Wishing You All A Very Hip Christmas.

To all my readers - faithful and infrequent - thanks for the kind notes, interesting submissions and continued readership. Your encouragement and compliments make the daily task of blogging very rewarding.

I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday from the bottom of my heart.

Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream in 11 Flavors. Whipped Lightning aka Whipahol.

I recently wrote about Smirnoff's new flavored vodkas, one of which is said to taste like whipped cream. This got me thinking.... what if there were an actual whipped cream that tasted like vodka instead of the other way around? So, I did a little googling and found something even better.... Whipped Lighting - Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream in a can in 11 delicious sounding flavors.



Whipped Lightning (which I prefer referring to as its urban slang nickname and their url... Whipahol) contains 18.25% alcohol (36.5 proof) with the exception of four flavors (Caramel Pecan, Chocolate Mint, German Chocolate and Hazelnut Espresso) which contain 16.75% alcohol (or 33.5 proof).






Whipped Lightning can dress up many a drink (and a dessert). Whether you prefer a martini, shot or shooter, cocktail, frozen drink, coffee, pie, ice cream or just straight from the can, Whipahol is one of a kind. Okay, not really one of a kind since a competitive product named Cream with 6 flavors, 15% alcohol content and much better designed packaging has recently hit the market.


above: Cream, another recently introduced Alcohol-infused whipped cream

As you would expect, many college campuses, concerned parents and special interest groups are up in arms over this product because of its obvious appeal to underage drinkers who are likely to abuse the product. Ingesting one full can will give you an effect equal to about three beers - and probably a stomachache.

Below are some answers from the folks behind Whipahol you're bound to have about this creamy booze in a can.

Do I have to refrigerate Whipped Lightning?
No, Whipped Lightning does not need to be refrigerated, ever. As a matter of fact refrigeration will cause the alcohol to separate from the cream and Whipahol will serve rather muddy. Don't worry though, refrigeration won't hurt it; just let it return to room temperature and all will be fine. Whipahol is infused with grain alcohol and pressurized inside a sterile environment. Although it will not go bad sitting out on a hot summer day we recommend trying to keep it somewhere around 70 degrees.

Should I shake the can?
You should shake Whipped Lightning vigorously before serving. This will help to mix up all the tasty ingredients.

There is still product in the can but why is nothing coming out?
Whipped Lightning is under pressure, if the can is relieved of pressure the product will not dispense. Do NOT spray Whipahol while the can is pointing up or sideways because the gas will be used up before all the Whipahol is dispensed from the can. Be sure to shake well, point the can downwards and spray.

Can I leave Whipahol in my car on a hot summer day?
No, you should not leave Whipahol in a hot car. Any aerosol product can become over pressurized by the heat in a parked car. This will cause the valve to fail and Whipahol will end up all over your upholstery rather than where it belongs, in your mouth.

How many calories are in a serving?
We've never had Whipped Lightning tested to determine how many calories are in a serving. Whipahol is not a food product and is not subject to FDA labeling requirements; it is an alcoholic beverage. You should consume Whipahol in moderation, please enjoy it responsibly.

Do you have to be 21 years old to purchase Whipped Lightning?
Yes, Whipped Lightning is an alcoholic beverage so you must be 21 years old to purchase and consume in the United States.

What is the shelf life of Whipped Lightning?
Whipped Lightning is best used within 12 months of being made. Please see the label for either a born on or expiration date. We make Whipahol to order so your can of Whipped Lightning is fresh and has not sat in a warehouse for months after production.

Why is Whipped Lightning not available in my state?
If Whipped Lightning is not currently available in your state, more than likely we are working on finding a distributor. You can help us by asking for Whipped Lightning at your local liquor store.

Click here to find where to purchase Whipped Lightning and some recipes as to how to serve it.

By the way, that fabulous image of the girl covered in whipped cream at the top of this post is from the photo shoot of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass 1965 album cover for Whipped Cream & Other Delights (courtesy of Esquire magazine's archives and composited by yours truly)

Google Wishes You Happy Holidays With An Interactive Animated Jingle Bells Light Show

 If you didn't check out the Google doodle today, it's a sweet interactive animated doodle that when all the buttons have been depressed, plays a little light show accompanied by an instrumental 'jingle bells' ditty.

Click on the glowing button beneath the G and it becomes a snowflake:

Click on the glowing button beneath the first O and it becomes Santa:

Click on the glowing button beneath the second O and it becomes a bell:

Click on the glowing button beneath the second G and it becomes a snowman:

Click on the glowing button beneath the L and it becomes a candle:

Click on the glowing button beneath the E and it becomes a present:

 According to Nathan Naze, Software Engineer at Google "Working with our doodlers, we had the bright idea to string lights along the Google homepage (and, because we can, added some interactive features). Of course, instead of using nails and hopelessly tangled strings of lights, we used JavaScript, Closure, and HTML5 or Flash to play the music (depending on the browser)."

 Here it is in its animated entirety:

 Happy Holidays back to you, Google!

Saks Fifth Avenue 2011 Holiday 3D Projection Mapping - Snowflake and Bubble

The Saks Fifth Avenue Snowflake & the Bubble 2011 light projection show (above) on their flagship store in New York is bigger and even more spectacular than last year's.



The 3D Projection mapping show, created by iris, runs every night for 5 hours, from Nov 21st through Jan 6th, making it the longest outdoor video mapping experience in the world.

And in case you never saw last year's SFA light projection, Carol of The Bells, which some people prefer:


SFA partnered with projection mapping specialists SP-Projects on the technical mapping and animation. They also worked with Creative Technology to create a customized structure and control system to be able to handle such an ambitious project.

Saks Fifth Avenue

The Holiday Party Sobriety Test Mobile App. Another Way Webroot is Protecting You.

Webroot has specifically designed this app to prevent the loss of clothing, dignity, job, marriage or friends. While you are free to ignore its advice it will test your coordination, comprehension or lack there of and attempt to guide you away from an early or embarrassing end to your evening. It’s just another way Webroot protects you from all possible threats, even yourself.



press release:
New Survey Reveals Behavior Revelers Would Have Avoided if They’d Just Taken the Test.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time of good spirits and holiday cheer when friends and co-workers get together to celebrate the season. It’s also a time when some of us get a little too caught up in the celebration and over indulge. Consider the three Capitol Hill staffers who just lost their jobs when their drunk twittering caught up to them.



What might have happened if those Capitol Hill staffers had taken advantage of the Holiday Sobriety Test, created by TDA for Internet security company Webroot? A new survey commissioned by TDA reveals some activities that party-goers might not have engaged in had they taken a sobriety test.




Here’s what a random sampling of party-goers said they might have avoided:

· Kept the Party Going: Of those who attended a holiday party, 46% said they wouldn’t have “gone out for more drinks” if they’d just taken that sobriety test;

· Stupid Texting – 34% said they wouldn’t have “sent a stupid text to their spouse, significant other or family member.” (Sound familiar boys?)

· Busted a Move – 26% would have avoided that “sexy dance in front of my co-workers.”

· X-Rated After Party – 25% would never have gone home with a co-worker to continue the celebration.

· A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – 24% would have resisted commemorating the evening’s activities by posting an embarrassing photo on Facebook.

· The Boss is a Babe – 18% would have skipped bussing the boss on the way out.

· Bashed the Party – 17% would have refrained from posting an uncomplimentary comment about the party.

· Trashed the Guests – 15% would never have written that snarky text about the other guests.

Just in time for the holiday party season, TDA and Webroot launched the Holiday Party Sobriety Test, a free mobile app for Android and iPhone devices, designed to save us all from our inebriated selves. Created to keep us out of trouble, the app provides a series of sobriety tests that can be taken right at the party. Failure of any of the tests triggers a warning to dial it down for the rest of the evening.



While it’s definitely the season to be jolly, no one wants all that holiday cheer to follow them into the New Year – and beyond. Remember, the job you save with the Holiday Sobriety Test may be your own. Interested consumers can visit webroot.com/sobrietytest for more information and to download the app.

**NOTE: This App is in no way intended to be an actual test of sobriety or any other measure of driving ability. The intent of this product is for entertainment and advertisement purposes only.

Only compatible with iOS 5 devices.

This data is based on a national cross-section online survey of 974 of the general public; half men and women, ages 21 and over. The data was weighted to the National Census. Almost 20% of the public claimed to have done any of these activities. The interview dates was December 1 through December 4, 2011. The margin of error on the totals is about plus or minus 5%.

Vintage Eames Lounge Chairs and Ottomans Get Maharam Makeovers for Moss.

Three unique vintage Eames lounge chairs and ottomans are being offered as one-offs by New York's Moss Gallery. Dutch designer Hella Jongerius and Moss take the 20th century icon and re-interpret these now 'classic' and ubiquitous symbols of Modernism as part of a one-off collection of special upholstered pieces they are collaborating on with Maharam. Over time, Moss hope to create an expanding dialogue between Maharam's contemporary textiles and strong iconic works from Moss' collective object-history.


above: The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

These rare, vintage Eames lounge chairs and ottomans are produced in Brazilian rosewood veneers, the original wood chosen by Charles and Ray Eames for the iconic chair when it was put into production in 1956. In 1992, Herman Miller ceased producing the chair in Brazilian rosewood due to a worldwide embargo on the endangered species.



above:
designers - Charles Eames and Ray Eames
design year - 1956
manufacturer - Herman Miller, USA
materials - Brazilian rosewood; aluminium; upholstered with Maharam Repeat Dot fabric (55% Cotton; 24% Polyester, 21% Rayon)

The third is another vintage Eames lounge chair and ottoman made with Brazilian rosewood and aluminium. Moss has upholstered this special chair and ottoman in 'Voyage' fabric, a rich blue wool produced by the renowned textile house Maharam. As with many of their textiles, the fabric is produced with reduced environmental impact and is 'Greenguard' certified for reduced indoor air emission.:


above:
designers -Charles Eames and Ray Eames
design year - 1956
manufacturer - Herman Miller, USA
materials - Brazilian rosewood; aluminium; upholstered with Maharam 'Voyage' (100% wool)

dimensions:
chair: 32.75" x 32.75", height: 32"
ottoman: 26" x 21.5", height: 17.25"

price for each:
$12,000.00
buy any of the three here


Maharam
Maharam, a fourth generation family-run business, celebrated its centennial in 2002. First renowned as a supplier of theatrical textiles, in the 1960s Maharam pioneered the contract textile concept, developing engineered textiles for commercial application. Though performance is an essential element of every product, Maharam continues to create innovative textiles through the exploration of pattern, material and technique.

Maharam pursues a holistic approach to design, embracing a range of disciplines as fundamental to its business philosophy; showrooms, graphics and accessories receive the same attention to detail as product design.

The Maharam Design Studio is responsible for the development of Maharam’s extensive textile collection, ranging from re-editions of enduring designs of the twentieth century’s most noted visionaries to fashion-forward concepts and materials. The Maharam Design Studio maintains a strong focus on new technologies and cultural markers, often finding inspiration beyond the textile industry, including collaborations with avant-garde industry outsiders. Conceived to foster an open dialogue across varied design disciplines, these collaborative projects also serve to introduce a fresh perspective and unexpected media into the world of textiles.

Maharam has textile designs in their collection designed by both Charles Eames (Dot Pattern) and Hella Jongerius (Repeat and Layers).




In the above book, Maharam Agenda, Maharam takes a holistic view of design, embracing a range of disciplines including architecture and interiors, furniture, fashion, accessories, graphic and digital media. The Maharam Design Studio oversees the cultivation of an extensive textile collection, ranging from re-editions of enduring designs by the twentieth century's most noted visionaries to textile-based collaborations with industry outsiders including Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, Maira Kalman, Bruce Mau, Jasper Morrison, Nike and Paul Smith, among others. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the company's history, cultural markers and design projects. Abstracted product applications are featured through "Useless Objects," a collaboration with Jasper Morrison.

You can buy this first edition 2011 hardcover book here

An Artist Who Nails It. The Work of Marcus Levine.

UK artist Marcus Levine creates figurative and abstract images by driving common black and silver nails into an aluminum panel or wood boards. Nudes, portraits, eyes and abstracts are depicted as a combination of pointillism and sculpture.




Because the nails protrude form the surface, the play of light and shadow adds dimensionality to the images.












About the artist:



46 year old Marcus Levine was educated at Fulneck School for Boys and left with four A levels. He was accepted at Jacob Kramer Art College alongside Damien Hirst. Previous alums include David Hockney and both Hirst and Hockney have been an inspiration to Levine. Afterwards Levine went on to study Scientific and Technical Graphics, a four year Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornwall College of Art and design. During his third year Levine found placement at Harlic Television HTV Bristol as a TV designer and self taught himself the newly arrived Quantel Paintbox, a sophisticated graphics computer which was used to create the animated scenes in the Avatar motion picture.

Whilst still an art student he had considered creating abstracts from nails but the idea seemed too difficult. Now years later he attempted his first nail sculpture. At first it was going to be abstract but then last minute he changed his mind to figurative.

Levine explains that "the interplay between the rigid, angular nails and the soft curves of the human torso, would be more striking".

Levine's ability to capture the curvilinear nature of the human body with such an inflexible object is intensely represented. He creates figures which are beautifully muscular yet wonderfully delicate, and it is clear that the artist has an innate grasp of the human shape. Light also plays an integral role in Levine's work, as "from morning sun to evening sun the shadows across the sculptures can appear as light as a pencil or as dark as a charcoal still life."

His latest clout nail sculptures introduce the sense of touch to his work and allow visually impaired and sighted people to experience the undulation and curvature of the nails as they twist, raise and fall along the length of the aluminium panel which they are driven into.

Since completing his first "nail sculpture" in autumn of 2004, Levine has perfected his technique, pushing the boundaries with each new work and creating increasingly dynamic interpretations of an object notoriously difficult to depict. It was Picasso who once said "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." The many years in business should have ground Levine down, but the very act of giving everything up seems to have freed the tethered mind of the artist and he has returned to an age of experimentation and freedom.

Most of Levine's recent painting is a direct result of experimenting and heavily influenced by such artists as Jackson Pollock, Levine says of his still life paintings. "I am constantly looking at ways to free myself. I have a tendency to try to paint a photo so by creating a technique that prevents me from doing that, I create something new and unique. I never thought I would paint still life but the type of paint I use and painting onto aluminium is very stimulating. I have to accept that the final result although controlled has a life of its own."

Marcus Levine
enquiries@levine-art.co.uk

images courtesy of the artist and Coax London

Now, That's a Bow Worth Keeping! Ribbonesia's Sculptural Animal Bows.

Ribbonesia is an art project by artist 'BAKU' Maeda. Turning ordinary ribbons into animals and animal heads since 2008, the sculptural bows are a beautiful example of talented artistry and handiwork.




Shaped like bears, panda bears, foxes, lions, horses, frogs, seals, birds, dogs and more, Ribbonesia has also begun to sell wearable bows and created a board book of their creations.















I bet none of your Christmas or Hanukkah gifts have bows this pretty.





Their latest range of wearable bows; Fox, Cat, Lion and Dog shown below, can be purchased:




buy the wearable bows here.






The talented folks behind Ribbonesia:



Artist : Baku Maeda / 前田麦
Creative Director :Toru Yoshikawa / 吉川徹
Art Director : Ryo Ueda / 上田亮 [Commune]
Web Designer : Fumiaki Hmagami / 濱上文暁[imaginarystroke]
Photographer : Kei Furuse / 古瀬桂
Printing Director：Manami Sato［佐藤 麻奈美］ / Atsuhiro Kondo［近藤 篤祐］



Baku Maeda
Ribbonesia