Scenic trains through the Swiss alps, New Zealand super lodges and plenty of winter sun are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. For more about each post, click on its individual image.

Sure the new California Driver’s Licenses started in Oct 2010… but since mine was about to expire, i’ve only just gotten bored enough to get one and stare at it up close… WAY up close… with the microscope. It’s quite awesome seeing where they went all Toys R Us with the backwards R… hidden little strings of text in microscopic ascii art fashion nearly invisible to the naked eye… initials and birth year are tucked all over… some birthdays and signatures are raised… when you hold it up to the light you can see the state bear appear out of tiny holes… So take a peek at the details and some of the beautiful patterns they used super close up on my new driver’s license!

And just found on the new Tennessee Driver’s License… Hologram Ambigram!

On fun new thermos/water bottle options, just came across this Cocoon Flask from Mar Mar Co., which debuted at London Design Week. Love that it’s packaging is in an inflatable “air box” case to protect it. The flask is designed by Torsten Neeland, and apparently it can keep liquids hot or cold for 3 hours. It comes in both matte and gloss finishes and holds 500mL. Something about the design reminds me of little gas cartridges… and i’m curious what the materials are like… and what the top lip is like if it all unscrews? Does that mean you can use the bottle with just the clear part? Anyhow, while i go look in to it all more ~ take a peek at close ups on the next page!

Higher res pics found at Fabio Ciquera:

Spiderweb Devilish Ghoul Eggs, Spinach pancakes and dry ice cocktails are all a part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

More fun that just came in via email from my Dad ~ this time after he checked out the Art Center Car Classic over the weekend… i loved this map visualizing where the many post WWII automotive design studios of southern california are. We definitely have no shortage! Take a peek at a bigger view on the next page.

Your keys can do it all ~ how adorable is this tiny lighter? Along with some tiny screwdrivers, mini crow bar, and tweezers. Sure you could replace some of those with an equally tiny and functional tiny multi-tool/key… but not the lighter! See more details of the Kauffman Mercantile EDC Kit on the next page!

This week’s roundup from NOTCOT.org includes a Periodic Table of Swearing, quantum levitation and an insect-powered smartphone. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

Help Remedies are beautifully packaged basic remedies from headache meds and allergy meds to bandaids. While they have been popping up in design stores, gift stores, and hotel mini bars for a while now, it’s exciting to hear they are spreading their philosophy of “Take Less” further ~ heading in to bigger national stores even! An awesome press kit arrived today including a few Help Remedies and a BIG board book filled with colorful, informative, playful content to explain their vision… all surrounded by gel coatings of pills to drill in the overdosing and confusion of the current state of over the counter meds. So take a peek on the next page to see the full unboxing, playful design details of Help Remedies, and a look in to the big board book!

Take Less! The board book…

A few Help Remedies!

There’s something too fun about the box full of empty pills…

The packaging is minimal ~ with molded paper casings and a thin plastic rim/clasp…

Each of their products have one ingredient to avoid the cocktails others include, and have lower dosages to prevent excessive medicating.

Each pack has adorable messages like “Goodnight darling.” on the sleeping pills.

Instead of the colorful coatings and dyes, they try to keep the pills minimalist to help you ingest less dyes.

And now a peek into the book!

From our London based editor, Justine Aw…

Some fun highlights from this year’s Experimental Food Society Spectacular exhibition housed in Brick Lane’s Old Truman Brewery! How could we not check out an event that boasted “an awe‐inspiring assemblage of jellymongers, sonic food artists, one‐of‐a‐kind dining conceptualists, cake sculptors, food landscape artists and food magicians”? There were some amazing cakes (including a dodo!), beautiful pieces created from chocolate as well as incredible quail egg cakes (made both from and in the eggs!) and medicinal marshmallows. See more photos of these delicious designs on the next page.

These are some absolutely adorable quail egg cakes (made from the eggs and then baked and served inside the shells!) from Pomp De Franc Cake Society aka Katie Franklin. The cakes are so tiny, delicate and beautiful that they even make cupcakes and macaron seem crude (and gigantic!) by comparison!

I also loved sampling my way through ‘medicinal marshmallows’ from The Robin Collective (who are behind the Barbican’s cryptozoology tours and other fun projects). I tried a ‘pick me up’ marshmallow with chocolate, coffee and “extra caffeine” (delicious!) followed by a ‘cold and flu’ marshmallow with elderberry, horehound, lemon mint and other vitamin rich herbs. The green one beside it is an ‘energizer’ partly colored with chlorophyll (yes, you read that correctly!) that even glows under UV. There was also a pink aphrodisiac marshmallow wtih rose, ginger and chilli.

And here are some more highlights from the show! Incredible Dodo cake by Michelle Wibowo made from vanilla sponge stunning sugar paste and icing detailing. Gorgeous! And look at the detail in that harpy eagle!

Incredible bust of chocolate from Paul Wayne Gregory.

A chocolate model of the Flying Scotsman from 3D Studios.

Avocado Witches Fingers, Cider Apple Chicken and Harvest Sours are all part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

Our London-based editor Justine Aw shares another find from the London Design Festival!

Foldboat (the design duo Max Frommeld and Arno Mathies) featured a special Dock edition boat at Tom Dixon’s ‘Multiplex at The Dock’ during the London Design Festival. As the name suggests, the boat is literally folded from a flat 2.5m x 1.5m plastic sheet and can be transformed from flat sheet to row boat by a single person in 2 minutes using only 3 components. Amazingly fun to see it action ~ see more pictures of it at the Dock as well as close ups on the next page!

This is a rare NOTCOT sponsored post from Anonymous. These only occur when an advertiser strikes my fancy and feels like a fun fit!

Sex. Power. Secret identities. Shakespeare. Shakespeare? Yes! It turns out the Elizabethans were up to their frilly collars in conspiracy. We’ve all read William Shakespeare’s works in school. But maybe those plays weren’t written by Shakespeare … maybe there was no Shakespeare. What if the plays weren’t just works of art? What if they were tools of political manipulation and evidence of a secret affair? Was Shakespeare a fraud? Anonymous: in theaters October 28

Just in from Emily over at Baggu ~ their classic ripstop nylon reusable shopping bags have gone leather! While the concept isn’t new ~ (there have been japanese variations floating around and A+R has Cast of Vices’ 3 Corner Store variations) ~ i love the direction Baggu keeps evolving beyond what you can stash everything from groceries to random shopping in, though i’m not sure i’d want my milk and eggs in leather… but perhaps more my camera and spare clothes in the car between events? In addition to the new leather small and regular sized Baggus, she’s also launched leather pouches in two sizes (they remind me of the new leather Baggus on the next page!

The architecture of Gotham, a panoramic ball camera and sentimental cartography’ are all a part of this week’s roundup from NOTCOT.org. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

There’s something fun about when art and function come together. Take a look at these DEMONBELLS i found on Uncrate! Will these sculptural alternatives to your standard (pretty ugly) kettlebells make your work out better? Probably not. Will it make me more likely to be amused while working out? Possibly. But it will definitely make it less of something that begs to be hidden, and instead will become an intriguing conversation piece… even as a doorstop. Created by former Navy SEAL, Ryan Williams, these DemonBells were commissioned art pieces brought to life by a local San Diego Master Sculptor. They are made in China from 100% recycled steel, not iron, and injection molded for a smooth finish which is then black powder coated. From their site, “Each piece in the DemonBell line started individually with an ornamental design inspired from various global and cultural influences. Through extensive testing and evaluation of working prototypes, we have finally produced the fully functional works of art you see here. Each directional weight carries its own unique modifications, from anatomically designed handle grips and specific weight distribution for balance, to specially angled backs to match forearm angles during snatch movements. We designed each DemonBell while paying as much attention to function as we did form.” Take a peek at the whole collection of 4 on the next page!

I’ve been lusting after the Parrot AR.Drone for years, (remember their amazing outdoor play area at CES in jan?) not sure why i never gave in to it till now, but NOTlabs definitely needs some fun toys… and running around Fry’s, there was one just there… calling to be brought home! So here’s a peek at the unboxing ~ and a few random images from test flights… but to be honest, it’s so fun to fly, it’s hard to remember to take pics of it at the same time, especially cell phone pics since you’re using iPhone/iPad and/or Android to control it! Touted as the first AR Flying Video Game, it’s gorgeous, amusing, surprisingly stable and even has two cameras mounted on it (front facing and downward facing)… so take a look at what’s inside the box on the next page…

p.s. i’m sure Shawn will be coming up with more NOTlabs projects to dronehack this one in to when we’re not busy flying it around the lab/yard. So more to come… and we might need another to properly play each other!

p.p.s. fun to see what other apps people have been developing for it!

In the box are two tops ~ one with the protective foam rings as you bounce off walls and such, and another without! Battery is easy to charge and plug in… and it comes with universal chargers ready for any country you may fly to…

And testing it out…

Here you can see how its controlled ~ works on both iphone and android… just sync up to the drone’s wifi!

Testing it out in the gym basketball court…

Here’s a peek of video roundups!

Also, to understand how simple it is ~ take a look at their tutorial walkthrough vids!

Another highlight from Superdesign was David Roux-Fouillet’s Diamond Shot, a fun and unique way to set a diamond. That’s right, specially made bullets are quite literally shot into jewellery to create the setting. Roux-Fouillet’s bullets are composed of 24ct gold, diamond, tool steel, and ivory, turtle shell, bull horn or silk (depending on the model). Bullets can be fired into rings, earrings or pendant structures made of platinum or 9ct gold. More photos of the setup and a video of the setting in action on the next page!

First, a video of the setting in action!

Here are some official photos of a Diamond Shot ring and bullets.

Wow. SO CUTE. The various species of boobies (red-footed, brown, etc) and sharp coastline are amazing! These are also in from my dad’s adventures in Christmas Island (which according to wikipedia - The mountain was originally a volcano, and some basalt is exposed in places such as The Dales and Dolly Beach, but most of the surface rock is limestone accumulated from the growth of coral over millions of years. “The summit of this mountain peak is formed of a succession of tertiary limestones ranging in age from the Eocene (or Oligocene) up to recent reef-deposits, with intercalations in the older beds of volcanic rocks.”)… so far you’ve seen the insane crabs… see the rest of the bird and jagged coastline pics on the next page!

SO CUTE ~ had to have close ups of their expressions…

Freshly returned from his latest adventure, my dad just sent over pictures of some of the amazing robber crabs, red crabs, and other random crabs he found in Christmas Island. They are HUGE! And gorgeous! And amazing! Take a look on the next page!

When you see the coconuts all eaten out like this ~ you know the giant robber crabs are near… apparently they can even climb UP a coconut tree and knock them down before eating?!?!

Here’s a peek at the infamous red crabs that take over the island as they migrate ~ through roads, homes, and anything in their way…

Also ~ how cool are these mushrooms?!?!

Last night, popped by the latest show of Peter Gronquist, The Evolution Will Be Fabulous at Gallery 1988 in Venice. It’s AMAZING, definitely something worth checking out in person, because the mix of gilded luxe brands, weaponry, skeletons and taxidermy are just something you can’t completely comprehend through pictures… the shear scale of things is pretty mesmerizing in real life. But for now, take a peek at some pics and details on the next page!

Embargoed until a few hours ago ~ it’s been driving me crazy to sit on these pictures from my few hours in Reims, France for lunch a few weeks ago! Veuve Clicquot’s Hotel du Marc, which is barely a hotel at all ~ more of a magical guest mansion of sorts in Reims that Veuve Cliquot uses for special occasions ~ has recently finished its restoration/remodel which now includes some lovely themed guest rooms filled with modern art as well as hints of its past! From the beautiful staircase and the Chanel like faceted mirrors, to the Veuve-yellow Smeg and wall of champagne… the ornate chandeliered dining rooms to the modern portraits lining the hallway to the guest rooms… there is so much to take in, but here’s a first peek into their world!

p.s. you can also catch me in a few reflections rocking the super yellow veuve apron…

Cave hunting in Thailand, stunning Sardinia and a 48 hour adventure in Amman are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

On random NOTCOT firsts ~ i’ve never watched a guy get fitted for a shirt ~ while sipping Bushmills + Ginger Ale with cookies. Shopping Fred Segal tonight, popped by the Seize sur Vingt event to take a peek at the new Fall/Winter 2011 collection of bespoke shirts made of amazing feeling italian fabrics… Fun detail to note? These may be the perfect shirts for anyone who loves Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” ~ as the names for the various patterns in the previous and current collections are named after phrases from the song. From British Beatlemania and Foreign Debts to Joe DiMaggio and Pope Paul Malcom X to Strangers in a Strange Land and Watergate Punk Rock. While the link between color/pattern and naming didn’t seem clear to me, i do wonder if there is a secret visual code that will emerge when you place the patterns (or overlap the swatches) in lyrical order… Take a peek at the event, the details, and some of our favorite patterns on the next page! (… as well as the music video with lyrics and corresponding shirts linked!)

Burned Jungle Cenote with Metal Buttons

As for the song… Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire… (with the corresponding shirts linked in the lyrics!)

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio

We didn’t start the fire But when we are gone Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on…

This week’s sumptuous roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious includes the Bee’s Knees, high teas and scary apples for Halloween. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

On fun contraptions that might make kitchen life a tiny bit simpler, i’m liking these Orange Juice Makers and Flash Chill Lemonade Makers from Takeya. Simple swappable screw top lids allow you to juice right into the container before you serve or pop it into the fridge! See more pics of them in action on the next page.

Dark matter, slime molds and stools created with the help of magnetic fields are all a part of this week’s roundup from NOTCOT.org. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

This series of Unexpected Combos posts is sponsored by P&G Downy.

Our London-based editor Justine Aw catches up with the latest action from the London Design Festival! For this latest in unexpected combinations, we love the idea of an object that can be used to hold just about anything your mind can dream up ~ while functioning like a giant clothespin! Another discovery from this year’s 100% Design, Been Kim’s DrinKlip. Sometimes you just can’t find a cupholder when you need one. How convenient would it be if you could add your own to any surface? That’s exactly what DrinKlip sets out to do. The piece clips onto desks, shelves, or even the arm of your chair using a classic clothespin design and gives you a cup that can carry up to 1kg. These clips come in a range of fun colors and can hold all sorts of things (love the idea of using them for plants!). Each sale also supports efforts to develop wells and water filtration for areas in need. More photos on the next page!

And here are some official images of the DrinKlip in action.

Amazing. Cooking just got way more fun ~ Jackson has been going nuts with some awesome Tasteologie Features as of late ~ and today’s is AWESOME. Baking with CLAY. Smashing it open! And poof — chicken! A full chicken! And another in bread! Equally satisfying… you have to see the pics of the chickens in action!

p.s. So… ca i build a whole clay scene atop the chicken before baking? or have other clay pods attached cooking OTHER things to smash open? Hmmmm… the possibilities!

Visits to an elephant camp, idyllic Antarctica and the Valley of the Sliding Stones are all a part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each adventure, click on its individual image.

I love when things just fall together. Like yesterday ~ finding out that the gorgeous AETHER APPAREL (who has been a kind supporter of NOTCOT over the years through beautiful advertising!) is actually LA based! And love matte black/metal/wood minimalist gear, gadgets, and cars/etc as much as we do. They just took the mobile pop up shop to a whole new level with their AETHERstream ~ designed by Thierry Gaugain, this airstream that has been gutted and retrofitted with reclaimed wood floors, modular shelving, and vintage gadgets/gear… and their storage? Stacks of huge pelican cases! It’s a beautiful (though tight) space ~ and it was great to see the majority of their collection in person finally… the tiny details were amazing ~ from quality of materials and stitching (it just feels so GOOD!) to the awesome black safety pins they use to attach their tags and the Aether whistles on each piece. Take a little tour in and around the AETHERstream on the next page ~ it will be hanging out in LA for a few weeks before it heads cross country to NY by mid nov!

p.s. See the making of the AETHERstream as well as the original plans.

While LA weather is pretty warm and gorgeous at the moment, i’ve had winterwear on the mind, toying with the idea of playing in real winter a bit more this year and being grossly unprepared wardrobe wise… they kindly gave me one of their signature Space Hoodies, and first reaction is definitely IT IS SO LIGHT. Also warm and cozy and feels amazing… Here’s a peek at our current lustworthy favorites we found as i dream about how to keep warm…

For ladies ~ Element ~ layered goodness to keep you warm and dry, while still sleek enough for city wear, still ready for snowboarding!

For men ~ Military Jacket (looks even better in person than in pics!)

Sweet tea cocktails, Jack-o-Lantern pumpkin pies and Oreo cookie bark are all a part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

When i first saw the post titled “romantic star projector” over at Design Crush, i thought it sounded ridiculous. Then i couldn’t seem to stop staring at the pics. And there is something overwhelmingly awesome about the abundance of lights all around the room… and i can’t help wondering what it would look like if i turned off all the lights in my office, dimmed the monitors… and turned one on! You build it yourself ~ but can purchase the set up ~ and can even arrange it to mimic the night sky outside ~ or pick another spot on the globe… or another time. Take a peek at the pics and the set up on the next page.

An installation for poking, a Tokidoki Barbie and a connect the dot transformation of Michael Jackson are all part of this week’s roundup from NOTCOT.org. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

Tara McPherson’s Lilitu (2010) painting is going 3D ~ here’s a sneak peek at the new Kidrobot Black piece by Tara McPherson… rising up out of a pool of black with fiery red hair… This 8” vinyl will have a limited run of 200 pieces.

Who is she? “This painting is based on the Sumerian myth of the demon Lilitu. Representing chaos, seduction and ungodliness. She is a sexually charged yet infertile succubus who behaves aggressively toward men and children killing them at her every whim, her breasts are filled with poison not milk. In her every guise, Lilitu has cast an evil spell on humankind.” See a full spin around of the new vinyl on the next page… (perhaps slightly nsfw).

This monday morning i’m obsessed with a design icon. Found myself scouring the net for pics of the classic Eames La Chaise ~ “Charles and Ray Eames designed La Chaise in 1948 for a competition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, inspired by “Floating Figure”, a sculpture by Gaston Lachaise. It is the unbelievable elegance of this assertive seating sculpture that enables any number of sitting and reclining positions, which is so very appealing. It has long since established itself as an icon of Organic Design.” La Chaise by Vitra is made with two fused fiberglass shells with a chrome base and natural oak feet. It’s just so beautifully sculptural, fascinating, AND comfortable to lounge in… see more pics i found on the next page.

Fresh in from our London editor Justine Aw.

Following on from their successful book on jelly, jellymongering duo Bompas & Parr have launched a new book on cocktails, available for pre-order here.

The launch was celebrated with a party at their studio/lab near Borough. With ‘Cocktails, Snakes and Ether’ on the invite, I couldn’t resist checking things out and taking a peek inside the studio where all the magic happens! As Sam promised, there was indeed a medieval castle (complete with separate tower for the saxophonist, an abundance of cocktails from the new book served in an assortment of glasses, teacups and jam jars as well as a wide range of curiosities from Hendrick’s (penny farthings, scrimshaw and more!). It was also great to see some props from previous events we’ve attended and a glimpse into future projects (delectable elderflower/chili candy pills!). As always with Bompas & Parr, there were surprises everywhere, even in the bathroom, which was transformed a glitter snake pit/privy! More photos on the next page!

And in we go!

Taking a look at the new book, Cocktails with Bompas & Parr!

There were four drinks stations: By the book ether cocktails!

It wouldn’t be Bompas & Parr without a bit of jelly. Another station had kebabs and the ‘Jellies of the Castle’, Violet Elderflower and Prosseco, Whisky, Orange and Raspberry. Yum!

A third station had 4 delectable cocktails served in jam jars: Evelyn Waugh’s Noonday Reviver, Loving Cup, Black Gin Punch and Portcullis Punch.

The fourth station was Hendrick’s Kiosk of Curiosities serving up Gin & Tonics, and Gin & Ginger Beer…

They also had “Field Guide to Hendrick’s” cocktail book, but unfortunately it was not for sale at the event.

As for sneak peeks of what the future holds ~ I got a look at the new pillmaking machine they are using to experiment with elderflower/chili sugar pills.

As for the promised snakes… they were above the bathroom!

Later in the evening, Bompas & Parr rode in on horseback too! See their grand entrance in this video of the event from the Implausible Blog: