Countryside and Suburbia in a Bag

Continuing their '... in a bag' series, Muji released Suburbia in a Bag (left) and Countryside in a Bag (right). Perfect for creating your own kid version of low density urban sprawl and constructed nature. Future urban planners rejoice!

Mash Studios

I love the clean lines and sliding panels for this wall mounted sideboard, designed by Mash Studios.

Banquet Chair by Estudio Campana

Fernando and Humberto Campana created The Banquet Chair (left) and Alligator Chair (right) as built-to-order pieces. I would love to use these for a kid's room.

Flavour Design

Thought this was sort of clever, though it feels wasteful if these weren't discarded bathtubs...At any rate, the Savon by Flavour Design is an antique clawfoot cast iron bathtub that has been converted into a loveseat. The vase to the right was made from fallen wood. I think it's beautiful, but can't tell if it has been coated with something to keep the wood from rotting or to keep water from seeping through the wood?

Mia Cullin

I really like the trend towards faceted/3-D curtains these days. It's a nice variation on print and pattern. Mia Cullin made this beautiful Flake and Flower curtain/partition out of Tyvek.

Via Pan-Dan.

Alvin Technical Drawing

Alvin Co., one of the most old school technical drawing companies in the land, has its base of operations in good old Connecticut. I had a nice old compass kit in school and the most important piece I used was the divider. They were indispensable for building well-crafted models. Unfortunately they don't get much use now, but they were a lifesaver back then.

ID 360

The "Symbol" is an interesting, multi-functional piece of furniture by ID 360 that functions as a chair, a bench, a side table...It's sort of funny looking with all of its arms but I love that it does lots of things at once.

Jason Thielke

I just bought a copy of this print by Jason Thielke. There is something very architectural about the way he draws - his illustrations are more like technical drawings of an urban landscape.

EDIT: This print is available online through OKOK Gallery.

Fontana Hunziker

I don't remember where I first saw this, so I apologize for not giving proper credit where it is due...This is a clever, DIY project by Fontana Hunziker for your next party. Make a mold with two bowls, fill it up with water, stick it in the freezer and voila! Pretty ice bowl!

Elizabeth Scott

Hello! Pretty jewelry from Elizabeth Scott. I like all of the organic shapes.

Judsons Guerilla Painter Box

Guerilla Painter Box by Judsons is a very cool self-contained outdoor painting box that can be kitted out with all the bells and whistles you need.

Illu Stration

It seems like felt is becoming the material of choice these days. Mary-Ann Williams of Illu Stration specializes in felt objects (hats, rugs, jewelry, etc). I really like the pendant light - it's so soft (literally and visually).

Loyal Loot

Beautiful nesting tables from Loyal Loot. The tables in the Bonnie and Clyde series are made of cold-formed mahogany plywood.

Lettus Bee Vinyl Figure - Andy Jenkins

In my great love for all things Wrench Pilot by Girl Skateboards artdumper Andy Jenkins a.k.a. Mel Bend, I present to you the Lettus Bee Vinyl Figure. Limited to 500 worldwide, so scoop it up quick.

Edouard Larmaraud

I like this ring. I might have had to kill Sean if I was given this as my engagement ring, but I think it's very clever. Designed by Edouard Larmaraud and called the Trompe L'Oeil Ring, it comes with a tiny diamond and a crystal magnifying glass.

I also like this lamp by Edouard. When it's off, it folds up and sits neatly on your desk, and when you open and reposition it, the lamp lights up. Nice!

Julienne Dolphin-Wilding

Julienne Dolphin-Wilding works with recycled wood. She makes furniture, but what I find most interesting are these art puzzles, where she has taken a slice of discarded wood and cut it into a jigsaw puzzle. There is something beautiful about the natural, organic shape of the wood juxtaposed with the rigidity of the puzzle pieces.

Via Bientot Demain.

Luau Light by Vessel

Vessel makes the portable/rechargeable Candela lights that you may have seen in a lot of stores in the past two years. They recently released the Luau light which builds on the idea by adding size and dimming to the fixture, making it all the more useful.

Mary Burr Studio

Check out this beautiful hand-carved and hand-pulled linocut print by Mary Burr. I love the graphic flowers, and at $15, it's a pretty good deal!

Camp Apparel

Very cool bags from Camp Apparel. The bags are made of silk-screened ultrasuede fabric. I love the colors and the fun designs. Thanks to Tori at Camp Apparel for emailing us with her new designs.

Kirin & Co

I have to say, I am really smitten with these textiles by Lara of Kirin & Co. I love the patterns, especially the one she calls "Riverstones". It makes me think of fish bubbles or something. I don't know. I like fish and bubbles! These two designs are available on her Etsy store. Anyway, beautiful new work, and she has other lovely textile patterns that haven't been produced yet, which you can check out here.

Simpsons Duff Beer Can & Playing Cards

Mmmmm...beer. Those sage and immortal words from none other than Homer J. Simpson. This pack of Simpsons playing cards comes in a Duff beer can! Perfect for card night.

Matthias Pliessnig

I guess Sean and I were thinking about similar things! I love these furniture pieces by Matthias Pliessnig. What I like most about the pieces (besides their very pleasing shapes) is how skeletal they are. I love that you can see the structure behind each piece.

Via Electro^Plankton.

Body Raft Chaise by David Trubridge

Capellini manufactures the Body Raft Rocking Chaise, designed by David Trubridge. The chaise gets its inspiration from naval architecture and its construction method is similar to that of a wood frame boat. I love that it melds the warmth of wood with the slender forms of a boat.

Smack of Jellyfish

I came across these cards on Smack of Jellyfish's Etsy shop. Some of the classifications jog bits of long lost information from childhood, but some of the names really surprised me! A business of ferrets? A smack of jellyfish? What scientist came up with these? The idea was initially conceived for a children's book, but you can find prints and cards of each item on Etsy.

Bing Bang

I love the jewelry at Bing Bang. Hotness.

Sanford Design Ebony and Pilot Croquis Pencils

Everyone who does a lot of sketching has certain preferences for which drawing utensil they use. Every utensil makes a certain kind of mark, and every type of sketch requires a different type of line. From broad gestural lines to precise detail lines, the utensil you choose to use dictates in some manner the ideas explored and revealed in the individual sketch.

The Sanford Design Ebony Pencil (top) is a great untipped soft lead wood barrel pencil that is great for sketching. The Pilot Croquis Leadholder (below) is an interesting version of an advancing lead holder without a chuck. Instead it uses a rotating barrel to push the lead out.

Lebbeus Woods - Radical Reconstruction

Radical Reconstruction by Lebbeus Woods, is one of my favorite books. The projects contained in the book are so rich and dense with detail that I never tire of flipping through them. Even though the book was originally published 10 years ago, I think it's still relevant today. Better than the incredibly pervasive blobitecture of the last 5 years. There is a new paperback version recently republished, definitely worth buying if you don't have it already.

Matt Cipov

I just bought this set of Field Studies prints by Matt Cipov. At only $6, they're totally a steal! Matt's Etsy store is full of great prints and original art pieces. Definitely worth checking out. His work reminds me of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Unto This Last

Sexy shapes from Unto This Last. All of the furniture is produced with a computer-controlled machine, and can be somewhat customized. Their work reminds me a little of Ryan Frank's.

Via Style Files.

Nike Dunkesto

Dunkesto = Dunk + Presto. The old Presto is one of my favorite shoes ever. Supremely comfortable and just experimental enough without being too weird, the Presto is the greatest summer sneaker I know. The Dunk is growing on me. Sorta. But put them together and the result is pretty nice. I love the plastic wings and the presto P detail on the tongue. Check them out at the Nike Store.

Supreme 2007 Camp Hat

I am usually wary of the new 'streetwear' out there like BAPE, Ice Cream, etc. But Supreme has been doing it longer than anyone. And they've been doing hats for as long as they've been around. Usually simple and showcasing their Barbara Kruger-esque logo. I really like the gradient of the polka dots on the Spring 2007 Two Tone Camp Hat.

Muunto

Came across this shelving system by Muunto on Style Files, and I think it's fantastic! I love the organized chaos, and how each drawer/shelf/cubby has an obvious function. The system is super flexible, and you can add and remove storage types as you need. Unfortunately, the system isn't available in the States, but for any readers out in Finland - I'm jealous!

Miwa Koizumi

Miwa Koizumi made these jelly fish sculptures from water bottles she found in the trash. Poetic! The sculptures are beautiful and ethereal.

Via YBPD.

Stuntwood - The Birth, Life and Death of a Skateboard

Fishegg Films recently released Stuntwood - The Birth, Life and Death of a Skateboard. If the trailer is any indication of the documentary, it looks like a great diversion from regular skate videos. It's always interesting to see the stories associated with skateboarding. I liked ON Video because they always had the side articles that explained the history of things like the Carlsbad High gap, etc.

Anyways, check out the trailer and learn something about skating and how that chunk of maple gets under your feet.

Gravis - Trump and Celia

Gravis has a few gems in their new spring 2007 stuff. The Trump wallet has some slick embossed leather pattern going on. And the Celia handbag has a squiggly jellyfish pattern and some fun spring-y colors.

Alarm Clocks

I'm not one to care much about alarm clocks, but since most normal people need one, I thought I would post a few of the cool clocks that I've come across recently. Check out these...CB2 has the Classique Alarm Clock (left). I like the simple body and petite size. The World Time Clock (middle) by
Charlotte van der Waals allows you to tell what time it is in twelve different cities, just by rolling the clock on to one of its 12 sides. The iPod Alarm Clock by Ignition will wake you up to the sounds of your iPod library. I like that it looks like a retro alarm clock, but is so much better.

Endo Magnet Clip

Thanks to Scott for emailing us about his new product, the Endo Magnet Clip, which is a seriously heavy duty magnet clip! As you can see from the photos, it can hold a lot - supposedly up to 1 lb. I like the Apple-esque aesthetic.

Arc'Teryx Arro 22 vs. Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack

I love backpacks. There are a million types out there and they all have their own particular uses. I have 6 backpacks/shoulder bags that I use for different things. But what it typically comes down to is weight. Take these two packs for example. The Arc'Teryx Arro 22 (left) is one of my favorites, except that the pack weight by itself is already 1110 grams and has a volume of 1,350 cubic inches. Meanwhile, the Patagonia Lightweight Travel Pack weighs in at 284 grams and has a volume of 1,200 cubic inches. So picking the pack depends on what your outing at hand is and how much rough and tumble you plan on getting into. The Arro feels completely Jack Bauer bomb-proof and the Patagonia pack could probably be flown as a kite. But to carry around 5 times the weight in the pack alone is a big compromise. I say go lighter, your shoulders, neck and feet will thank you.

Salomon Snowboards Artwork Contest 2007

It's about that time again - time for the Salomon Snowboards Artwork Contest 2007. They select a few artists from the contest to release their submitted graphics as a production board the following year. The contest is free to enter and artwork is accepted until April 10th. Go make some stuff!

Every Space Design

I love this shelf/vase from Every Space Design. Sean and I have actually been working on a similar piece (which I will post here as soon as it is finished), so I was excited to come across these guys. Also lovely is "Slice", which serves as a serving board, table, centerpiece...Simple and organic.

OXO Watering Can

OXO makes a pretty cool little Watering Can. It comes in 1 quart or 2 gallon sizes, for house plants or gardening. The nice part is that the spout rotates for easy storage and it comes in a bunch of fun colors.

Konzuk

I have always really admired Karen Konzuk's jewelry. Her work appeals to the architect in me - I especially love the pieces that use concrete and stainless steel. There is something subversive about the use of concrete in jewelry - I always think of concrete as a building material. I love that she takes this commonplace material and uses it in tiny amounts to create delicate pieces of jewelry.

Mobelform

I love this couch/bunk bed from Mobelform. It's so much better than the old fold-out couch! I'm very attracted to the lights below, too, though I can't decide if I like or dislike the seaweed-esque fixture. Grabs my attention at any rate.

Lamp Lamp by Hironao Tsuboi

The Lamp Lamp by Hironao Tsuboi is a curious little oddity. I like that it turns the vernacular of the lightbulb into something that makes you think twice about how it engages the light fixture. Available at Unica Home

Klaus Aalto

Love the Take Out storage unit by Klaus Aalto. Besides being attractive, I love how utilitarian and functional it is. It would be great to store all my little doo-dads in various boxes and then to have the ability to transport an individual box to wherever I needed it to be.

Julianna Grove

Julie emailed us about the launch of her latest venture, the new online boutique Julianna Grove. Julianna Grove is a compilation of up-and-coming artists and designers. All products in the boutique are handmade. I love some of the ceramics she is carrying in the store. Stand outs were works by Hugh West (middle) and Jill Ford (ends). Thanks, Julie!

Marinade Injector

The Signature Series Cajun Injector, available at Target, solves all the problems of waiting for marinades to season the meat you're waiting around to cook. Simply fill up this commercial grade syringe with the marinade of choice and zap the meat. Simple.

Filipe Zanardi

Thanks to Filipe Zanardi for sending us an email about his Carpet-Lounge. This has gotten a lot of press already, but I thought it was worth mentioning here. I love the innovation on the traditional carpet as a gathering space. So often when lounging around my living room on my rug - after my elbow or butt has fallen asleep - have I wished for something to lean up against, and voila! Here you go! Instant chair! I wonder how comfortable the Carpet-Lounge is, though...

Jib and Genoa

I first saw Jib and Genoa on Design*Sponge. I love the shapes of the pieces and the natural inspiration...

Thwart Design

More work from a new favorite, Thwart Design. I love the humor in their work. Above is the Mold Vase, below is the Iron Curtain.

Design Without Reach

I love this project by Thwart Design. Besides being clever, it's so true! I don't know if DWR started out more affordable than it is now, but DWR is certainly out of my reach. Anyway, I would love to hear where you shop for affordable design items!

Lisa Congdon

I meant to post this a while ago...I am so intrigued by the images on the flyer...The textile work looks really interesting (are those cells? I don't know!). Lisa Congdon is the artist, and she is having a solo show at Rare Device in Brooklyn from April 18 to May 20. Lisa works primarily in collage, and the Anatomie series is dedicated to anatomical imagery. Lovely!

Alessi Dozi Magnetic Paperclip Holder

The Dozi Magnetic Paperclip Holder by Alessi is beyond cute! I want me a hedgehog to keep me company on my desk...

Pepin Press

The Pepin Press makes a number of great resource books for graphic designers. We just picked up a copy of Structural Package Designs (left) for a project we are working on. And the Special Packaging Designs (right) book is a great companion book to the package design set. They both come with cds with .eps files of each container design.

Wall Clocks

I'm very particular about my wall clocks...I love these three, especially Thwart Design's Grandfather Clock (right-most image). Happily, it's available at Spring, which is right down the street from my office, so I might have to stop in one of these days after work and check it out...The clock in the middle is the Mystic Wall Clock by Umbra (love it as well), and the image to the left is the Corona Wall Clock by Ding3000.

Joy O Designs

I love the work of Joy O Designs...It's just so simple and beautiful!

Cole Haan and Nike Lab

Cole Haan and Nike Lab have been collaborating for a few years and typically the result is pretty ugly. However, the Tobago Sandal incorporates the super-flexible and ridiculously comfortable sole system from the Nike Free. Nice mixup.

Tea Infuser

This nice little Tea Infuser from Bed Bath and Beyond is nice because you never have to fish it out of your cup or mug like the egg-shaped metal ones that dangle on a chain. The stand is also a nice thing to have for when you want to re-brew the tea leaves.

Rehti - Aleksi Penttila

I like how the "Wide Chair" is essentially one piece of DiBond, part of which is molded into chair form and the other part which folds up to become the arm rest of the chair. "Wide chair" was designed by Aleksi Penttilä, who is part of the Finnish design collective Rehti.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my dear Sean's birthday! In honor of the fact that he turns 27 today, I wanted to post some of the baller presents he got for his birthday. I got him the Ben Sherman blazer. He's been eyeing it for some time now...It's a little much for my tastes, but how can a girl deny the man she loves such a pimpin' jacket? He got himself the Emerica Reynolds 3 shoes...note the bling bling cubic zirconium accent!

Anyway, a big happy birthday to my lovely Sean!

Poul Kjaerholm

I'm in love with this chair! The weaving of the seat and back is so beautiful...It reminds me of a human spine. I love how the weave is just slightly irregular. This is a design classic I never knew about (shame on me!), originally designed by Poul Kjaerholm in 1956. Thorsen Moebler is now remaking the chair. Hot!

Via David Report.

Barware at Moma

The Soft Machine Wine Opener (left) is a really beautiful corkscrew that works similar to a waiter's corkscrew except the pull is geared instead of pivoting. I like it's slender beak-like arm and the little eye where you can see the meshed gears. The Marli Bottle Opener (right) is a double-sided bottle opener so you never have to fiddle around with the tool. The beer is open when you want it, can't complain about that. Now if they could only invent one that doesn't get lost in the kitchen drawers.

Both are available at the Moma Online Store

Hypermarket - 4-pli

Thanks to Hyperakt for emailing us about the opening of Hypermarket on Smith St. in Brooklyn (by appointment only). Hypermarket is a showroom for "intelligent, cutting edge furniture, products and apparel created by independent designers", including 4-pli, Nicholas Furrow and Michael Ciancio. The image above is the Puzzle Conference Table from 4-pli. The table is made up of seven smaller desks that combine to make the conference table. It's a nice idea, but it seems like it would be hard to pull up a chair and sit at...