No one wants to see a good book ruined. But who could argue with creating a unique piece of timeless art? First from Tokyo Pistol, the ”Pot Book” is something any daring home horticulturist can experiment with. It’s so cute, and as their website says via Google Translate, “Eco little in the pot like this is unbearable.” Indeed!

Pictured second, one of many Book Sculptures created by artist Robert The. Whether it’s a King James edition as seen below, or a copy of Dianetics (whatever that is) you can proudly display your love of books for all to see. However, I still recommend quickly stashing them away if any librarian friends come over.

Fun and functional (yes, functional) wall stickers from the Smart Vinyl Laboratory at Hu2 Design can be applied virtually anywhere and leave no residue when removed. More than decoration, they also offer a selection of vinyl ”chalkboards” great for reminders or as a truly unique accent piece. They also offer laptop stickers and even feature a selection of stencil-inspired stickers from famed London criminal graffiti artist Banksy. Not bad at all!

Check out these amazing in-ground wine cellars from Spiral Cellars. Designed to stand out (as pictured) or can be built hidden away and completely discreet. With a constant air flow and temperature, they also function as a natural extension to your kitchen panty. When you add this to some of our recent postings, it’s starting to look like a good time to have a drinking problem. Link, photo via doornob.

I admit, I’m a sucker for piggy banks. I have NO idea (because I don’t save!).  They’re just cool.  If I was into collecting crap, I’d have a room full of piggy banks.  SO! I’m in love with Salt & Pepper Living “Oink” piggy banks.  They have about 20 cool designs that just make you smile.  They can be yours for about $35USD —Discovered at M&O Paris this week.  See them all [ HERE ]

Make office life exciting with Pure Modern’s newest collection from Made By Humans. Fans of the previously featured Eco-Stapler may recognize the unique style of Made By Humans’ designs, this time applied to your run-of-the-mill desk calendar, clock and USB hub.  The Puzzle Calendar can be arranged in many different ways, making the chore of “updating your calendar” a fun and exciting one. The Multicolor Cube Clock offers a clock, thermometer and alarm all in a whimsical rubik’s cube package, while the Multicolor USB Chain turns an office necessity into an entertaining and fun accessory.

Create your unique designs with Fluid Forms; you design it and they produce it.  I especially love the salt/pepper mills and belt buckle.  You can even create your own custom silver ring or brooch.  Poke around the site and see what fun ideas you can come up with.

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Make them truly eco-friendly by converting them into planters! Fiat placed life-size replicas of their cars on the streets of Milan as part of a green program.

But there is no reason to not use the real thing; click thru for some examples around the U.S.

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While checking out some of my regular blogs / news feeds over a cup of coffee today, I found on CNET’s news.com site—something unusual.  Usually it’s the same ole’ rambling about gadget crap—However, today was different.  They came upon the smallest micro sculptures in the world!  Intrigued, I started to research Willard Wigan, who in fact DOES make the smallest sculptures!  This man uses dust, human hair, and other odd materials to make fantastic sculptures in the eye of a needle (really!).  I was excited to see that he’s actually exhibiting down the street from my London flat!  So we ventured out, paid our £2 ($3.25) to see about 20 of these unusual things.  Visit his site for more information - [ Willard Wigan ]—and see where his next exhibit will be.  You won’t want to miss it… quite incredible.  (Thankfully they provide the microscopes to see his work… ). 

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Urban Outfitters released a limited edition production run of Polaroid instant cameras this past Friday - if you haven’t gotten one yet you better hurry there are only 700 kits scattered across their US and UK stores. I planned to hit the Oxford St. shop here in London but didn’t make it up there yet. One caveat - unless The Impossible Project gets that film factory up and running that one pack of film isn’t going to last very long.

As seen in my previous post with Seabags, there are some neat recycled products hitting the market like the Bill Belt from Feuerwear.  They also carry bags and wallets made from recycled fire hoses, each product named after men.  You know these products will last through all the wear and tear.  Does the firefighter come with it??

Bill Belt

From Feuerwear:
We produce a range of bags, belts and wallets made from recycled fire hoses under the Feuerwear® brand.

Every Feuerwear® product is a one-of-a-kind piece and has its own individual story to tell. Before the hoses came to us, they were used extensively by firefighters for many years. They were dragged through soot, grease and mud, in extreme heat and fire, and had to transport thousands of cubic meters of water. We prepare the hose by scrubbing them clean before they are cut to size and handcrafted using high-quality materials to make sturdy, one-of-a-kind products - ready and able to accompany you through your own active duty every day.

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Here’s a nice bike that means business.  With it’s thick tires and solid motorcycle like frame, this bike is sure to turn some heads!  Considering the exclusivity of this bike, I wonder if it comes with a LoJack option?

11bikes is exclusive, head-twisting bicycle frames with eyebrow-raising design.  The designs are limited to 11 pieces per continent. Each frame is lovingly crafted by hand and comes with certificate and tag. For special occasions like your grandma’s birthday or annual bike festivals, we’ll dress you up with a unique 11bikes shirt showing your bike’s serial number and your name.

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While PJ is adoring Ted Baker and yawning at designer Paul Smith‘s clothes, I have taken a moment to highlight some items of interest that just scream PS, I LOVE IT!  One of the main reasons why I fell in love with this designer is because his use of stripes is simple and discrete, yet makes a statement.  I like to think of it as a burlesque show of color.  From fine china, furniture decked in PS fabric, Triumph motorcycles, Mini Coopers, to luggage, this designer manages to always entice my masculine side.  Enjoy!

Paul Smith Bespoke Stripe fabric by Kvadrat
If you are interested in reupholstering your own furniture in PS fabric, you can get it at Moroso, NY. Fabric samples also available at Maharam

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Part hanging plant, part green art installation, the Indoor Fabric Garden from the recent 100% Design in London is a green and eye-catching collaborative project from fashion house Ted Baker and UK branding agency JAM. The installation merges tasteful fabrics and beautiful flora, giving modern dwellers a great way to integrate greenery into their interiors seamlessly and stylishly. Plus, the hanging vessels are made use from reused lampshades and their fabrics to reinforce the environmental focus of the project. - via Inhabitat

I wonder if Ted Baker does furniture; hopefully PJ will post something soon.  I’m waiting! 

WHY I never knew about this place 5yrs ago really beats me.  Since I love to cook and I am always seeking new ideas for my own creations, I got a great tip from a friend about this little gem in Chicago.  The place is Borinquen Restaurant located at 3811 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL.  What’s even better is that this restaurant is right around the corner from my place!

- via Wikipedia:
The jibarito (pronounced hee-bah-ree-to), a specialty of Chicago, is a sandwich made with flattened, fried green plantains instead of bread. 

It was invented in 1991 by Jorge Muñoz and Coquí Feliciano in Aguada, Puerto Rico, in their restaurant, Plátano Loco (crazy plantain).

Chicago restaurateur Juan “Peter” Figueroa introduced it at Borinquen Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant, in 1996.

The sandwich’s popularity soon spread to other Latin-American restaurants around Chicago, including Mexican, Cuban and Argentinian places, and jibaritos now can be found in some more mainstream eateries as well.

The original Borinquen jibarito had a steak filling, and that remains the usual variety, but other fillings, such as chicken and pork, are common. A proper jibarito also contains cheese, lettuce, tomato and garlic-flavored mayonnaise.

The perfect way to enjoy incense around the house without an unsightly pile of leftover ash. From Design IM Dorf of Germany, this discreet little abode makes a unique gift and fun modern accent piece. See it [ here ].