Yoox Covers

Go on over to the Yoox website and have a look at their archive of cover photos. (From their home page, just click on the current cover lady to get there.)

I find these highly stylized pics of women in pixel-wear wonderfully entertaining. They remind me a bit of a style of print ads that were around a year or two ago. I clipped them then because of how much they amused me.


(Yes, I have a whole collection of images clipped from magazines. Why? Dunno. My husband says ripping up magazines is my hobby. Actually, I do some kinda collagey stuff with them at times.)

I don't know what to call this style. "Women dressed absurdly using photoshop" seems a bit of a mouthful. If it has a name I'd love to know it, and if it doesn't I'd love to hear your suggestions.

(In the case of the ads, I'm assuming the costumes are digital. Heck, maybe they made huge papier mache costumes for the women to wear.)

tags:
Yoox
yooxcover
pixel wear

Are We Delightful?

Eclectic Detective has finally been in existence for the three-month period required for submission to Delightful Blogs, an "edited directory of blogs that are personal, passionate and, of course, stylish."

This is important why?

Well, most of the blogs I read are ones I discovered there. The blogs they list are reviewed before being added, and they really do weed out a lot of the crappy ones. I admire many of the blogs that are listed, and would consider it a feather in my cap to be included in their number.

Also, it would boost traffic. And, let's face it, blogging is a lot more fun if people are reading what you post.

I chose the category "Design," because it seemed like the best fit. More of my posts are tagged "Design" than any other label (see list, page right). However, Eclectic Detective that I am, I cringed a bit at choosing a category. I like to think of myself as in a category all my own. (Then again, I also like to think of myself as 5'8" tall and blonde, which is also not so very reality-based.)

Apparently Delightful Blogs is rather overwhelmed with submissions, and it may take up to two weeks to be notified whether I've made the cut. I'll be chewing my fingernails.

Won't you chew yours with me?

That is to say, please send good thought karma energy my way, if you would!

tags:
Delightful Blogs
blog directory
blog traffic

Lily van der Stokker

Lily van der Stokker is a Dutch artist who does work such as this:


















and this:

















and, occasionally, this:













Ms. van der Stokker is highly controversial in the art world. Critics argue whether her work celebrates girlish doodles, mocks them, or celebrates them by mocking them. They write page upon page questioning whether she is worthy of our attention.

Ms. van der Stokker seems to keep them guessing. One the one hand, she makes statements such as, "Where is it written that art has to be deep and good? Can't it just be bad, or nice and cheerful?" On the other, there are pieces such as the one above, which she sent as an invitation to a showing of her work.

As for me, I like her work tremendously. I love buildings covered with doodley flowers in their own right.

(As for me, I really had to post the picture of Viktor and Rolf.)

tags:
Lily van der Stokker
art critics
doodles

Mousepad Couch

And for those who have too much time (and too many mousepads) on their hands, a very silly couch that might actually be comfortable.

via Gizmodo.

tags:
innovation
mousepad couch
DIY

Skinny la Minx

Here's a blog I know you'll like. Skinny la Minx is both the blog name and label of graphic design artist Heather Moore. Upon seeing her work, I fell in love at once.
















Heather's images are versatile, whimsical and delightful. I'm also impressed by her use of cutouts in design. And by "cutout" I don't mean a filter in Photoshop. She actually cuts intricate designs out of paper, cork, and vinyl. How does she do it? I'd cut my thumb off!
























Heather lives in Cape Town, South Africa, where her other work includes writing, illustration, and making wonderful t-shirts, magnets, pillows, badges, tea towels and trays that she sells in shops and at local markets. If one were to know how to start an import business, one would begin with Heather's goods (if one were I). (One would also perhaps contact her about logo design, if one were I.)

I find myself wanting to post more and more of her work just to show it to you. Instead I'll encourage you to check out her blog, and also her portfolio on warmtoast cafe.

tags:
Heather Moore
graphic design
Skinny la Minx
warmtoast cafe

knockman!

Aren't these little fellers adorable? I just stumbled onto them at Unica Home, and wish I'd found them before I finished my Christmas shopping. (Did I say "finished"? I meant "ran out of time to order things off the internet.")

They're designed by Maywa Denki, who are described as an "art unit." I recommend that you Google them. Then go on over to Wikipedia and define them for the rest of us.

tags:
knockman
unica home
maywa denki

Alog Shelving System

Oh my goodness. Have I a new Most Coveted Object? Yes I have, yes I have.

Look at this. It's brilliant. Look how simple: basic geometric shapes--squares and triangles--attached to the wall, supporting shelves that are pieces of wood, no hardware. And from this simplicity, infinite variety.

Brilliant.

Designed by Johannes Herbertsson and Karl Henrik Rennstam of Vuji.

via MoCo Loco.

tags:
Vuji
shelving
Johannes Herbertsson
Karl Henrik Rennstam
Alog

Sweet Dreams

A lovely bit of Christmas tinsel wafting on the wind?

Not hardly.

Think privacy. Think security. Think razor wire.

The Sweet Dreams Security™ razor wire is our most vicious but cute product to date. Standard razor wire has been transformed from a purely threatening object into one that is highly playful, yet every bit as effective.

Cute, playful and vicious. Hmmmm. Brings to mind a certain ex of mine. But that's a story for another day.

via Things of Random Coolness.

tags:
razor wire
Sweet Dreams Security

Turn x4

Ok, this is one where telling you about it doesn't do it justice: you really have to see it for yourself. (Of course, that doesn't stop me from trying, but I do hope you'll go take a look.)

This watch by Mexican designer Augustin Otegui is cool because it can be worn four ways. Now, multi-functionality is my favorite flavor, so I've always liked reversible jackets and such. But this watch takes the concept a step further. Both the watchband and the watch face are reversible, resulting in 4 total ways to wear it. (2 features x 2 modalities = 4 styles, remember? From Intro to Stats? But I digress.)

The watchband is black on one side and green on the other, while the face is digital on one side and analog on the other. HOW COOL IS THAT? It's way cool. Way, way cool.

But that's not the only cool designy thing about this watch. In order to make the watch reversible and functional and comfortable all at once, it was necessary to design a new clasp, which this designer accomplished with great success. In fact, I would love to have a watch with this clasp even if it didn't reverse, because it looks so incredibly comfortable.





















The band makes use of a tongue-and-groove design instead of a traditional buckle or clasp. I hope the picture gives you an idea of it, because it's really very good. It allows the band to be adjustable without the singularly annoying process of adding or subtracting links. (That is the design of my current watch, which keeps coming apart while I'm wearing it. The fact I haven't lost the little extra link is a minor miracle). It also avoids the "adjustment line" that results when a traditional buckle is worn in one hole for a period of time, then worn in a different hole, thus announcing to the world that you have gained (or lost) weight.

Ok, I know I've gone on and on about this. Enough. Go have a look for yourself. I really like this designer; a lot of his stuff is multi-functional, and multi-functionality is, as you know, my favorite flavor. The rest of his work can be found here.

via Nordic Design Blog.

tags:
Turn x4
agustin otegui
watch

Photoglassworks

Today I'm in love with necklaces from the Etsy shop Photoglassworks. The designer, Tracy Antonik, is a stained glass artist who needed an alternative to traditional stained glass due to toxic fumes from the lead solder. These petit works of art are her solution, and I find them beautiful!

The pieces are often made in collaboration with other artists. For example, the one below features a drawing by artist Kris Shanks, who also has a shop on Etsy. Check it out!



















tags:
photoglassworks
Tracy Antonik
Kris Shanks
jewelry
art glass

cbijoux Jewelry

This morning I went to the cbijoux jewelry website to check out this amazing plant ring I'd seen on the wonderul swissmiss blog. And it is quite an amazing ring, though I must say the post where swissmiss found it struck me as rather nasty and misogynistic. But that's neither here nor there, reflecting not a whit on either cbijoux jewelry nor the swissmiss blog.

But the reason I'm posting about this is that, while on the cbijoux site i discovered this absolutely delightful other ring that I had to share:





















The designer is Fransiska Venrath, who has also done a duck head ring and a frog ring in the same style. Do check it out.

tags:
cbijoux
jewelry
designer rings

Rosma Gutierrez Furniture

I really like this piece designed by Rosma Gutierrez, titled "bezel." The clean lines, the contrasting color, and especially the way it separates to form two pieces. Great for small spaces--I can picture it in a studio apartment.

Unexpectedly, I also like this designer's website, despite it being done in the despised, unnavigable, tediously slowly-loading Flash. Maybe it's not the site itself I like, as much as how Gutierrez shows her inspiration for each piece. Worth checking out.

tags:
Rosma Gutierrez
furniture
bezel

Metro Ticket Origami

Hubert de Lartigue shows how to make an x-wing fighter from a Metro ticket. In case you were wondering.

via NOTCOT

tags:
x-wing fighter
DIY
origami

Dry Bones

Hilarious salt and pepper shakers by Chris Stiles over at the A+R Store.

tags:
salt and pepper
Chris Stiles
tabletop

Tord Boontje: TABLEstories

Ok, today my Most Coveted Object is this "deer in forest" plate from Tord Boontje's TABLEstories I collection. Sure, I'd like to own a place setting or six from each of the collections, but of all the individual items I've seen, I like this one best.

Since it's available in the USA for under $100 (unicahome), it's possible that I may own it some day.

Though, let's be frank, my first Tord will probably come from Target.

tags:
Tord Boontje
TABLEstories
dinnerware

Thomas Mann Jewelry

Thomas Mann's "Confetti" bracelet is currently my most coveted object.

tags:
Thomas Mann
bracelet
jewelry

Way Cool Stocking Stuffers

Useful, tasteful, stylish gifts for $10.00 or less. You don't have to break the bank to give exquisite presents.

See more of my Way Cool Stocking Stuffers list at ThisNext.

tags:
Stocking Stuffers
ThisNext

Lisa Niven Kelly

This extraordinary and delightful jewelry is made by Lisa Niven Kelly, a bead and silver artist and teacher in San Carlos, California.

















I'm inspired and delighted by it. I work with beads, and if one day I were able to make something as lovely as these, it would fill me with joy.

(Delightful, delighted. . . if I had an editor, they wouldn't let me use both in this short a post. But I don't. And it's really the word I want to use. Both times.)

tags:
Lisa Niven Kelly
jewelry
inspiration

Clever!

Wall decals are all the rage as an inexpensive alternative to plain paint or wallpaper. This one by Domestic made me laugh out loud. The coat rack, hat, umbrella, and one shoe are of course decals, while a hook is included so you can add your own frock to the mix.

tags:
wall decals
Domestic

Speaking of Lamps . . .

Speaking of lamps, and recently of corsets, I am of course delighted with this "CORSETT Schnürleuchte," which translates to "Corset Tying Light" according to Google.

Designed by Domus, available at Design3000 .

tags:
corset
Domus
lamp

bERT & dENNIS

Two cool lamp ideas from bERT & dENNIS. Above, the "deaf lamp," which has the words "and there was light" spelled out in sign language.

Below, the "saint lamp," which has pictures of various consumer items wearing halos "because people these days worship these things."

















tags:
bERT & dENNIS
lamps
design

studiobility

Today I'm totally digging the work of studiobility, especially this storage unit they call "Framed Spaces." I'd like to have a whole wall of them. (Just as my favorite category is "miscellaneous," my favorite piece of furniture is the storage unit.)

I also like their "Visual Inner Structure" chair, which reminds me of openwork embroidery:


















tags:
studiobility
storage unit
openwork

Design "Musts" - A Very Short List

There is not much that I insist upon. It is, as I said, a very short list.

1. Typeface must be readable.
2. Websites must be navigable.
3. Objects to be worn, including jewelry and women's shoes, must be comfortable.
4. Good design must not be valued less because it is affordable.
5. Scarcity of a well-designed object must not be intentional.

tags:
design
value
scarcity

Double Take

Above, the "Corseted Heart" necklace at Hellkats L.A.

Below, the "Stitched Heart" bracelet by artist Thomas Mann for uncommon goods.














Finally, a variation on the theme: the "sweetheart necklace," part of the "savory treats line" at sweet tooth designs.












Could corsets be the new skulls?

Probably not. But if they are, you heard it here first.

tags:
Thomas Mann
sweet tooth designs
Hellkats L.A.
corset jewelry