Snappy Snaps

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

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

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

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

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

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

Candle in the Wind

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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.

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