The MAKE blog has recently posted some incredibly cool smoke art. This piece is a smoke “sculpture” from artist Mehmet Ozgu. Too bad I don’t know any smokers any longer. Ahem. Then I could create some of my own.
I want one. Pronto so I can have it around for the weekend Labor Day festivities.
The Fold Flat BBQ is brilliantly designed, packs super thin and opens up to provide a 45 x 30cm cooking area. Solidly made from pressed steel, the sides provide a built-in wind break. Since it’s so portable you can head out any time you like to BBQ your little heart out. What an amazing contraption that’s so well thought out. And only around $40.
Posted In grand design, outdoorsPastis is a French bistro located in the heart of Manhattan’s meatpacking district. I’m sure you’re most likely heard of it – seems like a lot of celebrities go there to eat and be photographed by the paps. But whatever because I’m nowhere near Manhattan and not raving about their food, but their identity and packaging.
It’s been five years since Veer stepped into the peripherals of creatives everywhere. Not just a stock photo house, but a provider of good photography, illustrations, motion clips and typefaces. Someplace different that allows “us” to break out of the grid and make things work, filter out the mundane, and do the best work possible. Pretty cool. I know that Veer is my source of choice and lots of other designers feel the same way.
I almost forgot to mention Veer’s incredible merchandise. Part self-promotion, part signature design. Here are just a few of my favorites.
Kern Zip Up $69
Extra Black Hoodie $59
Type City Prints $55/10
Start Here linkable notebooks are evil genius at work. Simply slide the back cover of one book into the cover of another and voila. The process is never ending and your plans for world domination can procede in an organized fashion. Besides lined and blank notebooks they also carry planners. The pockets are also really handy for storage if you’re not linking the books together.
My allergies and I are wishing we had one of these today.
The Toro Tissue Ring is an stylish alternative to the always unattractive tissue box. Made of stainless steel, Toro’s simplicity is the result of a perfect balance of weight and size – just right to let one tissue through at a time while staying firmly planted on the tissue stack.
Posted In accessories, grand design, house and homeI discovered Etsy seller Menta a few months ago and can’t get enough of her vintage-looking, Mexican-art inspired prints. Most are available for under $20.
This is quite possibly one of the coolest inventions in recent history – Le Beanock. Basically a beanbag converted into a hammock that can hang at any height and angle. Le Beanock is crafted out of marine quality sailcloth finished with zig-zag stitching for extra durability. Chain and eyelets are another marine quality feature – making it more than tough enough for two people. We can thank fashion model turned expert sailmaker/weldress Tracie Herrtage for her innovative design. As of now Le Beanock is available in both natural and black, as well as small (250£) and large (495£) sizes.
Fly-Bird is full of curious little items that make every day life even more interesting. I love little tea-party ready sugar and creamer sets and the Anna set ($204) is divine. The Juicy Salif ($79) is an incredible piece of alien-like design that I would love to have sitting on my kitchen counter. And the Stackable Number Cups ($16) are stark white and beautiful. I can think of several things I could use them for other than drinking eight million cups of coffee.
I’m going to stick with my coffee theme for a little longer today as I introduce to you the Coffee Machine by Jasper Morrison. This beautifully modernistic machine is entirely self-contained: filters, spoon, measuring table, etc and was noted as one of Fortune Magazine’s 25 Best Products. Love it.