Fifteen fabulous craft ideas

Summer of the "oh-so helpful holiday gift guide" blog called Design is mine has put together Fifteen fabulous craft ideas from around the internet for Christmas. I think it is such a wonderful idea to make, rather than buy, gifts. Do check out her post!

Typographic maps

These typographic maps by Jenny Beorkrem at Ork are simple gorgeous! (Via Pasiri.)

Mansion Planter by Pull+Push

This miniature rooftop garden complete with stairs, windows and even handrails on the balcony will definitely add warmth and some visual interest to your surroundings. Perfect when matched with this.

USB keyholder

This usb keyholder by gerry² will be a perfect Christmas present for computer geeks if you ask me. (via girlinthegreendress)

House by Gianni Botsford

Fresh out of the newest issue of Wallpaper*, this house was designed by architect Gianni Botsford for his father's whopping 16,000 books. I really like the transparent open end of the house with the massive book collection. Framed by the natural landscape, this house on stilts also reminds me of the Farnsworth House. Simple but beautiful. via Kitsunenoir.

Radiator Heating Board

How cool and brilliant is this idea? This radiator heating board fits right on top of your radiator and draws heat to keep your coffee and muffin warm while you surf the web for your morning reads. via GadgetVenue.com

Chris Natrop

I really love these beautiful hand-cut paper pieces and installations created by a very talented LA-based artist Chris Natrop. Inspired by his environment and visions of creating an urban utopia, his work reminds me of a fictional landscape of a mystical fairytale weaved by a magic spider! Read more about him and his work at his interview with art.blogging.la. (via casasugar)

The Apartment Therapy (LA)'s 3rd annual fall colours contest

Wowwee! I really love the vibrant colours of this chinatown (LA) lofthouse! It is the finalist entry by Dan and Amy in The Apartment Therapy (LA)'s 3rd annual fall colours contest. Really think the red wall and windows are really well executed. It's just the perfect warm yet vibrant shade of red.

Also love the lamp shades in the picture below! I am imagining them all switched on at night! For more, click here and do leave a comment if you like it so that the judges will hear you!

Orike Muth

Orike Muth & Sandra Lindloge of Orike Muth have designed these beautiful lamps and pillows. Each material is screenprinted by hand with japanese motif in fantastic colours and prints.

Aren't these mini bolsters the most gorgeous things? I am not sure about elsewhere but pretty much every kid in this part of the world grows up with one of these as a comfort buddy. Mine was in a vintage Snoopy print.

Click here for more gorgeousness at their gallery!

The Shiny Squirrel

Jessica recently emailed me to tell me about The Shiny Squirrel. Featuring a select group of young artist such as Lisa Congdon, Nicole Poko and Ashley Goldberg, The Shiny Squirrel is a wonderful platform for emerging talents to showcase their work in limited edition pieces. New artists and products are updated every 1st and 15th of every month. Lovely site to browse and purchase the exclusive work of really talented people. Do check them out!

Bearskin Rug

Each rubber bear rug is specifically casted and made to order. It comes standard in the colours white, brown and black (other colours on request). via Designmilk

RELISTED! HURRY! Concentric Circles - 2008 Calendar

Wow!! I love these beautiful limited edition calendar by one of my favourite blogger Debi van Zyl. The circles are hand cut and hand assembled. Each calendar is slightly different. I liiike! Really think it is so wonderful that Debi has turned her current (still?) obssesion with concentric circles into something so beautiful and functional!

These calenders were initially sold out but have just been relisted ... it's still limited edition with a total of 50 in all. Debi will be taking pre-orders and will ship no later than December 20th. And for those in the Los Angeles area, Debi will also be selling more of these at the Holiday Gift Bazaar in Santa Monica, CA on November 17.

Obsessive Consumption

Kate Bingman-Burt’s Obsessive Consumption is a documention all of her purchases for a period of 28 months. Each item purchased and credit card statement gets obsessively turned into a drawing every day

Do check out the lovely drawings at her flickr page and blog called: What Did You Buy Today. You can also buy her daily purchase drawings at her etsy shop.

Animal themed products by Ibride

Created by 3 members of the same French family, the inspiration for each Ibride item comes from "both the very close environment and travels around the world. The word 'ibride' itself is a play on words in French meaning 'hybrid', and many of the pieces combine several forms and several functions." Some of my favourites below...and more at their beautiful website.

I just love this gorgeous deer tray below. (Available at Velocity Art and Design.) Their animal themed series of bookshelves and tables are also quite magical.
(Above) Joe. This will be wonderful for a child's room.

(above) Diva. This will make a wonderful coffee table.

Roc Apeldoorn classroom by Jurgen Bey

This is an interior project by Jurgen Bey at the Roc professional training school at Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. I just love the use of graphic design elements in this space. Practically all the classroom walls, floor and furniture are decorated with images taken from reference books used at the school. The moveable screens (I like the fact that they are of various lengths) also allow the room to be subdived into smaller intimate spaces depending on the activities taking place.

For more pictures, click here.

Ingenius ways to hide your wires

Some creative and elegant solutions to wire clutter in the house by Boiler Design Office. (via DesignSpotter)

(above) The Picket Fence was designed for the 2006 MUJI International Design Competition. By sticking these pickets onto a typical wall baseboard, a space is created between the wall and the picket points. This space serves as a track for routing all of the wires cleanly around the room.

(above) Wall Cleats. A neat way to moor your electrical plug when not in use.

Paristic

Here is a great way to add a little French style to the walls of your home. Showing typical parisian sights in the form of baroque and art nouveau lamps, lanterns and cityscapes, these beautiful vinyl wall stickers are available in plenty of colours. Available here and ships internationally. The stickers also come in a beautifully packaged tube. (via Elit Alice)

"The end" sticker

This removable sticker will look quite cool on a laptop! Available here. (via)

Jeu de Paume

Jeu de Paume is a small group of family-run Japanese publishers that work closely with artists and designers in Europe and explores their creative work and living spaces. The end result is a series of creative publications overflowing with inspiration. I particularly like their documentation of children's rooms in London, Paris and Stockholm. Absolute inspiration!

There is even a Jeu de Paumes flickr pool! (via This is love forever)

(above) Female artists' studio. Who would imagine that lychee tin cans would make such beautiful stationary holders!
(above) Children's rooms "Stockholm"
(above) Children's rooms "London"

You can get Jeu de Paumes books at Japanese bookstores such as Kinokuniya or directly from the Paumes website.

Concetta Gallo

I have seeing a lot of horses lately, like on these wonderful patterns from Habitat by Concetta Gallo. Aren't they gorgeous! Really think that the graphic mix of motifs and real life pictures of horses gives it a whimsical/fantasy feel. (via nebo peklo)

Klein Dytham Architecture

Japanese architecture has always intriqued me, especially the simplicity of their forms, their masterful use of modern materials and the creative ways they use to fit a building into a small footprint.

This is is a project by Klein Dytham Architecture. It is a home cum salon for a couple of young hairdressers in Jingumae, a hip area in Tokyo. I really love the powerful graphic images that seem to engulf the entire building. Like a large wall decal but for a building exterior...wonder if anyone makes these?

(via)

Baroque radiator

There is no need to disguise the bulky radiator any more with this clever design by Joris Laarman. "Designed with both form and function in mind, the baroque-like twists and turns of this piece are full of hidden details just waiting to be discovered with a close inspection! The design is not however just a pretty face; the form itself has more surface area than the usual radiator, hence more radiated heat! " Available here for a hefty US$11,119.00!!

Makes me wish someone would come up with an equally clever design for an air-conditioning unit. I am frankly quite tired of the ubiquitous white box.

Jamie Hayon's Camper stores

This new Camper store in Milan is the fifth one designed by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon. I just love the oversized shades and matching kitchen-like floor tiles. The dining table with various mismatched legs also appeals to me. What we need is a fridge of shoes to complete the whole domestic dining scene. To see more of Jaime Hayon's designs for the other Camper stores, click the links below.

Jaime Hayon in Barcelona

Jaime Hayon in London

Campana Brothers in Berlin

Campana Brothers in London