Good Design, Flat Out

Desile Folding Chair thanks to Better Living Through Design... but being from a family of ample rumps, I suspect this one is for the slim-hipped and skinny jeaned alone.

Verdict: Flat or Flexed?

A Slice Of History

There are a lot of wall clocks doing the rounds of design stores these days.  With almost every home appliance offering an accurate digital representation of the time all day, every day, I've wondered whether wall clocks are another thing like bookends and coathooks that are nice and all, but functionally obsolete.  But this one captures my imagination... because a big antique grandfather clock is too much for most homes, but the essence is still kind of cool and quaint.  And this clock slice preserves that essence but eliminates the clunk... yes?

Verdict: mice run up the clock, or the mice run down?

Out With the New, In With the Old

I just want to take the opportunity to publicly worship George Nelson Bubble Lamps, having privately done so for quite some time.

Some years ago, our collective hearts skipped when we saw one of these in an overpriced retro furniture store in Annandale (not for sale, I might note) and the pursuit began.  Sure, I could get it for a reasonable price with free shipping to anywhere in the US... but getting it to 'us' was a labour of love... and exorbitant postage.  But once my love's heart has skipped, there is no unskipping it, and with thanks to a heavily pregnant and patient friend stationed helpfully in Boston, the lamp was shipped and took up residence pride-of-place in our entrance hallway and not a day goes by where I don't look up and think every cent was worth it... even though it does make me feel a bit like one of those twats you see on Grand Designs who spends way over their budget for some minor designy detail from an artisan based in some remote region of Scandinavia.

Why a US$269 lamp should be sold here for AUS$650+, I will never understand.

Little Boxes on the Hillside

They ARE made out of 'ticky tacky' and they DO look just the same, but they're created from recycled 'houses' (whatever that means) and in a more useful shape than traditional post-it notes (when it comes to flagging pages in books anyway).    Created by Japanese architects Jun Inokuma and Yuri Naruse, these would make a delightful addition to one's stationery cupboard ... and came my way via Swiss Miss... Core 77... Spoon & Tamago etc.

Verdict: Little boxes of goodness or little boxes of badness?

... Or Be Square

A deviation from the 'beautiful' to the 'bizarre'... found while trying to find a link to the 'clack'.

I can safely say that at no stage of my life have I thought 'geez, I like eggs... I just wish they weren't so round!'.  But in case you have, here is where you can find the Egg Squarer.

More Eggciting Egg Cup Developments

Is this the most beautiful way to present a boiled egg?  Admittedly, it would be quite the uphill battle decapitating and eating an egg with the provided fork, but lets not punish the designer for the sins of the photographer/stylist.

Perhaps a better companion piece to this 'birds nest egg cup' by Studio Gijs would be the 'Clack', a simple, beautiful, yet somewhat useless device that I stumbled across in a snobby culinary megastore recently that essentially performs a neat circumcision for your boiled egg.  Now THAT would make for a picture perfect breakfast product shot.

Verdict: Fork It or Spoon Me?

Make A Wish

I've recently joined Etsy, both because it seems like an online community I'd like to be part of and to help Materialist Australia with a little online visibility in the craft realm.  There are some real treasures to be found, such as this beautiful letterpress Dandelion card from sweetharvey, and I am very touched to have already been included in a 'Partridge in a Pear Tree' related 'treasury' with my funny little pears.

I'm not sure about stocking cards in the store... but then again, I do have a 'Stationery' section already...?

Grand Designs

My love of papery things goes beyond my ever increasing collection of pop-up books for adults, and as a result my new favourite blog is Upon a Fold, an Australian blog/shop/designer that worships at the alter of Origami Architecture (an expression i only read for the first time ten minutes ago, but that I intend to drop into conversation gratuitously throughout the Christmas season). 

I've made my fair share of paper cranes in my time, but the pictured work by Ingrid Siliakus is one of many on this site that makes me go hmm... and ahh.  And 'Add to Cart'.

Verdict: Paper or Plastic?

Bananas for Bananas

I am in deep smit.  Along with the above ceramic interpretation of lolly bananas, I've seen artist Katie Jacobs' lolly teeth and jelly babies and I would quite like to own a whole set... perhaps based on Allens 'Classic' Party Mix currently taking the nation's confectionery aisles by storm (not to be confused with the 'Retro' mix that contains sub-standard gummi coke bottles).

Verdict: Sweet Tooth or Salty Snack?

Juxtapoz... Just Becoz

I just think the cover art for this book is beautiful and intriguing... that's all.

Like It Like a Motifo

I think I might have been one of the early-comers to fridge words - before they diversified into 'Shakespearean' and 'Poetic' types, I had one of the early versions that I was given as a housewarming gift when I moved into my first share house in 1999.  The problem(s) with fridge words are that they are rarely (if ever) played with the by the house occupant and they give your fridge a look not dissimilar to how it would look in the instance of a nasty ant infestation.  It has taken ten plus years, but there is evolution in the fridge magnet world that has the potential to beautify a kitchen for a fraction of the price tag of stainless steel appliances.  Via Funfurde comes Motifo, available in 'warm colours' or monochrome with a range of iconic images rendered into pixel form.

Verdict: Pixel This or Pixel Something Else?

Plasticine Horror - Advertising

A little aside.  It's not a fancy Scandinavian product or anything... it's just an ad that I first saw in the UK in 2003 and that I still love.  Arguably my favourite ad ever, for Dulux Paint colour matching 'technology'.  Unfortunately, can't embed it, but here is... enjoy.

Hands Off My Pop-Up Book, Kid

This is my second post on the topic of complex, non-kid friendly pop-up books, but I really really like them.  Growing up, we had a Wind In The Willows pop-up book, and we loved it even though ultimately all the tabs were ripped and there were seams in places the publisher hadn't intended.  'Popville' may only be appropriate for children under the age of six months (with their hands tightly bound to their sides) and over ten... or sixteen, but the colours, the execution, the idea... all beautiful.  Here is a video that proves it.

Hopefully, I have more luck navigating the complexities of international publishing rights this time, but either way, it's in my Amazon cart and with the exchange rate the way it is... this little gem WILL be mine.

Verdict: Pop or Flop?

Say It With Alanis Morrisette

I worked with a guy once who used to make annual mix tapes and label them 'Stu's Hits' in thick black permanent marker, adding the year at the end ... just like 'Hits of 1990' or 'Summer 88' (which are real titles from my real one-time music collection).  While we all have the technology, it's like we haven't thought about continuing the 'mix tape' tradition with the thoughtful exchange of USB flash drives to mark an occasion, such as a birthday or a road trip, but for the love of all things retro, somebody HAS come up with a way to bring the mix tape love back.  I for one would be happy to start the ball rolling with a little gift to someone like you that today would feature 'Sunny Afternoon' by The Kinks, 'Little Birdhouse In Your Soul' by They Might Be Giants' and 'Phantom Limb' by The Shins... just becoz.

Verdict: Open Folder to View Files or Safely Remove Hardware?

Something Eggciting...

I've recently rediscovered the deliciousness of a boiled egg, toast and salt and pepper.  Thus I have also recently discovered the relatively average design of your average egg cup.  Average.  And then there are these delightful things from somewhere cool and Scandinavian.  While any biped would agree that that is WAY too much salt for one egg, great to have three grooves for eggs, shells or salt and pepper... whatever your wish... though buttery soldiers still need their own plate.

Verdict: Idea Omelette or Perfectly Poached?

Shame But Don't Name

In my travels, I have been trying to suss out the above picture book (and associated titles) because I own it and love it and I would like to have it in my shop.  This first of all led me to a very helpful woman at one publisher who seemed, if anything, a little too bubbly and enthusiastic.  She advised that they no longer had it in their range, but told me where it had gone.  Following is the exchange with THAT publisher's representative.

Monday, 13 September - Me to Unnamed Publisher

To Whom It May Concern:
I am in the process of launching an online store and am interested in stocking ‘One Red Dot’ and other titles by David Carter. Can you please let me know your minimum order requirements and wholesale rates?
Regards,
Me

Straightforward?  Clear?  Let's see what happened next (formatting has been retained):
 
Thursday, 16 September - Unnamed Customer Service Representative to Me

Dear You,
Our minimum order requirement is $110.00 AUD net. If order is under this a small order surcharge of $11.00 applies. A 40% discount applies. A Proforma Invoice is raised if you do not hold an account with us. Proforma is sent and once payment is received books are despatched. Only in stock books can be processed, if a book is out of stock or not yet published it cannot be backordered. Full street delivery address needs to be provided as we do not deliver to P.O. Boxes. When sending an order 13 digit ISBN's and quantities of books must be clearly provided. I hope this answers your query.
One Red Dot is no longer available as it went out of print in September 2009.
Kind regards,
Unnamed Customer Service Representative

Am I crazy, or is that the weirdest delivery of information ever?

Porcelain? More Like Richelain!

My sister-in-law apparently hates the little porcelain cups based on dented disposable plastic cups because as a ceramics student they were a simple first year assignment.  As a result, she finds them unoriginal and basic (to which my response is: 'okay, so if it is so easy make me a set'... only like many of my wittiest responses, it never made it to my lips).  But that leads me to think that creating a porcelain piece from an existing texture, such as knitwear, was maybe a later year assignment, but Alyssa Ettinger has created some beautiful things using that principle.  I know a keen knitter, and I know a one time ceramicist... or perhaps I should just place an order on Big Cartel.

Verdict: Pottery or Potty?

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

I really like these cup/mugs from Danish designer Anna Olivia Kristiansen (has there ever in the history of Danish names been a more Danish sounding name than that?).  It's a very cute idea, I reckon, but at around AU$50 a pair, it'd want to be.

Verdict: Yum Yum Pig's Bum or Put The Horse Head in Ya Bed?

Getting Your Endy In

It's hard to tell from this site whether these chairs really exist or whether they are just an idea (like the Staple City is just an idea), but I would quite like somebody to make me one.  If only I knew somebody with a little woodworking know-how and a decent set of tools.... you know... like a boat builder or someink.

Verdict: Sit Down or Stand Up?

'Things' On Way

Yep... the Puzzleboard from Oooms Design... in transit as I write.  Makes one feel like a big wine glass full of Ribena and more than one proscuito canape, in my opinion.  Boxmates with the Puzzleboard are the Glassbulb Light and Solar Birdhouse, pictured below.  Why does a birdhouse need to be solar-ed, you ask?  To power it's little perch that attracts insects at night, that's why.  Clev-ahhh.