Thursday, May 31, 2012

Nike SB Koston White Swan

Three things: 1.) skate shoes are super durable, and with everyday wear and tear will outlast nearly anything you've owned in the past. 2.) these ones are simple and understated enough to wear with something a little nicer, but you won't be out of place in the park, and 3.) you should go get a pair.


www.nikeskateboarding.com

Classic American Lawn Chair



If you are of a certain vintage...the above picture will bring back sounds and sensations of your youth...and for some, summer would not be summer without the aluminum framed and webbed seating. With everything retro cyclically being new again, this is what we get. You can order yours here.


(via acontinuouslean)

Poetry In Motion - 300SL Gullwing


The 300SL Gullwing is without a doubt one of the most recognizable and sought after automobiles...so much so they can command prices just south of a million bucks. With an investment like that in a car, you'll have to excuse some owners if they are apprehensive when it comes to taking the car out for a burn. Forgive us..but we think that is total bullshit! What kind of moron would spend that kind of coin on a car, most likely a car he's lusted after the better part of his life, to sit and stair at it? Sure, it's beautiful sitting still...but that is nothing in comparison to the sights, smells and sounds of it moving. This is why we want to be adopted by the 300SL owner featured in the above video, which just happens to be the most modern footage ever shot of this masterpiece in motion. Have a look to see just why this car is so special.

Dala For Dedon

Warm weather means more time lounging outside which means the search is on for comfortable solutions that fit next to a BBQ and a pool and still look good. Outdoor furniture manufacturer's Dedon have teamed up with designer Stephen Burks for a new collection called Dala. Inspired by the improvised seating found in many communities around the world as well as the woven manufacturing process common to those areas, this line is a great combination of old and new. Made with recycled food and drink packaging as well as a recycled polyethylene structure, the colourful patterning is modern and handcrafted all at the same time. Available soon through Dedon.

Tiffany 1837 Cuff

In celebration of Tiffany's 175th anniversary, they have launched a unique line called 1837 characterized by the stamped signature of Charles Lewis Tiffany and a metal they are calling Rubedo. This rosy hued metal is a combination of gold, silver, copper and zinc and has stirred debate as the company claims to have invented a "new metal" which is not correct. Regardless of the marketing ploy, the line is classic Tiffany with a smooth elegance that they do so well.  We're partial to the cuff but check out the rest of the collection here

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Stacking Skeleton Cups

Has it been a while since we have posted about our favourite obsession? Accept our apologies with these Stacking Skeleton Cups by London based designer Phoebe Richardson. Great apart but better together, available here

M83 - Reunion


This is actually part two of two, where we posted part 1 (Midnight City) here on 20 October 2011. These bookended videos are about kids with telekinetic powers that escape from an institution into a nondescript cityscape. M83 is really taking their video making seriously...bringing back the medium that has now been relegated to viral videos on Youtube...but we swear, there are no cats in this video.

Repost - FieldCandy Tents

Summer is upon us, and therefore, so is spending your weekends in the great outdoors. Because of this, we thought we'd dig up this little nugget for you. Originally posted on 13 December 2011, which, at the time, may have been a little pre-mature: We love finding creativity in unusual places. You'd have to agree that the tent market is not someplace that one would expect to find something interesting going on...but alas, FieldCandy has managed to peek our interest. Not content with the usual boring, brightly coloured and technical appearing (and by technical we mean they look like running shoes) of the usual suspects in the tent market, FieldCandy has decided that the sky is the limit with what the outer fly can be. The tent itself is fairly standard, but the outer fly comes in a dizzying array or patterns and styles, so many in fact that you'll be hard pressed to pick your favourite. More pics after the jump, and you can see more and order yours here.

Peugeot Clef du Vin

If you are anything like us...you wine budget is...well...just that; budget. While we totally love and appreciate a fine wine, what we appreciate and what we can afford are often not in the same ballpark. Actually, they're so far out of the ballpark that we doubt they're even the same sport. Leave it to the French to make an instrument that improves wine, in that because of a chemical reaction that occurs between the alloy dot and the wine, it ages in seconds. What ends up then happening is the acceleration of reduced oxygen,alteration of the acids and tannins, and it is said that one second in the wine simulates one year of aging. It's no guarantee that the plonk you buy will become the next Petrus, but it just might bring forth some nice qualities that'll make Two Buck Chuck taste like Duckhorn. Available here.


(via Gearpatrol)

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Man On Fire


From their just released album "Here"...available wherever they sell fine music.

Bushakan Multi-Pair Glasses Stand

As douchey as it sounds...we've been longing for an attractive and sensible solution to storing our sunnies...as we didn't spend our hard earned money on Persols and Ray-Bans so they can sit in a drawer when not being used. Our totally unnecessary dreams have been answered by a creative Kickstarter, looking to raise some capital to get this off the ground. Come on...you know this is a good idea and you want one. Get in now...as early adopters and "investors" are getting a substantial price break from the forthcoming retail price. You can see and learn more here.

Peter Tosh - Till Your Well Runs Dry


From his 1976 album "Legalize It," one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. 

Ben Fiess Ceramic Jar

We have stated in the past our love for the simple, the natural and the basic when it comes to design and well...pretty much anything. Using materials in their purest form for a purpose that has not changed in 100's of years and to do this and still catch our attention is pretty great. This is exactly what we feel artisan Ben Feiss has done in creating his ceramic jars. Handmade in Minnesota with meticulous crafting and understanding of the art of ceramics, these jars are a four part construction made up of cork plugs and rubber bands. Take a look through his website for a full collection and purchase here.

Pocket Notebook Cover

If you don't carry around a small notebook, you would be surprised what gems you are missing noting throughout the day...OK maybe only gems to you but useful all the same. Perhaps all you need to do is spice up your notebook with a good cover. R&L Goods make simple cotton covers in retro colours with complimentary elastic closures and an ingenious pencil/pen slot and as a bonus, they even add in a pocket Moleskine cahier notebook. Available here.

Monday, May 28, 2012

BMW Zagato Coupé Concept


We have two very obvious things to say about the above; damn is it beautiful, and when does it go on sale?  The first is due in part to the design consultancy that is the Milan based Zagato, who just recently gave the world the Aston Martin Zagato. While the BMW Zagato is purely a one off, Zagato provides their customers road ready vehicles and the BMW is no exception. We're hoping, that like the Aston Martin Zagato, this concept makes it into production.

Paint Chip Table Runner

For all you designers and lovers of colour out there, the paint chip table runner by Canadian textile designer Avril Loreti is a great addition to your decor. With names like Orange You Glad and Heartbeat printed in both English and French, this runner ombre's in a selection of colours ranging from teal to tangerine. Available through LEIF.

Black Watch Plaid & Orange Umbrella

We can't help being influenced by the upcoming London games and so in our search for all things British to spend our money on we fittingly came across the latest in umbrella design. From London Undercover x ACL & Co., this gentlemen's umbrella comes in Black Watch plaid with an orange interior and a single continuous handcrafted maple handle ensuring this is the one you never lose. Available here.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Screw Business as Usual

Here in Vancouver we as a city have had the pleasure of hosting Richard Branson and his Virgin Atlantic airline which today began operating flights from our local airport. The city is abuzz with the well known entrepreneur and his easy charm who seems to be as at ease speaking with our local politicians as he is in a jumpsuit showing off his latest fleet. You can't help being inspired by this guy and what he has accomplished but if you are still needing to know more about where he sees business and economies heading, pick up his latest book Screw Business as Usual. In it, he documents how he sees traditional Capitalist ideals being turned on their head and how doing good is actually good for business. 

SNAP! iPhone Case

We've posted our fair share of iPhone cases, but this one may have taken the cake. Looking like a vintage range-finder camera, it boasts an actual shutter button that makes the iPhone camera a simple button click away...far simpler than typing in your passcode, picking the camera app, waiting for it to load, setting up you pick, and then tapping the screen representation of the shutter button. There's even a tripod mount. From looks to functionality we can't really see a downside. You can get yours here.

New Balance 576 "Road to London"

A very nice, classic and simple pair of kicks to commemorate the lead up to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Made from waxed canvas and suede, with traces of gold trim alluding to the olympic medal, and a classic gum sole. Available where finer kicks are sold.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

D'Angelo is back...

...and we couldn't be happier about that. Previously billed as the next Marvin Gaye (ridiculously enormous shoes to fill to be sure), but lost to us temporarily to the haze that is addiction, we could not be happier to have him back. Details regarding his new material are few, but the fine folks over at Gentleman's Quarterly were granted a photoshoot and interview, his first in over a decade. He's quite candid, and explains an awful lot regarding his temporary abandonment of his career. More importantly though, he looks good, and sounds even better, as is evident by the impromptu performance he gave during the photoshoot...which you can see for yourselves after the jump. In the current issue of GQ, on shelves now.

Quello Table and Stool by Phil Proctor

We have space issues around our home. Because of this, having an office from which we can do some work, say...like this website for instance, is a luxury that our square footage does not permit. We are therefore exploring options for an unobtrusive and downsized work space that doesn't skimp on design or craftsmanship. We came across this table and stool from designer Phil Proctor and are seriously contemplating importing one for ourselves. You can learn and see more here, as well as order one for yourself. You can also see more of Mr. Proctor's designs here.

Mountain View Lamp by Dima Loginoff

What a beautiful concept for a lamp. Unfortunately, for now it is just that, a concept. However, Ms. Loginoff hopes to have it produced sometime next year in Italy, meaning most likely we won't see it here in the colonies until sometime in 2014. You can see more of the designers work here.

Trailer - The Great Gatsby


Making a film from a classic piece of literature is always fraught with peril. Making one that is also an already fantastic movie starring Robert Redford is even more perilous. Having said that, that trailer has us intrigued, as the casting is fantastic, and the sets look amazing. The story may not hold many surprises, however we surmise Baz Lurhman has some in store in how the story is told. Out this Christmas.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

We Are The World

Having a soft spot for graphic design we couldn't pass up showcasing ZERO PER ZERO's interpretation of a world map. We're not saying you should use this to teach your children but we love it's simplicity and the puzzling way they have chosen each shape and colour. 

Bellows Backpack

We will admit that we haven't quite mastered travel and security screening with ease given the assortment of necessities we travel with. Having to look presentable, streamlined and also equipped with all the necessary belongings needed while travelling can be challenging and we're thinking that the Bellows Backpack by Benjamin Hubert may help us. This stylish bag looks great while providing an intricate interior system perfect for sorting your life. Oh and making that dreaded moment at security where you have to strip down and display everything you own, a quicker and easier experience as well. Available through NAVA.

Paper Flower Wedding Bouquet

When you get into your late 20's and 30's a strange thing happens, you start separating your seasons into two distinct categories, wedding season and the off season. With that, the summer months are just around the corner which means wedding season is upon us and we can look forward to all sorts of uncomfortable speeches, awkward dances and lying about how "we're having an awesome time"! Pushing our cynicism aside, we have found a very inventive alternative to the traditional bouquet. Origami mixed with added decorations provide a longer lasting memento of the occasion and a fantastic style statement for that special day. Available here.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Superga Sneakers

We're reluctant to post this, as Converse All-Stars and Vans are our go-to casual footwear for the warmer months and this feels like blasphemy to us...but we saw these and decided to stray from the pack a bit and get ourselves a pair. Billed as the "Peoples shoe of Italy," the Superga is the Italians take on affordable kicks for the masses. Very basic and simple in their design, with enough to set them apart from the afore mentioned usual suspects...with of course the requisite rainbow of available colours. You can see and learn more here.

Leap


We were just saying the other day, that physically interfacing with our tech is such a 20th century method...and that by the time our child graduates high school, they'll be looking at the mouse and keyboard similarly to the turntable. We guess that means future hipsters will collect them and long for the days of clicking and typing...but we digress. Watch the video and see what we are talking about. You can see, learn, and pre-order here, and as an addendum, it is not too badly priced. We're thinking of ordering one, and judo chopping our way through our blog posts.

Trailer - Skyfall (James Bond)


We're really keeping our fingers crossed that this isn't Daniel Craig's last turn at the Bond roll. We are loving the re-imagined and modern interpretation of the spy series...and he is by far our favourite Bond...next to Mr. Connery of course. Although the teaser trailer above tells us very little in terms of plot lines, what we can glean is that Mr. Bond seems to be out of favour with Her Majesty's secret service.

Aether Folding Chairs & Table

Spend the day at the beach in style with some folding chairs and a table from the good folks at Aether. Like the better part of their outdoor wearables, it's in all black. It could have been any colour, but it wouldn't be Aether if it wasn't black. Okay...maybe grey. You can see some more pics, like what it all looks like packed away, here.


(via Uncrate)

Thursday, May 17, 2012

No Ceremony/// - Heartbreaker


A lot of buzz around this group right now, especially considering because nobody knows anything about the band members. Regardless...this tune will lodge itself in your subconscious for days (in a good way) and the above video will dominate your nightmares. Enjoy!

Tom Sachs x Nike = NikeCraft

Prolific artist Tom Sachs joined forces with sportswear juggernaut Nike and created a limited edition collection of spacey (literal) clothing to be released in conjunction with his Space Program project, his gallery show of a 4 week trip to Mars. Using material that is familiar to NASA, and that have never before been used in sportswear. The collection is comprised by some nice lightweight bags from the Ortho fabric (used on the outer shell of spacesuits), the Mars Yard shoe made from Vectran fibre (same material used on the Mars Rover landing airbags), and the golden Marsfly jacket which resembles the gold foil on the outside of the lunar lander. Available through the Tom Sachs website store here. More pics after the jump.

Re-post - Flux Chair - Dining Room Origami

Originally posted on 05 April 2011: Just when you thought you exhausted all the practical uses for origami, we've come along and decided to prove you wrong.  The "Flux" chair, previously only available in Europe, has been kind enough to make its way to the colonies, and there is nothing we can say that the pictures won't, so we won't waste your time rambling on.  Suffice to say; they fold completely flat making storage a snap, weigh less than 10 pounds making them ideal from a portability stand point, can be assembled by one person in less than ten seconds, are water proof so they can do double duty as patio chairs, and come in a lovely assortment of colours.  In addition, because I know you're wondering, each chair is good for 352 pounds.  And one more thing, you can get a very cool cushion/insert to dress them up a bit.  As usual, follow the jump for more pics. More info here.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Audi Wörthersee e-bike

Up until now...green design, especially dealing with assisted bikes, has left us a little meh. Leave it to zee Germans to bring us something this beautiful and functional, and dare we say, efficient. Seems like a cliché, but they can't help themselves, and that is why they are the design and manufacturing powerhouse they are today. The Audi Wörthersee e-bike is a fully suspended bike, with a built in 5-mode lithium-ion power plant that let's you decide how hard you want to work on your commute. With the assistance ramped up, we are told you can reach speeds of up to 50km/h. Maybe those bike lanes weren't such a shitty idea after all.

The Last of Us


Gaming keeps moving forward at a pace that is hard to keep up with. Pretty soon, why simply watch a movie when you can play it? The minds at Naughty Dog, the game makers that brought us the incredibly awesome and addicting Uncharted trilogy, have taken us one step closer in their upcoming release, Last of Us. The title really says it all...but this little clip should help elaborate. Think the Walking Dead or I Am Legend. We like the added touch of Hank Williams' "Alone and Forsaken" as a nice and creepy touch. Available for pre-order now, and exclusively on the PS3.

Dora CD PLayer by Jeong Yong

This would have taken the home audio world by storm...had it been designed 20 years ago. A truly great piece of industrial design, with the unit rotating on a 23.4 degree axis (just like a globe), compact disc loading on the back, speakers mounted on the front, and a slick monolithic remote in matching colour. It's just too bad that it is based on a dying technology. However, we are hoping for nostalgic twenty somethings ten years from now scouring garage sales and out of the way shops full of music snobs saying things like "nothing sounds as good as the golden age of digital." More pics after the jump.

Paolo Sandals by Native

Summer's here and its time to display your naked feet with an array of generally grungy flip flops you discovered at the back of your closet.  Please we beg you, if its comfort you desire then pick up a new pair of Paolo Sandals by Native here.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Love Pillow

For all you lovers of simple games and typography, the Love Pillow by Sweet Harvey offers the home accessory equivalent of a connect the dots game. Screen printed LOVE graphic on the front with a sweet paisley on the back, a nice addition to any decor and available here.

The Tea Street Band - Summer Dreaming


You're getting in on the ground floor on this one. Liverpool's The Tea Street Band (most aptly named British band ever) have just today, dropped their debut single, and it's a winner. Equal parts 80's new wave,  indie rock, and guitar pop, they have mashed it all up in a sonic blender and have given us a EP titled "Fiesta." Available via iTunes.

Water Tower Chair - Bellboy

What a beautifully crafted chair, made entirely from reclaimed redwood from a New York City water tower. See more, and learn more about the designer, Mat Driscoll, here.

Concrete Wallpaper - Piet Boon

Concrete is by far one of the most versatile and beautiful building materials. It is truly amazing what can be made out of concrete, and because of its more modern aesthetic, it is now a very sought after look in the home. However, due to building booms in emerging economies like China and India, concrete has skyrocketed in price, so the modern concrete constructed home you've always wanted may have to wait. That said, Dutch designer Piet Boon has created a series of wallpapers (in cooperation with NLXL) that give you the look for a fraction of the cost, allowing one to put a concrete feature wall in the home. We've posted just one of many finishes available, and if you like, you can learn more here.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Mayer Hawthorne - Henny & Gingerale


This is a bonus track off the digital version of his hugely successful 2011 album "How Do You Do." We're thinking that he used the money fronted by the label to throw himself a nice little party at the Chateau Marmont, and filmed it under the guise of a video shoot. Well played Mr. Hawthorne, well played. Let's just hope it was a sponsored event.

Yotam Ottolenghi - Plenty

Yotam Ottolenghi is an exciting new talent in the cooking world, owner of four eponymous London eateries and author of a weekly newspaper column that is read by foodies the world over. Who better then, to lend cred to vegetarian cooking? Plenty is an essential collection of 120 veggie-centric recipes that feature exciting flavours and fresh combinations that will impress readers and eaters looking for a new take on veg other than steamed or boiled to death. Bright, colourful photos accompany every recipe (huge bonus as we're visual learners), and we're of the opinion that this is an essential for any serious cook. Besides...we all should be eating more vegetables and less meat.

Trailer - Revolution


We're not ones for plugging prime time dramas, but we must admit that after having viewed the trailer for Revolution, we are seriously looking forward to fall TV. What peeked our interest is that it is brought to the small screen by Jon Favreau, the director behind Iron Man, and J.J. Abrams, the producer of everything cool these days (see the Star Trek reboot). Now, an all star director and production team obviously isn't enough to keep our interest, but the premise looks very interesting and we really want to know how this all plays out. Let's just hope they don't beat it to death, instead pulling the plug after, at the most, two seasons.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Pignose 7-100 Portable Guitar Amplifier

We've wanted one of these for some time, and to be honest, we can't figure out why we haven't laid down the $75 and just got one already. Its sound so legendary in blues circles that some professional musicians still use it as a pre-amp for studio recordings. We love the classic no-nonsense vintage luggage inspired design, and the super small size. More info here.


(via Enterase)

Trailer - End of Watch


From the writer of Training Day (might be the most awesome cop movie ever) comes End of Watch. Words can't describe how stoked we are to see this. Out this September.

Skate It Or Hang It?

Being fans of skate art since about 1984, and ourselves having hanged a sweet Zoo York deck with art by the Collabros in our home, we have much love for this gallery exhibition. Running at the Museum of Design in Atlanta (MODA) from June 16th to August 16th and if you're in the area, it will be well with your time. We also highly recommend a visit to your local skate shop to peruse the decks for you next piece of new art. More info here.

R.I.P. - Carroll Shelby 1923-2012


Arguably the most important person in motorsports and the automotive world in general in the last 60 years. A legend and working class hero like none other responsible for making the Mustang into the icon that it is with the GT 350 and GT 500, bringing America back to endurance racing with the Ford GT and Daytona Coupe, and creator of one of the most sought after and winningest vehicles of all time, the Shelby Cobra. His loss is immeasurable, and the automotive world will never be as interesting as when he was in it. 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Uncommon Doily Coasters

Everyone needs them, a lot of people refuse to use them and it's hard to find good ones...coasters.  Not always the sexiest item in your home but we have witnessed some beautiful mid-century modern tables marred with awful drink rings so for that sake alone, we advocate the use of well designed coasters like the on-trend doily ones shown above and available here.

Re-Post - Shou Sugi Ban - Heard of It?



What is Shou-Sugi Ban you ask?  Well...it is an ancient way the Japanese have used for protecting their homes from rot, infestations, and water damage.  The Coles Notes version of it goes like this:  get some Sugi (Japanese Cypress, often called Japanese ceder), burn it with a torch; gently sand, rubbing the char and ash into the grain, let dry, and coat with an natural oil based coating. As you can see by the close-up above, it has a "my house was just victimized by an arsonist" sort of look, but when looked at over the scale of an entire structure, it looks very, very cool.  We think it would make a great feature wall inside a home, or even a piece of furniture (like a wooden chair or coffee table).  Funny thing, our introduction to this was actually in Vancouver, by Rob Lo, the owner and proprietor of the fantastic Gastown clothing store Roden Gray.  In the store's previous incarnation, almost all the display furniture was done in this fashion, and the room had a terrific vibe. We think there is an interesting weekend DIY project somewhere in here, albeit a dangerous one.  More pics after the jump.

Seed Cloud Wall Light

For those who want a little glamour and quirkiness in their homes, the Seed Cloud wallsconce by Ochre is for you. Solid cast bronze stems each housing LED inside tempered glass drops. We love the oddity of this design which mixes a sort of rough organic shape with a slightly fairytale feel. Available here. 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

X-Z Beach Chair

With three straight days of mostly sunshine and no rain in sight, we've become cautiously optimistic that days at the beach are in our immediate future so we need to get prepared. The X-Z beach chair by design collective Numen/For Use would be a perfect solution for keeping the sand off your butt and the sun out of your eyes with transformative fabric flaps providing storage, shade and comfort all in one chair. Check it out here.


via fastcodesign

Geometric Window Bracelet

Yeah we may have a problem given all the jewellery posts we have been doing lately but it's not our fault that there are so many talented designers created such sought after pieces. This offering comes from DecoFox, a Canadian designer living in sunny LA producing some amazing rings, bracelets and necklaces. Light amethyst octagon glass beads with antiqued gold metallic coating create a great Art Deco inspired look.

Modular Planters

Contemporary indoor planting is not new but it is surprisingly hard to find the right pots that lend themselves to a modern decor that stay in an inexpensive price range. These white ceramic modular planters designed by Andrew & Richard Erdle are perfect for multiple arrangements that maintain a unique yet uniform look. Available through uncommon goods.  

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Hammarhead HHI Day Pack

It's been a while since we posted a bag...and that means our bag fetish has been dormant. Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for you, it awoke today with a vengeance, and we therefore give you the above bag. Made by Hammarhead Industries, famous for their quality motorcycle accessories and apparel, this pack is not only beautiful, but built to last as well. Waxed coated cotton, leather trim, and apocalypse surviving parachute hardware. Of course, like any good back manufacturer, they've included the requisite internal pockets for laptops, tablets, e-readers, and all of life's other detritus that you must pack around everyday. But it is the looks over the function that has grabbed our attention. Everything is badass in black. Available here.

Keith Richard's Life (Audiobook)

The only thing that could possibly improve on the audiobook is if Keef read it aloud himself; but we think Johnny Depp will do nicely. Over 23 hours of the rock god's life using his own words...sorta a must have for any music fan, and great for that flight or road trip.

Winter Kate Bindaas Silk Kaftan Dress

We will only admit to watching a few key reality TV programs and one of those is Fashion Star which tends to edit the drama out and let the design be the focus of the show. One of the judges on the show is Nicole Ritchie who's fashion line Winter Kate is an embodiment of her personal bohemian and free-flowing style. We think her Bindaas Kaftan dress is a great choice to welcome the warm weather and stay fashion forward focusing in on a great Mumbai inspired print and trapeze style cut. Available here.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Foster the People - Houdini


FtP release a video for another impossibly catchy and radio friendly jam off their album "Torches." This will be a great contender for song of the summer. Hard to believe that they're still getting mileage from this album, after all, it'll be a year old this month.

Re-Post - Muji Hard Carry

Originally posted 04 August 2011: Always on the lookout for new luggage, as we clearly have a travel bag fetish, we were very happy to discover the new Hard Carry from Japanese brand Muji (Japan's version of Ikea). The Hard Carry does away with the high gloss of most hard sided carry-ons, and opts for a more subdued look in muted colours. Made from polycarbonate, and sporting 360 degree rotating wheels on all four corners, you get all the best features available in the carry-on market today.  The best part, these bad boys can be had for less the $200, making them not only cool, but affordable as well.

Custom Silhouette Pendants

With Mother's Day less than a week away, you may still be looking for the right gift. If you have both a cool and sentimental mother then these custom silhouette pendants are perfect. Available through luckymebeads.

Eco Resin Bangle

Maybe its the fact that the sun is out, the trees are in bloom and the flowers are blossoming but we're in the mood for pretty things. One of those pretty things we've found is from fellow Canadians Jessica and Gwynne Burgess who specialize in Eco-resin jewellery made from bio-derived materials. One of our favourites is the sky blue bangle with suspended gold leaf reminiscent of a cloudy day with chance of sunshine. Available here.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Ania Pauser Lighting

We have become big fans of laser cut art and varying products recently, delighting in finding the latest and greatest. Today's offering comes from Swedish designer Ania Pauser who uses birch as her medium. Beautifully delicate, these pendants are constructed with extra attention to detail with varying soft colours and seemingly fragile layers. Check out the rest of her designs here including some quirky furniture and room dividers.

Top Secret USB

We're totally digging this little USB, with it having that little more flair and design savvy than the usual little plastic stick. It doesn't just look nice either, with the wax seal and all, but is actually made from porcelain. The makers will even mail a custom variety for you, and in varying sizes. More info available here.

Trailer - Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap


Hip Hop has had a cultural impact like nothing before it except for maybe the inception of Rock 'n' Roll in the 50's and 60's. It has pervaded not just the music we listen to, but every aspect of life; from the way we speak, the way we dress, the cars we drive, the dreams we aspire to, and in short, has become the dominating force and much of pop culture. The patriarch of OG west coast rap, Ice-T, has decided that it deserves a more formal examination of what Hip Hop means, and in that he is releasing a very thorough and entertaining documentary. Featuring interviews with nearly everyone important in rap, from both today and yesterday, Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap proves to be the visual tome exploring hip hop from the mouths of the pioneers themselves. Out June 15th.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Bulavkus Safety Drive - Art Lebedev Studios

This is genius in practicality, and would also do double duty as a slick fashion accessory. You can learn more here.

Bang & Olufsen - Beoplay V1

B&O is on a new product tear. They have just dropped the new Beoplay V1 television, and in keeping with brand tradition it is minimalism at its best. The LED display will come in 32" and 40" varieties, and will boast all the usual accoutrements that one is used to in a B&O set; like sensors that automatically adjust for brightness and contrast based on the rooms ambient lighting, multi-colour interchangeable speaker grills to suit you room or mood, and a small storage area on the back of the TV for storing a small set-top box...like say...an apple TV perhaps? You can learn more here.