Metaproject 03 winner – “Blockitecture” designed by James M. Paulius.

New York-based avant-garde accessories manufacturer, Areaware recently teamed up with industrial designer and Rochester Institute of Technology associate professor, Josh Owen to collaborate on Metaproject 03: an industry partnership placing student output into a global venue.

This year’s project challenge was to create contemporary wooden toys that would appeal to adults – although, we think kids would love them too.

RIT student, James Paulius took out first prize for his cool design (shown above) titled, ”Blockitecture”.

Here’s a quick look at some of the other student toy designs that were produced for the challenge. Which one is your favourite?

Via Design Milk

“Stacking Skyscraper” designed by Gonzalo Ciurlizza.

“Strong Men Building Blocks” designed by Jeffrey Burrell.

“Nesting Tree” designed by Megan Lin.

Having trouble dragging the kids to the dinner table? These fun activity placemats from Hester & Cook should do the trick. Read more

Ice Cream Party Paper Placemats by Kitchen Papers.

The Henrik Bed – designed by Meta Coleman. Photos: Ashley Thalman and Meta Coleman.

When One More Mushroom blogger and designer Meta Coleman needed a new bed for her five-year-old son, she had to create it herself. Read more.

Images: Courtesy of Anthropologie.

Anthropologie’s ice cream shop is stacked high with everything you need to create and serve the perfect sundae. If your brood takes ice cream seriously, we recommend you sample the following:

1. This cute cookbook from Arizona chef and food blogger Tessa Arias, includes loads of delicious ideas on how to jazz up the classic ice cream sandwich; 2. We’ve had our eye on these Ceramic Ice Cream Cones for some time now. They’re back in stock – just in time for summer!; 3. Serve up scoops of fab flavours in these whimsical waffle bowls; 4. The perfect pint accessory: a Teakwood ice cream scoop.

The Woodsfolk: a family store. Photos: Brooke Holm.

The leafy Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn seems like the perfect place for a store calling itself The Woodsfolk. Headed up by Amber Clohesy, who also operates wholesale outfit Down to the Woods, it carries a fascinating range of carefully squirrelled homewares, accessories, paper products and even the odd item for the family pet.

Coral & Tusk Fox and Rabbit Pocket Dolls. Photo: Kate Lacey

Top on LMNOP’s shopping list would have to be the selection of modestly humorous embroidered pieces from Brooklyn-based company Coral & Tusk, including the Fox Tooth Fairy Pillow and the ultra-charming Fox and Rabbit pocket dolls.

Coral & Tusk Fox Tooth Fairy pillow and Parakeet Love pillow. Images courtesy of Coral & Tusk.

Left: Christine Berrie’s handsomely illustrated Bird Bingo. Right: Goodall Fox Coat.

You don’t have to go far though, before more must-haves pop into the line of vision, like the magical Goodall Coats and Made by Mosey’s vibrant Feather Garland, a novel approach to the classic kids room motif.

New at The Woodsfolk, cloud hangers.

The Woodsfolk has plans to expand into an online shopfront in late 2013 or early 2014 with an international shipping service. Until then, unless you can get down to Melbourne, you’ll have to be content with bookmarking thewoodsfolk.com.au for regular ‘new instore’ updates and their blog.

Looking for some new digs? Here’s a few cool properties you might like to inspect:

A. ferm LIVING Dollhouse
B. Doll House Box
C. Toideloi Chalet
D. Brinca Dada Zoe House
E. Miibox Wall Hanging Arne Jacobsen House

Hello!Lucky Neon card collection.

Hello!Lucky debuted it’s new neon card collection at the National Stationery Show in New York last week. We can’t wait to see more! In the meantime, check out co-founders, Eunice and Sabrina’s behind-the-scenes post on their personal show favourites.

“Gas Giant” by Jacob Hashimoto. Image: Archilovers.

Jacob Hashimoto seems like he would fit in well with a bunch of five year olds. The New York based artist has made a career out of creating large scale, space-altering installations often with colourful paper structures. And what could be more playful than a paper kite?

His latest site-specific work for the Venice Biennale 2013 is a breathtaking in its innocent audacity. ‘Gas Giant’ is made of thousands of vivid paper kites, handmade by the artist and hung in dense “clouds” of colour and shape.

Opening at the Querini Stampalia Foundation on 28 May, it will run until 1 September 2013.

Image: Archilovers.

Image: Studio La Città, via designboom.com

Image: Studio La Città – Verona, via designboom.com

Image: Studio La Città – Verona, via designboom.com

Visit these links to discover more about Jacob Hashimoto and his work:
– designboom met the artist in his Brooklyn studio last year. Here’s what he had to say.
– Watch what it takes Hashimoto and his crew to install 10,000 paper kites.

Via Archilovers: Image credits: Archilovers; Studio La Città – Verona, via designboom.com

Mon Oncle Spring/Summer 2013. Images courtesy of Mon Oncle.

We were so happy to discover Spanish accessories brand Mon Oncle this week. It’s chic Spring/Summer 2013 line for kids features a pretty collection of collars for girls, bow ties for boys, as well as a medley of colourful cushion toys and jewels.

Bet you like them as much as we do. See the full collection online at Mon Oncle.

The Story of Crayola Crayons. Image courtesy of Design Sponge.

If you missed it, check out Maxwell Tielman’s post for Design Sponge, on everyone’s favorite (iconic) art supply: Crayola Crayons.

In The Story of Crayola Crayons Tielman shares all kinds of interesting facts, including how the name Crayola was coined, and what an original 8-pack of Crayola Crayons sold for when first introduced to the market in 1903.

We were inspired to pull our vintage 64-pack from the shelf and recall our favorite hues: Lemon Yellow, Prussian Blue, Burnt Orange, and Carnation Pink… just to highlight a few.

Do you recognize any of these Crayola colours by name?

Via: Design Sponge