WOW. Ok so i apparently haven’t been paying attention to the stamp industry and/or there is some new crazy design going on? Check out these products from Trodat - on top we have this portable self inking stamp that folds into a silver tube, ready for your pocket. Then theres the one where that is built into a pen! And then my favorite for those random messages you have the urge to stamp - since you can play typestter with it!!! Mini tweezers and different sets of fonts and all! I was just researching making a self inking stamp - and discovered this whole new world and got excited.

Funny, i was just thinking about Unamerican today and then i get an email from them with their new updated stickers… For those who are unfamiliar - Unamerican is all about provoking thought with text and simple imagery in the form of minimal stickers. You create the context for these phrases. I’ve had “Fuck Work” on the vcr flap of my little 13” tv/vcr i’ve had since freshman year of college. “Question Technology” was on the inside when you’d open my old iBook… “Being Hip Is Not Enough” - with the explanation that “modern kids have learned to make video and art fast and cheap. Imagine this set of talents channelled into work for change.” Yes. Imagine what we could do? Other good new ones “Don’t eat your soul to fill your belly” - “Wal*Mart is communism” - “There’s still time to change the road you’re on”… [and yes, seldom will i send you to such a jarring site, but the content makes up for it and then some.]

“LELO is a Sweden-based company, founded in 2003, devoted to the design and development of sensual pleasure objects with contemporary luxury flair. By blending fashion, femininity, engineering and design, our aim is to create objects not just functional, but seductive in their own right. Lust objectified to inspire a positive and confident sexuality.” Beautiful site, sleek objects, gorgeous packaging. They have three models - the Lily in matte - the Nea with a porcelain like gloss finish and floral motifs - and the Yva in gold and silver. If these don’t say luxury, i don’t know what does. [These are certainly one-upping the previous designer sextoys we wrote about.]

A lot of people seem pretty down today. So this one is for them - when you sometimes just regress to that point that cute soft cuddly - and amusingly designed are comforting. Jellycat Truffle Sheep and Highland Cow.

The designers over at ATYPYK have a sense of humor - Take a look at their “magic wand” for fly swatting, the book cuttingboard, and my favorite - the “cherry on top” candle. If you have to put a candle on it, might as well let it be more interesting than the standards/sparklers. Although a cherry sparkler could be fun - and have other maraschino cherries on the cake/cupcake as well?

Felt Rocks! When you get upset - throw these against something? Then again condensed felt rocks may not be that soft, actually i guess it might be rather painful. But on felt, this was a unique use of the material… just not quite sure what one should do with them. The Molo Design site shows a little girl tossing them around and playing with them.

Wow. Ok you may want to read this while looking at the full entry (aka click the finish reading link first)… b/c there are more images there. This is PitGreen = from my standpoint it sort of seems like Stikfas meets mini-mini-golf meets german design. From the looks of this incredible video the German accessories manufacturer, Koizol, is producing these silly little golfing wonders. I honestly can’t believe i hadn’t heard of this earlier - Designersblock is even having a PitGreen Competition during the Salone in Milano on the 9th of this month! It is apparently a crazy mini-trend sweeping europe. They have gorgeous packaging (see image below) - and exclusive Grim Reaper-esque 150 limited ed pieces through Charles and Marie right now - but honestly the potential to dress up your white one with a black sharpie and some imagination seems more intruiging.

p.s. any german readers want to help cover design trends and amusement from europe for us? Apparently there is much we have been missing!

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Ah the appeal of laser cut plastic. Also from Fuzz Design Workshop, seems like a fun line when you just aren’t quite which sure gift says “bon voyage” the right way.

The packaging looks just like those little Kubrick Toys, etc… but it has a hole that calls to you, calls to you to stick your finger in and feel the soft “comforting” thing inside… which ends up seeming like a sausage shaped hacky sack? And apparently you can get your logo embroidered on them, or have your own tag on it, and also customize the box for schwag. It comforts your hand? Or can be juggled? Someone explain, please. But they are cute and Swedish and have interesting packaging. And puzzled me enough to put it up. Smakompisar

So stencilling and street art for the masses is here - Stencil 1 is like Stencil 101 for the lazy. When you can’t figure out how to take your favorite image, stencilize it, take your x-acto knife to some cardboard, and THEN take the canister to the streets (or your wall, shirt, skateboard, neighbor’s car, etc)… you’re lucky that you have Stencil 1. While i bash it, or more the laziness it encourages or takes advantage of, its a smart idea! And for those who are too lazy for even just buying stencils, they also have preprinted shirts and buttons. Also, for those unclear on how to USE a stencil, i love their little How To (as seen above).

Wandering New York, found another toy car that needs to be added to the collection with the Playsam and perhaps the Plasma Car. It is ironic that while i need to be shopping for a real live car, i somehow end up with these gorgeous little abstracted pieces. So here we have Automoblox (doesn’t quite rolllll off the tongue now does it?) But these are “educational” and good for your child’s development. Frankly, i love the sketches of the design in the making on the website, and how the people who ride in the car remind me of super versions of those from the game of Life. There is a 17 number VIN on the bottom of the cars. The cars parts can be mixed and matched (from SUV, Minivan, Truck, Sedan, etc.) And it has even been in Car and Driver, Road & Track, and Business Week.

Went car shopping today - tried many a car - but surprisingly found this at the toy store nearby and been needing one since. After an overload of features and mileage and various performance packages, etc - this one was SO simple and SO fun. Jermacide and I were riding around INSIDE a toy store on these (keep in mind he’s a 6’ guy). Canadian invention, you sit and wiggle the steering wheel and off you go! (Check out the Discovery Channel Clip about the physics behind it) It’s been winning many awards around the world, but look at the design! … not to mention it’s called the Plasma Car. Although the ages say 3-12 i’d give it an “anyone who’s agile enough to sit on it” age limit… it was really comfortable, and you can really get moving on it. Great for hallways and getting around at work, i think Google needs these to join their fleet of Segways, motorized scooters, and mini bikes.

Feng Shui is one of those things i lump in with horoscopes… its about believing in something more, but not quite to the level of a religion. And it can’t really hurt, there is no punishment, but there are rules and reccomendations. This sleek little set by Red Envelope has three creatures to help bring better fortune through desk placement. The description reads “dragon represents new beginnings and opportunities; phoenix symbolizes positive perception and recognition; and the tiger helps with completing projects” Can’t go wrong with any of that, and it certainly is a cute set of white-resin creatures ideal for those backup or random gifts. [does the phoenix remind anyone else of the flamingos from alice in wonderland disney-style?]

PeaceBombs. Quite a work of art: made of high priced relief wax, hand poured, hand wheted, hand dipped, and printed in a pad printing process. “International aid organizations try for years in vain to forbid the blanket-bombing of areas in war zones. With peacebombs, the senselessness of such weapons should be brought to attention… Peacebombs should suggest a peaceful dealing with one another; portraying the attitude of the purchaser towards war - because peace is too serious an affair to leave it in the hands of politicians.” For 40 euros you can purchase one through their website, it comes in english, hebrew, and arabic. Also available at UpToYou in Toronto.

Some shapes just have that inexplicable appeal to people… and the smooth curves of this massager top have it. Without reading further into the psychological reasons why that may be, its minimalistic sleek playful shape make it ideal to leave on a coffee table… one of those objects guests won’t be able to resist playing with. “The massage top lies comfortably in the hand, and the two different massage surfaces are perfect for lovingly soothing both the large muscle groups and specific problem areas.”

Design: Pernille Vea
Use: Massage
Material: Stainless steel
By Menu - a Danish company since 1979