The Vessel: A Slick Suspended Sling-Like Bathtub Made Of Carbon Fiber.

Splinter Works' new limited edition tub, the Vessel, was inspired by the hammock. The slick and sexy tub was designed for use in a wet room and is completely suspended above the ground.





The following text is from their press release:
Struck by the synergy between the shapes of two compelling symbols of relaxation, a hammock and a bath tub, Splinter Works were inspired to develop a piece that would provide the ultimate vehicle for total escapism.





The peaceful experience of kicking-back in a hammock has been further enhanced by combining it with the immersive comfort of soaking in a hot bath. By literally elevating the experience of bathing into a suspended sculpture the bathroom has been reinvented as a contemplative sanctuary for artful relaxation.




Designed for use in a wet room, Vessel is suspended from the walls and does not touch the floor. It is fixed with stainless steel brackets that can be covered over, or left revealed.



The bath is filled using a floor standing tap and the waste water released through the base into a floor drain. A downpipe drain can also be installed if a wet room setting is not possible.





Vessel is made from carbon fibre which is utilised for its inherent strength and ability to be formed into complex curves, furthermore the weave of the fabric references the cloth of a typical hammock. Beneath the layers of carbon fibre lies a foam core, which insulates the tub, meaning the bath stays hot for considerably longer than normal.



At 2.7m long, Vessel is longer than a regular bathtub, leaving plenty of room to share the experience. Custom sizes are available but it is also designed so that it can be trimmed up to 20 cm to allow for flexible installation. Pictured here in black, it also available in red, blue, yellow, pink, bronze and pure silver.

Limited Edition Design, Carbon Fibre
2500-2700 mm Long
800 mm Wide

About Splinter Works:
Splinter Works’ mission is to create furniture that is engaging and inspiring. Through their designs they strive to enrich the lives of users, enhancing their environment and elevating the experience of everyday life. Their aim is to create work that is individual, thought provoking, aesthetically beguiling, intelligently designed and seamlessly functional. The designs are experimental and theatrical, whilst maintaining the importance of the inherent function of the piece. The work revels in playing visual tricks where balance is often questioned. Opposing dichotomies of solidity versus weightlessness, motion versus stillness, and strength versus fragility are played out in ambitious designs through innovative materials. Splinter Works' limited-edition collection currently ranges from desks, dressing tables, dining tables, consoles, loungers, stools, bath tubs and pool slides. Alongside working on their editioned portfolio, they produce unique commissions where every element, from the intended location and practical requirements, to striking a personal resonance with the commissioner, can be considered and accomplished.

All the pieces are all handmade in Britain. Splinter Works was formed in 2009 and is a collaboration between Miles Hartwell and Matt Withington.

The design studio is based in the UK, thirty minutes south of London.



Splinter Works Sculptural Furniture

Award-Winning Modern Bed Is Easy To Assemble And Easy On The Eyes.

The Tiefschlaf and the Tiefschlaf II designed by Linda Altmann and Oliver Krapf for STADTNOMADEN is a modern, easy to assemble, elegant looking bed available in two styles, three finishes and with adjustable stainless steel feet.

Regal Whimsy: The King Edison Pendant Lamp by Young & Battaglia

Designed by Young & Battaglia, the King Edison pendant lamp combines whimsy with functionality. A tiny functioning chandelier is suspended inside a hand blown clear glass bulb with satin chrome fittings and hung on a braided silken cable.



The name, King Edison, is tongue-in-cheek nod to the regal design of the chandelier and the lightbulb's original inventor. The piece is made in England by Mineheart, the design consultant company and online store launched by Brendan Young and Vanessa Battaglia in 2010.


above: designers Brendan Young and Vanessa Battaglia

The lamp was one of 2 new exciting lighting designs launched at the New York ICFF this past May. The other was the "Nightingale" figurine table lamp shown below (not yet available for purchase):



The King Edison Pendant Lamp:


• Ideal for handing individually or in clusters for maximum effect.
• Current lead time: 4-6 weeks
• For use with a 12 volt power supply, (transformer included).
• Supplied with a 2 metre braided cable and ceiling rose (longer cable available on request).
• Bulb dimensions: 15cm x 21cm

Price: $770.78 (£480.00)
Order it here

all images and info courtesy of Young & Battaglia and Mineheart

African Queen. The New Limited Edition Tribal Beauty Barbie.

The first doll in the Global Glamour™ Collection shows her exotic side wearing an intricate ensemble featuring a feathered midriff top, golden breastplate adornment, waist-attached bead fringe, earrings, bangles, long split skirt and elaborate headpiece. Her zebra scepter pays tribute to the royal splendor of Africa and her status as a reigning queen of fashion.





Doll Details
Body Type: ModelMuse™
Skin Tone: Light Brown
Facial Sculpt: Pazette
Fashion Sewn On?: No
Eyelashes: Applied

Stand is Included with doll

For the adult collector.

There is a limit of 5 dolls per order.

$125 USD, buy it here

images and information courtesy of Barbie Collector

Game Of Thrones and HBO Unveil Their Second Brew, Take The Black Stout.

If you hadn't already heard, Brewery Ommegang and HBO partnered on a series of beers inspired by the critically-acclaimed drama Game of Thrones.

The first release, the golden amber Iron Throne ale, sold out quickly due to small quantities and great demand. The second, soon to be released "Take The Black Stout", is said to be doubled in volume, so there's enough to go around for avid fans.



Take the Black Stout is a 7% beer, brewed with base, caramel, chocolate and roasted barley malts. Hopping includes Great Northern hops; spices are licorice root and star anise. Hue is black with full tan head. Aromas include chocolate, caramel, and earthy hops, light roastiness, a touch of fruitiness. Tastes include chocolate, coffee, rich malts, and balanced roastiness. Clean hop bitterness joins with slight woody character and spiciness; the finish offers sweet malt character leading to spicy, earthy, hop bitterness.



Take the Black Stout is named for the oath taken by those who stand the Night’s Watch at the Wall, defending Westeros against northern.



above: The label features the Weirwood trees considered sacred by the people of the North. It was designed by a52, the same studio that designed the impressive opening sequence for "Game of Thrones."


above: screengrab of a Weirwood tree from Game of Thrones

Take The Black Stout will be available in limited quantities in 750ml bottles & 1/6 BBL kegs beginning October 2013.

Brewery Ommengang and HBO are said to be releasing four game of Thrones Beers in total.

If you never heard about the first release, Iron Throne Ale, here's some info and pics for you:



Iron Throne is a blonde ale at 6.5% ABV and brewed with a robust amount of pils, honey malt, aroma malts and red wheat. Gentle hopping includes Styrian Golding and Hallertau Spalter Select, appropriately noble hops. Spiced with grains of paradise and lemon peel. Hue is a slightly hazy golden amber. Head is full and fluffy. Finish is crisp, backed by a touch of spice and hops. Aroma is a bit grassy with a hint of lemon fruitiness from the lemon peel. Taste is lightly malty, rounded out by honey malt sweetness.



info and images courtesy of Ommengang Brewery.

As a fun aside, check out this "Beer of Thrones" parody video by Comediva:


Don't miss this post on Geekologie where they share some fun faux beer labels inspired by fantasy drama.

Here's How The VW Beetlesphere by Ichwan Noor Was Actually Created.

Out of respect for the artist, who removed this information from his own website and asked that I do the same, this post has been deleted so as to let the process of Ichwan Noor's artwork remain a mystery. --editor

The Ravens Finally Get Their Bling. A Look At The 2013 NFL Championship Ring.

Earlier this month the Baltimore Ravens presented players and staff with their Super Bowl XLVII Championship Ravens Rings during a private ceremony today at The Under Armour Performance Center. Created by Jostens, the leading national custom jewelry designer and producer, the World Championship Ring commemorates the Ravens remarkable 2012 season and marks the second time the Ravens have brought the Lombardi Trophy to Baltimore.



"Emotions ran high as players, coaches and staff were presented with their rings, which symbolize the determination required to win the Super Bowl," said Ravens President, Dick Cass. "The rings are beautiful visual representations of what it means to be a Raven – physical, tough-minded, hardworking and resilient."




The truly one-of-a-kind ring pays tribute to the rich history and tradition of one of football’s most successful franchises. The design, hand-crafted by Jostens Championship Design team and led by Master Jeweler Miran Armutlu, is fashioned in white and yellow gold and with 243 round cut diamonds. In the center of the ring, the Baltimore Ravens logo is outlined with 40 round brilliant cut diamonds sitting atop a dazzling custom-cut amethyst stone. Behind the logo are two Vince Lombardi Trophies set with 32 round brilliant cut diamonds and two stunning marquise diamonds weighing approximately .75 carats, representing the team’s two World Championship titles.





"Jostens is proud to be a partner with the Baltimore Ravens and to collaborate with them on the creation of a ring that celebrates the team’s inclusive culture, winning traditions and their achieving professional football’s pinnacle triumph, the forty-seventh Super Bowl title," said Chris Poitras, Director, Sports Sales and Marketing, Jostens. "Every element of the ring was designed specifically to highlight the best qualities of each of the materials featured. It’s a singularly beautiful piece of fine jewelry that reflects the ultimate unity of the team."

To celebrate the enduring support of Ravens fans during this championship season, the team collaborated again with the Championship Design team at Jostens to create a custom selection of personalized jewelry and collectibles with designs inspired by the Super Bowl XLVII Championship Rings.


above: Josten's collection of Raven's jewelry inspired by the Super Bowl XLVII Championship Rings

The collection offers every Baltimore Ravens fan the chance to own a piece of Ravens history and, beginning June 7th, can be ordered online at Jostens. 

See and learn more about all the Super Bowl rings to date here

Good Vibrations and F* The Classics! Distorted Furniture by Studio Laviani.

There's been a lot of press about the forthcoming Good Vibrations furniture designs from Ferruccio Laviani for Italian furniture company Fratelli Boffi's F* The Classics! Collection. The new pieces previewed at Salon del Mobile this past April and has had the design world buzzing since.



The New York Times interviewed him about the forthcoming pieces and computer renderings are making the rounds on the internet. Referred to as "Glitch" furniture by i09, HuffPo and Buzzfeed, the pieces look distorted (as if an old VHS tape were paused), but are actually carved into the wood with computer-controlled milling technology.

The following two images are computer generated renderings of pieces from the collection:



And one of the actual produced pieces from the collection:



The pieces remind me of an earlier piece he created for Emmemobili called Evolution in which the ornate chest (below) seems to morph into a pixelated credenza:





As I mentioned earlier, Good Vibrations is part of an earlier collection designed for Fratelli Boffi by Laviani with the name F* The Classics! The collection combines the look of antique furniture with modern elements. Classic and ornate forms with Italian and Asian flavor becomes deformed or distorted with with modern geometric shapes and accents of color.

Below are several pieces Laviani has designed for F* The Classics!











The designer, Ferruccio Laviani:


I look forward to seeing more pieces of the Good Vibrations furniture and will share them with you once they are available.

Studio Laviani
Fratelli Boffi

Another artist who has toyed with computer distortions of furniture is Sebastian Brajkovic:

Check out his Lathe collection here