Drink Up and Start Designing. It's The DWR Champagne Chair Contest.

Once again, Design Within Reach has brought back their Champagne Chair contest. All you have to do is create an original miniature chair using only the foil, label, cage and cork from no more than two champagne bottles.


Info from their site:



A panel of DWR champagne and chair experts will judge the chairs, and three winners will receive a DWR Gift Card. The deadline for submissions is January 14.

To get inspired, here's a few of the past submissions from previous years.

Anna Uniezyski:

Alex Garzon:

Brandy Shih:

Emily Kann:

Erin Mitchen:

David Ethan Sanders:

Edward Cristma:

Gavri Slasky:

Isaac Krady:

Ivan Supraha:

Kalina Toffolo:

Lynne Mulvihill:

Monte Allen:

Phil Dwyer:

Tim Jacobsen:

Tony Nemyer:

Tracee Pickett:

You can see more finalists from their 2007 contest I covered here.

The contest began December 28th and you have until January 14th, so get on it! After you've designed your chair, feel free to share it on Instagram and Twitter with #dwrchampagnechair

images and info courtesy of DWR

The Largest Portrait Ever On Dutch Soil - Created To Promote Women's Rights.

The latest project by urban land artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada is best seen from the air, like much of his work. Created to raise awareness for the oldest International Women's fund, the soil portrait measures 125 by 170 meters larger than a football field and incorporated no less than 8 km rope, 7 tons of straw, 150 cubic meter of soil, 300 cubic meters of sand and 1150 wooden poles.







Mama Cash asked Rodriguez-Gerada to create a large scale art piece in Amsterdam on International Human Rights Day – Dec. 10, 2012 – to bring attention to their latest campaign, "Open Your Eyes," to raise awareness about Mesoamerican women who defend human rights.



The press release:
Groundbreaking launch of the Vogelvrije Vrouwen* women human rights’ defenders campaign (Amsterdam)

Internationally renowned urban and terrestrial artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada has come to Amsterdam (Zuiderzeedijk) to create a huge land portrait, made of fertile soil, spanning almost two football fields, to launch the campaign Vogelvrije Vrouwen – Defend women who defend human rights!, an initiative in support of women human rights defenders in Mesoamerica.

The portrait - the largest ever on Dutch soil - shows a fragment of the face of an anonymous MesoAmerican woman human rights activist. It was commissioned by feminist foundation Mama Cash and created in one week with the help of 80 volunteers by Cuban American artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada. Rodriguez-Gerada is known for his spectacular temporary urban art projects all over the world.

The portrait measures 125 by 170 meters larger than a football field. There were no less than 8 km rope, 7 tons of straw, 150 cubic meter of soil, 300 cubic meters of sand and 1150 wooden poles needed to make the portrait. The contours will slowly fade under the influence of wind and weather.

Making of Images:




to see more photos of the process, go here.


* The phrase Vogelvrije Vrouwen in Dutch has deep literal and figurative meaning. 'Vogelvrije' literally means 'free as a bird' but also has the connotation of a person who is outside the boundaries of the legal system, someone who is not protected by the law. 'Vrouwen' means 'women', thus the campaign slogan, Vogelvrije Vrouwen, sheds light on the women whose struggles for justice and freedom are threatened by institutionalised impunity.

About the Vogelvrije Vrouwen campaign:
International women’s fund Mama Cash and the Mesoamerican Initiative for Women Human Rights Defenders are launching the Vogelvrije Vrouwen campaign – Defend women who defend human rights! to call attention to the violent situation faced by women human rights defenders in the Mesoamerican region. The project is funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. It is difficult to imagine living in a context where violence is ‘normal’, where criminality and corruption are rampant, and where the government does little to protect you and where people risk their lives by daring to denounce violence, criminality and the violation of human rights. But this is the daily reality in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Dozens of women’s rights activists are murdered there each year. And others are threatened and raped, their houses set on fire and their families terrorised.

During the coming year, the Vogelvrije Vrouwen campaign (www.vogelvrijevrouwen.nl) will give visibility to the imperative work being done by Mesoamerican women’s rights activists. The campaign will provide the Dutch public with petitions and other means to put pressure on the Dutch government and governments in the Mesoamerican region to make the defense of women human rights activists a priority. This campaign is made possible by a grant from the Dutch Postcode Lottery.

images courtesy of  Vogelvrije Vrouwen and Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada

Kama Sutra Cookies, Cookie Cutters and Lovesick Recipes

These gingerbread cookies are probably not what your grandmother made for the holiday season, unless you've got a very liberal granny. Designed by Swedish company Pipparkakan, the Kama Sutra cookie cutters were actually made way back in 2007 and were featured on Gizmodo, and lots of other gadget and nerd sites. But I never saw a finished product until Taxi posted the pic shown above.



Whereas a few years ago, they were carried in many online stores, now they are nerly impossible to find, but you can order them from Pipparkakan directly.



The cutters come in 2 different boxes with 4 different cutters in each, which means that if you order both boxes you will have 8 different shapes.

One box including tax and shipping within Europe costs 325 SEK or 35 EUR.
One box including tax and shipping outside Europe costs 350 SEK or $55 USD.

They use PayPal. Shipping through regular Swedish Postal Service, approx 4-6 days from payment for Europe and US. Australia 5-9 days.

This is How to Order your Pipparkaka:

• Send an e-mail to order@pipparkakan.se

• Write your name and address and phone number and tell us which box that tickles you. The Black Silk or the Raspberry Purple, you can always order both.

• When you have placed your order you will get an e-mail from PayPal with a grateful request for payment, it will be sent to the e-mail address you used while placing the order. The box is sent to you as soon as payment has been received.

Enjoy a lustful cooking experience and bon appetit! And here's two Lovesick Recipes from them:

Kinky Glacé

1,5-2 dl icing sugar
Water
Oil
Baking colour

Pour the icing sugar into a small bowl. Carefully fill up with water so that it covers a centimeter over the sugar. Let rest for a while and then pour out the water that has not been absorbed by the sugar. Stir so that the glace is smooth and even.

If you want a shinier glace you just add a few drops of oil.

You can distribute the glace into more bowls and add cooking colour to get more colours to decorate with.

Then just use your imagination. Garters, hand cuffs and whips, a pipparkaka is not shy of anything, let the lust flow!


Pipparkaka dough ca 150

350 g butter
4 hg sugar
3 dl syrup
1 table spoon grinded ginger
1 tea spoon grinded cinnamon
1 tea spoon grinded clove
1 table spoom bicarbonate
3 dl whipped cream
1,5 kg flour

Stir melted butter, sugar and syrup to a nice mixture. Mix an elixir of love from the spices. Pour down the spice mix into the mixture and stir.

Whip the cream into a hard foam and pour down a little at the time.

Mix the bicarbonate with most of the flour and pour it into the mixture, knead into a steady dough. (Of course you can use various tools for this)

Wrap the dough into foil and let the love grow cool during the night... let the shapes inspire you in how to spent your time...

When the night is over, just do it! (Also the baking) Take some dough at the time and roll out large with a rolling pin to desired thickness, it does matter! The thinner, the harder... Dip the cutters in a bit of flour. Push the pipparkakor out of the flat dough and put on cold baking tins.

Grease or cover with baking paper and cook in the middle of the oven during 4-5 minutes at 200°C. Let the hot cookies cool off for a couple of minutes before you let yourself get seduced.

Interested in buying pipparkaksformar for your store? Please contact them at info@pipparkakan.se or call Susanne Burelo at +46 730-340 222

Like bad taste cookie cutters?
Then check out these:

 Fetal Bites, fetus shaped cookie cutters.



Crucifixion Cookie Cutters:

Impressive Co-Branding For The Karl Lagerfeld X Shu Uemura Holiday Collection. From The Videos to The Packaging.

Fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld and Japanese global beauty giant Shu Uemura collaborated on this special Holiday 2012 make-up collection and pulled out all the stops when it came to marketing and branding. The effort is a great example of the importance of consistency in brand imagery, the utilization of social media channels and online influencers as well as various mediums such as videos, print, digital, packaging, etc. Watch and learn.





Initially announced in June of this year, the much anticipated collection has been preceded by numerous press events, articles and blog posts by most every beauty blogger and journalist in the business.


above: Karl Lagerfeld discussing and designing the collection for Shu Uemura

The launch utilized various mediums including a fabulous Saul Bass-inspired teaser video, guerilla marketing in the streets of Paris, a strong social media presence, special events and the design of a sweet little Manga-style Mascot named Mon Shu dressed in Lagerfeld's signature high-collared white shirt and black tie who consistently appears everywhere.



above: Conceived of and drawn by Karl Lagerfeld, she takes a cue from Japanese schoolgirls, whose uniforms Lagerfeld finds impeccable. “They dress a little like me, even if this is more exaggerated,” said the designer.

The Brand Mascot:


In addition to being the star of the videos, Mon Shu appeared during press events as everything from an oversized balloon to small plush dolls and decals that could be applied to fingernails.  She graces all the packaging and even appeared on helium balloons and bags as a form of guerilla marketing:







The Teaser (Birth of Mon Shu) Video:


You can view more wonderful animated videos of Mon Shu as she travels around the world on She Uemera's YouTube channel.

Designing the Collection:
The Paris-based Lagerfeld was in charge of the collection's color selection and the adorable packaging of the nail polishes, false lashes, lipsticks, eye shadows, make-up brushes and more.




The Making Of The Collection video:


The Products and Packaging:











Even the photographs for the accompanying campaign were shot by Karl Lagerfeld.

Social Media Marketing:
In terms of social media marketing, they have been consistent about branding the collection with a YouTube channel that features multiple videos, a presence, giveaways, drawing contests and more have taken place on the Shu Uemera facebook page, and they have a branded twitter page - and many a related tweet.



The Shu Uemura homepage has an interactive section dedicated to the collection as well.

The press release:

She Uemura and Karl Lagerfeld are proud to announce an exceptional collaboration for the holiday collection 2012 under the name of Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura.

This unique moment of creation has roots in more than 20 years of relationship and mutual admiration between two of the most renowned talents from the worlds of fashion and beauty. With his artful hands and revolutionary vision Mr. Shu Uemura transformed the image of women through make-up, passionately elevating beauty into a true work of art. Karl Lagerfeld’s illustrious career as a master of fashion design, photography and publishing has presented a worldview so unique he has become one of the most influential creators of his time. Both have propelled their crafts into the future with their untiring quests for innovation and beauty.

“I design with shu uemura make-up because other manufacturers do not offer such beautiful colors.” – Karl Lagerfeld

For two decades Karl Lagerfeld has been using shu uemura eye shadows to illustrate his fashion sketches. Now he merges his world with shu uemura’s to create an entire collection in homage to the brand-the color selection and packaging is entirely designed by Karl Lagerfeld who also photographed the visual campaign.

For this holiday collection, the master of beauty and the master of fashion converge, their talent and passion for beauty evoking miracles for the holiday season.

To be launched in November 2012 in the following countries: ASIA: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam / NORTH AMERICA: United States, Canada / EUROPE: France, Italy, United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland / OCEANIA: Australia. Please contact regional shu uemura PR offices for further information.

SHOP FOR THE COLLECTION HERE

A big thanks to the following for some of the additional images used in this post:

Shu Uemera
Chicprofile
Beautezine