Celebrating traditions......quilting

I love upholstery - but this is such a cool idea combining traditional upholstery with a modern form of quilting - now that is clever. The idea is that of Lisa Whatmough - who has set up shop in East London and has called it 'Squint' (thats the last thing I want to do - my eyes were popping out of my head!).

Each piece is meticulously made in England and traditionally upholstered, with tied springs and hand stitched seams. Aren't they gorgeous?

Material things....paper

How charming pop-up graphics on disposable paper placemats. Made from 100% recycled paper each design incorporates an area which doubles as a name card - how clever! These are by San Francisco based Publique Living.

Gocco

Ok so I know I am a little late in discovering this cool gadget - but that does not mean I want one any less! Gocco is a self-contained compact color printing system invented in 1977 by Noboru Hayama. Gocco became immensely popular in Japan and it is estimated that one-third of Japanese households own one. They use them to design and print their own New Year's cards - isn't that a lovely idea.

Sadly in December 2005, Gocco’s parent company, Riso Kagaku Corporation, announced it would end production. An Internet campaign has now started to find a new home for the product as so many new designers are now using them to create beautiful handprinted stationery: Like these by modern printed matter (a) and Sarah Parrott (b).

If you want to see how it works have a look here.

Material things...stuck on ceramics!

Aren't these lovely - they are the work of Heather Knight of Element clay studio. She calls them mini sculptures.

For all you campers out there

With such cool gear I think even I might be tempted into going camping! Check out Anorak's great online store.

Material things....ceramics

Aren't these beautiful - both the ceramics and the photography. They are by Japanese (now living in Brisbane) ceramic artist Kenji Uranishi.

Can you see this?

A style test - how cool is your vision? These are really great and they are available online at blue art studio.