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.

Pouffe the magic dragon..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Please Mr. Postman

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

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