TEUXDEUX iPHONE APP

Hooray!

For several months I have been obsessed with the "simple, designy, browser-based to-do app," created by swissmiss and her studio mates of Fictive Kin, called TeuxDeux. Well, surprise surprise, swissmiss and Fictive Kin have done it again! Yesterday they released an iPhone/iPod Touch app version of this amazing online program. You can find it in the iTunes app store (here) for a mere $2.99. Super cheap given the fact I will use this EVERY day for the foreseeable future.

Read more about the app here and check out the (free!) browser-based version here.

p.s. Proof that these designers are super cool? Pay attention to the sample to do items in this video. We should all have "Be Awesome" as a daily goal!

YE OLE' FACEBOOK

This weekend I came across a clever and funny idea: historic facebook. Basically, Cool Material has re-imagined many of the world's biggest historical events as facebook status updates. These made me smile and I thought they might be a fun way to start your work week.

See more of these chuckle-inducing status updates here.

GONE SAILING

Things are going to be quite around here until Monday since I will be taking a sailing certification class starting today and ending on Sunday. Thank goodness for this spell of warm, sunny weather!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! As always, feel free to explore some of the blog archives (links at right) if you are in need of an O.I. fix.

Photo from the LIFE image archives here.

OBSESSIVE TENDENCIES

Design for Mankind featured the crazy installations by Heike Weber a while ago. But really I could not pass up something so clearly in line with my obsessive tendencies! The top and bottom images show drawings completed entirely by hand with permanent marker. The middle two photos are works made only with cording tied around pins stuck into the wall. Intensely awesome.

See more of Heike Weber's work here (I particularly love the drawings on paper!).

BLOG CRUSH: ARMELLE

For several months now I have been meaning to start writing posts that recommend some of the blogs I read on a daily basis. Well, I am finally getting around to it and starting with Caroline's amazing blog 'armelle'. Caroline often posts about the fun things she does with her adorable family, including the awesome parties she has thrown for them (see here). But my favorite posts she has done recently chronicle the ongoing renovation of her home studio. In March Caroline showed photos of her concrete floor which she stained a perfect robin's egg blue. Then she shared her epic find of this gorgeous butterfly-bird wallpaper by Schumacher. Finally she topped it off with perfect, simple styling: a white Parsons desk by West Elm and Eames-like wire base chairs from Overstock. All in all a perfect place for getting creative!

On top of all that Caroline also designs and runs a fabulous Etsy store chock full of gorgeous necklaces and jewelry. Check it out here. You can also check out the armelle blog here and the final studio makeover post here.

(all photos by Caroline Armelle Drake)

NICHOLAS NIXON

I apologize for not posting yesterday--I spent a long weekend in Boston hanging out with friends, eating good food, exploring, and seeing lots of and lots of art. I spent several hours wandering the beautiful halls of the Museum of Fine Arts and thought I would I tell you about an incredible exhibition there at the moment: Nicholas Nixon 'Family'.

Some information about the show from the MFA website:

"Among the most compelling of Nicholas Nixon’s series of photographs are the portraits that he has made of his close-knit family. These photographs, taken over time, explore the nature of long-committed relationships. The exhibition features the entire sequence of the celebrated portraits of the artist’s wife, Bebe, and her three sisters. Taken annually, the Brown Sisters pictures reveal gradual changes in their physiques and shifts in their relationships [ . . . ] Nicholas Nixon, who teaches at Massachusetts College of Art, is one of the most celebrated American photographers of our generation."

Needless to say, I am in love with the 'Brown Sisters' series, which quietly and poetically recalls the passage of time and the continuing importance of family connections. Looking at these 30 photographs you can see the strength of these women, standing together year after year.

Wouldn't it be lovely to do a similar project with your own family?

Learn more about the exhibition here.

WHAT A STUD

I am a big one for stud earrings. I pretty much wear a tiny pair of silver studs every day--they go with everything! So I am constantly on the look out for new takes on this simple idea. Here are some of recent favorites, as found on Etsy.

top to bottom:

• Sterling and White Topaz Studs, CreationsbyCat, $42
• Everyday Textured Studs, Joannarutter, sold out
• Perfectly Petite Pebble Posts, SoundsofSilver, $11.50

Even with the elegance and flexibility of simple silver studs, every once in a while you need something a little more decorative. Here are some other Etsy options with a little bit more oomph.

top to bottom:

• Silver Doves of Peace Studs, artisticcreations, $18
• Flat Circle Studs in Sterling Silver, michellechangjewelry, $36
• Matte Silver Branch Posts, shlomitofir, $23

Happy weekend all!

PINTEREST

You may have noticed a couple of updates in my sidebar recently. Most of these have to do with my new favorite website: Pinterest. Pinterest made the blogging rounds this spring when many bloggers participated in a "blog it forward" posting series, but I am just get into the swing of things with this glorious site. Basically Pinterest acts as a virtual inspiration board where you can collect images of everything that interests you! Right now I have "pin boards" for everything from my wish list to party planning to graphic design (above are my boards on flowers and travel destinations). You can also search other people's boards or invite someone to collaborate on a board with you (can you say wedding planning?).

The best part? Pinterest works through a bookmarklet in your web browser. See an image you like? Just click the 'Pin It' link in your bookmarks bar and a pop up window will open that allows you to choose among one of your boards and write a description. So awesome.

Pinterest in still only in testing phase, but you can sign up for the waiting list here or email me to get an invite! Also, check out all my boards here.

THE OBJECT OF MY EYE

As you know, I am a big fan of Gary Huswit's documentary work, and I can say that his latest movie--"Objectified"--lives up to his standard of intellectual inquiry. I watched "Objectified" on Instant Netflix yesterday (but you can also buy/rent it through iTunes here) and was fascinated by the interviews with some of the world's top minds: designers, design curators and design historians. Just like 'Helvetica' this new film considers the complexity behind simple products, forcing the viewer to question why we are drawn to certain objects and the way functionality affects our relationship with the things of everyday. Along these lines one of my favorite interviews was with the designers at OXO, who talked about their redesign of the simple vegetable peeler to make it easier to hold. Brilliant!

Get more information about Gary Hustwit and 'Objectified' here and here.

IKEA TEXTILES

The images in this post make it super long, so I will get right to the point. This past weekend, while visiting my parents in my hometown, I made a pit stop at Ikea. I love wandering through the marketplace and stocking up on pretty little things that will take me years to use up but make me happy to have anyway. On this trip I was super impressed by their selection of striped and patterned bolts of fabric--wouldn't they make great pillows? I also bought a ton of paper napkins, especially blue and white polka dots on the top. Inexpensive solutions to a pretty table or couch: thanks Ikea!

Check out the fabrics here, the napkins here and everything else at Ikea here.

p.s. Was anyone else a little disappointed by everything else in the Ikea catalogue this year? I think a lot of the accessories look great, but the big ticket items seem to be getting more boring, no?

p.p.s. I also bought these, a couple of these, and this. Cute!

JONATHAN ADLER SALE

Just a quick post today since this week is starting at a frantic pace. I just noticed the sale going on at Jonathan Adler (posted about before here) and thought I would give you all the heads up. I have long loved the bright, graphic patterns proffered by Jonathan Adler and the items on sale, while still at designer-level price points, would certainly be a fabulous addition to any hope. Check out the sale here.

top to bottom, left to right:

Light Blue Richard Nixon Rug, $160 (2'x3') or $1500 (6' x 9')

Squares Rug, $650 (4' x 6')

Junior Pink Tonal Squares, $650 (4' x 6')

Diamonds Rug, $2200 (8' x 10')

Talitha Rug, $650 (4' x 6') or $2200 (8' x 10')

Black Stripes 5 Piece Dinnerware, $52.50

*I couldn't help but add these mod pinwheel plates . . .

SOUND2 SPEAKERS

As you know, this blog is often the venue for me to chronicle my ever-expanding wishlist (and gift list!). Well, here is my newest tech love--particularly since the left speaker on my laptop has gone kaput--the Sound² Speakers. These speakers by LaCie, which plug into your laptop to pump up the built-in sound, look cool and, apparently, work wonderfully. Given my happy experiences with LaCie's external hard drives, I can only imagine that these speakers would live up the the hype.

Check them out here.

p.s. Hope you all have a great weekend! I am headed to Connecticut; I will try to take some pictures to share with you all next week!

THE ARTIST SPEAKS

Learn more about the amazing jazz musician, composer and activist here and here.

MARLEY STELLMANN

Yesterday, when going through the amazing posts on The Dieline, I came across the super cool work of recent design school graduate Marley Stellmann. After some tooling around on Stellmann's website, I discovered the incredibly clever poster series above. These pun-focused posters were meant to help draw larger crowds to a farmer's market in Richmond, VA; I have to say that I would go to check out this (obviously) cool farmer's market if I lived within 100 miles of it. Alas, I will have to settle for the (awesome) Green Market here in NYC.

Another super smart project by Marley Stellmann? This simple video. It pokes fun at our overly politically correct society and is short, elegant and smart. Like all of this designer's work.

See more of his work here.

(p.s. Just realized how many photo-video posts I have done in the last couple weeks. Hope you like that! I will try to mix it up soon!)

TINY STREET ART

I have long been enamored with the work of street artist Slinkachu. Slinkachu situates the tiny figurines he has made in cleverly constructed vignettes in public places. A drain pipe becomes a secret lair, a bottle cap becomes a jacuzzi, a soda can becomes a place of great worship . . . and al of it becomes fabulous! His website (here) shows readers the mini installation and its larger location, reminding us just how easy it would be walk past one of these little wonders.

This morning I came across this sweet video, by Vimeo user 'Yo Man', which also uses little figurines in the manner of Slinkachu. The plot line is simple, but the movement of the cars and figures is superb. Hope you like it!

More videos by 'Yo Man' here.

(p.s. I knew I had posted about Slinkachu before! Check out my previous post here.)

A DAY LIKE ANY OTHER

I was recently referred to the glorious work of Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander, now on view at the New Museum downtown. After seeing the above piece, entitled 'I Wish Your Wish', I almost died. The bright colors and intriguing idea behind this installation make it a 'must see' for me.

Some information:

"At the church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil the faithful tie silk ribbons to their wrists and to the gates of the church, and, according to tradition, their wishes are granted when the ribbons wear away and fall off. For Neuenschwander’s installation I Wish Your Wish at the New Museum, hundreds of similar ribbons will be printed with visitors’ wishes from past projects, and will hang from the gallery walls. Visitors will be invited to remove a ribbon, tie it to their wrist, and replace it with a new wish written on slip of paper, continuing the project that keeps generating new ribbons and dreams."

So cool! The show is up until September 19. Find out more information here.

TYPEFACE TEMPLATE

I have been seeing this chart everywhere recently . . . and with good reason! Julia Hansen designed this awesome flow chart to help designers choose a typeface to suit their project and personality. Love it! It has the right combination of cheeky humor and insights. Brilliant!

See it (super) large here.