Chocolate Scrabble

Woohoo! I think I have finally recovered and in the mood for this! Designed by Mary and Matt, via notcot. Thanks to all for your well wishes...xoxo

Bubble Calandar

It has been the second time this month that I have come down with a bad flu and it is definitely no fun, especially now that I have just entered my third trimester and everyone is asking if I am carrying twins (I am not) or delivering soon (still have some way to go). I have succumbed to wearing a pregnancy support for my ailing back, although it looks quite uncool. But I figured that I rather look uncool than break my back.

Anyway, I was doing a bit of surfing in bed today when I saw these cute bubble calendars. Think this will make a great gift for the design obsessive/compulsive ones in your life. It shows all the days of the week with all major US holidays marked.

Abandoned amusement park

Pictures of an abandoned amusement park...I am sure it once held lots of beautiful memories for many.

Drawerment

Via The Style Files, I found out about Drawerment, a composition of drawers collected from old office furniture. This simple but gorgeous installation is designed by Hubero Kororo for Dutch label Demakersvan, as a part of their renovated studio in Rotterdam.

I just love the way light and shadow is captured by the drawers and the different textures/colours of aged wood in this installation.

Reminds me a little of the WOZOCO housing project for the elderly (below) that propelled architecture design studio MVRDV to international stardom many years back.

Gorgeous colours

Aren't these colours simply gorgeous? (via Marie Claire Maison)

Calling for host for new Asian Interior Design show

Do you have a passion for Asian inspired interior design? Love travelling to exotic locales? Then this might interest you!

Moving Visuals, a respected Singapore production house, is coming up with a new international TV series comprising 10 episodes that will focus on Asian interior design. Apparently, this new show has already received tremedous interest from international broadcasters like Discovery Channel Travel and Living.

This new TV series is currently looking for a host for the programme. The person should have a background in architecture or interior design, speaks good English and is comfortable with the camera. He/she would also have to be based in Asia and will get to travel around the region for the shooting.

If you, or anyone you know, are interested in this position, please send your CV and recent photo to designer.flair@gmail.com.

Thanks Stan for letting us know about this.

(image above via Bali T House)

Jennifer Collier

Jennifer Collier is an artist that creates innovative textiles and craft pieces using natural and found materials such as plastics, papers and fabrics. Through methods of weaving, waxing, trapping, embedding and stitching, she creates unusual materials. These are then developed into garments and accessories. Jennifer's works are used to communicate ideas about recycling, as well as themes exploring the body. To see more of her work, click here. above 1: Dress made out of used postage stamps and machine embroidery
above 2: Shoes made from pages of a book

Heather Smith Jone's pinhole art

Can you believe that this amazing design was created by painstakingly poking each hole with a sewing needle through paper??!? Inspired by Australian Aboriginal art and their use of dots, Artist Heather translated that by coming up with this technique of creating art with a needle and cotton paper as a medium. For more amazing work, click here.

Print your food

These forks are just too great to pass. Designed by Kathryn Hinton, these tableware will be a perfect accessory for folks who like to play with their food. (via)

Notepad T

I would love to have one of these T shirts in a tank design. Available here in yellow and white. (via Design for Mankind)

Decor8's Mood Board Contest

I am sure many of you are following decor8's moodboard contest. A total of 118 entries were received all over the world and they are now down to 23 finalist. After going through all the entries, my favourite has got to be this!

I just love the magical, whimsical and child-like mood conveyed by this incredible moodboard. Plus I want to get almost every single thing that Elaine has made/sourced for this board, especially the ballet pumps!

I WANT those ballet pumps! They are apparently from Chateau De Sable.

And these mini plushie rabbits and covered buttons with found fabrics are just too adorable! For more delicious eye candy, do check out here!

The results of the contest will be announced on Friday, June 27 at 3:00 p.m. EST on decor8. Meawhile, do vote for your favourites here!

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)