Slimane Continues Rocking For Saint Laurent With Marilyn Manson, Courtney Love, Kim Gordon and Ariel Pink.

Creative Director and photographer Hedi Slimane's latest print advertising campaign for Saint Laurent features rockers Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, Kim Gordon and Ariel Pink. Slimane is continuing the edgy rock n'roll look he created for the recently renamed brand (changed from YSL to Saint Laurent last summer) that he began with ads featuring Christopher Owens (shown at the end of this post) last fall.

A Radical Resource For Lovers of Letterpress. A New Site, The Beauty Of Letterpress, Is the First Of Its Kind.

Whether you are looking to get ideas, inspiration or actual facts about paper and types of letterpressing, the newly launched website, the Beauty of Letterpress, is eye candy and education for anyone who appreciates the art of letterpress design. Wedding invitations, business cards, promotional pieces and more artfully debossed into fine paper stock that beg not only to be seen, but to be touched.



It's a website that celebrates letterpress printing and its creators with the first virtual, community-based gallery of modern letterpress samples and resources, brought to you be Neenah paper.


above: Coasters such as these by 2 Hat Design populate the site

The Beauty of Letterpress site includes their first of monthly issues, a gallery to which anyone can submit their work, a list of printers, the history of letterpress, and several other resources.


above: The site has many Wedding invitations and Save The Date cards like this one to inspire

The gallery presents letterpress work from notable letterpress printers, designers, and artisans from around the country including Rohner Letterpress, Studio on Fire, Two Paperdolls, and Mama’s Sauce. Projects include all the necessary info for you including: Paper, Paper Weight, Paper Color, Inks, Printer and the Artist/Agency.

The site features selections from a new curator each month like this first one by Jennifer James of twopaperdolls.com:


Letterpress history, context, educational information, community connections and a list of letterpress printers round out the site.


above: beautiful notecards like this one are all over the site

Letterpress printing continues its renaissance in the digital age because of its extraordinary beauty and tactility. “When art or type is pressed into sumptuous paper, it creates a physical impression that simply begs to be touched,” said Tom Wright, senior director of advertising and design for Neenah Paper. “ We believe the extraordinary, communicative power of letterpress printing and the community of people who make it happen deserve a special place— The Beauty of Letterpress celebrates and honors the modernity of this 500-year old craft.”


above: The site is a great place for the newly engaged to get ideas for their wedding invitations like the fun one shown above


above: plentiful creative and unique business cards, like this one above for Rabbit Hole, can be found on the site

While developing this virtual letterpress home for the 21 st century, the creators could not help but consider the physical move of Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum (woodtype.org) the landmark institution preserving the rich history and assets of letterpress dating to the birth of letterpress in the 15th century.



The Beauty of Letterpress launches with a Neenah Paper, Inc. initiative to help raise $30,000 in funds for the Museum’s move through matching donations and gifts of limited edition prints to designers, letterpress printers and admirers of this craft.



In addition to featuring the work of artists, The Beauty of Letterpress highlights CRANE Papers and Neenah Paper and offers paper samples, videos and many community resources. Letterpress printers, designers, lovers and aficionados are invited to submit work to The Beauty of Letterpress, subscribe to the RSS to see new work in real-time, and join its dedicated online communities on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, @BoLetterPress.



The Beauty Of Letterpress

The Beauty of Letterpress is a sister site to The Beauty of Engraving launched by Neenah Paper last year. Both initiatives were developed in partnership with Two Paperdolls and feature CRANE® Papers. CRANE’S LETTRA® Papers, CRANE’S CREST® Papers and CRANE’S BOND® Papers are marketed and sold by Neenah Paper.

Punking People Perfectly On April Fool's Day: Virgin Atlantic and Lelo.

On April 1st, otherwise known as April Fool's Day, several brands decided to participate in the fun of pulling one over on their audiences by offering faux products. Two of the best were the Glass-Bottom Plane by Virgin Atlantic and The IKEA-like Vibrator, the GASM, from Lelo.

The World's First Glass-Bottom Plane from Virgin Atlantic

On April 1st, Virgin Atlantic announced on their site and blog that they are now offering flights to Scotland aboard the world's first plane with a transparent glass bottom.



The blog featured a first-person announcement from Mr. Branson of the new technology:
"I’m thrilled to announce that Virgin has created another world-first with the introduction of the technology required to produce the world’s first glass-bottomed plane. This technological innovation coincides with the start of Virgin Atlantic Airways’ first ever domestic service to Scotland.



In 1984 we started the wonderful airline that is Virgin Atlantic. I am incredibly proud of yet another aviation breakthrough which has been years in the making. I can’t wait to experience the first flight for myself with my family and other natural born explorers.



2012 was a year of celebrating what is brilliant about Great Britain and I’m excited that in 2013 we are continuing this uplifting spirit by developing an experience that will enable Little Red passengers to appreciate the beauty of the British landscape. And with an unrivalled view of Scotland I hope this gives Scottish tourism an even bigger boost.

We hope to trial the glass bottom technology with other Virgin airlines in time and have asked other Virgin companies to support this innovative trial and launch our new domestic Scottish route. This really is a team effort from all corners of Virgin." -- By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group

They even phonied up partnerships for the supposed plane

The UK Mirror's broke the news that the announcement was a joke in a 3pm update of their own article about the plane.

The GASM Personal Vibrator from Lelo


Lelo took their own Swedish heritage into consideration when offering customers the Gasm, their latest green, flat-packed personal vibrator via their site and blog. The hilarious mock product included an instructive video, packaging, line art and instructions perfectly in keeping with the look and tone of the Swedish products offered by IKEA.





Our latest vibrator has a number of exciting features that include:
● Easy self-assembly in as little as 1 minute: put together your own pleasure, and save on production costs!
● On-call LELO representatives available to advise on proper assembly and use of your GӒSM – totally free, 24 hours a day!
● For a greener peace of mind, GӒSM is made from 100% recycled materials like compressed wood pulp and recycled rubber – in a lush shade of forest green!
● GӒSM is powered by a long-lasting battery fully rechargeable with manual hand-crank technology (Allen key included)
● Arrives in new flat-packaging solution for even more savings and reduced environmental impact
● Savings on assembly, shipping and storage go directly to customers, who can get GӒSM for USD 179.99





The announcement ended with the following:
"GӒSM is available from LELO.com and selected retailers starting within the coming week– visit us again soon and discover how helping the planet can be a pleasure! For any further inquiries or request an opportunity to interview the designers, please contact pr@lelo.com"

Lelo's was so successful that people continue to request the Gasm from the brand.

Kudos to both brands for a great sense of humor and imagination.

The Self-Sustaining Isoleé House Barely Impacts Its Environment At All.

The Isolée house is an eco-friendly and modern home described as a self-sufficient residence by Frank Tjepkema and Agustina Cociffi. The tiny structure is essentially a 'smart house' which incorporates a unique, solar tree-like device into the functional aspect, meaning very little to no fuel is required. That tree protrudes from the home's roof, containing circular photovoltaic panels which generate energy from the sun into the residence.




The exterior is comprised of long, thick shutters which are controlled by electric motors that are monitored by a computer system run on solar power. They can be opened or closed given the homeowner's preference, but they allow for natural light and can automatically close when a storm is approaching.





A wood burning stove helps to heat the residence while LED lights utilize rechargeable batteries. The designer states "Isolée is anchored to the landscape on just four points, as would a cabinet. The Isolée creates permanence, but with an engineered beauty that is aesthetically inspired by nature and harmonizes mankind's relationship with the world."



Three levels make up the interior, connected by a diagonal staircase. A living room encompasses the first level, while the kitchen area is on the second floor. The bedroom is located on the third story along with a bathroom and terrace.







This house is a new architectural design delivering an ecologically friendly retreat from the modern world. Combining intelligent technology with elegant sophistication, this design creates a habitat that barely impacts its environment.



With massive opening shutters spanning the length of the building, an intelligent heating system integrated within the structure of the house and topped by a solar tree, this home ensures minimal fuel reliance. Applying a minimalized product design ethos, Isolée is anchored to the landscape on just four points, as would a cabinet.



The Isolée creates permanence, but with an engineered beauty that is aesthetically inspired by nature and harmonizes mankind’s relationship with the world.

"On seeing the house, you're bound to be captivated by the design language. 'My approach was the same as if I were making making a piece of furniture,' Frank Tjepkema says. 'Rather than a solid block of concrete for the foundation, for instance, I set the house on an elegant four-legged base, as if it were a cabinet. Minimal footprint.'"



Design team: Agustina Cociffi, Frank Tjepkema

Tjep

Formal Falconry. Tiroler Goldschmied's Exclusive Diamond-studded Hawk's Hoods in Abu Dhabi.

My friend Jaci is traveling in the Middle East and taking fabulous pictures, a few of which included photos of Faloncry. This reminded me of an Italian Jewelry company I had read about that makes outrageously diamond studded, gold threaded, leather and crocodile falcon hoods for Abu Dhabi.



For more than 40 years Italian Jewelers Tiroler Goldschmied has been working in the profession of goldsmith's craft. Numerous international awards are confirmation for the particular team-work of the Gamper family and exquisitely designed jewellery has become their trademark. Driven by its passion, the Gamper family also designs exclusive refined and bespoke falconry and hunting accessories.



Tiroler Goldschmied developed its own new process to create exclusive diamond-studded hawk's hoods for those who participate in Falconry. Every hood is one-of-a-kind piece and designed according to individual ideas and tastes.








Each accessory can be transformed into a precious one-of-a-kind piece, as unique, mysterious, and graceful as the fascination of hunting and falconry itself. The diamond-studded falconry hoods can be engraved with your handwritten signature, personal initials, or coat of arms (for those who have one).




The well known artisan Mr. Giancarlo Pirrotta makes the falconry hoods out of the finest materials and Tiroler Goldschmied refines them with unique gemstones underlining the grace and magic of hunting and falconry.




Not quite as fancy, Mr. Pirrotta also has a collection of luxury falconry products for Tardini. "Royal Hoods" is a range of falcon hoods, made in American Alligator and embellished with precious feathers, lapis-lazuli beads and 18kt gold thread or rich heraldic embroideries for Tardini of Italy:


Tiroler Goldschmied Falconry Products
Via Castello 3
39019 Tirolo
Italy