{ surgical suture sampler }

Surgical suture sampler, circa 18th cen.
Zurich Medical History Museum

This antique sampler from the Medical History Museum in Zurich represents a variety of stitch techniques appropriate for different anatomical regions and types of injury. From a distance it almost appeared to be a vernacular textile in the shape of a human silhouette, until you zoom in and notice the anatomical sketches scattered between the colourful stitches.

via bioephemera and Ickybitty's Flickr

{ letterpress 2009 calendar by egg press }

What a lovely letterpress calendar by Egg Press. Since these have been circulating around the interweb, most people love the design but comment that there is no room to mark important dates - who would want to!? Upgrade to the PDA, iPhone, or pocket calendar, people!

Four elegant designs on 8 1/2" x 11" thick cotton pages, one for each season for $24 here.

via GrassrootsModern

{ kareena zerefos }

Thanks to Design*Sponge's Regional Roundup: Sydney, I have been introduced to yet another wonderful artist! Kareena Zerefos - what a sweet name! - is an artist and freelance illustrator (with a background in graphic design) who lives and works in Sydney, Australia.

She describes her work:
"Delicate, nostalgic and bittersweet illustrative work… I work mostly with the concepts of isolation and escapism, so a lot of the pieces are of children alone in their make-believe worlds, with giants, or with their imaginary friends or pets. I also take inspiration and base some work on my own memories and dreams, often from my childhood."

via Design*Sponge

{ tubo chair }

I'm not big into posting about new modern furniture - since truth be told most of it pisses me off - but I love the continuous line of the Tubo Chair Collection designed by Joel Escalona.

It reminds me of a tight contour drawing, which if you haven't done one are a humourous way to pass the time and get yourself out of a bad funk, especially if you draw one blind (artsy term for not looking at your pen and paper whilst doodling).

via designboom

{ watchhouse brinta }

Watchhouse Brinta is the result of a collaboration between Jurgen Bey and Rianne Makkink. It is constructed of straw and crates that form the structure of the house. The simple materials, exterior patterning and task-specific space design reminds me of early vernacular architecture, such as the flurküchenhaus.

It is designed around the theme "Time is short and definite, derived from the sundial in the park." Watchhouse is one out of thirteen projects set up for the Vijverberg VI exhibition in Tytsjerk, on exhibit August 3 until October 26, 2008.

via designboom and Design WS

{ camouflage by liu bolin }

Beijing-based Liu Bolin has a mesmerizing line of work titled "Camouflage," which challenges our human nature and animal instincts (or lackthereof) in relation to self-defense, survival and safety, and how we lack a symbiotic relationship with our surroundings:

"...One, human beings develop in the destruction of their environment; two, the development of human is full of bad exploitation for themselves. The cost of the brilliant human civilization is that human beings almost forget they are still animals, and forget their own instinct."

via designboom

{ project runway, e06 }

This past week's episode of Project Runway was to design a stage outfit that epitomizes the personality of the model - which in this case was a drag queen. What wowed me was to see these men (ladies?) both in and out of stage costume, as a few were quite attractive as a man and a woman! My top picks: Joe's flirty sailor outfit (and the episode winner), left and Kenley's Monroe-esque outfit, right.

{ roost home furnishings }

If you are looking for quaint, cabin-in-the-woods home decor, check out Roost Home Furnishings. I love their porcelain and wood pieces!

Plenty of their products are available at Velocity Art and Design.

{ downy radiance collection }

The packaging for Downy's Radiance Collection is definitely an attention-getter amongst the loud primary-coloured detergents on the retail shelving.

The elegance of the bottle stems from its billowy form, metallic sheen, organic graphics, feminine colour palette and alluring scents - amethyst mist, turqouise frost and pink opal. Even its website plays up the whole fashion/cosmetics aesthetic of the new product line!

via The Dieline

{ the tatung VOIP phone }

I love the borderline cartoonish-modern look to this Tatung VOIP phone, most especially its nostaligic little antenna. Winner of the 2008 Red Dot Award in Product Design, the 2008 International Forum Design (iF) and the 2008 IDEA Silver Award in Communication Tools, this fancy little phone features Bluetooth, wireless and a touch pad design.

Check out more photos of different views and colours here.

via Yanko Design

{ felice varini }

Why do drugs when you have art? That is my first reaction to the work of Felice Varini, who is no exception to this. He uses every day objects and spaces as his canvas, and he paints his geometric designs with a graceful precision that allows the subject to be truly understood from only one angle. The above piece was part of an exhibiton at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Arras, France in 2007.



Here are a few other wild and crazy pieces. Check out more at his website, which is in French. Je ne parle pas le français. Vous pouvoir?

via OrangeBeautiful

{ topo art cards by crafterall }

These simple cards, designed by Crafterall, bring a certain delight to me - one that stems from my childhood and spending hours out in the work field with my father (a land surveyor), learning about topography on industrial and wooded lands alike. Check out more at her Etsy shop!

via OrangeBeautiful

{ hanna nyman }

I think this has been circulating around the interweb for a few months now, but I just discovered - and fell in love - with it! Swedish product and print designer Hanna Nyman is the creator of this beautiful line of home decor products, including wallpaper and lighting.

via A Merry Mishap

{ photowall by curator }

Photowall, designed by Australia-based Curator, is a quick and playful way to transfer your photo album to your wall without the hassle of pricey frames and mounting hardware. The photo clips use a tacky backing (like sticky tack) to adhere to the wall and are easily removed from most wall types.

via designboom

{ valerie hegarty }

Valerie Hegarty's artwork is undergoing a transformation. Rather than simply depicting an experience - such as a landscape - her work is undergoing its own destructive experience, from shipwrecks to blazing fires. With every disaster there is a resilient fragment that remains, and it serves as the foundation for reconstruction and rebirth - and for a new experience to begin.

Above: Cracked Canyon 2007, Rothko Sunset 2007, Niagara Falls 2007

via designboom and MUSEO Magazine

{ inhabit bedding + undrgrnd }

I want all of the bedding in this photo, most especially the faux bois pillows, shams and coverlet. Today only the Inhabit "Madera coverlet in Artic Sky is on sale at undergrnd for $140 (50% off!) - and there is only one left!

{ a field guide to weeds }

A Field Guide to Weeds by Kim Beck

"This project uses the physical form of the book as a metaphor for a crack in the city sidewalk: printed in luscious five-color printing, the common dandelion, pigweed, and poison ivy—the very plants we ignore, step over, ignore, dig up, or scrupulously avoid—creep out of the gutter, up pages, and overrun the book."

via swissmiss

{ branch sugar spoon }

Pretty.

Purchase here.

via productdose

{ elise rijnberg }

Elise Rijnberg is the designer of this beautifully embroidered tablecloth that addresses the tradition of table setting in a subtle and elegant manner. Much of her work - design and photography - centralizes around food.

via the style files

{ piet hein eek }

“Everyone is trying to make perfect furniture so I did the opposite, I make furniture that is imperfect… I like using materials that are worthless and acting as though they are precious.”

These gorgeous cupboards and chairs - made of reclaimed wood - are designed by Piet Hein Eek, a 1990 graduate from the Design Academy in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

via decor8

{ m is for modern alphabet flashcards }

Above are my selected favourites from the "M is for Modern" Alphabet Flashcards created by the Connecticut design studio Jargon Boy. Absolutely delightful and clever!

via Death by Kerning

{ tanya aguiñiga }

Alaska Chair, Felt Chairs


Forest Roll


Glow Blankie, Weaving Samples

It seems that at times I am the last person to learn about a designer, product, totally sweet indie band... you get the idea. Well, for those of you who have not heard of Tanya Aguiñiga, I am happy to introduce you to her captivating work.

A furniture designer based in L.A., "her work encourages users to reconsider the objects they use on a daily basis by creating work that explores an objects’ unseen aspect." I am mesmerized by the detail and creativity in her textile work, as well as her motivation to learn new techniques and to teach them others.

Check out her Textured Forest at the New Children's Museum of San Diego!

{ marian bantjes }

This stunning poster, designed by Marian Bantjes, was created for the Academy for Educational Development. It reads "design ignites change." The poster is laser cut - a subtle design decision - in order for the paper to show the burn marks from the cutting. Get it? Laser - burn - ignite? Gotcha.

Look at more beautiful images here.

via designboom

{ unmentionables ready booklet }

If you've spent any length of time walking, driving, shopping or eating with me in any public place, you would know demand that I purchase these booklets. Shinebox's Ready Booklets - "Unmentionables" shown above - are a great passive-agressive way to tell strangers how you really feel!

via swissmiss

{ mini travel towel }

Sometimes a product is designed best when all it does is get the job done. Void of branding, flashy colours, and unique forms, the Mini Travel Towel measures less than 1" in diameter and enlarges to an 11" x 9" towel with water. Great to keep in a purse or backpack for filthy public restrooms, food accidents, camping - you name it!

via Product Dose

{ caroline slotte }

Check out this delicate ceramic artwork by Caroline Slotte!

via Sub-Studio

{ project runway, e05 }

This past week's Project Runway episode was a little catty due to their first group project. My top favourites, from left to right: Jerell and Stella's design, and Kenley and Keith's winner.

via BravoTV

{ target greenroom notebooks }

Whilst wandering around Target over the weekend I found these wonderful little notebooks. If they aren't made from Gmund Savanna paper, they are a blatant rip off of it! Be careful of their "eco" wording, though - 100% recycled pages probably does not include the binding.

{ ink & peat }

ink & peat is the new retail store of floral designer Pam Zsori, located in Portland, Oregon. This is another delight for the Portland scene and something I look forward to visiting! Check out more photos here and samples of her floral portfolio here!

via Design*Sponge

{ windshape }

Windshape is a collaborative sculptural installation between Savannah College of Art & Design students and nArchitects for SCAD's Provence campus in Lacoste, France. The entire installation, used in 2006 as a public meeting "space," was meant to billow and transform with the wind. Sections were woven tightly together or pinched in areas to loosely define doorways and seating. For a lengthier description, check out more here.

via Arch Daily

{ project runway, e04 }

Did anyone notice that I forgot to post about Project Runway: Episode Four? Probably not. My top picks - I chose three instead of two because this one was a close call! Once you weeded out all snooty yachting outfits and pinup cocktail dresses, there were only a handful that met the project's guidelines: to design an outfit for the female Olympians for the 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Left to right: Leanne's sporty outfit (trust me it looks fabulous on the runway with that collar!), Korto's winning design, and believe it or not, Blayne's outfit, which I thought would show off the athlete's figures best in capris instead of skinny pants, considering their muscular-yet-gorgeous legs! I love that dramatic collar though!

via BravoTV

{ glow guard dwarfs }

Finally, modern lawn decorations - and with attitude! Thanks to his luminescent exterior, the Plust "Baddy" has converted the role of the passive, ornamental lawn gnome into a guardian for your yard 24/7. They come in a few fabulous colours, such as glossy gold, white, black, lime and olive.

Check out their entire collection of design items here.

via NOTCOT

{ noriko ambe }

"So to speak, I have been mapping the mysterious land between physical and emotional geography."

Incredible sculpture by Japanese artist Noriko Ambe.

via swissmiss

{ peared }

I love the visual elegance of this student work by Syracuse grad Conor Hagan. Peared captures the natural beauty of fruit in its graphic packaging, from the flavour imagery on the front to the colourful leaf labels on the small bottle designs.

via The Dieline

{ buffer monster }

LA-based Buff Monster has caught my eye with his cute, bubbly creatures. As his work is influenced by "heavy metal, porn, Japanese kawai culture, and ice cream", it makes you think twice about the endearing visual qualities of his adorable, stylized creatures.

via Cool Hunting

{ ceramics and sound exhibition }

Core77 has uploaded a gallery of the Ceramic and Sound Exhibition, a collection of work from artists and designers who have been working at the European Ceramic Workcenter. The entries explore the relationship between ceramic materials and the visual and/or audible sound experience. Check out the full online gallery here.

Artists, clockwise from top left:
Jewelry designer Ted Noten, Dutch designers Erik Jan Kwakkel and Arnout Visser, Sigurdur Gudmundsson, and unknown.

via Core77

{ strandbeests }

Theo Jansen's kinetic sculptures are hard to define as they teeter on the border between engineered, manmade sculpture and magnificent, benevolent beasts. Powered by the wind, his Strandbeests articulate movements that make them roll, crawl and twirl with nature. They store air pressure in their recycled plastic bottle stomachs that allow them to move whilst wind is not present.

Fascinating videos of his work can be found at his website and on YouTube.

via Inhabitat

{ plastic bottles }

At my young age, I have always grown up with bottled water as part of our daily lives, even though I was never the one drinking it. Various perceptions of bottle water - health benefits, portability, exclusivity - as well as their economical and environmental impact are explored in an article by Frank Yamrus, accompanied by photographs (some shown above). Check out more designs and the full article at Lens Culture.

via swissmiss

{ measure }

Designed by Melbourne-based Foundry, these helpful measurement guides have a simple graphic layout that makes everyday measurements easy to read and quick to apply, from produce information to weight conversions.

via The Design Files

{ shanna murray }

Shanna Murray's gentle subject matter is often made of organic and recycled materials, and captures her love and compassion for the earth. She explores various materials, such as wood, textiles and paper. Check out her Etsy store!

via Bloesem

{ resin tree stump side table }

Charming little Resin Tree Stump Side Table from West Elm. At $199, this 12.5"D x 19"H table is a bit out of my budget - but going on the WANT IT list! BTW, that drink looks incredibly delicious.

via Design*Sponge

{ undrgrnd }

Hey! If you're still recovering from school loans (like I am), this site appears to offer you a financial break without sacrificing design in your home.

"Undergrnd collects new and open box furniture and furnishings from stores like Design Public, and then offers them for sale on their website at deeply discounted prices. There are no returns, and shipping anywhere in the US is a flat 15% fee. To keep things interesting only type of product is available a day, and only for 24 hours."

via Grassroots Modern

{ huge compass rose }

Located near NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California, this huge compass rose is 1.21km in diameter. It is inclined to magnetic north (around 13 degrees east of true north) and is used by pilots for calibrating heading indicators. It is painted onto the Rogers and Rosamond dry lake beds, which are available for emergency and scheduled landing sites for many aerospace projects.

Check it out from Google maps.

via Deputy Dog

{ jackie hoving }

I am entranced by Jackie Hoving's mixed media pieces, which capture both the dynamic gestures and the colors/textures that are unique to nature in bold silhouettes. Top to bottom: Violet-Green Swallow, Descending, and Mountain Pull.

via Design*Sponge

{ voussoir cloud }

"Voussoir Cloud is a site-specific installation by architecture firm iawamotoscott in collaboration with Buro Happold and SCI-ARCH students.

"Voussoir" refers to wedge-shaped blocks which are generally used in curved architectural elements such as arches and vaults. In this case, the team constructed the wedge-like shapes out of featherweight, paper-thin wood laminate to create the vaulted installation. The lightness of the materials used appears heavier than the actual weight of the structure... The piece uses old construction techniques combined with modern day materials and digital processes to create the porous structure."

Direct quote via designboom

{ 479° popcorn }

Popcorn has never looked so sophisticated and delicious! This organic popcorn packaging was designed by San Francisco-based Engine Room.

via The Dieline

{ the olympic torch }

I'll admit, I've never watched the Olympics - ever. This is the first year I've actually paid attention to the event because of the international public's heated discussions about the local Beijing architecture. I spotted this NY Times interactive history of the Olympic torch on Core77, and I am glad that within recent years there has been more of a "designer's hand" in the styling of the torch. The above torches are from Winter 1998 to Summer 2008, and really the only designs worth mentioning.

via Core77 and The NY Times

{ pappelina website }

Breathtaking and creative start screen for Pappelina. "Choose your language" options in Swedish and English.

via swissmiss

{ tiffany bozic }

Our Land


Sustenance, Just You and Me, Tony 4 Pela, and Untitled

I stumbled upon the enchanting work of Tiffany Bozic whilst nerding out on the science blog bioephemera. Her illustrations are captivating and I was especially drawn to the circular compositions (although most are not in this format). Her subject matter is comprised mostly of animals, some with narrative undertones and the personification of animals, others demonstrating nature's innate beauty through color, subject and composition.

via bioephemera

{ waitrose honey }

Sometimes you need to let the product itself do the talking.

via The Dieline