Preserving Tradition

Going strong since 1981, Yorkshire based Cartwright & Butler started life as a jam and preserve maker.   I like their packaging and website design.

The Arbor

According to Jonathan Foyle, separate pavilions for banqueting and feasts will be a sought after luxury in the domestic home. Cue Russian designer Shamsudin Kerimov of KPA's smart Arbor design.

No-logo

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

Merci

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.

Dolly the Sheep gets a better look

Love Ben Schlitter's Matryoshka icons.

"Rainy day" Matryoshka has managed to find an umbrella that fits her head perfectly, even James Smith, on New Oxford Street in London and the best umbrella shop in the world don't customise to that extent. Thanks Swiss Miss

Cloud 9

Cloud sponge from Studio Leung Studio Leung guarantees April showers.

Play Card, Work Card

Oh,to work at Lego and be Melissa Wallace or Fiona Wright - you'd get a business card like this! Via Trendhunter

Business card(front view)

Business card (rump view)

Speak(er) Easy

Light sabre? Outdoor heater? It's actually the new 6ft Sony Sautina speaker. It's only $10k.Via Engadget

Case Study

For classic tennis shoes French Bensimon is great. They do other stuff for the home too like the cool "Wall Case".

Hey Hey with the Monkeys!

These pot-bellied monkeys hail from Denmark and were designed by a silversmith named Kay Bojesen in 1951. Manufactured by Rosendahl they are hand made from timber and teak and have become a design classic. A mini one will set you back about £120 but how could you say no? They're super cute, super friendly and hang from anything including a desk light arm to cheer up a glum office day!

We snapped Mr. Mads just before he got over-excited and indulged in a chest-beating frenzy!

Our daily bread..

Has the new Hovis advert made you run to the shops for a loaf of wholemeal? If the marketing team behind the English brand has got their wicked way you probably are. But where to store your carb-laden purchase? This bread box by German design collective Side by Side will do the job. The lid doubles as a bread board (double fun!) and is designed by Andreas Ulbricht -one of 15 freelancers in the collective. Side by Side are also ethical and employ 120 disabled workers.

Love this wooden ironing board that Side by Side were commissioned to do for American Design Within Reach, a brilliantly edited retailer of both design classics and of their one off collaborations with off the radar designers.

A pert upright view of the trivet

Switched at birth

UK designer John Caswell has unwittingly made Mr. Switch in the likeness of a certain film agent representing UK directorial talent at the biggest agency in the UK's capital city. Via Design Spotter

What's the time Mr. Wolf.....?

"
According to my LED watch by Hiranao Tsuboi from 100 per it's a very fluorescent-orange 22:54!

Director's Cut

Francis Ford Coppola's highly succesful venture into wine have also helped fund his extraordinarily epic and expensive films. On that note, indulge on some epic drinking with this wine, a blend of 58% Sauvignon from Alexander Valley and 42% Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. It's dark and rich with an edge of earthiness.
http://www.ffcpresents.com/

He also has an online shop selling branded food.

Music box

Japanese design collective One Tenth have designed this minimalist cd player that hangs on the wall. Put on some tunes and get boogeying!

Design Directory

Ever been flummoxed by a lack of classic design knowledge? Know your Eames from your Corbusier but not familiar with Mogens Koch or Finn Juhl. The design encylopaedia is quite useful in these instances.
http://www.deconet.com/decopedia/designer.action?id=612

What's your cup size?

Lovely smooth curvy cups hand crafted in Asahikawa - a region in Japan famous for its skilled wood craftsmanship. The cups are designed by Rita Ono, lovingly carved by Hidetoshi Takahashi and come in three sizes. Enjoy your morning egg in the S-cup, tea in an M-cup and water in a the more generously endowed L-cup! Available through Merchant No. 4 an online design shop selling a brilliant selection of hard-to-find everyday objects from designers world-wide

Wooden it be Lovely?

Technology with a low-tech facade. These keyboards are hand-made by Japanese company Hacoa

It's also a DIY keyboard kit

Card shark

Cool business cards via Fubiz
Divorce Lawyer (tearing families apart)

Chest Physician (breathe...)

Personal Trainer (Stretch....!)

Hemp company (I suspect the owner has torn the corner of his card off to use as a roach!)

Have your cake and eat it...

Washing up is now oh, so fun thanks again to Sam Hecht's
Industrial Facility

Slice of sponge cake anyone?