I’ve been meaning to blog about these crayon rings for awhile now. I found some time today to do so. They are designed by Timothy Liles a Boston based designer whose day job is with Converse.
These rings are cast in washable crayon and are sold as a set of 8 and available to buy onThe Future Perfect. Great for the sudden creativity attack and for making like a kid again and drawing on some walls.
Origami is mathematical magic. With a few precise and determined folds, paper can be turned into boxes, animals, flowers and anything else you can think of. One of the appeals of origami is of course the pretty paper that look like they could be swatches for beautiful kimono fabric. But for today I would like to throw some shapes your way.
I’ve dabbled and mostly failed in origami. The only thing I managed to learn was how to fold a crane. It still didn’t stop me from thinking about where we can go with origami. Fashion designers have used origami pleats and folds to create interesting lines and give detail to their creations.
I’ve picked out ones I like best, including a Roland Mouret top that is on sale on net-a-porter and a John Galliano gown with origami cranes. On the other end of the spectrum, Gareth Pugh’s AW08/09 collection goes beyond origami cranes to create his designs that have been nicknamed scarigami.
And if you rather have some origami jewellery, Parisians Claire Naa and Arnaud Saulignac have designed some amazing pieces. My favourite is perhaps the gold rhinoceros pendant below.
Kate Jenkins crochets with a huge sense of humour. I love her range of breakfast fry-ups and wool sculptures of British favourites like Lyle’s Golden Syrup and Heinz Ketchup to tinned anchovies.
I have just read that the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery will be hosting an exhibition of this knitwear designer’s foodart, aptly titled Kate’s Cafe.
I can’t wait to go. It looks like it has the right ingredients to warm anyone’s heart.
I have a confession to make. I am an apple snob. Always have been, always will be. I remember the horrid little apples that were always in the Children’s Day goodie bag. I used to give them away and I am thankful that I am never to see those awful Washington apples again.
The problem with apples that don’t quite make the mark is the powder-like texture. Crunchiness is crucial to deliciousness in apples.
Pink Lady apples were a favourite for awhile but are now in second place to the snazzily named Jazz apples. Initially only sold in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s now offer them with a 1/3 off promotion, which means these crunchy, juicy apples are now available at a friendly-to-the-pocket price. Both Jazz and Pink Lady varieties not only taste great but look very rosy.
With the temperatures rising and dropping, I have been eating quite a lot of apples. I’ve enjoyed biting into a Jazz apple when it’s sunny and finding a pot of Zuivelhoeve yoghurt with apple and cinnamon compote very heartwarming and soothing with temperatures have dropped. This yoghurt is so delicious that upon discovering it, I have appointed myself as an apple and cinnamon yoghurt evangelist.
When I think of quite ordinary fruits like apples and pears, I think of how simple and inspiring these fruits are in design. From the yellow apples on my black patent shoes to my Orla Kiely grey pear print duvet cover. I remember obsessing over a pear pendant that was sold on day-lab but they’ve stopped shipping internationally, I was unable to buy it. I looked at the site today again and found some other lovely apple and pear necklaces.
As a fan of wearing fruity jewellery, I admit that fruits as inspiration work best as kitchen products. I love Yoyo Ceramics‘ kitchen tidy. Sold as a pair of an apple and a pear, they are available in four colours and will brighten anyone’s kitchen or even dressing table.
Luckily for me, working for Orla Kiely means being surrounded by print. The pear print is a favourite and I often reach out for the green apples and pears mug to have my coffee in and it pleases me ever so much, each time.
It’s been very hot in KL this few weeks and when the weather leaves you all sweaty, nothing is as nice as some ice-cold juicy watermelon. When walking around Little Korea in Ampang on Friday, my friend Kio and I were excited to find a watermelon ice lolly. Fashioned like a watermelon slice, this ice lolly was made so realistic it even had seeds scattered all over.
This popsicle looked so good, it reminded me of a jumper I’ve had my eye on and keep meaning to buy. The handknitted jumped is from Dudua based in funtime Barcelona!
A quick research also led me to quite a few fruitwear (footwear) watermelon-inspired designs. These include socks from artist/designer Baron von Fancy , and at least 3 models of trainers/sneakers that Mike Perry had customised in watermelon including Nikes and Vans. Funnily enough Vans also released the watermelon themed collection for Spring/Summer 2009, giving Van fans quite a few different cuts of the fruit to wear.
Keep is also offering watermelon fans plimsolls that will hopefully keep feet fresh all day. I like the use of colour in their offering. Slightly more subtle than the crazy Vans version although I must admit I love the green soles.
The watermelon is a striking fruit. So round and so green with such vermillion flesh, dotted with black seeds. It’s no surprise that designers find it an inspirational fruit. This morning I had some watermelon with salt for breakfast and when I am back home, I will probably be digging out my copy of Richard Brautigan’s In Watermelon Sugar to read again.
Update: Fans of Joakim can get his mp3 Watermelon Bubblicious here.
My love for neon comes and goes. No, what I want to say is my love for neon washes over me like a big wave and it simmers down. And then it comes back again.
My love for neon has been reignited by a recent trip to Primark and finding this neon plimsolls. Perhaps it was the recent post about jelly that reminded me of the joy in seeing neon colours on things.
Designers have dabbled with neon here and there. Influenced and inspired by highlighter pens there has been plenty of bright offerings over the seasons, usually around Spring/Summer seasons. One of my favourite rings is a neon pink acrylic diamond by AMT.
I love Paul Smith’s summer scarf offering in highlighter green, pink and yellow available from My Wardrobe. New York Magazine raved about Michael Kors neon outfit on the runway but what caught my eye were the shoes. That neon toecap is very nice.
My favourite neon item is a folded purse from Orla Kiely which is completely sold out from a few seasons ago. I managed to get hold of the flat purse in the sample sale but will not rest until I find the oversized patent yellow leather folded purse with a kisslock coin section. Marc Jacobs seems to introduce neon bags on and off again.
Susie Bubble had a few months ago experimented with some neon pompom balls under a sheer dress. It looks amazing and a nice way to introduce some fluoro to jazz up (or should I say electro-fy) an outfit.
The choices are endless with neon. Whether you want a full on neon outfit (I have in my wardrobe an excellent neon yellow Hoss tank top and an asymmetrical neon pink top) or you just wanted to inject a little fluoro-power (accessories are great), there’s something out there. I quite like simple black dresses brightened up with neon tights.
And when you’re walking about have a listen to Cut Copy’s Bright Like Neon Love.
One of my bestfriends is having her birthday party soon. The theme she has chosen is off Alice in Wonderland. She’ll be having a Madhatter’s Tea Party in Callooh Callay, a bar in Shoreditch so named as a nod to a Lewis Carroll poem. Naturally the design aspects of such a theme has been on the cards of late. I ffffound this Russian prison deck which led me to look for more in this direction. Playing cards have always fascinated. And for a long time they were the first thing to spring to mind when you heard the words “inflight entertainment”. They provide the perfect canvas for designers to play around with and magicians love this easy-to-carry prop for demonstrating magic tricks. I wondered about playing cards in fashion…
I thought of Topshop’s AW08 Alice in Wonderland inspired collection which I thought was better on paper than in execution. I only came away with some heart print underwear which are cute but nothing out of the ordinary. I am surprised that although the suits make really easy prints for design, I’ve not actually seen much out there. Apart from hearts, the other suits have not really made it as a design for print. It is a bit of a shame really as you can see above clubs make quite a nice little alternative to flowers as a print. I met Elizabeth Lau in Paris a couple of years ago and was really pleased to see her name pop up in quite a few places recently. The amicable designer has a lovely approach with her use of love hearts in her quirky designs. This dress is a nice little example of what I was hoping to find when researching playing cards.
Accessories are the finishing touches, so I was pleased to find the handmade jewellery from Joolz found via this blog. The multi-strand pearl necklace is accented with butterlies made out of vintage playing cards.
Imaginary Drizzle is a series of photos taken by Carl Kleiner. I like these photos and his other works a lot. Funny that I came across these photos as I had just read and seen the photos of Stuart Semple’s art installation on South Bank. Happy Cloud was an installation of over 2000 smiley face clouds that were released at the Tate Modern on 25 February. The best art installations are always the ones that alter your perspective and change your environment.
The happy clouds reminded me of some cute little jewellery pieces. Clouds, like rainbows make such nice designs. They remind you of being a child. I am quite sure the cloud is one of the first shapes you learn to draw. In reality a cloudy sky isn’t great but the magic of clouds lies in the marshmallow fluffiness and the desire to dive into them. I like sitting by the window on airplanes on daytime flights because I love looking at the clouds and going off on a bit of a daydream. For awhile I was obsessed with taking photographs of clouds and have an album on my lomohome dedicated to clouds.
Cloud necklace by Kyoko Hashimoto
Finest Imaginary Cloud Earrings
And for those with their heads in the clouds, try lying on some cuddly clouds instead. I love Donna Wilson’s cloud cushions- available in three colours.
I am enjoying having a night in listening to Gui Boratto’s Take My Breath Away. The melodic synths are putting me in quite a dreamy mood, securing my cotton wool head a place in the clouds.
My Spring/Summer 09 Orla Kiely bag has arrived and I had the weekend to carry it around happily for I love the shape and the size. The texture of this quilted leather with the buttons are great for those who are tactile.
This Smarties-inspired quilted handbag comes in bright yellow and coral. I have gone for the more subtle mushroom with the colourful buttons that resemble the sugar-coated candy that will help brighten up my wardrobe.
I love big bags and this is a fantastic size- it actually fits a big bottle of water and your whole life, which is generally how I like to roll. Nothing like a good rummage in the bag to come up with goodies- it’s kinda like having your own lucky dip. And does it make me crave for chocolate or candy? Not really because sometimes all you need in life is some eye candy and I have mine on my arm.
I have to thank my sister for leading me to Joanna Rutter and her pretty silver birds. Birds have in the last few years gain a popularity in fashion and jewellery. It can get quite difficult to see something special when a motif has been used over and over again.
It is remarkable that Joanna Rutter can produce such simple jewellery that you want badly. I wouldn’t say that there’s anything especially unique about it but there’s a gentleness about the designs. And a sense that time has been spent designing and making these.
Having bookmarked this last summer I looked at the designs again today and was pleased to see that I still wanted. If you read her blog, you will see that it is bursting with inspiration and a sort of quiet appreciation of all things nice- not unlike her jewellery.
Her pretty pieces are available to buy here.
