Hasta La Ideas The Adventures of Star Wars Figurines in Nature Archives

Jan 09

Sweet Olive Soap Works

Rich, handmade soaps pay tribute to pirates and perfume from historic New Orleans

As a family-run business, New Orleans-based Sweet Olive Soap Works believes in working with fellow sustainably minded people to keep production local and customers supplied with the best ingredients available. So to make everyone and their skin happy Sweet Olive makes each olive oil-based product by hand with nutrient rich, Louisiana-grown ingredients, using the cold process method and curing each batch for a month. The mild, moisturizing and handmade soap offers the body benefits by avoiding chemicals and synthetic dyes while naturally slowing the skin’s aging process through hydration.

The line’s signature variety is, of course, the Louisiana Sweet Olive, but our favorites of the slab-cut soaps were the Vetiver and Goat’s Milk bar and the Lafitte 1815. The silky Vetiver and Goat’s Milk pays homage to New Orlean’s French heritage, blending the Creole culture’s signature Vetiver fragrance—first imported to the colonies from East India—with creamy goat’s milk and notes of almond oil and sandalwood.

Named for the French Pirate who helped defend New Orleans against the British in 1815, the masculine Lafitte 1815 combines fragrant oak moss, sandalwood and light undertones of cedarwood and black amber. Plus, the activated charcoal acts as a natural solution for drawing toxins from the skin, and gives the bar its dark hue.

For more information on Sweet Olive Soap Works and their wide variety of handmade soaps check online where the 4.3 ounce bars sell for around $6 a bar.

Jan 05

Eleven Silk Scarves

Posted in: silk

Wrap yourself up in something nice to ward off the winter blues

When the bleak winter months really hit full swing, a scarf becomes an essential element for staying warm. Rather than walk around with your eyes poking out of a massive knitted muffler, we’ve found wrapping a silk scarf around your neck before zipping up your parka provides an elegant base layer and a light touch to the season’s heavy ensembles. Below are 11 silk scarves guaranteed to brighten up the doldrums of cold weather months.

Charlotte Linton

The London-based illustrator and print designer Charlotte Linton brings her sketches to life with an assortment of 100% silk double georgette scarves, found across three collections named for exotic locales like Java, Himalayas and Madagascar. “Mineralogy” packs a colorful punch with rocks bursting from geometric shapes. To order (£270) contact Linton.

Ikou Tschüss

The 100% “Carmen Foulard” silk scarf in slightly muted, but still juicy hues, comes with a crocheted border made from recycled twine. The Swiss-made wrap is the upshot of a longstanding friendship between two Italian women who share a desire to create social- and environmentally-friendly garments. The scarf sells from Ikou Tschüss for 300 SFr.

Viron Vert

Intentional or not, Berlin-based artist Viron Vert‘s “By Aidmail” scarf series is likely to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Inspired by the socio-politics of contemporary culture, if worn over your head they appear as an identity-changing wig. The series sells exclusively from Colette, each is €205.

Bless

Bless’ “Berlinmexico” silk scarf features a digital print designed by the Berlin-based concept shop. This breezy edition sells online from Ssaw for €79

Anntian

Celebrated for their spirited graphics and unusual silhouettes, Anntian is the work of Berlin-based designers Anne Hilken and Christian Kurt. Each piece is a hand-printed labor of love, designed to reveal a story within a certain theme. This double-sided silk scarf sells online from Creatures of Comfort for $290.

Milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre

From the “φοῖνιξ” collection by Amelie Charroin and Marie Colin-Madan—the young duo behind the French label Milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre—the “Rideau Antichambre” silk scarf features a vibrant surrealistic scene that feels like a study on perspective. The painting propped against the wall is a cheeky nod to another scarf, their “Orion” scarf from the the preceding “Desertshore” collection. “Rideau Antichambre” sells from Boticca for $111.

Eskayel

Conjuring up thoughts of long, serene summer afternoons, the watercolor design on the aptly named Poolside Scarf is soft on both body and mind. The piece is available from Eskayel for $209.

Scarfshop

Hand-dyed by trained architect Martha McQuade in her Minneapolis studio, each Scarfshop scarf is created in small batches using water-based dyes. This sublime colorblock cotton-and-silk scarf sells from Spartan for $80.

Swash

The gold leopard and dashing zebra prints on this extravagantly fringed silk topper puts a modern twist on the traditional accessory. The scarf, which is handmade in Spain, would be an investment piece for most, justified by an all-seasons appeal and a dramatic look that’s easy to throw on and go. Buy one at Beklina for $780.

Richard Weston

For a moodier option, Richard Weston has designed this silk and wool-blend scarf with a forest scene under blue dusk. The winter-perfect accessory goes for £205 at Liberty of London.

Philippe Roucou

Known for his Polaroid scarves, Philippe Roucou‘s cinematic scarves pre-date any Instagram-inspired concepts. Gorgeously printed on 100% silk, the scarf sells from Reborn for $CAD 350.

Tsumori Chisato

The Japanese designer’s signature painterly patterns come to life in a contrast-print gingham and spotted Animal Gingham Scarf. The graphics have a childlike whimsy while offering a sophisticated punch of color to a dark winter outfit. The wrap is available from Opening Ceremony for $255.

Dec 27

Best of CH 2011: Five Conceptually Driven Designs

Posted in: 2011, artobjects, furnituredesign

Numeric shelves, refrigerator chairs and shape-shifting vases among our look back at 2011 conceptual design

From ICFF to Art Basel, 2011 delivered a flurry of design objects for the home that while highly creative and concept-driven, didn’t compromise their utilitarian duties. From recycled plastic chairs to roman numeral inspired book shelves, the following are five of our favorite pieces of sculptural design that could just as easily pass as pure art objects.

As a brilliant example of unconventional thinking, Dirk van der Kooij turns discarded refrigerators into chairs by way of a 3D printing robot. Each Endless Chair is constructed entirely of one continuous string of precisely placed recycled plastic. This striking mix of conceptual design and sustainable production leaves us marveling over the depths of van der Kooij’s creativity.

Designed in collaboration between Italy’s Le Fablier and Paolo Ulian, this sculptural series of pieces for the home are made using the historical medium of marble. The humble material is artfully formed into book shelves and tables that would seem a natural fit for a living room or museum. The highlight of the sustainably produced collection is the roman numeral inspired “Numerica” bookshelf, balancing form and function rather perfectly.

In similar fashion to Ulian’s marble, Max Lamb’s collection of polished sandstone home furnishings are beautiful whether treated as furniture or not. The British designer sourced the material from Sydney’s Gosford Quarry to achieve the perfect grain and hue for a look reminiscent of colonial period pedestals.

Brooklyn-based designer Paul Lobach’s wide range of furniture collections vary so significantly it’s hard to imagine there’s only one mind behind it all. Wading through his designs we were immediately drawn to the Watson Table—named for the American scientist who discovered human DNA’s helical shape. The unconventional use of carbon fiber and wood displays Lobach’s interest in blending artistry with technology.

Lara Knutson’s attractive “Soft Chemistry” vessels are so bizarre it’s hard to define just what they are. The combination of reflective glass, fabric and mohair gives the pieces a distinctive sheen unlike any other material we’ve seen used in this form.

Dec 12

Gentleman Arthur Ties

Posted in: artisanal

A smart line of woodblock-printed neckties channeling classic American authors and innovators

Weaving a story into very stitch, Gentleman
Arthur creates handcrafted, art deco-inspired neckties with an authorial vibe. Using an intensive labor-of-love woodblock printing process, Gentleman Arthur produces a limited run of ties imbued with aesthetically faded patterns reminiscent of
what co-founder and designer, Samuel Wagner, likens to “the worn adverts you see
painted on the side of old brick buildings; their story inexorably linked
to that material.”

Trading in the iconic accessory’s buttoned-up silk standard for a smart but rustic aesthetic, Gentleman Arthur offers a small assortment of ties that will likely appeal to the free-reeling, scholarly-minded sartorialist. From the Jack Kerouac-inspired
“Hobo” design to the geodesic pattern of the aptly titled “Buckminister” tie, each piece is infused with a unique tale that “bounces between the modern and the adventurous.” Wagner explains, “I wanted to create a project that had the mental complexity of artwork while sharing the accessibility of popular culture.”

From the selection of the wood to the hand-sewn seams, each step of the
tie process reflects the custom care and organic imprint that distinguishes
the brand. “Some would say those are imperfections, but Arthur thinks
that it’s those remnants of the craftsman that makes the ties perfect. We
want to establish a connection between the craftsman and the wearer, and
create a sense of where products come from,” says Wagner.

Made from 100% cotton and
felt, Gentleman Arthur ties sell online for $75. Keep an eye out for their equally handsome line of pocket squares coming out next year.

Dec 09

Cool Hunting Video Presents: Bentley

Posted in: craftsmanship, driving, factories

Our latest video takes a look at the craftsmanship behind one of the world’s leading luxury auto makers

During a recent trip to England we were invited to tour Bentley’s factory in Crewe and had the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at how these luxury powerhouses are put together from start to finish. The hands-on plant offered a wildly different experience than other car manufacturing processes we have seen and, by relying on a level of manual precision machines can’t always replicate, provided a fascinating example of the merge of technology and craftsmanship in creating truly luxurious custom automobiles.

Dec 06

Anve

Posted in: accesories, handbags

Lisbon-based designers take global inspiration for simple designs
By Miranda Ward

Annett Bourquin and Kerstin Greve founded the Lisbon-based label ANVE as a small but carefully curated collection of accessories, bags and home goods. According to the pair, the goal is simple: “We aim to make objects that stay with their owners and become more beautiful with life.”

Aside from the inspiration behind the neighborhoods and landscape of their adopted city, Bourquin and Greve gather ideas from the many places they’ve lived and visited in the past, from Berlin, Basel and Vienna to Cape Town and Tokyo. While the approach is derived from this rich heritage, their products are delightfully simple, often almost minimalist.

The Laboratorio Lamp comprises a borosilicate laboratory flask hung from a black cloth-covered wire. Their Sacos de Papel (“paper bags” in Spanish), meanwhile, mimic the structure of a plain paper bag but are constructed from rich suede, lambskin, goatskin or polished leather, in colors like antique gold and ocean green. The bags feature a snap closure but have no other embellishments.

Every ANVE product is created in small batches, either in-studio or by local manufacturers, so the range evolves regularly. Sometimes pieces are one of a kind—”If we are inspired by, let’s say, a beautiful piece of vintage leather we buy it, even if it’s only enough for one little bag,” they outline on their website.

All products are available online and can be shipped worldwide. Prices start at €19 for a pocket notebook.

Dec 02

Four Seasons Maui Artists Showcase

Posted in: artisanal, artistprofiles, Hawaii

A well-curated collection of local artists and their work on view daily

During a recent stay at the Four Seasons Resort at Wailea in Maui, Hawaii, we wandered through the artists showcase in the hotel’s lower lobby area. The open-air gallery rotates throughout the week, featuring six different local artists each day. It’s a great way for tourists to engage directly with the local arts community, as the artists present their work directly. Being selected to participate is considered a local honor, and the group is edited each year to keep things fresh. We were impressed with both the quality of the work (hotel lobbies don’t tend to deliver awesome art) but also with the breadth—native basket weaving, photography, sculpture, glass making, and painting. It was great to be able to speak with the artists directly about their work and process.

Of the artists we met, two stood out for their creativity and innovation. They happen to be mother (Nancy Mosely) and daughter (Lisa Widell) who share the Shepards Beads studio in the middle of a Christmas tree farm on Maui, where they create work independently and collaboratively. Nancy works with fimo, which she extrudes to different shapes using a pasta machine. She works the various strands together to make tubes of kaleidoscopic patterns, which are then cut. The sliced fimo is put around beads and glazed, which Lisa then takes and makes into all types of jewelry.

Nancy also uses the cut fimo to make colorful “fabrics” which she then transforms into miniature aloha shirts and muu’muus, many of which feature amazingly intricate fimo flower leis with very, very small petals, each made by hand. The “Aloha” shirt sculptures are then framed in Koa shadow boxes

In addition to clay, Lisa also does Italian lampwork glass beadmaking, finishing her delicate products in precious stones, gold, and swarovski crystals. The jewelry is unique, handmade and bears the distinct mark of the Maui spirit. Had we seen their work in a gallery we probably wouldn’t have given it a second look, but having the opportunity to speak with them about their art and process made us fans, and we left with several pieces. Their work is also available through the Shepards Beads online shop.

We also loved the photography of Cameron Nelson, a technical photographer who captures fleeting moments of ecological beauty. With a spirit of adventure, Nelson travels to global locales in search of original environments. In his extensive career photographing the islands, Nelson has recorded everything from the rugged Napali Coast and Hana’s bamboo forests to competitive surfers in the Banzai Pipeline. Nelson’s camera is equipped with waterproof housing for use when lying in wait for the perfect spray of sea foam.

The artist showcase at the Four Seasons Maui runs year round, with new artists added each year. The collection celebrates local craftsmanship and the aesthetic spirit of a prized Hawaiian island.

Nov 30

Manulution

Posted in: artisanal, ecofriendly

A contemporary twist on Bosnian Konjic furniture-making

Having survived WWII, the rise and fall of communism and the breakup of Yugoslavia, Bosnian furniture line Manulution has established an enduring legacy. Last spring, the company caused a stir at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), and is now launching American operations from its Washington, D.C. headquarters. With a history of handcrafted wood furniture dating back to 1927 under parent company Rukotvorine (“handcrafts” in English), the avant-garde collection promises to be a big hit for North Americans yearning for some old-world regal craftsmanship.

A large part of Manulution’s appeal lies in their impeccable track record. With pieces often lasting across three generations, their collection runs in stark contrast to the recent surge of self-assembled disposable furniture. The wood is responsibly sourced from local Bosnian growers, mostly comprising old trees that have ceased to bear fruit and are ready to be replaced with younger saplings. Manulution also reclaims their old furniture from previous owners for resale to discerning antique collectors to ensure that their products never end up in a landfill.

The company has three distinct lines that show a range of aesthetic leanings. The traditional selection features hyper-intricate detailing on ottoman tea tables and chairs while the modern and artisanal collections err on the side of pared-down modernism. Unique to this level of craftsmanship are virtually seamless joints, which give the pieces a fluid finish. The technique draws from the Bosnian tradition of Konjic woodcarving, which is currently under consideration for UNESCO’s World Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Some of Manulution’s pieces are available at the Mondo Collection in NYC and Haute Living in Chicago. Anthropologie has just started carrying Manulution’s “wave table,” a unique dining piece that features embedded “pockets” that swivel on the table’s planar surface to hold flowers, condiments, or other dinner-time essentials.

Nov 29

Beatrice Wood: Career Woman

Posted in: artistprofiles, retrospectives

A retrospective on the life and work of Dada’s Mama

Beatrice Wood’s “Career Woman” exhibition at the Santa Monica Museum of Art celebrates more than her prolific ouevre of gorgeous ceramics, whimsical drawings and colorful paintings. As part of Pacific Standard Time, the show tells the story of Wood’s intimate friendships with Marcel Duchamp and Henri-Pierre Roche, the discovery of her love of clay, her exploration of complicated relationships between men and women and her search for spirituality.

I came to know the “mama of Dada” during my time in Ojai, California with the Virginia Avenue Project (VAP) after-school program, whose artistic director, Leigh Curran, was lifelong friends with Wood. I met the artist on weekly studio trips with the VAP students, and began visiting the artist several times throughout the year toward the end of her life. Now, when I am asked to describe Wood, the first words that come to mind are beautiful and mischievous. From her artwork to her personality, she was feminine, strong-willed, talented and colorful. Her eyes literally sparkled, and she attributed her longevity to chocolate and young men.

I particularly treasure a note Wood sent to thank me for sending a copy of “The Last Flower” by James Thurber, with a picture of the VAP children, that sums up her pacifist views. “I am glad to have the photograph of you and some of your project girls,” she wrote. “The children look intelligent and happy. The book about the bomb and the general is much in time with what is going on in the world. I recently read that the military has thousands of aeroplanes, I mean thousands of tankers, shells, bandages, thermometers to kill and to heal the wounded that they do not know what to do with all the surplus stuff. I hope all of us that feel about bombing the way we do with make some impact on this crazy world. Love to you and the children, Beatrice.”

Recently I reread her memoir I Shock Myself that chronicles her posh childhood, bohemian coming of age, affairs with Pierre Roche and Marcel Duchamp, and unique journey to find herself living in Ojai, CA.

The details of her life transcend the typical: artistic successes and passionate affairs, her strange loyalty to two complicated men in unconsummated marriages and a new career at the age of 40, when she discovered ceramics at Hollywood High School. She had enrolled in the class to learn how to make a teapot to go with luster plates, and went on to create within the genre for more than 60 years.

Beatrice lived to the age of 105. Her adventurous story reminds us all that living can be messy, complicated, beautiful and joyful. Much like her quickly drawn stick figure thumbing his nose at the world—that Duchamp later put on the cover of his Blindman’s Ball poster—Wood lived by her own rules and lived to the fullest.

Curated by Elsa Longhauser and Lisa Melandri with exhibition design by Adam Silverman of Heath Ceramics, “Beatrice Wood: Career Woman—Drawings, Painting, Vessels, and Objects” is on view at the Santa Monica Museum of Art through 25 February 2012. A 144-page illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition documenting her contributions to the canon of 20th century art.

All images courtesy of the Santa Monica Museum of Art. Wood photographed in her studio and with tiger by Bill Dow; Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia and Beatrice Wood, photographed in 1917.

Nov 28

Magic-Flight Launch Box

Posted in: accesories, vaporizer

A durable, portable vaporizer that sets the industry standard for design and performance

While we don’t condone inhaling chemical-filled, cancer-inducing tobacco products, the pleasure of smoking is undeniable. Most of us can’t justify the price tag of a table-top vaporizer and other smokeless alternatives for roasting organic matter tend to be full of hot air. We were recently turned on to the the Launch Box, a portable miniature vaporizer from San Diego-based Magic-Flight and, having tested out a couple vapes over the last few weeks, found this handy device is a real standout.

With a design focused on performance, efficiency and user experience the box is handsome to look at and delightful to use. About the size of two nine-volt batteries, the compact device fits nicely in the hand and stows easily in your pocket or bag. The maple hardwood body gives it a warm, welcoming feel while the stainless steel, plexiglass and glass components keep it extremely sturdy—this is a great example of simplicity as the result of considerate design and thorough testing.

Each handcrafted Launch Box takes a week to produce. Unlike many portable vaporizers which use butane for heat, the Launch Box is driven by a high-energy AA battery. That battery powers a conduction system, a method generally considered less efficient than more common convection heating. However, by utilizing specialized design elements such as regulated vapor production, reduced vapor condensation and infra-red characteristics the team at Magic-Flight was able to produce a highly functional conduction vaporizer.

There is a slight learning curve with the Launch Box and we recommend reading the instructions thoroughly before using the product. The box comes as a kit and includes two rechargeable batteries with a charger, screen brush, glass tube for drawing the vapor and a lifetime functional warranty. As a small company Magic-Flight has a definite focus on customer service and community. Their site provides a wealth of useful information with helpful FAQs about design, use and care.

The Launch Box is available for $119 from the Magic-Flight online store.

Hasta La Ideas

Sweet Olive Soap Works