Miyo Wada wants...

Rhinestone Cowboy

2010-12-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

The work of Partizan director/animator and producer Chris Goulder is currently making fireworks with a playful stop-frame animation for jewellry brand Bex Rox

Picture Perfect

2010-12-16T03:21:00.000-08:00

Painter Matte Stephen's lovely paintings below.

Capturing the bear in his natural habitat

Meow Wow

2010-12-07T02:02:00.000-08:00

A piece of steel has been skilfully sculpted and bent into Misha - a cat-shaped lamp by French duo Kuntzel + Deygas, who brought us Paris Colette's dear mascots Caperino & Peperone, known as Cap & Pep.

This light is screaming to be animated as it looks like Misha is about to pounce. Watch their delightful cartoons on vimeo on this link. Check out Kuntzel + Deygas' amazing title credits for Catch Me If You Can that were commissioned by Spielberg. Click here to watch


The whole purrr-fect family

Ready to pounce

Strike while the iron is hot

2010-12-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

Love these cast iron salt and pepper and spice mills by Swedish Skeppshult - not to be confused with the bike company with the same name - the only remaining foundry in Scandinavia which manufactures household products in cast iron. Amazing. As seen on the website of new Tokyo shop Doinel in Aoyama that sells grocery and furniture. Love the styling of this mill on their blog

Lovely styling

Fishy business

2010-11-30T01:17:00.000-08:00

Photographer Corey Arnold who documents life at sea describes himself as a "picturetaker/fisherman". His new book with Nazraeli Press is called Fish Work: The Bering-Sea.

Old Sea-dog

No-logo

2010-11-28T22:13:00.000-08:00

No fuss, logo-free Erik Schedin trainers available at cutting-edge Swedish retailer Mr Mudd and Mr Gold. Love the styling of this shot. Also stocked are Buzz Ricksons vintage flight jackets and utility boots by West Coast Shoe Company

Wet drip

2010-11-27T22:21:00.000-08:00

This drip kettle by Japanese porcelain manufacturer Saikai Toki is made from stainless steel. Currently stocked in UK's SCP store, it is reminiscent of post-war Japanese household design.

Woodnotes

2010-11-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

Lovely wooden furniture by Heinz Baumann at the Langenthal Design Fair Designer's Saturday

Snip Snip Snip Snip Snip Snip Snip Snip...........

2010-11-08T13:28:00.001-08:00

A highlight of the UK Liverpool Biennial Art Fair is the A Foundation's Sachiko Abe. This Japanese artist obsessively and meticulously cuts A4 sheets of white paper into delicate paper 'strands'. The large "cone" you see in the picture below is hung from the ceiling and is 7 years worth of Sachiko's "Cut Papers" - she has been cutting for 9 years as a hobby but turned it into a profession. She first arrived on the global art scene with an exhibition at New York's PS1 less than a decade ago and her work provokes strong reactions, perfect for Liverpool's "Touched" theme this year. Watch this space and to read more about her extraordinary life click here

The fine texture of the paper makes it look like delicate angel hair strands.

A large "cone" made up of 7 years worth of "cut papers"

the sound of Sachiko's scissors are electronically amplified throughout the nine hours she cuts sheets of A4 throughout the day .

Wake Up and Smell the Bacon

2010-11-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Running with the porcine theme. Piggy alarm clock called "WAKE n' BACON" wakes you up with the smell of bacon. Designed by Matty Sallin, Daniel Bartolini, Hsiao-huh Hsu who make up design outfit mathlete.

Oink Oink

2010-11-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Piggy banks by Japanese design firm Nendo at Japan's Isetan department store as part of Tokyo Design Week's Designtide. Piggy banks date back to medieval Europe. People saved their pennies in clay jars called "pygg". The word-play unleashed the piggy bank we love today and Nendo's version of the porcine penny holder "pyggy bank" is made of unglazed clay in reference to its historical cousin.

Get lamped

2010-10-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Love this pendant lamp by Japanese Flame. Based in Osaka, their deko-boko range is a particular favourite of Miyo Wada's.


Lovely range of colours

Love the styling here

On the map

2010-10-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Love this map by Finnish designer Lotta Nieminen for the customer magazine for Kela (social insurance institution of Finland). The map shows the average of years spent at work in EU countries 2010 in a particular un-dry way.

Trippy

2010-10-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

Trip suitcase by Travelteq took two years to develop and doubles as a chair when you're delayed in transit by Icelandic volcanoes or otherwise. It also has an in-built speaker for when you want to listen to music in your hotel room - simply plug in your iPod and party!

From suitcase to chair..

Animalia

2010-10-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

Miyo Wada can't resist an animal and the same snapper for Ikea (see previous post) Carl Kleiner has come up with wonderfully weird inventive ways to create animals from healthy veggies.

Mr. Aubergine wants to be a zebra

Mr. Artichoke stands to attention

A flummoxed avocado with a fetching white shirt collar

A cracked-up Ms. Watermelon who is friends with the Shibuya ganguro girls

Let sleeping dogs (posing as butternut squashes) lie

Half-baked

2010-10-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

Work for Ikea's new recipe book Hembakat är Bäst (Homemade is Best) is centred around baking by photographer Carl Kleiner. Love the graphic food styling by Evelina Bratell.

Recipe for Swedish crescent shaped cookie Vanilhjorn


Recipe for Monocle magazine office's favourite biscuit Pepparkakor. When Miyo visited, they had them at their reception desk!


Schackrutor before.......

Schackrutor after!

Desk job

2010-10-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

Love this desk by Pierre Paulin just as much as Alastair Allen on Another Loves

Apple of my eye

2010-10-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

As seen on fffound. So true. From Recovering lazyholics' stream on Flickr

The White Stuff

2010-10-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

All things Swedish on the appropriately name Swedishness website! Love this milk, or mjölk poster by OMM. That's one happy red cow.

Clowning Around

2010-09-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Series of palyful objects by Swiss designer Tomas Kral. Based on the clown's nose and fashioned from ceramics with coloured elastic and cork. Happy red nose pinging.

http://www.tomaskral.ch

Hung up on you....

2010-09-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Love this late 1930s coat hanger rack in pear wood. Designed by Paolo Buffa. With bronze fittings from a lovely London-based antiques dealer called De Parma

Maison Objet 2010 - Kettal

2010-09-11T02:59:00.000-07:00

A new collection of outdoor furniture by Spanish Kettal was the highlight of the Outdoor furniture selection in Hall 7. New collections presented were designed by Rodolfo Dordoni and Hella Jongerius, who will publish a book with Phaidon later this year.

Hella Jongerius's sturdy "Bob" chair and stool had an architectural feel and was an upmarket interpretation of the cheap plastic garden club chair. Lovely woven detail on the arms.

Bob chair is named after the "B" letter that the sides express

A matching footstool

Italian Rodolfo Dordoni came up with a more extensive collection of furniture called "Bitta" named after the knots used when mooring boats. The woven details are inspired by these knots and the whole collection sported a "natural" feel both in palette and table textures of teak and marble.

Just a snippet of the Bitta collection

Authentics - Maison Objet 2010

2010-09-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

At the German Authentics brand, they had decided to work with new designers as consumers are getting sick of "star designers". One such star were duo Volker Albus and Stefan Legner's "Munich" light. Based on a beer mug and a tongue in cheek ode to Munich's annual piss-up, Oktoberfest.

Publish Post

Also turning heads was an unusual interpretation of a wardrobe "Wardrope" a hanging cable by Susa Stofer and Vernonika Hartjen.

Previously shown at Ambiente, nevertheless Urban Garden by Patrick Nadeau, made from coated polyester, they are also modular. Can work well as office partitions too.

Normann Copenhagen - Maison Objet September 2010

2010-09-08T23:15:00.001-07:00

The Normann Copenhagen stand present "Ballo", the dancing toilet brush by Jozeph Forakis. It reminds of the Japanese Yu'ento products

Rubber and stainless steel "chop" kitchen herb chopper by LucidiPevere Studio by Paolo Lucidi and Luca Pevere.

Icelandic textile designer Bryndis Bolladottir works with woollen balls. Miyo Wada liked her trivets and coathooks.

Another new Icelandic designer Helga Sigurbjarnadottir's local stone and contrasting oak coathooks caught our eye. Coathooks were arife at the fair last week!

Super Furry Animals

2010-09-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

Katie Hillier's collection of animal necklace pendants will burn a huge hole in your wallet and bank but are chyou-kawaii. Her website done by the lovely Rachel Pelly is also super great. Click here to see some bunny and other critter animations on the site.

The original Hillier bunny is in 18 carat Yellow Gold with a white diamond.


Rose gold bunny wi/ claret diamond. (whoops bunny whoops!)

winking owl in y. gold with absinthe diamond

18 carat gold squirrel wi/ Black Diamond nb: loves nuts.

Two violet diamond eyes give it an advantage over it's other garden friends

B&B Italia - Maison Objet September 2010

2010-09-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

B&B Italia showcased the outdoor version of their best-selling Charles sofa sytem by Antonio Citterio at Maison Objet.

The collection has an additional chaise-longue, unavailable in the indoor collection

Citterio's Carpino table is made from slats of Ipé wood whereas the new Gelso table top is made from painted white crystal glass.


Carpino table in Ipé

Gelso table with crystal top

Muuto - Maison Objet September 2010

2010-09-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Muuto showcased the silicone rubber Unfold pendant lamp by Stockholm based designer and architectures studio Form Us With Love. The duo also designed a lovely tealight candle holder called Match. Click here to see it on the designer's homepage.

Available in grey, black, blue, purple, yellow

Each year Muuto have a competition for young designers. Petter Thörne and Anders Johnsson from Konstfack School of Design in Stockholm's winning entry is the dining table named "Keep" made from scrap wood and secured with metal bands (cutting out the need for glue) and a linoleum table top.

The "Keep" table makes a statement about wasted materials

"Outside in" flower pot by Thomas Bernstrand

Available in brown, green, grey and purple

Wolf it down - re: Bocca di Lupo ( the mouth of the wolf )

2010-08-31T09:04:00.000-07:00

Love the branding work of designer Caz Hildebrand from Team 5 - Here Design in Gelupo, the sister gelateria and delicatessen to chef Jacob Kenedy's Italian restaurant Bocca di Lupo just opposite in London's Soho. Hildebrand recently worked on a book with Kennedy that's both a cracking read and useful recipe book called "The Geometry of Pasta". Aside from artisanal ice-creams their shop also stocks frozen sicilian red prawns (you can't get hold of these anywhere else in London) and BDL's signature rustic pork & foie gras sausage with farro & porcini.


A simply designed, fun and informative menu.

Their affogato is to die for.

The book - Geometry of Pasta

Light up

2010-08-29T02:41:00.000-07:00

"Arabesco" wall light by Giacomo Benevelli designed c 1960s. It will feature in the new Jicky commercial to be aired this week. Available to buy from antique dealer Tycho Andrews from Alfie's Antiques

Snappy Snaps

2010-08-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

A little bit of styling Miyo Wada did from a test shoot with UK-based photographer Charlotte Brown. Still not photo-shopped or anything.

The animals go in three by three through the wooded shrubs of candy-cane flowers

All Tied Up

2010-08-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

Ribbonesia art project by an illustrator named "Baku" (full name Baku Maeda) with ribbon and fabric. Love the seal with ball.


Moosey or Deer, not sure but it's got fancy antlers


Horse in dressage

Miyo Wada's favourite Sea-world esque balancing act

Net worth

2010-08-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Love these Net box Cabinets by Patricia Urquiola as spotted at the Molteni & C stand in the Rho Fiera in April's Salone in Milan 2010. Slightly too ubiquitous Urquiola used a technique used for roof-panels in shops. The metal is stretched and laser cut to take away the illusion of weight when using metal. Not only clever, it looks great. Reminds me of Bottega Veneta and what their furniture should look like rather than the Poltrona Frau-esque conventional stuff their furniture line showcased this year at a showroom that you literally had to have a security pass to get into.

Full Net box, was released in 2009 with a leather upholstery


Miyo Wada's favourite

The upper panel cleverly slides down

Detail shot of the mesh

You're Gorgeous

2010-08-11T04:21:00.000-07:00

Remember the lyrics to the biggest selling UK single of 1996 - "You're Gorgeous" by Babybird. Well that's how I feel about this vintage 1950's Hermes t-shirt. Shame the pictures is so appalling, doesn't do it justice.

The Engineer

2010-08-10T11:16:00.000-07:00


The In Site Exhibition at Casa da Arquitectura, Matosinhos, Portugal by Cecil Balmond is showcasing over 100 original sketches and models of his works. This includes Danzer and his most widely known Orbit, the 120m high sculptured created with his long-term friend and collaborator Anish Kapoor for London's 2012 Olympics. Balmond, Deputy Chairman of Arup is the world's most influential engineer and behind most major bridge and building in the last 30 years. The exhibition will run until the 10th September.

Original Model for the CCTV Headquarters in China

ArcelorMittal Orbit by Cecil Balmond

Original sketches for the ArcelorMittal Orbit by Cecil Balmond, Anish Kapoor - steel provided by magnate Lakshmi Mittal

Airplanes in the Night Sky

2010-08-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

'Paper Planes' armchairs by British based design studio Doshi Levien for Moroso

Candle in the Wind

2010-07-22T00:16:00.000-07:00

Cire Trudon have teamed up with Undercover's Jun Takahashi for a set of new candles including Gilaapple, a metallic apple. Takahashi worked with Ciré Trudon's Creative Director Ramdane Touhami to come up with a set up 10 unusually fragranced scenets. The white wax seals are phosphorus so glow in the dark. Check out Takahashi's blog here.

Pump up the Jam

2010-07-19T23:48:00.000-07:00

On sale early 2011, the BowWow ballet flat is a collaboration with the King of plastic furniture Kartell with Moschino. Made from a non-toxic thermoplastic technopolymer that is 100% recyclable. This isn't a first for the two to collaborate as Kartell upholstered Philippe Starck's Mademoiselle chair in Moschino fabrics.

Don't be taking Liberties

2010-07-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

The new "Libby" lamp is designed and manufactured in the UK by Overend Studio designer Alexander Harris, who also works for Conran's joinery, Benchmark. Available in department store Liberty from August, a shop we daren't go into this month - their amazing summer sale = reckless credit card spending. Great bargains on there if you want to spruce up your home, see what they have to offer here.

Minimalux - Part II

2010-07-15T03:32:00.000-07:00

On September 23rd at 00:01 hrs (don't know why the time is so specific), the 2nd Minimalux collection will go live on www.minimalux.com. British designer and co-founder of forward-thinking furniture brand Established & Sons Mark Holmes launches new products. Miyo Wada likes the pill tube and conical vase made from Borosilicate Glass, silver and copper.

Fashion Fat Cats

2010-07-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

Who's currently being papped on the fashion-forward streets of Scott Schuman aka The Sartorialist's stomping ground. Cats. Yes, thanks to new blog The Catorialist we now get a backstage insight into the catty world of fashion. Fans of Schuman, refer to our previous post on instructions how to get papped by him by clicking here. Thanks Tom.

Sweet Tooth

2010-07-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

This year's sadly disappointing London Festival of Architecture promised various installations throughout the area of Southwark yet delivered little. After a morning popping into an average but playful Urban Orchard on Union Street, the highlight was sugar sculptor Brendan Jamison's installation at the showroom of the Grosvenor Group's new Neo-Bankside development. More of Jamison's playful works can be viewed on his website. Click here

Art shark

2010-04-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

Designed by Alexander Calder in the 1920's for his grandchildren, this collectable wooden pull toy-shark is art collector material. Currently re-produced by french wooden toy specialist Vilac there is also a bull, kangaroo and elephant.

Eastern promise

2010-04-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Marseille based soap company Compagnie de Provence looked to the east for packaging inspiration. Wrappers come with insert instructions on how to fold into origami shapes.

Stars in their eyes.

2010-04-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

On display during Milan design week at the Fiera's rising stars Salone Satellite section were Singaporean d.lab headed by director Patrick Chia . A harmonious collection of never-seen-before prototypes included the "T" lamp (above) in the lovely milky hue they seem to have mastered and other "Objects Around the Tablescape".

Bare Essentials

2010-04-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

Designer Luca Nichetto teamed up with Venini for his new "Essence series" for Bosa at Salone 2010.

They're old news for Bosa but I love their colour coded Dedo spice sticks.

My Old Dutch

2010-04-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

Exhibited at Milan Salone's new Dutch-heavy design district Lambrate, was designer Aldo Bakker's urushi series, produced by Dutch gallery Particles. Made up of stools, tables and cutlery, Bakker has coated each item with 60 layers of Urushi -a special Japanese lacquerware made from tree sap. Bakker's tableware designs (salt paddle below), available through Dutch design retailer Wannekes, are although worth a mosey.

Swept Away

2010-04-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

At last week's Salone in Milan two Spanish students at Design Academy Eindhoven called Forma Fantasma were exhibiting at the Rosanna Orlandi gallery with an installation that explored natural materials. No details were spared in this well thought out exhibit by the talented duo. Pots resembling clay were actually made from cornflour, limestone and agricultural waste and they teamed up with french bread-maker Poilane who baked loaves of sorghum flour (the same material used to cook the pots) bread. The straw brooms in the background were made by the oldest straw broom maker left in the world, Guiseppe Brunello who left the cornsheafs on the brushes for maximum effect.

Idyll Sofa

2010-03-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

Young Swedish designer Johan Lindstén is an unlikely candidate to herald the return of the cross-stitch imbued with the female touch. His quirky take on contemporary furniture fuses nostalgic embroidery with an oak form. Aptly titled "Idyll sofa"

Maison Objet

2010-01-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

From shoes to washing up pots from Normann Copenhagen, neon and purple were particularly big colours at the French accessories trade fair. Some fetching patch work horses and stags were busy grazing among stands too.

French shoe brand Bensimon also showcased neon coloured trainers alongside leather ones for the first time.

Pouffe the magic dragon..

2009-12-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

British designer Donna Wilson works magic with textiles and her furniture for British furniture manufacturer SCP is no exception. Miyo Wada wants either "Frank" or "Ernest" pouffes in green or pink.

Grass Roots

2009-12-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

A grass dress grown from seed over 3 months by up and coming artist Kirstie Macleod whose innovative approach to textiles is turning heads in both the fashion and the art world. See more work on her website DreamingDresses

Camper Van in your Aria

2009-12-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

An operatic take on the traditional camper van with an antipodean touch by Axel Enthoven. Complete with wine cellar, teak veranda and an espresso bar, via Mocoloco

Ticking off

2009-12-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

Inner city buses in the Swedish capital have been graced with bright splashes of colour thanks to watchmaker Triwa. The firm have changed commuter handgrips, replacing them with pictures of watches really making people tick.

Dubai: the rise and fall - in photos

2009-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

The rise and fall of Dubai in the NY times blog photographic essay. click here

Before..............

After....: many expats who have left have just abandoned their cars in parking lots

Do a 007

2009-12-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

At first glance this satin brushed 18 carat pink gold Jaeger LeCoultre watch looks...like a watch. Its tech spech however, means you can play at being James Bond while checking the time as it also opens an Aston Martin sports car. With one push on the Rapide Transponder AMVOX2 watch crystal the car is unlocked. How 007 is that!

Spruce up your Christmas tree

2009-12-07T08:44:00.001-08:00

Looking for Christmas decorations with a twist. Lovingly hand-sewn by photographer Charlotte Brown a felt whale or polar bear show you're going against the traditional angel/pine cone/tinsel grain. Available to purchase on Etsy that also sells other adorable hand-made goods.

Having a whale of a time

Care bears

Clock it.

2009-11-26T09:38:00.000-08:00

Love this Time Projection Clock from Oregon Scientific for £29.99. Click
here

For £89.99 you also get the temperature projected into the air. Also by Oregon Scientific. Click here

Pantone Crisps

2009-11-24T07:05:00.000-08:00

Pantone crisps by Thoughtful illustrates how confusing it is when different companies use different colours for different crisp flavours. Consumers scratch their heads when it comes to a navy blue crisp packet - salt and vinegar or cheese and onion? Hmmmm?

In the Cut

2009-11-23T07:37:00.000-08:00

Leather off-cuts are transformed into a cute mini-menagerie called Skinni by Swiss designer Adrien Rovero

Please Mr. Postman

2009-11-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

If this came through my letter-box it would guarantee a smile. From Rob Lowe and Cathy Olmedillas' independent publishing house Present Joys

Bowl me over

2009-11-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

These hand-blown glasses are a dinner party talking point. Love the contrasting handles that French/Greek designer Alexis Georgacopoulos has made from colourful rope.

Miyo Wada also likes the Ecal ( Lausanne's leading design school) graduate's playful take on eating breakfast, Titled the "Milking stool" and first presented at Salone in 2003, it will make your frosties taste grrrreat!

For more information click here

For Gods Saké

2009-10-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Lovely sake jars by J-Period and a great excuse for a sneaky eastern tipple.

Megawa sake jar made from cedarwood and urethane resin from Akita prefecture.

Porcelain Sabikomasuji sake jar from Arita prefecture

Megawa sake jar in cedar from Akita prefecture.

Back to School

2009-10-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Cute little "Mobilier d'ecolier school chairs from La Chaise Longue. On show at Maison & Objet earlier this year.

Fog-bar

2009-10-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

The latest hair-product to hit the Japanese male grooming market is Shiseido Uno's Fog Bar hair spray. It has been causing a storm with their retro website with detailed instructions on how to use the product so you get your hair just right. Fogbar even has a dedicated FOG TV channel on Fogbar.tv. Shiseido Uno is one of the most innovative in products targeted for the trichologically aware. Via Japantrends.com

Andreas Gursky - The Kuwait Stock Exchange

2009-10-19T00:45:00.000-07:00

Amidst a sea of dish-dasha's Bloomberg terminals are scattered over the trading floor of the Kuwait Stock Exchange in a digitally mastered photograph by photographer Andreas Gursky whose work focuses on the effects commercialism and capitalism blowing up his photographs to a huge scale. On display at The White Cube Gallery stand at last week's Frieze

Pianofart

2009-10-19T00:35:00.000-07:00

A playful wooden take on the upright piano titled "Pianofart" by Richard Artschwager from Berlin's Spruth Magers gallery. On display at last week's Frieze

He's got the love

2009-10-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Lovely stamp to receive on a letter from a loved on sale at Miyo Wada's favourite Paris shop Merci founded by the owners of kid's clothing label Bonpoint.

on the sauce

2009-10-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

Get drunk in serious style with DQ Vodka

Thank you ...

2009-10-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you cards with a sarcy fun twist by Bob's your Uncle

Baba

2009-10-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

Japanese illustrator Mr. Baba joined us for the opening of the Pop Art exhibition at the Tate Modern fresh from the opening of the new Uniqlo store in Paris and its Jil Sander collaboration. Love his fun illustrations and fashion line BCG

Love Mr. Bab's fiery take on the roller skate (below)

Midas touch

2009-10-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

Limited edition (ten) of Scabetti'siconic shoal light made with 186 bone-china fish plated in 24 carat gold.

A fishy 24-carat detail

Out with a Bang

2009-10-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

"White Chocolate"wooden chair by Eun suk bang looks hard but is bendy where your bum and back sit. To see more works by the Korean designer who stood out among the group of Korean designers exhibiting at 100% design in London last week during the capital's design week click on iambangcom

Sit down

2009-10-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

Sitting down is the best first-aid for tired legs. Designer Petter Knudsen's "tubular" chairs echo our thoughts exactly.

Wood

2009-10-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

Lovely little wooden blocks at Tent London by Miller Goodman. This year the Tent opening party was rather empty and invites came with two drink "vouchers". The place to be seen in London Design Week was Tom Dixon's new shop in Derwent's new development "The Dock". More to come on this

The Guru (of aircraft seating plans)

2009-09-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

For plane boffins who like researching their in-flight seats before they travel turn to Seat Guru. Its detailed seat map graphics are a useful reference advising you where the loos, powerpoints and nearest exits are from your seat. Also handy for comparing different airlines seat widths from cattles class to business first, all the info at the click of a button!
Below is a Seat Guru map of the Qantas A380, the newest aircraft on the market that had its inaugural flight earlier this year. Its creative director Marc Newson has made sure their first class seats or "suites" are a whopping 29" wide so no need to worry if you've gained a little weight recently - you'll definitely fit.

Inspired Indonesian

2009-09-24T14:56:00.001-07:00

Simple clean lines from up and coming Indonesian designer Alvin Tjitrowirjo who takes inspiration from his nation's traditional designs and materials. Click Alvin-T

The face of finance - Brokers with Hands on Their Faces Blog

2009-09-22T11:17:00.001-07:00

Not as good as the blog dedicated to showcasing pictures of Ross Kemp's head - folded - aptly titled Kemp Folding but just as delightfully and pointlessly puerile. Feel the pain of working in finance in these troubled economic times. "The Brokers with Hands on Their Faces Blog" (click here) is well worth a visit. Thanks Syma!

Smart snaps

2009-09-22T07:23:00.001-07:00

London-based photographer Natalia Calvocoressi just finished an exhibition "Still" at the Islington Arts Factory. Her boyfriend Piers often poses amidst a sea of books (below). Marring the lines between fiction and reality, images such as above have an ethereal aura coupled with a darker edge making for haunting impact.
www.nataliacalvocoressi.co.uk

It's a dog's life - Moncler A/W campaign

2009-09-22T06:29:00.001-07:00

Vogue's favourite photographer Bruce Weber shot these darling little doggies for the new Moncler's A/W advertising campaign. Shows promise to do to Italian Moncler what Juergen Teller did for Marc Jacobs with his campaign shots that are so iconic they have been published by German Steidl

A humorous self-portrait of Weber buried in cameras (below left) is also part of the campaign.

What a Hoopla!

2009-09-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

For all the spaghetti hoop fans among you, yet another genius and witty snap from still-life photographer David Sykes who gave you that lovely shot Light Breakfast. See his Spag bol where meat balls are basketballs and other works by clicking on this link.

Give 'em the boot

2009-09-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

At first glance it's a ridiculously impractical take on the traditional water-proof wellie. No-one wants to get stuck in an autumn shower or downpour sporting wellies with a massive hole in them. Don't despair the slits aren't footwear fashion statements though - they're for your hands when carrying this tongue-in-cheek wellington boot inspired handbag or "bootbag" from Belgian Vlaemsch

Colour block

2009-09-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

One of the more colourful stands from JC de Castelbajac at September's Maison & Objet.

Tight squeeze

2009-09-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

If you're part of Vienna-based Compagnie Willie Dorner's living sculpture installtions, you're in for a seriously tight squeeze. Get squidged and squadged into urban spaces in weird configurations that no man has gone before.
Dorner's works inspire gawping onlookers to open their minds to different ways of viewing urban spaces and re-consider their attitude towards public places. Group performances including dancers prancing from location to location then manacling themselves together attracting both public and unfortunately often, police attention.

Via Weburbanist

See-saw

2009-09-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

See this prickly little fellow from French toy companyBass et Bass in action and rocking it below.

Big news, small size

2009-09-09T02:30:00.000-07:00

Creepy but genius new advertising campaign for German Welt Kompakt. On display at the Schoenfeld airport walkway.

Merci

2009-09-09T00:48:00.001-07:00

Press coverage about Paris-based Merci on boulebard Beaumarchais, the new-ish concept store merci founded by the owners of baby-wear Bonpoint don't do it justice until you go their and experience it yourself. The most innovative retail concept to match anything that rolls out of Tokyo. Installations change regularly and this particular one is by Italian porcelain brand Richard Ginori and taken from the Taste Lounge they did that débuted at Salone in Milan this year, to see pictures click here on the design boom coverage.

A little selection of Caran d'ache pens that you can pick up and take to parties.

Want to buy a brush, pick a letter!Alongside a café, fashion, kids, cosy-haberdashery complete with an in-house seamstress cum sewing machine and a homewares department where Cappellini chairs sit next to affordable vintage and baccarat crystal sits next to lower price point pyrex, the buyers keen eyes have scoured the globe for a cohesive aesthetic vision.

There is also a rotating art exhibition this month by Jean Sonnet who has made art-works of his collection of things. Spend a small fortune on the artwork or pick up the poster for €5 or under. All and I mean every penny of profit made by Merci go to a charity or back into the business. That's why the name of the shop is Merci.

Snap! (crackle, pop)

2009-09-03T02:36:00.000-07:00

The 35mm Diana Mini is the dinkier sibling of the classic Diana F+ (below). Lomography's new gadget allows you to move from retro square format to half-frame so you can shoot 72 shoot onto 35mm film. The camera will launch in September on line at www.lomography.com and then go nationwide into stores from October. A Lomography store will also open this week in London's Soho.

I'm a (c)lean machine

2009-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Providence shower is made from sustainably harvested Indonesian teak and has marine quality brass hardware from Restoration Hardware. No more Sweaty Betty

Other companies specialising in cool Garden showers are Douches de Jardins; Californian Rittenhouse; more garden minimalism from Belgian firm Tradewinds and Orvis

An outdoor shower by Douches de Jardins. Unless you are a high-net-worth individual with a private beach, you probably need to sport some kind of swimmers to shower in this one as it's design over privacy

Pencil me in

2009-08-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

These smart writing tools are designed by Richard Wentworth. The wooden box has been whittled to hold its six pencils aimed at the style-conscious carpenter. It has a card top embossed with 12 thoughts and each pencil is emblazoned with 6 woodwork industry thoughts black - Height (blue) - Weight (blue) ,Length (green), Breadth (white), Depth (yellow), Width (orange). Available at the Tate shop

Prints please

2009-08-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

Iconic finnish designer Vuokko Nurmesniemi's rare vintage print from the late 50's for Finnish textile company Marimekko. Finnish children grew up with this in their bedrooms. It reminds me of the Vitra ones by Alex Girrard (see picture below) who took influence from Charles and Ray Eames who Vuokko also used to hang out with in the 60's and 70's, although she designed this pre-Vitra.

Put on your dancing shoes

2009-08-28T02:18:00.001-07:00

Love the shop display styling in French ballerina vetements and shoe specialist Repetto. A far superior version to London's unanimous fashion flats by heavily marked-up Pretty Ballerina

Cook off

2009-08-25T02:12:00.000-07:00

Independent Belgian culinary publisher Minestrone have published a series of cookazines. Content includes recipes and food related articles based on the theme of the issue. "Fast" for instance will include articles on fast food and recipes that make for a speedy slap-up. Photographs by Belgian food photographer Tony le Duc.

Metal mitten

2009-08-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

A sinister hand-accesory to murder? No, it's an Oyster glove from German firm Pott that has a century old heritage. Founded by Carl Hugo Pott in 1904 and began as a workshop for damascening knives.

Finnish-ed

2009-08-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Finnish Antti Nurmesniemi is Alvar Aalto's equal and husband of iconic textile designer Vuokko Nurmesniemi. Nothing beats his enamel coffee pots and wooden sauna stools on display in the Artek showroom, for sauna-loving Finns. Beautiful lines, Finnish design is always practical, unshowy and minimal.

Feeling sketchy?

2009-08-16T05:39:00.001-07:00

Love these excerpts from Cassius M. Coolidge's sketch book (1844-1934). Read more about it in the lovely New-York based arts magazine Cabinet

Love these excerpts from Cassius M. Coolidge's sketch book (1844-1934). Read more about it in the lovely arts magazine Cabinet

Check Mate!

2009-08-12T07:49:00.001-07:00

During this September’s London Design Festival, the public are invited to come and play chess on a Jaime Hayon gigantic chess board in Trafalgar Square until Monday 31 August. The public must apply to play and download the application to play through the London Design Festival website.Match winners will be awarded a pair of Camper shoes designed by Jaime Hayón. The floor will be made by Bisazza for whom Hayon has often teamed up with and BD Barcelona will provide chairs for the contestants to sit on.

Blow

2009-08-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

A simple air conditioning unit for the not-so-clever, un-business savvy, un-Klum, un-Giselle un-C.Crawford average fashion model. Love the retro feel.

Ceci n'est pas un mixte tape

2009-08-08T11:25:00.001-07:00

According to curator Bobby of Kitsune Noir, Ceci n'est pas un mixte tape, c'est un Kitsune mixtape - and there's a difference you know. (sic Patricia Arquette says to Christian Slater in True Romance on the roof). If you still hark back to the golden age of making or receiving mix-tapes for boys/girls you were in puppy love with and friend and fellow music lovers you'll appreciate Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker's take on the digital age that has killed the mix tape. Read his "mix-tape column here

Fast food that's fucking slow to make if you do it this way

2009-08-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from Fancy Fast Food, a blog pioneering junk food that looks Michelin posh. Strapline below says it all. No bun intended.

A picture of top entrée Wendy's Napoleon (Fancy Baconator Combo) by Adrian Fiorino of Insanewiches with recipe below, read it and retch.

Wendy’s Napoleon
Ingredients:

* 1 Wendy’s Baconator
* 1 large fries
* 1 small Coke
* 1 botte of water
* 2 little cups (or packets) of ketchup
* 12 sugar packets

Disassemble the burger. The cheese may not separate from the meat, but that’s okay. Place the bun in a food processor with 2 tbsp of water and pulse until it resembles couscous. Set aside. Do the same with the fries until it becomes a paste.

Chop the burgers (cheese and all) into pieces with a knife. Place in a food processor and pulse until they look like pate.

To create the Napoleon, cut the french fry container so the top is level. Pack alternating layers of the minced meat, the mashed potato paste, and the bun-turned-“couscous” into the container until it is full. Invert over a plate and wiggle until it is loose.

For the spun sugar garnish, empty twelve packets of sugar into a heavy-bottom saucepan with 1/4 cup of water over medium heat. While stirring, cook mixture until it is a deep brown color (10-15 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to sit 1 min. Over foil, gently flick the sugar back and forth to create a strand-like design.

To make the sauce, put 1/2 cup of Coke and the ketchup into a pan over medium heat. Reduce for five minutes.

Next, crisp up the bacon in a pan for two minutes over medium heat before chopping it into little pieces.

To assemble, gently separate sugar garnish from foil and stick it in the top of the Napoleon. Pour sauce around the Napoleon and then form 4 little piles of bacon around the edges of the plate.

Pour some of the remaining Coke in a wine glass, and there it is: a Fancy Baconator Combo that you might think is waaaay better than the original!

I'm singing in the rain

2009-08-07T13:04:00.001-07:00

I have literally been waiting my whole life to find an umbrella that can withstand incessantly bad English weather and the Japanese typhoon season. The "Senz" umbrella was designed by Gerwin Hoogendoorn, Gerard Kool and Philip Hess from the Netherlands. It involved a lot of technical research and hence can withstand windspeeds up to 70mph. It has also won Time Magazines Best Invention award. Sold by Merchant No.4 who are a very selective online design shop that has SUCH nice stuff.