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Showing posts from March, 2010

I wish they'd made this in my size

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Louie Louis is a lovely danish brand for kids. The founder is Louise Frederiksen and she wanted to create something good not just by taking children in consideration (nothing should itch or be too tight) but also the parents regarding quality and price, and also the conditions for the people who produce the clothes. As I have a friend who is pregnant, I was browsing for baby clothes and I stumbled upon this purple and cream knitted dress ... gosh, if only I could shrink!!!

Smile! Stop motion movie Wolf and Pig

Visual inspiration: Clothes that make me smile

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I have discovered a new fashion brand: HARVEY FAIRCLOTH . It's not just the fact I want ALL of their clothes which are classics with a chic, sharp and funny twist, but the way they present them. I have never looked at a fashion website with so much attention, smiling all the time. It's visual inspiration at its best. Harvey Faircloth has created small comic sequences around a witty description. Isn't that a great idea for all fashion magazines? Neah, maybe it's best to let it stay a unique trait of the fearless creators of this amazing brand: Katie Hatch, Abby Clawson Low and Mara Papa. How does one say I have had it? The hostess must keep the crowd moving.

My daily webs

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Apart from the obvious gmail and facebook, there are quite a few sites I can't live without... * imgfave - with one click on my tool bar, I can save any image from any website to my profile on imgfave. It's my online mood board. * grooveshark - one of many online jukeboxes on which you can look for your favourite artists and create playlists. * spectives - a visual rss-reader * etsy - not just for my onw miss moussetache shop but for all the amazing, unique pieces you can find on it. * go web 2.0 - if I am looking for an online tool I don't know, chances are huge it will be listed on here. * guardian - my favourite grown-up people news source * slashdot - it's their tagline 'news for nerds', I love wearing my glasses and reading slashdot * instructables - inspiration haven. Learn how to build a treehouse, launch a homemade missile and mod a polaroid camera into a normal one I love internet.

It's a good day, don't you think?

Turn your speakers on and sing along, as loud as you can ;) It's a good day, Peggy Lee Yes, it's a good day for singin' a song, And it's a good day for movin' along; Yes, it's a good day, how could anything be wrong, A good day from mornin' till night. Yes, it's a good day for shinin' your shoes, And it's a good day for losin' the blues; Ev'rything to gain and nothin' to lose, 'Cause it's a good day from mornin' till night. I said to the sun, "good mornin', sun. Rise and shine, today" You know you've gotta get goin' If you're gonna make a showin' And you've got the right of way 'Cause it's a good day for payin' your bills; And it's a good day for curin' your ills, So take a deep breath and throw away your pills; 'Cause it's a good day from mornin' till night.

You won't find art solely in a museum

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Have you ever heard of the art project ' Mysterious Letters '? Lenka Clayton & Michael Crowe started it in April 2009, by sending personal, handwritten letters to each of the 467 households in the small Irish village of Cushendall. As you can read on their website' We hoped these unsolicited letters would prompt neighbourly discussion, spreading across the town, promoting community curiosity.' A few months later, they sent even more handwritten letters (620!!!) to each home in Polish Hill, Pittsburgh, USA. Some of these letters are pretty weird but still... I really hope someday they'll decide to sent mysterious letters to Amsterdam!

Tamar Mogendorff's world of fabric creatures

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When working, Tamar Mogendorff is surrounded by thousand and thousand of fabrics and threads to create a world populated with swans, fish and mushrooms. I think I would love to move to her Brooklyn studio - Tim Burton should have used some of her creation to populate Alice's Wonderland. Isn't Tamar's work amazing?

Meet The Mad Hatter

Guardian stylist Priscilla Kwateng meets Justin Smith, the enfant terrible of a new wave of British milliners who are taking the catwalks by storm. I am not sure about hats for myself but I would definetely wear huge bows and big flowers on my head.

Upcycling: books and plants

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How many amazing things can people make? I especially love upcycling, remaking something into something else and making it even better. Have yuo ever heard about the Italian Gartenkultur ? They organize workshops remaking books into vases. It's brilliant. They even used a stack of old 'Topolino' comic books... My favourite, of course. Trees turning books turning tree nurseries, that's how it should always be. Via Ette Studios .

Michael Stipe around your neck

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I. WANT. THIS. Aged fifteen I met him in person and was hooked: I have been a fan of Michael Stipe's uniqueness since forever now. He has just teamed up with Maison Martin Margiela and created this s terling silver microcassette charm which dangles from a skinny black ribbon – to be tied up and worn in whatever way you imagine. Each of the 199 pieces is numbered and signed by Stipe.

London's Utterly Delicious Coffee & Brunch List

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I was back in London a few weeks ago. I love that city and I still don't understand why I ever left. Anyway, it was amazing, of course. More vibrant and exciting than last year, as if people are starting to dream again. So many new restaurants and cafes opened in the past twelve months! Since I love eating and drinking coffee, I have put together a list of my new favourite places where you will be able to enjoy food as it should always be: utterly delicious. * Lantana (granola for breakfast, flat white AND all of their lunches are amazing) * The Modern Pantry (granola for breakfast, lovely dinner) * Monmouth , the one just around the corner of Borough Market (delicious COFFEE and eating bread/butter/jam at the communal table for breakfast) * The Espresso Room (coffee and croissant) * Smith of Smithfield (breakfast, brunch, drinks...) * Wahaca (Mexican street food in a great atmosphere) * Borough Market * Fromagerie Or have a look at my google map so you won't get lost!

Cool shop interior

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How about using wooden books as a table, next time you are pausing for coffee in your favourite bookstore? That's what architects Front Studio must have thought when redesigning New York's McNally Jackson bookstore's cafe. I would love these 'book tables' in my house, next to the window overlooking the water. Could someone bring them into production, please? PS have a look at Front Studio's lunch blog , their pictures could use a bit of photoshop but ooooh, their lunches are absolutely delicious! Via Contemporist

Buttercup full of spices

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From Amsterdam with TLC: Japanese designer Haruka lives in Amsterdam and creates original and innovative china, like this buttercup with painted warehouses and flying birds. One of my dearest friends had just bought a house along Amsterdam's canals, very light and spacious. The perfect spot for organizing lazy sunday brunch... I filled the buttercup with different spices as I NEVER use buttercups for butter or jam and she loved it. Have a look at second hand shops, you could easily use soap bowls for this, or candy jars. As long as you personalize it with a little bit of tlc, this could be the perfect gift for everyone you care about.

Baby's cocoon

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Probably the cutest thing I have ever seen: a precious cocoon knitted out of hand spun Falkland merino. Just as soft as a cloud! The perfect snuggle up place for every little one. You can either buy one readymade with loads of TLC by Lillebarne, or knit one yourself .

Me loves you: Custom initials on a birch tree

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Have you ever carved your initials on a tree? I guess we all have done that. Jessica Rust is the amazing artist behind this simple idea: personalized tableware with the initials of the love birds on a delicate birch tree.

Le Petit Nicholas: must watch

Have you ever read Le Petit Nicholas? It's a series of books created by Rene' Goscinny, the author of Asterix, and world-renowed illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempe' about the adventures of schoolboy Nicholas and his friends. They go fishing for tadpoles, play a complicated game of soccer or visit an art gallery, but things never quite go according to plan... You cannot read this without smiling - it's like eating frizzy pazzy chewing gum. I have just discovered a movie was made last year starring Nicholas, Geoffrey, Alec and all the others. It's too cute to be true! I can highly recommend this!

Made by MM: Zinemark, the cute magazine bookmark

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When reading a magazine, I am always reaching for bits of paper to remember articles I want to research on. Or just to make sure I know which page I was reading as I tend to get interrupted every time I try to read one... I have created these zinemarks with characters from my 'Say hello' series and a little Lola girl based on a drawing and images from a magazine. I have cut each one and glued magazine images at the back with a piece of my favourite ribbons in between. After which I laminated the whole thing and carefully cut again along the lines. You can find these in my Etsy shop !

Made by MM: Moustache

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Made by MM: Moustache - Parbleu

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Made by MM: Journal in a book

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Rummaging flea markets all around the globe, I have started to create a collection of journals using antique books. Each journal has the original front and back of the book, and a couple of the original pages (all the ones I could find bearing an illustration!) in between the empty blank and graph paper pages. For two books I was able to save the original spine and I have created a bookmark (by adding a ribbon and laminating the whole thing) which I am giving away as a small gift. I have binded everything together with quality metal binders. You can find these in my Etsy shop !

a.puur.a: whimsical little shop

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While wandering around Antwerp, Belgium, I stumbled across this amazing little shop: a.puur.a. They sell a wonderful collection of furniture, interior curiosities, jewelry, shoes (Chie Mihara), bags and notebooks designed by the shop owner, Katrien Buyle. Everything is made out of pure materials like wood and linnen, and the shop smells amazing as well! Gent: Onderbergen 56 Antwerp: Kammenstraat 89 Brands: Anna Torfs, Henry Dean, Chie Mihara, Arthur & Aston, Sequoia, Flora Fleur, Isabel Marant, Lyie (photo by Zone09)

Jacques Tati, men and nose picking

Women tell each other their deepest secrets on a mobile phone, in fully packed trains and buses surrounded by dozens of interested ears. Men pick their noses in traffic. As this wonderful little scene from Jacques Tati's movie Traffic shows, they have absolutely no idea they are not alone when doing that...

Made by MM: A cookie, my piggy?

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I love drinking coffee. And I love eating cookies. As I also love crafting, I decided to create my own cookie plate - inspired by an upcoming birthday and the need for a unique gift: meet my toy cookie stand, created by combining a schleich toy with a good quality porcelain plate. Isn't she cute? Available in my Etsy store!

My things & I

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Made by MM: Ballerina Aurina black & white

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Made by MM: Ballerina Giulietta black & white

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Welcome to the enchanted world of Coraline

After watching movies like Willie Wonka & The chocolate factory or Ratatouille, I felt disappointed that those worlds did not exist. It was all special effects and computer animation. Coraline, Henry Selick's 3D stop-motion movie about a girl who steps through a secret door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), wasn't like everything I had ever seen. First of all, it was the best stop-motion I had ever seen, although I really liked Nightmare before Christmas - which is also directed by Selick. The greatest part of the movie is that everything you see, is real. Everything you see, has been made by someone! At its peak, the film involved the efforts of 450 people, including from 30 to 35 animators and digital designers, and more than 250 technicians and designers. One crew member, miniature knitter Althea Crome , was hired specifically to knit miniature sweaters and other clothing for the puppet characters, using knitting needles as thin as human h

Soothing music on your iPhone

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Anybody with an iPhone out there? Brian Eno has teamed up with musician and software designer Peter Chilvers to create an amazing application: all you have to do is tap on your screen and small bubbles of music will appear in returning compositions. I can't stop playing with it and if you close your eyes it feels as though you are walking around in a dream... Download it here .

Jim Tierney: Amazing book covers from art student

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He has just won a scolarship and he is definitely about to rule the world. I think Jim Tierney 's illustrations are just amazing.

Made by MM: A new home

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Made by MM: Afraid of monsters

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Made by MM: Coucou

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Made by MM: Blowing bubbles

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Made by MM: Ballerina Giulietta

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Made by MM: Ballerina Aurina

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