The Do It All Knife - Concept

I love seeing all sorts of concept products out there in hopes of them one day being on the market - this is one of them. This set of multi-use knives is pretty awesome, cramming many functions into one and saving space in your drawers. This is a concept by {Caroline Noordijk}, and it includes three knives. They make use of the unused side of knives, which is pretty smart. In theory this would be a nice idea for those who need to save space, but for the most part I enjoy having all my kitchen tools and gadgets separate and would be too accident prone to try and peel a potato with a giant knife...

Soft-Map Blankets

Check out these beautiful, soft, and chic {Soft-Map Blankets}. Each one can be uniquely customized - ranging from having your house/apartment detailed on the blanket, or where your child goes to school. They include the hand stitching of street names, compass rose and scale marker on each blanket. Most of the Soft-Maps are made with dupioni silk and with an inner layer made from organic cotton. Raw silk creates a texture that I absolutely love! They need to be dry cleaned - but that is a small sacrifice I would be more than willing to make for one of these. The artist is from Brooklyn and specializes in those neighborhoods, but she's willing to customize her blankets to match your favorite neighborhood.

Laundromat Cafe in Copenhagen

If laundromats around here looked like this, I probably wouldn't wait as long as possible between trips there...This is a great business idea - {Copenhagen's Laundromat Cafe}, combines a coffee shop with wireless Internet access and a back-room laundromat, where you can clean your clothes while sipping a latte...I have actually heard of a few places like this in San Francisco as well.

Melin Tregwynt - Woven in Wales

I am always, always, ALWAYS cold. You would think I would be used to it by now...but no. I am constantly looking for warm clothes and blankets. So, it should not come as a shock that I was immediately drawn to the beautiful blankets from {Melin Tregwynt}. They feature gorgeous patters and look just about as warm and cozy as I would need :) In addition to the blankets, they also make clothing and accessories. Many of their items can be customized to your taste/needs - you can match your blanket or robe to your slippers! Besides blankets and clothing, they also make ceramics, lampshades and upholstery fabrics. Melin Tregwnt is a delightful white washed wool mill to be found in a remote wooded valley on the Pembrokeshire coast. There has been a mill on this site since the 17th century, when local farmers would bring their fleeces to be spun into yarn and woven into fine Welsh wool blankets. It has been owned by Melin Tregwnt family since 1912 and now employs around 20 people.

Inbound Thread - Felt Chair Pads

What a creative idea! These {felt chair pads} by {Inbound Thread}, are a great way to dress up boring old folding chairs. Folding chairs are great to stored away for extra seating when needed and for those living in small spaces. The downside is their lack of comfort - here is a solution! They add comfort like seat cushions do, but have that simple and industrial look for a more modern look. Sandra, of Inbound Thread, is a freelance Industrial Designer living in Boston's South End. Although she enjoys designing products for larger scale production, she also loves the craftier approach - she does so by trying to bring the ideals of her profession into her handmade items, and make pieces that compliment an urban aesthetic. Below is some more work by Sandra.

High Fashion Home

I always love finding different kinds of typographic solutions - I thought this was a pretty cool and clever form of advertising for {High Fashion Home}, a Huston based home furnishings store. Customers are given the freedom to choose among this large selection of high style and high end design products that caters to intelligence, creativity, and individuality - quality and value are not compromised. This 4-story, 125,000 squar food home furnishing store is a sanctuary of inspirational choices for an eclectic, modern lifestyle. There is a nice mix of furniture, fabrics, drapery, and home accessories from all around the world. "Explore. Experience. Imagine the possibilities." Below is some of my faves from their furniture collection.

Here is a glimpse of the amazing experience inside this furniture emporium!

Drinking from Mason Jars

I have been seeing more and more restaurants these days serving drinks in mason jars, even some pretty nice restaurants. I personally love the way it looks :) However, if you like the idea but don't want to use an actual mason jar...I found these cool multi-purpose working glasses from {Crate and Barrel}

PS: Sarah Garza...this is for you :)

Si Scott Designs

Years ago I used to do insanely detailed ink pen drawings that these reminded me of. Beautiful work by {Si Scott} found on {Behance Network}

SEQUENCES 2009

I was blown away by this - a collaboration between Siggi Odds, Sven and Mundi. {Sequence} is a real-time art festival in Reykjavik, Iceland, hosted annually by the Living Arts Museum. The {final project} consisted of an idea of milk captured in time - hinting at the festival's real-time focus. They spent a lot of money, buying liters of milk, but had fun in the process. In the end, they couldn't resist the temptation to pour the milk all over Mundi - captured in the last image. The posters were offset printed with two colors, black and bright PMS 605. They noted that an environmentally friendly printer was used.

The Long Haul

{Dumais Studio} and {Full Service Productions} presents {The Long Haul}. This is absolutely amazing! SO well done. Print and motion commit to a long life together in a movie made from 4000 great photographs and...

3 x pimped out stills cameras
2000 square feet of studio
11 x Obama lovers
2 x Producers with whips
450 kg of props
360 degrees of dolly track
15 hours of makeup
1 x clip on rat tail
2 x actors standing still for 22 hrs
1 x grown woman wearing a child sized dragon outfit
1 x 72 hr work work day
1 x "Bapapa" song

Sylvain, from Dumais Studio, was the director, animator, editor, co-writer, storyboard artist, and did post & web coding. He had the great original idea of trying to show the elements of a production come together in a stop motion piece. But they needed a story. So together with Julie Bélanger & Raff Melito, Producers & Co-Writers, several meetings and hundred of emails later, The Long Haul was born. The concept was to show the stages of an evolving relationship and the passing of trends, focusing on sending a message that, in the end, a good relationship lasts.

Color Picker

How cool is this!? {Color Picker}, designed by Jinsun Park is a concept pen that would allow you to scan colors from anything around you and instantly use that color for drawing. The pen would contain and RGB cartridge that the pen would then mix according to the target color scanned. Amazing idea and much more convenient - one would no longer need to carry around multiple pens and pencils.

American Idol Finale

KRIS ALLEN - "Heartless"(Kanye West)

ADAM LAMBERT - "One" (U2)

ADAM LAMBERT - "Cryin'" (Aerosmith)

Who will be the next American Idol? Although I have been in love with Adam Lambert from day one...Kris Allen is amazingly talented as well...so this will be an interesting finale! Can't wait to find out the results.

Tree House!

So cool! I think this would make a really cool idea for a retreat getaway / tree house resort type of thing with individual rooms like this all throughout nature :) Another great {Apartment Therapy} find. These tree houses are built by {Blue Forest} - definitely worth checking out their site.

Been missing "home" lately...

Master Chef: Natalie Mathews

You should all be pretty jealous if you don't have a friend who will cook an amazing dinner like this and invite you over on a wonderful Sunday night. I just want to brag a bit about how delicious this meal was and point you all over in the direction of {In the Kitchen with Kristie}, the cooking blog by Natalie Mathews and her twin sister Melanie Marshall. They are both master chefs and always have amazing recipes to share. Check it soon for recipes from tonight's dinner, shown above.

1. Sensational salad with tortellini.
2. Flavorful BBQ fava beans
3. Strawberry and Rhubarb crisp with vanilla ice cream

Great end to a beautiful the weekend :)

Regine Pfanz - Jewelry Design

These are two of the pieces that I really like from the Etsy shop of {Regine Pfanz}. The rings are hand-crafted from sterling silver and complimented with colored resin - simple and stylish. The playful bracelet is also made of sterling silver and has two loops that are inlaid with hand tinted resin.

Handmade Felt Garlands

Check out these cool felt garlands by {Anna Alicia Accessories}. Every petal is cut and sewn by hand - making each one unique. They are approximately 43cm long. They look beautiful hanigng from mirrors, doors, picture frames, chair backs, shelves, etc. She also makes these beautiful "cushion corsages" to revitalize your old throw pillows and cushions - they come with with two safety pins sewn to the back to securely fasten to your pillows - they are about 13cm x 16cm. She has been sewing since before she can remember and is passionate about the importance of hand-made products - I agree!

Why don't I go to the beach more...

I live 10 minutes from the beach and don't seem to get there nearly as often as I should. Yesterday some friends and I decided to go there in the late afternoon - weather was still so beautiful when we left around 7pm! I loved it, but not nearly as much as Zachary and Oliver (the two Golden Retrievers). Definitely going to be doing that more often now that it is getting warmer out! These are some of the photos I snapped of the outing :)

Enchilada Casserole Creation

I seem to get so frustrated every time I make enchiladas because the rolled corn tortillas either crack or unravel in the pan and turn into one big mess. This time I decided to make it in the form of a lasagna-type casserole and it turned out great!

Ingredients are a rough estimate, as I don't usually measure everything when I create something new...everything is to taste...but I did my best to remember!

Ingredients:
18-24 corn tortillas
2 bottles of Trader Joe's Enchilada sauce (AMAZING - not even worth making it from scratch)
2-3 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
2 1/2 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend - usually 4 cheeses from Trader Joe's)
1 1/2 cups corn (more or less)
1 1/2 cups sliced bell peppers (more or less - blend of red, green and yellow)
1 1/2 onions, chopped
2 4oz cans Ortega chili peppers, diced (or one 7 oz can)
1 large bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeño, chopped
1 packet fajita seasoning
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin, or to taste
Salt and pepper to taste - add Sriracha for added kick if desired

Directions:
In pan, heat the vegetable oil and sauté the onions until slightly wilted. Remove from the head and add the fajita seasoning, jalapeños, ground cumin, salt and pepper and mix well.

In a large bowl combine the shredded chicken, sautéed onions and spice mixture, diced Ortega chili peppers, corn, bell pepper, cilantro and mix well.

In a 9x13 pan (I used a glass Pyrex), pour enough enchilada sauce to simply cover the bottom of the pan, but not too much. Lay corn tortillas over the sauce to cover the bottom, either 6 or 8 should be enough, overlapping each one slightly. Put one layer of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas, top with cheese and about 1 cup of the enchilada sauce. Repeat the layering of tortillas, chicken mixture, cheese and sauce until you run out of chicken (or until you run out of space). The final layer should be tortillas, sauce, and cheese on top.

Bake for about 40 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce appears to be bubbling.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.

Enjoy!

qed* Design - Headstand

More and more people are using the large medicine balls instead desk chairs because they are much better for your back and help prevent slouching. My problem is that I don't really like the way the large ball at my desk looks when it is not in use...maybe I am just strange...but I am sure some will agree. It also takes up a lot more space. Check out this beautifully designed chair - "Headstand" - from {qed* Design} in Germany. This not only acts as a functional stool, but also a great design object in your home or office. qed* questions every day objects and generates new concepts and products - thinking about usability, material, technology and design, to make everyday life more pleasurable and sensible.

Swine Flue Madness

So, I know this whole "Swine Flu" outbreak madness (or propoganda if you think it was/is) has bean beat to a pulp, but after seeing these pictures on {Boston.com - The Big Picture}, I wanted to share for those who hadn't seem them. Pretty interesting...

Providence Home Renovation

Here is a look at another beautiful home that I found on {Apartment Therapy}. The makeover of the Deaners' house was amazing considering the amount they were able to get done with so little and in such a short period of time. Most of their improvements were relatively simple - painting, wallpaper and material upgrades — no major demolition was done. They did an amazing job making this older house their home - using what exists and taking time to live in the house to really understand the space they were working with. They created a truly unique aesthetic - the paint on single walls throughout house, together with the with the old wood floors, created a cohesive space. The end product is perfect for showcasing this couple's amazing art collection and eclectic taste in furniture. Apartment Therapy covered their progress on the back in February after only owning and working on the house for 3 months. Now, after another 3 months, this is final product...for now! Their style is mid-century modern with an eclectic blend of art and design - which is what I love about it :) They said their biggest challenge was renovating the entire home while still living and working in New York and sticking to a small budget - their best advice is "less is more". Beautiful job!

Vintage Westinghouse Fan

I love this vintage/retro Westinghouse fan I found on the Etsy shop - {Happy Day Vintage}. The Westinghouse brand fan has the signature bullet back with chrome stripes and blades. The best part is that it is not only a great decorative piece, but it is functional too! There is a hole on one side of the fan which the original cord can be put in to hide the excess underneath the base if you chose to use it for decoration only.

Diesel - "Only the Brave"

A clever packaging solution for Diesel men's fragrance - Only The Brave. It is named after Diesel founder Renzo Rosso’s "Only the Brave" charitable foundation, and the bottle is modeled on Rosso’s fist

Bram - The Art of Claypot Cooking

While in the wonderful Sonoma town square for Mother's Day brunch, we discovered {Bram} - an awesome store carrying clay pots for cooking and much more! Owners, Ashrf and Shelly Almasri, opened the store just 6 weeks ago - this place will surely be a success! Ashrf, being from Egypt, is familiar with the traditions of clay pot cooking. Aside from a wide assortment of clay products, they also carry beautiful Alabaster bowls, gorgeous wooden bowls and cooking utensils, and more. They even have one wall full of amazing cookbooks - but not your usual cookbooks - ones about the different exotic spices used in the Middle East, slow cooking with clay pots, and much more. The choice of books is impressive - not just for content but for the design and photography - some being works of art in and of themselves. While there, I got myself my first clay pot and my mom bought a truly amazing book - {Saha - A Chef's Journey Through Lebanon and Syria}. This place is well worth a visit - beautiful merchandise, and if you don't know much about clay pot cooking - the owner is really sweet, knows his products, and more than willing to explain.

Second Line Frames

This is a truly beautiful thing - the Second Line is a timeless New Orleans tradition of the colorful parade that follows a funeral procession to turn tragedy into a celebration of rebirth. With the same idea in mind, {Second Line Frames} are built from authentic wood siding salvaged from homes destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. It is a way of preserving a little part of the beloved memory of old New Orleans, while helping to rebuild it toward a better tomorrow. A portion of each sale goes to assist in the rehabilitation of affected neighborhoods. They now donate a minimum of 20% to a wonderfully active organization, {The Phoenix of New Orleans}. If you're not in the market for a frame but have a desire to help the cause, they will happily encourage donations directly to the charity. :)

El Dorado Hotel & El Dorado Kitchen

I found {El Dorado Hotel / El Dorado Kitchen} in Sonoma, CA online last week and after checking out their menu I decided to make reservations for brunch on Mother's Day (today). From the pictures I saw on their site - of the restaurant, food, and hotel - I thought it would be pretty good. "Pretty good" is a complete understatement. This place was AMAZING - down to every single little detail. The food was phenomenal - unbelievably delicious flavors and the presentation of each dish was sensational! The interior design, architecture, and overall ambiance was perfect. The branding and design elements were impeccable - they did not leave out a single detail! From the bottles of water, the embossed leather menus, business cards, the piece of branded parchment paper that kept the butter dish covered, the fact that the tables each had a tall lamp next to them instead of the cliche candles on the table, salt and pepper mills instead of the usual shakers, the outfits worn by the servers and chefs were all cohesive with their logo on the shirt sleave (not overdone in the center of the shirt) and the chefs worse hats with the logo embroydered. I am blown away and cannot wait to go back and try lunch or dinner! I would give this 6 out of 5 stars :) It was a designers heaven. How cool is that work of art made with small twigs?? And the arrangement of green and white (my favorite) ceramics placed on the shelves in the lounge area of the hotel...I can go on and on but I think you got the point. If you are ever in Sonoma, CA - it is an absolute must that you do not leave without trying this place!

Mother's Day <3

I know that we are only 2 days away from Mother's Day, but here are some sweet gift ideas...maybe for a belated one? Top to bottom:

1. Hand-printed {sachets} with a pair of fern fronds on soft natural linen. They are filled with dried organic lavender buds. These would look great on a dresser or a bathroom shelf and will also add a fresh natural scent to your linen closet or lingerie drawer.

2. Not only are these necklaces a cute idea for mothers, but it also looks nice! The lettering on each {necklace} is individually hand stamped. The hammered and antique some pieces to give them distinction and antique charm.

3. I love the one-of-a-kind, limited edition patterns, and fabric combinations of these purses. They are handmade by {MS Handbags} in Sydney, Australia.

4. Looking for the perfect accent to your living room or bedroom? You just might find it here! These pillows by {Alexandra Ferguson} are made using 100% post-consumer recycled felt, that is made from recycled water bottles. One pound of fiber is the equivalent to of 10 water bottles that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Each pillow cover is made up of about 4 water bottles. And to make it even better - the felt is also made in the USA! Other than her side, her work can be found on {Etsy} as well.

Vintage Suitcase = Pet Bed

So, I am going to be honest...I am not really one for cats...but I cannot deny that this is an awesome idea! I guess it would work for dogs too :) Here is a great idea - make a {pet bed} with those old suitcases that are stored away and not being used.

A Foreigner Feels at Home

After having moved to New York 5 years ago, from South Africa, Bradly "feels at home as a foreigner". To cope with homesickness and carry on his South African pride, he keeps importing mementos from back home. After having a stylist go to work in his one bedroom, 800 sq ft, condo - he is very happy with the finished product. The overall style is mid-century modern with eclectic African influence. Everything works so beautifully together - I especially love that he has straight-edged clean elements mixed in with interesting organic objects. There is a great balance of color and texture throughout. He was inspired by the eclectic style of luxury boutique hotels that started opening up in South Africa in the mid 90s - they were mixing urban elements with local flavors - standing out from the rest. When he first moved to NY, he only had a suitcase of clothes - since then having built a beautiful home for himself on the Upper West Side. Furniture are about the only things that are not from South Africa - each time he goes to visit, he comes back with bits and pieces of home - lamps, photography, home accessories, and knick-knacks of all sizes and shapes. During his 5 years in this condo, he renovated and expanded the kitchen and main closet of the apartment, closed off extra closet doors and created a solid living room and dining room area. After all of this and many good times - he is selling this place and moving on. I wish I lived in NY - I would love to live in this condo! This was a wonderful find from {Apartment Therapy} today.

Leafy Mandalas

Check out this beautiful work by artist {Janine Mackintosh}. Theses collages - mandala designs - were created using eucalyptus leaves, linen thread, and gum. I came across this artist on {NOTCOT.org} today.

Mika78

After creating her own stationary for her wedding, Mimi Woo realized she wanted something more than the 8 year career she had as a package designer in New York City. She was able to combine her love for design with one of the most intimate and important events of her life - it changed her. Shortly after her wedding, {Mika78} was born. I promise I wont go on and on about how much I am in love with letterpress...SO MUCH...because I have done so a whole bunch on previous posts. I picked a few of my favorites from her beautiful collection. Not only does she design invitations and stationary, but she also offers custom design services through Bespoke to help completely tailor your design sensibility and wedding style - reflecting the true essence of the couple. Below are just a few examples of her gorgeous work.

Dresser into Vanity and Attic Remodel

How creative is this!? I don't know why I haven't seen or thought of this before - after seeing vanities like these being sold for $$$$. Carrie, from {Pattern of Life}, and her husband found this old dresser for $30 at an antique mall and after rolling up their sleeves and getting to work - this is what they ended up with! It is so beautiful and looks as though it cost a fortune! Carrie and her husband have been remodeling their home themselves. Below is their attic that they remodeled - makes me really wish I had an attic to do this with and turn it into my craft/design room :) Both the attic and the vanity look like they are straight out of a Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware catalog! Ahhh...one day...this is quite and inspiration - thank you! Her work was also featured on {Design*Sponge} last month!

Kohar & Raffi's Engagement Photoshoot!

Here they are! The beautiful pictures from the engagement photoshoot of Kohar and Raffi! {Jake} - a photographer with {Mike Larson Photography}, did an amazing job capturing their love story :) Can't wait to see what he does for the big day in October!

Bocci

Omer Arbel was trained as an architect in the late 90s - in 2003 he founded a multidisciplinary design studio focused on blurring the boundaries between architecture, industrial design, and materials research. In 2005, Arbel became Creative Director at {Bocci}. His creative approach, prototyping, fine craft, manufacturing and distribution, has led to creating a collection of conceptually driven lighting, furniture, electrical accessories and objects. His work has gained a significant presence and impact within the design community. Aside from the beautiful lighting, I love the new approach to electrical outlets not having the ugly cheap looking plastic cover!

Mark Webber - Linocuts

The linoleum block prints done by {Mark Webber} are truly amazing. Having worked on a linoleum carving before, I can say it was quite difficult - and mine was probably one of the simplest designs ever - not a map of Amsterdam! All the images were flipped (they are carved backwards so they print the correct way - much like a stamp) - so that makes it even harder! The amount of detail in the map blew me away. The second image is just because the statement he is making is oh so true...

inhabit - surround yourself.

Check out some cool products from {inhabit living} - made up of a husband and wife design team. They were lucky enough to find someone who shares an equal passion for design. Their passion is not just of design for the home, but an overall appreciation for design and the design process in general. They design everything from scratch - they are not just private labeling existing designs or making pillows or bedding from someone's fabrics. These are their sketches, thoughts and ideas brought to life in the 'inhabit' line.

Vintage Steel Letterforms

I always love finding great vintage items that would make awesome decorative pieces in a home - this is definitely one of them! These {stainless steel letterforms} were "rescued" from a 1950's era New York parking garage that was being demolished in 2002. They are in great condition after being cleaned up really well - they would look great on the wall, and many of them stand on their own.

Chic Wedding Design

I love the chic design of this wedding! My favorite are the decorative fabric panels with a beautiful vintage look created with doilies. The table numbers are also displayed in a creative way - clipped to ribbons which were hanging from the wooden ceiling beams - awesome idea. Aside from the elegant aspects, they also had a lot of fun with this - especially their flipbook save-the-date. The overall design was a nice blend of classic and contemporary - an all together gorgeous look. This was a find from {Style Me Pretty}

Brabantia - Solid Company

Everything today is becoming more and more "disposible" - you purchase something new, it breaks, you replace it, use it, throw it away. There seems to be no end to the cycle of having things "now and new" over and over again. {Brabantia} is challenging this. They put all their expertise into developing solidm reliable products that are made to last - a longer life means continued use and less waste. These products are developed around the trends and styles of today while maintaining a timeless design. So, what they have done is created lines of products, for kitchens, laundry, and bathrooms, that are meant to last 20 years! Also, with the super cool "Color Your Bin" line - what more could you want than to be able to choose one of 210 colors available for your trash can!?

Illustrations by Florian Nicolle

Check out the beautiful, raw, and unfinished quality of the illustrations by {Florian Nicolle}. A few of the illustrations were realized on a series of {skateboard decks}. I love the combination of the rough sketched ink, watercolor and handwriting, and collage style.

Organic Quilt Company

Becky - mother of 3 in Montreal, Canada - created {Organic Quilt Company} after her quest to find sustainable quilting cottons. Being a long-time quilter, she became more and more concerned with the thought of chemicals being used by the quilting industry - and as a mother she did not want to wrap her babies up in these chemically-laced blankets. She was even more inspired after finding beautiful organic cotton fabrics and decided to create a line of luxuriously soft quilts and receiving blankets - all sustainable and high quality. Aside from blankets/quilts, she also makes hats and fun/stylish, yet soft and very absorbent, burp cloths. She is able to custom make any product to match whatever color or pattern you are drawn to.

Wire Crochet

After years of working in front of a computer as a professional industrial designer, {Yael} was looking for something more. Though her work demanded creativity, she was longing for the creativity of hand crafted art. She began creating jewelry and decorative pieces out of wire - using crochet needles, she considers this wire crochet or knitting. Amazing! That must take some serious patience and tough fingertips - this is not easy!