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Here are the top posts of the year - the ones that got the most hits over the last 12 months.  Have a look after the jump to see who took the top honours and, if you haven't already, click on the titles to have a read.
Image: Bitossi

Have a look at these miniature ceramics which were designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. They are a limited edition issue of the original Rimini Blu Collection designed in the mid-fifties and early sixties by Londi, who was the art director of Bitossi for more than 50 years.  I love the hand-embossed patterns and iconic blue glaze which is achieved by alternately glazing and firing the ceramics.

Only 1000 of each figurine will be made and each piece is numbered on the underside.  The miniature Bitossi Rimini ceramics are being sold exclusively by DWR and are available here.

Why wasn't this around when I needed it?  The 4Moms Origami stroller opens and closes using its very own onboard motor.  Learn more about the stroller  here and see more images after the jump.

I don't like to put up the Christmas tree too early, and this year when we went to get ours, they were all sold out!  Such are the perils of small island living.  We did the next best thing and made our own.  Enjoy some pictures of our alternative Christmas tree and have a fantastic holiday everyone.

Just in time for Christmas are these adorable, minimalistic dollhouses from Miniio which are available furnished or unfurnished.  Each house is made from non-toxic materials and are hand-finished using wood, stone and metal.  See more floor plan configurations and furniture, including miniature pendant lamps and low platform beds, after the jump. 
Does anyone still design and build homes like this?  I'm not suggesting that beautifully designed homes aren't being built these days, but the disciplines of architecture, construction and interior design seem to be split and there is a division of labour when it comes to building homes now with everyone working independently of one another.  I love the fact that Frank Lloyd Wright looked at the big picture and put the same amount of thought into the details including furniture and the way in which occupants were to use the space.   A good example of this is his Kenneth Laurent House which is currently up for auction. The residence was designed for a wheelchair-bound veteran, and you can see some of the thought that went into designing the space including wide passageways and open areas which  facillitate a wheelchair.  Even the furniture looks designed to allow a wheelchair to be pulled right up to it.  The built-in shelves and drawers work seamlessly with the overall feel and the result is effortlessly, easy living where form and functionality meld together perfectly and the overall effect is functional and pleasing.

See more of the Kenneth Laurent House after the jump.
Image: Kontextür
This sweet modern and sculptural injection moulded silicone rubber duck from from Kontextür can be put to a variety of uses from toothbrush or toothpaste holder to doorstop or paperweight.
If ever I need to read and properly absorb something, I print a hard copy, so I don't think I will ever move to a completely paperless world. There is still a demand for tactile, paper-based information which is why I think the Little Printer is a genius idea. Oh, and it's cute too. The brainchild of London design shop BERG, the Little Printer is a palm-sized, cube-shaped, cloud-powered thermal printer complete with a pair of feet and a face. The printer works with social media and newspapers to print once or twice a day a 10 inch receipt-like strip consisting of news headlines, puzzles and social network summary that has been personalised by the user via a smartphone app. 

The Little Printer will be available in 2012. See it in action after the jump.
Have a look at these children's clothes from Supayana which feature digitally printed illustrations by artist Sara Guindon and the designer Yana Gorbulsky.  The clothes are made in limited numbers to maintain their uniqueness and designer Yana Gorbulsky uses recycled and eco-friendly materials.  The clothes can be found exclusively through the Supayana e-shop here.

See more Supayana after the jump.
I'm not a big fan of skater culture, but I like these skateboards designed by Paul Smith in collaboration with Alien Workshop.  Each board is made from seven veneers of hard rock maple which have been custom stained to match Paul Smith's multi-coulored stripes, and the graphics on the underside of the boards are taken from the Paul Smith Jeans collection.  Only 200 of the boards have been manufactured, so snap them up quick.  See more details of the board after the jump.
If you're looking for stylish seating for under $50 you could do worse than these mid-century style rattan armchairs from Urban Outfitters.  These beauties are currently on sale and are available here.

See more views after the jump.
Image: Lily Ashwell for Shabby Chic
Designer Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic and her daughter Lily have announced the creation of Lily Ashwell for Shabby Chic, a collection of dresses, knits, and separates.  It will be interesting to see more of the line but from the image above, I expect a lot of flowing, bohemian looks.  Lily Ashwell for Shabby Chic will be available in Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture stores and on Cocodot.com.
Very impressed with the way this combination tea and coffee maker from Bodum looks.

Image: Heineken
This is my favourite TV commercial at the moment. I love it for its kitschy randomness and the fact that they do a dance to Jaan Pehechaan Ho at the end.  In celebration of another kind of date, Heineken, which marks its 140th anniversary next year, is currently offering designers the opportunity to create a bottle design which is intended to reflect the way in which people connect globally. Each submission will represent half of an overall design and must be combined with the design concept of a complete stranger to create a joint entry.

Designs may be uploaded and combined using tools on the company's Facebook page and the winning design will be available in a limited edition pack in December of next year.
I am really attracted to the combination of wood and other natural materials I have seen used in lighting fixtures recently including these simple but striking lamps by blumen.

We featured re-purposed sails here and now here are some another interesting uses of sail material from Spanish company Dvelas.  The Vaurien Lounger is comprised of an outer cover of recovered sail, fibre glass batten frame and inner foam filling.  Its peculiar shape provides support for the head as well as shade from the sun and protection from the wind.  Génois, the beanbag, is also made with recovered sail fabric which tenses when the seat is used giving the back rigidity while moulding to and providing support for the body.  Each piece is (by necessity) a limited edition based on the specific plastic qualities, patina, marks and numbers of the sail used in the manufacture.

Image: Decorkuznetsov Studio
I love the retro look of the Ushanki Shelf-Lamp collection from Ukraine-based Decorkuznetsov Studio. They come in three different sizes and each has a hidden lamp to illuminate the contents of the shelf.
Image: Marni
I've got collaboration fatigue but, like an addict, I feel compelled to keep reporting on them.  It's particularly hard to resist when the joint venture is as desirable as this one which has Marni tapped to be H&M's next big name.   The collection of men’s and women’s clothes featuring Marni's signature tribal-inspired prints and chunky jewellery is being designed by Consuelo Castiglioni exclusively for for the Swedish fashion giant and will be available in stores and online in March 2012.
Vancouver-based MTH Woodworks have created the BloomX collection of tables that feature salvaged birch branches inlayed in resin on a simple base of bleached beech wood.  See more after the jump. 

Those of you from the Caribbean will immediately recognise this artist's last name.  While her father has given us many hours of laughter and entertainment, I had no idea that his daughter was a visual artist and designer, far less one of such caliber.  The images featured above and after the jump are from Tara Keens-Douglas' master’s thesis at the University of Waterloo.  Made from paper which is folded and manipulated to exaggerate the proportions of the body, the wearable sculptures are intended to straddle the boundaries of architecture and fashion and reflect certain aspects of our carnival culture.  According to her thesis, the chaos of parade, music and dance fuses the body with the costume, transforming the individual and freeing him from inhibitions.  In this way, carnival moves us beyond our bodies and into the experience of ecstasy.

See more images of Tara Keens-Douglas' designs after the jump.
Image: IKEA
A lot of you seem to be interested in the review of the 2011 IKEA catalogue (you really love that KIVIK sofa) which I posted in October last year.  Just so you know, IKEA's most recent catalogue is the 2012 version and it can be viewed online here.  There wasn't anything new in the catalogue that caught my interest, so I haven't bothered to do a post on it this time around.
I love these big, chunky necklaces which are made by Seattle-based painter and jewellery designer Irene Wood under the label History and Industry.  They are the perfect statement necklaces to finish any outfit.  

See more after the jump.
Inspired by classic table leg shape, London-based designer Kenyon Yeh has created the Flab Table.  The iconic leg shape is made from steel cut and bent to form the leg and the surface is lacquered mdf.  See more of his work here and details of the table after the jump.


A welcome change from the usual variations-on-brown theme, are these beautiful, colourful wooden glasses from W-Eye.  I like the fact that, unlike many other wooden frames, these are shaped to the face and therefore should be more flattering to the wearer.  The collections include reading glasses as well as larger styles which are suitable for optical and sunglass lenses.  The lightweight frames are non-toxic and non-allergenic.  All styles are available in woods from certified forests managed according to environmental sustainability criteria, including maple, ash, cherry and walnut, wengè, mahogany, ebony and zebra woods.  

Art-meets-fashion with Dutch designer Winde Rienstra's SS2012 collection 11:11. The intention of the collection is to 'capture the energy which is manifested by a person who has attained a high level of awareness' and the designs are said to radiate an energy which would otherwise be invisible through simple clothing.  It is not for me to say whether this object is attained, I just like the structure and effect of entrapping the body as well as the obvious skill which she exhibits in these designs.

See more of Winde Rienstra's collection here and after the jump.

One of my photos of Series or Suriname Cherries got picked up and reblogged on Tumblr the other day.  Who knew so many people were interested in food, fruit and fashion.  A strange venn intersection but it seems to work.

More after the jump.
Similar to the hidden reveals we featured here are these adorable ceramic bowls by Geraldine De Beco for Bernardaud which take the shape of a bird or an animal when filled with liquid.  See more after the jump.
I love these handmade terracotta lamps from Hand & Eye which are partly-dipped in glaze. Designed by Thomas Housden, the combination of the natural terracotta with the subtle white glaze adds a sophisticated twist to an otherwise rustic fixture. The lamp can be combined with a vibrantly coloured electric flex which makes it equally suited to traditional or modern settings.  See more of Hand & Eye's designs after the jump and the entire line here.
Clockwise from top left: Peter Som, Derek Lam, Lacoste, Tess Giberson



Unusually flavoured chocolates (sea salt anyone?) and a beautiful feathered, studded and sequinned bag by Diane von Furstenberg. 


Attic is a series of birdhouses designed by Studio Chad Wright which provide a place for birds to roost at varying heights. Available in robin’s egg blue, tomato red and cloud white, Attic comes with a moulded concrete base and a screw-in lawn stake which means it can be erected on grass or hard surfaces.

Image: Indochino 
Similar to what Anya Hindmarch did many years ago with her Be a Bag line, I keep coming across examples of retailers offering some form of customisation in an attempt to differentiate themselves and provide a better service and goods to their customers.  Retailers are giving customers the option to personalise and tailor garments to suit their individual tastes and size.  Indochino offer trousers which are custom-tailored to your exact dimensions using premium fabrics and also allow the buyer to choose details like the cuffs, pocket lining, suspender buttons and pleats.  J. Hilburn go a step further by offering a perfectly fitted suit though, rather than submit your own measurements a 'style advisor' from J.Hilburn will come to your home or office and measure you, they still warrant that service will be speedy and the quality will not suffer.

This phenomenon is not restricted to men either; Alex & Eli allow women to chose the colour, lining and buttons on the blazers in its Tailor Shop.

Image: Carsten Anikstdal
I love the primary colours and the mix of wood and textile of this sideboard-cum-desk from Amy Hunting.  Made from Douglas Fir, wool and solid brass bolts, she ingeniously uses gravity to create and form the storage shelves while maintaining a workable surface.
Driving to the east end of the island a few weeks ago, I was floored to see what appeared to be two bus shelters directly opposite to each other vandalised and spray painted with graffiti, something which is rarely seen here.  I subsequently thought the work was a little too polished to be unlawful and I was right.  It turned out to be a piece by Kathleena Howie Garcia, aka "Lady K Fever" who was Masterworks Gallery's recent artist-in-residence.  Hailing from Bronx, Lady K Fever is a multi-disciplinary artist in media of painting, graffiti art, murals, digital art and photography.  She has since left the temporary artist-in-residence post having given a number of tutorials over the summer and unfortunately when I passed the shelters again recently, I noticed the murals had been painted over and so no longer exist.  

Have a look at the work in more detail after the jump.
Image: Maria Hardig
How many times have you found yourself out jogging or carrying on some other sporting activity when you realise you are without pockets, and carrying a bag in which to put important or valuable items such as money or keys is impractical or inconvenient?  Proving once again that the simplest ideas continue to be the best, you may then welcome this idea by designer Maria Härdig who has produced a bag which can be attached to a bottle to keep your personal effects close to hand and safe without the need for bulky bags.
I'm always interested in finding examples of modern architecture in the Caribbean and therefore when I was told a new hotel had been built around the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain a few years ago, I was very excited to finally have the opportunity to look around (although I was accosted by a very nervous-looking marketing manager while I was doing so).  My exploration of the Carlton Savannah was restricted to the public spaces of the hotel only and unfortunately the pool area was closed while I was there.  While it was nice to see an attempt at modernism being made, what I saw left me a little underwhelmed.  It is obvious that they were going for a Miami rather than a Caribbean feel which meant that the overall effect was a bit generic.  Kudos however for showcasing some local talent in the foyer which featured a few local artists' work including the piece by one of my favourite watercolorists Camille King shown after the jump.

Alp, a design studio led by Swiss-born, London-based interior architect Annick L Petersen, make such interesting pieces based on the aesthetic of turned wood.  The 102 stool is made of beech with a white gloss lacquer finish and the 702 mirror has a white gloss lacquer finish and oak embellishments.  See more details after the jump.

Kelly Wearstler continues her quest for retail domination and evolution from interior designer to overall style and fashion arbiter.  Last month she opened an e-shop selling the fashions we featured here as well as home decor and accessories (I particularly love her jewellery).  Yesterday marked the opening of a bricks-and-mortar shop on Melrose Avenue, meaning she has reached another milestone in her journey.


Todd Oldham has joined forces with Fishs Eddy to produce a dishware collection based on Charley Harper's illustrations.  The result of this exclusive deal brings colourful and bright serving trays, plates and glasses to the table.

See more of what's on offer after the jump.

Thanks to Target and H&M, I am a little collaboration weary, but one which still has the power to excite me is this between Comme des Garçons and Cambridge Satchel Company. Rei Kawakubo has re-purposed the traditional bag in glam metallics with double-strap handles which make it a bit more wearable, and less twee, than the other versions out there.

The satchel is available in gold and silver featured above as well as basic black, brown and white (shown after the jump).

I have wanted to do this post for the longest while.    The Irish Linen Shop is situated at Heyl's Corner at the junction of Queen and Front Streets near the infamous 'Birdcage' and is housed in the old Apothecaries' Hall building.  Don't let the name or the traditional exterior fool you, The Irish Linen Shop is what I would call a hidden gem. Its quaint, historic facade hides a veritable treasure trove of beautiful and luxurious products sourced from around the world. Historically the largest distributor of luxury bed and table linens in Bermuda with Le Jacquard Francais, Beauville, Yves Delorme and more recently Serena & Lily on offer, Elaine Murray, buyer and part-owner has gradually expanded the shop's inventory.  It now carries more than just linen these days, including a wide range of children's clothes, toys and books from Petit Bateau, Papo d'Anjo and Chantal, home accessories and small furnishings from Michael Aram, Mariposa and Cire Trudon, art books, candles and toiletries. 

The Irish Linen Shop has long been one of my favourite places for buying gifts, treating myself or just browsing.  You are guaranteed to find beautiful and usual items which cannot be found elsewhere locally.  Have a look around The Irish Linen Shop after the jump.

The sharp, angular look of this dress from Martel's Spring 2012 collection make it feminine in an edgy way.  The New York city based line is designed by Antonia Martel and will be available to purchase online in the near future from here.

How great is this custom Eames LTR or Low Table Rod collaboration between House Industries and Herman Miller Japan?  A total of 80 tables with the classic Eames wire-base were produced by Herman Miller, with the tops of each being hand-printed with letters, numbers and ornaments from the Eames Century Modern font collection.  The tables were initially manufactured at House Industries' factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan and then sent to Herman Miller for assembly and packaging in a special House Industries-designed wooden crate, the idea being that the packing itself should be just as beautiful and worth keeping as the contents.

Forty LTRs were initially unveiled at Herman Miller's Reach exhibition in Hong Kong on September 16, 2011 and another forty were featured at the House Industries exhibition at the Herman Miller Tokyo Showroom on October 27, 2011.  See more after the jump.
Image: Designtree
With frosted or clear versions of its artisan blown glass, the Pil pendant lamp from New Zealand design studio Designtree is made from hand turned cherry or silver beech timber from its indigenous forests.  In so doing, they have married traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge (and energy-efficient) LED lighting technology to produce a beautifully rich sculptural piece. 
Image: island*atelier
After wearing everything from my natural shoulder-length hair to waist-grazing extensions, a few months ago I decided to go in the opposite direction and cut all of my hair off.  While looking for ideas, I scoured the Internet and a few of the images I used as inspiration for the cut are pictured above.  I like the result and have received many complements since, so you can imagine my surprise when I read this article in The New York Times yesterday which describes the style perfectly, especially the description of it being something young men wore back in the heyday of Western Europe's fascist movement because the immediate reaction my German SO had when he saw it was that I now look like their leader. 

While I'm a little upset that I no longer have a distinctive cut but one which is apparently part of a trend, I like it so I'll probably keep it for a while.  I prefer to consider it a throwback to the New Wave/Synthesizer band look of my heyday rather than anything else.
Image: Target
This adorable retro-looking gift card from Target turns into a plane and comes complete with its own landing strip.
Clockwise from top left: BCBG, Peter Som, VPL, Lela Rose

A little later than I expected, but Warby Parker's collaboration with SUNO finally hit stores yesterday. I love the Wendel frame shown above which is an updated version of a classic, round frame. Each of the three limited-edition styles contains polarised lenses and feature SUNO’s gorgeous prints on acetate frames.

See more styles after the jump and purchase them here.

I love the way these tactile and beautiful ceramic globes by Miguel Angel Garcia Belmonte glow from within.  The lights are handmade in Spain.