Pencil-tip elephants, a Louis Vuitton waffle maker and Victorian optical toys are all part of this week’s roundup from NOTCOT.org. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.
The latest from London-based editor, Justine Aw.
Last night we had an incredible evening at the Tate Modern, exploring the surrealism galleries in the dark, experiencing the art of the Tate in an entirely new light (literally!). It was the first of a season of Tate Blackouts during which the gallery will dim the lights and invite visitors to explore and experience the surrealism galleries by the illumination of their own Little Sun.
The Little Sun is designed by Olafur Eliasson (who was also behind the Tate’s Weather Project) in collaboration with engineer Frederik Ottesen. The Little Sun can provide light to the 1.6 billion people worldwide who have no access to mains electricity. Safer and cleaner than kerosene lamps, the Little Sun is solar powered, turning 5 hours of natural light into 5 hours of Little Sun light, and with a 3 year battery life.
I loved the idea of bringing the Little Sun inside an art museum, and the fact that the object is simultaneously a resource for developing nations and itself an art object used to illuminate and experience modern art in a city like London! Playing with Little Suns inside a blacked out Tate Modern, meant beautiful light graffiti! More photos of the Tate’s surrealism galleries experienced by the light of the Little Sun on the next page!
Escape to Cocos Island, French alpine lakes and the rooftops of Chicago with this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.
I’ve done some weird unboxings/uncratings ~ but this is the first time i’ve done an exhuming! Arriving while we were in Istanbul, this giant crate in bubble wrap in foam in cardboard box was waiting when i got home. Much like our Coraline box, this one also comes from animation studio, Laika… for their upcoming film, ParaNorman, a tale of weirdness, zombies, and more! Ready to take a peek at our exhumed posable little buddy and the movie props found in the crate? To the next page!
The latest from London-based editor, Justine Aw.
This morning, we got a sneak peek at ‘Designed to Win’, the new exhibition that opens to the public tomorrow at London’s Design Museum. The exhibition celebrates design in sport, created in association with Oakley focusing on the the relationship between design and performance and function, looking at how new materials, fashions and technologies have transformed sporting equipment. The exhibition wasn’t quite finished yet and you can see the finishing touches going up in our photos, but it should all be up and running for the big launch tomorrow! More photos on the next page.
Pina Colada yoghurt popsicles, homemade peanut butter with chocolate chips and almond nougatine spoons are all part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each delectable post, click on its individual image.
A peek at our late nights between SDCC and Istanbul flight in NOTlabs… we had a few days to figure out a photobooth guestbook setup for the wedding that we could pack and pop up on site! Laser cut wood frame (designed by Linhchi Tang) on an ipad running Pocketbooth on a tripod worked like a charm! See the making of on the next page…
TO PAGE 2 of "NOTlabs: Wedding Photobooth Guestbook"! ----->
The latest from London-based editor, Justine Aw.
Here’s a peek inside a gift pack we received from Zubrowka decorated with the beautiful illustrations of Kristjana S Williams. I was intrigued by the “Bison Grass Vodka”, a rye vodka with a herbaceous taste. The box contained not only a bottle of Zubrowka, but also an apple corer, three pink lady apples (lovingly wrapped in illustrated protective tissue paper) and a test tube of the aromatic grass that grows in the mysterious Bialowieza Forest in north-east Poland. It is this grass that gives the vodka a slightly organic smell and taste and the grasses in the test tube are aromatic cocktail decorations that have a hint of almond or vanilla as well as grass scent. While the traditional Polish way to drink the vodka is neat on ice, it was definitely complimented by apple juice! More photos on the next page.
What a week it has been! Here in Istanbul for the wedding of one of my friends since high school… we were supposed to be on vacation… but of course even while running around, Shawn and i couldn’t resist snapping and sharing pics of all the inspiration and amusement on our cell phones… many of them making it to our NOTlabs instagram (and his personal one too)… As far as proper features go ~ so far you’ve gotten a peek at our flight in to istanbul as well as inside our room at the House Hotel Galatasaray… and the adorable Emel Loves Istanbul city guide that arrived! So for all the other randomness ~ from touristy adventures to Blue Mosque and Ayasofya to the leeches and peacocks near the spice bazaar ~ to random shopping inspiration and museum finds ~ to the wedding on the bosphorus and boat ride ~ to cafes, tiles, graffiti, and so much more… get a flash overview of what we’ve experienced on the next page!
A watermelon exploded by rubberbands, transparent solar cells and an art library on wheels are all part of this week’s roundup from NOTCOT.org. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.
In Istanbul all week, and while we’re here for one of my dearest friend’s wedding ~ amongst the festivities, it has been hard to figure out what to do and where to go to really get to know Istanbul! Surely there are the usual monuments, museums, bazaars and other must see spots that you find in the touristy guides… then there are the high end luxury shopping sections with brands you can probably find in any major city… and even the Wallpaper guide had a bunch of the same old stuff… but finding resources to share the fun, unexpected in betweens has been surprisingly tough! Even chatting with local friends of the bride, it’s not always easy for people to step back and help direct you to the uniquely different little shops, galleries and spots that they may take for granted…
Thanks to twitter and the internet in general making travel and exploration a smaller world than ever ~ i got the sweetest tweet from the folks at Jotun the other day, which lead to a magical little package arriving on the hotel room bed hours later! Artist, Emel Kurhan, has created a set of guide books (Emel Loves Istanbul and Emel Loves Paris!) that feel like a scrapbook of favorite spots (and why they are loved, which turn to take/door to open for secret spots, etc) leading you into a whole over side of Istanbul! “The 2 Guides are for sale together the price for 2 books is 40TL, the money will be donated to different animal shelters, they come with a ribbon(each has a different color), only 2000 books has been printed and has been numbered by myself!” she says on her site.
So while i still may not get a taste of all facets of Istanbul in this week ~ we’ve done a few cliche tourist things, attended a stunning wedding on the edge of the Bosphorus (and ended up on a boat on it till 4am) with our hand carried NOTlabs photobooth guestbook setup, hidden out at the House Hotel Galatasaray… regardless of what the remaining 3 days hold, this adorable little book is definitely helping fill in more of the blanks! Take a peek inside it as well as a cute video teaser for them on the next page!
TO PAGE 2 of "Emel Kurhan Loves Istanbul & Paris by Jotun"! ----->
Majestic New Zealand’s Alps, sunshine in the Balaerics and diving in the Maldives are all part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.
It’s been a while since a Operation Window Seat has come along… but it was pretty spectacular flying in to Istanbul this week not to snap a few shots. Unfortunately it snuck up on us (after a long long direct flight of a nap from LAX!) so the pictures are from the iPhone! Take a peek on the next page…
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Currently in Istanbul! While here, decided to try The House Hotel Galatasaray. One of the three House Hotels (all in Istanbul), this is the four-storey mansion built in 1890′s and renovated by renowned Autoban Design. The result is a beautiful and unexpected mixture of late 1800 turkish styles with lots of geometric patterns which feel like modern takes on more traditional tile patterns… from the reception area to the closet to the ceiling of the bathroom. Additionally the juxtaposition of modern (custom!) furnishings, chandeliers, tvs and more to the wood flooring and ornate walls and ceilings leave you in a beautifully unique space! As Mr & Mrs Smith says, “The House Hotel Galatasaray in Istanbul is a masterfully modernised mansion, elegantly imperial with a hint of contemporary magic.” Take a peek inside our room on the next page!
TO PAGE 2 of "The House Hotel Galatasaray, Istanbul"! ----->
This week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious includes Blue “Crystal Meth” rock candy, black bottom pie and the Champs Élysées cocktail. To find out more about each delectable post, click on its individual image.
