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The Hottest of What's Hip: My Top 12 Posts of The Past Year

As I reflect on 2008, I'm very flattered and fortunate to have had lots of nice press for my blog, my social shopping picks and my taste during the past year. Some of these include this recent article in Businessweek, an appearance on KTLA, an article in the LA Times and wonderful mentions from fellow bloggers, design sites and designers.




I wanted to share with you the 12 posts of the 540 posts I wrote in 2008 that garnered the most interest. Not that these were my most well-written posts, nor the most researched, but simply based upon web metrics (hits, page views, links from other sites, etc.)

Whether it was because my posts were 'picked up' by such widely read sites as NOTCOT, Racked, Boing Boing, FFFound, Designboom, Dezeen, Trendhunter, Core 77, as well as several large international sites in Japan, the Netherlands, South America and the UK, or because the subject matter simply generated continual interest throughout the year, here are the stories, in no particular order, that seemed to pique the interests of my readers the most in 2008:


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.


Read it.

addendum: One of my most widely read posts of 2008 was actually written in 2007, about belgian artist Wim Delvoye's tattooing of pigs.


Read it.

It was clearly my most controversial post to date and the updated post in 2008 continued to generate a great deal of interest - and yes, more controversy.



I promise to continue to bring you unusual posts related to art, design, style and fashion throughout 2009. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy if It's Hip, It's Here.


To make it easier to stay hip, you can:

follow me on twitter

join the facebook group

see my shopping recommendations on this next

read my friend feed

my submissions on NOTCOT

subscribe to the blog via an RSS reader

download a flash widget of my blog to place on your own site or blog!

For those of you who generously submit things about which you'd like me to write, please search the blog first at the top in the google search box to see if I've already blogged about it, because I receive several emails with submissions for things about which I have already written.

In regards to advertising and affiliations, I will be creating a press kit and price list this year to furnish potential and interested parties.

Happy New Year!
May your 2009 be filled with happiness, health, love and art.



with love,
Laura (and Indie, the Jack Russell)

iPhone Apps To Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions


The above iphone apps will help you to keep those New Year's Resolutions for 2009

When it comes to New Year's resolutions, we all know how easy it is to see that resolve fade from determination to a distant memory as we shrug it off with a defeated "Oh well, I tried."

But Jedi Master Yoda had it right: "Do or do not. There is no try."


Above: Yoda gives a whiny Luke Skywalker advice we all need (photo: Lucas films)

Your iPhone could offer a little hand-held help in really doing it this year. Heck, you might consider your device a changing, er, force (sorry) that could be your greatest tool or fiercest tormentor.

The resolutions themselves haven't changed much over the years. You know the ones: be better with money, get organized, live a healthier lifestyle, become more environmentally conscious, be sure not to break new laws. (OK, so maybe being a law-abiding citizen isn't really on your list, but it should be!)

Here are apps we think are the best to give you a fighting chance in making changes that stick.

1. Managing money:


Whether the focus is earning, saving, investing, spending or tracking, money often tops most resolution lists. Mint.com offers a free app that highlights Mint iPhone app helps track your money monetary movement (in occasionally frightening detail). After you input some account log-in info online, Mint analyzes where your money is going or has gone: check balances, budgets, transactions and investments.

What sizzles: Seeing your funds in living color and detail can force you into better habits. At a quick glance once the app launched, I learned that red is the thematic color of the month for me -- quite a lovely seasonal match for green, but not in line with my financial plans.

It tracks spending trends. So if you eat out more or buy more clothes this month than last, expect to see it pointed out in the alerts tab.

What fizzles: The only thing missing is a way to lock access from prying eyes. The blessing here is that the app only shows money movement; you can't transfer funds.

Bottom line: Ultimately, I've never been so excited to know where my money is going. For those of us who have no idea where to even start, this app is, well, money.

2. Being more hands-on (the steering wheel):


Starting Jan. 1, we Californians are legally prohibited from texting and e-mailing while driving. Sure, in some cars this could lead to twitching thumbs as they deal with wireless withdrawal -- but, however angry and twitchy those thumbs may be, the law will probably help keep more eyes on the road and make for safer driving. If you must communicate, Vlingo is the voice-powered app to tap and talk to. (It's still legal to tap as long as it's not person-to-person communication. Check out this Q&A with California Highway Patrol for more details about the new law.)

What sizzles:
Vlingo learns your speech patterns and actually can learn words or names that you use regularly. Results pop up fairly quickly. While the voice search on Google's iPhone app is impressive too, it doesn't seamlessly integrate as many functions as Vlingo does. With it, you can call from your contact list, search Google or Yahoo, find locations on Google Maps and update your Facebook or Twitter status.

What fizzles: It takes one more step than it should to get directions to a location.
Bottom line: The design of the app is driver-friendly. From the home tab, the button you tap to trigger the voice-recognition is fat. So your thumb, however svelte or thick, can't miss it even if you aren't looking.

3. Getting organized:


Every year, so many of us promise to unclutter and inventory all the stuff in our homes and lives.

Once you've done the out-with-the-old portion of the exercise, you can log the keepers with the iOwn app. The price recently dropped to $2.99, and there's a free version.

What sizzles: It walks you through the kinds of information you should hang on to with its four existing templates. You can create your own for items that don't fit, such as wine. And there's no limit to the number of locations, rooms and items. So you're set whether you have a studio or 12 homes.

If you're nervous about walking around with all the details of your belongings in your hand, you can add a passcode to keep the casual peeper from easily discovering what you've got where.

And because our devices can walk away, having a backup that doesn't is important. (Isn't that why we do the inventory in the first place?) The iOwn Backup feature requires you to create an online account for your data to be stored. That way you can access your data from any device with the app. You get five years of 100 megabytes of storage with the app, and you can set up as many devices as you'd like with the backup. So spouses can have the same information on separate devices.

What fizzles: What happens after five years? And it'd be great to be able to create a hard copy for filing away in the lock box.

Bottom line: A solid app for creating a database of your valuables.

4. Getting fit:


This goal is perpetually on so many resolution lists, whether it translates into exercise more or weigh less. The App Store has a host of health and fitness applications that could fit your specific needs, and many of them are free (such as the Calorie Tracker from Livestrong.com, Lose It and iMapMyRun apps). Then there's Weight Watchers Mobile , which is a decent mobile version of its program -- and you can add a link to your home screen for quick launching.

But honestly, nothing has completely bowled me over with all the components of a fitness application for iPhone. They are either food diaries that allow you to note that you've worked out or workout diaries that indicate you had a bite to eat.

One app I have found universally useful for an old pro at the health-and-fitness resolution is iShape.

What sizzles: When you launch the program, you answer a few questions about height, weight, age and weight goal. The app lets you log your eating and exercise habits as well as your weight. Ishape

Its food database allows you to select from what's there or exercise a bit of control by adding your own items. Based on what you tap in, the app will analyze your intake of the kinds of nutrients you're ingesting. You can also set weekly weight-loss goals.

As inspiration (or humiliation), you can add your own "before" picture -- and, when you reach your goal, an "after" photo. (And, yes, you can password-protect the app.)

One of the nicer features is the ability to export the data you're gathering. You can e-mail it as a PDF file. There's also an option for those of us who track "points" rather than calories.

What fizzles: It supposedly offers the ability to download foods and exercises, but I didn't see anything there to download. This feature depends on the kindness of strangers -- so, it's like the Napster approach to food and fitness information. But that take-and-give approach works only if others are in the sharing mood.

Bottom line: For 99 cents, it's filled with a lot of helpful features to help your physical bottom line. It's got room for growth.

5. Going green:


Becoming more environmentally savvy seems to be in fashion. The GoodGuide app can help GoodGuide for iPhone you navigate through the labels, ingredients and impact of more than 65,000 toys, personal care and household products. This guide grades products on their major impacts to human health, the environment and society.

What sizzles: Since we initially reviewed GoodGuide in our going green roundup, it has added a toys category: a catchall for just about anything your kids might get their hands (or mouths) on. A nice tool for parents who have enough trouble keeping up with little Leela or Lawrence.

When you launch the app, it lists two highly rated products with their ratings. If you tap a product, you get details of what the rating really means and which ingredients to avoid. You can look up more stuff by category (say, household cleaners) or by brand. The app links to an iPhone-optimized version of the main site for additional info.

You can create shopping and "avoid" lists as well as share the ratings with others via e-mail.

What fizzles: With the number of product recalls, it could be interesting to include that information, particularly in the "toys" category. It's not really the core mission of the app, but there is a connection.

Bottom line: If you buy the notion of being green, it's helpful to be armed with some info.

The above article below was written by Michelle Maltais for the LA Times
(source)

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. (2013 Update: No longer available)

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.
(2013 Update: No longer available)


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
(2013 Update: No longer available)


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
(2013 Update: No longer available)

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
3 Door W.1800 D.550 H.700mm
4 Door W.2400 D.550 H.700mm
(2013 Update: No longer available)

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.

Hedgehog Heydey! All HIP Hedgehog stuff
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:

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