*notcot - 06.14.09 , 12:55 -

The Dragon Scout - Switcheroo

dragon0.jpg There is something undeniably amusing about dragons… and girl scouts? Especially when put together by Amanda Visell and her Switcheroo! Unfortunately i was still in NY when the big Dragon Scout vinyl toy release and party went down, but i was giddy to come home to a surprise package from her with one of the Green Dragon Scouts ~ with one girl scout freaking out, and one in its belly, and a little fire! Take a peek at these two taking over my pool table, the gorgeous packaging, and a peek at the customs made just for the show on the next page!

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*notcot - 06.03.09 , 20:17 -

OXO for Staples

oxostaples9.jpg So, as i’m sure you may have picked up by now, i’ve been back in NY at a not so designy conference and checking out some random events (like polo and Aston Martin) ~ and some guy wrote in criticizing my lack of “quirky posts about cleverly designed knick knacks” ~ while personally, i find the cut in half aston martin very quirky and cleverly designed… i also found some pics just before i left of my little Staples shopping spree with regards to their new OXO for Staples exclusive line of office products! You may have seen them over at NOTCOT.org #21648 earlier, but you’ve got to check them out up close too! I love the line, particularly the little magnets ~ all products have the signature OXO rubbery grippiness, and clean solid designs. The scissors i hadn’t realized have a little switch where upon flipping it they can close till the tips CROSS - switching into BOXCUTTER mode! Genius really… also, watch out if you ever see someone running at you with closed scissors… So take a look on the next page to see close ups of the ones i purchased, as well as the POS displays… apparently pens and highlighters are even on the way!

p.s.
Here’s a $5 off $15 coupon too! expires 6/15/09.

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*notcot - 06.02.09 , 12:41 -

CM Summit and Golden Xylophones

xly0.jpg I don’t do conferences often, but i do get curious how marketers and advertisers view sites like this ~ and its always fun to hang out with my Federated Media friends! Anyhow, while checking out the FM Conversational Marketing Summit i felt determined to find something visually amusing/inspiring while here ~ and it ended up being in the form of the Golden Xylophone that the Millenium Broadway hotel guys walk through breaks and lunch playing as they tell you that you should basically… go away! Ok, so less go away, more go back to your talks… So i brought the camera to lunch and waited for them to chase us out, and this guy was fast! and zig zagging! But i tracked him down and got some pics of his instrument for you… really i think it should either be the gold one with a guy dressed in gold on rollerskates with wings or something… or they should let a little kid run through playing a colorful one… but none the less, it was bizarre and amusing, and i’m curious… is this a common occurrence? I suppose its far nicer than a loudspeaker… Oh! And it looks like he used a wine cork on a stick, but he moved too much for me to get a good pic of it…

Also the Hudson Theater is gorgeous! Bizarre to have tech talks amidst the lush red velvet curtains and incredibly ornate ceilings! More pics of both on the next page…

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*notcot - 05.08.09 , 20:55 -

Cardboard Safari Rhino

rhino0.jpg Why, yes, that IS a Cardboard DIY Rhino! And seriously ~ who doesn’t need a laser cut, build it yourself, cardboard full bodied Rhino for their desk? (This is only Rambling Robbie JR. by the way ~ there is a larger dachshund sized one as well as an even tinier one!) If these feel familiar, you are probably thinking of Cardboard Safari’s others ~ like their Moose Head Trophy for your wall, which i’m still so tempted by! These Rhinos are their first full bodied creatures.

For those following my tweets ~ these are the pics that i was getting those funny looks from neighbors and passing cars over… but to be fair i was crouched in the grass in the front yard shooting a cardboard rhino? But still! Anyhow ~ impressive to see how perfectly cut these are ~ take a peek at how organized (tabbed!) the pieces arrive… fun detail shots and many more crazy rhino shots on the next page.

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*notcot - 05.02.09 , 16:22 -

IWG Sleepy Bear Series

iwgbear.jpg Coming in June from IWG Sleepy Bear Series. WITH SPORK!!! “They love eating with a spork; its a very handy eating utensil. This new IWG Series includes a sleeping bear, spork, combat knife, and a human skull trophy. Price to TBA.” See more pics of these new guys on the next page…

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*notcot - 04.27.09 , 12:16 -

Handlebar Basket - Goodmorning

bike.jpg Goodmorning Technology in Copenhagen just sent over this cute concept ~ Handelbar Basket! From the press release:

“The bike porter is made of tubes and is as easy to put on your bike as a normal handlebar. We have developed a whole range in many colors and with integrated designed bags if you wish! The patent is filled out the and all intellectual property belongs to Goodmorning Technology. The bike porter is perfect for fixies and other street bikes. The basket will from now one never be stolen, fasten destroyed and the designed bags are easy to fill up in the shops and take along. You can also use your own bag, laptop or whatever you need! We have showed it before with the New York City bike, but this is first time as a single product without the bike, and we are very proud to present it to you!”

Awesome idea ~ although how is it carrying it around? See more pics on the next page!

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*notcot - 04.23.09 , 13:37 -

Diesel Sweeties ROBOTS!

dsrob1.jpg It’s hard to squish a robot and write a post all at once. On awesome packages, Diesel Sweeties sent over this big box and out popped a SQUISHABLE Crocheted Robot (yes its a little obese an a little disproportionate, perhaps more like a baby-bot? not quite full grown to CRUSH HUMANS! yet?) ~ and his Crush All Humans! Book…. complete with a signed/illustrated CRUSH JEAN! page with tiny red markerbots flying around!

Check out the pics of these goodies up close on the next page!!!

p.s.
You TOO can get the Crush All Humans! Book in signed/personalized form too!!!

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*notcot - 03.31.09 , 05:04 -

Colgate Wisp

wisp0.jpg Another adventure in packaging based shopping… Colgate Wisps! Keep in mind i knew nothing about these when i wandered into CVS to pick up some last minute travel sized basics for this sudden Singapore trip, and they were intriguingly packaged and designed… tiny, silly, and not sure that i’d buy them for normal usage… but someone clearly spent quite a bit of time on the packaging/product details! So take a peek at some pics of them up close on the next page ~ and a look at the silly marketing angle they’ve taken as well (aimed at club kids?)…

And in all honesty ~ its a lot of plastic to basically get a tiny melt in your mouth bead of mouthwash into your mouth as you scrub with some harsh plasticiness…

p.s.
This week long Singapore trip came up last minute (booked the night before leaving!) ~ so things might be a little quiet this week as i put in some family time!

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*notcot - 03.09.09 , 01:18 -

Oooms Solar Birdhouse

solarbird.jpg Solar Birdhouse!!! Finally! Well, kind of. Here’s the latest from Oooms ~ they describe their Solar BIrdhouse: “Why would only humans make use of eco-friendly technology? Studio OOOMS designed a birdhouse with a solar panel on it’s roof. During the day sunlight feeds the solar panel, charging a small battery inside. At nighttime the transparent stick will light up and shed a tiny light on your garden. This light attracts an easy nighttime snack for the bird; all she has to do is stick her beak out of the hole and wait for the buzz.”

As a slight side note ~ firstly, i’m super excited to hear this idea in production ~ i’ve been doodling and ranting with friends about the possibilities with solar power and bird feeders for some time now ~ my idea was more 24-hour-diner of feeders (less house like) ~ where in the day birds could get their usual munchies taken care of, and at night the light would attract bugs… but then most discussions got shot down by some of our resident biologists saying how it may turn into more of a bat feeder at night since they’d be the nocturnal residents most interested in the bugs… but that could also be pretty interesting! I also played with the ideas of bird feeders by day, lanterns at night… it would be so fun to have a playful project seeing what fun, functional, unexpected uses for solar energy in small scale products we could come up with!

*notcot - 03.07.09 , 16:11 -

IKEA Sandig

toysmain.jpg I have an impulsive need to indulge my inner child… especially when shopping… like when wandering through IKEA, i got terribly distracted by the kids toys, particularly how fun these new Sandig beach toy sets are! And the 99 cent shovel/super scooper claw thing… great quality, and adorable ideas ~ i picked up three of the four 2.99$ sets with the justification that i needed to take pics of them to show you. Granted, i don’t think kids should be encouraged to eat sand/dirt, i think these are quite fun for those who know better. First kit ~ Ice Cream! A little bucket with an ice cream scoop, 4 cones, and 4 cups… Second kit ~ Baking! Three pans that would be so fun to incorporate into sand castles… like a bundt cake castle? Compete with cake knife, etc… Third set ~ Bricklayer! The mold to make bricks, smooth out the cementy wet sand, etc… can you imaging the possibilities? And the Fourth set i passed on was the gardening one… usual bucket, rake, shovel… not too exciting, but still cute. Anyhow, take a peek at the pics of these sets close up on the next page ~ i was impressed with the quality and design details ~ and for the price was tempted to buy up a bunch and run around the beach giving them away to kids…

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*notcot - 02.27.09 , 12:22 -

Barbie’s 50th at Colette

barbie.jpg Hard to ignore that Barbie’s turning the big 50 this year ~ it’s being marketed like crazy EVERYWHERE! (I must wonder though, as a little girl being introduced to Barbie for the first time this year, do they think of it as a vintage/super old toy? and then reach for a bratz?)

Well of the many parties and celebrations, i must say Colette’s looks pretty awesome ~ “In the gallery, enjoy the “Barbie and Ken” exhibition by Karl Lagerfeld. In swimsuit, cocktail dress or a pair of jeans, Barbie strikes a pose with model Baptiste Giabiconi as Ken.” They look hilarious ~ and then the special products?!?!?! You can get Barbie in a Goyard Trunk! Pink of course! Even Uslu Airlines 219c pink nailpolish! Even a Colette/Barbie Pink Jawbone…. a little on the creepy side is definitely the Bless Hairbrush… with barbie hair for bristles… (see it on the next page!) Also noteworthy? High security exhibition of the very first Barbie and Ken dolls, only on March 12th.

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*notcot - 01.23.09 , 12:54 -

Spy Museum: Deny Everything

spy1.jpg Spy schwag!!! Ok, well not quite schwag, and i’ve been holding off on this post until these gifts are opened by the birthday boy… (wouldn’t want the post to ruin the fun!)

So one of the highly recommended (via Twitter and Facebook) must sees in DC was the International Spy Museum ~ and it was so fun! Unfortunately no pictures allowed, and while the beginning was questionable (pretending to make you memorize things and move from room to room on their schedule) ~ it opens up quickly and had some great displays and interactive stations throughout! SO much imagery wish i could have taken pictures of to share! But what i CAN share is some of the fun goodies i found in their impressively stocked store! (You can shop online too, but not nearly as much stuff) My favorites that i couldn’t resist… their DENY EVERYTHING one way mirror like shot glass and the magnetic bottle opener logo guy ~ so stealthy, so classic! Also, how nice is the graphic design of their tickets? See more closeups on the next page… and their James Bond Credit Card Lock Picks i just found in their store too!!!

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*notcot - 01.13.09 , 15:11 -

Skip Hop’s Wishbone Bike 3 in 1

bike1.jpg Wishbone Bike from Skip Hop ~ with thoughtful, beautiful design for such playful, fun kids products, Skip Hop has yet to disappoint! Their latest addition is gaining distribution rights to New Zealand designed: Wishbone Bike, a 3 in 1 starter bike that grows with kids… from the stable lightweight tricycle, to pedal-less running bike, to normal bike for kids up to 5! It is also environmentally sustainable design and a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association 2008 Innovation Award Winner! See more pics on the next page!

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*notcot - 01.01.09 , 18:48 -

Nathan Jurevicius Peleda Owls

owl0.jpgOn recent obsessions ~ Nathan Jurevicius’ Peleda Owl Wind Up Blind Box Toys by Toy Tokyo!!!! You saw the original version as .org #17153… and alyssa mentioned that there was a special urban outfitters exclusive edition as well… so while the new Space 1520 in Hollywood, i finally saw them in person and was so taken by the packaging as well as the windups owls themselves! (Mean urbn guy wouldn’t let me trade whatever was in my box for the demo black one that was just sitting out!!!) Sooooooo, as a result i started researching them all and rounded up all the pictures i found of them as well as close up photos of our glowing and magenta ones and they great packaging graphic design! See it all on the next page!

p.s.
Nathan Jurevicius’ may sound familiar because he’s the aussie illustrator behind Scary Girl.

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*notcot - 12.19.08 , 14:12 -

Kiki de Montparnasse Gift Love

kikidm.jpg Kiki de Montparnasse reached out to us, and being quite taken by their incredible user experiences ~ both in store and online ~ and being in the holiday spirit ~ i couldn’t resist sharing their generous holiday offer with you. They take pleasure to a new level, and each and every piece they offer is carefully curated and impeccably designed ~ so even if you’re done holiday shopping, i’m sure your lover(s) could always use a few more surprises…

Here is your exclusive NotCouture holiday offer from Kiki de Montparnasse. “Notcouture and Kiki lovers will have a 40% discount off any online purchase from now until the new year when they enter the promo code NCLOVE at checkout. You will also enjoy free shipping on all domestic orders. We are also offering an exclusive gift just for Notcouture readers: Receive a complimentary bottle of Kiki Body Oil with any purchase of $75 or more until the new year. This holiday season, give the gift that really counts: love.”

Take a peek on the next page of a few of my favorites from their holiday collection ~ i’m still lusting after those silk ties covered with the delicate handcuff prints (remember i wrote about them here a while back?)… and that candle (so tord boontje)… and those goblets… *swoon*… enjoy!

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