James Spicer's vintage photographs

I found out about the work of James Spicer today. A photographer and artist from Chicago, James's work often feature miniature scenes with imagery that evokes childhood memories and all the happiness and sadness that goes with them.

The photograph featured here above, entitled Ice Cream Truck, is an original photograph taken from James's TTV (Through the Viewfinder) series which gives the photograph a soft, dusty, vintage feel. The flecks, scratches, and black border add to the charm.

Size: 5" x 5". Signed and dated on the back for US$12. Available here.

Aesop's first London outlet

I had blogged about the wonderful packaging and interiors of Australian skincare brand Aesop in a previous post.

Just found out that Ilse Crawford of Studio Ilse has designed the first London outlet for this wonderful brand in a restored Victorian mansion. The design of the interior translates the Aesop values through "a loving restoration of the historic fabric with modern and clean interventions". A large ceramic circular basin sits grandly in the middle of the space to emphasize the ritual of cleansing. For more pics, click here.

Showroom in a box

To promote the opening of a new store in Brooklyn, Ikea placed a portable showroom designed to look like a big typical Ikea box in the middle of the city. How cool is that? via Karrie Jacobs

Virtual Traffic lights

I saw this on the plane on my way back home last night and thought it was pretty cool. If this idea catches on, the red/green man may be a thing of the past quite soon. The Virtual Wall provides a barrier made up of plasma laser beams. Just hope that this contraption doesn't get bombarded with too much commercial advertising. Designer: Hanyoung Lee

Aesop

I think I have officially recovered from the nasty cold I had. To celebrate my return to health, I declared yesterday "Su Ling's Spa Day" and booked myself in for a facial treatment by Melbourne beauty company, Aesop.

I have to admit that,as usual, the thing that first attracted me to this beauty brand was its packaging and striking shop decor. The signature brown recycled glass packaging makes the shop feel like a visit to an ultra old, yet modern, pharmacy.

My sensitive skin took really well to the product and I ended up buying a few of their products which could be redeemed for the treatment. (clever clever). I see myself returning for more in their outlets in Singapore. The different glass bottles will make a wonderful collection in my bathroom too!

Melbourne!

I am now in Melbourne, Australia. The weather is perfect and the people are really nice and friendly. Too bad I have still not completely recovered from my cold to enjoy much of the city. Am staying in a lovely and conveniently located boutique hotel called Hotel Charsfield. Definitely reccommend this place to anyone looking for a nice and reasonably priced accommodation in Melbourne.I missed the weekend buzz at the Queen Victoria Market and am really looking forward to visiting it once I get better!

(The image above is by Catherine Ledner. Living in California with a host of animals, Catherine is well known for her incredible animal photography that is beautifully taken against a gorgeous backdrop of coloured wallpaper. She has just launched her new site "Catherine's Animals" site with limited edition prints for sale. Do check it out! )

Cool Cards

I have been swamped with work and nursing a cold this week, hence the lack of the usual dosage of inspiration at laissezfaire. I really dislike being sick. My mind doesn't seem to be working and something which usually takes me a minute to complete takes forever! =(

Will be off to Melbourne for a week tomorrow and hopefully I would have recovered by then. I am really looking forward to checking out the cool sights and smell of this fabulous city. Will definitely keep everyone posted on any inspirational findings there. If you know of a place I shouldn't miss, do dearly let me know!

Meanwwhile, I leave you with some cool business cards I found at Fubiz e. (via Designer's Block). Signing off back to bed...xoxo

Pretty dress forms

I would love to get my hands on one of these. You can wrap this dress form with belts, pin up fabrics, or use it to plan out all of your outfits for the week. Fun and yummy!

Anemi Hotel

Located on the Island of Folegandros, Greece, the Anemi Hotel is decorated in a minimalistic contemporary style. What I love about this simple design is the attention to detail and the subtle echoing of the colours and textures from the surrounding natural landscape. Predominently white, the splashes of blue and darker natural colours of the upholsteries, soft furnishings and floor surfaces really pop out of these pictures. I really like the way an oversized picture of a natural landscape is strategically placed to bring the outside into this quiet sanctuary without over-powering it. (via Yatzer)

Pop-out placemats

These gorgeous pop-out placemats, which doubles up as name place cards, will win your guests over at any event. They are made out of a beautiful, fiber rich paper, white or cream. Lovely! (via Designer's Block)

Animal index

Oh my...This is too cute! Perfect for adding a bit of fun to a boring shelf or desk to help organise your files/books. (via lost)

Wonderland

When you are feeling a little dry and uninspired, what better person on earth to turn to than your kids! Yeondoo Jung, an artist who lives and works in Korea, created these photographs back in 2005 inspired by childrens drawings.

How free and magical! The photograph above will definitely make a good styling shot for a lifestyle magazine or window display. I will definitely try and keep all my kids drawings from now on. (via)

New York City Sky - Colour Study

The images above are taken by Michael Surtees of Designnotes. Michael started noticing that most mornings have a really unique colour to the sky and started taking images of the sky from his apartment in Manhattan. He has also started a group called Same Sky, Different Places where anyone can post a similar sky photo here.

An Agenda for Moms!

They say running a family as a full time mom is like running a small business. It is not only your own schedule you have to manage but your kiddos as well! Unless you have a personal assistant, these gorgeous planners from MomAgenda may be just what you need right now!

Designed by Nina Restieri, the MomAgenda desktop planner keeps track of 17 months of insanity for you and up to four kids. Plus it includes pages for you to record things like birthdays, medical info, and school stuff. My favourites, which incidentally happen to be the current best sellers, are the Momagenda Desktop in fushia (above) and lime(below).

(Click on image above to enlarge)

Some may be wondering how this diary is different and how it can be used. As the layout above shows, the great thing about this agenda is the special rows they have for your kids. But you don't have to have 4 children to make the most out of this agenda. The additional rows can be used to fill out important "To Do" lists for the day. Plus there is even a last row for you to plan your dinners so that you only have to go grocery shopping once a week!

I will be bringing in the Momagenda's to my baby online store in Singapore and offering the Momagendas for S$65 (+ $7 for personalisation). If you are interested in pre-ordering and personalising your agenda for yourself or a friend, please email me at hello@pupsikstudio.com soon!

Skinny Skinny Soaps

I can't get over these lovely packaging by soap manufacturer skinnyskinny. All their gorgeous packaging is made from 100% recycled, reclaimed, sustainable and biodegradable materials. Would be fun if the packaging cover had some totally unrelated serious title on it..like "Quantum Mechanics" or something like that. Then you open it and voila! Perfect for my toilet bookshelf!

Pattern on concrete

Some gorgeous patterns and textures added to concrete flooring by design studio Transparent House. (via Design Milk)

A real polly pocket workspace

This bookcase cum office design definitely fulfills my childhood fantasies of living/working out of a closet box. A little like how Polly Pocket (below) lives.

To make this yourself, just attach a set of bookcases (on wheels) attached along one side and you get a compact, self-contained office nook when opened. In its closed state, it's far tidier than any tidy desk you can make. You may want to plaster the back of one with wallpaper. A deeper bookcase could be attached at one side that will serve as the desk. Brilliant! (via Martha Stewart Living and Chic & Charming)

A Personal Injury Warning System

Designed by Jonathan Corum of 13pt, the Personal Injury Warning System consists of symbols that illustrates all the injury that Jonathan has received in his life to date. Each symbol is indexed by the date that he would have benefitted from such a warning. Do check out his interesting website!I think perhaps this First Aid Talking Kit would come in handy for someone like Jonathan. This kit is separated into individually labeled and color-coded injury packs so the user has all the supplies and easy to follow instructions for managing a specific injury. By the touch of a button, the kit narrates step-by-step instructions to manage the injury, pausing and repeating when necessary for accurate response. (via petit elefant)

They didn't study

A friend sent me a link to this website. Think some of us can identify with the pain and humour in it. Think this would make an excellent silkscreened pillow case?

Inspiring rooms

I am feeling inspired by these gorgeous rooms I found in House Beautiful today. These wonderful rooms share something in common....an amazing abundance of light and a clever use of colour and interesting elements to add visial interest and focus to the rooms.

Colour swatch book

Have you ever felt blown away or suddenly inspired by a colour you see in your everyday surroundings? The colour swatch book by Julie Alexis is an inspiring and beautiful documentation of the colours in NYC. Wish she would do one for every city and come up with a unique colour palette that represents each place! (via swissmiss)