Firstly, i’m not really a crystals kind of girl… but for some reason Swarovski is doing some pretty irresistible stuff this year! (How stunning is the Crystal Palace?!?!?!) Bisazza has always been a fascination of mine, the way they turn tiling into quite the art form is fascinating, and the designer collaborations are always stunning. However, the one thing about tiles i never loved is how FLAT they can feel visually ~ sure you can cover incredibly curved walls with their tiny tiles, but with the new Bisazza Crystal Collection with Swarovski, the crystal tiles add this incredible depth to the tiling! (Not to mention inevitable blinged out effects as well.) To see “flat” crystals essentially is bizarrely mesmerizing up close, since you see them come to a point beneath the surface, it’s as if you’re peering into the wall… The Crystal Collection is a series of decorative patterns “bejeweled with Swarovski crystals” ~ and the most noteworthy is the Skulls & Crown pattern… I’m imagining the interior of a pool with black reflective tiles and crystal/metallic skull markers for the depths…

See images of the cocktail party last night ~ the candle and chandelier lighting create interesting light effects in combination with the Bisazza tiles~ on the next page!

p.s. With Bisazza going all pixel art, i’d love to see them collaborate with Diesel Sweeties for an awesome pixelated comic wall…

TO PAGE 2 of "Bisazza: the Crystal Collection"! ----->

Tags: crystal - gifts - home - shopping - tile

One of the most breathtaking things i’ve experienced, perhaps EVER… is this MIlano Salone 2010 Swarovski Crystal Palace. It is a sensory overload in all the right ways, taking the idea of sparkly objects to a new and undeniably attractive new level… each and every piece literally transforms a room, and to be in rooms with others who are standing there quietly in complete awe, it almost feels as if everyone is in the presence of an otherworldly being. It is both incredibly calming and zen while still perhaps impressively luxurious and excessive… So take a look at some of my favorite pieces ~ unlike press photos that tend to have no one in them, you’ll see the photos i loved best ended up being with people! And giving you more of a sense of scale and awe ~ the interaction with the spaces if nearly as fascinating as the pieces themselves! Pics on the next page!

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Tags: crystal - lighting - milan - salone

The internet is a buzz with rumors on the latest "viral" video of Dan Aykroyd showing us his new Crystal Head Vodka in a gorgeous glass skull. Rumors include this being a video for the new Ghostbusters or some Indiana Jones... but i guess lesson to be learned here is ~ just because it's going viral, doesn't mean it's not real!

I actually bought a few bottles today ~ lots of pics on the next page! Not the smooooothest thing i've tasted, but it's not bad, and i'm totally in love with the glass skull bottle made by Bruni Glass in Milan, Italy. Apparently it is made by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd, out of Newfoundland water triple crystal filtered through herkimer diamonds (aka double-terminated quartz crystals)! Really the story is just great though, and the video and bottle make the experience priceless ~ here are excerpts from the box: "In reverence of those enlightened after touching any of the thirteen crystal heads unearthed around our globe we offer this pure spirit"... "One of the most compelling archeological mysteries is the story of the 13 Crystal Heads. These heads are believed to be between 5,000 and 35,000 years old and were carved over a period of several hundred years but without any tool marks. In fact their very construction defies the laws of physics and common logic. They are believed to offer spiritual power to those who hold or possess them."

See the pictures of the real thing and the video on the next page!

UPDATE: Dan did some crazy internet researching for us and here are some fun facts: Dan Aykroyd is not only an actor, but co-founder of the House of Blues, part owner of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd (which distributes Patron in Canada), and is building his own winery, Dan Aykroyd Wines (which uses 100% snob free grapes!). There is a great interview with him on delish before the vodka release where he exposes how serious he is about wine, Crystal Skulls, UFOs, and "pure spirit from Newfoundland glacial pool water, and peaches and cream corn mash"!

TO PAGE 2 of "Crystal Head Vodka - It's REAL!"! ----->

Tags: bottle - crystal - diamonds - drinks - skull - video