paint by pixel

A new product from Urban Outfitters: paint by pixel ($20). I haven't tried it but it's tempting...

worksite inspired

Maybe I spent too much time in my father's workshop, but I LOVE the industrial look, especially mixed with clean and polished...
I love #1 for how simple it is, and I always had a crush on worksite lamps like #2 (cleaned up version). #3 is the most brilliant radiator I've ever seen: you can leave it hung like that or drag part of it where you're hanging out for extra heat!! love love love.
Most of these could be cool DIY projects, especially if you have the same thrill as me walking down the plumbing isle of Home Depot!

1 - tap hanger from junktion starting at 100 euros
2 - work lamp from Form us with love - ScandinavianDesignCenter ($132.98)
3 - Ciussai radiator from Ad Hoc - world style design (1,520 euros)
4 - Seen in the April issue ELLE decoration - supermarket cart painted glossy white (DIY)
5 - light plumbing from Claus Bjerre, ed. Danish Crafts (75 euros at Home autour du monde in Paris)
6 - towel hanger from junktion
7 - Medito wall lamp - made in design (68 euros)
8 - chanukah lamp from junktion

1, 3, 4, 5 seen in the april 09 issue of Elle Decoration
Home autour du monde 8 rue des francs bourgeois, Paris 3eme 01 42 77 06 08

sunprint

I remember my mother always finding the cool toys for my sister and I to play outside. The sunprint kit was one of them and I was thrilled to find it again at the DWR soho store ($18). The exact same kit!! (see below for other places to buy)
Last Saturday was beautiful and we had friends over for a barbecue, so with the help of my little friend Clara 3, I re-discovered the pleasure of sunprinting. Here's the first round of a summer long serie!

1- You place objects on the sheet (I cut it in pieces so we'd get more prints in the end). They recommend finding flat objects and they provide an acrylic sheet to keep everything flat, but we did use 3D objects to play with the shadows.

2- You wait (that's the hardest part) from 1 min to 5 min depending on the sun, the blue paper starts to turn white.
3- You rinse and voila!

We decided to create frames for our works of art. The paper being very thin, it also gives some structure without having to properly frame it. I cut a cardboard box, and Clara and I decorated them with blue only pencils and markers (to stick with the blue theme) and I double-side-taped the prints. See the final product below.
Better priced at the Laurence Hall of Science ($14.95 and many options - refills only etc), and great examples there.
Right now on sale on Amazon.com for $11.95

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Have fun!

poladroid

I just discovered Poladroid -a polaroid making software- in Ready Made's blog.
You drag a jpg on the polaroid camera on your desktop and it transforms it into a polaroid, with the darker edges, the color shifts (even from one pola to the next with the same image).
It's as realistic as can be, it makes the oh-so-familiar noise, and you have to wait for the image to appear... You even have to reload the software after 10 photos!! Download it here, it's free.



I know it's cheating, it doesn't replace the real thing, but that said, it's fun.

all photos by me !

a new life for your old china

WOW, this is great!! At last someone did it... and who else than BLIK?
They (actually Jansen+co) created transfers for our china or pretty much anything with a smooth surface (works on porcelain, glass, ceramic, plastic...) and best of all it's dishwasher safe. Think of all the things that need some spicing up in your kitchen cabinet, or anywhere else for that matter. The cheesier, the better actually, and don't hesitate to overlap existing patterns!


here's the page from the Jansen+co catalog


Here are a few cool patterns it comes in:

Thank you BLIK for this great find!

sharpie time

There are a few designers out there having fun (seriously of course) drawing on accessory classics... Here are a few great ones:1 be tough atypyk tee-shirt 35euros
2 ceci est un it bag longchamp clutch $160
3 munny by Jon Burgerman
4 blah blah cushion (lambswool) - areaware $100
5 ozzy inspired chuck taylor all star $50
6 vuitton graffiti wallet $760
7 James Victore plate
8 dreaming camera case by Mi-Jiung Ju - moma store $40
9 Crepax Kadhorna cabinet by Giuseppe Canevese - moss $7,500

Inspiring, right? Well now it's your turn! Here are a few toys to start you off:
1 chat plates from Ikuko Nakazawa- moma $48 /set
2 sharpie $11.79 a dozen at staples
3 blank matryoshka dolls - dwr $125
4 storage boxes - container store $9.99 and $11.99
5 white vase - target $29.99
6 mega munny (18") - kidrobot $199.95 (also exist in mini for $9.95), click here for customizing tips
7 gulliver children's chair - ikea $14.99
8 converse all star - around $45
9 white picture frame - target $19.99-$29.99

Come on, you can't go wrong, just write (or even draw "x"s) if that's all you can do, but no matter what, this could be the most personal present you've ever made.
Email me your works of art and I'll post them (jmerck@gmail.com).