hot in NYC ...part II

back again, hope you think these are hot.....

interesting:cake decor llc where: brooklyn new york
website: www.cakellc.com what: industrial designers banded together to form a product development consultancy, mostly earthen forms [homewares]

fresh: daisy dog studio where: brooklyn NY
website: www.daisydogstudio.com what: cute homewares

cool: elventwentyfive where: los angeles california
website: www.eleventwentyfive.com what: love, love, LOVE the idea of the box pillow for the floor or the sofa, there's something..... proper about them. BUT you have to go to the website to see them and the artist of the pafa pillow - fantastic large scale works + installations too!. These guys broughtt you the graphic swoon pillow and you have to check out the tree pillows too!

best doggie design: for the dogs where: toronto ontario canada
website: www.forthedogs.com what: must give the biggest shout out to our own torontonians over at 'for the dogs'! The hoody bed is a fab idea - bed + blanket in one! where can I get one for me? and they have these great new pet bowls too, check out the website

mod tots: gustav maxwell company where: san francisco california website:www.gustavmaxwell.com what: contemporary baby bedding company.

stay tuned, more coming.........

hot in NYC.......[part I]

just a small list of design trends for this coming 2006:

HOT! ige where: los angeles california website: www.igedesign.com
what: gilded luxe insect pillows - limited edition wool pillows that have been cut straight from the rolls of traditional men's suiting materials. available in brown or grey striped suiting.

HOT! twenty2 where: brooklyn new york website: www.shoptwenty2.com what: i had the an amazing opportunity to work with them on a project at the interior design show where the so graciously donated some fabulous wallpaper. they are amazing + last year they launched their wall band and this year it's sophisticated printed pillows. can't wait to work with them again one day.

interesting: iittala group website: www.iittala.com what: scandinavian design various unique items like birds by ova toikka, jars by pentagon design, pots + pans by bjorn dahlstrom.

interesting: alessi website www.alessi.com what: they speak for themselves but i like the parrot corkscrew, i need it! in teal.

cool: not neutral website: www.notneutral.com/ what: porcelain black links espresso sets, vases home decor + more

cool: ame studios inc wherewebsiteie:www.acmestudio.com/ what: i love pens, any slick writing utensil really. this one is unique 'design 7' by 'buro fur form' by the team of benjamin constantine+ alexander - not bad. $69.00 US

mod tots: ducduc nyc where: nyc website: www.ducducnyc.comwhat:design haus for mod tots - need i say more. if you know then you have it.

mod tots: gogo gear where: malibu california website:www.gogogeargoods.com what: rolling satchel

tech style: acme made where: portland oregon website:www.acmemade.com what: complete lin of protective bags totes + slim case

HOT! amenity home where:los angeles california website: www.amenityhome.com what: the chicest sheets and pillows for graphic filled dreams. ahhh, sleep....

mod tots: arington modern children's furniture where: brooklyn nyc website: www.argington.com what: baltic birch modern furniture for your uber kool kid-o.

foxy pets: bella bean couture where:san francisco website: www.bellabeancouture.com what: that friggin' dog is so ooo beyond cute - i just had to. and the pet beds rock too.

stay tuned for parts II and more.....

design notes of 'amour'....

I WON'T BITE [drop me a line*pleeease] i never hear from anyone [except for one fab comment-thanks justyna, keep'em comin' !], so drop a line or add a comment, won't you?
i'd love to hear from you guys...even talk amongst yourselves...go on...discuss...comment....pass the site along. =)

quick like a bunny today.....

it is a warm sunny 6 degrees celsius [42.8 degrees fahrenheit- pour mes amis américains], dry like a fresh spring day without all the water runoff! which means great day for a run in the park and the new running shoes will stay clean.

so where do i start - on thursday jan 26th, 2006 eye weekly published their toronto's best issue and i MUST to give a shout out to a family member who ownsruns the winning bar for 'best bar to watch the game' ...philthy mcnasty's, excellent dudes!!!! excellent, considering it all started out in the suburbs for them. about eye weekly - i like their section 'my apartment' it takes you into the homes of different artists around the city. if you have a rented space you think they might be interested in -email eye weekly.

if you don't already know, mr. charles khabouth is already at it again. giving us yet another place to kick back and chill in super style by revamping the former restobar 'loft' on king street west into LUX. check it out at 720 king street west toronto. a great shout out to our toronto designers munge leung - oh the luxury, to have a half million dollars to play with.

pick up a deck of cards one of my favorite all time places - the paper place . 100% of the proceeds from this chic gambling gear supports the services of 'open studio' canada's leading print making center- that is artist run, deck of cards$20.00. [ can i tell you how much our lovely 3yr old loves going to his 'paper store' - i love him so.]

oh no! is it true? preloved at 613 queen street west in toronto closed its deconstructed-retro-fashion doors? can it be true? yes, it is and i missed the darn gone warehouse sale too. ug! check the website for their huge list of approved retailers in toronto and beyond.

FYI - THE PRELOVED WAREHOUSE SALE HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL NEXT WEEK [TUESDAY JAN.31, 2006] AT 24 RYERSON, ON THE LOWER LEVEL. few, i made it to the sale .


hit swoon gallery at 63 ossington on toronto for the white elephant art sale, ongoing until february 26th, 2006. the gallery will e stocked with unique pieces from our own local artists. HELLO, prices starting at $30.00 - go get some art!

thats all for now...later dudes.

konzuk

well, we kept seeing this advertisment in our dwell mag, for a couple months now. kept flipping it by..... thinking, thats odd, is it for textiles? hmm, kept flipping along for weeks. then one day i felt the broach in the advertisment speak to me. it said ' you like that i strike your fancy don't you?' and then i fliped to the modern market section and it all made sense. konzuk!

her name is karen konzuk who's passion is clearly the experimentation of materials and the subtleties of design. creating konzuk metalwear enabled karen to strive to increase the awareness of her work that was clearly inspired by industrial design and architecture. her philosophy "jewelry is about furnishing the body - it should fit perfectly with one's personality. appreciating the subtleties of art and design in our environment can begin with something as small as jewelry."

minimal modern. simple. intricate. so which pieces do i love?

powder coated bracelet konzuk metalwear karen konzuk $190.00

embellished brooche konzuk metalwear karen konzuk $235.00

embellished bracelet konzuk metalwear karen konzuk $295.00 [a must have]

shop for konzuk metalwear in toronto at bounty, dessa, a show of hands, art gallery of ontario [AGO], swak 2, trove, corktown jewellery. for all other canadaian, US + international locations click here.

simply tasteful. and she's canadian, based out of calgary alberta.

just giving a shout out to justyna, thanks so much for the first comment-ever! keep them coming! have a great weekend!

now, thems some rims!

lets start at the beginning....so i get the mail yesterday and there is an envelope addressed to me that was for a subscription to time magazine. before i shredded it, i thought to myself, funny the last time i saw a time magazine was when i was 12, researching some scientific thing at my parents. [don't laugh, i was at one time very smart and wore thick glasses. don't be fooled i was also a jock-ette].
i remember my mom ordered the magazine all the time, yet i was the only one in the house that read them really. anyways, i checked out the website ... and then i browsed...for like an hour. [what? the kid was pooped + he went to bed at 8:05 pm, have you seen the line up for tv these days? sheesh.]. turns out there was an article back in november 2005 titled 'best inventions 2005' [there are only 3 listed, hmmm...i thought we banged out way more than that], and this little number caught my eye. it's genius really, odd that i'm posting about it, but something about it captures me. it's crisp, structured, exudes strength.


'Airing It Out - Inventor: Michelin
Availability: Now for the IBOT; about 2020 for cars
To learn more: michelinman.com

A wheel without an inflated tire may seem old-fashioned--think wooden buggy wheels--but the Tweel from Michelin is anything but retro. A shock-absorbing rubber tread band distributes pressure to dozens of flexible polyurethane spokes. The spokes in turn are supported by an aluminum center. Because the Tweel is airless, it is more rugged than a pneumatic tire and never goes flat. The Tweel has been tested on the IBOT robotic wheelchair and military vehicles. But you won't see it on your Honda anytime soon. Michelin says it is still too noisy for automotive applications'
the tweel might also be found on the segway. smart. stylish. AND! the tweel was invented in north america - Michelin's North American research center in Greenville, S.C. USA.

them rims are off the hook.

pink awareness

even though breast cancer awareness month is in october over here in canada, i thought we could start the year off abreast in pink. with the pink pony fund by ralph lauren. they have been committed to the fight against breast cancer for more than fifteen years, pink pony is an extension of that commitment. shop here year round and show your support for pink pony.

'Pink Pony is Polo Ralph LaurenÂ’s initiative in the fight against cancer. With a focus on breast cancer, Pink Pony supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities. Ten percent of proceeds from Pink Pony products benefits the Pink Pony Fund.'

know that in canada our canadian designers support breast cancer too. the designers at roots has helped support the fight against breast cancer, roots and rethink breast cancer hosted a gala evening launching fashion targets breast cancer (FTBC) campaign in 2005. the event was aimed at raising funds for and awareness of the canadian charity rethink breast cancer.

and if you are looking for an initiative to support now, the hit the little sweethearts ball for socialites big and small [where parents sip champagne and tots sip mocktails] held saturday february 11th from 3:30 - 6:30 pm at the stone distillery fermenting cellar, 55 mill street. $50 per adult, includes entrance for one child under 5 years of age. $25 for each additional child.

NYC GIFT FAIR

NYC gift fair is celebrating it's 75th year! wow, that a lot of exhibitors. known as THE global market place for giftware in NYC - it's the biggest and most famous of its kind. if your looking for the hottest buyers + sellers for your business - you need to be here. and let it be known, its all about business over there - this fair provides all the essentials to achieve your business goals: new products, new categories of gift merchandise, new sales and merchandising techniques and new technologies.
my favorite sections:

NY's newest showcasing 450 new companies + products

accent on design is a juried division showcasing the latest and most innovative designs in a multitude of product categories.

handmade is a unique juried section featuring domestic and international artists, designers and manufacturers of handmade merchandise.

just kids stuff devoted to kids stuff [one of the hottest sections right now!]

catch it starting this weekend january 29th - february 2nd in NYC 9:00 am -6:00pm [unless otherwise noted] at the jacob j. javits convention center + passenger ship terminal piers.
pour moi, i will just dream of being there.
i heart NYC. smooch, smooch.

kung hei fat choy!

get ready to welcome the year of the dog january 29th, 2006!

the chinese new year is an important celebration all over the world including canada. there are similar new years celebrations in japan, korea and vietnam known as the lunar new year or the spring festival. celebrations today are both literal and symbolic. spring cleaning is started about a month prior to chinese new year and must be completed before the celebrations begin. sooo, i better get cleaning....ha ha funny?

dog at stream lang shining qing dynasty

as the dust settles, i thought you might like to know ......toronto celebrates the lunar new year at the automotive building in exhibition place. there will be plenty to do taste + see at the festival. many visitors return every year to partake + enjoy a cultural experience.

facts: there has been a chinese community in canada since before confederation and the chinese now compromise the largest visible minority group in canada. did you know that there are approximately 1 029 395 chinese living in canada, even more today. infact toronto is possibly home to over 735 000 chinese in canada, ontario being the highest among the provinces + vancover could possibly reach 591 000.[check out stats canada]

even canada post is celebrating, to recognize the event they are issuing a 'year of the dog' commemorative stamp [released january 06th, 2006] for mailing your lunar new year greetings. the tenth issue in the series it is a collections of great interest to collectors for its visual symbolism and the richness of its production value. go to canada post to read more on the design of the stamp and the history behind the dog as a gate keeper.

kung hei fat choy * prosperity to all!

urban pappa

why is it that dads chair is always the favorite comfy cozy chair?
we all know that for dad- not just any chair will do. i guess it may have to do with the pleasure of a good seat. big papa's chair can make everything more enjoyable: reading, watching the game, smoking a cigar or even taking a long winters nap.

a perfect example of a designthat would make a great dad chair, cleaned up a bit for your simple modern needs. it has a great seat cushion and a cushioned back at the right angle for curling up with your favorite book, latest design rag or simply nodding off .....zzzzzz. the arms are low with some cushion so you can rest your arm on them or toss a leg over the side. legs have a handsome flute in a warm dark tone perfect for both modern or tarditional spaces. $500.00 US, a web only exclusive at urban outfitters.

hive modern

cool store out in portland, oregon: hive modern presents good design + describes themselves as....
'hivemodern.com, is the web-stop for the savvy design enthusiast ...bringing the rare and
unusual plus time-tested icons of deisgn directly to your front door'

they offer a clean + crisp website that hosts a fresh and divine collection of design products - perfectly organized for your online shopping or resourcing. look for them in the 'pearl district' while visiting portland, oregon or catch them online .....maybe even subscribe to their monthly newsletter.

runway love...

project runway II aired its second episode in toronto, i'm beyond hooked.
catch the creative death match monday nights at 10:00 pm on the life network.
oh the challenges!!! oh the drama!!!

favorites from PR I-2005: nora calguri + maybe vanessa riley - both were cut early, one right after the other actually. for me they had a vibe.

favorites from PR II-2006: chole dao but there is something about gaudalupe vidal...maybe its an LA thing. rrrr, if i had to pick one of the gentlmen - i'd say daniel franco, he seems so approachable and the red dress for barbi was hot, intense + intricate.

in your face

via the art gallery of ontario in downtown toronto……..



'Get creative – draw it, paint it or write it.
Your work will join thousands of others in what could be the largest presentation in the world! submit your origional works of are by june 1 to be a part of In Your Face - an exhibition opening July 1, 2006.
For the first time in the Gallery's history they are launching an exhibition created entirely by the public.

Opening July 1, In Your Face is and exhibition of portraits collected from the general public to celebrate the individuality and diversity of Canada. Submissions are now being accepted for the exhibition and the Gallery willbe entering the completed project for consideration by the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest collection of portraits ever assembled.

One of the AGO's initiatives as part of Toronto's Live with Culture celebration this year, In YOur Face will allow everyone to become part of the Gallery's future. In addition to external submissions, visitors can experiment with portrait-making in the Gallery and take part in interactive artist's demostrations.

Submissions can be made using this print-and-mail form: click In Your Face , the AGO's contribution to Toronto as part of the Live with Culture program.'

......very cool, count us in!

TO-living with culture

.....brought to you by To living with culture program



tall buildings: who is planning our city?

Runs: Jan 25, 2006
At: St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East, Toronto [view map]
Neighborhood: Downtown
Playing: Wednesday
Times: 7:30 - 9:30
Cost: Free

'Toronto continues to grow upward while key decisions (where to build? how tall is too tall?) are being made in the wrestling ring of public opinion. How will decisions be made now that City Council has new powers to oversee development? Check out this free forum to find out!
Co-sponsored by the St. Lawrence Centre Forum and the Toronto Society of Architects.....'


to read more click here.

cheap + chic - part 2

cramped quarters? small living? aquired a brand new hip 'shoebox' of a condo? great, heres some IKEA finds for you. be sure to hit the 'big blue box' for these simple, chic and cheap finds that are destined to make you look like a designer diva. check these out ........

sune barstool designer: chris martin$19.99

bettan cushion cover designer: monika mulder $4.99

hallaryd picture motif created by alicia berger $99.00

lampan table lamp designer: unkown $5.99

bettan blom designer: caroline abild jessen $12.99

thats all for this week, its a fantastic day out here and we are off to the park.
see you tuesday.

portuguese babies

present - there's a new babe in town. a hip new doll design for little girls has has sprung up in the land of all this modern for your mini. nurseryworks has introduced a nurseryworks website exclusive: dolls by renowned portuguese dollmaker rosa pomar dressed in fabrics by nurseryworks. pomar's vividly colored and uniquely patterned playmates extend the centuries-long tradition of handmade cloth dolls beyond folk art and home economics. the granddaughter of famed portuguese painter julio pomar, pomar uses only high-quality durable and washable fabrics made from natural fibers for her dolls,nurseryworks textiles provide the perfect doll-making materials.

$68.00 US + $7.00 shipping.

past - what one person considers ugly, another considers beautiful and that is when the ugly doll became the new bunch of quirky, colourful characters that took north america by storm. they disappeared off the shelves faster than you could say "cabbage patch". those huggable, limited edition creatures created a frenzy of excitement.

ugly doll OX $20.00 at retailers across canada

DIY- if you have to make them yourself, grab a bunch of holey socks and this book and you should be set. and if you have trouble navigating through the book - always know that you can order the stupid sock creatures online.

cheap + chick - budget living part 1

live in a downtown condo? have the life of sophisticated loft living? maybe you broke the bank on that golden egg of a bungalow nestled next to the perfect park, then recently gutted the place to create a gallery like setting for your entire herman miller repertoire? like most of you out there living on a modest budget I’m always looking to get some elegant, vital pieces put into the mix. who can keep up with the trends these days, let alone afford it? That’s where IKEA PS comes in.

facts - even though IKEA mass produces their modern design wares, this is a corporation benefiting from their Scandinavian design legacy to sell economical novel products to the masses. and the best part, I bet every time you hit the 'big blue box' you have no intentions of buying anything – right? IKEA's traffic pattern is designed so that by the time you get to housewares, you are suffering from a near-homicidal need to start throwing things. or maybe not, you might have been smart and showed up with all of the correct room dimensions. and if you a DIY’er – this is heaven for the next project that is justifiably ‘READY MADE’ material. if you have your goals written on a list and carb up for your IKEA nightmare [always knowing fully that you are destined to go back because they are out of stock on some of the pieces], then this is the place you can keep that budget right on target.

history - recycling material makes up a lot of the IKEA PS 2006 range, a complete line of 40 products for the home. the new 2006 collection is the work of 28 designers and has taken approximately 2.5 years to develop. knowing all the while that the designers were having fun producing a cavalcade of clever and innovative ideas for the home is enough to make a person puke. most products are bold enough to be avant-garde, yet its worth knowing that if these products are going to exist IKEA PS is very aware that it is necessary to take steps towards reducing the environmental impact of the heaps of stuff they sell every day. enough said, check these stylish finds for 2006, these couldn’t be more basic for any modern home.


IKEA PS jonsberg design hella jongerius combined handcrafted style with mass production process – the best of both worlds. stoneware, feldspar porcelain + red clay $49.99 each. this is about $6920 less than a similar [yet very limited edition + handmade] vase available at moss. even if you can afford the handmade one you’ll want to pick up one of these. they are that good.

IKEA PS axvall designer neils gammelgard comfortable low are chair for two without fabric + foam. back made of springy elastic bands with steel frame. $129.00 new.

IKEA PS gribby designer maris vinka pattern idea via combining patterns of different cultures resulting in a strict pattern feeling softer and a folkloric pattern feels lighter + modern. 100% linen. $29.99 new.

so if the memories of the trip becomes one big blur, know that you can always plan on going back to the 'big blue box' and get some more things. maybe make life easier and shop online at IKEA canada then brush up on IKEA PS, the website is impressive with product details, games + videos of the designer's speaking about their products [items will most likely not be available online, so check out the selection at your local ikea store.]. still know that while IKEA PS may be mass, they are small scale mass in comparison to most ikea items due to their unusual materials and fabrication so not all items will be available in all stores at all times - if you want a piece don’t wait until next time to pick it up.