If you find there is any copyright abuse, contact us as soon as possible, thanks.
tracking the toy trends with schmancy
04/29/2008, 15:30 | Original Site: shelterrific
I confess I buy toys made for adults — and no, not what you’re thinking! A collection of Kidrobot Gorillaz and Smorkin’ Labbits have a place in our china cabinet. So I asked Kristen Rask of Schmancy to talk to us about the explosion in collectible toys for adults. Here’s what she had to say. –Mary T.
“I would say since opening Schmancy that the ‘gateway’ toy is Dunny by Kidrobot,” says Rask. “Those who know nothing of the urban vinyl toy movement still are attracted to them. Those are always, without fail, a big seller.” Can’t get enough toys? There’s more.
“Other toys that I really like and have been popular in the last few months here at Schmancy are the Treeson toys, Heidi Kenney Yummy Breakfast key chains, and Toki Doki toys such as the Cactus pups and Moofia. I also specialize in plush toys mainly handmade by various artists around the globe. The popularity of those vary a lot depending on what is in the store.
“Some folks collect things because they are color coordinating a collection, some folks don’t need to get whole series, and some folks spend massive amounts of money to complete a set,” Rask says. “Some get really into certain artists such as Frank Kozik or Joe Ledbetter. Others buy toys simply for the collectible aspect of it all. There really is no rhythm or reason to selling toys.”
See and shop more of what’s new at Schmancy. (A note that Rask is in the process of moving the store to a new site. Get updates on that at her blog.)
Can classic black ever really be replaced?
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: HueEvidently, it's being touted as the "new black". Here's my take on the concept- black will never be replaced. Colors will come and go in trends, but we'll always have our staples like black, white, brown, neutrals.
In any case, it's refreshing to see variations of violet being embraced in the marketplace. In the past, it's been one of the least-used colors for marketing because it's so hard to pin down. Sandwiched in between red and blue, violet can swing in two radically different directions. Blue violets have similar characteristics to blue- calm, dependable, trustworthy, rational, cool. Red violets, on the other hand, tend to adopt those traits more like its companion red- active, strong, passionate, hot.
image source
Plum TV is a a channel available in resort communities like Aspen, the Hamptons, and Martha's Vineyard.
“Plum says calm; plum says clean; plum says health,” said a rep at Penta Water in Carlsbad, Calif. “Other products in the water category are blue, clear, red,” he added. “This color came out as a consistent representation of vitality, a pure product.” source
Redplum couponsWhat fascinates me is the reinforcement of the color with the name. All these companies seem to feel they must attach the word "plum" to their products in order to get across their meaning. I think alot of that comes from the ambivalence of the color's attributes. Plum can range anywhere on the spectrum of violets, and perhaps without the term "plum", could be misconstrued as having different characteristics from those marketers hoped to convey.
In the article, a marketer reinforces this issue:
“When we were looking at the color of the plastic (during the planning stages), we wanted something classy and sophisticated, and the choice was a shade we called 'burgundy.' " But the company did not want to call it burgundy when marketing it, he added, for fear of confusion with wine brands.What's your take on the trend? Do you think these companies need the word "plum" to drive home the point of using this color for their product or service? What do you think of when you see the color?
Domino Magazine
02/25/2008, 17:06 | Original Site: Belle Vivir
new: good shape design (+ fun link)
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Design*Sponge
it’s rare that wayne pate at good shape design puts out a print that i don’t like. and this new eco-inspired reforestation now print (printed on 100% recycled paper with 10% of the proceeds going to the Trees For The Future Foundation) is a new favorite. combine that with this pink urns print and i’m ready to go. click here to check out wayne’s collection and shop online (the urns print is $30 and the reforestation now print is $35). to order the reforestation print (which will be in the shop soon) just shoot wayne an email right here.
ps: sorry, i’m all about the extra links today. i saw this cool photoproject mentioned on d.sharp journal via the lovely joanna goddard’s new blog on glamour.com. it’s all about what people look like before they go to bed. i was more interested in to see what people’s bedrooms look like of course. some of them have lovely colors- i love the green bedding towards the end and the green wall with stencils mid-way through. click here to check it out.
Alexander van Berge
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: desire to inspire
When is too much of a good thing, well, just too much? Never in the case of the portfolio of Dutch photographer Alexander van Berge. Inspirational photo after inspirational photo. Part of the magic is the use of natural light. Part is Alexander's ability to capture the personality of the rooms. Beautiful!
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Olympic Architecture
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Design Mind
The 2008 Olympic Stadium is a unique modern backdrop for the opening ceremonies. The "Bird's Nest", as it is called is jointly designed by Herzog and De Meuron Architekten AG, Switzerland, and China Architecture Design Institute.Lighting Millinery
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: The Peak of Chic
Before I left home for college, my mother warned me about mixed drinks and alcoholic punches- too much and I might end up with a lampshade on my head. Well, I heeded Mother's advice and thankfully got through school without any major embarrassments. But after seeing these lamps by mat&jewski, I say bring on the Hunch Punch! I'm ready to wear these lampshades.
Now, I'm not really a fan of flouncy or cutesy lamps and shades. And despite the whimsy of the mat&jewski lamps, they unfortunately would not work in my home. But I just couldn't help but think of those great feathered hats that women used to wear. You know, women like Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn, and the like. Maybe it's time for feathered millinery to make a comeback. And you can start with one of these lamps at your next party. Just don't say that my mother and I didn't warn you about the punch.
All lamps by mat&jewski; vintage fashion photos from Conde Nast Archives; images of mannequins with feathered hats by Stephen Jones.
Live Music at Marrakech's Le Blokk: and an ode to fabulousity...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: My MarrakeshThey were just some girls out on the town in Marrakech. All dressed up, they had left their husbands behind....
They were going to a new place in the Marrakech Palmeraie, called Le Blokk... It was said.....there was glamorous ambiance on offer.....
Oh the lighting!!!
And the longest, most comfortable Moroccan banquettes on which to lounge......
She slipped away and spent an inordinately long time in the women's bathroom....just admiring the view up....
She wondered if she would get arrested if she took a peek in the men's bathroom.... (muffled noise in the background...oh, I am so sorry Sir! I didn't mean to interrupt you. ummm...do carry on....)
But it was the music, the music......that took center stage.
They listened, and they tapped their feet, and they sang along. They danced in their chairs. Just happy, so happy....
Oh my, these people really knew how to sing.... (and please, we're not talking kareoke...)
They drank it all in and they drank it all up.....until it was time to leave. Ahem, late, very late.....
On the way home, they even burst into song once, okay twice......
************
Le Blokk
212-74-334334, www.leblokk.com
Palmeraie (right next to the Mehdi Palace), Marrakech
Reservations recommended.
Nosing around in strange closets
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: desire to inspire
Come on admit it. You're like me. You like to stalk other people's homes whether on real estate websites or house tours on blogs. Part envy, part curiosity, part "education" but always 100% voyeurism, taking a sneak peek into someone's home is a guilty pleasure. Tate from Strange Closets has fabulous house tours. Every Thursday he takes us on a snoop through some of Chicago's most creative and livable homes. Real people with real style .... OK real people with buckets of style and panache. Check them out here. Oh did I mention the interviews with Chicago's design movers and shakers as well?
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Calculating Yardages for Upholstery
04/23/2008, 05:26 | Original Site: ::Surroundings::
What’s The Difference Between Wicker And Rattan?
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Landfair Furniture (Blog)
The post features pictures of Palecek wicker furniture all available at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery.
Bev & Mike
Vesper Jewelry
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Design Mind
Vesper Jewelry offers these bird themed pendants that have a very vintage modern feel to them. I adore both designs.Election Watching
02/06/2008, 07:41 | Original Site: k styleAm taking a short break for the rest of the week. Waterboy has district championship going on this week and of course have been riveted to election returns. Will be back next week. Talk soon, k
Diwali Ki Shubhkamnayen: 5.11.2007
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Rang-Decor {Interior Ideas predominantly Indian}
This is an out & out traditional arrangement. Beautiful green beetle leaves arranged in a circular fashion with festive, cheery yellow marigolds and pink buds giving it that colourful contrast.In the center is a mini traditional Kerala lamp lit with wicks dipped in oil. Shiny brass diyas complete the outer circle with their festive brightness:-)
(Images & ideas by Arch, feel free to get inspired and link to me but if you want to use my photographs for some other purpose please send me a mail)
Personal Stylist
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Bluelines
Posted by KendraIf you're needing some visual inspiration, an excellent place to go are photographer or stylists' websites. Here are some of my favorites:
ROLAND BELLO (Sadly under construction, but be sure to check back. you won't regret it.)
When color studies aren't real
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hue
For example, I was at a lecture the other week, listening to an eco-friendly company rep talk about using green products for building. While he had a captive audience of color consultants in the room, he asked our opinion about a specific paint color chosen for a doctor's office.
The architect of the project had supported his color choice by declaring that "studies had shown" that this particularly dreadful shade of diarrhea green was calming and soothing to patients. I wish I had taken a picture of this color sample- it was SO awful!
This "study" comes from CNW Marketing Research where they evidently asked nearly 1,900 Americans about their attitudes toward their own lives at several points over the course of a year. They also asked each participant the color of the car they drive most often, which allowed the researchers to develop a kind of color-confidence index.
According to CNW, here's what the color of a car says about the person who bought it:
They were also able to calculate the "moodiness" of drivers—how widely their confidence varied from one extreme to the other, in the course of a year.
What do they mean by "confidence"? See what I mean? Recipes involving colors just don't work. There's no validity to that. What if a subject chose their particular car, not based on a color, but instead based on availability of that model? My car is silver gray. Probably one of the last colors I would have personally chosen, had I had options.Well, that's my take on this, in any case. Anyone share my sentiments?
The Artful Home: New Kareem Rizk at BlueFlip Art
04/15/2008, 09:29 | Original Site: More Ways to Waste Tim
Kareem Rizk's beautiful, open-edition giclee bird prints have been so popular that Matt over at BlueFlip Art just added two more: Bird No. 3, left, and Bird No. 6, right.
The 9-by-11-inch archival prints are $25 each, or you can get the whole set of six for $125 (a $25 savings) when you enter coupon code "KAREEMSIX" at checkout.As always, BlueFlip will donate 10 percent of all sales to a charity of the artist's choosing -- in this case, Australia's Starlight Children's Foundation.
Check out the new prints right here.
Objectified
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: Hatch: The Design Public® BloAny Helvetica lovers out there? I can’t tell you how many conversations I have had with folks about serif or sans serif type and I am not even a web design person. Shows you the kinds of people I like to hang out with (i.e. I’m a dork).
Anyhow…
The director of Helvetica, Gary Hustwit, is in the process of producing a new film for us nerdy design obsessed peeps: Objectified.
The documentary takes a look into how industrial designers create the products we see in everyday life. Through in-depth conversations and interviews, the film explores how the minds of the designers “re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis.” I’m thinking the probability is high that this film will make you think about your toothbrush in an entirely new way and you’ll never take it for granted again.
Side note: Don’t go rushing to your nearest Pick-a-Flick yet…Objectified won’t be out until early 2009 but their website is a great teaser for the meantime.
Essaouira: and a tinted mystery
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: My MarrakeshThe blogging girl
wonder
55. Taylor Hannah Architect
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: let your creativity .... FLOW
Dee Dee Taylor Hannah
There are not very many women I admire, so when I come across one that I do - I want everyone to know who she is and what she does that makes her stand out from a crowd. Let me introduce you to Dee Dee. In 1992, Dee Dee established her own practice specializing in high-end residential Architecture and Interior Design. She is also the co-owner of a successful construction and project management company and is able to offer clients a full service design house, from conception to construction complete with custom furnishings and accessories. Mind you, her design/architectural firm is composed of ALL WOMEN! Yes - powerful women in a mans world.
As a mother of two, things were already busy when Dee Dee was approached to co-host a new interior design program for HGTV, “Love by Design”. Dee Dee can now be seen by over 80 million viewers in both Canada and the US making over spaces with innovation and elegance. Recently a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dee Dee again showed her talents to North America in her swift and amazing ability to transform spaces from the average to the spectacular.
Dee Dee has been nominated for both the Top 40 Under 40, and the Top 100 Business Women of Canada proving that it is possible to balance her business with her family and community obligations. She continues to grow her business and participate in her charitable organizations.
See You In The Spring...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Original Site: absolutely beautiful things
Image - Jen Gotch