Jethro Macey Adds Whimsy & Texture To Usually Ordinary Items

Innovative 26 year old designer Jethro Macey has been hailed as a 'Name to Watch' in 2008 by the Telegraph Magazine and the recipient of several impressive design awards. He has self-produced many products and collaborated with companies like Decode London and Worldwide Fred for both mass produced and limited edition products.

Side boards, wall hooks, table lamps, wall-mounted bathroom cabinets and floor tiles get infused with texture and whimsy to create unique and charming alternatives to the ordinary.

Bathroom cabinets highlight a particular object by setting it preciously within a small inset frame in the corner:

detail:


Flamenco cabinet and detail:


Cat, Soldier, Giraffe and Radio cabinets:




Each cabinet measures W. 350 x H. 450 x D.150 mm and will be available starting April 2009. If you are interested in these products, sign up for his newsletter here.

Coin Lamp:



His Coin Lamp is the first product in a range based on the concept of values and reward, it subtly heightens awareness of consumption through design.

Turned on by a coin-operated switch, the lamp is set to predetermined time by an internal mechanism. Developed with the assistance of a NESTA training program the final version of coin lamp will be available soon.

Flying Duck Hooks
Powder coated 2mm steel hooks complete with wall fixings.



Available in a range of colors. $110 / set of three. Each hook set consists of; Small W. 250 H. 120 mm, Medium W. 175 H.140 mm and Large W.200 H.160 mm Buy them here.

Lace Tile


The lace tile was the Winner of the Best in Flooring category from the Elle Decoration British Design Awards:



By mixing conventional materials with high technology surface design techniques a repeating pattern has been translated from lace into a three dimensional tile.


Above: the lace tile used as the face for a retail counter


The tiles reveal the decorative rose pattern when laid in multiples. Projects include Urban outfitters, Revolution Vodka Bar and private residences in the UK and Europe.

Dot Shade & Aluminum Base lamp




Handcrafted laser etched birch shade. The random pattern is formed during construction when many of the dots fall out. Complete with brushed aluminum base.

Shade dimensions W.400 x D. 250 x H.320 mm, Base Height 1200 mm, $430.00, buy it here

Textile Side Unit


The side board, named the Textile Side Unit, was made in collaboration with Decode, London. A lacquered carcass with CNC milled stone composite doors and solid oak base, it's priced from $8,000 and available in multiple sizes.




2 Door W.1600 D.550 H.700mm Buy it here
3 Door W.1800 D.550 H.700mm Buy it here
4 Door W.2400 D.550 H.700mm Buy it here

His Birthday Candelabra for Worldwide Fred:



buy it here.

Jethro, in his own words:

"My approach to my work and practice is to design products with both purposeful intent and visual appeal. I incorporate digital technologies into my design process alongside hands on construction techniques.

My work is designed in response to either self a directed brief or commission and is designed with the notion of a batch or mass production run in mind.

I established my business in early 2006 and design and manufacture a range of interior products sold through a selection of independent retailers both in the UK and abroad."
-Jethro Macey
www.jethromacey.com

Small Spikey Mammals Serve As Design Muse: It's A Hedgehog Heydey.

Hedgehogs have appeared in tons of products lately. Sure, they've always been a favorite amongst the serious gardening crowd, but these little critters have become the new hip design muse for many a product.

I'm not talking about those little crafty hedgehogs made of pine cones or cuddly stuffed animals, but instead hedgehog inspired designs and functional modern iconographic versions of the little animal. From 18k rose gold jewelry by Boucheron, wall art, doormats, desk accessories and chocolates to candles, bath rugs and letter pressed coasters-- even hood ornaments!-- all 24 shown below are available for purchase. Just click on the images below for purchase information.

Clockwise from upper left:

• diamond and mink hedgehog brooch by Marchak
• chocolate hedgehogs
• hedgehog picture frame
• felt hedgehog
• metal and coir hedgehog doormat
• organic cotton hedgehog pillow
• Flensted hedgehog mobile
• Ceramic hedgehog bank by Big Tomato
• 24" diameter hedgehog rug
• Boucheron's 18k rose gold and ruby hedgehog necklace
• Alessi's Dozi hedgehog paperclip holder
• Stelabirds Hedgehog pouch
• Mini bronze cast hedgehog
• 18k rose gold boucheron hedgehog rin
• Hedgehog sprint print
• letter-pressed hedgehog coasters
• hedgehog candle
• hedgehog hood ornament
• handcrafted wood hedgehog puzzle
• hedgehog patterned messenger bag
• hedgehog art on canvas
• hedgehog t-shirt for The Shins
• hedgehog pencil holder
• hedgehog mini glow nitelite

Just click on the images above for more info and links to purchase.

Hedgehog links from Wikipedia:

• Hedgehogs (Species) at the Open Directory Project
• Hedgehog reference at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
• UK Mammal Society fact sheet - European Hedgehog
• WildlifeOnline - Natural History of European Hedgehog
• Hedgehog Facts

Guitars That Will Stir Your Soul, Prior To Being Played: Moollon

Moollon of Seoul, Korea designs and crafts some of the most beautiful looking guitars, basses, pickups and effects accessories I have ever seen. In addition to several custom creations for various artists, they have an impressive collection of private stock and retail products. Etchings of dragons, carp, wings and lotus flowers adorn some of the guitars and exotic woods are crafted for several of the stunning basses. The pick ups and effectors have the same attention to detail.



I can only attest to the design and aesthetics of these instruments and effectors. To learn more about them and how they are reviewed as technical instruments, please consult guitar blogs, stores, magazines, specialists, etc.

Here are a few examples of Moollon's work:











































GEO WOO Musical Instrument
Address : 210-20(B1)Goosan-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, Korea
E-mail : support@moollon.com
Tel : 822-351-4201
Fax : 822-387-9456

To locate dealers of Moollon products worldwide, go here.

Karl Lagerfeld's Sexy Photo Essays To Promote Dom Perignon

In the spirit of upcoming New Year's Eve, as thoughts turn to champagne, I wanted to share these two very sexy campaigns for Dom Pérignon with you since they have rarely been seen.




Karl Lagerfeld promoted two different vintages of Dom Pérignon with sexy photo narratives starring super models Claudia Schiffer in 2007 and Eva Herzigova in 2006, respectively. Granted, they are both sexist male fantasies; the first about a man who envisions his wife as different exotic women, the second about a wealthy woman, who grows bored after shopping and bathing and decides to seduce her male neighbor in a luxury hotel. However, the photography by Karl Lagerfeld and styling are fabulous and worth sharing despite the obvious chauvinistic overtones.

Dom Pérignon's Oenothéque, vintage 1993, is lauded with this 2007 black and white campaign, the story of which (albeit very sexist) is about a bored wealthy couple in which the man fantasizes his wife to be several different women. (Click on the photos to enlarge them)

The Dom Pérignon Œnothéque Vintage 1993 campaign in 2007:












Credits:
Photographer: Karl Lagerfeld
Models:
Claudia Schiffer
Brad Kroenig
Sébastien Jondeau
Stylist: Andrew Richardson
Casting: Katherine Marre
Fashion:
Christian Dior Haute Couture
Dior Homme
Céline
Fendi
Louis Vuitton
Givenchy
Jewels: Victoire de Castellane - Dior Joaillerie
Hair: Odile Gilbert
Make-up: Ayako
Manicure: Anny Errandorea
Direction Image: Eric Pfrunder
Photographer's assistants:
Xavier Arias
Ben Sollich
Frédéric David
Olivier Saillant
Photoshop: Ludovic d'Hardiville
PR: Caroline Lebar
Making-of: Xavier Arias - Orange
Website Conception & production: pubfiction
Design & code: chewing the sun, www.chewingthesun.com
Coordination: XOTOX / Marie-Laure Brossier, www.xotox.fr
© Champagne MOET & CHANDON 2007 - Copyright is detained by Champagne MOET & CHANDONconcerning the photographs, the making-of and DOM PERIGNON trademarks. Rights reserved. Infringement of copyright is incurred for any unauthorized reproduction.

Above: Karl and Claudia at the launch party in Paris

The 1996 vintage of Dom Pérignon Rosé was immortalized in the following campaign, launched in 2006, starring supermodel Eva Herzigova as a woman staying at a hotel, indulging in a shopping spree and then seducing her hotel neighbor with the champagne.

The Dom Pérignon ROSÉ Vintage 1996 campaign in 2006:


















Credits:
Photographer:Karl Lagerfeld
Models: Eva Herzigova
Brad Kroenig
Stylist: Jed Root - Kate Young
Casting: Katherine Marre
Fashion:
Christian Dior Haute Couture
Dior Homme
Céline
Fendi
Louis Vuitton
Givenchy
Jewels: Chopard
Hair: Terry Millet
Make-up: Emmanuel Sammartino
Manicure: Anny Errandonea
Photo production: Eric Pfrunder
Photographer's assistants:
Xavier Arias
Ben Sollich
Frédéric David
Olivier Saillant
Retouch Settings:
Ludovic d'Hardiville
Stefan Lubrina
PR:Caroline Lebar, Olivier Cussec
Making-of Photos: Xavier Arias
Making-of Sound design: Xavier Arias
Michel Gaubert
Website Conception & production: pubfiction
Design & code: chewing the sun, www.chewingthesun.com
Coordination: XOTOX / Marie-Laure Brossier, www.xotox.fr
Movie Director: Johan Renck
Assistant: Magdalena Larsson
Executive producer: Greg Panteix


above: Karl and Eva at the launch party in Los Angeles
© Champagne MOET & CHANDON 2005 - Copyright is detained by Champagne MOET & CHANDON concerning the photographs, the making-of and DOM PERIGNON trademarks. Rights reserved. Infringement of copyright is incurred for any unauthorized reproduction.

www.domperignon.com

More Bubbly For Your Buck: 10 Top Sparkling Wines For New Year's Eve

As New Year's Eve approaches, several of us are in search of the right bubbly (and undoubtedly this year, the best 'deal') with which to toast the ringing in of 2009.

Eric Asimov, chief wine critic for the NY times gives us sparkling wine alternatives to the pricier 'champagne', selected by a panel of 25 experts, that range from $10.00 to $20.00.




By ERIC ASIMOV, December 24, 2008
THE corks will pop as usual this holiday season, and the bubbly will froth over into the glasses. Toasts will be offered, and the good times will still roll, but perhaps in a more subdued fashion. Fewer of those bottles of sparkling wine are likely to be Champagne this December.

All over the United States, people are spending less for wine, and aiming for a lower-key expression of seasonal joy. That means less Champagne. Partly, this is an economic decision. “People are clearly trading down,” said Jon Fredrikson of Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, a wine industry analyst in California. “People are still drinking wine, but it’s clearly at lower price points.”

But emotions and appearances play an important role in the decision as well. Aside from a general shortage of celebratory occasions like mergers, closings, bonuses and office parties, many restaurateurs say that customers are avoiding even the appearance of celebration.

“People just don’t want to look extravagant today,” said Paul Grieco, an owner of Hearth, Insieme and Terroir in Manhattan. “They still want to drink, so they cut out the Champagne and go directly to whatever they’re drinking with dinner.”

After several strong years, Champagne sales in the United States began to slip in 2007 as the weak dollar caused prices to rise. About 21 million bottles were shipped to the United States in 2007, down 2 percent from 2006, and the drop became precipitous in 2008. Through August, sales were down 17 percent over the corresponding period last year, according to Sam Heitner, director of the Office of Champagne U.S.A., a trade organization, and that doesn’t include the last three months of the year, when much of the Champagne is sold. “We’re in uncharted territory,” he said.

Recognizing the concern over spending, the wine panel recently tasted 25 sparkling wines priced $10 to $20, the sweet spot these days for good wine values.

We restricted ourselves to dry sparkling wines, while ruling out sparkling rosés and reds. For the tasting, Florence Fabricant and I were joined by the husband-and-wife team of Scott Mayger, the general manager of Telepan on the Upper West Side, and Beth von Benz, a wine consultant. The good news is that outside of Champagne, just about any region in the world that makes wine makes sparkling wine, too.

Among our 25 bottles were wines from France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Australia, as well as California, Washington state, New Mexico and Michigan. Believe me, that’s just the beginning. I’ve enjoyed good bottles from Austria, Massachusetts and Georgia (the country, not the state). I did set one more parameter: no prosecco. I like prosecco, but I enjoy it best in spring and summer, when its sprightliness seems to match the season. I didn’t rule out sekt, the sparkling wine of Germany, but maybe I should have. I’ve rarely met a sekt I’ve liked, and neither one in our tasting made our top 10. And I confess, I’m not much of a fan either of cava, the sparkling wine of Spain.

One of the three in our tasting, the Reserva Heredad from Segura Viudas, made our top 10 at No. 9, though at $20 it was maybe not such a good value. Perhaps in a different context, say, a cafe in Frankfurt or tapas bar in Barcelona, these wines might have been more appealing. But when they were mixed in with a bunch of bottles made in the fashion of Champagne, with some proportion of chardonnay and pinot noir, the main grapes of Champagne, we preferred those bottles, wherever they came from. Our top bottle, the 2004 brut from Domaine Carneros, was, of course, from California. We found it elegant and delicious, and it just squeaked by two other far-flung bottles.

Our No. 2, the Contadi Castaldi, was from the Italian region of Franciacorta, which produces some excellent Champagne facsimiles. This one was particularly dry and light-bodied, with aromas of herbs, spices and flowers.

And our No. 3 was a sparkling wine from Burgundy, the toasty, refreshing Parigot & Richard blanc de blancs, made mostly from chardonnay. While our price range was $10 to $20, most of the wines in the tasting were $15 to $20.

One of the few exceptions, and the only one to make the list, was the Crémant de Limoux blanc de blancs from Domaine J. Laurens, which at $13 was our best value. Habitués of the bargain aisle may be familiar with blanquette de Limoux, a sparkling wine from the same region in southern France. This is generally even cheaper than the Laurens, and usually made from the mauzac grape. The crémant is made of chardonnay and chenin blanc, which gives an added smoothness and elegance.

Other Champagne-style wines that we liked included three more from California, the Roederer Estate, long a personal favorite of mine, as well as the Piper Sonoma and the Gloria Ferrer. Two other French wines rounded out our top 10.

La Cravatine from Fabrice Gasnier was an oddity, a sparkling Chinon made from the cabernet franc grape. It was nonetheless light and refreshing, as was our No. 10, the herbal-scented crémant d’Alsace from Lucien Albrecht, made from pinot blanc and pinot auxerrois.

Let’s be honest, none of these bottles will match a very good Champagne. But they cost half what you would pay these days for the least expensive Champagne, and they were enjoyable. Even so, they may all still cost more than many people are willing to spend. Mr. Fredrikson said the greatest growth right now is in bottles $6 and under, which includes mass-produced sparkling wines that in my opinion are not worth the money.

There may be one bright spot for Champagne. Roberto Rogness, general manager of Wine Expo in Santa Monica, Calif., which offers an exceptional selection of sparkling wines, reports that even though cavas, crémants and other Champagne alternatives are selling “by the boatload,” Champagne sales seem to be holding their own. And Mr. Rogness is looking hopefully to next year. “We’re starting to get feelers for inauguration parties,” he said.

Tasting Report: They Aren’t Champagne, but They Do Sparkle

Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Carneros Brut 2004, $20- Toasty, creamy, elegant and lively with flavors of apple and lemon:


Contadi Costaldi Franciacorta Brut NV, $19 - Dry and light with lovely floral, mint and spice aromas. (Importer: Blavod Extreme Spirits, Franklin, Tenn.):


Parigot & Richard Cremont de Bourgogne, Brut Blanc de Blancs NV, $20 -Dry, refreshing with floral aromas and flavors of lime and brioche. (Willette Wines/A Becky Wasserman Selection, Manhasset, N.Y.):


Domaine J. Laurens Cremont de Limoux, Brut Blanc de Blancs NV, $13 - Dry and textured with refreshing flavors of citrus and flowers. (Vigneron Imports, Oakland, Calif.):


Roederer Estate, Andersen Valley Brut NV, $19 - Light, dry and Champagne-like with flavors of lemon and grapefruit:

Fabrice Gasnier Chinon Blanc de Noir La Cravatine NV $17 - Dry and frothy with lively citrus flavors. (Petit Pois/Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, N.J.):

Piper Sonoma Sonoma County Brut Blanc de Blancs Select Cuvée NV -$17 - Light and straightforward with flavors of lemon and apple.

Gloria Ferrer Carneros Brut Blanc de Blancs 2004, $20 - Light and frothy with aromas of lemon, apple and mushroom.

Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Blanc de Blancs NV, $20 - Light and crisp with aromas of anise, tarragon and peach. (Pasternak Wine Imports, Harrison, N.Y.)

Segura Viudas Cava Brut Riserva, Heredad NV, $20 - Bright and lively with herbal, floral and citrus flavors. (Freixenet, Sonoma, Calif.):


If you want the real thing- actual Champagne-- here's a list of resources from around the Web about Champagne as selected by researchers and editors of The New York Times:

• Official Champagne site
• Office of Champagne, U.S.A.
• Celebrating Champagne, at intowine.com

Champagne producers sites:

Bollinger

Charles Heidsieck

Dom Pérignon

Krug

Lanson

Laurent-Perrier

Louis Roederer

Moët & Chandon

Mumm

Perrier Jouët

Piper Heidsieck

Pol Roger

Taittinger

Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin

Here's a huge post on just about everything you need to know when it comes to champagne from last season.

Sales Sucked This Year, So Stimulate The Economy By Taking Advantage Of These Post Xmas Sales

For stores, a very un-merry holiday
Sales during the crucial year-end shopping season evaporated as economic woes trumped gift-buying enthusiasm among consumers. By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer



The 2008 holiday sales season is one of the worst for retailers in decades, as consumers' concerns about the economy and job losses crushed the typical year-end shopping exuberance. 'I don't see any reason for retailers to be rejoicing at all," said Britt Beemer, chairman and founder of America's Research Group.

Among the early sales tallies, new estimates from MasterCard Inc.'s SpendingPulse Data service indicated that total store sales fell about 3% in November and December combined. That would be significantly worse than the forecast from the National Retail Federation (NRF), which anticipated a 2.2% gain for the period.

The NRF's projection would still be the weakest holiday sales gain in six years. Beemer said he expects holiday sales to decline about 2.8%. The fourth-quarter shopping period is critical for merchants since it can account for as much as 50% of their annual profit and sales. And since consumer spending also fuels two-thirds of economic activity, any signals of a severe pullback in discretionary buying also doesn't bode well for the overall economy.

"A difficult economic environment combined with unfavorable weather during the last week of shopping made 2008 one of the most challenging holiday shopping seasons in decades," Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for SpendingPulse, said in the report. SpendingPulse's estimates are based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments network, combined with estimates for all other payment options, including cash and check. Based on those numbers, the firm said total clothing purchases in November and December dropped by as much as 21% over last year while purchases of electronics tumbled by 26% over last year.

"Sales above $1,000 have been a consistent drag on this sector throughout the season," McNamara said. The report said luxury sales showed the largest year-over-year decline, down by more than 34% over last year.

Even online purchases, which had shown year-over-year sales growth since the advent of the Internet in the 1990s, took a hit this year as consumers curtailed their spending in all retail channels. SpendingPulse numbers showed overall Web-based holiday sales fell 2.3% versus a year ago.

Separately, a report last week from sales tracker ComScore said Web-based holiday shopping fell for the first time in seven years. One retail analyst fears that although the holiday shopping season is winding down, the worst isn't yet over for merchants . "January [sales] will just collapse," said Richard Hastings, consumer strategist with Global Hunter Securities. Hastings had forecast a 6 to 8% sales decline for the three months of November through January. He said January has become an important sales month over the past few years because retailers look to clear leftover merchandise and redeem the gift cards given over the holiday season. But not this year, according to Hastings.

The NRF forecasted a 6% drop in holiday gift card sales as a shaky retail environment, accented by a rising number of bankruptcies, made consumers nervous about whether a merchant would still be around in 2009 to make good on the cards. . What's more, Hastings said there's no enthusiasm to shop if you really don't need anything. "The layoffs will continue into 2009. People realize that and it's making them nervous about spending money," he said.

So.......... how to make the best of this lousy news? try taking advantage of some of the after christmas online sales:

After Christmas Online Sale #1: Macmall.com

At Macmall.com you will be able to save up to 44% off Apple systems as they put on their Year End Clearance & Tax Savings Sale. The Apple iPods are also available at discount pricing and free engraving is offered for the case. Some are available for free shipping

After Christmas Online Sale #2: Homedepot.com

The online home building company will be offering online rebates that will include up to $300 off GE appliances and up to 30% off products made by Dirt Devil. All Christmas items will be offered at 50% - 60% off regular prices. Sale is good until December 31st.

After Christmas Online Sale #3: Walmart.com

Sales start at WalMart on December 26th and go until supplies are gone. Expect to see deep discounts up to 80% on lines of jewelry, appliances and toys. And don't forget those Christmas decorations that you need for next year, get them now at this After Christmas online sale.

After Christmas Online Sale #4: Macys.com

Macy's After Christmas Online Sale will include items from the jewelry department, bedding, kitchen and appliances. You will be able to get great household goods at up to 75% off retail prices. And they will also have women's clothing heavily discounted as they have a lot if inventory that needs to be moved.

After Christmas Online Sale #5: Target.com
Target's After Christmas online sale will start December 26th and will continue until all the supplies are gone. Expect to see great deals on Nintendo DS games at $25 each, and up to 60% off toys and 75% off select Christmas decorations and kitchen items. You will be able to get 90% off of GO designer Jonathan Saunder's collection which they are phasing out to make way for a new designer. There will also be deep discounts on appliances.

After Christmas Online Sale #6: Sears.com

Go to Sears.com for discounts on fine jewelry of up to 70% off, and home appliances and some clothing lines will be discounted the same. If you are going to get in shape for the New Year then treadmills will be on sale at 40% off. Watch Sears.com though, some sites say that even further discounts will be coming on New Year's day.

After Christmas Online Sale #7: Circuit City.com

The After Christmas Online Sale is mixed in with the need to liquidate for this bankrupt electronics store. Word is that they bought way too much inventory for the holiday season and now they have to move it. That means deep, deep discounts both online and at the brick and-mortar stores. While discount percentages are not posted yet, you can expect to see amazing deals on laptops, TV's, DVRs and digital cameras.

These are just some of the deals that you can expect to see in cyber-world for the After Christmas Online sales. Many retailers will be offering deep discounts in the days following Christmas as they try to move 2008 stock. Shop carefully, start early, know what you want and get it at the best prices you are likely to see at the After Christmas Online Sales.
Those above were brought to you by Associated Content.

and more, according to the US World and News reports:
J.C. Penney announced it will open at 5:30 a.m. the day after Christmas—the earliest opening in the store's history—and offer 100 door-buster specials, including 50 to 60 percent off private-label clothing for men and women, as well as 75 percent off Christmas decorations. The general merchandiser is offering a free wake-up call so that shoppers don't miss the sale.

The savings and values at Toys "R" Us stores will stretch into the New Year. Some of the items that will be available from Dec. 26, 2008, through Jan. 3, 2009, include 75 percent off a 1.60 Scale X-Trek Pro 15' Race Track Set; 60 percent off certain table games; 50 percent off some Hannah Montana Dolls; and 20 percent off all iPod cases and headphones.

Barnes & Noble, the nation's largest book retailer, is offering thousands of books at 50 to 90 percent off for its "After Holiday Warehouse Clearance Sale." Discounts are also available on music, DVDs, toys, video games, journals, calendars, and albums.

KB Toys announced Monday that it will be closing its doors for good and has launched a liquidation sale at all 461 of its KB Toys, KB Toy Outlet, KB Toys Holiday, and KB Toy Works stores. Sales at KB Toys stores will begin at 40 percent off regular prices.

The bath products retailer Bath and Body Works is having an after-holiday sale of up to 50 percent off on products including body lotions, shower gels, hand creams, and fragrances.

Kohl's is having a huge clearance of 60 to 80 percent off on men's, women's, and children's clothing.

Even luxury retailer Neiman Marcus will be offering steep discounts with its After Christmas Sale. Shoppers can find sales on women's, men's, and children's designer apparel, as well as designer shoes, handbags, and jewelry. Neiman Marcus will be offering an extra 40 percent off already-reduced prices.

Forbes has recommended these after Christmas sales as well:

Leron, New York, Jan. 5-Feb. 7
A queen-sized set of Leron's of hand-milled and -stitched sheets takes nearly a year to produce. That's why it's unusual that the linen company is offering 20% savings on a wide selection of custom bed, bath and table linens, as well as lingerie. There also will be up to a 60% discount on many one-of-a-kind items. Those who spend $1,000 at the sale get a $100 gift card for Feb. 9-April 30 purchases.For more information, visit www.leron.com.

Louis Boston, located on Newbury Street in a gorgeous old mansion that was formerly the Boston Natural History Museum, will begin its only holiday sale Jan. 7, where all fall items will be 50% off. Designers include runway favorites like Marni, Balenciaga and The Row, designed by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. For more information, visit www.louisboston.com.

Blackbird, Seattle and Online, Dec. 26-mid-January
This popular boutique predominantly features menswear, with a bit of utilitarian women's wear and home goods sprinkled in for good measure. Fall and winter items will be discounted by 25% to 75% starting Dec. 26. Feature sale items include Acne Jeans' PVC-coated cotton lace-ups for men, Julius' waxed cotton gabardine military-style coat and Comme des Garcons cowhide wallets in several colors. Other brands include Nom de Guerre, Band of Outsiders, Filippa K, A.P.C. and Opening Ceremony.For more information, visit www.blackbirdballard.com.

High-fashion discounter Yoox.com--which has sold everything from vintage to in-season Maison Martin Margiela in the past--is giving an extra 50% off certain already-reduced items, including pieces from Italian glitz label Versace and French progressive design collective Surface to Air. But the Web site, based in Italy, is not desperate to offload inventory before the holidays. While more items will go on sale starting Dec. 26, Yoox's discounts will apply only to about a quarter of its total inventory.

Jeffrey, Atlanta and New York, Dec. 26-mid-January
Known best for its combination of hard-to-find designers and relentlessly friendly customer service, Jeffrey will offer up to 50% off selected fall '08 ready-to-wear garments and shoes, such as Brian Atwood platforms and Prada pumps.For more information, visit www.jeffreyatlanta.com.

Calypso Home, Bal Harbour, Fla., Santa Monica, Calif., and New York, Dec. 26-mid-January
Designer Christian Celle's colorful silk shantung dresses continue to create rabid female fans of all ages. After the holidays, you'll find discounts up to 60% off everything from pillows to blankets to wall hangings from Celle's collection.For more information, visit www.calypso-celle.com.

Red Stamp Stationary, Online, Dec. 25-Jan. 15
Stock up on holiday cards for next year at this online stationers' annual sale, which will offer 20%-60% discounts on holiday trimmings (including gift wrap, tags, bags and ribbons), holiday cards and stationery, as well as 2009 calendars, agendas and desk accessories. For more information, visit www.redstamp.com.


Now, here are a few After Christmas Sales that I recommend:

Garnet Hill has the best bath towels I've ever bought. Nice and heavy and now 30% off here


Bluefly's Winter Sale:


Design Her Gals Boxing Day Special


Artful Home's Studio Sale:


Room & Board's Annual Clearance Sale


Happy Sale Shopping!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my wonderful readers. Thanks so much for the many nice mentions, notes and gifts. May your holidays be filled with health, love and happiness.

love,
Laura (and Indie, of course)

5th Christmas Tree Exhibition- HfG Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design

It's another year for the exhibit of various designer interpretations of the traditional Christmas tree at Germany's Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design. The images below are from various submissions to the exhibit over the past few years. The show is in its fifth year this year and has had hundreds of unusual and imaginative entries. The deadline for this year's entries was December 12th (I'll show you those trees next year). Here are a few of my favorite entries since the inception of the show in 2004.


First off, what is the history of the Traditional Christmas Tree? According to wikipedia:
The Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas. Normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, a Christmas tree is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is often placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity story.

Now, onto the designer interpretations. Here some of my faves from the 2007 entries:



above: Tire and tree tread by Cornelia Sieg

above: cristina irrgang and moritz willborn

above: miriam bauer

above: keifer & michalski

above: masa busic

above: viola kup

above: thomas beckstein

above: piero glina

above: nadja schoch

Above: suzanne feldt

above: lauren walter

above: peter bube & felix grunschloss

above: gotz gramlich

above: cecile noel

above: alice henry

above: elvira heise

above: stefanie miller

above: lia stoeckel

above: bea stach
-----------------------------------------------------------------
some of my faves from the 2006 entries:


above: förderer & schäfer & schmid & vogel

above: juli foos

above: markus gläser

above: sogol shirazi & saskia noël

above: jérôme nelet

above: kun wang

above: marko grewe

above: max kosoric

above: kosoric (detail)

above: kathrin jilg

above: päivi raivio & niko venäläinen

above: simon roth

above: yunwei zhu
----------------------------------------------------------------
and some of my faves from the 2005 entries:


above: stefan legner

above: marcel besau & jan eilts & philipp sholz

above: claudia kappenberger

above: kappenberger detail

above: benedikt achatz

above: volker albus

above: matthias mai

----------------------------------------------------------------
and some of my faves from the 2004 entries:


above: katrin sonnleitner

above: volker albus

above: johannes marmon & johannes müller

above: christina irrgang

above: berta riera

above: susanne könig & charlotte montanus

above: tom förderer

above: kai richter

above: martin sämmer


5th Christmas Tree Exhibition
12.12.2008 - 21.12.2008
HfG Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design
THE IDEA (in their words): One for all!
»Enjoy it, love it, hate it, destroy it and revive it again!« This just about sums up in one sentence our original intentions in 2004. But in fact, at the inception of the project, we didn’t really know where we were going with the idea or what—to all intents and purposes—made for enjoyment and what for destruction.
• We wanted to initiate a project everyone participating in would have fun with, one that would bridge the divide between the different departments at the school—a project suspended on a truly interdisciplinary platform. Taking it to the next level and addressing an open invitation to professors, staff and outsiders wasn’t that far off—but rather the more appealing. Absolutely anyone could take part in the project: no guidelines, no selections or short-listings, no limitations on submissions.
• The topic »Christmas tree« seemed fitting, intuitive more than planned: everyone would know what it was about. Anyone could pick out an image, a memory of or an association with a Christmas tree. At the same time, the image of the Christmas tree was abstract enough to be reworked in any manner of ways and with all assorted media—we could invite graphic and product designers, media artists, art historians and scenographers. The field offered enough space for texts, pictures, posters, sound installations, objects and other production methods.
• It only really became clear how perfectly suitable the subject was in the proceeding years. There are few objects that are so spot on as the Christmas tree. On one hand, it embodies such a specific, distinct and popular image—a cone-shape covered in green needles, (red) balls and (white) candles. On the other hand, it encompasses a symbolism that alludes to so much at large. As both a pagan and Christian symbol, it stands for fertility and commerce, stands at Christmas markets and supermarkets, in the living room and on the main square—in Stockholm and Cape town, Miami and Peking—featuring different faces according to different positions and perspectives.
• Considering that this tree is rooted in foundations that are religious, profane, commercial, formal, historical, familiar, and social—among others—and that despite all of this, it has still grown to become such a distinctive and unmistakable evergreen icon, seems to have given participants the grounds for idealisation, ironic critique, critical analysis, collage, persiflage, re-drafting, malapropism and other forms of refiguration.
•»Some of the best exhibitions are ones that don’t take themselves too seriously«—so read the headline of Wallpaper magazine’s web article on the trees this summer—hits the needle on the head: the exhibition should be fun, anyone and everyone can show what they want and what makes them happy, can think about it as much as they like or don’t, work diligently or not. And so it goes—hopefully all over again!
jjoo - Johannes Marmon & Johannes Müller

Oh Tannenbaum - Designer Christmas trees Book:

A book with essays and 25 Christmas cards with motives from the annual Christmas Tree Exhibition. You can order the book here.

Johannes Marmon & Johannes Müller
e-mail: christmas@hfg-karlsruhe.de

address:
HfG Karlsruhe
Christmas Tree Exhibition
Lorenzstr. 15
76135 Karlsruhe
Germany

From Bleak To Beautiful: The American Dollar's 'Anything You Synthesize'

Thanks to NOTCOT's early morning tweet a couple of days ago, I've been made aware of a beautiful music video from Dutch studio Onesize for The American Dollar’s “Anything You Synthesize.” A time lapse video focusing on a changing landscape, from bleak to beautiful, for the band The American Dollar.

Unfortunately, in it's full size and glory, it's too large for me to post it here (at 75 megs, you'd lose patience waiting for the movie to download), so be sure to go see the whole, full sized beautiful piece here

some screen grabs for you:










As quoted from the production company, Onesize:

•After listening to the song over and over, we came to the conclusion that the track felt like “landscape-music” to us.
•Seasons, mountains, time-lapsed skies, day, night, drama, decay, cinematic, slow-paced, out of the ordinary… to name a few keywords.
•We finally decided to build a looping landscape that would decay during the track. Very simple, but never the less a challenge to us, because we'd simple never done such a thing before.
•A simple camera movement traveling from left to right during the song, and while it travels we see the landscape decaying from a beautiful fresh mountain-view-landscape into a dead, flat desert.
•Also, during this trip we would see all 4 seasons of one year go by, even day and night. So, it actually is a non-linear and a non-chronological time-lapse of a decaying landscape.
•We had split-up the track in 9 pieces, equally in length. Each piece is one loopable landscape, panning from left to right. Then we also cut the song into 4 seasons and in addition, to make it more complex for ourselves, we also needed 3 smooth transitions from day into a short night.
•After preparation we started the actual production. Because of the fact that this was a “personal” Onesize project, we had to work on this during our spare time and in between projects.
•The idea was to add some live action (in-camera) effects, like rain, snow, lens flares, dust, etc. but we ended up with a fully CG production.

Funny thing is, once they were just about done with the piece, they looked at it and decided it worked better in reverse, so now it begins as a decaying landscape that becomes a flourishing one. Either way, it kept me in rapt attention.

CREDITS:
Audio: The American Dollar
Director: Kasper Verweij
Design & Animation: Menno Fokma, Harm van Zon, Reinier Fleas, Heerko Groefsema, Kasper Verweij, Rogier Hendriks
Post: Rogier Hendriks
Production: Onesize

Watch it in it's full size here.

Emma Hack Takes Body Art To A New Level With Her Latest Collection

We've seen body painting before. I've posted about well-known hand painter, Guido Daniele and the body painting of shoes on feet by Temptu. And how could I forget Veruschka?* But it wasn't until I saw her work on the cover of India's Platform magazine, that I was introduced to Australian artist and body illustrator Emma Hack.



Above: The image used on cover of Platform magazine from last year that piqued my interest in the work of Emma Hack.

An artist with several skills; sculpture, multimedia, photographer and more, I'm sharing images of her body painting for this post because it's simply amazing. Her work uses the naked bodies of both men and women as canvases and incorporates the backgrounds to give us the illusion of a flat surface in which the bodies are so well camouflaged against wall coverings, it's hard to even see them.

About this stunning collection: Emma’s Wallpaper 2005, 2007 and 2008 collections feature Florence Broadhurst wallpaper designs mixed with her body illustration. Emma continues to work blending her ‘wallflowers’ with the beautiful designs of Broadhurst.

Emma’s recent 2008 collection, featured during the Adelaide Fringe Festival, features exotic Australian animals, nude landscapes and a continued collection of Florence Broadhurst wallpapers. Emma photographed this collection herself, evolving her talents further. Here are her most recent works from her Wallpaper series:












And earlier works in the series:










In her Evolution collection, she actually painted animals!
An alligator, a possum, a dragon and turtles:






A bit about the artist:
Emma began her career as a make up and hair stylist and painted children's faces. She has evolved into a world-class body illustrator with several awards and acclaim, as well as a sculptor, a photographer and more. She's involved in several projects and continues to stretch and hone her talents.




Emma is represented in Adelaide by:
Art Images Gallery
32 The Parade Norwood
SA 5067
Phone: 08 8363 0806

*addendum:
I had to amend this post to answer to the several emails I've received reminding me of the amazing body painting and transfigurations by Vera Lehndorff (aka Veruschka). I was remiss in not referencing her work in a post about body painting- because it is superb and especially since my colleagues worked with her to produce a Lexus TV and print campaign in the mid 90s.

After beginning her career as a model in the 60’s, Lehndorff used the Veruschka pseudonym to enter the public domain, becoming one of the most sought-after and heavily publicized models in international fashion. Prior to crossing over to the art world with a renowned series of camouflage body-paintings, Lehndorff worked with many prominent photographers, including Helmet Newton.


above: self portrait by 'Veruschka'

Vera von Lehndorff (aka Veruschka)'s myspace page.

Stylish Wireless Tech For Parrot: The Zikmu Speakers by Philippe Starck

Parrot is a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones and is always on the cutting edge of innovation. Recently, they've hired designers to make specific products for their line. The latest of which are the Zikmu; new wireless speakers by well known designer Philippe Starck.



Designed to blend design with cutting-edge technologies, the luxury set of speakers feature a sleek, modern look with an iPod® or iPhone docking station, a broad range of wireless capabilities (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth® Stereo) and 360° NXT surround sound technology.



'Zikmu' has been designed for compatibility with the entire range of Apple products and music players, including the iPhone. Using the docking station built into one of the speaker columns, listeners can enjoy their favorite music while recharging the player and control it via a smart monolithic remote control.




operable by remote:


overhead view:


Boasting a 100W RMS total power output, consumers can stream music directly from a PC via Wi-Fi or music stored on a mobile phone, PC or Mac® via Bluetooth® stereo (A2DP) wireless technology. The two speakers communicate with each other using Bluetooth technology, eliminating wires, and enabling them to be positioned anywhere in a room, for a true stereo effect.





Above: Philippe Starck with Henri Seydoux of Parrot

The Parrot by Starck speakers also feature innovative NXT technology, changing the face of acoustic design. NXT technology uses an extra-flat membrane to create small-scale vibrations across its entire surface to reproduce the medium and treble frequencies, optimally radiating sound from both sides of the speaker. This 360° immersive sound can be experienced no matter where a user is in relation to the speakers.

The packaging:



The 'Zikmu' Parrot by Starck wireless speakers will be available for Spring 2009 in the US at a suggested retail price of $1,500.


About Parrot

Parrot, a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, stands on the cutting edge of innovation. The company was founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux as part of his determination to drive the inevitable breakthrough of mobile phones into everyday life by creating high-quality, user-friendly wireless devices for easy living. Parrot has developed the most extensive range of hands-free kits on the market for cars, motorbikes and scooters, including wireless multimedia products geared towards audiovisual applications. In 2008, Parrot launched a new prestige line of high-end products bearing the hallmark of renowned artists. Parrot, headquartered in Paris, currently employs 500 people worldwide, generates 86.6% of its sales overseas and stands as a fast-growth company (2007 revenues: 220 million euros, tripled since 2005) listed since 2006 on Euronext, Paris.
Euronext Paris - Eurolist, Compartment B: FR0004038263 - PARRO www.parrot.com

If you're an audiophile or just love cool audio speakers, be sure to see these posts:

Speaker Manufacturers Turn Up The Volume On Design

Wireless Speakers That Go From 0-60 As Fast As You Can Say "Ferrari"

Symbio Design Loudspeakers; Alpha, Beta & EggO

New Speakers From Artist Marka27: The Mini-Gods

Ross Lovegrove is Making Some Noise for KEF

G1 GIYA Loudspeakers From Vivid Audio: Expensive & HUGE

Funky Find of The Week: Axelsson Dragon Speakers

Art? Or Speakers? It's Two, Two Objects in One

It's A Lamp. It's A Speaker. It's The Amplamp By Futuros

14 Great Tech Gifts and Gadget Options For The Holidays

Looking for a cool gift for the technophile in your life?

Well, here are 14 of my favorites from my list of 135 cool tech items. Ranging from fun little usb drives to the incredible amphibious A5 icon aircraft. Just click on the pic for more info and place of purchase.

Technology That Works As Well As It Looks
Amazing gifts for the tech lovers in your life. Ranging from thoughtful little fun gifts to advanced, expensive transportation options. Not finding what you want? See more of my Technology That Rocks list at ThisNext.

Innovative Furnishings From SixInch of Belgium

If you live outside of Belgium, Portugal or Japan, you may not be familiar with sixinch, which would be a shame given their unique approach to furniture design that incorporates a resilient foam coating.

If you're a modern furniture designophile, you might have seen the Voltaire chairs from their Louis Collection sold at various modern furniture stores on on various blogs. And if you haven't seen the Tetris table or the wonderful Hope Table... well, that's what I'm here for :)

The Hope Table:




The Tetris Table:


Beautifully engraved tables:



Their Louis Collection:






.... and most recently added to the Louis collection:


Rock Elements and Rocking Chair:



The Lounge and the Lounge 2:




The Wiggleworm:



Male and Female tables or benches:



Arrows Modular Seating:


The La mdf chair:


In addition to their foamcoated furnishings, they have two very unique products; a Plastic Carpet coffee table and the Fish Cage, an aquarium styled after a bird cage which they say will be available soon (I want that!)

Plastic Carpet Coffee Table:


The Fish Cage:



About SixInch:
Founded in 2003 by Pieter Jamart and Michele Sels is an international furniture and design company with offices in Belgium, Portugal and Japan. Their focus is on the design and manufacturing of coated foam furnishings. They have other items as well in various materials, but they developed a special strong and reliable foamcoating suitable for a large range of uses.



Their talented designers:


They are presently hoping to extend their network, so I hope to see them in the US soon.

Contact info:
SixInch Head Office
Amerikalei 169 - 171
2000 Antwerp
Belgium
tel: +32 3 238 72 72
Fax: +32 3 237 76 08
VAT: BE 878 900 766
email: info@sixinch.be

Marcel Wanders Designs a Regal Christmas Collection for Bijenkorf Department Store

I'm a huge fan of just about everything Marcel Wanders touches. But, if you read my blog regularly, you already know this :) Whether it's his work for Moooi, Droog, interior design for hotels in Miami and Milan, his amazing collection for Holland Electro, wallpaper for Graham & Brown, his rugs for Colorline, his ceramics, his Swarovski pieces, his "House of Dreams" collection.... and I could go on and on. Now, in his inimitable style, he's done it again with a collection of gifts and more for a department store in Amsterdam.


He designed a beautiful new Christmas Collection of gifts for the Bijenkorf department store in Dam Square of Amsterdam as well as the in store decor and window displays that used Three Queens to introduce it with much pomp and circumstance.


Above: The exterior of the Bijenkorf department store in Dam Square

The event was heralded by on December 6th with the arrival of Three Queens in carriages decked out in black, white and gold to match the collection.



As usual, Marcel Wanders never disappoints, with attention to everything related to his work and designs. The collection and accompanying elements are rich, elegant, regal and wintery.





The collection consists of wrapping paper, socks, teddy bears, lingerie, christmas balls, vases, patterned dresses and table decorations, all of which feel both festive and majestic. Here are most of the pieces from the collection:








And stunning images from the Bijenkorf catalog:






See more beautiful work by Marcel Wanders:

Marcel Wanders studio

Marcel's Designs for The Mondrian South Beach

Marcel's rugs for Colorline

Marcel's collection for Holland Electro

It's New. It's Chic. It's in Brooklyn: The Nu Hotel in BoCoCa

Looking for a new place to stay in Brooklyn, NY?

Then check out the chic little NU Hotel. Recently opened in July 2008, NU Hotel offers a smart, clean, fresh design along with expert service.



The 93-room, newly built hotel was designed by Datumzero Design Office and has guest rooms in three styles; the Nu Standard, the Nu Friends Suite, and the Nu Urban Suite.





The Nu Friends Suites are equipped with bunk beds and modular furniture and Nu Urban Suites feature a cozy bed niche with leather surroundings, a sitting area and custom hammocks. Rooms have cork flooring, organic bedding materials and custom furnishings crafted from FSC- certified, sustainably harvested teak wood. Rooms also include 32" flat-screen televisions with "jack packs" to dock audio, video and computer electronics and complementary wifi access.





Nestled at the corner of Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue, NU Hotel conjures up a fresh blend of modern chic. 93 loft-inspired rooms offer a level of exclusivity reserved for private clubs.






The bathrooms have stone and glass showers, rain head showers, Aveda bath products and chalkboard walls where guests can jot notes for housekeeping, travel companions or themselves.




NU hotel is about authenticity and comfort for the business traveler. Feel a genuine sense of place in the unique touches, such as stenciled quotes from famous Brooklynites, found objects from old local landmarks, and scattered paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Chalkboards in the bathrooms add to the unique ambience.



Enjoy WiFi access throughout our Brooklyn accommodations, allowing you to work from the quiet business center or even the hammock in your room. Complimentary continental breakfast provides a morning boost, while evening tapas and cocktails at NU Bar set the perfect tone for a big night out. For a complete body and mind experience, retreat to the 24-hour fitness center – equipped for cardio, weight training, Pilates, and Yoga.



NU Hotel is in Downtown Brooklyn, which is the northern tip of BoCoCa, an umbrella term for three neighborhoods in Brooklyn - Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens. BoCoCa is a relatively new name for this area and not widely used, but is gaining greater currency, even outside the United States. BoCoCa is only a few short walking blocks from other distinct and authentic neighborhoods in Brooklyn, such as DUMBO (a loft-inspired neighborhood "down under the Brooklyn Bridge") and Brooklyn Heights (picturesque row houses and a few mansions directly across the East River from Manhattan).

Rates start at 200.$ per night

Nu Hotel
NU HOTEL 85 SMITH STREET BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11201
phone: 718-852-8585
fax: 718-852-8558

10 Hip Stocking Stuffers For Under $10.00

Given the many people I know who opted not to exchange gifts during this painful economic downturn, I wanted to post a few very cool items that won't cost you much more than 10 bucks. Because what's Christmas or Chanukah without any gifts? Not nearly as much fun, that's what.

iBend; the world's thinnest iPhone stand

They come two to a pack, one black and one white. A flexible but sturdy stand so you can watch videos and movies on your iphone.

$4.99 - Buy them here.

The Gangsta Rap Coloring book


48 pages of line drawings of "Gangsta" rappers, done with the thick black line we all remember from the coloring books of our youth.
$8.95 buy it here.

Bone Chillers Ice Cube Trays

About as cool as cubes can get.
$5.95- buy them here.

Little Uglys


David Horvath's line of famous plush dolls are also available in miniature. They make great pet toys, too!
$9.89 each, choose from the full line here.

Blue Q Tin Savings Banks
BlueQ has a bunch of great and hilarious items for under ten dollars. Some of my favorites are their tin banks with great sarcastic imagery and sayings:


Tons to choose from and only $7.99 each. Buy them here.

Punctuation Page Marks

Set of 5 pads. 50 pages each. Super cute way to bookmark anything of interest.
Each pad is about 1"x 3”

$10.00 - buy them here

Fill Me Up Flower Vases:


Reusable plastic vases that come in various patterns.
$8.oo each- buy them here

Ouch Comic Strip Bandages:

No better way to heal a boo boo.
$4.99 - buy them here

Guitar Key Blanks
available in 2 styles, both come in black or pink


Any hardware store can cut them to your needs.
$4.95 each. Buy them here.

Tattoo-inspired Collar Stays by Collar Ink

Tattoo inspired collar stays that come in a little glass vial.

• 2 1/2" x 3/8" (the industry’s most common size)
• thicker than many other plastic collar stays
• comes with a glass storage vial
• 14 collar stays in each vial—7 pairs
• won’t set off metal detectors

some samples:

Okay, this last one is a little more than ten bucks, but you get 7 pairs of them! So, you could actually split them up and give them to 2 people!
$12.99 for 7 pairs- see more and buy them here

So, if you need to get some little gifts on the cheap and you don't want to do a lip balm or a Starbucks gift card, then go for the above little finds. They will hardly cost you any coin, but will make most recipients smile.

Graphic Designers Gave Us 30 Reasons To Elect Obama & Hundreds More

Above: by Adam Snetman, New York

I know you've all seen the Shepard Fairey poster for Obama:

Above: Shepard Fairey's popular Obama Poster

But he certainly wasn't the only one who designed a beautiful poster in support of Barack Obama. Nor the best poster. Tons of graphic artists, illustrators, painters, typographers and more have done so, just take a glance below:





However, I'm singling out "30 reasons" in this post because I liked the use of their 'email' campaign as a way of communicating the support for Obama. And their artwork was more communicating the 'reason' to vote for the Democratic candidate rather than just a poster of him.


30 Reasons was a 30-day email and internet campaign to encourage people to vote for Barack Obama. Their goal was simple: Use design to build a logical, multi-faceted argument for Obama and make it easy to share each reason with another person.



They enlisted 30 graphic designers to create posters that represented a reason to vote for Obama. Starting on the October 5th, they posted a new poster online each day and emailed it to those signed up on their list. Recipients could easily share the email with other supporters and friends who were undecided.

Here are a few of them:

Above: by John Klotnia, New York

Above: by Scott Thares, Minnesota

Above: by Milton Glaser, New York

Above: by Julia Zimmerman, New York

Above: by Chris Thomas, New York

Above: by Chaz Maviyane, Massachusetts

Above: by Matt Dorfman, New York

Above: by Luba Lukova, New York

30 Reasons featured posters designed by these designers:
Andrio Abero, Elizabeth Amorose
Jesse Arneson, Seymour Chwast
Frank Chimero, Andrew Degraff
Neil Donnelly, Matt Dorfman
Megan Forb, Milton Glaser
Dan Ibarra, Melissa Jun
Jason Kenevich, John Klotnia
Andrew Lewis , Luba Lukova
Chaz Maviyane-Davies, Lenny Naar
Woody Pirtle, Adam Snetman
Scott Stowell, Michael Strassburger
Dustin Summers, Scott Thares
Chris Thomas, Brett Traylor
Rick Valicenti, Ryan Waller
Larkin Werner , JP Williams
Brett Yasko, Julia Zimmerman

Curated by Julia Zimmerman, Chris Thomas, and Jesse Arneson. Go look at all 30 of them. They are all worth seeing and available to download as pdfs here.

Like to see Obama posters? well, the you MUST check out Design/ers for Obama, where all the amazing work on here is visible as well as links to various sites with artwork for Obama.



Design/ers for Obama was created when Design Observer essentially asked the question, “how can graphic designers best support Barack Obama?” The answer ended up extending the question to cover visual communicators at all levels. In addition to supporting Obama for America they jumped at the opportunity to bring the spirit of grassroots style organizing and collaboration to poster design which, to them, meant not only forming communal bonds but sharing the fruits of their efforts equally and in such a way that anyone can enjoy and benefit from (because most of us do not own our own printing presses).

Design for Obama was created by Aaron Perry-Zucker, a senior studying graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design, and was built by Adam Meyer, a senior studying industrial design at said school. The site was inspired and is supported by Design Observer.

Design/ers for Obama

30 reasons

Nothing Standard About These T-shirts: 3 Great Designs For The Standard Hotels

Three contemporary legends, Jose Parla, Eric Haze and Natas Kaupas from Miami, NYC and LA have created a set of 3 limited edition T-shirts for The Standard Hotel's 3 properties (owned by Andre Balazs) in those cities. Incorporating black and white typography, each style gives a different the vibe and brings out the feeling and culture of each cosmopolitan city.

The shirts, besides being beautifully designed, come in special little pouches. Available in either black or white and in small, medium or large sizes. Each is limited to 1, 500 of each design, costs $55.00 USD and is available for purchase through the Standard Hotel's online store here.

Orders before 18th Dec will be received before the holidays using regular shipment. Orders before Dec 22 will arrive for holidays.

Natas Kaupas Los Angeles shirt:




Eric Haze New York shirt:




Jose Parla Miami shirt:





About The Artists:
These 3 impressive artists have a rich body of work - each with a style that represent the 3 cities where Standard Hotels are located:

Jose Parla - a contemporary artists with graffiti roots whose work looks like kaleidoscope of layered colors and textures. It's totally incredible to watch him at work - you can watch him on a CoolHunting video from last year here.
•His first solo exhibition in NYC just opened at Cristina Grajales (from Nov 8 to Dec 20)
•He has had many exhibitions around the world in USA, UK, Australia, Dubai, Japan etc. etc. - including ones at Christies during art basel and with Takashi Murakami in Tokyo.
•His first UK solo show called "Adaptation/Translation" opened in October at ELMS LESTERS PAINTING ROOMS
•He was also one of 6 young artists who went to China for an artists' tour - the other artists on this trip include with artists like Suitman, Rostarr, Deanne Cheuk, Davi Russo (photographer), Mark Foster (filmmaker) See more about that here.

Eric Haze - legendary graffiti artist and graphic designer from New York City and is known as one of the earliest designers of streetwear clothing
•Eric has collaborated with a number of brands such as Porsche, Sony, Stussy, Mountain Dew, Nike, G-Shock, New Balance
•Some of his works include the now iconic early hip-hop logos for Public Enemy, EPMD, and MTV as well as album covers for the Beastie Boys and Tommy Boy Records. His handwritten text for the cover of the Beastie Boys "Check Your Head" album is probably one of the most imitated handwriting styles to this day.
•His customised Lotus "Exige" to help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Sony / Playstation video game "Gran Turismo" received a huge amount of attention globally -car is currently being auctioned on ebay to benefit Studio in a School, a New York non-profit that pairs professional artists with children.
•Earlier this year Haze completed a major solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Hong Kong

Natas Kaupas - accomplished artist and skateboarding legend - He is often referred to as one of the first true professional street skateboarders during the "Dogtown Era" - there are loads of amazing videos about him on YouTube.
•In early 1990’s, Natas began to do art direction and graphic design for such companies as Santa Monica Airlines, Element, Vita, Etnies and his own board company, Designarium - and later became global creative director at Quicksilver.
•Natas was profiled in one of the most famous skateboarding films of all time "Streets on Fire”


Buy them here.

mTABLE: Design and Manufactured Via Mobile Phone!

The mTABLE is a table people can design using a mobile phone!




Yep, you heard me.., design a table via your mobile phone. The mTABLE is designed by sculpting a computer generated image of the table surface, choosing dimensions, materials and colors. These parameters are directly transmitted to the computer controlled production facility for the manufacturing of the custom designed mTABLE which is then shipped to you in approx 8-12 weeks.



How do you make one? Well, there are some parameters, first you must have the right phone.

Get the mTABLE application from the mshape site and install it on a NOKIA series 60 compatible mobile phone (7650 or later).



Then the mTABLE is designed with the following simple actions:

1. Sculpt a smooth landscape by placing one of seven deformers (Deformers are intuitive and interactive tools used to sculpt surfaces into new shapes). Depending on the distribution of the forces you can even create holes in your mTABLE.

2. Choose any table size between 0.6m x 0.6m and 1.2m x 2.4m. The height can be set between 0.2m and 0.9m. It can be a lounge table, cofee table, console or massive dining table.

3. Choose between Swiss walnut wood and high gloss lacquer in numerous colors.

Then, submit your design to mSHAPE.COM.



Once submitted, your design is rendered and can be viewed in high resolution on the mShape site. The details of your mTABLE can be checked using a 3D viewer. You can browse through other designs to get inspired and view pictures of already built mTABLES (like those shown further down in this post) and then order your mTABLE through a local dealer.



The design data is transmitted to the manufacturer where the surface of the mTABLE is shaped with a computer controlled mill (shown above). The final assembly and quality control is taken care of by a professional carpenter.

Your mTABLE will be shipped after 8-12 weeks. Every mTABLE produced receives a unique number.

Take a look at some of the previously designed and produced mTABLES:












Project Manager: Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler
Project Team: Beat Ferrario, Patrick Sibenaler

Where to see or buy an mTABLE:

SWITZERLAND:
ELASTIQUE Objects & Furniture
Grüngasse 19, 8004 Zürich
Phone +41 (0)1 242 0054, +41 (0)79 235 2761

ZINGG-LAMPRECHT Möbel und Einrichtungshaus
am Stampfenbachplatz, 8006 Zürich
Phone +41(0)1 368 41 41

INTERNATIONAL:
They are looking for INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. Please contact them if you are interested in becoming a partner or wish to ORDER an mTABLE from OUTSIDE OF SWITZERLAND:

Email info@mshape.com


mSHAPE: PERSONALIZED REMOTE DESIGN INTERFACES by Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler

Unruly Scarves: 100% Silk Scarves That Are NOT For Old Ladies

Every couple of years, scarves try to make a comeback. You've got your high-end, ridiculously overpriced but stunning silk scarves from Gucci, Hermes, Chanel and of course, Emilio Pucci. Then you've got your 'accessible' silk scarves by companies such as Echo and Forzieri and you've got your 'artsy' hand painted silk scarves carried in museum shops. But still, most of them are either preppy, traditional.. or just plain 'old lady'.

Unruly Scarves of Amsterdam changes all that. They are made of 100% fine silk and printed in the far east like most scarves, but that's where the similarities end. These are designed with colorful graffiti and other imagery that screams 'youth' and 'hip'. They are made of high quality twill silk, measure 90 x 90 cm and are rolled and hemmed by hand. Designed by Dutch artist (and typographer, creative director and designer) Niels Shoe Meulman, they are fun enough to frame.




The collection consists of 6 different designs available in various color combinations.

SOCIETY FOOLS:






FRESH:





TOP BILLIN':




HIP TO BE SQUARE:


AVALANCHE:





OH YEAH YO:


Even the product shots for the advertising, by Amsterdam photographer Martin Woods, are fabulously irreverent:





Buy them here.

Office: Niels Shoe Meulman / Unruly
Duintjer CS building - suite 4.21
Vijzelstraat 72
1017 HL Amsterdam
Netherlands

See Niels Shoe Meulman's site here

Hip Christmas Cards From Lowbrow Artists & Graphic Designers

There are tons of beautiful Christmas Cards one can choose to give this year; designers like Snow & Graham, Elum and many others... just look at my side bar with all the links to paper goods, stationers and printers.

However, you might be tired of elegance, simplicity, gold foil cards, photos of winter and retro angels and if you are, these might just be the answer.

In addition to the letter pressed cards, silk screened cards and photo cards available, there's a proliferation of cards featuring the artwork of today's hottest 'lowbrow' artists published by MOCA for Last Gasp as well as some wonderful graphically designed, artfully painted and typographic ones to choose from.

First of all, for those unfamiliar with the term, just what is 'lowbrow art'? As defined by Wikipedia:

Lowbrow, or lowbrow art^[1], describes an underground visual art movement that arose in the Los Angeles, California, area in the late 1970s. Lowbrow is a widespread populist art movement with origins in the underground comix world, punk music, hot-rod street culture, and other subcultures. It is also often known by the name pop surrealism. Lowbrow art often has a sense of humor - sometimes the humor is gleeful, sometimes impish, and sometimes it's a sarcastic comment.^[2]

Got that? okay, now take a look at these.

Mark Ryden:


Gary Baseman:


Camille Rose Garcia:

Royal Art Lodge:

Sage Vaughn:

Tim Biskup:

Typographic Cards from House Industries:


Karlsson Wilker, Inc:

Todd Oldham:

Clayton Brothers:


Timothy Cummings:

Carlos Quitario:

Larry Johnson:

Buy them all here at MOCA's online store
Or some of them from Last Gasp online.

Getting More From Your Kicks. Nat-2's Transformable Shoes

Talk about fashion innovation! Nat-2 makes shoes that transform into a second pair with the simple unzipping of a sole. From a loafer, quilted sneaker, canvas hi-top or other type of kicks to a flat slip-on sandal in one swift move. The tops are interchangeable as well so you can have multiple looks if you own several pairs.




But that's not all. They've also recently introduced the STACK (4 in 1), a pair of kicks that can transform into 4 different options, creating endless possibilities if you own multiple styles.



The Nat-2:


Made for men or women, the styles are varied, as are the materials. You can go 'flashy' with gold or silver leathers, semi-transparent styles or crazy colors. Or more understated, with black, denim, khaki or ivory canvas and a more simple silhouette.

A German-based company, Nat-2 has patented their 2 in 1 zipper function.

Part of their present collection:







And exciting new upcoming styles:






If 2 shoes in 1 aren't impressive enough, they've recently introduced 4 in 1! A shoe that comes with added pieces to give you four complete pairs in one.

The Nat-2 STACK:





See the video:




Buy them here.

Headquarters
Chiemingerstrasse 7, D-83339 Chieming-Stöttham, Germany
Tel:+49 8664 1782 Fax +49 8664 1728 Skype: sebthies
thies@kt-shoes.com

+ + + + + + +

Munich Showroom & Office
K&T GmbH c/o Charisma Trading GmbH
Zeppelinstrasse 11, D-85478 Garching-Hochbrück, Germany
Tel:+49 89 32443 67 Fax: +49 89 32443 68
Skype: sebthies
thies@kt-shoes.com

The Universal Toilet: Beautifully Designed Bathroom To Accomodate Anyone

The Universal Toilet designed by Changduk Kim and Youngki Hong:
The concept is a curving, graceful toilet that allows wheelchair users and everyone else to slide forward directly onto a toilet. A separate chest board to lean against adds stability. It removes the social stigma while improving one's lifestyle.



In the designer's words:

Taking the “Dis” Out of Disabled: the Universal Toilet
By Changduk Kim and Youngki Hong

Although various public amenities for disabled people are available, they are not always helpful. For instance, some disabled toilets are hard to use for those in a wheelchair even though the toilets are within the law’s guidelines. The Universal Toilet aims to make public environments more accessible and more inclusive. It incorporates universal design principles in a way that creates a toilet equally useable by all members of society and prevents people from feeling singled out for their disability.

The Universal Toilet considers all requirements for a toilet, such as target users, space and facility expenses. The design also incorporates a sink. Its major feature is its adaptability to both the disabled and non-disabled through the dual-function backboard and chest board. It also offers considerable space efficiencies, requiring only a quarter of the space of a standard disabled toilet. In addition, it conserves water by recycling the water used in the attached sink.



One for All
Disabled people don’t want dedicated facilities. What they really want is to live seamlessly with everyone. The Universal Toilet is a flexible toilet design concept that prevents the disabled and the aged from being self-conscious about their limitations. It eliminates the need for public facilities to have both handicapped-dedicated and standard toilets—a significant step that would go a long way in better integrating all people in to society.

While the current requirements for handicapped-accessible toilets are an improvement over past conditions, these facilities can alienate the people they are trying to help. For instance, the signage on these toilets showing a person in wheelchair may lead to feelings of rejection. Disabled people who are not in a wheelchair may feel that the facility is useable by wheelchair-users only, leaving them to struggle with a standard toilet. Such signs also earmark users as separate from mainstream society.

The requirement that public places need to have facilities for the disabled is a narrow interpretation of the law that has negative undertones, suggesting that concessions are being made. A broader, more inclusive interpretation would classify handicapped facilities as ones that the disabled may use without any discomfort—a more eloquent solution.

The designs of most toilets for the disabled have been concerned with functional and mechanical considerations, but none of them address the emotional components of a disability. By creating a toilet that is equally useable by everyone, there is no longer a need for special signage or for disabled people to feel singled out by dedicated facilities.

The Universal Toilet delivers innovation by accommodating the needs of the disabled and able-bodied in one design. We envisioned a toilet that extends beyond a simple concept to meet everyone’s needs—and in the process brings harmony to all.

The form of the Universal Toilet is similar enough to a standard toilet that able-bodied people feel comfortable using it. And because the design doesn’t scream “disabled,” disabled people don’t feel embarrassed to use it.

With the Universal Toilet, wheelchair users don’t need to turn or twist but can simply slide forward off the wheelchair directly onto the toilet. There is a chest board they can lean against for added stability and comfort. Handles on the chest board can also be helpful when standing or transferring to and from the wheelchair. For people that have limited dexterity or strength and the able-bodied, the chest board becomes a backboard to lean against.

The places where the wheelchair would come in contact with the toilet are wrapped in steel to prevent damage to the toilet’s finish. And the surfaces on the toilet that come in contact with the human body are treated with a special coating to mitigate coldness.

Offering Potential
The market penetration potential of the Universal Toilet is increasing. With the rise in the number of elderly people, many companies are pursuing business ideas targeted to this group. The Universal Toilet would be ideal for this demographic. In Japan, where a low birth rate is coupled with the rapidly rising age of the population, the size of the senior citizen market was estimated to be 40 trillion yen in 2001, and it is expected to grow to 100 trillion yen by 2015. As a result, many Japanese companies are working hard to establish strategies to embrace this group.

In addition to their direct financial potential, integrated toilets like the Universal Toilet enable more efficient use of space as well as water savings, helping companies to reduce costs and to provide better services to their customers. Any device that helps people feel more a part of society is sure to win hearts.

[출처] Universal Toilet|작성자 ethendesign



For more information, go to the Mimuun site.

Porsche Designs Releases Their Newest Mobile Phone: The P'9522

I blogged about Porsche Design's gorgeous mobile phone, the P'9521, a year ago and now the second generation has emerged.

Say hello to the P´9522

The P´9522 from Porsche Design achieves the familiar goal of setting new standards when it comes to combining technology and design.



Carved from a solid block of aluminum, the phone comes with a 2.8-inch OLED touchscreen display covered with a single sheet of scratch proof mineral glass. It has a fingerprint reader, 5.0-megapixel camera with video function, MP3 player, WiFi capabilities and GPS complete the package, with room for a micro-SD card to expand capacity. The purist design of the P´9522 complements its sophisticated technology.



Wireless LAN for unrestricted internet access. The highlight inside: an intelligent GPS navigation for reliable orientation.

Available from the beginning of 2009.

Functioning on quad-band GSM, this phone packs functionality and style into a simple and sleek package. The P’9522 will be available exclusively at selected Porsche Design boutiques, Harrods and Selfridges, and is expected to be priced upwards of £600.

Click here to reserve it in europe.

The FCC just approved it for the US, so it should be coming to the states soon! I'll keep you posted.

Don't forget all these other fabulous products from the Porsche Design Studio!

Majestic Gemstone - Jewelry For Your Home: Semi-precious surfaces and more

Want to add a little organic luxury to your home? Consider counter tops and more made from meticulously crafted semi precious stones and fossils.




Majestic Gemstone specializes in manufacturing, through a unique process, surfaces and end products made of inlaid semi-precious stones and fossils. Materials include blue agate, white quartz, petrified wood, amethyst, carnelian, tiger eye and more. Applications range from a line of vanities and mirrors, to illuminated bathtubs, bars, kitchen islands, showers, fireplaces and more.












Contact info:
Industrial Zone Ad-Halom
P.O.Box 12452
77600 Ashdod Israel
Toll Free: 1-866-796-4939
Tel: 972-8-8655996l
Fax: 972-8-8663697
majesticgemstone@gmail.com
www.majestic-gemstone.com

Jason Clay Lewis: Drop Dead Gorgeous And Ammo As Art

Like many artists, Jason Clay Lewis seems to have a fascination with death. The majority of his unique sculptures and original art are either made from rat poison, include skulls or reappropriate religious icons like Buddha and the Virgin Mary in fur and foam. His collections have names like The Black Death, The God Of War and Devour... you get the picture. Despite the glut of macabre art on the market, I do find his pieces alluring and bet you will too.

He recently had an exhibition (October 9 through November 9th) at 31Grand in New York called Drop Dead Gorgeous that featured the highly bloggable DCon Mary and Poison Christ shown below.



You see all the images from the exhibit here.

But I wanted to share with you his engraved bullets.

His engraved bullets were created back in 2002, but if you haven't seen them, they are very interesting pieces. By simply engraving words and or images on real rifle and colt 45 bullets, they take on a personal narrative and become either mementos or, in some cases, wishful harbingers of death. Take a look.

Celebrities: Justin Timberlake and Pamela Anderson


Power Players: George W Bush and Donald Rumsfeld


Tragedies And Assassinations: April 14th, 1912 and Decmber 7th, 1941


Pin Up Girls:


The Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony and Anger (technically, Wrath)


Zapruder Memento: The asassination of John F. Kennedy



And in 2004, as part of his Devour collection, he created 12 Shunga bullets (erotic japanese art)



A quote from the artist:

“As an artist, my approach has always been, intentionally, to confound and challenge attempts to make things fit into what we already know and think. I strive to question perceived beauty, passion, life, death, and creation. I have an urgent conviction that art is a passionate and essential affair, a matter of life and death, where one senses the only response to death is art. Without glossing over the violence of the natural world I ask questions about man’s suicidal folly, the one we call progress, a merger into a religion of commerce and profit, of false facades, and using a strategy to make us reconsider our world of visual imagery. I tinker with these visual explanations, trying to give them purpose, direction, and meaning. Always perfectly aware that knowing this constant probing does not have a sequence to a perfect solution. Atypical and fascinating, as an adventurer blending expression, analysis, and experience, I use every means and media available to explore the love of knowledge and depict limits, while trying to push those limits even farther. My interest in unique materials helps to develop my ideas of attraction verses repulsion allowing my work to have both a strong visceral feeling while maintaining a direct cerebral presence.”

Jason currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
See all his interesting work here.

Diesel Branded Fiat or "Ooh, That Car Makes Your Butt Look Good"

Diesel, long known or their hip fashions, their irreverent advertising and their forays into unusual collaborations, does it again. This time, Diesel lends their inimitable style to a Fiat for the European and Japanese markets.

This Fiat 500 is not actually powered by a diesel engine, but instead a fashionable collaboration between the Italy-based Diesel fashion and denim label and Fiat, the automobile manufacturer.



The Fiat 500, which has been a popular car in international markets and as a small, fuel-efficient automobile, it is a stylish choice for this export of Italian creativity.

The "500 by DIESEL" is the joint result of the Fiat Style Center - led by Roberto Giolito, designer of the new 500 - and DIESEL designer Lars Schwartz. The objective of the project: to create an Urban Survival Vehicle, a car capable of easily extricate in city traffic and at the same time express a young and original personality.






Deisel branding is found outside and inside the car. Details like hub-caps printed with Diesel’s Indian Logo and tagline of “Only the Brave” are accompanied by interior denim upholstery with yellow stitching.




The brand logo stands out on the instrument panel (marked by a yellow background) and on the side of the front seats, you notice a particular pocket referring to the fifth pocket of DIESEL jeans.



The 500 Fiat is available in three colors, Diesel Green, Diesel Brown or Diesel Black and was unveiled at The Paris Auto Show and released on September 22nd. It comes with 16" alloy wheels, satin finished steel details and lots of fun diesel details like the phrase "for successful living" imprinted on the metal baseboard and the diesel logo on the shifter knob.




Finally, the "500 by DIESEL" will be available with three different engines, all "Euro 5 Ready" in range (1.2 69 bhp, 1.3 Multijet 75 bhp with DPF and 1.4 16v 100 bhp), all fully exploited by 'coupling with mechanical changes to 5 or 6-speed transmission (petrol engines can be combined with a change sequential robotic Dualogic 5-speed transmission).

Prices (turn key) are 15,000 Euros for the "500 by DIESEL" equipped with the 1.2 69 bhp and 17,000 euros for versions with the 1.3 Multijet 75 bhp with DPF or 1.4 16v 100 bhp.

Like everything they do, the Fiat 500 Deisel micro site, while not totally rich in automotive information, is strikingly designed and fun to investigate:





No, the car is not available in the US.
Check out the 500 Diesel site here.

Weiden & Kennedy's Magic Christmas Window : Combining Out Of Home With Internet Fun

Weiden & Kennedy of London have created an interesting way to combine user generated content with online Christmas cards. Nope, not an Elf Yourself ripoff... but with a visit to an actual storefront window (their "Magic Window", if you will) where your image is placed upon one of 12 Christmas characters, only to be immortalized online and then emailed to friends a plenty!!



Created with a Dickensian bent (a fun silent style film on their site explains the process), the Christmas Card Making Machine combines the OOH (out of home) experience with the communicative advantages of the internet.



People can walk by the window located at 16 Hanbury Street in London, see their faces superimposed upon one of 12 holiday icons (I'm a personal fan of being immortilized as a plum pudding), save it and then, once at a computer, retrieve it, personalize your message and with the hit of a button, send it off through cyberspace.




Once you get online, you visit the site , disclose the date at which you visited the window (a smart way to keep people from having to search through hundreds of faces) then scroll through the characters and faces of folks (yourself included... if you live in the area and visited the "Magic Window") who've captured their image:


Above: forgive me.. I have no idea who this guy is, but you can see how one finds, online, who visited the Magic Window and when




Choose your favorite-- and you can choose more than one character as in the above image--, personalize the text and email it off as a holiday card (yes, I chose the plum pudding):



Why care if you don't live in London?

Well, because the promotion of the idea is equally as fun. W&K's Dickensian film explaining the process is worth a look and the well designed site has all 12 characters making fun noises when you rollover each of them. Okay, so maybe my giggling at 'gobble gobble' is juvenile, but you try it!


Above: people outside the Christmas Card Making Machine at 16 Hanbury St., London

One final note: I do wish that I could capture my own face with my computer and upload it to the site, place it in one of the beautifully illustrated characters and download it, share it or print it, but then it'd be another sort of Elf Yourself. Living further away than across the pond, I think they should have implemented that in addition to having to visit the actual window, to let us 'foreigners' experience the fun.
Maybe next year.

Until then... check it out, learn about it, appreciate it and have fun here!

The RIOT Lamp From Freedom Of Creation

“Riot” is the first light in Freedom Of Creation's Collection which benefits not only from several waste-reduction initiatives, but is the first FOC product which only works with Megaman CFL energy saving bulbs. A statement against global warming, the lamp serves to remind us of the waste all around us - all while saving energy.



Designed by Janne Kyttänen (above), the finnish designer who is the founder of Freedom Of Creation, the shade is made from laser sintered polyamide (dirt protected) and other parts from the light also originate from recycled items, such as metal parts, switches and cables.


above: close-up of wall lamp

“Riot” is sold as a limited edition in three styles (table, floor and wall lamps) until the global warming problem has been solved- so they say.

The Table Lamp:



The Floor Lamp:



The Wall Lamp:




Buy it as a table lamp, floor lamp or wall lamp here.

Funky Find Of The Week: NEWD Adhesive Jewelry

NEWD of Italy is a company who designs and sells 'skin jewels' or 'wireless jewelry'. Gems and crystals set in precious and non-precious metals you can apply directly to the skin via an adhesive backing. They carry five collections and the prices vary depending upon the collection.

The 5 collections consist of The GOLDEN and SILVER Collections (some solid, some plated) , The MY STONES collection (with real gemstones or colored Swarovski crystals), the FASHION collection (wings embellished with Swarovski crystals, buffalo heads with real horse fur, and skulls with cubic zircons) and finally the exoskeletal My BONES collection (rhodium plated silver with your choice of colored Swarovski crystals in a vertebrae-like shape).





While the simple silver and gold flat iconographic pieces look like interesting shiny tattoos on the skin, the 'My Stones' and 'My Bones' collection designed by Italian journalist, politician and tv personality, Irene Pivetti, are certainly far creepier.

The 'My Stones' collection looks eerily as if one has broken out in bejeweled lesions and the 'My Bones' collection makes the wearer look like a Borg.

However, I commend them for a unique approach to the long hardly unchanged tradition of jewelry. See what you think.


Various Skin jewels from the Golden and Silver Collections:







Irene Pivetti's 'My Stones':






Irene Pivetti's 'My Bones':




The Fashion Collection:





The innovative adhesive film, Skin Touch was developed by the company’s internal research center. The results are a non-toxic-anallergic-waterproof film.

SKIN TOUCH is naturally an exclusive patented invention of Newd which guarantees maximum versatility for every type of jewel designed and created by the company.

How to apply Skin Touch:



•Clean your skin with soap or methylated spirits, and dry well.
•Detach the Skin Touch from its transparent film.
•Attach the Skin Touch to the back of the jewel, pressing well.
•Remove the protective film trying to avoid touching the adhesive part that will come in contact •with your skin.



•Apply the jewel to the clean part of your skin.
•A new Skin Touch must be applied every time the jewel is detached and then re-attached to your skin.


Visit the site and shop for the items here.

Storyopolis: The Kind Of Bookstore & Art Gallery You Find In Fairy Tales

If you read a lot of "Best of Los Angeles" lists, you may already know that Storyopolis, once located on Robertson in Los Angeles and now located on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, is one of the greatest children's bookstores ever. What you may not know, is that the Gallery at Storyopolis is home to several fine art pieces as well... and not only fantastic original illustrations from children’s books by world-renowned artists.


Above: an original John Marciano (illustrator of the original Madeline books)


Above: an original Geral McDermott

While a large selection of their artwork lifts the stories off the pages and onto the walls of children’s rooms or those of the nostalgic adult who never wants to grow up, they also have works by several of todays' hottest lowbrow artists and hippest illustrators. And several you can purchase online.


Above: Ana Juan's Leo DiCaprio, available to buy here


Above: Gary Baseman originals can be purchased online at their site
buy them here


.... as can sculptures by Jim Bauer, buy them here.

Their editorial art includes such amazing portraits of rock icons by Sterling Hundley, fashion illustrations by Chesley McLaren and the surreal images of Joe Sorren. In addition, they have an extensive selection of lithographs and serigraphs bound to appeal to both the beginning and experienced art collector.


Above: Sterling Hundley's painting for William Henry Harrison


Above: fashion illustrations by Chesley McLaren


Above: Nicoletta Ceccoli's beautiful, ethereal illustrations

Their artists work in various mediums including oils, watercolor, gouache, pastels, ink, etc. The collection includes many different dimensions and styles that will compliment a range of decors and personal preferences.


above: Eric Joyner's The Usual Suspects is one of their many original lithographs

Decorators, designers and style consultants find them a wonderful resource for their clients looking for traditional fine art or for those seeking out the hottest, most edgy pieces not found anywhere else.


above: two of several original New Yorker cartoons in their gallery

And they carry one of my longtime beloved items, vintage Odille Ousley book pages, featuring the work of the well-recognized illustrator for the Dick and Jane books:

Buy them here

Between their books and their art, there's something for everyone.

They have a wonderful selection of well designed and compiled gift baskets of all types. Never again will your kids whine "books for christmas?...yuck".


Above: the 'Things That Go' Basket, available in 3 sizes


Above: the Hanukkah basket available in various sizes

They even have baskets that feature award winning books like the Caldecott and Newbery shown below.



Shop for their gift baskets here.

Every Thursday at 12:30, they have their own storytime readers regale the children with fabulous tales and sometimes even a surprise guest.



Above: Actress Hayden Panetierre gives a reading at Storyopolis


The gallery is open seven days a week 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday.

Visit their website at www.Storyopolis.com to see and shop from their huge selection of fine art, original illustratons, lithographs, scultpures, gift baskets and more. Or take yourself and the kids there for an equally enjoyable experience for all.



14945 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
U.S.A.
(818) 990-7600

The Hippest Gingerbread Houses Ever! April Reed's Farnsworth House & More

This gingerbread version of Farnsworth House — Mies van der Rohe’s modern masterpiece in Plano, Ill. — is a (deep-pocketed) design lover’s dream. It took the elves at April Reed Cake Design several days of photo research and about 25 hours to construct the fondant-covered walls, poured-sugar ‘‘glass’’ windows and sugar-paste I-beams and staircases. The project was a natural progression for the Manhattan cake maven, who specializes in stylishly spare confections for weddings and parties. ‘‘I tend to pass on overly theme-y cakes, but I have a soft spot for commissions that are intriguing from a design perspective,’’ Reed says. The house costs $4,320, with 15 percent of the proceeds going to help repair the real Farnsworth House, which was damaged in a September flood.

The actual Farnsworth house:


Other mid century modern gingerbread houses worth checking out include this 1950's gingerbread house from Jeff Gates of life outta context:


Don't forget this customizable one I blogged about last year which is still available for purchase:

Buy it here.

Give Him A Porsche For Christmas. Well... Everything But The Car.

Okay, so he'd really like a Porsche for Christmas, but it's just not within your budget. So why not something from the Porsche Design Studio instead? With highly styled products ranging from usb keys, pen knives, home and kitchen accessories to luxury watches and cuff links, there are a lot to choose from. The large selection of design products includes several fun children's toys and a four nicely designed 2009 calendars.




Here are some of my favorites:

Zumbotel Desk lamp:

detail:


Their newest fragrance, Essence:


Long slot toaster, coffeemaker, and kettle:


Mobile phones:



Desk Top Clock Radio:


Porsche Designs Studio's collaboration with Adidas brought the recently awarded Adidas Bounce S:

detail:


Writing tools:





Cufflinks:





And from their Porsche Driver's Selection:


Four espresso cups with matching saucers, each numbered:



Foldable USB key:


Aluminum Sledge:

detail:


Ultra lightweight polycarbonate luggage:


'Porsche 1' Travel bag and toiletries bag:



Pocket knives:



Golf bag and trolley:


Children's Push-along bike:


Children's Bobsled:


Electric drill:


To fit in with the Christmas celebrations, Porsche Design has added a golden accent to several of their men's accessories this holiday season. The designs add the precious metal in yellow and rose to some select sunglasses and watches.

P´8440 Sunglasses:

The P’8440 sunglasses in Light Gold Matt were designed with a definite nod to the “Exclusive Sunglasses” from 1978 – a true Porsche Design classic. The design of the lens attachments and bridge is a direct quote from the original.

For the first time, two models from the Porsche Design Dashboard series feature a rose gold case with a rubber and titanium layered bezel.The rose gold numbers and indices are featured in all three variants of dial and are partly displayed with superluminova.

This also applies to the hands, which for the first time are pointed to make it possible to tell the time more precisely.The rose gold and sapphire glass black reveals the Porsche Design rotor system and the ETA 2894-2 automatic mechanism.

P´6750 Worldtimer, now in rose gold




P´6612 Dashboard PGC with rose gold, white hands:

P´6612 Dashboard PGC with rose gold, black hands:

P´6612 Dashboard PGC with rose gold, white hands and face:


Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is once again offering a varied selection of calendars. Customers have the choice of four unusual wall calendars and a date planner.






The four calendars and the date planner can be ordered over the Internet at www.porsche.com/shop and will also be available from Porsche centers. Some of these products may be available only in certain countries.

US Porsche Design online store

Items from Porsche Design Driver’s Selection are available at Porsche Centers and - with the exception of the watches - on the Internet at www.porsche.com/shop. Other items may be available at select Porsche Design Studio stores. Some of these products may be available only in certain countries.

About Porsche Design:
Porsche Design is a luxury brand with particular focus on technically inspired products. The brand was founded in 1972 by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, and since then its products have stood for functional, timeless and purist design. The product portfolio includes classic men’s accessories, a sport and fashion collection as well as electronic products and a men’s fragrance range. The products are designed in the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria, and sold worldwide in own stores, shop-in-shops, high quality department stores and exclusive retail outlets.

Britney Is Back. She is SOOOO Back.

She may be a mom of questionable capability. A trashy dresser. And have an addictive personality. But she's still one hell of a pop star.


credits:
•The song was written and produced by Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco, released December 2008.
•The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence who previously directed the video for “I’m A Slave 4 U” as well as the 2007 film “I Am Legend”.

Increasing The Fun Factor: Didi Dunphy Of Modern Convenience

Didi Murphy takes objects that by their very nature are already fun, and makes them even more so. Swings, see-saws, skateboards and other playground 'toys' are infused with colors, vinyl, embroidery and other elements to make them both functional indoors and eye-poppingly pleasing in the right interior. Be aware, however, prices aren't nearly as 'fun' with see-saws running up to $5,800.00, jack the rocker going for $6,600.00 and the swings costing a cool $2,200.00 each.


In her own words:

For school kids, Recess is a magical moment - the doors burst open, the playground in site with joyous possibilities, unlimited potential for imaginative games that build valuable social interaction. For adults though, Recess is mostly an idea of long ago now replaced with hectic scheduling, endless responsibilities: family, country, business, another load of laundry a cell phone or email to check. Thus the "See Saw," the "Swing," the "Jack Rocker Joggle Board" and the "Inside Skateboards/Longboards" are designed for interaction with the hopes that through this Recess or play activity, the collaboration, (you need two to See Saw!) brings about good ideas and well being between people.

The embroidered vinyl longboards and skate boards with clear wheels, shown below, are designed for indoor use.




And I've always been a fan of her padded colorful vinyl indoor skateboards:




Her colored vinyl poufs have fun faux fur at the bottom:



And her see-saws are as sculptural as they are fun to play on:



Vinyl Upholstered Bench big enough for two adults and a couple of small kids at 14" x 96". The base is welded aluminum, powder coated in glitter colors, and can be used for storing extra fun stuff. Many bright colors to choose from.




The Jack Rocker below is a bench in upholstered vinyl with custom designed embroidery. 6' x 12" x 2" . The two powdercoated aluminum bases are 22 1/2" x 21 1/2" x 16".



The surf swingis made of planed wood with hand airbrushed design, 24" x 10" x 2", stainless steel hanging hardware and plastisol coated playground chain:



Her tiara swing set is a contemporary interpretation of the ordinarily plain metal frame, making it fit for a princess, of course:



Indoor swings in various colors look surprisingly good when hung indoors in the right environment.



Vinyl Upholstered Bench big enough for two at 22"x42". Choose from several bright colors. The Safety Plastisol dipped playground chain comes in lengths up to 85". All other hardware is stainless steel. And, the tassels, each set of four unique to your swing, are made of acrylic spheres and plastic twine.

Designed for indoor and outdoor swinging and fun.





Chain of Love: This hanging sculpture can be taken down and used for lounging or cuddling on the floor, in style.