If you are a photo buff then you most probably know about the mothership of all photo stores, B&H, here in NYC. The most fascinating part of B&H has always been their conveyor system. Let’s say you decided to buy a new lens, you’re on the third floor, they’ll put that lens into a basket that then is being transported down to the register at the exit, silently ‘floating’ through the store.

The Lense folks secretly put a camera into one of the baskets to see how it works from the inside.

Again, this might be only fascinating to folks that have actually been to B&H.

Punchfork is my go-to-site when I need some cooking inspiration. If you haven’t already, I’d recommend you download their app. And, vegan folks rejoice, they just added a Vegan Category.

Thanks to the above graphic and this post over on brain pickings I will never look at a simple fold the same way again. Same goes for an ant.

Don’t ask why, but I can totally relate to this art piece called Will Of Power, by Yoan Capote.

(via Inspire Me Now)

Before chains like Starbucks took over the world of cafes, young Londoners of late 50′s and early 60′s met in places like these.

(via bblinks)

Yesterday it was revealed that embarrassing, inaccurate or simply personal data will have to be deleted from the internet and company databases if consumers ask, under a new set of European laws.

Article: BBC ‘will delete all users’ data’

(via @piersfawkes)

It always puts a smile on my face when I see friends featured on blogs that I love. My studio neighbor Emily Fisher is currently featured on Herman Miller’s blog.

Emily creates stunning Soft-Maps, quilted maps of cities and neighborhoods that represent someone’s unique place in the world. She recently added baby quilts to her collection, such a fantastic gift for (designy) parents.

Maps on Quilts, made in Brooklyn? Yes, please!

Get Real in 2012! Citizen Stock is a stock photo agency that uses real people, not models. Shooting against a white backdrop, Sherrie Nickol and David Katzenstein create diverse images of children, moms, dads, grandparents, skateboarders, musicians, nurses, athletes, dancers, office workers, clowns, executives and more. Don’t miss their series on Diversity!

Citizen Stock also keeps it REEL: Check out their video on YouTube. And sign up for access to free comps and other great features.

(Interested in sponsoring a week of my RSS feed, learn more here.)

Bondi is a handy little holder with lots of personality. With its trendy, flexible and colorful design, Bondi has only one purpose – to hold things.

Hang your cellphone from your work out machine while at the gym, use it to prop a book open, attach it to your stroller or bicycle, or make it hold your iPhone while you follow the Google Maps directions when you drive. The possibilities are endless.

One things for sure, my kids would love this little guy.

ibondi.com

Hey New Yorkers, need a place to go for a staycation? A Cabin in a Loft in Brooklyn is a two-bedroom loft in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The cabin is available for short-term rental as an alternative to hotels and hostels to those seeking a more local experience of New York.

Made me smile.

(thank you The Design Ark)

This is a wonderful profile on Veronica Corzo-Duchardt, foce behind Winterbureau, a Chicago-based creative studio. In order to celebrate her grandfather’s collection of ‘things’ she started The Neche Collection. You might have recognized that orange calculator in the beginning, we turned it into a Tattly!

So, here’s a brand new episode that Claire Crespo, the chef in the show and mastermind behind it all, *just* launched:

Ah, so apparently I can’t embed it, but you can watch it here.

Check out Claire’s website at yummyfun.com (warning: Flash Site) or buy her DVDs over on Amazon.

And here’s the Series Trailer:

Yay hooray for Paul Octavious’ latest book stack print in the shape of a heart, just in time for Valentines. Order them here.

A few weeks ago I traveled to Atlanta to hear Ben Chestnut’s CreativeMornings talk. Ron Dawson of Dare Dreamer Magazine interviewed me briefly, asking me a few questions on why I started CreativeMornings. And just now, he sent over the link to the above video.

Wow!

So excited and thankful for Ron to put this together. CreativeMornings is entirely built on such generous gestures. We have now 22 chapters, run by close to a 100 volunteers and backed by numerous sponsors. A humbling and inspiring network of global creative types that believe that we are all contributing to something valuable – human connections.

Thank you Ron.

This quote by Michael Bierut is from his January 2010 CreativeMornings Talk. Seriously worth watching.

Jeff Atwood’s graph on what it means to be a parent. Read his post here. Best article I’ve read so far on the topic of parenthood.

(thank you Paul)

Wow. Hardgraft’s bags and iPad cases had me stop in my tracks today. Thank you Justin for sending them my way!

(What a pretty site but impossible to download images. Bummer)

These Bound Mirrors are beautiful. It seems as you can get them made with custom colors. Lovely.

A few months ago, the term cassette tape was taken out of the Oxford English Dictionary. (!!!) It may seem ironic, then, that the cassette has experienced a quiet comeback over the last few years, as independent labels issuing tape-only releases have begun popping up around the world. I can’t even tell you how many fond memories I have of the days when cassette tapes ruled my music life. Do you remember the days being angry at a radio announcers when they’d start talking before the song was over and screwed up your recording of a song? I do!

That’s why I just backed a project on Kickstarter that plans to create a movie, entirely documenting the beauty of Cassette Tapes. They’ll look at all parts of popular culture influenced by the cassette, including hip-hop and B-Boy culture, indie rock, home recording, and beyond.

I just backed CASSETTE on Kickstarter. Will you join me?

(Thank you Kendra)

Researchers found that having dogs present increases collaboration. …

I’d say it’s time to get a studiomates dog as it is supped to improve productivity and camaraderie in your work environment. The finding is part of a study by Crain University. Read about it in this interesting article over at 99percent on 8 Counter-Intuitive Ways to Improve Your Well-Being & Creativity.

ixxi is a modern, modular hanging system that lets you create large wall art. The Dutch company lets you enlarge a single image, create a collage, or create an abstract pixelated piece of your choice. Read more at Design Milk.

In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and – SNAP – the job’s a game!
- Mary Poppins

Stay consistent in your beginnings and your endings. Have a great 2012. Lovely poster by PupilPeople.

Would you go and see a documentary about Charlie Todd’s Improv Everywhere, the king of NYC flash mobs, such as Invisible Dogs, No Paints Subway Ride and Black Tie Beach just to mention a few. I would! And we can, if we help them reach their Kickstarter fundraising goal. They are currently at a $115,253 of a $125,00 goal. And there are only 25hours to go.

I just backed the project. Will you?

Brand new Lucky Ant is the Kickstarter for your community. Instead of funding short films and art projects, you help support improvements to your favorite neighborhood hot spots. Whether it’s sponsoring an outdoor patio for the cafe around the corner or even helping a local high school build a student-run restaurant, this is your chance to help build the community of your dreams.

Two thumbs up for this idea. Hoping they’ll add my Brooklyn neighborhood soon! Luckyant.com

(via TBD)

What a beauty of a ring. Hat tip to the designer, Liz Openheim.

(via Kottke)

OSTRICH offers a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow nor a cushion, nor a bed, nor a garment, but a bit of each at the same time. Its soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates your head and hands (mind, senses and body) for a few minutes, without needing to leave your desk.

Made me laugh and I think our Studiomate Paul could definitely use one.

(thank you Josh)

YES!!!! Amit Gupta found a 10/10 matched bone marrow donor. I am beyond myself. I am *so* happy and relieved!

While the bone marrow transplant is anything but a walk in the park there is this huge giant rainbow of hope that he will come out of all of this completely fine!

Yay for Amit! Yay for the internets!

Try not.
Do.
Or do not.
There is no try.
- Yoda

(via bblinks)

This Carga Bag caught my eye. Lovely.

(thank you @Typegirl)

This Magnetic iPad Stand, called Magnus, is as sleek as it can get. Really pretty.

Apparently not everybody is always running late; with this in mind, Team Tattly asked Julia Rothman to put a positive spin on her bestselling You’re Late Tattly to make Love Watch.

Wear it on a date, wear it to remind yourself that everyone needs a little more love in their life, or give one to a special friend. (Valentines Day is february 14th!)

Yay for new Tattlys! Love Watch!

2011/09 Jamer Hunt from CreativeMornings on Vimeo.

Our September CreativeMornings/NewYork speaker was Jamer Hunt. He has dedicated his career to pursuing design as a means for reinvigorating the public realm. Currently the Director of Transdisciplinary Design at Parsons the New School for Design, he focuses this CreativeMornings talk on the subject of scale. From insects to typography and even bicycle transport, Jamer explores how changes in scale influence the way we approach problems.

A big thank you to Sy J Abudu for producing the video!

Throughout the course, participants will explore and share ideas for creating areas that invite children to engage in reading, writing, science, art, and more. Organization, storage, and selecting materials for different ages and stages of child development will also be discussed.

Each week, participants will receive a video that contains basic educational principles, simple guidelines, and helpful photos. You will also receive weekly assignments and links to relevant research, products, and inspiration. As a community, participants will have the opportunity to look at the spaces they create for their children, tackle overdue projects, post before and after photos, and receive practical feedback and support.

Mariah Bruehl is the founder of the website and newly released book, Playful Learning.

(Interested in sponsoring a week of my RSS feed, learn more here.)

Finally, a unique solution to that age old problem of what to do with the pit after the olive has been consumed. Yay for the Double Dish.

For the past 10 years, Molly Moodward has been photographing environmental typography and organized her images by place and category on VernacularTypography.com. As of now, the website has over 5,000 images of urban typography from 10 different countries, including Argentina, The Bahamas, Chile, Cuba, England, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the US.

Molly just started a Vernacular Typography Kickstarter Campaign to help build up her digital archive. It’s a beautiful projects which helps preserve, and promote the vanishing examples of lettering in the everyday environment.

Totally backing this campaign. Join me?

Mailchimp’s latest app, TinyLetter, makes it ridiculously easy to start your own mailing list and email newsletter. It’s a matter of minutes and you’re set to go. Pick a username and boom, you have your sign-up-page ready.

Mailchmp is fantastic service for maintaining business newsletters, but has too many bells and whistles for an individual that just wants to maintain a simple mailing list and send text email newsletter. That’s exactly what TinyLetter does best.

As Ben Chestnut, CEO of Mailchimp puts it: “You could think of TinyLetter as a “MailChimp Lite.” A more directionally accurate analogy would be, “Gmail on steroids.”

Read more about TinyLetter in this blog post.

Interested? Give TinyLetter a try yourself or subscribe to mine at: tinyletter.com/swissmiss

This Mondrian inspired Sandwich made me laugh. This might be my new way of sending subliminal art messages to my daughter with her lunches.

(Thank you Brittany)

A project by RED PEAK For Hudson Urban Bicycles.

(Thank you Tania)