closed), The Renovatio and the C120 Renaissance Fighter (only 45 were made, 42 still available as of the time of this post) made exclusively for Neiman Marcus.






Their site has their history, their manifesto and more, but their nine 'iron law mandates' which make up their vision statement (to 'Create the world's ultimate street motoring experience, by far!') really say it all:

1. Initiate a return to honest American industrial and mechanical design
Your pioneering ancestors gambled their lives and the lives of their beloved women and children upon the hope for and faith in individual and familial empowerment. This new-world dream is the source of what you must feel when you mount, spark and cane your Confederate. Your machine must make real the promise of principled individuality.

2. Never compromise passion, intensity, time or money.
If you had all the world’s resources from which to draw and one motorcycle to create, how would you conceive, design and craft her?

3. Create through deep, considered, actual individual emotion.
Because you would not compromise time, you would not have a completion date. Thusly, your most intense fiery passion could grow organically, as you searched your personal depths for the meaning which this body of work must convey, for the feeling and engagement of her owner and herself to be real.

4. Perfect a balance of technology and the primitive.
To achieve the pinnacle of enrichment from your motorcycle, she would have to possess an artful balance of connectivity with actual worldwide diverse human experience while embracing the best and most correct solutions for what the most hopeful prediction that our collective future holds for us all. The self actualized art of rebellion is the tool for the ultimate enrichment of individual self expression.

5. Invest absolute faith.
Your machine represents your expression of personal rebellion against the collective powers which constantly seek to make you and your ideas in their grandiose image, coupled with the maximum capacity within your spirit to dream of machine creation that upon experience transforms her rider to a new place where no power in the known world could prevent acute comfort being exactly as you are. The key that unlocks this dream is faith -- faith in yourself and your vision.

6. Overbuild.
Your art must be impervious to the calendar. Actualized design requires the creation of perpetual timeless heirlooms. An overly robust absolute fatigue resistant machine is a must.

7. Maximize and evolve individual craftsmanship.
Love lives in the doing. Showcasing individual craft work in its most skeletal form declares the openness of your heart and fearlessness with which you engage with life.

8. Relish the challenge.
It must be fun. Your machine’s design and creation is the journey; she will be used throughout time for the taking of journeys and these journeys are the point. Outcome and destination are not the priority.

9. Persist eternally.
You cannot fail. You are a winner. The end is not in doubt. You will never ever stop.

The Machines

The B120 WRAITH:



Wraith details and specs.


The F131 HELLION COMBAT:



Combat details and specs.

THE C120 RENAISSANCE FIGHTER:





THE RENOVATIO:



Renovatio details and specs.

And especially for this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Fantasy Gifts catalog, the Limited-Edition Fighter Motorcycle, The Renaissance, of which only 45 were made:





Above: Exclusively made for NM, courtesy of Confederate Motor Company®, the first ever Fighter packs 190 mph of performance into its cutting edge carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum chassis. 64" wheelbase, 27"H seat, integrated braking system, lots of high-tech bells and whistles, and custom NM edition features. Price? $110,000.00 USD. To purchase, call 1.877.9NM.GIFT.





Confederate Motor Company

M-vironments, M-velopes & The M-house by Michael Jantzen

Architect Michael Jantzen's M-vironments are innovative, smart and good looking structures that are relocatable and transformable. The sustainable structures are like the ultimate fort for grown-ups; one of his M-velopes® is even in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog's 'WOW' section.

Relocatable M-vironments are made of a wide variety of manipulable components that can be connected in many different ways to a matrix of modular support frames. The frames can be assembled and disassembled in different ways to accommodate a wide range of changing needs.

The M-vironments were developed to accommodate a wide range of markets. With different sizes, shapes, materials, and panel types, the system can be used for exhibit structures, pavilions, play environments for kids, retail spaces, office modules, and many other commercial applications.


Above: Architect Michael Jantzen


M-House
Below are images and info of Michael's M-House in Gorman, California which was actually auctioned off and sold.





The M-House, made from the M-vironment system, consists of a series of rectangular panels that are attached with hinges to an open space frame grid of seven interlocking cubes. The structure can be assembled or disassembled by a crew of four in one week. Jantzen built this one-bedroom, 90 square meter cottage entirely by himself in 2000.





The panels are hinged to the cubes in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation. The hinges allow the panels to fold into, or out of the cube frames to perform various functions. Some of the panels are insulated and contain windows and doors. These panels can completely enclose spaces that are heated and cooled.



Other not-insulated panels fold in or out over and around open platforms to shade the sun, deflect the rain, or block the wind. Some of these unfold from the face of the cubes to become places to sit, places to sleep, places to work, or places to eat. Most of the slotted panels are oriented over and around these open platforms.

Interior of the M-House:







All of the M-House components are interchangeable, and can be increased or decreased in numbers and size. The panels can be made in a curved configuration and from many different types of materials. The existing M-house panels are assembled with a steel structural frame that supports thin sheets of a concrete composite. All of the exposed surfaces of the structure are painted.The platforms and the cube frames, are supported by adjustable legs which are attached to load bearing foot pads. In many cases the support frames do not require a foundation, and they can be adjusted to accommodate terrain variations.

This M-House was designed to function as a single private vacation retreat, or in multiple numbers and configurations, as a complete stand alone high tech resort complex. The house can be designed to be self sufficient, powered by alternative energy sources such as the sun and the wind.

M-velopes
Now take a Look at some of his M-velopes. They are like akin to the coolest forts you'll ever own as an adult.

His M-velope One:






His M-velope Two:





His Fabric M-velope:




And, fnally, the M-velope® available through Neiman Marcus:



Straight from the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog:

M-Velope® Transformable Structure
What if your workshop was a convertible? What if you could move your yoga studio walls as easily as you roll up your mat? What if you could rebuild, rearrange, and reassemble your garden retreat as quickly as you rearrange furniture? Step inside our M-Velope and you can! It's a massively cool 15-foot high by 14-foot wide by 17-foot deep creation of functional art built with a steel frame. All its hinged wood panel frames open, move, and close at your whim. Michael Jantzen, an internationally famous architectural pioneer/artist, thought it up and he is crafting just 10 structures for us exclusively. He's a leader in rethinking how we live, and he's been green since '71. He builds each M-Velope with new Accoya® wood products that are durable and completely sustainable.

Price is $100,000.00 USD and is available by calling Call 1.877.9NM.GIFT

For details and purchasing, email info@michaeljantzen.com or call +1 310 989 1897
Michael Jantzen Architect
27800 N. Mc Bean Parkway, Suite 319
Valencia CA 91354

The photos in this post are courtesy of Michael Jantzen , arcspace and world architecture.

The Pomegranate Phone: Dialing Up Interest In Nova Scotia

Introducing the Pomegranate Phone: A mobile phone, mp3 player, gps system, internet, global voice translator, camera, video player, movie projector, coffee brewer, razor and harmonica in one!


Okay, before you get too excited and start scouring the net for release dates, tech specs and availability, it's not an actual product but an ad campaign ruse launched on October 1st, 2007.

A well-produced false product introduction complete with hilarious video vignettes by Journeyman Films, tech specs, accessories and more, this micro site is a wily subterfuge to introduce you to Nova Scotia's Come To Life tourism campaign, positioning the province as the venue that has a lot to offer.





The micro site is impressively designed and filled with all the demos and charts you'd expect from an actual tech product introduction. Even the voice over and music (by Windom Earle) are great.



However, marketing critics are calling the campaign a bust. (Update: this post has consistently been the most widely read and searched for post on my blog since this campaign broke and still is one full year later - editor)

Jeff White of Brightwhite says:

"Viral marketing is great, but the fact that Nova Scotia taxpayers have spent $300,000 to foot the bill for this campaign is a shame. Next to no one will have any idea that this even is a site about Nova Scotia. And those that do find this more or less hidden link feel cheated.

So, even though lots of people will forward the site to their friends, very few will get to the true nature of what it's trying to say and that makes this a very expensive experiment. You only need to read what people are saying on Twitter to see that the general opinion is that this campaign bombs."

It's even been deemed the Pombomb by tweeters.

Nevertheless, I applaud Novia Scotia for trying something bold and new and without all the actual media placement info, et cetera, I, personally, will refrain from hypothesizing about why it may or may not have succeeded. Besides, it's too soon to tell and I have yet to locate actual stats as far as visitors, etc.

But I will show you some screen grabs, because whether or not the site is driving interest in Nova Scotia, it deserves kudos for imaginative thinking, clever copy, nice design and wonderful videos.

As a coffee maker:




As a razor or shaver:



As a movie projector:

As a voice translator:

As a harmonica:


They even included faux 'goodies' such as a a lucite holder, speaker system and t-shirts:




If you don't respect it as an attempt to be a 'viral' campaign (which, by the way, is not something you can set out to do, but instead a campaign may become 'viral' if one is lucky), at least take a look at it for entertainment.

credits:The campaign was produced by Bristol Group, Egg Films/Hatch, and Breathe Media.

* Art Director: Dan Couto
* Copy writer/creative director: Albert Ianni
* Production Manager: Collette Snow
* Designers: Andrew Grantham, Michael Gatto
* Internal Programmer: Melissa Castle
* External programmers/designers: Breathe Media
* Production/Post: Egg Films/Hatch Post
* Actors/Models: Christopher Killam, Lita Lewellen, John Beale, Laura Bleasdale, Andrea Wilson, Pasha, and others

Special thanks to Alex Asher Sears!

The Pomegrante Phone

If you are a fan of clever 'misdirects', you'll love the TATTOO YOUR HEART site for the launch of Vikunja. See that here.

Design Lashes Out: She Uemura's 2008 Tokyo Lash Bar

As an expert in the art of false eyelashes, Shu Uemura's Tokyo Lash Bar has established itself to be a hot and trendy beauty staple internationally. It began in 2005 and this year has added the "Couture Collection", featuring an artistic collaboration with Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf, undoubtedly one of the most talked about designer duos in the fashion community.







Other lashes available from Shu Uemura include the following:








Their newest addition to the lash bar include lace, crystals, double sided lashes, feathers and more!




Below are the lashes available as of 2008:



Buy them here.

Funky Find Of The Week: Paper AK-47 Assault Rifle Kit

The AK-47, also called the Kalashnikov after its inventor, is one of the most successful industrial products of all time. Since its introduction in 1947, an estimated 80 million AK-47s have been built. Its success is based not only on its resourceful construction, but also its affordable production, dependability, functionality and high demand. The AK-47 is one of the icons of the twentieth century, but it is also a deadly weapon.

However with this one, the worst wound you can inflict is a paper cut. For a new art project, designer Martin Postler investigated the history, aesthetics and lethal seductiveness of the Kalashnikov. He has freed the AK-47 from its terrible capacity to injure and kill by deconstructing it into a paper model construction set. When you're done building it, you can decide if they would like to hang it on the wall, paint it, customize it with stickers or simply burn it.

Some words of advice: Not recommended for people under age 18. Recommended for experienced crafters only. Construction time depends on handcrafting abilities, it takes a while, that much is clear. Does not contain glue and cutter.

Buy it here.

The Ultimate Book For Contemporary Art Lovers: The History Of The Saatchi Gallery from Opus

Elegantly designed, with many unique features, the Saatchi Opus is a compendium of the history of the Saatchi Gallery. Although it won't be published until next February, I'm telling you about it now so you can start saving up for the $3,650.00 price tag.

The gigantic tome which comes packed in an inlaid art wood crate includes a tipped in poster (1.5m x 1.5m) of a specially commissioned photograph of the head of Damien Hirst's shark from The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) which is shown below:



Other gatefolds include Rabbit (1986) by Jeff Koons, 1m x 50cm, shown below:



The Saatchi Opus is an exclusive limited edition of 950 copies, each signed by Charles Saatchi.


above: the exterior of the new Saatchi Gallery

The purchasers of the first 100 copies will have the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of the new Saatchi Gallery at the Duke of York's Headquarters.



The book includes essays from Richard Cork, Brian Sewell, Steve Martin and Sir Norman Rosenthal that accompany the artwork of 150 international contemporary artists such as Frank Auerbach, George Baselitz, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Eric Fischl, Lucian Freud, Andreas Gursky, Damien Hirst, Donald Judd, R. B. Kitaj, Sarah Lucas, Brice Marden, Robert Morris, Ron Mueck, Bruce Nauman, Paula Rego, Jenny Saville, Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Rachel Whiteread, Zhang Xiaoghang and many more.







A limited edition of 950, each signed by Charles Saatchi
Publication Date: February 2009
Editor: Edward Booth-Clibborn
Size: 850 pages, each measuring half a metre square
Case: Inlaid wooden art crate (Weight 40kg)

Price Pre-publication price: £1,950 / US$3,650 / €2,500, normal price: £2,250 / US$4,200 / €2,900. Prices include worldwide delivery. If you are interested in reserving one, please call +44 (0)20 7213 9587.

About the The Saatchi Gallery


Charles Saatchi opened his gallery at Boundary Road, north London, in a disused paint factory in 1985. Since then the gallery has moved twice,first to London's County Hall on the South Bank in 2003, and then to the Duke of York's Headquarters in the Kings Road Chelsea in October 2008.



"Since 1985 The Saatchi Gallery has presented an ever-changing view of contemporary art from all over the world. It has had a profound influence on how contemporary art is perceived and has raised its profile " Edward Booth-Clibborn, Editor

Over the years, The Saatchi Gallery has launched the careers of many young artists who have since become household names. For the first time one book, the Saatchi Opus, chronicles the breadth of work exhibited at The Saatchi Gallery over the past two decades from Lucian Freud to Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol to Zhang Xiaoghang. The Opus is divided into seven sections, each reflecting different aspects of the work which has been exhibited over the last twenty years, including the infamous Sensation and controversial Young British Artists, as well as The Triumph of Painting and New Chinese Art. The text includes essays by leading art critics Richard Cork and Brian Sewell, Sir Norman Rosenthal, former Secretary of Exhibitions at The Royal Academy of Art, and actor Steve Martin.

The Saatchi Gallery
Kraken Opus

An International Holiday For Dogs? Well, It's About Time.

My regular readers and personal friends all know how I feel about dogs: I'm crazy for them. I share my life with Indie, my second jack russell terrier, a rescue who likes eating paper and chasing her tail. My first dog, a jack russell terrier named Abbey, passed away at age 14 a year and a half ago, and I found that having dogs in my life truly enhances all aspects of it.



Pedigree feels the same way (their great ad campaign from the talented people at TBWA/Chiat Day is proof of that) and with their Dogs Rule Day is celebrating that very fact.



They have organized an actual International Holiday for Dogs to be celebrated on October 11th of this year- and hopefully each year in the future.

And why not? We have father's, mother's and grandparents day. Hell we even have arbor day (yep, a day for trees). Don't our furry friends deserve to have one day a year set aside to lay around and do nothing? Oh, wait.. that's what they do every day. Nevertheless, I love the concept of a Dogs Rule Day.



To celebrate, Dogs Rule Day has a site where people can upload images of their four legged companions complete with sweet (or not-so-sweet) stories about them.



The site also contains posters you can print out and post up, wallpaper for your computer and even an avatar you can download.



For those of you who have no idea how to revel in this canine celebration, never fear. Their list of 101 ways to celebrate the day is hilarious. For example, my personal favorite: Tip #13. If you have a Border Collie, pretend to be a sheep.



Of course, a holiday isn't official until you wear it emblazoned on a T-shirt:


Buy yours here.

Like Pedigree, I do believe that dogs make the world a better place. So join in the celebration, share your story, buy a t-shirt, download a poster, or rub a random dog's belly.



The Official Dogs Rule Day site.

Join the celebration on facebook here.
other related links:
http://www.shelterfinder.com
http://www.pedigree.com/dogadoption
http://www.dogsrulegear.com

Kathy Osborn Has Big Talent With Little Things And Little Ones.

Graphic artist, photographer, and children's book illustrator Kathy Osborn, is getting a lot of online attention for her miniature modernist construction of a 21st century house (shown in the photo above). And it is fabulous- as you will see later in this post.


Above: the multi-talented Kathy Osborn.

But she's done a lot more with miniature dolls and settings than you might think. In addition to this fabulous modern dollhouse, she's both photographed dolls in settings as well as completed a children's book based on a magical tour of a Dollhouse from a child's perspective.


Above: Kathy's illustration on the cover of the March, 1990 issue of the New Yorker

First off, her illustrations have graced the cover of New Yorker magazine as well as on and in several other publications. But personally, I am more impressed with her poignant photography and multimedia work than her illustrations.


Above: some of Kathy's illustrated children's books.

Kathy has illustrated five children's books to date. One of which has been chosen as one of the Best Children's books of 2008 by several reputable sources. She has also just completed a children's project called The Dollhouse, a magical tour of a dollhouse seen from a child's perspective.

The book has been described as "... a whimsical look into the world of miniatures, where there is a story within a story within a story; the little girl in the story discovers an even smaller girl who is playing with a smaller dollhouse, and so on, just like a Russian doll within another Russian doll."

But back to the actual Dollhouse model for now.

The article below ran in Wallpaper, and is making the rounds on blogs and ezines, but in doing a little research, I found more images of the project as well as discovered that she has has a series of photographic prints of the miniature dolls in miniature surroundings.

First the Bauhaus dolls' house and the article from Wallpaper (with some extra images):

Bauhaus dolls' house



Osborn embarked on her Bauhaus doll's house project due to a desire for better quality dolls and dolls' furniture. Originally, she aimed to create a replica of Philip Johnson's glass house, built in 1949, but was persuaded by friends to give her creativity a free run.



The creation of the doll's house started with 12 rough designs. The blueprints were given to Californian model architects J & G, who were also responsible for most of the furniture, apart from the mod-style chairs which were constructed by Japanese company REAC.



The kitchen as a whole is Osborn's own design, inspired by an 1948 advert for Youngstown kitchens, but the fridge and cabinets are original designs.




The result is a house that is artfully whimsical, which encapsulates its inhabitants in a fanciful suburbia. Osborn has no intention of the dolls' house being treated like your everyday plastic creation, but rather as a collector's item - a family heirloom.




She even made the dolls and their clothing:


---Wallpaper

Now, take a look at her photographic prints, captured moments and narratives that are infused with intimacy and loneliness seemingly simultaneously. They available for purchase on the beholder:







Each chromogenic print is a limited edition of 15 and can be purchased for $600.00 here.

In regards to whether or not the Bauhaus dolls' house will be available for purchase, I do not yet know, but I can assure you I'm looking into it and if it is, I will let you know. In the meantime, if you're a fan of miniatures, dolls' houses or architectural models, you might want to check out my growing list of modern dollhouses available for purchase here.

Related posts: Be sure to see the amazing miniature roomboxes of Peter Tucker and the architectural models of Mark Turpin.

Hand Gesture Candles from Atelier WM

L'atelier WM is a a group of young artists founded in Paris in 2008. They have a line of colorful candles, both in looks and attitude. Hands making gestures cast from real hands and whose burn time is approximately 3 hours each.

Cross your fingers:


Heavy Metal:




Live Long And Prosper:


Fuck You:


Above packaging created by Wakey of France.

They claim their candles shown above are for sale at colette , at the Black Block of the Palais de Tokyo , at the Printemps Design of the Centre Pompidou and at the Sam Concept store in France but they do not yet seem to be available.

Now available at A+R here.

Wearing The Hair Of The Dog. Portraits Of People In Clothes Made From Their Pets' Fur.

These aren't just lovely portraits of people posing with their pets, but look a little closely and you'll see that the owners are wearing sweaters and vests that resemble the fur of their dogs. And they should because they were literally made from them.

Below is a series of photographs (an ongoing project) by photographer Erwan Fichou of people posing with their beautiful dogs, sporting canine couture... actual sweaters and vests made from the hair (fur?) of their own pet dogs.









Here is the description of the series:

Dogwool series, 2005-2007. Eleven portraits (in progress)

The hair, especially hair known as the stuffing, once recovered after brushing, is carefully preserved until the amount necessary to achieve the knit structure.
The hair is spun into balls of 50 g by a specialist before returning via mail, to its owner.
C-prints, 40 * 50 cm, Marie-Louise, glass, wooden framework.

To see more of photographer Erwan Fichou's unusual work, go here.

Apparently there are a few people out there who actually make clothes from your pet's hair or fur.

Pet Yarn Chic makes hats, scarves and wraps from your pet's 'yarn'.


Above: Bettina Menkhoff, 50, from Stoetze in Germany makes scarves, gloves and other clothes and sells them over the internet at www.jolly-fellows.de


Above: Pam Gardner, of Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, has at least six jumpers and cardigans made from her pet Old English sheepdogs. She says they are warm and soft, similar to jumpers made from Angora goats' wool. Mrs Gardner, who charges £11 to turn 100g of dog or cat hair into wool, says the conversion is too labor-intensive to be anything more than a hobby. She has made wool from about 30 breeds of dog, including alsatians and chow chows, and had about 200 customers.


Above: Betsy Willis first used the fur of Kara, to knit her husband's sweater in 1990. Mrs Willis, 71, said she had the idea after seeing a picture of Princess Diana wearing a dog fur stole at Crufts.

She said: "Kara was a pedigree Samoyed. She was so posh, if she could have talked she'd not have spoken to the likes of us. "We found out from the breeders we got the pups from that it was possible to use their coat for clothes. "It is the most amazing stuff. It's like mohair but more lightweight and more soft, and the more you wash it, the more soft and fluffy it gets." Mrs Willis added: "People are surprised when they find out we're wearing dog wool clothes. Some think it's disgusting and ask how we can do it, but it seems very normal to us." Even now, Mrs Willis has enough hair left over to make a new jumper, and it has been sent to a friend in Derby to be spun.

Wanna try it yourself?

ADDENDUM

My apologies to the owners of such sweet dogs as Chinese Cresteds and American Hairless Terriers. Thanks to an anonymous reader who sent me this:

Funnyman Dan Aykroyd's Crystal Head Vodka is No Joke.

Well known comedian Dan Aykroyd has released a new premium vodka called Crystal Head Vodka, a product which had people wondering if it was a spoof or the real deal. The videos have gone 'viral' and here's some actual product info for you.

It's real and it's a quadruple-distilled vodka made with pure Newfoundland water triple filtered through herkimer diamonds (which are actually crystals).




The hard to deny 'hook' is that it's packaged in a stunning crystal skull (that is apparently accurate to the real thing) designed by John Alexander and made by Bruni Glass in Milano Italy.



The site has a series of videos in which Dan Aykroyd delves into both the mystical and the archaelogical and Phil Power talks about the actual distillation process.




Dan explains his fascination with the invisible world and how Crystal Head Vodka ties in with the story of the 13 Crystal Heads that have been unearthed at various times on our planet... from the Yucatan to Tibet. The heads are believed to emit positive energy, good will and prosperity.


Above: Phil Power of Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corp.



Special thanks to my fave folks over at NOTCOT for these great images of the packaging:







Dan Aykroyd has his own selection of wines as well.

Visit Dan Aykroyd Wines here.

So, where to buy Crystal Head Vodka?
If you live in California you can buy it online here (I just did!) ..they are only shipping to California at this time.
Also shipping only to California, you can buy it here.
Also available at Beverage Warehouse.
Also selling it is the Wine Exchange, but at present they are sold out.
Also sold out at Bevmo.


Crystal Head Vodka site.

If you like unusual vodka bottles, look at these 10 bottles designs.

Or if you're into "green' Vodka, check out these 10 organic vodkas.

Hidden Desire To Spin? Fulfill Your Fantasy Via This Samsung Web Promotion From The Woo Agency.

If you haven't yet experienced it, I want to share with you this promotion by Samsung for the Q1 Ultra, a phone/pda/gps/portable MP3 dj mixing handheld device. It's a chance for you to live out your Disc Jockey fantasy.



Created by the multi talented folks at the Woo agency and directed by Little X , it stars Keys & Cut Chemist and turns you into a Virtual DJ.

It's definitely worth exploring. The engaging film style puts you in the nightclub via a first person POV angle and a series of fun, easy to answer questions leads you to the ability to 'mix' your own music, thereby fulfilling your DJ fantasy.


Above: You start by picking your sex so your options are tailored


Steve Hall of Ad Rants writes:
"Engaging. Interactive. Immersive. Yup, they're overused buzzwords but they do a pretty good job describing this new Woo Agency-created work for Indamixx's and Samsung's DJ Fantasy, an example of the computer maker's vertical market applications for its mobile computer Q1 Ultra. The Q1 Ultra is a very cool looking portable computer which celebrity DJ Cut Chemist is endorsing.

The works falls into the choose your own adventure category as you ride a limo to the club where you will be guest DJing...with the Q1, of course.


Above: Getting in the limo and boozing it up with cyber friends

Above: Okay, so my 'rapper' name is Sweet One, no grief please.

Hall continues "As you are led through the club, you can check out the VIP room, dance with hotties of your choice, and step up to the DJ platform and do your thing using an actual Q1 Ulta interface. The only thing maddeningly unlikable about this work is the lame, wigger-like rap talk and fist bumping that's prevalent throughout.

A product like this might just might bring out my inner DJ that's been dormant since back in the day when vinyl ruled the tables."

Above: being greeted by club-goers


Above: the fantasy can play out differently depending upon options chosen during the experience



Above: choosing your 'go-go' dancers


Above: reaching the DJ table

Above: choosing your musical genre



Above: mixing your own tunes to spin acquaints you with the Q1 interface.


Above: And in smart social media form, you can send your fantasy to a friend or play it again.

Of course, the site is not without product information, but it is tastefully integrated at the end.





So, what are you waiting for? Start spinning here.

Golden Girl: Artist Marc Quinn Unveils 18k Gold Statue of Kate Moss

An 18 karat gold sculpture of model Kate Moss in a yoga position is hardly my idea of a worthwhile way to spend approximately 2.75 million US dollars. But that's the estimated value of artist Marc Quinn's latest incarnation of his contorted life-sized Kate Moss figure.



Above: Marc Quinn with "Kate" aka Siren.

Unveiled this morning in the British Museum as part of the Statuephilia exhibition, the work, entitled Siren, was created by sculptor Marc Quinn, best known for his sculpture Alison Lapper Pregnant, which stood on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.



Above: Marc Quinn's most well-known sculpture, 'Alison Lapper Pregnant', in Trafalgar Square.

The statue of Moss, described as an “Aphrodite of our times”, now stands in the British Museum’s Nereid Gallery alongside legendary Greek heroines such as the Crouching Venus, a statue of Venus caught bathing.



The sculpture, which is hollow, weighs about as much as the supermodel herself according to the artist, and is believed to be the largest gold statue made in the world since Ancient Egyptian times.



Quinn said of his choice of Moss as a subject: “I thought the next thing to do would be to make a sculpture of the person who’s the ideal beauty of the moment. "

This isn't the first time Marc Quinn has used the iconic model in his work. He originally cast Kate in white-washed bronze in 2005 and called it Sphinx (shown below).


Above: 2005, Sphinx, from all angles.



The golden Kate, who stands in a yoga position, is not alone in the exhibition in the British Museum. She has 200 Damien Hirst skulls for company, which commandeer the historic wall cases of the Enlightenment Gallery (shown below).


Above: Damien Hirst's "Cornucopia" and a Noble and Webster work, sculpted entirely from mummified animal parts.


Above: Anthony Gormley's Case for an Angel I, the precusor to his celebrated winged sculpture, iconic Angel of the North, fills the front hall of the museum.


The Statuephilia exhibition of contemporary sculptures will run at the British Museum from October 4 to January 25

Aston Martin's New Film About The One-77 Design

The stunning Aston Martin One-77 has just released the first in a series of online films talking about the design and creation of this exclusive automobile.











The second will air online november 11th, 2oo8.
See the film here.

Bisazza Home Collection: Tiled everything BUT floors and walls.

Bisazza is best known for their beautiful mosaic tiles, most often seen in the application of floors and walls. But what you may not know is that Bisa