If It's Hip, It's Here

The 2010 Artist Beach Towels Are Here!

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:05:00 +0000

Once again, the Art Production Fund and Works on Whatever have come out with their artist beach towels. This year, they are only adding two to the fourth annual artist towel series, each created by acclaimed artists Peter Doig and Yoshitomo Nara.

Yoshitomo Nara:

Peter Doig:

They make great gifts for the art lover in your life, or for yourself. Each towel measures 60" x 70” (double width), is made of 100% cotton and costs $95. each. Buy them here.

•To see the 2008 artist beach towels, go here.
•To see the 2009 artist beach towels, go here.

New Michelin Ads: Proof That The Right Execution Changes Everything.

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

above: a still from the second animated Michelin spot in the new global campaign, Saddest Road.

Michelin's latest advertising campaign, "The Right Tire Changes Everything" has refreshed an ad icon that was fast fading into "Speedy -Alka Seltzer-land." But thanks to a new advertising campaign by TBWA/Chiat/Day, New York, the lovable white tower of tires, known in the US as The Michelin Tire Man, is back with a vengeance.

The recent animated Michelin television commercial "Evil Gas Pump" directed and edited by Pysop, has been making the rounds on blogs and magazines and winning honors and accolades in several trade publications. With its digital rejuvenation of the beloved Michelin Man, the spot deserves the kudos.

above: a still from the animated Michelin spot, Evil Gas Pump

But the next one, is just as fabulous, if not more so. Saddest Road is the second in the animated series, soon to be followed by a third. Once again, the animation and music are wonderful and Bibendum, (our tire man's actual name) is once again a hero worth worship.

Take a look at "Saddest Road":

I am not sure the same creative team at TBWA/Chiat/Day New york did all the spots, but at the end of this post are the credits for Evil Gas Pump, which, if you have not yet seen is right here:

The print work, while attractive, is no breakthrough creative, given it is just a lift from the television and the headline is a disappointing rehash of the tagline. But I suppose you could argue the cop out that it's a cohesive campaign because both the tv and print showcase the wonderful animation.

Examples of the print work for Michelin:

According to Michelin Corporate's press release "The new campaign’s slogan – “The right tire changes everything” – is intended to illustrate the competitive advantages of Michelin tires in media outlets around the world."

The worldwide campaign initially launched in the United States in early October and then will gradually be deployed in 55 countries – in Europe and Asia in early 2010, followed by Africa, the Middle East, India and South America.

They also designed a new US site for the brand:

above: the home page of the new site.

According to Adweek, the fourth quarter advertising effort cost $20 million.

Credits:
Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day New York
Chairman & CCO: Mark Figliulo
ACD/Art Director: Anthony DeCarolis
ACD/Copywriter: Erik Fahrenkopf
Executive Producer Media Arts: Matt Bijarchi
Director of Broadcast Production: Ozzie Spenningsby
Senior Producer: Jason Souter
Production: Psyop, New York
Director: Psyop
Creative Director: Marie Hyon/Marco Spier
Executive Producer: Lucia Grillo
Senior Producer: Lydia Holness
Producer: Lisa Munoz
Lead Designers: Anh Vu, Helen Choi
Designers: Kitty Lin, Jaye Kim, Ben Chan, Pete Sickbert-Bennett
Lead Technical Director: Tony Barbieri
Lead CG Animator: Pat Porter
CG Animators: Gooshun Wang, Royce Wesley, Kevin Phelps, Michael Shin, Angelo Collazo, Russ Wooton
Lead Ligthing TD: Anthony Patti
CG Lighters: Cody Chen, Szymon Weglarski, Helen Choi, Jeff Chavez
CG Modelers: Soo Hee Han, Tom Cushwa, Rie Ito, Tony Jung, Dan Fine
CG Rigging: Goo-shun Wang, Stanley Llin, Jordan Blit
FX: Miguel Salek, Jonah Friedman
Lead Compositor: Jason Conradt
Compositors: Manu Gaulot, Gabriel Regentin

Editorial: Psyop
Editor: Cass Vanini

Mix: Sound Lounge
Sound Engineer – Philip Loeb

Sound Design: Sound Lounge
Sound Designer- Marshall Grupp
Producer: Martia Guinn

Music: Human
Composer: Human
Executive Producer: Lauren Bleiweiss

Say It With Jewelry. Heather Belle's Post-It Bracelets.

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +0000

I ordinarily don't blog about gold-plated jewelry, since, personally, I'm a bit of a jewelry snob. However, these fun "Post-It" bracelets by Heather Belle Co. would make great stocking stuffers.

The collection consists of 6 different words (be nice, help, listen, smile, stop, and why?) embossed on a matte gold-plated hexagon which is strung on dyed leather. There's a cuff and multi charm bracelet as well.

The individual bracelets sell for $65.00 a piece but she also offers them as a trio or a complete set of the six for a discount.

And the cuff, also 14k gold-plated on leather, sells for $225.00:

And for $275.00 you can get the gold-plated Post-It Chic bracelet:

In Heather's own words:
Family, humor, provocative thoughts, classic style and human expression are just a few of the ingredients that I use to push myself to reach beyond the obvious. I admire anyone who can reframe current thinking and create something new.

Pablo Picasso is one of those people. He once said, “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” This idea resonated with me and inspires me to see “art and truth” in different aspects of life, including fashion and accessories.

My love of design sparked the desire to create h.belle. I’m excited about the launch of this collection, titled “Post – it”. Why Post-it? Because I live a “post-it” life. It must be genetic because my brother has “call mom” tattooed on his hand. I’m actually scared of needles, but, like him, I’ve always needed daily reminders to keep me on track and get me through the day.

above collage by Heather Belle

Originally influenced by Ed Ruscha, I started painting my reminders a while back, such as the one I named Breathe (remembering to breathe, although obvious to most, is tricky for me). I can’t carry my paintings with me everyday. They’re far too heavy and not the most fashionable accessory strapped to my back and paper post-its aren’t much sexier. Well, maybe two of them used as a bikini top, but then they would get wet and it would quickly turn X-rated.

My childhood values add to the mix. Simply helping myself is not what ultimately does it for me. It’s that rare mix of impacting the world, changing someone’s day for the better, creating something beautiful and connecting to our humanness that motivates me. So, it’s with pride (and a little fear) that I present to you h.belle by Heather Belle.

I hope it inspires in you in ways I can’t imagine and makes you smile.

All the best, Heather Belle

Shop for the Post-It jewelry here.

Designer Dough: Pane Quotidiano No. 5

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

above: detail from Pane Quotidiano No. 5, Flamboyant issue n#1

The online magazine Flamboyant, is a super fun read. Chock full of humor, style, art, design and fashion, the magazine is presented as an online flip book that is both inspiring and entertaining. And full of eye candy. If you've never checked it out, you should.

In their present issue (confusingly referred to as number 1, this is actually their second issue - the first issue, n#0, was named Flowers n' Icons), the "Hate" issue, there's one editorial in particular I thought my readers would find extra enjoyable.

The editorial is titled Pane Quotidiano No.5 (a nod to CHANEL No. 5) and features bread as if it were designed by fashion brands Louis Vuitton, CHANEL, Burberry, Valentino, Comme des Garçons, Hermes, Vivienne Westwood and Maison Martin Margiela... complete with designer hang tags.

If you are at all familiar with the signatures of these brands, such as the specific colors (like Hermes orange), styles (MMM's predilection toward all-white) or patterns (like Burberry's famous Nova Check), these are particularly amusing.

Here are the spreads along with detailed close -ups:

Louis Vuitton:

detail:

Hermes:

detail:

Burberry:

detail:

CHANEL:

detail:

Valentino:

detail:

Vivienne Westwood:

detail:

Maison Martin Margiela (MMM):

detail:

Comme des Garçons:

detail:

credits:
Concept by Andrea Boschetti,
Photos by Paolo Pizzetti
Artwork by Ivo Bisignano

Cover of Flamboyant n#1 - the hate issue:

Flamboyant magazine

M112 PODS & Mini Modern Furnishings By Paris Renfroe

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Paris Renfroe established Paris Renfroe Design in San Francisco California in the summer of 2002. Since then he has worked with numerous clients in the San Francisco Bay area, as well as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul areas.

Influenced by Mid Century Modernism, he considers himself an 'Industrial Modernist'. Much of his work consists of custom furniture, built-ins, closets, storage, and space planning. He specializes in affordable, modern furniture with clients ranging from young professional Urbanites to Empty Nesters relocating to the urban city.

above: Paris Renfroe of Paris Renfroe Designs

But that's not all he does. Much to my great joy, I discovered he has created a line of miniature container pods called M112 PODS, based on the growing popularity of abandoned shipping containers being used as a resource in green housing and construction.

We've seen modern architectural miniatures and dollhouses. Lord knows, I've written several posts on them ( Peter Tucker's roomboxes, Mark Turpin's architectural models, Gideon Bing's Bauhaus models for Resene, Kathy Osborn's miniature bauhaus dollhouse, and the replica of Arne Jacobsen's Villa as dollhouse), but this is the first time I've seen a miniature container pod, and these custom ones by Paris Renfroe do not disappoint!

Available in white, orange, baby blue, apple green, yellow, grey or a special rust finish, the M112 PODS have these standard features:

* Baltic birch interior ceiling, walls, and floor
* Window wall with frosted upper and lower sections
* Two bypassing sliding panel clear doors for easy access
* One solid sliding panel door
* Port hole in floor and ceiling for stacking and roof access
* Metal tube rung ladder to upper port hole

The M112 PODS are sold unfurnished, but as you will see later in this post, Paris also designs and sells miniature furnishings like leaning wall mirrors, wall art, coffee tables, chairs, beds and more.

Standard dimensions: 20” L x 8” W x 8 ½” H (available in 40” length for an additional $100.00)
Standard colors $175.00 each: Apple Green, Blue Sky, White, Orange, Grey
Special finishes $250.00 each: Natural Rust
Available in custom colors, interiors, and configurations. Slight variations may occur – each unit is hand constructed, finished, and signed by the artist.

Prices are per unit and do not include taxes, shipping or handling. Allow 2-3 weeks delivery for standard units. Custom units may take longer for delivery.

Now, tons of photos for you:

Rust Finish:

Orange:

Yellow:

Grey, white, yellow and apple green:

white and baby blue:

The following images are from the Herman Miller Grand Opening for their Culver City store which commissioned these from Paris Renfroe for the event:

The window wall with frosted sections serves as one of the ends of the container:

The metal tube ladder that leads to the porthole entry, which can be closed off with a pivoting piece of plexi:

The little modern chairs you see in many of the pods are by REAC japan, but Paris also designs and sells his own miniature custom furnishings like the ones shown below:

See his miniature furnishings for sale here.

PRD is currently operating his business from St. Paul, Minnesota, but will soon be relocating to the Las Vegas area.

Please visit his website at www.parisrenfroedesign.com, to see some of his full scale designs.

Snoopy Dons Designer Duds For Japan's Fashion Week, But It's Not The First Time.

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

For Tokyo Fashion Week and Snoopy's 60th Birthday year, designers displayed the plush pup clad in couture.

Snoopy will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, 2010, and as a kick-off event to celebrate the anniversary, original costume designs for Snoopy by Japan Fashion Week participating designer, G.V.G.V. and global brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Balenciaga DVF, Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chloé were exhibited at Time & Style, Galleria 3F in Tokyo Midtown from October 22nd to 29th. The event was cosponsored by the Design Association NPO, United Media K.K.

Bloggers, facebookers, twitterers and online mags are going crazy sharing the images of CHANEL and Hermes-clad Snoopy, but this isn't new news, or even new designs. Apparently, Snoopy doesn't wear things just once.

above: The CHANEL Snoopy and Belle at the 2004 Snoopy In Fashion show in Japan

above: the 2004 Snoopy In Fashion show in Japan

What most people don't realize is these outfits for the beloved Peanuts® comics dog, Snoopy, and his sister, Belle, aren't new. In 2004 there was a large Snoopy In Fashion show in Japan where the CHANEL Snoopy and tons of others appeared. Even multiple books were published of the event, but are no longer in print.

While most bloggers got their five images of Snoopy and his sister Belle clad in luxe fashion, from the post WWD, they only had five. Here's more of them for you from this year's Japan fashion Week along with a bunch from the 2004 Snoopy In Fashion show (courtesy of webshots member kathysui).

The Snoopy in Fashion show then traveled all over sponsored by Met Life and appeared at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NY in 2007.

Resurrected for Japan Fashion Week, here are some of the ones shown in Tokyo:

G.V.G.V.:

Balenciaga:

Hermes:

Chloé:

Karl Lagerfeld:

Givenchy:

Diane von Furstenberg:

Jean-Paul Gaultier:

above photos courtesy of Yukie Kasuga and beatrice

Now a look at 17 more Snoopy fashions from Marimekko to Missoni taken at the 2004 Snoopy In Fashion Show by Kathysiu (photos altered for better visibility):

Andrea Kim:

Bill Blass:

CHANEL:

Chantal Thomas:

Diane Von Furstenberg:

Eileen West:

Enrico Coveri:

Fendi:

Guy Laroche:

Hermes:

Issey Miyake:

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (JCDC):

L.L.Bean:

Marimekko:

Missoni:

Oleg Cassini:

Popy Moreni:

I'm sure come 2010, we'll be seeing a lot more of Snoopy.

Brangelina's "Protector Collection" For Asprey To Benefit Charity.

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Photo of brad and angelina: © Rex;photo of snake cuff, Asprey

The 'Protector Collection' is a series of fine jewelry for both children and adults as well as sterling silver baby gifts, all incorporating a snake motif.

According to Asprey, during Jolie's first pregnancy with Shiloh in 2006, she was given a snake ring, intended to guard her and her unborn child. The symbol has become a family guardian to the Jolie-Pitts, and in the Protector Collection, it appears in everything from fine jeweled bracelets to rings, earrings and pendants available for both children and adults.

The collection, all of which is shown here, has been meticulously created with Asprey by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to benefit a charity close to their hearts. The limited collection of fine jewels and silver objects was inspired by Angelina's reflection on the snake as an iconic guardian, a cultural symbol of family protection. All net proceeds will be donated to the Education Partnership For Children of Conflict (EPCC).

The child's Protector bangle bracelets come in yellow, white or 18k rose gold and feature two snakes with emerald cabochon eyes. Available with either two emerald cabochon eyes totalling .06 carats only or the more ornate style set with 0.76ctw of diamonds and 0.22 ctw of emeralds.

above: Child's bangle bracelet in 18k yellow gold with diamonds totaling 0.76 carats and emerlads totalling .022 carats

above: Child's protector bangle in yellow or rose 18k gold an set with 2 emerald cabochon eyes, each .03 carats.

The Child/adult gem sprinkled pendants and rings feature 104 fully faceted cut stones as small as one millimeter each, set in white, yellow or rose 18k gold.

Two adult-sized fine diamond and emerald gem encrusted snake bangle bracelets are set in platinum. The single curled snake opens with a hinge clasp, the two entwined snakes bangle is solid but flexible.

The Child/ Adult earrings are set with 154 individual stones and use the snake's tail as both a design element and the fitting that secures the earring:

The rings are flush set with emerald cabochon eyes and black or white diamonds portray the 'scales':

In addition to gem encrusted versions of the rings, pendants and earrings, styles are available with just emerald eyes and in 18k yellow, rose or white gold:

The Protector Collection also includes a sterling silver baby spoon, egg cup, birth certificate holder and tooth box, all with the snake motif. According to some reports, a silver snake photo frame is also part of the collection, but it's not yet on the Asprey site.

Sterling silver baby spoon:

Sterling silver egg cup:

Sterling silver birth certificate holder:

This is not the first time Brad has taken a whack at being a jewelry designer. You may recall that years ago, when he was married to Jennifer Aniston, he designed their supposedly 'one of a kind' wedding bands with Damiani who then continued to sell the band style, were threatened with a $50 million dollar lawsuit by Pitt and Aniston, and settled by selling a line designed by Brad that including an inscription explaining that they were designed with Brad Pitt:

The individual pieces in The Protector Collection are limited editions and handcrafted at the Asprey London flagship store, 167 New Bond Street. Each silver piece carries the 5 quality hallmarks applied by the London Assay Office. The pieces were be available beginning 17th November 2009.

Brangelina has been very generous to the EPCC. which Angelina co-founded in 2006. In June of 2008, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict announced that the Jolie-Pitt Foundation made a $1 million contribution to support the education of 8,000 young people from both the United States and Iraq impacted by the recent conflict. The donation supported four organizations who work to help provide education and support to both children who have lost parents, homes, and schooling opportunities in Iraq as well as young people in the United States who are coping with the long deployment, injury, or even the death of a parent serving in the United States Armed Services.

all images and info courtesy of Asprey , the National Jeweler's Network and WWD

Asprey

For The 420-Friendly Fashionista; Silk Marijuana Scarves by Peckham Rye

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Reflecting the humor of British style, Peckham Rye (cockney rhyming slang for tie) is a collection of slim blade ties in printed, woven and knitted silk, 'Cockney Chokers', slim tubular scarves in eccentric paisleys and luxurious handmade silk scarves, uniquely lined in spun silk.

Brand new are these three limited edition scarves, designed exclusively for 20ltd., adorned with marijuana leaves in white on green, white on brown or blue on gold.

Made of spun silk & woven silk, the marijuana leaf scarves are available in only 15 editions of each.

No. of editions: 15
Delivery Time: Immediate
buy them here.
(all images and info courtesy of 20ltd)

Wanna see some other super hip silk scarves? For the ladies in your life?

Be sure to check out the Unruly Scarves here.

I Vant To Buy Your House. Twilight: New Moon Cullen Mansion For Sale.

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The five bedroom, four bathroom Vancouver house that serves as the Cullen vampire family's home in the highly anticipated movie Twilight: New Moon is now for sale for $3.82 million.

Yes, the actual home in which Robert Pattinson skulked around sexily in the second movie, which opens Nov. 20, in the franchise. Not to be confused with the stunning Hoke residence by Skylab Architecture that served as the Cullen home for the first movie, which is also worth a look.

You can even view a glimpse of the home in a spy photo from the soon to be released movie here.

The home is a stunning contemporary post and beam design with an open floor plan, a long private drive, a koi pond, outdoor swimming pool, professional chef's kitchen and beautiful wood framed clerestory and picture windows that fill the large spaces with light. Cherry wood cabinetry and two fireplaces are just a few of the impressive touches.

The following images and information are courtesy of the listing agent, Jason Soprovich

Features

* Arthur Erickson Inspired
* Exquisitely Renovated by Brian Hemingway
* Post Modern Design
* 1/2 Acre Estate
* Sparkling Outdoor Pool and Hot Tub
* Open Plan of Living
* Beautifully Remodeled

Dimensions
Kitchen 14'0 x 16'6
Eating Area 10'0 x 16'6
Entrance Hall 13'0 x 6'0
Hobby Room 29'6 x 14'0
Dining 11'6 x 9'0

Main Floor Dimensions
Family Room 12'0 x 16'6
Living Room 43'6 x 24'0
Master Bedroom 16'6 x 16'0
Den 28'0 x 12'0
Walk-In Closet 11'6 x 8'0

Below Dimensions
Bedroom 15'6 x 12'0
Bedroom 12'0 x 11'6
Bedroom 11'6 x 10'0
Bedroom 14'0 x 10'0
Laundry 10'6 x 6'0

Interior Specifications
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4
Full Baths: 2
Half Baths: 2
# Kitchens: 1
Total Rooms: 15
Finished Levels: 3
Fireplaces: 2 Wood
Interior Floor Area (SqFt)
Above Main: 1787.0
Main Floor: 2133.0
Below Main: 1197.0
Basement: 0.0
Grand Total: 5117

Lot Size (SqFt)
Lot Size: 24001.56
Frontage: 0.0
Depth: 20690 SF

The home is being shown and offered, strictly by appointment only, by Jason Soprovitch Luxury Properties of Vancouver.

New Modern Dollhouse is a Reproduction Of Arne Jacobsen's Own 1928 Villa

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

I suppose it's the combination of being a female, a wannabe architect and having a predilection for modern design that makes me somewhat obsessed with modern dollhouses.

Whenever I come across a new one, which is rare and infrequent since the discontinuance of the Bozart Kaleidoscope Dollhouse, I get very excited.

So, when I saw that Inhabitots mentioned a new dollhouse by Minimii that is a small scale reproduction of the world famous architect Arne Jacobsens' Villa in Charlottenlund, I simply had to investigate further.

Of course, I'm going to provide you with images of the dollhouse AND the original house that inspired it... because... well, that's what I do.

While other blogs and magazines are excitedly reporting that the house can be purchased... truth is, production of the item has been delayed due to lack of investment capital. They continue to be optimistic about planning to offer the house prior to the summer of 2010 and are hoping for a retail price below 1200.00 USD. I certainly hope so because this is one cool dollhouse.

The dollhouse exterior:

Exterior photos of the original Arne Jacobsen house:

Comparing the details of the original house to that of the dollhouse:

As Inhabitots reported, "the house was designed by Linda Stenberg and Claus Hojer Hansen, the Danish creative directors of Minimii and features a roof and four walls that may be mounted and dismounted, allowing more children to play at once. A small collection of designer furniture (Egg and Swan chairs courtesy of Fritz Hansen) as well as tiny commissioned modern art pieces, and many more chic amenities which stay in place via magnets.

Stenberg and Hojer Hansen will furnish the dollhouse with the aforementioned furniture, as well as Vipp trash cans, an exclusive miniature art piece by artist Poul Pava, kids play furniture from Bobles, kitchens and bathrooms from Design by Us, and lighting from Normann Copenhagen! They are also collaborating with the famous doll maker, Maileg, to create the very fortunate, design savvy family who will live in the miniature Jacobsen home.

In addition to providing kids with an amazing dollhouse and all the furnishings, the Minimii team offers, “We want to talk to adults who have an interest in design and who see the dollhouse as a design object in itself.”

above: Minimii creative directors Linda Stenberg and Claus Hojer Hansen

Dollhouse interiors:

Architectural plans of the original Arne Jacobsen Villa located at Gotfred Rodes Vej 2, in Charlottenlund:

I really hope they meet their goals because I'm dying for one of these as well as the miniature versions of the Arne Jacobsen Ant, Egg and Swan chairs that fit within it, also produced by Minimii:

Please don't let this go the way of the Bozart Kaleidoscope Dollhouse, if you are interested in being an investor, contact them at:
Claus Højer Hansen, partner, managing director: +45 2812 1383 claus.hansen@minimii.com
Linda Stenberg, partner, creative director: +45 2084 2009 linda.stenberg@minimii.com

Shanghai Tang Holiday Catalog's Balloon Art Will Leave You Breathless

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

... and that's without your having to blow up the thousands of balloons used in the catalog.

Every year retail companies scramble together around mid-june to start concepting and designing catalogs for the holiday season. It's hard to keep them fresh, original and memorable. But Shanghai Tang, the chinese lifetyle brand, has done it yet again.

Teaming up with Chandelier Creative, the cutting edge design firm (who has produced other fabulous holiday catalogs for them in the past) they've produce a 2009 holiday catalogue inspired by the whimsical world of balloon art. It's amazing what they've done in terms of styling stunning backgrounds and unusual product shots, photographed by talented product photographer Kanji Ishii, with simple colored balloons.

These are not all the images from the actual catalog, nor are they in order, but these are my favorites and I think you'll find them inspiring:

In addition to a beautiful catalog, Shanghai Tang's gifts are equally as fabulous, shop for them here.

To see other impressive balloon art and design, check these out:

A Photographer Who Is Full Of Hot Air: Paul Graves' Balloon Sculpture Series
Paul Graves' Newest Work - Balloon Expletives & More

Gucci's 2009 Collection To Benefit Unicef

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Once again, Gucci designs a special collection to benefit Unicef. Last year it was the White Heart Tattoo collection of products and this year, the collection is inspired by author and Illustrator Michael Robert's children's Book, Snowman In Africa.

This years' collection has fewer products than last year; two fabulous fun handbags (one featuring the elephant pattern, the other the snowman wrapped in a boa constrictor) , a small wristlet hand bag and a coin purse -both in the elephant patterns, three keychains, a special gift card and of course, the book.

As in the past, this year’s initiative centers around the holiday period promotion of an original collection of items designed by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini to be exclusively sold in over 200 Gucci stores worldwide and on Gucci.com.

For the 2009 Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF, Frida Giannini has commissioned acclaimed author and illustrator Michael Roberts to create a sequel to his highly successful children's book, Snowman in Paradise, which was published in 2004.

Illustrations from the book:

The new book, titled Snowman in Africa, will be exclusively on sale in Gucci stores and on Gucci.com from November 16-December 31, 2009 with a retail price of USD $25. Gucci will donate 100% of the retail price of the book to UNICEF.

Concurrent with the launch of Snowman in Africa in-store, Giannini has also designed exclusive Gucci accessories as well as a Gucci Gift Card to benefit UNICEF, all of which are inspired by Michael Roberts’ magical illustrations featured in the book.

Two new medium sized Gucci Joy handbags feature Roberts’ distinctive and whimsical illustrations in a rich appliqué version and a sportier print version:

Symbolic charms representing characters from the book act as key rings or add-on charms to any accessory.

The collection also features a playful, animated print on small leather goods, including a wrist wallet and coin purse.

New for this year's campaign is the launch of a special edition Gift Card benefiting UNICEF, which ranges in value from $50 - $5,000 USD, again featuring inspiring illustrations from the book.

Frida Giannini said, “Michael Roberts did not hesitate for a moment when I invited him to collaborate on our 5th anniversary project to benefit UNICEF. His children's books are magical and he has touched so many people with his brilliant artistry. Now with his wonderful Snowman in Africa, we are able to continue making a difference to the many children whose lives will improve because of UNICEF's great work.”

The Joy Bags, charms, small leather goods, and Gift Cards will all be on sale in Gucci stores in over 20 countries from November 16 to December 31, 2009, and 25% of the retail price of each item will be donated to UNICEF.

Michael Roberts commented, "When the Snowman traveled to a tropical isle in 2004 in Snowman in Paradise, it was supposed to be his first and only voyage. But thanks to Gucci and UNICEF the Snowman has the opportunity to ride again and is now off to Africa. It is particularly appropriate that Gucci, an Italian company, is involved in his latest adventure, as the initial Snowman idea was born at a friend’s house in Venice over Christmas 2001.”

above: Michael Roberts' first book,Snowman in Paradise

The annual Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF has consistently supported education, healthcare, protection and clean water programs for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. In this highly active five-year period, Gucci has succeeded in committing over $7 million to UNICEF. This significant sum is a testament to the increased scale and scope of the company’s support, and has resulted in Gucci’s current status as the largest corporate donor to UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” campaign. “Schools for Africa” aims to increase access to quality basic education for all children, with a special emphasis on helping the most disadvantaged—girls, orphans, children living in extreme poverty and other vulnerable children. In past campaigns, Gucci funds have focused on Malawi and Mozambique, and this year Gucci will add support for a third country, South Africa. In these three countries, over 2.3 million children have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"Gucci's collaboration with UNICEF has produced important results in the last five years, thanks ultimately to the interest and enthusiasm of our customers,” remarked Gucci CEO Patrizio di Marco. "We are proud of what has been achieved so far and are committed to ensuring that this partnership continues to be the foundation for our humanitarian efforts worldwide."

"For most of Africa's children -- particularly orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS -- education represents a way out of a life of entrenched poverty” said Nichole Brown, UNICEF Chief of Corporate and Foundation Fundraising “By providing children with access to a quality education in a safe and protective environment, we are building better lives for not only these children, but future generations as well."
(all images courtesy of Gucci)

Gucci
Unicef

Some Sweet Rides From the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Each Christmas, Neiman Marcus comes out with their hefty Christmas Book, filled with drool worthy fashion and gifts for the holiday season. This year's is no exception and is filled with alternative forms of transportation to get your motor running.

above: The cover appears to be the work of Yulia Brodskya

The most chichi gifts include exclusive versions of the Mission One Electric Motorcycle, A special Jaguar Supercharged XJL, The ICON A5 Aircraft, complete with pilot training for two and the sweetest, literally, which is also the silliest..... The electric Cupcake Car.

The Cupcake Car

First introduced at Burning Man and Maker's Faire a few years ago, The Cupcake Car, an electric vehicle built (baked?) for one by Bay Area designer Lisa Pongrace is definitely this year's most odd item in the annual Marcus Neiman Christmas Book.

For $25,000, you can have your own 24 electric volt vehicle that tops out at a sweet and safe 7 miles per hour. And you can have it made in your choice of flavors...er, I mean colors.
buy it here.

For those who prefer a less fattening ride, there's a limited-edition Mission One electric motorcycle for $73,000 or an Icon A5 airplane — complete with training for two people — for $250,000. Both of which I have blogged about before.

The Mission One Electric Motorcycle

The clean, pure ride you’ve been waiting for is here, with 150 mph of quiet, gorgeous power. Say “Hi” to the Mission One, the world’s fastest electric sport bike. It debuted at this year’s TED Conference to rave reviews—and giddy celebrity pre-orders. What it isn’t: another lame-tech exercise in green disappointment. What it is: the official obsolescence of internal combustion cycling. Crank it up to 150 with an amazing 100 ft-lbs. of instantaneous torque at every speed.

With zero carbon emissions, the ear-splitting tailpipes and planet-killing exhaust are history. Its liquid-cooled AC induction motor and single-gear transmission also eliminate the distraction of shifting. There’s no need for a gas tank, with a next-generation lithium-ion battery pack that runs a full 150-mile range between charges. Use the interactive interface (just like pro racing teams use) to collect data on your laptop, adjust the throttle maps and tweak the regenerative braking system to suit your riding style.

The amazing profile and clean lines are from world-renowned designer Yves Behar. Our exclusive edition is limited to just 10 bikes tricked out with numbered NM plaques, exclusive wheels, and a special paint job. Come to San Francisco to meet your bike and the people who designed it. You’ll get one-on-one training with a pro on a test track, learning the nuances of handling for optimal performance.

For more information on the Mission One Motorcycle, please visit http://www.ridemission.com or see my post on it here.

The Amphibious Icon A5 Aircraft, trailer and training for 2:

Exclusive 2009 His & Hers gift package: the game-changing ICON A5 sports aircraft. It’s from a world-class team of engineers and designers who helped create the groundbreaking Virgin® Global Flyer and X Prize®-winning SpaceShipOne® (among other things). It’s been rigorously tested, meets or exceeds all FAA standards, production is about to begin, and the waiting list is stacking way up.

Some of the features:
1) An amphibious hull and landing gear to take off and land just as easily on water as on land.
2) The ability to run on automotive gasoline or aviation fuel.
3) A sexy, streamlined two-seat interior with intuitive controls, including
4) FAA-approved flight instrumentation and
5) a state-of-the-art GPS system, so you don’t get lost.
6) A range of 345 land miles or 300 nautical miles.
7) A next-generation lightweight carbon fiber frame.
8) Spy-movie wings that rotate up and fold back out of the way.
9) Removable side windows to dangle your arms out into the wind and sun.
10) A custom, high-tech trailer for fast and easy loading and unloading from land or water.

Your package includes one ICON A5 sport aircraft with NM exclusive exterior and interior luxury upgrades, a custom trailer, and full FAA-certified Sport Pilot License training for two. Load “your” song onto an MP3 player and slip it into the dashboard dock and there it is, the perfect way to float through the clouds, just the two of you.

For more information on the ICON A5, please visit www.iconaircraft.com or see my post on it here.

The 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition:

Especially designed for NM, only 50 will ever exist. The all-new frame is pressure cast from aluminum and magnesium to give the XJL a strong, light architecture that improves fuel efficiency and structural rigidity. The new panoramic safety-glass roof provides a tremendous sense of spaciousness in the cabin and an amazing view for every trip. The powertrain? A new third-generation supercharged 5-liter V8 that delivers 470 horsepower. The Jaguar Sequential ShiftTM six-speed ZF automatic transmission adapts to its driver, with wheel-mounted shift paddles and Sport, Standard, and Winter modes.

Instead of dull dials, there’s an interactive 12.3" high-def screen to display all the pertinent info in your line of vision. An integrated navigation and entertainment system is at your fingertips to access audio, Bluetooth® 2.0, hard-drive based GPS navigation, and climate control systems via touch screen or by speaking your commands into the Interactive Voice™ system. There’s a media hub with docks for MP3 players and USB devices, a Bowers & Wilkins® 1,200-watt premium sound system with Dolby® ProLogic® IIx Surround Sound and an aural-inspiring 20 speakers throughout the cabin.

Massaging front seats, electric sun blind, heated steering wheel, four-zone climate control, integrated security system and more.

The Neiman Marcus edition also features an exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint outside and the NM nameplate on the custom interior intaglio, of course. Dazzling 20" double-10 spoke polished alloy wheels complete the exterior. Inside, there’s a custom interior of butter-soft navy and ivory leather and Zebrano matte wood accents.

Other refined details of the automotive masterpiece include illuminated tread plates and trunk finisher. They even throw in a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage, in navy blue leather.
Price? $105,000.00

Visit www.jaguarusa.com/neimanmarcus for all the details.

Also worth noting:
While it won't get you from point A to point B, this gift is really amazing.

A $200,000 dinner; The Algonquin Rountable Experience, that lets you break bread with this list of accomplished literati: Christopher Buckley, Roz Chast, Delia Ephron, Nora Ephron, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Gopnik, Lewis H. Lapham, John Lithgow, Anna Deavere Smith, George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth learn more about that here..

most images and item information courtesy of Neiman Marcus. Additional photos courtesy of Icon Aircraft and Mission One

Animate Your Christmas With 2009 Alessi Figurines

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

This is the third year that designer Massimo Giacon has designed sweet little magical Christmas porcelain figurines for Alessi. With some additions to the line and some changes (e.g. the nativity scene went from white to red and has individuals characters you can add), they are still one of the cutest ways to add some whimsy to your holiday.

All the figures are made of white porcelain and subsequently decorated by hand, occasionally with the help of decalcomania. Their sizes match those in the previous collection, so if you already own some, these will fit right in!

Here's the new Alessi figurines for 2009, plus a candy dish and 2 new plates:

New Nativity:

3 Wise Men, Salvatore, la signora Acqua and 2 sheep:

The Hugging Tree:

The Christmas Hug Plates:

The candy dish/pastry plate:

The Alessi Christmas collection from 2008:

And the Alessi original Christmas Collection from 2007:

Buy any or all of them here at Unica Home (as long as they are still available!)

Come Rain Or Shine, Here's Fun Design. Color Changing Umbrellas From Squid London

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Viviane Jaeger and Emma-Jayne Parkes of Squid London have designed a line of umbrellas made with a special white ink that turns colored when exposed to water. These umbrellas (or Squidellas) make a piece of art out of a utilitarian product that makes walking in the rain a sort of performance art.

They now have four different umbrellas; the iconic London Skyline one, one commissioned exclusively for the Tate, one whose proceeds benefitted a charity), and the final one for Suck UK.

Here's a video of them in action:

The Bird Squit, London Skyline, Squidarella (Paint Drips) and Clouds each retails for £25 ($42.00 USD) and all are sold at different places (but I have the links for you to buy each here in this post).

1. Color-Changing Bird Squit Umbrella:
A portion of whose proceeds go to support ChildReach International, a UK charity aimed at fighting child poverty in developing countries

Bird Squit (dry):

Bird Squit (wet):

buy it here.

2. Color Changing London Skyline Umbrella:
London Skyline (dry):

London Skyline (wet):

buy it here

3. Color-Changing Paint Drip Umbrella:
made exclusively for the Tate museum

Paint Drip (dry):

Paint Drip (wet):

buy it here.

4. Color-Changing Clouds Umbrella:

buy it here.

Squid London

Hate the rain? Then this might be a better umbrella for you:
Art Lebedev's'Fuck The Rain' Umbrella

Karim Rashid's Exclusive Beds For Hollandia; Sphere & Glow

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Hollandia International has partnered with one of the most progressive and acclaimed designers in the world, Karim Rashid, a leading figure in the fields of product, interior, fashion, furniture, lighting design and art.

The world-renowned designer, who has already designed tons of other modern beds, furniture, tech, package design, lighting, dishes... well, basically everything you can think of, created two beds for the industry lauded Israeli mattress and sleep system company; The Sphere bed and The Glow bed.

The Sphere Bed:

The Sphere brings a whole new dimension to experiential bedroom living. Recently unveiled in Moscow to rave and exciting reviews, this custom-made bed not only features the exclusive Hollandia advanced sleep system amenities of plush comfort, adjustability and soothing massage, but also includes:

• 32" Colored Television (Theater System is optional)
• Covered LED Florescent canopy-top lights
• Outside back vanity mirror
• Champagne holder
• Color and fabric of choice

price? $50,000.00

The Glow Bed:

Combining form and function, Rashid’s forward-looking design entices the imagination. With clean lines and a creative choice of materials, this is a bed for the 21st century.

• High gloss finish available in four colors
• Sleek, modern and compact design
• Drawers for storage under bed and in headboard
• Cabinet doors in headboard that swing out to create side tables

Other high-end sleep systems from Hollandia include the following:

The Groove:

The Elite:

The Executive:

Visit Hollandia to learn more.

Molly-Meg. Modern Design For Children

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Molly-Meg of the UK is a company that is dedicated to bringing the best of 20th century and present design into the world of children. They specialize in modern iconic and vintage furnishings in scaled down sizes, for the hippest of children and their design-loving parents.

above: amongst their offerings are child-sized Rietveld and Bertoia chairs.

The majority of the products are chairs, ranging from classic vintage Danish wood furnishings to mid-century molded fiberglass chairs. Scouring the globe for hard to locate items and furnishings ranging from the 1950s to the present, they also carry classic and vintage toys and various design objects and decor.

Here are some of their presently stocked items:

Visit Molly-Meg, Design for Children to see more items and learn about their shipping policies.

There are other companies producing new miniature and scaled down versions of design classics, check out

Mature Style For Your Mini Me: Modern Furniture Design Classics for Kids

What You Will & Won't See Of Marcel Wanders' Christmas Collection For Target

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

You may have already heard about, or seen, the 2009 Holiday collection for Target by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. A designer with a sense of whimsy, excellent taste and style (and easy on the eyes to boot), I have blogged about him four times before, including his gorgeous Christmas collection and displays for the Dutch department store, Bijenkorf from last year.

This year, he lends his Christmas designs to Target. In his own words, here's the directive from the United States chain of stores: The brief asked for a modern and unexpected "Wanders" twist to the traditional holiday giving season. The concept behind the collection, "It's A Gift To Give" resulted in a holiday collection that reinterprets classic icons and plays with charming patterns, festive decorations, and distinctive designs with flair and style that will surprise and amaze guests all over the U.S., making it enjoyable to be the gifter or giftee.

But it's what you don't see at Target that is really spectacular. In addition to the items in the collection, I'm going to share with you some of his prototype designs for Target from his Inspiration Book. I'm also going to show you some of his sketches, fun 'extras' and photos of his work, some of which combine several of his pieces for Target with some of his pieces for Moooi and Droog.

What You Will See At Target:
First, the products that were produced and are presently being sold at Target consist of wrapping paper, a bell wreath and bell tree, flocked stockings and tree skirt, tableware, disposable tableware, pillar candles, some bar ware, a few vases, a teddy bear with light-up nose and a few other attractive, but inexpensive pieces of festive decor:

Shop for the above items and more from the collection at Target here.

When shopping online at Target, the Marcel Wanders collection, while appealing, is not incredibly impressive. The simple products on white backgrounds don't do the work of Mr. Wanders justice. For example, the products for Target, when placed against his signature flourishes, backgrounds and patterns in the four images below, take on a greater festive significance and style:

That's where his "Inspiration Book", a 314 page online flip catalog created by the Marcel Wanders Design Studio and Culture & Commerce. comes in. It is from this catalog that all of the following images come.

What You Won't See At Target:

Temporary lip tattoo:

Pattern Paint:

Helium Filled Flying Balloon Netted Chair designed to fly over the North Pole during Summer:

Faces Of The World Ornament:

Bobbleheads:

Still lives of his products for Target combined with his products for Droog, Mooi, Habitat and from his personal collections:

Pages from his sketchbook of Target products:

Rejected By Santa:

The Use... And Misuse Of Products:

The Marcel Wanders Paper Doll:

A special Christmas Edition of his VIP Chair produced by Moooi for Santa:

This is just a small sampling of the fun, inspiration and design process behind the Marcel Wander Collection for Target. There is so much more to enjoy, like I said, the Inspiration Book is 314 pages. See more here.

More Marcel Wanders:

•Marcel Wanders Designs a Regal Christmas Collection for Bijenkorf Department Store

•Marcel Wanders For Holland Electro: WOW

•Marcel Wanders' Carpets For Colorline: World Carpets & Tartan Collections

•Marcel, Mondrian & Miami: Wanders Designs Luxury Apt. Complex In Biscayne Bay.

PACT Organic Undies By Yves Behar Help Save The Planet

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

With six styles (12 variations) of underwear in three patterns; boxers, boxer briefs and briefs for men and thong, bikini and boy briefs for women, PACT donates 10% of their sales to three charitable organizations that are helping to save the planet.

Based in Berkeley, PACT's motto is CHANGE STARTS WITH YOUR UNDERWEAR. The purchase of PACT underwear is participation in a social movement: when you buy PACT underwear, you are supporting and encouraging organic cotton farmers, responsible labor practices, and businesses that form partnerships with nonprofit organizations dedicated to positive change in our world.

Designed By Yves Behar and his Fuse Project, the three patterns reflect the three causes and non-profit organizations they support: ocean conservation (Oceanic), forest conservation (Forest Ethics) and the mentoring and inspiring of our next generation of young writers (826 National).

This video was a collaboration between Terri Timely Studios and PACT. Terri Timely is the awarding-winning directing duo of Ian Kibbey and Corey Creasy:

styles for men

Boxers (shown in Forest):

Briefs (shown in Oceana)

Boxer Briefs (shown in 826 national):

styles for women

Boy Briefs (shown in Forest):

Thong (shown in Oceana):

Bikini (shown in 826 National):

Each of the six cuts and three patterns are also available in a neutral color with a simple accent of the pattern as shown in the image below:

The Production:
Beginning with the farmers and ending with the final package arriving at your door, PACT strives to be as environmentally and socially responsible as possible. The farmers and cotton pickers involved in the growing and harvesting of the organic cotton were paid a fair price for their product.

All fabric is dyed and printed using dyes and inks that are low-impact and free of heavy metals. Before it is shipped to PACT's fulfillment center in Illinois, every element that goes into making your PACT underwear - growing the cotton, processing and spinning it, knitting or weaving, dyeing and printing, and cutting and sewing the final garment - occurs within a 100-mile radius in Turkey.

PACT underwear is made of 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane to give it the perfect amount of stretch. While some underwear is 100% organic cotton, these garments tend to lose their shape quickly and have shorter lifespans - meaning more of them end up in landfills. A garment containing 5% elastane is still considered organic.

Nothing that is shipped to you - the underwear, fabric bags, or compostable shipping bag and labels - should end up in a landfill. They're hoping that by the time your PACT underwear is well-worn and you're ready to get rid of it, they'll have figured out a way to recycle it. They are constantly searching for innovative ideas about how to best accomplish the cradle-to-cradle goal and move away from the idea of consuming and then discarding.

The Causes:
For more information about ForestEthics and their essential work, visit www.forestethics.org
To learn more about 826 National and their programs, visit www.826national.org
For more information about Oceana and their campaigns, visit www.oceana.org

Who's Behind This:
PACT is the brainchild of two unlikely business partners who joined forces in the most unlikely of places. Jason Kibbey is a born-and-raised Berkeley leftie who started his own land conservation nonprofit, drives a Prius, and loves his bike(s). He also likes business: he helped start a few, and oddly began his career at Bain & Company. His wife sings opera; they don't own a television; and his dog gets acupuncture. Jeff Denby, on the other hand, was told that he was "too artsy for business school" when he showed up with multi-colored hair. A Facebook, texting, and Twitter addict who personifies young, fabulous, and broke, this wayward Canadian has shopped his way around the world. He definitely owns a television. (Otherwise, how would he watch all of that reality TV?)

The Designers:
Yves Behar and his design team at Fuse Project
Yves Behar is the founder of the San Francisco design studio fuseproject. Yves is focused on humanistic design and the "giving" element of his profession, with the goal of creating projects that are deeply in-tune with the needs of a sustainable future, connected with human emotions, and that enable self-expression.
all information images and videos courtesy of PACT.

Buy PACT Organic Underwear here.

The Top Modern Wood Christmas Trees For 2009

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Last year was the year for retro and flocked trees. Bright funky colored synthetic trees or tinsel and glitter trees were a big trend in 2008. This year, the flat packed wooden tree is a great alternative. Perhaps it's because of the economy, or the increasing awareness of the state of our environment, but alternatives to live spruce, pine and evergreens for the Christmas holiday seem to be sprouting up everywhere.

Usable year after year and supposedly more eco-friendly (there's some debate about that), the following trees are nicely designed by various companies, range in style, woods and price.

Many of them are already sold out, so if you want one, better shop quickly!

The Possibilitree:

PossibiliTree® wooden trees are made in Minnesota, produced as a family business venture. Our mission is to provide you with a beautiful and unusual art piece that functions as a natural alternative to a live or artificial Christmas tree. Each possibiliTree® wooden tree is handmade and distinct with its own color and grain pattern variations.

Available in either a 2ft tabletop, 3 ft. tabletop or 6 ft suspended version. Depending upon the size, the tree comes in a a variety of woods like birch, cherry, wild cherry, walnut or butternut, and arrives flatpacked.

The 2ft tabletop:

The 3ft tabletop:

The 6ft suspended:

The story behind this tree as told by the daughter of the designer:

My father, Richard Babcock, an architect who built furniture in his spare time, came up with a simple and non-messy alternative to real Christmas trees.

Tired of finding, hauling, displaying, watering and disposing of the bulky, needle-dropping, space-guzzling evergreen every Christmas, he designed two wooden trees to use instead. Dick’s first tree, life-size at 6 feet, suspends from the ceiling with a thin wire. The second, a 3 foot tabletop version, uses a base stand for support. Dick designed both to be easy to set up, take down and store compactly.

The suspended tree is a real show-stopper, appearing to float over wrapped presents. With track lighting strategically placed, it casts surprising and beautiful shadows in a room.

The tabletop tree is the perfect size to highlight favorite holiday ornaments. It can be used throughout the year, too—decorated for such celebrations as graduations, birthdays, and other holidays. The possibilities are boundless. I enjoy displaying both trees in my home without ornaments, as art.

In 2002, the suspended tree placed as a finalist in the national Hammacher Schlemmer Search for Invention® contest. Prompted by that recognition and our long-standing affection for the trees, my family speculated that others would value them as well. We patented the design and formed a business. Inspired by the open-ended ways to display the trees, we named our company possibiliTree LLC. We produce the 6ft suspended tree and the tabletop tree—now in 2ft and 3ft versions. PossibiliTree® wooden trees are made in Minnesota. When available, we use reclaimed or “deadfall” wood. -- Pat Babcock Sorenson, Artistic Director, possibiliTree LLC

buy them here.

Modern Tannenbaum Trees by Silver Cocoon:

Available in a 3ft tabletop or 6 ft standing floor version, this modern wooden dowel tree is designed by a company in Minneapolis named Silver Cocoon.

The table-top version or full-size tree have a tall tapered cedar trunk with basswood dowel branches - on an interlocking solid-cedar X-base. The tree dismantles easily for storage. Each tree is individually handmade with care. And yes, they sell the great wood ornaments as well.

buy the 3ft tall tabletop version at their etsy store or check these retailers for either size. Silver Cocoon

Buro North's Buro Trees:
Buro North's Three fabulous looking flat packed Christmas Trees; The Rindd, Gryder and Frigg:

The Buro Trees are made with 100% environmentally considered ingredients. To make the Buro Trees, a low-energy production technique has been used and waste material minimised.

The Trees can be flat-packed for ultimate transporting and storage convenience and lower transport emissions. So we’re not asking you  to give up your Christmas icon, we’re just offering a much more sustainable way to celebrate...

All three trees, the Rindd, Gryder and Frigg, take their inspiration from the three wives of pagan God Odin, the father of all gods in Norse mythology.

The Rindd:

The Gryder:

The Frigg:

Each is available in your choice of three different stains; natural, walnut or japan black as well as in various sizes. Buy any of them here.

The Rindd Buro Tree was the proud recipient of a Premiers Design award in 2008.
Büro North

Matteria Lasercut Eco-certified Birch Christmas tree:

Available in three sizes, this eco-certified laser cut birch wood tree comes in natural wood or stained green color. Comes flat-packed and is super easy to assemble.

The smallest measures 30cm tall (just under a foot tall):

The medium tree stands 60cm (just under 24" tall)

the largest, 120 cm (or 74.25"):

As an added bonus the manufacturer will plant 1 new tree for every small one sold, 3 new trees for every medium one sold and 5 new trees for every Large Christmas tree sold. They also sell the wonderful wood ornaments as well.
buy them here.

Muji Wooden Trees
Muji makes a tabletop wooden tree in 2 sizes as well:

buy them here.

Roost Driftwood Trees:

Available in 2 sizes, 24 " tall and 31" tall, these trees are crafted from actual Shoreline Driftwood and made by the home decor company, Roost.
buy them here.

Roost Lasercut Wooden Trees:

Not necessarily designed for Christmas, these three tabeltop wooden laser cut trees by Roost are beautiful. They also seem to be sold out at most places at the moment:

Roost

The X'Mas Wooden Tree by Sandra Lindner und Lindner im Norden:

A modern Christmas tree made from solid oiled larch by Sandra Linder. Each squared timber 1.5 X 1.5" has two drillings with metal sockets for the candles. Each arm has a different length. A central wooden pole lets you turn each arm individually, w 29/h 21.25".

This was a project and is not available for purchase.
lindnerimnorden.com

And some cardboard ones for those who want to spend a little less:

The Alpine tree from Cardboard Safari comes in white or natural, flatpacked and measures 12" x 26" inches:

buy the 2 ft tall Alpine Tree here.

And even smaller ones, The Snowflake Tree (with ornaments), that measure 9" x 14":

buy the Snowflake tree here.
And no messy pine needles to clean up!

Interested in modern wreaths, ornaments, nativity scenes, stockings and more holiday decor? Then check these out.

The House At Cannes: Modern Luxury In The South Of France

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The House at Cannes opened its doors in October 2008, the newest addition to the award winning The House at.. series of exclusive boutique retreats. The height of elegance and state-of-the-art design finds a natural home overlooking the Bay of Cannes in one of the world's most glamorous destinations.

In the heart of the city's beautiful Historic Conservation District, the 200 year old villa has been restored and renovated to the highest specifications, with bespoke touches inside and out. The villa, with its creamy facade and imposing entrance, sits regally in mature gardens of palm trees and scented blooms, with an impressive vista to the sea and is a mere ten minute walk to the famous Croisette and the Palais des Festivals.

The House at Cannes is the premier choice as a film location, venue for fashion shows, gala parties, conferences and product launches. As a holiday retreat, it offers the best in modern luxury, with every need catered to individual taste for an unforgettable holiday on the Cote D'Azur.

The House sleeps up to ten people in its five en-suite bedrooms, each with bespoke cabinets designed and built by Jason Maclean of Maclean Interiors and Yusef Haniffa.

Design is a key element of the House and we are delighted to be working again with British Fashion House Eley Kishimoto, who have developed one off screen prints and wallpapers exclusively for The House at Cannes.

Select areas of each wardrobe are lined with specially designed Eley Kishimoto prints, giving each room its own signature style.

All beds are dressed with fresh linen from The White Company, one of Britain's finest purveyors of luxury linen and accessories. With Sisal and wool flooring by Alternative Flooring, a leading supplier and specialist in design-led natural floors.

The House's living areas are the essence of comfort and style with a 10 seat tuft time sofa and a fully equipped kitchen and dining areas.

The bathrooms are the epitome of functional elegance, the best of British and Irish designers producing bathroom products under the moniker UsTogether have fitted the master bathroom with their ultra modern bathroom concept, the Ebb bathroom. The strikingly visual, flowing, structure of Ebb is akin to a floating ribbon linking each bathroom fixture.

The House at Cannes is proud to be the first property in the world to provide guests with this special bathing experience. (See a post on UsTogether and all their bathroom collections here)

All bathrooms are fully stocked with plush towels from The White Company as well as complimentary Kiehl's cleansing products and fitted with Vola and Boffi fixtures, including their innovative "pipe shower". This is a House for the discerning guest, with an appreciation for design and exceptional function.

The House at Cannes boasts a fifteen person screening room with a large flat screen TV and a working bar, as perfect for a private industry screening as a cozy night in.

For outdoor relaxation, barbecue and entertaining, the tiered gardens provide a refreshing outdoor setting surrounded by tropical palms and grasses and enclosed in natural bamboo fencing.

The kidney shaped pool and jacuzzi are intricately lined with exclusive flash print mosaic tiles from Eley Kishimoto in black and white and is fitted with an alarm for safety of younger guests.

Cannes-Mandelieu and Nice international airports are within 30 minutes from The House at Cannes. Alternatively, helicopters can be set at the rear of the Palais des Festivals.

Design and build:
Jason Maclean (Maclean Bespoke Interiors) / Yusef Haniffa (Hanridge Services)

all images and information courtesy of The House At...

Other individuals and companies who made The House at Cannes possible:
Eley Kishimoto
Chris Tubbs Photography
The White Company
Kiehl's
KitchenAid
Serge Mouille
Steidl
The Alternative Flooring Company
Robert Welch Designs
UsTogether

For additional information or booking enquiries, please contact Kle Savidge:
kle@thehouseat.com

Choo For You: Jimmy Choo Comes To H&M

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Exclusive no more, haute brand Jimmy Choo, best known for sexy high heels, is bringing his glamourous style to the masses with a collection of shoes, bags, belts, jewelry, outerwear and clothes for both women AND men to over 200 H&M stores worldwide beginning November 14th.

It is the first time that H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand, and to celebrate Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision for this collection to women’s clothing to complement the accessories.

“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection - the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!” Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo.

above : Margareta van den Bosch (left), creative advisor, H&M and Tamara Mellon (right), Founder and President, Jimmy Choo.

“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M.

Since its launch in 1996, Jimmy Choo has been such a phenomenal success that the brand name has become part of popular culture - say the words “Jimmy Choo”, and you know you mean shoes. In Hollywood, Jimmy Choo shoes have become a red-carpet essential, and have been worn at the Oscars by winners such as Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry and Hilary Swank among many other actresses. The famous Jimmy Choo shoes will be at the heart of the exclusive collection for H&M, but there’s more. Jimmy Choo has also become well known for its bags, and for H&M there will be a whole range of accessories to complete the look.

Not only will Jimmy Choo be providing the perfect shoes for the party season at H&M, it will also be offering the clothes and accessories to match, as well as dressing men from head to toe. The collection features details such as crystals, studs and animal prints that make Jimmy Choo such a pioneer in the world of accessories.

"The Jimmy Choo collection for H&M is full of fun, one-off items with an accessible and glamorous identity made with stylish materials, emphasized with color and embellishment. I wanted to create pieces that would reach a cool and young customer with a fashionable and independent sense of spirit in this one-off collaboration." Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo.

"This Autumn Jimmy Choo brings vitality and sexy glamour to H&M. I love the really high strappy sandals with lots of decoration and attitude, matched with clean-cut, 80s-inspired clothes. Designer Tamara Mellon always shows her amazing shoes with equally amazing clothes, and we wanted to offer our customers a complete collection - including men's shoes and clothes too. I think this collection suits anyone with a flair for fashion and high heels." Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

It’s a shoe-lovers dream. For H&M, Jimmy Choo will be providing every style you need to see you through the season. From high heels and thigh-high boots to gladiator flats and ballet pumps, all the Jimmy Choo classic designs are there, and Jimmy Choo pulls out all the stops to provide decoration for the feet.

There are crystal embellishments, studs, animal prints such as zebra, and accent colours of red and blue to give the shoes that real power. While glamour is the key to the skyscraper high heels, Jimmy Choo is also bringing a cropped Cuban-heel boot to H&M as well as the essential ballet pump to make it a truly complete collection.

The shoes are complemented by accessories, evening clutches and larger day bags, which are studded or fringed for the jet-set lifestyle. Belts are studded and wide, or long enough for a triple wrap. Choker necklaces, bracelets, cuffs and earrings echo the shoes perfectly.

The clothes collection has a gloss goth feel with one-shoulder dresses, jumpsuits, leather leggings and dresses covered in crystals, emphasised by a fake-fur gilet, sequined cardigans and embroidered tops.

For men, there will be a selection of ankle boots and bags, as well as a wardrobe of wool blazers, leather biker jackets, silk and cashmere mix sweaters, shirts and trousers:

To celebrate the launch, on November 3rd, Hollywood rolled out the red carpet to celebrate this collaboration, as Paris & Nicky Hilton, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Walsh, Olivia Wilde, Sheryl Crow, Cat Deeley, Angela Lindvall, Maggie Grace, Mini Andén, among others came out to celebrate the collaboration and the launch of the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection.

above: Paris & Nicky Hilton, Hayden Panettiere

The star-studded party was held at a private residence high above the famous Sunset Strip in the Hollywood Hills and featured a Grammy-worthy performance by M.I.A., who dazzled the guests in front of the L.A. skyline:

above: M.I.A. performed at the November 3rd Gala

above: Models donned the collection against the Los Angeles skyline

Look for the Jimmy Choo Collection at select H&M stores starting November 14th.
all information and images courtesy of H&M

201 Beautiful Modern Menorahs For 2009. (The Megile Modern Menorah List.)

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Beginning in 2006, I began making annual lists of beautifully designed and unusual modern menorahs for those who wanted to participate in the tradition of the nightly lighting of the candles in observance of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) without the old style Hanukkia or Menorah.

At that time is was hard to find any accessible and affordable Judaica that was contemporary, let alone modern, but that has since changed. Artists, designers and popular stores like Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and Target all carry menorahs now, most sold online, but that doesn't mean they are all attractive or well-designed. So, I've separated the wheat from the chaff for you.

above: Online stores like Modern Tribe make a point of carrying the latest contemporary Judaica, like the Nail Mountain menorah by Seth Nagelberg shown above

This list doesn't include cheesy novelty menorahs made in the shape of shoes, trains, school buses, dogs, dancing rabbis or cats. Okay, admittedly I did include the Motherboard Menorah, the giant Matchstick Menorah and the Galvanized Pipe Menorah, which may border on novelty to some, but have a Pop art and Dada-like style.

above: The motherboard menorah, pipe menorah and matchstick menorah made the list because of their Pop art and Dada qualities

The list does include modern and functional menorahs that range from high end menorahs by well-known luxury brands like Tiffany, Christofle, Steuben, Waterford, Spode, Lenox and Nambé to artisan menorahs by some of Israel's finest artists, metalsmiths and jewelers.

above: Nambé Illume Menorah, new for 2009

above: an unusual menorah from Reddish Design Studio suspends found candleholders in a white frame.

The list also includes ultra modern versions from such hip designers as Jonathan Adler and Karim Rashid and even menorahs by world renowned modern artists like Dali, Agam and Britto.

above: the Levels menorah by Yaacov Agam is layered 24kt gold over bronze and was designed in 1966

Other respected brands with their own line of items like David Mellor, Michael Aram, Simon Pearce, Umbra and Jay Strongwater also have menorahs on this list.

above: Corin Mellor's Stainless Steel Menorah for David Mellon Design is limited to 6 editions

Blown glass, borosilicate glass, hand-forged iron, gold, gold-plated, sterling silver, silver plate, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, pewter, exotic woods, stone, cement, lucite, acrylic, resin and even Swarovski studded menorahs can be found on the list.

above: the most blingy on the list is a menorah encrusted in Swarovski crystals

There's a huge range of prices, from $14.00 to over $100,000.00, so you can see that price was not a criteria for the list. Some are limited editions, some are one of a kind and some may already be sold out.

All you have to do is click on the menorah below that interests you and you'll be taken to thisnext.com where you can find more details and a link to the store or dealer to purchase it.

The 201 Modern Menorahs:

You may have noticed that the menorahs by MacKenzie-Child's are not included in my list, but if you are a fan of those, you can find those here.

Between now and the first night of Hanukkah, I will be adding more modern menorahs I find to my list so be sure to continue to check it out here.

The first night to light the candles this year, 2009, begins December 11th. So, if you don't have a menorah you like by now, you'd better start shopping. And if you can't find a menorah you like in this exhaustive list, then you're meshugge.

Refract House Wins Architecture Honors In Solar Decathalon

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The Refract House, a green living home built entirely by students, placed first in Architecture, successfully proving their message that Green Living isn't a compromise in the US Department of Energy's 2009 Solar Decathlon.

above: The public tours the international U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, featuring energy-efficient, solar-powered houses built by 20 university teams from North American and Europe, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009.(Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

Although Team Germany won first-place overall, and Team Illinois took second, Team California's REFRACT HOUSE also placed first in Communications, second in Engineering, and third in Market Viability. That's not all... they placed in four out of five subjective judgments, and in the fifth one, Lighting, they placed sixth out of the 20 teams.

You can view high res photos of all the homes and the event here.

The Refract House was designed, built, and managed completely by undergraduate students. Team California consists of students from the California College of the Arts (CCA) and Santa Clara University (SCU). Their Refract House featuring Thermablok’s new "aerogel" insulating material placed third overall among 20 universities from around the world all vying to design, construct and operate the most aesthetic, energy-efficient, and self-sustaining solar-powered house.

A jury of professional architects praised the Refract House, calling it "beautiful in every respect," and applauding Team California’s student architects and designers for its "excellent project documentation, crystal-clear concept, and successful translation of regional architecture."

Take a look.

Renderings and plans:

The models (in which you can see how it changed).
final model:

earlier model:

The final constructed home in Washington D.C. for the event:

Now, tons of images of the home on its initial build site (prior to being moved to Washington DC for the event).

Exterior:

general interior shots:

Kitchen:

The living room:

bedroom:

bathroom:

all images courtesy of the Refract House, their blog and flickr group.

To learn more and about all the amazing implementation, go here.
You can view many photos from their flickr group here.

That Funky Green Modern Air Purifier Is Finally Available To Purchase

lauralsweet@mac.com (Laura Sweet) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:21:00 +0000

above: Once called the Bel-Air, The Andrea has now been mass produced

Originally named the Bel-Air, the modern looking purifier was an experiment between the French designer Matthieu Lehanneur and David Edwards and was initiated by Le Laboratoire in October 2006.

The final design optimized the filtration capacity of leaves, roots, soil and plant water to achieve a first Laboratoire artscience innovation. It was produced in five unique, original prototypes signed by the Artist, and first exhibited at Le Laboratoire in 2007.

In 2008, the Bel-Air was exposed at MoMA in New York and won a prestigious Innovation of the Year Award from Popular Science magazine and was awarded Best innovation of the year by Popular Science in 2008.

You may recall seeing it on some blogs, in some magazines or quite possibly read about one of the many awards this inventive air purifier has received. But it has since been rechristened the Andrea and can now be purchased online in europe and the US.

ANDREA is the first award-winning designed air filter capable of absorbing toxic gases, such as formaldehyde, from home and office environments through the natural absorptive and metabolic properties of living plants.

As described in Living Filters in Urban Design, to appear in Ecological Urbanism (edited by Mohsen Mostafavi, 2009), ANDREA elevates the science of pure air into an art form by bringing fresh air and stylish design into the home and office.

* Transforms any household plant into an effective air cleaner for your home or office
* Cleans air locally and rapidly, therefore can be turned on and off throughout the day
* Uses any household plant (sold separately)
* Absorbs and metabolizes noxious chemicals
* Biochemically transforms waste
* Ozone-free operation
* Low power consumption
* No replaceable filters
* Complements any décor (okay, that I cannot agree with... perhaps any modern decor)

Any kind of household plant can be used as the filtration agent, offering freedom to select the foliage that best suits the motif of any part of your home. Simply put, it’s where form and function come together beautifully.

ANDREA is perfect for any room in the house. It is especially effective in high-use areas where air can stagnate, and harmful gases gather, such as bedrooms, home offices, kitchens & dining, family and living rooms.