Bringing the Outdoors In

Check out Chair Couture's recycled French antiques that have been upholstered in bold, nature-inspired fabrics.

Balenciaga's New Ads

Jennifer Connolly is the rep for Balenciaga and the Spring/Summer 08 ads have a marionette meets gladiator quality to them that I like. Tres Haute Couture.

Bravo's New Design Show

Stylist, Rachel Zoe has gotten her own reality show on Bravo. Scheduled to start in June or September, it will be a weekly, hour long show.

Luxury Sport

Lydia Hearst has designed a new Puma bag inspired by Puma's classic French 77 Racket Bag. This limited edition is available in two colorways: asphalt grey with chrome and black with blue.

Any Suggestions?

Kerry Russell was walking through the streets of NYC the other day and I loved the way her scarf was tied. Granted, you need a long scarf to pull this off but any ideas on how to create this?

It's Back

Abercrombie and Fitch is reinstating their A & F Quarterly magazine this spring. It will however, only be available in London, where A & F opened its first international flagship store. When the magazine was in circulation, it was extremely popular with teens and gay men yet extremely concerning to religious organizations and women's rights groups due to pictures of young men and women posing in erotic and homo-erotic poses or scantily clad in A & F clothing. No word yet on how the new edition will look but Sam Shahid who designed the magazine during its six-year run, has returned as creative director.

Jot It Down

A year of journals, one brilliant hue for each month, is available at Red Envelope. Each journal contains 200 pages, more than enough room to jot down your thoughts, notes and inspirations.

Social Housing Block

Ofis Architects created a highly flexible, low-cost housing project in Izola Bay, Slovenia. The team that worked on the project was inspired by the patchwork of sheets and blankets residents would hang in front of their balconies for shade and privacy.

Happy New Year

Last night marked the 100th anniversary of the Time Square New Year's Eve Ball. It also unveiled the new LED Crystal Ball. Waterford Crystal crafted the ball and Philips Lighting provided it with state of the art technology that increased the brightness, energy efficiency, and color capabilities of the Ball. Cheers to ringing in the New Year brighter and more brilliant!

Vases

These recycled aluminum birch bark vases have an authentic texture and intentionally placed holes, high on the sides, to insert cut leaves or branches. They are available in two sizes at Vivaterra. While you are on their site, check out their recylced aluminum bark candlesticks. I love them both.

A Bit of Humor

DearNic creates custom stationery and invitations but you can buy these funny Holiday cards at the DearNic Etsy shop.

Mimobots

Mimobots are USB Flash Drives available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. Each character comes pre-loaded with games, animations, and Mimozine (a digital magazine). They also have an optional keychain accessory. I have my eye on the Gigglebyte Mimobot...Santa take note...

I Can See Right Through You

White Webb makes a 'Clearly Classic' series of acrylic side tables inspired by Indian architecture.
Website: whitewebb.com

Scaling New Heights

Oki Sato has designed a climbing wall for Illoiha gym in Tokyo. It is made of baroque picture frames, flower vases, bird cages, deer antlers, etc. and is a quirky take on a country house. Very Cool!

JA ornaments

Check out these matte white ceramic ornaments (also available in a shiny silver finish) from Jonathan Adler .

Got Milk?

There's something about the moo-moo's that were at auction today at Sotheby's that I found interesting. There were quite alot of them on the block and they previously belonged to Maria Callas.

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Buro North, an Australian company made up of graphic designers, has come out with an "environmentally friendly" Christmas tree. Available in three sizes, it is flat-packed and can be used year after year.

Holiday Craftacular

Etsy is sponsoring a craft fair at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC this weekend. It will have 200 vendors, DJs, food, drinks and a special appearance from Amy Sedaris. She will be signing her book, 'I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence'.

Ink Drop Design

Ink Drop Design sells products made from original hand drawings, photography, or digital illustrations. To purchase these cards, visit their shop on Etsy.

Wine Racks

Check out these modern wine racks.

Looped wine holder of merging metal spheres at chiasso.com.


Stackable wine rack made of injection-moulded polypropylene is available in a variety of colors at unicahome.com.


Sporadic wall panel is made of walnut or bamboo and can be found at moderncellar.com.


Clear acrylic floating wine rack at chiasso.com.


Magnum in the middle at violet.com.

Ten Gifts for Under $10 (some for under $5)

The holiday season is here and through talking with friends, there seems to be a pressure to come up with gifts for under $10 for the office Christmas party or their family/friend Yankee Swap.....so I've come up with ten gift ideas for under $10 that can be bought on-line.

Garden in a Bag Herbs available at Branch Home.


Fred's Key shirts are color coded T-shirts that keep the keys on your keychain organized. Available at Merlin's Box.


Colored Pencil Travel Set from Northwest Nature Shop.


Vaugondy Globe available at the Conran Shop.


Stonewall Kitchen Christmas Traditions Holiday Jam.


Handmade, Solid Bamboo Salad Servers available at Branch Home.



Democrat or Republican Porcelain Mug available at Gracious Home.


Mini silver-Plated Frame with Red or Green Grosgrain Mat available at Pottery Barn.


Perfect Potfuls Tin with three different types of coffee. It can be customized with your own label and is available at Designer Gifts.


McKenna Luggage Tags at Pottery Barn.

Feric

Eric Feng's illustrations are imaginative, whimsical and mechanical. Signed, limited edition prints of Feric's work are available on his online store. Check them out at: feric.com

Holiday Windows

I had the pleasure this week of checking out all of the department store, Christmas windows. My favorite by far, was Bergdorf Goodman's elements theme (earth, air, fire, water, light). They pay homage to designer Tony Duquette who passed away in 1999. Pictures seen above depict Fire and Air.