This set of glasses consisting of a butterfly, spider and spider web are simply beautiful individually or as a prey vs. predator scenario. They were created by design group Propoganda, which was established in 1994 by of group of advertising executives who set out to instill the innate sense of Thai playfulness into every day products.

*via Mr. Matt Spangler via devincastro

“The details are not the details. They make the product.” -Charles Eames

The Eames.  They were innovative, modern, practical and classic.  Their house was built 60 years ago in the 1949 as part of the Case Study House Program.   It took just one-and-a-half days for eight workers to build the frame from 11 tons of steel and cost just $1 per square foot.

wow. these. are. just. so. stunning.

In the winter months, Jim Denevan heads to his favorite secret beach north of Santa Cruz, CA during low tide to draw in sand. Jim draws with a stick that the waves have washed up. His drawings are entirely freehand and can take up to 7 hours to create.

For the past several months Jim has been living ON one of his drawing in the Nevada desert. The total circumference is more than 9 miles. For the next THREE days you can visit the Jim at the drawing by heading to these GPS coordinates: n40 48.076 w119 08.124

Last week we had the opportunity to spend the day up at the Storm King Art Center.  Storm King is a sprawling 500 acre museum filled with sculptures by Alexander Calder, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra, Ursula von Rydingsvard and many others.  Imagine rolling hills, birds, wild flowers and the ability to wander and explore from all angles.  Regardless of the cloudy skies and sprinkles, it was a perfect way to spend a day.  We’ll no doubt be back again soon for a picnic and more wandering.

These lovelies, made of 100% wool, are crocheted by the amazingly talented hands of Sandra Juto in Gothenburg, Sweden.  I think I might have to get myself two pairs…

You can buy them here.

I love the small coincidences in life.  I came across these intricate and gorgeous terrariums at Paula Hayes’s studio on East 13th street in NYC.  When I went online to see more of her work, I discovered that in addition to her terrariums, bird feeders and silicone planters, she also happens to be a fellow Skidmore alum.

Paula has designed landscapes and gardens for a few lucky ones including renowned designer Jill Stuart and gallerists David & Monica Zwirner (who coincidentally represent Marcel Dzama.)

Enjoy the playfulness of Paula’s website here.

photo from We Make Money not Art

Last December, we were visiting our friends in Seattle when I came across a book that featured a number of pieces by Marcel Dzama, a Canadian artist who is probably best known for his figurative sculptures as well as his pen and watercolor compositions.  I find his work to be beautiful yet creepy. His characters and the environments he places them in are elusive, leaving me to dream up interpretations of what the stories he creates mean.

Since that weekend by the fire in Seattle, I’ve been drawn to his work so it was really exciting when I heard that PopRally, a program of events at MoMA that targets a younger, more hip audience, would be doing a special premiere of the video for Department of Eagles’ “No one Does It Like You,” which is directed by Patrick Daughters and Marcel Dzama. Dzama was also responsible for the costumes and sets. The video feels like Dzama’s illustrations and sculptures coming to life in a choreographed battle of women vs. men that plays itself out during the course of the song. Definitely worth a watch.

‘Creative Faces’ is D&AD’s way of highlighting talent in different regions producing great creative work.  They held their first event in Japan, while launching the D&AD exhibition at Advertising Museum Tokyo.   Akira Odagiri of Ogilvy & Mather Japan served as Chairman of the panel and then they invited 2 top creatives from Japan and 2 from the UK to select a creative team/person whose work exhibits some of Japan’s most exciting talent.

One of the judges was Joe Ferry, Head of Design, Virgin Atlantic.  He selected Hironao Tsuboi.

I think Tsuboi’s work is modern, accessible, simple and playful.

This is Joe Ferry’s description of why he chose Tsuboi as a ‘Creative Face.’

“Virgin Atlantic once ran an advertising campaign, with the strap line – ‘some say why, others say why not’. This expression could be used to summarize Hironao Tsuboi’s work. He has the ability to look at everyday objects in a completely new way….In fact making simple designs look good is one of the most difficult things to do. Who would ever have thought that a watch could become exciting if you entirely remove the watch face – this guy clearly did.

He turns a negative into a positive. Hironao Tsuboi’s glass design creates a beautiful detail from essentially a condensation drip. I feel this glass captures his positive take on life, which is both admirable and infectious.

By creating great designs that make people smile, Hironao Tsuboi is definitely a creative face of the future.”

See more Tsuboi’s work as well as the other ‘Creative Faces’ here