the best bumblebee ever

so, after waiting a bit to do my fancy schmancy super gushy post on my new favorite site....here it is! the site i now spend all of my free time reading and clicking through, constantly oohing and ahhing over is....one good bumblebee! not only is the site banner painfully cute, but its host, the lovely miss katey, is super cool to boot! home to the musings of the talented ms. k, one good bumblebee is literally the biggest time suck i've ever found. and i mean that in the absolute best way EVER. and that's a lot. cause i never use CAPITALS. she has tipped me off to the greatest graphic designers. I LOVE IT! man, look at me using the caps, here i go AGAIN! so, clearly, as seen by my use of caps, i thoroughly enjoy ms. katey's site. and you should too. click here and discover the world of awesomeness that is one good bumblebee.

other amazing people i've discovered through katey: nate williams, small things, little paper planes and kate sutton, the sleepy cow.

fun outdoor things....weee!

sometimes you need something modern to spruce up your garden and these concrete stools are just the thing. so, if angel fountains aren't exactly your bag, look no further than the shed studios. they make super cool outdoor stools that are perfect for modern backyard lounging. available in black, white and grey, these guys may be heavy....but they're great.

the jewelry man

i like pretty jewelry. therefore, i like ryan kundrat's work. a risd grad with an eye for hoops, ryan creates designs that are simple, urban and chic. can't get enough of em. check out ryan's stuff here. enjoy.

my favorite sleepy cow

have you ever discovered an artist whose style is just so, well, YOU, that you instantly fall in love? well, i have. and that artist is kate sutton. tragically cool (and young- hooray for young (girl) designers!) and amazingly talented, kate is a uk based, led zeppelin-loving artist who has a super cute sketching style i can't get enough of. kate says her drawings and funny creations come from, "a love of cows, led zeppelin, the colour brown, goats, kids books, [my] badge maker, sewing, nice jumpers, trees, car boot sales, mountains, fancy fabrics, buttons, whiskey, mushrooms, fairy tales and home made things, just to name a few." and well, you can't beat a girl who gets inspiration from nice jumpers.

kate's style is girly, cute and fun but entirely cool and edgy enough to suit a number of purposes. her drawings are witty and certainly know how to get away with mixing irony, humor and great design. sleepycow.com is a showcase for some of her scribbles, pirate pigeons, monsters, cows, and more, so you should go check it out. i'm gonna buy one of her sketches asap. cause i like em. a lot. not to be missed: her hysterical plushtastrophe dolls. too. funny.

xoxo, lama

i'm in deep like with lama. ever since i saw their gorgeous cell carpet that won the best of award at 100% design rotterdam 2004 [via reluct], i've kept my eye on them. they have designed some tragically chic homewares that you just have to check out. cell is still my favorite, as it embodies lama's philosophy of "industrial with a human touch", but the rest of the collection is pretty slick as well. their textiles are so gorgeous you'll want to reach through the screen to touch them- 'furore' is a decadent blanket so full of furry goodness that i'm dying to just roll around around it. in addition to textiles, 'cube you' is a simple but elegant storage and table system that consists of black or white block components with colored interiors- perfect for building your own entertainment center slash bookshelf. also not to be missed: the uber cool 'loft lamp' and 'sinus' children's furniture. both are super cute and chic enough for the most modern of apartments. you can find more information on lama here.

go west, young sponge....

ahhhh...safe and sound and back in our little brooklyn apartment, i find myself overwhelmed by the wonderful responses i've received post ny times article. thanks to everyone who stopped by- i really appreciate it and hope that you continue to send notes and let me know what you think about everything....i love to hear from everyone. almost as much as i love having this blog.

ac and i had the most amazing time in san francisco and im going to post a few choice pictures tomorrow (basking in the sausalito sun above...) i'm still blown away from the sheer beauty of the golden gate bridge. really, it's breathtaking.

so, hope you guys like the new posts- it's wonderful to be back and it was so great to hear from all of you (thanks to those who pointed out that i've never "hidden" who i work for or what i do. much appreciated!). hope you all had wonderful weekends and have even better weeks! back to the real world...

xoxo,

d*s

editor's note: btw, the part of the ny times article that was false wasn't lockhart's fault. it is due to a rather over-zealous and non fact-checking photo editor. so, please don't send him any hate mail. he's a good guy.

love letters

thanks, metropolis for this great reminder: ettore sottsass' valentine typewriter for olivetti (1969) is such a beautiful object. simple, bold, colorful and perfect for sending mushy love notes to you special someone during the month of valentines. click here for more info. and then go kiss someone- it's almost valentine's day....

steal this chicken

i've always loved cards and all of the accessories that come with traditional correspondence, so it's no surprise that i spend so much of my free time scouring the internet for great new card designers. this week it's stolen chicken cards. there's something beautifully haunting about these cards- besides being made from wonderful block prints (hooray for my major!), they take on themes that evoke the supernatural and, if nothing else, a somewhat eerie feeling. my favorite series is based one the most peculiar (but wonderful) children's books, alice in wonderland, while another, "above outside", depicts lonely powerlines with crows and unearthly trees. but don't think that because the cards can be a bit spooky that they're any less beautiful than other, more cheerful, designs. stolen chicken also has a series called confection that is positively up beat and perfect for any occasion. check out stolenchicken.com for some gorgeous new cards to send to all your friends and loved ones.

r + d = cool

r+d design studio is not only super hip and amazingly talented, but they're from brooklyn too! hooray for local designers! (and within my zip code at that!). i fell hard for their pod plates and uber chic gotham sofa and i'm sure you will too. they make all sorts of super slick apartment goods that you can find on their website. so stop on by and support some local designers! enjoy...

rena rena bobena

rena tom is a girl after my own heart. she's super cool and designs the most gorgeous baubles you'll ever lay your eyes on. plus she's got a super cute dog named mia. and everyone knows, pet-owners are, on the whole, awesome people. i've gushed madly about rena before, but now i have a legitimate excuse to do it again because...drumroll...she's got new stuff out!

rena's designs are classy and original- not to mention that they positively ooooze coolness. she works with absolutely stunning materials like ebony and chalcedony and is at her best when she's mixing beautiful woods with simple, yet stunning gemstones. so, ladies, i do believe that valentine's day is coming up...so, give ms. rena a call (or a click) and i'm sure she can help your special someone pick out something lovely. hooray for brooklyn design ladies!

tie it up...

the ribbon project is super hip group of japanese designers making things out of, well, ribbon. they've produced some gorgeously complex pieces that you should really check out. click here for more info.

well, at least they spelled my name right...

yay!! my picture's in the paper! woohoo!! hooray! and it's a big picture too!

oh look- and there's an article that goes with it! ooh lots of words! lots of blogs! ooh- more pictures! (so that's what those guys look like! love that vase, maxwell!)

wait a minute...i'm getting the sneaking suspicion that i've been cast as the bad blogger. boooo! they didn't tell me that when they said they wanted to do an article on me! man, maybe i shouldn't have been so wasted during that interview. it's no secret that the relationship between the print media and bloggers has been an uneasy one, you know, the usual complaints: we work fast, shoot from the hip, don't check facts and have no journalistic integrity. and as it turns out, i'm the example of all of these! and after reading the article, i'm starting to believe it! i don't want to read my own site!

so it turns out that being the assistant to someone who is paid to promote our clients is a serious conflict of interest for someone who runs a personal blog. with my big mouth, i would have been more than happy to talk about our clients and all the gossip i get at work, but my boss and i agree that i have a tendency to say things that she wouldn't want associated with our clients (whoops!). i don't know why, maybe it was all that bad-mouthing karim rashid.

so, to summarize....my picture's in the ny times! woohoo!

paper crane lady

i love that there are literally trillions of great designers hiding around every corner. i was browsing through d*s comments and the next thing you know- bam! my paper crane hit me over the head with a one two combination of cute and cool! she makes the sweetest most ridiculously cute little plush toys shaped like toast, toilet paper, sushi and even donuts. (i'm a sucker for anything food-based). it might be a bit on the cutesy side for some, but i've always thought that if something is fun and makes you smile- it's great. and these my friends, are awesome. i mean, what girl wouldn't want a toaster (with toast buddy!) purse? too cute for words. go check em all our here. hooray for my paper crane (thanks for posting a comment and helping me find you!)

loopy for lindkvist

i love silly little objects. especially the kind that you don't know quite what to do with but you know you have to use somewhere. lindkvist, a swedish design studio, has made just that with their adorable little suspenders. designed to be used as keychains, magnets or just plain old "hang arounds" these little guys are too cute for words (the spicy toro is my favorite). i love how they've hung them on the walls and they'd be perfect in a little kids room (or maybe even a big kids room) or somewhere that needs a little bit more whimsy. check out lindkvist's site for more information.

great skott!

i've always loved people who turn their lives around midstream and decide to follow their dreams. you know, those people who listen to that gut feeling that says, "i don't think i was meant to sit behind this desk all day." courtney skott is one of those people. before she became a super-fabulous designer extraordinaire, she was a journalism major at ut austin and the co-founder of a software company. even though she founded it with her soon-to-be hubby, i'm oh-so-happy she ditched the computer gig for furniture. cause the girl is good. very good.

each one of courtney's pieces ooze craftsmanship and command respect for the level of dedication and amount of care put into every inch. from small stools "clothed" in hand-dyed silk to a gorgeously ornate, hand-cut lacquered plywood chandelier, ms. skott has taken furniture design to a place most big-time designers don't take the time to visit anymore. the manpower and sheer amount of labor that must have gone into her silk stools is mind-boggling. it's this kind of craftsmanship combined with elegant design principles that makes courtney skott a star in my book.

stand out pieces: her "un-upholstered chair", which has a pattern carved through a walnut veneer into the plywood beneath (creating a gorgeous contrast line), the breathtakingly beautiful tree trunk ottomans (made with handmade, coffee-dyed silk, which is quilted and embroidered), which come with removable wool "jackets", and the craftstery, yet elegant, plywood chandelier (you know how i love chandeliers) which holds six votive candles and will soon be available in clear lacquered birch, red laquer and a bristol blue lacquer. you can find more information on ms. skott and her products here. (or shoot her an email at info@courtneyskott.com). support independant designers who follow their dreams!

ps: i found courtney via her friend and mine, the lovely ms. tom, but just fyi- the wonderful mr. sardar at the sf chronicle mentioned courtney here...

from the land of 188,000 lakes....

helsinki-based tonfisk design is one of the cutest little companies out there. not only do they have a 'fun-facts about finland' page on their website, but they make super stylish and super fun tableware that you'll be dying to pick up after you fin(n)ish reading this post. based on louis sullivan's functionalist dictum, "form follows function doesn't mean all objects have to look the same...", tonfisk's beautiful line of tableware is the perfect marriage between practicality and good looks. each piece is a creative take on a traditional serving item, but ensures that, despite its modern design, it will be completely functional and practical. (ie: it won't fall apart on you). take a look for yourself and be sure to check out the fun facts about finland. enjoy!

because cats deserve good design too

our cats are as finicky as they come but gosh darn it if they aren't the cutest things in the world. the illustrious ms. jackson and turk demand only the best and i think i've found it. in a world where people only design fun things for dogs, ryan rutherford has designed the cutest little play toys for cats! yes, cats! take that dog owners! (well, i love dogs, but the cute toy count does seem to always tip in their favor)

i found ryan on coroflot and fell in love with his cute, cartoonish style that he has so wonderfully translated into tiny plush "creeps" toys for cats. it really doesn't get any cuter than this. i know for a fact that turk and ms. j would be more than happy to rip these suckers to shreds, or at least hide them under the oven for safe keeping. great work, ryan! check out ryan's portfolio here. adopt a great cat or dog here (best.shelter.ever)

are you going to san-fran-cisco....

well, like the song says, yes i'll be going, but no, i won't be wearing flowers in my hair. although i'll probably be wearing my favorite knit hat that has a pink flower on it, so maybe i will be wearing flowers in my hair. either way, ac and i head to california tomorrow morning for a weekend full of family and friends (all his) and of course, shopping. can't wait to see all the great places i've been told i have to see (thanks rena and amie and evan for the tips!). i'll be sure to take millions of pictures and post the best. i'll try to post from the hotel, so be sure to check out the latest goods! i'm soooo excited about my upcoming posts, i've saved my favorites for the ny times article week (it's a good bet it's going in tomorrow!) so, get ready for design*sponge extreme- i'm going to be on coolness overload! yay!

because i like itty bitty

i found small things via my new favorite website, which i'm waiting to name because i'm doing a big fat feature on her later this week. really, her site is a-mazing. i check it all the time now. it may have replaced the real janelle even. anyway, i found a bazillion cool things via her site and small things is just one of them. small things is an adorable line of super cool jewelry designed by a one-woman soldering-machine. the designs are hand-made, gorgeous and clearly reflect the time and effort put into each piece. now, before i go on and on about how awesome her designs are, i want to get to the real reason that small things is so so so great. here, let her tell you herself:

"i learned to make jewelry in college while studying abroad in mexico. i took the class on a whim, really, thinking it would be a fun thing to try on the side while pursuing a more ‘serious’ education as a painter. in 2000, i moved to portland...and [was still] thinking about that damn jewelry...so i taught myself to cut glass and got to work. by the fall of 2002 i had kissed my steady job goodbye and smallthings was born. now i get to be my own boss and make jewelry all day, and i love it. each and every one of my pieces is laid out, cut, and soldered by hand. and that’s not gonna change. it’s a lot of work sometimes, but it’s this process that keeps me engaged, connected to, and excited about what i do everyday. and i think i really have found my dream job..."

there you have it. there is absolutely nothing, NOTHING better in the world than following your heart and finding a way to support yourself doing what you love (now if only i could find a way to do that). so, that said, go check out small things and support a wonderful young artist who's doing it on her own. yay independant (girl!) designers!

editor's note: just for the record, my heart still belongs to rena tom (who i will be covering more extensively next week- new stuff!)....my original jewelry girl crush)

mmmm....mocha

in addition the fact that i enjoy drinking mochas (esp when you live in the urban tundra like i do apparently), i also enjoy checking out products made by mocha- the uber hip british design company that is home to some really cute and quirky home goods.

known for their products that combine function with whimsy (and you know how i love whimsy), mocha is a great source for design that, above all, is fun. perfect example? the mr. wooly stool. the name says it all, a crazy little stool that looks like a sheep and i guarantee any child would be psyched to have in their room. well, i would have loved it as a kid. and then there's the dunk mug, a perfect way to cart your cookies around with your hot chocolate (or if you're like me, you'll use it more for the cookies than the hot chocolate). additional products not to be missed? dynamite, one heck of a little door stop, and the spoon egg cup- because, well it's a cute egg cup made of cool bent spoons. you can find more info on mocha here and catch josh spear's write up on the dunk mug here. enjoy!

swedese

not much to this. just a couch i like. ac and i are in the midst of apt hunting so new furniture is on my mind (although, i think new furniture is always on my mind...). this is quite simply a cute couch made by swedese, a swedish design company founded in 1945. they have lots of cute, simple designs if you're looking for something classic with a modern twist. (admittedly a bit on the ikea side, but i think sometimes that isn't the absolute worst thing in the entire world.) you can find more info on swedese here.

how do i love thee molo, let me count the ways....

canadian design all-stars, molo are constantly churning out cool stuff. from their innovative icff winner, the float tea lantern, to their brand new (and totally sick) softwall system, these guys are on top of their game. just when you think they'd be taking some time off to rest on their creative laurels, they surprise you with a brand new collection of cups and glasses that are to-die-for! based on the same premise and style of the float series, molo's newest line of cups and glasses is designed to house your racier drinks: liqueurs, champagne, pilsners wine and of course, cocktails (and if caffeine is your guilty pleasure (lookin' at you, wolcheck), there's even one for cappucino). each glass is elegant, modern and begging to be filled with something delicious to sip. ps: you can even fill it with macha, that gorgeous green tea pictured above. but be careful, that stuff will knock you flat. i had some served to me at a jun-ichi arai show at gallery gen last year and i almost fell out of my seat. so, go easy on the macha and cruise on by molo's site for more information.

editor's note: seems as though additional congratulations are in order- molo was recently selected as one of the finalists for the moma/ps1 young architects summer program! congrats and lots of love......d*s

because don't we all lead a double life?

moonlighting is a super cool group of japanese designers, all of whom work at different offices during the day. after meeting at a design workshop in tokyo in 2001 they decided to collaborate and create a line of products inspired by ideas generated in their group workshop.

moonlighting describes their process as, "design that results from finding something melted and blended in our environment and/or behaviors. we are not creating something new but just finding something that we usually overlook or simply pass by. all is in our everyday life." i love that moonlighting's motto is to find and enhance design in things that are all around us. sometimes function can be just as beautiful as form and moonlighting has capitalized on that idea with a gorgeous line of homewares (i love the mirror cups and orange juice bottle). each piece is subtle yet graceful and gently blends into our everyday life. you can find more information on moonlighting here. enjoy and happy monday!

more green for your purse....

from the land of all things tiny and cute comes a brand new way to teensy-fy your life....mini key chain plants! yes, you too can grow a itsy bitsy plant in your pocket. in theory this is really cool, but i'm afraid that, despite my love of greenery, i'd manage to kill these poor little guys in my purse, which is so often slung mercilessly around town. however, if you go a bit easier on your belongings than i do, this could be just the thing for you. for only ten bucks, you can foster a fledgling fir (or a number of other plants- mostly cacti) until it outgrows its tiny arboretum, after which you can transfer it to a normal-sized planter of your choice. always something tiny and cool coming from japan....[via the cool kids at treehugger]

movin' day....

well, in honor of my itty bitty move this weekend, i thought i'd post some furniture that has "moving" at the heart of its design. while thinking about how i'm going to pack up my little sponge life and move it into ac's house until we find a new place, i found myself wishing that all of my furniture had wheels on it and could survive the bumps and bruises of moving. turns out a british design team has heard my prayers and answered with a sweet collection of durable and portable furniture.

q-style has introduced a new range of products that evolved from the company's experience designing industrial storage systems and flight cases. lightweight yet tough, the q-style collection provides a number of durable storage solutions for you and your soon to be moved goods. however, the containers are chic enough to be used in your house, post-move. i've always loved furniture on wheels and find it makes living in a small apt much more enjoyable. i mean, when you have the option of rearranging things at the drop of a hat, life is fantastic. i'm partial to q-style's style cabinets (a perfect way to toughen up your office gear), coffee cubes (super-cute mini-tables) and trunk boxes (an especially interesting way in which the ottoman has been reimagined). they are a bit on the industrial side, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. i mean, i wouldn't go filling my house with airline-style storage containers, but i think a choice piece here and there would look super cool. accents of airline chic are always hip, so....why not? you can find more information about q-style here. have a lovely weekend, i have to run off and pack so i'll see you monday!

xoxo,

d*s

no, not that cj...

although my heart belongs to this cj, i've started to make room for a new cj in my life....one that is less actor and more designer. cj oneill is a manchester-based ceramicist and interior accesory queen. her designs are subtle and modern, yet classic enough to fit into most people's homes. most of her work revolves around gorgeous bone china bowls- in the form of sconces, table lights or beautiful decorative servingware. i was drawn to the porcelain serving bowls first, as they have the most lovely plastic insert created by stella corrall. they're most likely intended to be shown without food, etc in them, and that's just fine by me. who'd want to cover up those super cute plastic inserts anyway? cj's designs are delicate, original and above all, beautifully designed pieces that would be lovely additions to anyone's home. you can find out more about cj here. (be sure to catch the bowls used as wall sconces- it's a gorgeous installation).

ugh...

so i guess the ny times piece isn't running this week. i'll let you know when it has. i'm waiting on news from the writer....bummer. oh well, i did go rollerskating last night and that was fun....

1 egg + 2 egg = egg three

josh spear tipped me off to the coolness that is eggthree, a british design team specializing in designs that seek to capture the combination of "harmony, comfort and the aesthetically chic". i happen to think they do all three, and quite well at that.

based in london, the design team that is eggthree is responsible for an impressive portfolio of modern interiors that exude tranquility with a touch of the exotic, along with a gorgeous line of products to be contained therein. i was drawn mainly to their sublime series of textiles created for the home, all of which keep with the theme of comfort, tranquility and serenity. the floral pillow series is quite simply a work of (textile) art- embroidered with beautiful floral patterns, these pillows would be an elegant addition to any home. in addition to the pillows, eggthree produced a line of tatami mats that beg to be lounged upon after a hard day of work. (they'd be equally delicious used on a screened in porch or some sort of weather-protected patio- i can just imagine lounging on them surrounded by palm leaves and the sort of cocktails that require audaciously-colored mini-umbrellas or exotic fruit).

eggthree is a company that has truly hit their stride and found their own unique style in a sea of design firms. you can find more information about their firm and products online at eggthree.com. enjoy...

it's a ting thing

ting uk is a london based accesory design company, and a really cool one at that. now, i've never been a fan of that whole craze that involves making bags and things out of license plates, bottle caps, etc, but for some reason these super cool seatbelt pillows got me. i'm not exactly sure how comfortable they'd be, but i figure, what the heck, they're pretty to look at and not all design is 100% functional. if it was, what'd be the fun? i appreciate creativity and wit and this has both. you can find and order more ting products online here. happy wednesday!

ps: ac's surprise birthday dinner went wonderfully. thanks to everyone who made it such a nice evening.

felt up

i've been wanting to post these for awhile now- because well, they're super cool. and everyone knows what a huge fan of felt i am.

created by liz maly, an architecture student in seattle, felt cafe is home to a bazillion super cute and super original felt creations. i was drawn in by the ipod cozies (i love homemade ipod covers, it's such a pleasant contrast to the uber techy ipod look) and then found the felt bracelets (which i will soon be the proud owner of!). liz makes each one by hand and the result is a website full of artfully crafted, beautifully designed products. you can't go wrong with anything on there, it's all gorgeous. for those interested in details: liz makes all felt from hand, from fluffly wool before it's spun into yarn. with hot water, dish soap, and friction, the wool fibers become tightly interlocked. the result is dense, soft, warm and waterproof felt.

go check out felt cafe and order yourself up some gorgeous felt goodies. ooh, and all orders can be customized so enjoy!

ps: did i mention it's ac's birthday and that i love him to death? wink wink...

ac's big day

today is my dear ac's birthday. i try to celebrate him every day, but today is a special occasion for me to celebrate him even more (and on a bigger scale). it's not often that you get lucky enough to meet someone this wonderful, so i just wanted to let everyone in the whole wide world know how fantastically lucky i am to have him in my life. he makes this little sponge the happiest girl in the world. and hopefully my plans for today will make him the happiest boy. so, happy birthday ac!

i love you more than all the designs and designers in the world.

xoxo,

me

janelle's swell

the real janelle is home to some amazing design finds. this week i'm positively drooling all over tara mcpherson- an inked out graphic artist whose rock posters will soon grace the walls of our new apt (whenever we find one). her style speaks for itself- the girl's just plain cool. AND she worked on futurama! these days she's working for herself and a tiny little group called dc comics. (tiny being a HUGE joke...). check her out here and see how long you can hold out before grabbing your credit card and grabbing a few posters to frame. (me? i gave in the second i saw the dismemberment plan poster. biggest. fan. ever.)

monday schmonday

in honor of monday, go buy an archinect t-shirt. they're pretty cool and definitely all architect-y lookin. plus i wrote a big ol' piece on 2x4 for them. yay 2x4! happy monday- d*s

ahhhh....friday

i can't even begin to tell you how yucky my friday is. ick! but, at least ac and i have rockin plans to hit up bowlmor tonight. hooray for bowling!

peppermint is a slick british design studio that makes some nifty stuff out of acrylic, a material i'm trying to learn to love a little bit more. i was originally drawn in by the palazzo t4 chandelier, which is apparently the first flat pak chandelier. i have a thing for chandeliers so it really didn't take much for me to be reeled in on this one (their moroccan medina lamp is cool too). plus it's made out of pretty blue acrylic. cute.

on top of cool acrylic stuff, peppermint makes this amazing thing called magscape. basically it's a clear magnetic paint you can paint over and surface that comes with magnetic sticky things you can decorate your wall with. but, since all you have to do is paint the surface- almost any space can be used and decorated with the magnetic decals! so, want your ceiling decorated? bam! there you go! there are two themed sets of decals to choose from- check it out. you can find more information on peppermint here. have a great weekend!

can you imagine what their apt must look like?

just heard this. my favorite trading spaces alum, genevieve gorder is engaged to.....wait for it....tyler harcott- host of junkyard wars and various style network programs! i can't even imagine how crafty and cool their wedding and new home will be. i mean really. genevieve is responsible for inspiring some of the coolest dorm room creations i did back in the day. she's the best. yay cute designery couples! (and i mean cute- get a load of those two!)

girl crush

ok, so i totally have a girl crush on the real janelle. i found her blog while searching for background info on marianne rohrlich i think. don't ask how or why, i just did. i've been looking for another cool girl blog to read and yesiree, i've found one (she even likes rena tom!). and she's a brooklyn design girl to boot! hooray! i wanted to share her blog bc the girl quite simply posts cool things and she cares about fonts and well, that's a girl after my own heart. cool fonts are crucial. and to top it all off- she posted these sweet hot pink mac icons. i thought it would cap off the mac-themed week well. plus, i like hot pink. so, check janelle out and go download yourself some hot pink icons.

editors note: ps, she also TOTALLY scooped all of us on the oh-so-controversial fur cozies. she totally kicked our ass by like NINE frickin months. damn. when you're beat, you're beat. josh, she killed us, dude.

island getaway

i know this isn't new, but i can't help but want to celebrate the re-branding of the bahamas. i've never been there, but this logo sure makes me want to go. i know that sounds dumb, but you have no idea how swayed i am by advertising.

to the company that created the new (or fairly recent) design campaign for the bahamas, i tip my little sponge hat- your design is bright, modern, happy and above all- kick ass. every time i look at this little logo i smile. it's the greatest. yay bahamas!

ps: times article was pushed back to next thursday- don't even get me started on why...

since it seems to be tech week....

a laptop inspired chair fits nicely within the tech theme of this week (damn you, apple!) so i thought i'd throw one in for good measure. i also just wanted an excuse to show this table by the same designer (it's called the buddah table by marc de groot). it's supposed to be a table, but really, it looks a bit low, even for a low-table lover like me. either way, it's cute. plus it fits well within my walnut-colored wood obsession of the moment. although i think it's dying down now. ac and i did just buy a piece of oak furniture, which is much lighter than i'd normally go. so, hooray for me! one step at a time and one day i might be walnut free!

good god it's apple day

never thought i'd devote this much space to apple, seeing as their ipod royally screwed me twice. but their new logos for iLife and iWork are super fresh. i love them. love them love them love them. ac and i might get the tiny new computer too. i like the idea of "reclaim your space", not bad. take a look at the newbies for yourself.

tuesday is also creepy japanese trend day

although this might be essentially lame (and ac thinks it's dumb), i think it's endlessly funny. apparently in japan, apple's design scheme has tackled the final frontier- the human body. girls in tokyo are lining up to have their nails decorated with mac's illustrious little apple symbol. not sure whether i should laugh or shudder at the thought of millions of nails covered in the mark of steve jobs. more more info click here. for another amusing apple accessory from lite brite neon click here.

tuesday is inner child day

everyone's talkin bout kid o these days. and why not? they make sweet stuff for kids and kids at heart. i was tipped off intially to the superiority of their modern dollhouse to bozart's clear plastic version, so i thought i'd take a look. they have some of the most creative and beautifully designed products for kids. albeit, they may not have all the beeps and blips of modern toys, i think they're the best for fostering a healthy imagination. (i never had flashy toys and i think i turned out just fine. and with one heck of an imagination. (also, just fyi- i was seriously a skip-it pro). toys not to be missed: the bilibo (the most creative piece of blobby plastic ever- i mean, talk about endless possibilities), the gorgeous block set and the super cute "first cutlery set". makes you want to ooh and ah, doesn't it?

hooray for coroflot

coroflot is constantly giving me great ideas and access to amazing undiscovered designers. today's pick: natsuko kuma. kuma, a pratt grad, designed a reallly cool lounge chair for the lawn that deserves a second look. made of stainless steel and exhibited at last year's icff, "after the rain" is a sleek way to spruce up your lawn. and we all know, your lawn could use it. check out kuma's page on coroflot for more info.

brussels boy

since the fur post seems to have gotten people a little ruffled, i decided to smooth things over with super cutie, nicolas bovesse. not only is he easy on the eyes, ladies, but he's super talented to boot. i fell in love with his bubble tables while looking through his portfolio on coroflot and the rest was history....

a freelancer based in brussels, nicolas seems to be sans maunfacturer, but will no doubt find a home soon if he hasn't already. his site doesn't have the english half up and working yet so i had to fumble through the french one (note: i speak german so it really didn't help). his style is simple and graphic with a touch of modern elegance so really, he looks like a solid designer with a bright future. not to be missed: his painfully cute raoul and victor dolls that are just begging to be purchased.

check out nicolas' page on coroflot for more info, as well as his main site, also- don't forget that unsigned, freelance designers are AMAZING- so check out the gang on coroflot- it's a great new designer portfolio resource. happy monday!

ps: photoshoot for the times went smashingly. photog was super nice and it wasn't scary at all.

fuzz face

i must must MUST make a disclaimer before this post. if this is actual fur then SHAME SHAME SHAME on you, xs couture. but, if it's gorgeous fake fur then YAY YAY YAY for you, xs couture. (i'm kinda scared it's real....eesh). anyway, i found these via josh spear and thought they were painfully cute. a bit unnecessary (ok, a lot) but totally fun and silly. can't find much info on pricing, etc but what the hell- they're fun to look at. and imagine how nice that fuzzy, warm (fake!) fur would feel on your freezing hands in the winter. mmmmm....so warm. so, hooray for xm if it's fake and booooooooo if it's real. boo real fur!

editor's note: eeegads! it's REAL! thanks comment-er! but no-thanks to xs! boooo!

friday stands for freak out

ok, so, i'm trying to focus on a little piece about aan-uit but i'm finding myself rather spaced, as i'm stressing about the upcoming ny times story on design bloggers which i may or may not be featured in and may or may not be photographed for. why am i freaked? because i have to be shot in my own little house. a) i'm kinda weirded out by that and b) i can't afford any of the cute stuff i write about (although i wish i could) so my apt isn't (yet) what you'd expect from someone who works in design. but i guess the prevailing thought of the day should be- oh well, i am what i am and my apt is what it is, right? for better or worse, i live on a wee sponge budget and while it may not afford me a sweet ass apartment, it does afford me plenty of happiness.

anyway, aan-uit, right. they make pretty cool looking lights that i think deserve your click and attention. i'm particularly drawn to the "moon light". not bad. not bad at all.

ok, i must go and try to go de-stress myself. maybe they'll let me put my cat in the picture? that would make me happier...

have a wonderful weekend,

d*s

lazy table for lazy people (like me)

if you're like me and prefer to have your food brought to you and, if possible, fed to you (ok, i'm not that lazy) then my friend, i've got something for you. if you're like me and have to break down and admit to yourself that yes, on occasion, you do eat on tv trays and gorge yourself on burritos and alias, i've found the perfect way to incorporate cool design into your (oops, i mean our) laziness. veyko's ponyboy table is fan-tastic and it can be dragged all around your apartment so you can enjoy your food from any number of lazy-spots. hooray!

number one

can we just talk about how weird this crap is for a minute? seriously? i don't know how i found this but i can't decide whether or not to be totally creeped out or applaud their creativity. for those of you with an abhorrence of all things scatological, turn away- this is kinda gross.

pipinette is this weirdo swedish company that designed a system that allows us ladies to well, do our business boy-style. standing up, that is. now, for all you hikers in the crowd, this is cool, cause you know what a pain it is to take off your pack and gear just for that. however, i'm really just intrigued by the thing in general. the way they've designed the system is quite ingenious. take a look for yourself and lemme know what you think. the d*s jury is still out on this one...

don't i have some dishes to do?

my email buddy bryan boyer passed this along to me back in november and i have no idea why i waited until now to post it. in response to my henrybuilt piece, bryan thought i might be interested in the work of the massie architecture firm. primarily- the sinks in the big belt house. which, by the way is frickin gorgeous. the kitchen sink in this house is unbelievably cool. take a look for yourself. makes you wish you had some more cups to wash, doesn't it? check out massie architecture.com. enjoy!

mo' molo, please

most people already know molo for their fabulous little tea lantern that scooped up the editor's award at this year's icff. (mocoloco coverage here) but this fantastic canadian design duo has just come up with something that i've fallen madly in like with. deep, deep like.

still in production, softwall is, "the first product in the line of soft products. it is an expandable partition with a moody ambient light quality; light falling onto the softwall from windows or light fixtures is absorbed and contained within its layers, giving off an inner luminosity similar to a block of snow or ice. softwall can be manipulated by the user to make any larger open space more intimate or dynamic. the honeycomb walls also serve to dampen sound." really. what more can you say- it's sick. super sick. it's a great way to divide up a loft, make a subtle space division or just add a bit of ambience to your plain old apartment. check out molo's website for more info. and if you haven't seen em yet, do check out their super cute tea lanterns. they're tres chic.

gubi grubman

i can't remember how i found gubi, but when i did, for some reason, the name reminded me of grubman. lizzie grubman. the murderous hamptons pr agent with a lead foot that i was convinced was responsible for the death of "at least" 10-15 people. ac informed me that my story was not exactly the whole truth, but i swear, she's capable of it. if you could see those pictures of her post accident, you'd see the look in her eyes. the look of a cold-hearted killer. i mean, she's a madwoman. really. anyway, from my fascination with lizzie grubman to dutch company gubi (gubi, grubman, get it?)...gubi makes some pretty basic office furniture (not my thing at all), but they make this really cute little chair called the gubi chair. check it out. super cute, very practical, and in a nice shades of walnut, oak or woolen fabrics. very nice for a home office. enjoy.

lampa

i love lampa lighting. it's the coolest. it reminds me of gumdrops and well, anything reminiscent of candy can't be bad. be sure to check out their website, as well as the super cute supernova chandelier. too cute.

ahhh...memories

context furniture is a cool little company that makes these chairs that i absolutely love. could be something to do with the name...hint hint, my alma mater. i love the baroque throwback and the color contrast. well, maybe i really just love that they're called "william and mary". yay my school!