swissmiss

Polaroid Mirror

Polaroid Mirror by Colin O'Dowd. Lovely.

(thank you grant)

House Industries Alexander Girard Memory Game

Alexander Girard originally created the images used in this memory game for his environmental enrichment panels that he designed to spice up Herman Miller’s Action Office plan. Each game comes with 72 pieces and a limited-edition wooden box. Made in the USA out of replenishable basswood and printed with child-safe non-toxic inks. Wonderful. Make sure to also check out the building blocks. Our little Ella is coo-coo about them! And then the dolls, they make me smile!

(thank you andy)

The Sun

The Sun - Handbag made out of recycled Newspaper. Most probably not all that practical, but definitely a conversation starter. 

Helbotica Tee

Helbotica Tee now in Kid's size over at the ChopShop. (Nice T holding up there, Matthew, who says you can only do that with posters, right?)

(via oneplusinfinity)

For the bathtub:

Balloon Powered Boat. Me want.

Monogram Card Set

Hand printed card set featuring one big bold red letter on each card.

Marlène polka dot suitcases

I agree with Jennifer, these Marlène polka dot suitcases could make for great toy storage.

I *love* PlayFoam!

So, here's a product, I would have never bought, did I not have the chance to try it at a friend's house the other day. PlayFoam
always looked messy to me. But you know what, it's way less messy than Play-Dogh. In fact, it's not messy at all and quite addictive to play with. I just picked up a box for our plane ride to the swiss alps tomorrow. Little Ella will be thrilled. And if not, I'll have fun playing with it. Whee! (I admit thought, I do question if it can be harmful, it sure does smell toxic!)

To Go Vacuum Cup

This brand new thermo cup from Stelton, To Go, has a patented rocker stopper allowing you to drink hot coffee or cold iced tea wherever you go - drink from any angle - from all 360 degrees around the cup as if there were no lid on. (Major gift alert going off!)

Custom Digital Portrait Silhouette

Custom Digital Portrait Silhouette.

affordable gift idea: Hanging Toiletry Bag

This well-organized toiletry bag rolls up into a neat, easy-to-pack shape and unfurls to reveal a removable Velcro mirror, four zip pockets and a loop for hanging. And all that for a mere $20. Yay for an affordable gift that I might just order for myself as well!

Nooka Zon

Michael wrote up a post about the Nooka Zon. Matthew Waldman, the mastermind behind Nooka, was my first boss here in NYC and I remember the morning when he walked into the studio and showed me a sketch of his first Nooka. Wonderful to have seen Nooka evolve into such a big brand.

Gift Idea: Fisher Chrome Bullet Space Pen

One of my alltime favorite gifts: Fisher® Chrome Bullet Space Pen. Fun fact: Writes at any angle, underwater, over grease, in extreme temperatures – even upside down

Gift Idea: Tivoli Audio Model One

Tivoli Audio Model One. Designed by Henry-Kloss, the Model One has become a legend among radios and an example of late 20th century engineering and design

Type Trumps

Just in time for the Christmastime consumer-fest, Face37 has released Type Trumps. Type Trumps, a play on Top Trumps, is a game in which different typefaces are attributed numerical values. These figures are then used to enable the cards to be won or lost using some of the tried and true Top Trumps rules. This novelty is available at Magma Books.

(via swisslegacy and visualculture)

Coolest Typographic Holiday Gift of 2008: ABC3D

Want to impress a font lover this holiday season? Get him/her a copy of ABC3D and prepare to be amazed. It's a pop-up book and a work of art. Hat tip off to Marion Bataille.

Freitag iPhone sleeve

Just introduced: The new F22 iPhone sleeve by FREITAG features individual roadkill tarp designs, a nifty quick-accept strap (inspired by parachutists) and a nice, velvety lining that automatically cleans your precious. Arguably the next best Swiss invention since Ricola. I like it!

green gift: 4 Battery Solar Charger

This 4 Battery Solar Charger can charge 4pcs "D"/"C"/"AA"/"AAA" size rechargeable batteries. How wonderful!

Print your images on 2x2in ceramic tiles

On Teenytile.com you can customize two-inch-square ceramic tiles printed with your images. Each Teeny Tile comes with an adhesive magnet that you can apply to the back of the tile.

Postcard

Postcard is an international showcase of contemporary postcard design featuring the work of more than 100 artists, illustrators, photographers and designers. The book comes with 20 specially-commissioned free postcards that sit snugly in the pockets of the cover. The book has been designed and compiled by FL@33. Yay for this gem of a book and the *fantastic* cover!

House Industries Ampersand Cutting Board

My cutting board dreams have come true: House Industries Ampersand Cutting Board.

Small Neutraface Slab Tote

Small Neutraface Slab Tote. Love!

Sorapot Art Contest

Joey Roth, creator of much beloved Sorapot started an art contest! I am happy to be one of the judges. Why don't you enter?

Wooden Panda

Wooden Animalz Panda.

Magnetic Dress-Up

The holidays are coming closer in big steps. And I have gift ideas for our little Ella are on my mind. I know she'd love these: Melissa and Doug Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up. The boy version,Joey, available as well.

winter is coming, how do you feel about it?

Are you an Indifferent or Smilin' Snowman?

The person you love....

Peter Horridge – 'The person you love . . .' Print.

Charley Harper toys at OldNavy

I am echoing Jennifer's words: Perhaps I'm late to the party but did you know that Old Navy is carrying a Charley Harper Line for the holidays?

Grid Systems T-Shirt

Grid Systems is a limited edition T-Shirt designed and produced by YouWorkForThem

Toast Adhesive Bandages

These Toast Adhesive Bandages made me laugh. Not sure if our little Ella would approve though.

bookworm bookmarks

bookworm bookmarks by witty Bob’s Your Uncle.

Leica D-LUX 4. Yes, please!

I've had my Leica D-LUX 3 for a good year now and *love* it. I am happy to see that Leica came out with a the Leica DLUX 4 with some great improvements. The most analog improvement of them all is that they've added the camera straps loops on both sides, like with the big SLRs. See the camera's full specs list over at dPreview.

'T' Towel

'T' Towel. Great gift!

Hank Finds Inspiration

Hank Finds Inspiration, written and illustrated by Craig Frazier! LOVE!

Finally, A Way to Really Fudge The Numbers.

Has the current economic condition made it difficult to look at charts and figures? Did you used to feel a tingle, while adjusting asset allocation? Do you remember when the phrase "portfolio performance breakdown" made you want to breakdance? Now through an advancement in data visualization, Mary & Matt have created a chart that will bring those good vibes back. The Chocolate Pie Chart is a candy chart made of 70% milk, 20% dark and 10% white chocolate. It's a completely new way to digest the numbers. So, if the economy has given you a case of chart heartburn, the Chocolate Pie Chart should provide relief. Unless you eat it in one sitting. Made me smile!

A Room With A View

A Room With A View is a record of the rooms Andrew Hetherington has stayed in over the last four years. Each room is photographed using the same process, in as much as is allowed; keeping the lighting and framing consistent in order to let the individual personalities of the spaces present themselves equally. No special requests are made and he always takes the room he is assigned. The interior shots are always taken first and feature the window with the curtains drawn. The bed is included in the frame whenever possible to give a sense of the space. Ideally, he tries to photograph each room immediately upon entry, capturing the layout, furniture and effects precisely as he first sees them.

I had the pleasure to meet Andrew this morning at CreativeMornings and he handed me one of his A Room With A View Books. This encounter/the book officially made me day. Check out the book over at Blurb. So happy to know that this is work in flux. Can't wait to get my hands on the next issues.

It's a red, that's all I know!

With witty lines, beautifully letterpressed on recycled paper, popptags will make an impression at your next get-together. Just sign the back of the tag, slip the attached ribbon around the neck of the wine bottle and you're good to go. Two swissmiss thumbs up for popptags. So much fun!

Show Me How

Show Me How is one part how-to guide, one part graphic art showpiece, and one part pure inspiration. In a series of 500 nearly wordless, highly informative step-by-step procedurals, readers learn how to do hundreds of useful (and fascinating and important and sometimes downright bizarre) tasks, including: Perform CPR, dance the tango, pack a suitcase, win a bar bet, play the blues, make authentic sushi rolls, fight a shark . . . and 493 more essentials of modern life. My respect to the team who took on the crazy task of illustrating this entire book. Hat tip. Some of the instructions sure made me laugh! A fantastic holiday gift!

Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know Instructions for Life From the Everyday to the Exotic

super minimal coin bank

I believe this is the first coin bank ever that had me look. It was designed by swiss Bruno Limberger (1934-1994) who was a devoted architect, artist, and host. (I can't stand those cheesy coin banks that seem to accumulate in every kid's room. I know, I know, I am such a design snob.)

The Great Paper Caper

The The Great Paper Caper, is the latest masterpiece by Oliver Jeffers. You can pre-order it over at Amazon right now. When Oliver was visiting in my studio a few weeks ago, he let me have flip through the book. I can't wait to get my own copy and read it to our little Ella.