I don’t have children. I have no immediate plans to have any. But every once in a while, I come across something so truly adorable that I (almost) wish I had a child.
Case in point: this uber cute owl. Not only is it just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, it’s also hand-made by a collective of knitters in rural Kenya, imported by a company that monitors their working conditions, and sold by a company that only sells sustainable items.
And look at these sting rays! What an unusual choice! I love it. This is also a fair trade item, made in Nepal. Look at the bellies!
Hilarious! Apparently these were designed to be chew toys, so if you have a pet that appreciates oddities, this would be a perfect gift.
Branch has plenty for adults, as well. Most of their furniture is typically out of my price range (a side effect of being well-made of sustainable materials), but they have a lot of stellar house wares and accessories.
One of my favorites is the (not exactly affordable) off pitcher and cup. Gorgeous, a bit quirky, and 100% sustainable. It suits me perfectly.
GOOD magazine recently teamed up with Design for Haiti and held an infographic contest focused on the Haiti earthquake. They announced the winner last week: Emily Schwartzman, with this informative design.
It’s easy to read, aesthetically pleasing, and shares some interesting information. The comparison of Haiti’s and the United State’s GDPs is pretty astounding. The population of the U.S. is 30 times larger than that of Haiti, but our GDP is 2,043 times greater!
GOOD also featured another graphic, by Claire Kohler, which doesn’t solely focus on Haiti, but explores some interesting information. It correlates the depth and magnitude of the ten deadliest earthquakes over the past 15 years with the number of casualties caused.
The bottom portion of the graphic focuses on the money donated to Haiti, but I find the upper portion more interesting. Of course, there are other factors that affect loss of life, such as proximity of the epicenter to metropolitan areas, etc. But it’s amazing that the Haiti earthquake falls in the middle of the pack in terms of magnitude, but killed more than all but the 2004 tsunami.
You can check out the other submissions here. And, if you’re feeling ambitious, submit one of your own here.
This is a gorgeous time lapse of Dubai by photographer/director Philip Bloom.
The music and the shots are equally gorgeous. I particularly enjoy the shots of the cranes atop the ever-growing skyline and the ominous shadow creeping across the hotel pool.
Like typefaces and quizzes? Check out this nifty little video quiz from Pentagram. Based on seven years of research and your answers to four simple questions, they can determine your typeface.
I had a little trouble deciding on a couple of the questions, so I took the test three times. I’m absolutely rational and understated, but pretty equally torn between progressive/traditional and relaxed/disciplined. I think. Oh, the pressure!
Maybe someday in the future, they’ll amend the quiz to account for those of us who walk the line between categories. Until then, my split personalities will just hold a vote.
I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who can go into a second hand store and score an amazing piece. Sadly, when I go into these stores, I’m overwhelmed not by the amazing furniture, but by the amazing smells. My visits tend to end with swift exits and held breath.
So I love when I come upon places like Agent Gallery in Chicago, where they curate the objects, and the chances of retrieving something neat are much higher. As a boon, I can sit in the comfort of my own home and shop without musty/moldy smells.
I have a love for old machines and curiosities. I have no idea what the machines above do, but aren’t they pretty?
Curiosities like these are always more enjoyable with a background story, though. I have a feeling my girlfriend (a total science geek) might like the spectrometer above. It’s fascinating to think how all the things they do on CSI were done when they had to use machines like these.
And if you are or know a cigar aficionado, you’ll probably love this cigar press. There are even some cigars still in the press.
If, however, you’re more into something a bit creepy, perhaps you should check out this set of glass eyes or practice dental models. (shiver)
One of my favorites is the (not exactly affordable) off pitcher and cup. Gorgeous, a bit quirky, and 100% sustainable. It suits me perfectly.
