We Need Change!

So, Today (Thursday 15 Oct) is Blog Action Day! It is a day when the world's blogging community comes together to discuss an issue, to raise awareness and to create some togetherness. This year the issue is 'Climate Change' and as part of Blog Action Day we worked with Vectortuts+ to create a very special environmentally themed desktop wallpaper, now available from their site.   Our design illustrates the changing climate situation through the concept of 'melting' and serves as a warning to start making changes now to ward off further climate problems.

Our good ol' buddies at Thunderchunky are also taking part in this special event by pulling together a load of wonderful artists and designers from around the globe to share their tips on how we, as designers, can make a difference! Have a read through their brilliant ideas!

So if you have a blog or somewhere you can spread the goodness and message of change, do it, you'll feel much better for it and so will our planet.

3m Giant Rabbit Invades Garden!

I'm always a little bit dubious about sculptural things for the garden, and am very rarely impressed with big steel things but these wonderful giant rabbits by Fitzroy based sculptor, Peter McLisky are grand beyond belief! Created from laser-cut mild steel these not-so-fluffy bunnies are available in a minimum size of 60cm through to a maximum size of 3m!!  Super size mine, thank you!  They can also be cut with a base (as pictured above) or with a blackened shadow, which looks really effective.   Peter's creations don't just stop at rabbits, take a leisurely browse at his website for many other super creations for your outdoor spaces.  

Love by Honey!

Love by Honey, couldn't sound sweeter and as far as I'm concerned the above brooches couldn't look any sweeter! Created by Melbourne designer Geneine Honey for her fashion label "Love", Honey uses her drawings inspired by childhood imaginary worlds, innocence and romance as the inspiration for her wonderful pieces made from a variety of materials such as articulated wood veneer, acrylic, anodised aluminium, stainless steel and sterling silver.  There is a huge selection of stunning designs, and I have featured just two of my personal favourites above, "Holiday Brooch Set" and "Girl On Swing Necklace".  I not only love the beautiful whimsical subjects of these two brooches but the ingenious way they attach and hang, beautiful stuff.

Things Never Felt This Good!

Searching through the hundreds of talented artists, designers and makers on Supermarket HQ, I was struck by the felty goodness of Papaver Vert, a small creative studio in Northern California headed by the felt maestro-ess Patty Benson. Patty creates these beauties by using various techniques including crocheting and wet-felting using high quality wools and mohairs in colours bold and striking! Her caress-able range of products include (as featured above) felted vases, lovely felted-wool nesting bowls and these ever-so-squeezable podlets. There are so many more beautiful pieces to sink your eyes into on her store, I promise her felt goodies will make you feel good!

HipHopsicles!

What more can I say!  I could lead with a lame Vanilla Ice gag but I'll spare you.  These super-fresh HipHop flavoured ice blocks brought to you by the gang at San Franciso's Gama-Go are as cool as you can get (sorry).  I want some, no I'm sorry I NEED some and now I can finally invite The Beastie boys over for that well-earned glass of lemonade.

Joseph Joseph kitchenware so nice, you need to say it twice!

I am on the constant look out for well-designed, well-conceived, colourful kitchenware that doesn't break the bank and force you to a monthly menu of baked beans and potatoes for dinner whilst you pay it off!  Then, alas, along come twin brothers, design duo Richard and Antony Joseph, and their sleek kitchenware brand Joseph Joseph. Along with beautifully shaped and coloured items, the products have been incredibly well designed and with some of the classics being re-designed.  I have featured a few of my favourites above, the ingenious wooden chopping board with the lovely catch tray below perfect for catching veg before sliding them into your pan or alternatively catching peels and offcuts for your compost!  The super little herb chopper with a blade that slides into its base for easy storage and the stack of mixing bowls and measuring cups above that would make Rainbow Brite green with envy, they just make me want to whip up a storm in the kitchen using as many bowls as possible just so I can look like some mad foodie professor!

All of the Joseph Joseph products are available from their site and are really reasonably priced ranging from £3.00 to £42.00, so no excuses for holding on to those boring chipped bowls at the bottom of your cupboard!

I want a pony!

If our child ever tells us they want a pony for Christmas, I'm looking forward to the expression on their face when they walk into their room and find one of these plush beauties, instead of the neighing variety I'm sure they were hoping for!  Designed by Adelta design icon, Eero Aarnio, waaaay back in 1973, ooze lusciousness and stylish curves.  Looking like an overdimensional toy, children are attracted to the bright colours and climb-ability!  Made from moulded foam and upholstered in brilliantly colourful stretch fabric it would make a super addition to any children's room or any room for that matter. 

"A chair is a chair, is a chair, is a chair ... but a seat does not necessarily have to be a chair. It can be anything as it is ergonomically correct. A seat could even be a small and soft Pony on which you can 'ride' or sit sideways." Eero Aarnio