Josh Rubin

In summer 2008, at the height of the U.S. financial crisis, husband-and-wife photographers James Tribble and Tracey Mancenido packed up their NYC apartment and hit the road to document one of the more obscure necessities of American consumerism first-hand. Armed with little more than a commercial license, tips from Tribble's truck driver dad and a few large-format cameras, the dynamic artists embarked on their new career as truckers. The resulting body of work, a series of tenderly contemplative portraits and still-lifes, opens 9 September 2010 at NYC's Sasha Wolf Gallery, revealing a rarely-seen side of the greasy culture responsible for supplying the country with everything from scrap metal to Toy Story 3 dolls.

Inspired by the contrasting loneliness of their experience, Mancenido and Tribble's stark images depict subjects removed from their familiar contexts and (more often than not) plopped right in the center of the frame. In one a mechanic sits cross-legged in a vast gravel lot, while another shows a hulking white pillar in one of the caves where they delivered shipments.

To learn more, their blog on the project is full of updates and insights they posted while on the road. For those in NYC, see the haunting pictures in person at the Sasha Wolf gallery before the show closes 23 October 2010. For a limited sneak peek, check out the gallery.

For both the neo-Americana-obsessed and denim-heads alike, menswear designer Billy Reid's collaboration with Levi's is a holy brand pairing, marrying Levi's workwear roots with Reid's modern cuts, fabric choices, and finishes. This behind-the-scenes video (a Cool Hunting exclusive) visits Reid at work on the craft of deconstructing garments for the 10-piece collection, as inspired by a visit to the legendary Levi's archive.

Citing a worn and stained work apron from the turn of the century as his "muse," Reid incorporated it into several of the designs. A hunting jacket has a removable, fully-functional version of the apron that works as an internal game pouch, while the design of a tote comes from experiments in folding the apron into a bag shape.

Images of the resulting garments (also exclusive to this publication) play to Reid's own down-home heritage, using his annual "Shindig" held at his Florence, AL headquarters as a setting for working musicians from the neighboring town of Muscle Shoals to model the line. Check out more from the series as well as product shots in the gallery below.

Following Levi's successful collaboration with Robert Geller last year, this project is Levi's third tapping winners of GQ's "Best New Menswear Designers in America." You'll want to hurry to Bloomingdale's and Billy Reid locations, or their online stores, to scoop up the goods (ranging) from $45-$295) when they debut 10 September 2010.

While photographer Arthur Drooker's ruins aren't the castles and shrines that usually come to mind, his infrared images of prisons, mansions and other sites of U.S. decay evoke all the moody history and past lives of their tourist site counterparts. The Mill Valley, CA-based artist's "American Ruins" exhibit (opening at the Virgina Center for Architecture on 9 September 2010) culls these haunting photos from from his award-winning 2007 book of the same name, featuring luminescent images that with each crack and chip reveal just a bit of the America's former splendor. To learn more—including how Drooker achieves his otherworldly effects, what to expect from the show and what's next—read on for the interview, and see more images in the gallery below.

If you're in Richmond, be sure to check out the opening of American Ruins at the Virgina Center for Architecture on 9 September 2010 from 5:30-7:30pm, or visit before it closes 28 November 2010. You can also get a glimpse of the work in his current show at Santa Fe's William Siegal Gallery (through 3 September 2010), and look out for Lost Worlds, his large-format book collecting images from 33 sites in 15 countries that's due out Fall 2011.

What was the selection process in choosing photos for the exhibit? Are all of the images from the book?

All the images are from the book. There are 50 prints, representing each of the 22 sites I photographed for the project. The exhibition is organized geographically, the same as the book—the geographic regions are the South, the Southwest, the East, California and Hawaii.

what is it about ruins that inspires you and has kept you photographing them for years?

Photographing ruins merges my passions for history and photography. I'm drawn to these sites to make a spiritual connection with those who came before us, preserve the visual poetry of what they left behind, and restore what they've built to our collective memory. In making these images, I confront my own mortality and become most alive.

After the success of the American Ruins book, what led you to work on Lost Worlds?

I wanted to continue photographing ruins. Going beyond the U.S. borders seemed to make the most sense, but not so far away that it would take too a long time to complete the project. Hence, Lost Worlds: Ruins of the Americas. In every way it is a more ambitious project: The research, trip planning, and the photography. By the time I complete Lost Worlds at the end of this year, I will have been to about 30 sites in 15 countries. That's a lot of miles in a little over two years.

How does your subject matter influence your technique or vice-versa?

I photograph ruins in infrared. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, but I use a specially adapted 35mm digital camera to record it. The ethereal effect illuminates the otherworldly atmosphere that haunts ruins, allowing a photographer to transcend mere documentation and capture the mystery and elegiac beauty of crumbling walls, weathered facades and broken arches as no other format can.

An opportunity for emerging designers to showcase their work, A+: The Young Designers' Platform took place earlier this month during the Accent on Design event at New York's International Gift Fair. The American Design Club curated the event, aiming to highlight raw new creatives and their recent contributions to the design world. Seven out of ten of this year's winners also had a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, bringing simple solutions to the world's environmental concerns to the forefront of the design world. We picked three of our favorites newbies in the world of jewelry, compost, and cast iron cookware, who each snagged a space on the list of finalists, rounding out the eclectic list with their innovative new designs.

Bin by Fuccillo

Vancouver design studio Fuccillo recently turned its attention to composting—a simple but important part of a sustainable urban lifestyle. Making it easier for environmentally-conscious citizens who already freeze compostable scraps and drop them at their local farmers markets, Fuccillo created a stylish new "bin" using hard plastic and flexible silicone.

The container stays in the freezer until it's time to be dropped off, eliminating stench and pests by pausing the decomposing process. When ready for emptying, the silicone bottom stays flexible and pushes in for easy removal of the waste (without having to reach inside and scrape it out). Next month the bin will hit shelves online and in stores across the U.S. and Canada for $45 each.

Hila Rawet Karni

Hila Rawet Karni specializes in "industrial jewelry," using materials like paper and leather to construct geometrically intricate patterns.

We like the way the extraordinary level of detail and a passion for industrial design combine in the Melissa necklace in particular. Consisting of a series of interlocked textured, leather pinwheels, the design embodies the beauty of her creative mathematics. Paper, leather, plastic and spring necklaces come in various shapes and sizes at Hila Rawet Karni's Etsy store.

Borough Furnace

Jason Connelly and John Truex were cousins before becoming business partners based on their shared admiration for industrial design and environmental responsibility. The two finally teamed up to create Borough Furnace, a Murfreesboro, TN-based cast iron cookware production team.

Upcycling iron from scrap radiators or other junkyard items, the team creates high-quality cookware, including a popular dual-handle frying skillet, in their own backyard. The products are entirely recycled and handmade, not to mention classically-designed for a lifetime of use and beautiful craftsmanship. For more general or purchasing info, contact info [at] boroughfurnace [dot] com.

1. Gilpin Family Whiskey

For this weekend's gross-out conversation starter, go no further than researcher and diabetic James Gilpin's extreme DIY project. Pointing out the ways we can "harvest the biological resources that our elderly already process in abundance," he recently started purifying the naturally sugar-rich urine of diabetics to make "pisskey."

2. A Night Club Map of Harlem

Originally published in a 1932 issue of Manhattan Magazine, " A Night Club Map of Harlem" plots out points of interest and places to be during the NYC neighborhood's heyday. The painstakingly-detailed illustration is the work of Elmer Simms Campbell, the first African-American cartoonist to be published in national publications like The New Yorker, Esquire, and Cosmopolitan.

3. Proenza Schouler Fall 2010 Campaign Video

Set to a dreamy soundtrack by Washed Out, this atmospheric Proenza Schouler video by our own Greg Mitnick evokes the modern sensuality of the collection. Much more effective than many of the fashion videos and ads we've seen lately, the seductive short film shows just enough to make us want to buy all the clothes.

4. Cigarette-Smoking Machine

A machine built for the sole purpose of performing the nastiest of human habits—cigarette smoking—this all-too-clever video will surely have cigarette companies kicking themselves for not thinking of it first.

5. Cannabis Catering

Ariel over at Fast Company interviews Chef Frederick Nesbitt about his thoughtful new menu of ganja-infused cuisine.

6. Terriers

While FX network's new show Terriers isn't exactly about the stubborn-but-lovable group of dogs, there are some funny promo videos like this one that cuts straight to the heart of a Terrier's nature.

7. Maripol: Little Red Riding Hood

Maripol, the stylist credited with Madonna's mid-eighties look, recently released her archive of behind-the-scenes photographs and sketches in the form of a book, "Maripol: Little Red Riding Hood." With friends like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Debbie Harry, it's one of those irresistibly intimate looks at New York City in the '80s.

8. Deus Canggu: Inari

Deus Canggu, a new custom bike shop in Bali, recently completed one of their first builds, naming the bike Inari after the Shinto spirit of fertility and success. Based off the 1976 Honda CB 100 and stripped down to the simple mechanics, it's an agile motorcycle that handles the Indonesian island's volcanic terrain well.

With surfing at another high fashion moment (see the artful film our own Greg Mitnick recently shot for Proenza Schouler on the topic), Hurley's invitation to check out the U.S. Open of Surfing (of which the brand is the main sponsor) earlier this month seemed like a good idea. Other than swarms of teens crowding Huntington Beach, BMX events, skaters and performances by Weezer and Hot Hot Heat—not to mention the actual surfing itself—checking out the Hurley "campus" was a revealing look at the brand that most Southern California surfer kids have grown up wearing since Hurley introduced clothing in 1999.

Other than the California feel—Hurley's corporate HQ is actually a handful of single-story buildings in Costa Mesa, CA—the most notable and persistent theme of the offices are the geometric shapes and bright hues of Dalek's (aka James Marshall's) artwork throughout, so we decided to take a closer look at the collaboration.

While the formal collaboration started more recently, Marshall's connection to the company dates back to when Hurley evolved from shaping surfboards into a lifestyle brand for the "modern surfer [who] also loved fashion, skate, snow, music and art." The first project official project bringing the two together came in the form of a large-scale painting for the retail concept 225 Forest that Hurley opened in Laguna, CA in July of last year.

While those familiar with Marshall's trademark cosmic mouse will notice the little creature's absence in the work he's done for the label, the new direction for the artist sees him keeping with a recognizable use of colorful kaleidoscopic shapes. For Hurley, who call print and color "a pillar of the brand's foundation," these playful combinations work well for applications that include a floor-to-ceiling treatment of their cafeteria (including the fridge, pictured above), as well as patterns on their Phantom board shorts.

To see these images and more representing the partnership, including my pics of Hurley's workspace, Dalek fixies, a gallery show, check out the gallery below.

Pairing its classic American style with a niche Milanese retailer, Gap is set to launch a European expansion with a shop-in-shop collection at 10 Corso Como this fall.

The capsule collection is the work of Gap and American artist Kris Ruhs, who oversaw the original creative direction of first 10 Corso Como shop in Milan, from the furniture to displays and overall image—as well as that of their successive stores in Tokyo and Seoul.

The collection consists of two styles of limited editions T-shirts, sweatshirts and canvas shopping bags. One series is decorated with the signature circles of 10 Corso Como, while the other one boasts a selection of Ruhs' illustrations, handpicked by 10 Corso Como founder Carla Sozzani.

The collection will be available for men and women at 10 Corso Como during Milan Fashion Week, beginning 25 September 2010.

Just two short years ago Burlington, Vermont resident Jeff Sheldon founded Ugmonk with a straightforward mission to produce high-quality products with simple, fresh designs. What started as a small side project—a way to marry his passion for typography and t-shirt design—quickly grew to much more than that. Thousands of shirts later, he recently decided to leave his traditional "day job" and do Ugmonk full-time.

The current Ugmonk collection consists of around 25 different t-shirts and hoodies with lots of new designs being added in the coming months. To celebrate the two-year mark, Sheldon just released a special Limited Edition 2nd Anniversary Collector's Set. Each includes a two-color discharge print on a charcoal gray tee, a numbered wooden coin, and Ugmonk collector's card, all packed in a custom wooden box.

Only 200 of these sets will ever be made so grab yours for $50 at Ugmonk's online shop while they're still available.

With a string of live shows, mashups and reissues priming their return, OMD will release their first studio album in 14 years, History of Modern, this September. Reuniting in the recording studio after more than two decades, the original lineup—Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper—hit a new creative stride with the album while also harkening back to the crackling brilliance of their early singles.

OMD's electronic pop beats sit at the core of the thirteen tracks, in the droning synths of "New Babies: New Toys," the crystalline rush of "Sister Mary Says," and the eerie soundscape of "New Holy Ground." The soulful Aretha Franklin mashup "Save Me" (an American bonus track) gets our bodies moving. Legendary designer Peter Saville, who created many of OMD's celebrated album covers is also part of the new release, contributing a vivid cover that riffs off of his earlier album designs.

"History of Modern" drops 20 September in the U.K. and 28 September in the U.S. Preorder your copy on iTunes or Amazon or go all-out and reserve the limited-edition box set with an exclusive t-shirt on OMD's store. Check OMD's site for upcoming shows and other details.

Q elevates the chocolate bar to new heights of gastronomy. The recently launched confection owes its rich taste to Brazil's finest cocoa beans and equally sensuous curves to Oscar Niemeyer, the country's celebrated modern architect.

Q was concocted by Samantha Aquim, chef and head of the chocolate division at her family's eponymous restaurant business. After studying with renowned chocolatier Thierry Alain in Paris, she visited cocoa farms in Bahia with a desire to explore "the magical possibilities of the perfect cocoa bean." Aquim used a painstaking fermentation process—without adding any other ingredients or flavorings—to draw out its raw characteristics.

The final product is a piece of edible architecture that's 77 percent cocoa. As a guide to its complex, tropically infused palate, Q comes with seven blends of the chocolate with different levels of intensity and smoothness. A gold-placed utensil and storybook on Q complete the experience.

Visit Aquim online for more information (in Portuguese only).

The preservative-free, luminizing black mask from Boscia purifies skin with a pore-cleansing, peel-off formula. Filled with minerals, extracts, natural clay, vitamins and antiseptics, I like that the recipe mixes the benefits of a more traditional clay mask with modern ingredients. The upshot is a mask that penetrates well, removing impurities, excess oil and noxious bacteria.

While applying the opaque black goo feels as weird as it looks, it also seems to really work. After letting it dry for fifteen minutes, I peeled it off (one of those strangely satisfying tasks) to reveal smaller pores and brighter skin.

Boscia's black mask sells exclusively from Sephora for $34.

Profiling people on September 11th may sound off, but when it's done by master scissor artist Karl Johnson, your silhouette will never look so good. The Southern California-based artist brings his services to the NYC, handcrafting paper cut-outs of personalized portraits.

Johnson fashions the beautiful, vintage-inspired silhouettes from black paper in just a matter of minutes. A nearly extinct art form, his work spans simple to intricate, with each piece suggesting rich sentiment and personality of t.

Johnson will be on hand from 10am-5pm, 11 September 2010 at Babesta Cribz. Each profile costs just $25 with duplicates available for $15.

Asking our friends, contributors and Facebook fans to recommend their favorite places in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and San Francisco, we culled their picks into top-ten lists of the best "jumping-off" points in each city. We're very pleased to present you with the resulting first edition of our new Cool Hunting Local section, five Google-map-based guides that include a range of prices, activity levels and moods—from the restaurant your Midwestern parents will actually love to a free ferry that sells beer—along with all the essential info and plenty of insider tips. We'll update these lists monthly, adding and removing places and cities as we see fit.

Also available today is version 2.0 of the Cool Hunting iPad Application. We've added CH Local, Instapaper integration and the ability to save articles for later reference or offline viewing, among a handful of other updates. To highlight these new features our friends at One Line Creative made this slick walk-through video. We've worked with them on film projects in the past and were excited to hear about their new venture—a clever and elegant solution to the growing niche market for video app tutorials. Making a video like this is much more complicated than it looks and we think these guys totally nailed it.

by Brad Grossman

While plenty of hotel concepts promote art as a selling point, few manage to make the experience meaningful beyond a picturesque marketing device. Not so with Tel Aviv's Art+ Hotel which fluidly blends boutique hotel with an art program focused on local artists—providing an equally relaxing stay for art enthusiasts as for anyone just seeking a little respite from the bustling city surrounding it.

Each floor of the five-story building is dedicated to one Israeli artist, and with new works rotating in every few months—as well as the Gordon Street galleries and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art just blocks away—the hotel makes a great jumping-off point for getting to know the city's art scene. Or, just hang out on the modern lobby's couches and browse their library full of art and design-focused books and magazines.

If you prefer to just lounge in your room, a set of minimalist furniture provides the necessary serene background for the artistic amenities, as well as features like a flat-screen TV and full bathroom. "Looking Good," charmingly etched into each mirror is an Art+ Hotel signature, and free Internet access makes the venue all the more attractive for business and recreational travelers alike.

While there's no room service, one of the hotel's shining features is a daily breakfast spread of pastries, fruits, vegetables and homemade cheeses. Guests can also mingle and discover Israeli wine at a happy hour offered most nights.

Other great features include the Art+ Hotel's own taxi service for transport to and from the airport, as well as free bikes to ride around town or to visit the beach (which is just a few blocks down the street). Rates vary depending on dates of travel, but typically start at around $180 per night. To book, visit the Art+ Hotel website.

An upcoming collaboration between revered German automaker Audi and Swedish-German design firm Kram/Weisshaar turns London's Trafalgar Square into an interactive message center. Called Outrace, the installation uses eight industrial robots from Audi's production line to deliver messages sent from people around the world as 3D lighting graphics.

Part of the nine-day London Design Festival the concept invites visitors to log on to the project website with any mobile device or computer to take part.

Like Nike's massive "Write The Headline" campaign that took over the façade of a Johannesburg skyscraper earlier this year, those who submit should choose their words carefully given that they potentially have London's seven million inhabitants as the audience.

The project explores ways to integrate innovative technology within the arts, using LEDs to scroll out user messages by attaching the powerful light heads to the mechanical arms of the robots. A long-exposure camera will capture the resulting light traces, creating videos of the user messages so that participants can share their experience across their social media platforms.

Months in the making, Outrace will operate daily from 17 September through 23 September.

From one of NYC's hardest-working designers House of Diehl, this new line of one-off sunglasses mixes high camp with one-of-a-kind appeal at a price point that means you can still indulge in your Rick Owens obsession too. The Wayfarer styles are studded, chained, grommeted, dipped, painted—anything but basic. "Your accessories should always be the loudest thing about you. Isabella Blow once told me that," says Roman Milisic, who co-founded Diehl with his wife, Mary Jo Diehl.

Starting at a wallet-friendly price of $50 a pair, "Our breakers are special enough to be treasured, but cheap enough to 'break,'" explains Milisic. "Well, that always happens to my sunglasses."

The upcoming collection will feature a limited-run of shades with hand-drawn artwork. To purchase, visit their site.

As more and more earth-friendly cleaning products make their way to mainstream grocery store aisles, iQ Clean stands out for their all-natural, environmentally-sustainable formulas that come in equally-virtuous, waste-saving concentrate cartridges.

Developed by Canada-based Planet People, the single-use cleaning cartridges contain non-toxic, plant-based concentrates which instantly dilute in reusable plastic spray bottles filled with water. The cartridges are currently available in four formulas—glass, bathroom, floor and all-purpose cleaner, each mixed from a handful of environmentally-sustainable ingredients such as corn and coconut-derived surfactants.

Besides reducing plastic and landfill waste by up to 70 percent, the company's packing smarts also cut down on the use of oil, both in terms of production (manufacturing 29 spray-type bottles requires an entire gallon of crude oil), as well as fuel for transportation. The shipping costs are lower too—iQ claims its less-bulky products save the company 25 percent more than conventional cleaners—which it generously hands down to its consumers.

Starter kits, which include a solution spray bottle and one refill cartridge, sell for $6, while single cartridges cost less than $3. IQ products are available for sale throughout Hannaford and Sweetbay grocery stores in the U.S.

A longtime fan of landscape sculpture, artist Bruce Stillman decided to turn his Minnetrista, MN farm into a functioning putt-putt course—with his works standing in as the props. We recently had a chance to check out the organic forms of his sculptures that populate the 12-hole Big Stone Mini Golf course, an experience that was both surprising and surreal.

While you play, animals from Stillman's adjacent farmland sometimes wander over, adding to the creative chaos. Additionally, Stillman built massive tables for chess or checkers, and a large fire pit for social gatherings.

While his personal fantasyland is the largest display of his works, Stillman's sculptures have shown all over the U.S., and his piece "Perpetual Motion" is a permanent fixture at the entrance of the Palm Desert Public Library.

Both entertaining and enlightening, the sculpture park is perfect for all ages, and serves as a great reminder that art is everywhere.

by John Ortved

Charcuterie may not be what first springs to mind when thinking about Toronto, but Canada's major metropolis is quickly becoming a destination point for carnivores seeking fresh cured meats. Two restaurants making their individual marks, The Black Hoof and Marben, stand out for not just what they're accomplishing local.

The Black Hoof (known by locals as simply "The Hoof") was opened in 2008 by Jenn Agg, who bemoaned the city's lack of a welcoming spot where meat cured in-house could be served alongside cocktails. Her search for a charcutier/garde manger led her to Grant van Gameron, who became the executive chef and co-owner.

At candle-lit wooden tables, fans of savory meats can delight in elegantly-presented tongue on brioche—served end-to-end—smoked sweetbreads or the raw horse sammy—an equine tribute to steak tartar. Bone marrow comes as a side dish and, combined with Agg's special touch with a cocktail shaker (her Manhattan is one of the best I've tasted), she can almost wrangle in the most rigid of vegans.

"Since we opened every casual and fine dining restaurant now has charcuterie in some form, but not house-made." says Agg. The Black Hoof's success has allowed Agg to open up a brunch spot, The Hoof Cafe, just across the street.

Along the western reaches of Wellington Street, there's Simon Benstead's Marben, a farmhouse restaurant boasting a head butcher—Ryan Donovan—as well as a head chef—Daniel Boulud-trained Carl Heinrich. Buying whole cows, they use all but one percent of the animal, embracing responsible and ethical means of food preparation.

Heinrich and Donovan have taken great care to cultivate relationships with their producers, constantly visiting the farms and personally investigating their sources. "The beef represents our closest relationship with a single family," says Donovan. "We use the Harrisons—Dennis and Denise. They have six kids and a small farm north of the city." He appreciates the care the Harrisons put into pasturing, as well as the fact that they live a very close distance to the slaughterhouse (its not uncommon for animals to travel 50 hours before slaughter) and dry-age their meat whole.

The result is delectable comfort classics, like John's Burger—stuffed with braised ribs, topped with local cheddar and decorated with Branston pickles—and Denise's Pork Belly—served atop delicate cucumber salad and scallions.

Photo at top left of The Black Hoof by VB Photography

The Roxio Creator 2011 media suite brings photos to life with its first-ever set of tools for capturing, creating and sharing 3D photos and videos on a PC. The program works with both content captured on a stereoscopic camera or standard 2D device, smartly enhancing or converting the files into impressive photos with full depth and scale.

To achieve a 3D photo without a stereoscopic camera, start by simply taking two photos of the same shot, the first with a slight lean to the left, the second with a slight lean to the right—this provides the left eye, right eye effect. Upload the two photos to Creator 2011, which takes over from there with an easily navigable system for meshing the photos together, as well as typical editing effects. The software's VideoWave feature helps stabilize and splice together footage from 3D-enabled cameras, standard video camcorders or both, for a modern take on the home movie.

Once finished with the editing, you can upload the photos or videos to YouTube or Facebook, or produce a standard or high-definition DVD. The program also provides the option of choosing Anaglyph (for regular monitors or TVs) or RealID modes (for 3D-compatible viewing technology).

To celebrate its launch, we're giving away five boxes of Creator 2011 to CH readers. Follow us on Twitter and tweet a favorite photo you would like in 3D with @coolhunting and #creator2011 to enter. We will only accept one entry per user. Entries must be submitted by 6pm EST on 25 August 2010. Winners will be drawn at random from all qualifying (i.e. correct answer and only one entry) entrants at 12pm EST on 27 August 2010 and will be notified via Twitter.

Science meets art in Klik Klik, Al Kelly and and Kellar Williams' new magnetic jewelry kit. Setting themselves apart from similar brands that came before them (like Magnetik Distractions and the gift set), Kelly and Williams take form as seriously as function, introducing new shapes and perfectly-engineered magnetism for a playfully nerdy accessory with all the geometric-pattern appeal of Vena Cava.

Each kit comes with 300 nickel-plated neodymium magnets in three different shapes—216 polished metal spheres, 56 cubes and 28 wands to be exact. Mix and match at will, or follow one of the provided patterns, to create custom bracelets, anklets, necklaces, chokers, armbands, rings and more.

When Klik Klik's Brooklyn-based masterminds stopped by our offices recently they explained that part of their goal is to empower creativity by making it fun for people to design their own patterns. The instructional posters help out with a little inspiration, showing six design suggestions, ranging from easy to more difficult and requiring varying numbers of the metal pieces. For those who want more, there are over 500 designs available at Klik Klik's online gallery, with step-by-step videos detailing how to make the Bella, Gemma and Dahlia bracelets.

While the concept came easily to Kelly and Williams, the real hard work was the time-consuming process of sourcing the right supply of metal finishes and strengths to find the best combination possible. Williams describes their path as one mostly about education, involving extensive testing to see which shapes worked well with others and which looked most appealing. Ultimately, the pair emphasize that the most important part was "getting the highest quality magnets."

See more of Klik Klik's stylish designs on their site where kits sell for $65.

Created for the serious gamer, the Raven is a new wireless controller designed for the Playstation 3 but modeled after the more user-friendly X-box controller. We recently had the chance to road-test the Raven, finding the updated design really does enhance the playing experience.

Covered in Nyko's Soft Feel Surface—a soft, slightly rubbery coating—and boasting angled trigger buttons, the Raven is super easy to grip and it really allows the player to keep control over hand movements. As we discovered, having the joysticks situated at uneven planes makes playing first-person shooter games more natural, with the stick controlling vision placed higher than the stick that controls body movement.

With a slight added weight, the Raven also feels more substantial in your hands than Sony's controller and yet costs nearly half the price. Hitting stores September 2010, the Raven is available for pre-order now and will retail for $40.

L.A.-based sculptor Anne Ricketts creates miniature pieces of art for the body and home. Twenty years ago, she started her career with clay sculptures, but quickly transferred to sculpting in foam, wax and clay before casting her pieces in bronze. "Casting in bronze is addictive," she says. "The tactile sense of the metal is amazing, it's cold and hard, yet as smooth as skin."

A great deal of Ricketts' work focuses on hearts, hands and feet, rendered in painstaking detail in sizes as small as one-inch high. The feet are arched or crossed, while the hands are clenched into fists, pointing or simply lying palm up. The impulse to pick up and and examine these minute masterpieces is irresistible, but Ricketts says that she started working in miniature as a cost-effective measure. "Bronze, especially with lost wax casting, is extremely labor-intensive and therefore expensive," she says. "It was all I could afford to have cast."

Recently, Ricketts began creating equally small bud vases and jewelry, based on textile patterns from the '50s. Her strong, distinctive earrings and rings fit in perfectly with her design aesthetic—expressive, sensual and inexpensive. "I like the challenge of working so small," she says. "I also like the idea of making sculpture that people can hold, and of course afford to buy."

You can purchase Anne Ricketts tiny sculptures online from L.A.'s O.K. boutique or at Canoe in Portland, prices typically span $50-70.

Video pranksters Van and Casey Neistat have been making movies together since 1999 when the debut of the iMac spurred the brothers to start editing videos at home. Over the last decade the duo's provocative antics and DIY aesthetic has taken them from early viral fame (2003's guerilla anti-Apple campaign "iPod's Dirty Little Secret") to the Bicycle Film Festival entry ""Bike Thief," in which Van repeatedly steals his own bike—obviously and in public without any argument from the hundreds of passersby. Now the subjects of their own HBO show, The Neistat Brothers, the series launched earlier this year and chronicles the video adventures and artistic short films of the team.

Most recently, Casey joined forces with Kanon Organic Vodka, traveling to their Swedish headquarters to explore the history and process of the brand behind the spirit. We're pleased to present to you the exclusive debut of the resulting love-letter that combines documentary footage with homemade stop-motion animations. The short officially premieres tonight at NYC's Jane Hotel, also kicking off a weekly party called Jane Doe and Kanon Vodka Mondays. Below read what Casey had to say about the filmmaking process, his feelings about vodka advertising, and why NYC natives will suffer after the apocalypse.

How did you get involved in the project?

I've known Harry [of creative agency The 88] for a really long time and we had been looking for fun projects to do together. The brief was extremely vague, which I always find very exciting. We wanted to do something cool and we didn't want to do anything "advertisey." Putting an advertising label or a commercial label on this project would be a misfire.

A vodka company is literally just booze in a bottle so what really differentiates those booze in a bottle companies it is branding, it makes them who they are. And that's why so many vodka companies are so douchebaggy, because its just stupid advertising, but I think there is some interesting stuff with Kanon. It was explained to me that there is a 100 year old farmhouse that used to be run by a family of only five people, and that the CEO is a molecular biologist who is the head of the distillery. The whole thing just sounds romantic and interesting. It's surreal.

What was the process like?

Seeing the physical distillery was nuts. They built it inside a building from the 1600s and they retro-fitted it with the most modern technology. My favorite shot in the video is of the mad-scientist dude that drives in a fancy trunk—that's the guy that owns the distillery—he's a really awesome dude who is crazy smart who just dropped a breadth of knowledge, and is extremely well-versed. There's very little he doesn't know about, we talked to him for like two days and we never got sick of what he had to say. He built the company from his own heart and own two hands. But anyhow, to see this guy keep this thing running covered in grease, it was very romantic, crazy, and sweet. The whole thing is understated almost.

What's your advice for aspiring filmmakers?

Learn how to work with your hands; I'm totally serious. I won't hire someone or date a girl who has not worked in a restaurant, and that's the honest truth. I don't think you know how it is until you've worked in a restaurant. The reason why I'm sending my super intellectual 12-year old kid to tech school is because I don't believe he would succeed in this world unless he first learned to work with his hands. I'm not a cynic, but don't you get frustrated when you meet all these NYC born-and-raised kids and they are super academic and are really crazy smart and so worldly because of their experience in the city, and they are totally fucking incapable? If the apocalypse were to come, they would totally just die immediately because they would have no idea how to do anything. They're helpless. One of my first questions when I interview prospective employees is "do you know how big a sheet of plywood is?" Most people don't, and say they are different sizes, but it's 4' x 8' Anyway, working with your hands is a very American thing that we kinda lost here, but it's an important skill to have.

With additional reporting by Margaret Kaminski

Handmade by artisans in the Ehime Prefecture, Oey's Mutsumi Hashi chopsticks are beautifully linked together with Mizuhiki, a Japanese paper twine made from water, glue and silk. Traditionally tied onto gifts, the ancient Mizuhiki artform symbolizes a heart-to-heart connection.

Oey reinterprets this folklore by wrapping the cord-like Mizuhiki strings around the bamboo chopsticks, conveying the sentiment that you should enjoy the meal with a loved one.

With their warm-hearted message and gorgeous craftsmanship, the "harmonious chopsticks" make an ideal gift for someone special. They sell online from Oey for $30 in a range of complimentary colorways—like our personal favorite which mixes turquoise, seafoam and fluorescent green.

by Lisa Kereszi

In a Detroit neighborhood punctuated by little more than defunct traffic lights and abandoned train tracks, Heidelberg Street stands out for its row of colorful houses decorated with repurposed bits of urban detritus and bright paint. I recently spent a little time shooting and surveying the street, the result of artist Tyree Guyton's 24-year-strong mission (dubbed the Heidelberg Project) to inspire a fading community. Like NYC's Highline or the New Orleans biennial, the row of houses make another great example of creative urban renewal, transforming the street into an outdoor exhibition.

The craziness extends from houses to lawns, which are like urban gardens of junk, filled with car hoods, cigarette posters, stacks of shoes, vacuum cleaners, appliances, plywood paintings, tires and more. One house, covered with weathered stuffed animals, looks like one of Detroit-born artist Mike Kelley's Frankenstein pieces.

A program that aims to "heal communities through art," the project makes the neighborhood a visually-fascinating destination and an example for potential future art spaces.

Sick of grilled chicken tasting like lighter fluid, theater director Richard Looft made his first prototype by using a reversed vacuum to blow air onto a toaster filled with charcoal. When he saw that the coal was ready to use in just a few minutes, the concept for the Looftlighter was born. The resulting curling-iron-shaped device produces 1000°F electric heat to ignite anything from charcoal to wood with the touch of a button.

It also makes re-starting charcoal easier, and you can still go for the slow start by just using the lighter a little bit—not to mention the fun of wielding a magic fire wand. Plus, eliminating lighter fluid from the process not only makes summer nostalgia more pure, but cuts down on the toxic fumes, the production of the petroleum-based product, and burn injuries resulting from unattended fires.

You'll soon be able to buy the Looftlighter and accessories directly from the source, but in the meantime pick it up from ThinkGeek for $80.

1. Madder Red

Brooklyn band Yeasayer tapped director Andreas Nilsson for their new video "Madder Red," featuring actress Kristen Bell caring for her creepy sick pet—a creature that conjures to mind artist Charlie White's alien-like characters.

2. Pop-Up NYC

Design Work Life came across Daisy Lew's Pop-Up NYC, a series of pop-up books each featuring a different New York-themed icon.

3. Thank You For Your Love

Pitchfork gives us a sneak preview of the upcoming Antony and the Johnsons album, Swanlights, with "Thank you For Your Love"—a grainy black-and-white video that follows a cross-dressing man through locations in NYC. The album on Secretly Canadian's label comes out 24 August 2010.

4. Light Sanctuary

Renewable energy meets progressive design in Light Sanctuary, a solar power sculpture designed by the architects at Decker Yeadon. Built out of renewable material, the gorgeously-contoured sculpture measures 25 miles long stands at 33 feet tall, generating 5,000 megawatts of solar energy a year.

5. The Origins of ABC

For those curious enough (i.e. font nerds) to read through this extensive blog post, I Love Typography provides a deep and fascinating account of the early history and evolution of our modern alphabet.

6. Vineyard Golf Course

The first ever organic golf course, Vineyard Golf Course, uses environmentally-friendly practices to maintain its fairgrounds, making what typically is an obscenely wasteful and polluting enterprise into a chemical-and pesticide-free environment. Endorsed by President Obama as a favorite playing spot, the course will be a hit for those who want to play in truly "green" environments.

7. The Other Hamptons, Born and Bred

Photographer Tara Israel shows us the less-than-manicured side of the Hamptons, lending some human perspective to the revered yuppie vacation spot.

8. Disposable Flask

While not the best environmental choice, Restoration Hardware's disposable flasks make it easy to get your drink on wherever you go.

9. Michael Nyman

Avant-garde archival site Ubuweb presents a poignant set of oddball easy-listening pieces by famed minimalist composer Michael Nyman, released on Brian Eno's legendary Obscure Records imprint in 1976. Perfect for meditative weekend mornings—unlike Nyman's work with Blur's Damon Albarn on the score for cannibal thriller film "Ravenous."

10. Vintage Calculator Designs

Effektive spotted a comprehensive gallery of vintage calculators from the 1970s, a time when this revolutionary device became pocket-sized spawning a new wave of industrial designs.

11. Pedalr

Pedalr, which bills itself as a marketplace for people who love bikes, provides bicycle enthusiasts and shop vendors with a simple way to buy and sell their gear online.

12. Devour

In the "we totally thought of that" category, Devour culls the best HD videos on the web and posts them in an easily navigable online format. Picks like the Shaun White Skateboarding Trailer and Kegmate—a video showing how some ultimate nerds hooked their iPad up to their keg.

This video checks in with the sellers who come to the Brimfield Antique Show, which three times a year inflates the population of Brimfield, Massachusetts from 3,000 to a quarter million. From a dealer who specializes in Masonic ephemera to a sculptor who uses scrap metal as his material, we took a look at the community who gives shoppers reason to travel far and wide to the small town. (For a look at the collectors, check out our companion video.)

Taking a look at the thrice-annual phenomenon of the Brimfield Antique Show in Western Massachusetts, this video focuses on the people who travel there from all over the world to collect everything from milk bottle caps to taxidermy peacocks. We talked to jewelry designer Phillip Crangi, prop master Kenyan Lewis, and others who were all in some way or another—like the married couple who bought a Viagra clock—looking for "conversation pieces." To see the other side of the story, the dealers who also travel from all over to sell at the show, watch our other video on Brimfield.

Jean "Johnny" Pigozzi, the larger-than-life personality behind LimoLand, says the line of clothing and accessories is for "rich old men." Combining a candy-hued palette with classic styles and quality materials, if Pigozzi is talking about grandpas, then they're the ones who summer in the Hamptons on hallucinogens. Those who fit the bill or just dig the style will soon be able to indulge in the look when the brand's first flagship store hits NYC next week in the Meatpacking District.

A French mogul, philanthropist and avid art collector—including the world's largest collection of contemporary African art— Pigozzi's label expresses his colorfully casual aesthetic and ultra-quirky personality through and through. The brand's logo, Mr. Limo—a little creature based on work of late Tanzanian artist George Lilanga—makes the perfect mascot.

Selling at concept shops like Colette, 10 Corso Como and Land of Tomorrow, the LimoLand collection includes a stylish assortment of everyday fashions as well as collaborations with Yoshida Porter, Wild Things and Penfield.

We recently got a chance to preview the shop and the new collection, which are both packed with carefully considered details and plenty of joie de vivre.

See some of our favorites from the collection in the gallery below.

While nothing beats a vintage picnic set for the kitsch value, when we head to the park to eat, we more often find ourselves tucking an old tablecloth into a tote and rifling through last night's takeout bag for plastic cutlery. Below we highlight a few ways to class up your outdoor dining supplies with some favorite finds from Etsy.

Sewn Natural sews vintage fabrics into blankets with a cotton flannel fill for a cushy and stylish spread. Handmade with a durable denim lining makes the price worth it and convenient straps keep it bundled for easy toting when on the go. Prices span $115 to $205 depending on the pattern.

Gone are the days of brittle plastic disposable silverware and paper napkins floating away in the wind. NstarStudio offers handcrafted cases for carrying all your cutlery essentials. The urban picnic roll-up comes in a wide variety of colorways for $25.

Finally a strategy for getting rid of plastic bags in the picnic basket. WasteNotSaks makes reusable sandwich bags with a cotton fabric exterior and a food-safe washable nylon interior. Each handmade sandwich and snack bag has a Velcro closure and sells for about $7.

Ancient Babylonians warded off evil spirits with them, and Romans used the mini vessels to collect luck from fertility god Priapus, but today's mystics may want to turn to jeweler Emily Hirsch's new multi-purpose amulet line Talon for a vintage-inspired take on the concept.

Designed to protect from evil, intoxicate lovers, enhance moods and interact with spirits, the cork-topped vial necklaces are filled with aromatic fragrances, making for a good luck charm that also lends a little '70s Steve Nicks style to a look.

Though she now lives and works in Brooklyn, Hirsch drew on her Northern California roots to design the two oil blends citing inspiration like apple trees mixed with leather and a picnic in the grass. The resulting signature scent is a dark and earthy tabacco aroma with hints of sweet orange blossom, while Valor combines a light jasmine scent with the herbal touch of tuberose.

Each amulet, handmade in either silver, glass or bronze, comes with a gold-filled chain and sells for $250 from the Talon site.

The concept of multi-use retail spaces may not be new, but Portland's recently-opened Golden Rule may be the first to introduce a mom homage. Owner Wynde Dyer started her "social experiment in creativity and commerce" after her mother—a compulsive shopper—passed away and left her with a 17-foot-long U-Haul full of clothes. Instead of calling Goodwill, Dyer decided to peddle the extensive collection of goods in a rotating art space.

Photos of Dyer's mother, Morena Therese Faust, pay tribute to her golden hair and sunny California aura (despite the many tragedies that dogged her life). Shoppers browsing racks of silk dresses and skirts made by Faust herself will find mini-memorials tucked between the racks. With the massive collection spanning the mid-1800s to the mid-'90s, each month the inventory changes depending on the artwork gracing the walls. "I'm trying to stay positive, make lemons out of lemonade, and turn the dark to light," she explains.

With a cache large enough to stock the space for two to three years, Dyer continues to not only update the fashions but also features the work of a different artist every month. September sees mixed-media artist Delphine Bedient take the stage with works channeling her Midwestern roots. "We'll be choosing clothes that speak to these same things: Lace, browns, a lot of Gunne Sax dresses," says Dyer. "What we do is lead with art, and let the fashion and furniture follow."

Currently on view is Howard Gillam's psychedelic works, and with that theme the Golden Rule gang created a colorful credenza to place in the front window.

You can browse the Golden Rule shop on Etsy, which includes wares from previous months' installations.

For those who don't supersize their coffee, this new Doppio tumbler is the perfect compact size for toting more petite servings, like espressos and cappuccinos. The double-walled construction (hence the name "Doppio") and snap-on lid keeps drinks hot or cold on-the-go.

Made by Innate, a Vancouver company that specializes in making outdoorsy products sustainably, you can feel good about your purchase and be sure it will hold up to the elements too. Pick it up for C$9 from Innate's online store.

From close friends and Montreal design-dream-team Mike Giles, Daniel Julien, and Aaron Daley comes a new line of watches for those that appreciate both artistry and convenience. CH has featured time pieces and more from the masterminds previously (including the exclusive limited edition CH x Furni Farmer watch) but never before as a complete trio, launching their first collaborative company, Neuvo.

The "Prospector Collection" will be the first offering from the much-anticipated Neuvo company, featuring four metal, digital timepieces. With the beautifully-crafted vintage feel of your father's old worn-in watch and all the accouterments of a modern-day digital, the collection refers to a time when things were simple and value was measurable.

Each piece comes loaded with everything one could want in a watch, including a 12 or 24-hour display, chronograph, an hourly chime, backlight, and alarm. The watches are also water-resistant, so you can keep track of the time in style even under a light rain.

The metal watches are plated in either brushed gold, silver, bronze, or black, and only 200 of each is going into production. For those nervous about ordering wearables online (especially limited editions!), Neuvo has even created a free "try it before you buy it" iPhone app, currently available on iTunes. Without the hassle of ordering and returning, you can try on a virtual Neuvo watch on an image of your own wrist. Once you've made your selection, the app can take you directly to the purchasing info for your new accessory of choice. Each sells for the very fair price of $45 (plus shipping) exclusively from Neuvo's brand-new website, NeuvoMonde.com.

As urbanization continues to increase many of NYC's 20th-century icons–from the Empire State Building to MTA subway cars–have become short-hand for our super-urban-modern existence.

Kell Black’s 48-page Paper New York makes a great gift or DIY diversion for recreating the metropolis from paper. With arcing spans of the Brooklyn Bridge and the hot dog carts that clutter midtown Manhattan, you just need scissors, adhesive, nimble fingers and a monk's patience to re-imagine all types of city architecture. What better meditation on the the seething city is there than crafting a mini Hayden Planetarium from inside the comfort of your own six-floor-walk-up efficiency studio?

Black, an associate professor of art at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, has also exhibit his dark drawings in the past in Nashville, though this is his first book. Due out 26 October 2010, pre-order it from Amazon.

With a 15-watt halogen bulb encased in clear glass, the aptly-named Diamond Lights emanate a romantically vintage vibe balanced by a modern form. Created by Swedish graphic designer Eric Therner, Diamond Lights challenge the typical smooth pear shaped bulb in favor of something faceted, exuding both comfort and intrigue.

While claiming to not have a specific style, Therner states "I only design objects that I would like to buy for myself, and it has to be beautiful." His first solo project, Therner previously worked on the award winning, conceptual coat hanger "Stick It To Me" as well as a project for Swedish bike Pilen Cykel.

Diamond Lights sells for £29 at Eric Therner's site, as well as a limited run of 20 at the London Design Festival.

Photos by Jesper Lindström

by Noah Armstrong

Before Robert Pollard formed the seminal lo-fi band Guided by Voices, he was a high school student making imaginary album covers for imaginary bands. The collage style of these mock album covers would eventually manifest itself in much of the album art for Guided by Voices, and a multitude of his solo and side projects.

Pollard regularly visits flea markets and antique shops looking for magazines, posters and text books—anything old that can be taken apart and re-assembled in two-dimensions. His collages combine type and imagery in a way that seem to recall a bygone era that never actually existed. The resulting aesthetic lies somewhere between British Invasion poster art, B movies and the pictures one might find in a decades old photo album. Eschewing digital mediums, each piece is made entirely of glue and paper.

Pollard's collages and songwriting share many similarities. Both seem shrouded in an esoteric surrealism, lean heavily on accessible pop aesthetics and are delivered with a sense of honesty and rudimentary production. "They both have to do with re-assembling familiar imagery to create interesting landscapes," he says. "One with sight, the other with sound."

"The Public Hi-Fi Balloon"—an exhibit of Pollard's recent collages—will show at the 45 Space in New York at the end of this month. Set up to look like a fake record store, it will be comprised of imagined LP and seven-inch covers as well as a rack of fake magazine covers. Mr. Pollard will be present for the 27 August 2010 opening and the show runs until 28 August 2010.

Quality materials, intriguing silhouettes and a flare for convertible structures make Bangkok-based Quote Bag Studio a refreshing label on the oft-banal bag scene.

Handmade using thick Japanese canvas and tough leather, the bags are as durable as they are beautifully constructed. The Saddle Bag (above) takes an almost horn-like shape, curving upwards in the back. The design provides optimal comfortability for everyday use but its flattering shape also keeps it looking sleek.

Quote's Sea Bag steers the traditional sack away from drawstrings or zippers in favor of a leather strap—like a belt around a slouchy pair of pants. A purse doubling as a backpack, the Sea Bag is perfect for a casual day with its over-the-shoulder, one-strap silhouette.

One of our favorites from their collection, the Candy Bag champions both style and versatility. As an everyday bag it is roomy and cute, the outer sides cinched in a way that takes the shape of a classic hard candy. The easily-undone straps releases to reveal a large and durable travel bag, perfect for a weekend getaway or a large haul home from the market.

Quote's S Bag series brings a sort of urban hardness to the otherwise soft canvas collection, though it maintains the company's taste for beauty and structure. The series includes a shoulder bag, tote, clutch and coin purse, though only the smaller bags are currently available. The theme of the line is just one double-layered piece of leather cut into an S-shape and laid flat. A zipper surrounds the outer seams, and when zipped up it creates a complete purse. The origami-like folding and unfolding adds some softness to the hard patent-leather edge and gold zipper, cohesively integrating it into the collection as a whole.

Produced in small quantities, each bag is complete with pockets, linings and comprised of choice fabrics. The collection sells from Quote's Etsy shop, or in the small Quote store in Bangkok.

A precursor to today's digital era, Polaroid's iconic 1972 SX-70 Land Camera is notable not only for its achievements as the first folding and first SLR instant camera but also for its perfection in form, function, and beauty. The revolutionary camera ignited and defined the instant era, allowing a photographer to focus solely on capturing the moment at hand. One of our favorite sources of inspiration, a pristine example along with its brass-riveted leather case sits on the book shelves at CH HQ. Though we see it every day we were reminded of its importance when our friend Doug Jaeger posted a 1972 video celebrating the camera and its made-in-America pride (a theme that brands like Jeep, Corvette, and Levi's are currently emphasizing in their campaigns).

Partially because the camera's technology was so radical at the time and partially because it came about during an era where people allowed themselves the luxury to understand how things function, the Office of Charles and Ray Eames produced a 10-minute-long video advertisement (more of a documentary, really) about the SX-70, which beautifully captures the camera in all of its glory. What's most surprising (and rewarding) is the pacing and storytelling—something that lacks in today's 30 second sound-bite, ADD, multitasking culture. Though parts of the video may feel slow, you will be completely rewarded for your patience.

As the brilliantly executed video demonstrates, the sleek leather and aluminum SX-70 "helps meet the universal need to do things well." Designed so that the face perfectly fits into the device when looking through the viewfinder, the camera's intelligible exterior conceals a complex internal structure—a system that perfectly illustrates Edwin Land's philosophy to only undertake a project that is manifestly important and "nearly impossible."

The camera's unique optical path (fully explained at 4:13 in the video) is a result of its folding capability. A four element lens collects and then bounces light off a permanent mirror onto a Fresnel surface. The light is bundled, bounced back again and then passed through two astigmatism-correcting slits before hitting an aspheric plastic mirror, creating an image which is then captured through the Fresnel and an elevated taking mirror. Flash bulbs and close up lenses were some of the additional equipment availale for this flexible camera.

The SX-70 film was the first instant film that was self-contained and didn't require timing or peeling. The film developed in a few minutes but continued to set for a few days, allowing photographers of all skill levels to achieve previously unattainable effects by cooling or heating the film during that time.

The original SX-70 (pictured above) was replaced a few years later by the Model 2 and 3 versions, and ceased production in the 1980s. eBay often has several to choose from, and thanks to the Impossible Project you can still order SX-70 film

Writing "happy birthday" on someone's Facebook wall, along with hundreds of their other closest pals, doesn't really say much in the way of friendship. If you are one of those amazingly thoughtful types and have time to go out, buy a card, and mail it in advance, well, kudos to you. For those looking for a happy medium, though, there is the magical bounty of high quality animated cards from Uncooked Inc.

Self described as "like ecards, but from the future," these animated cards pack a punch of wit and idiosyncratic humor that makes us all feel a little more normal. Taking classic themes like birthdays, thank yous, and holidays, and throwing in insecurity-provoking body parts, cloning machines, and stalkers, it suddenly becomes okay to share your snarkily-worded personal oddities with the world.

Available at various stores around the world or online, real-life cards are $3.25 (plus envelope) and ecards are 99 cents each. Uncooked is now offering a year-long membership to their animated cards collection for $9 a year, granting unlimited access to as many ecards as you'd like. Considering the number of holidays in a year, the membership pays for itself pretty quickly and the combination of sharp-tongued wit with adorably simple cartoons will brighten your day and someone else's.

by Ariel Adams

Debuting last weekend at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance, the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport sees luxury French automaker Bugatti improve upon their original version, the Veyron Super Sport. With enhanced aerodynamics and aesthetics, the 16.4 is an extravagant ride that will deceive you with its power and grace. I got to ride in one and can say that the Veyron 16.4 arguably offers the most extravagant riding experience available—deceiving you with grace and beauty inside the world's fastest, and most powerful street legal car.

The 16.4 Super Sport's performance advancements include 1.4 lateral Gs (the gravitational force of a free fall) and its 1,200 horsepower will have you accelerating from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds. Additionally, driver Pierre Henri Raphanel utilized the 16-cylinder engine in breaking the Guinness World Record for fastest speed by a production car with a mind-blowing 267.8mph.

Lighter than ever, the entire body and frame are made from high-tech carbon fiber, lifting roughly 110 pounds off the original model. Additionally, Bugatti has stiffened the super car's suspension, giving the 16.4 an even sportier ride.

Exterior color choices include blue with gray accents or a black with orange, (a color scheme found on Bugatti's collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani), while interior details include milled metal parts, carbon fiber, layers of leather, and more.

With a sleek sportiness that arguably only a European design can offer, the only major drawback to the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is its steep price tag ($2,000,000) and high maintenance cost (tires alone will set you back $25,000).

So far, Bugatti has sold all five of the World Record Editions and plan on producing more models Fall 2010 with an electronically limited speed of 257.9 mph for tire protection.

"Art in advertising? Why would anyone do that after Warhol?" The joke may come from the most recent episode of Mad Men, but the punchline is just as clear in Carl Burgess' video for "Drugs"—Ratatat's latest single off their album LP4. Composed solely of stock footage typically reserved for the likes of corny law firm or pharmaceutical commercials, Burgess points to the absurdity of these kinds of images. Editing strategically distorting them at moments (with effects familiar to anyone who's ever used Apple's Photobooth) suggest how quickly the mundane turns sinister—well, at least in the eyes of the drugged.

Directed by Carl Burgess, the video is a continuation of his media scrutiny, demonstrating how people are more addicted to the melodramatic characters in the commercials than to drugs (a point SNL recently made with their Sally Fields skit). His slippery-slope outlook also extends to the media's obsession with beauty. For example, his video "A Turn For The Worse" chronicles a muscle man's fall from perfection, suggesting the perilous journey in seeking ultimate allure.

In his series of portraits excerpted from commercials, called "Trapped In Infinite Politeness," Burgess states that when "Isolated from the bad ads in which they appear, the forced cheer of actors becomes an eerily compelling study of falseness." Showing how these characters mock real emotions is his silent video "Talk Show," which portrays how the media could easily utilize a less-attractive set of frames for the stock footage in their commercials.

Finally in "Advanced Beauty," Burgess removes people all together for a clear statement on the definition of beauty. The abstract animation symbolizes how beauty is an evading concept, and that perfectly-proportioned bodies or drug-induced happiness will not lead to ultimate pleasure.

Compared to their regular earbuds, the experience of listening to music using Etymotic's custom-molded earths is something like the difference between sitting in an amazing sports car and actually driving one. I've had the opportunity to demo an ER4 unit over the last month and was impressed with the range, clarity and quality they offer in such a compact package. A music industry standard since their release in the '90s, Etymotics was the first manufacturer to introduce in-ear earphones and their current range includes a variety of eartip styles and sizes. I found their standard flanged eartips to fit snugly and provide reasonable sound isolation—until I tried the Custom Fit solution.

Available as an add-on for many of their models, the Custom Fit program starts with a visit to an audiologist to have impressions of your ears taken—an eerily blissful process that takes about 20 minutes. They send the impressions to ACS Custom, a company that specializes in making ear molds for a range of audio uses. Roughly 2-4 weeks later, you receive the soft silicon ear tips by mail, ready to be placed on your earphones.

Because the Custom Fit eartips sit deep in the ear canal, you almost have to screw them in. It's really just a quarter turn, and once they're in, you know it—the world around you melts away as music consumes your core. I found the difference between the flanged tips and the Custom Fit ones to be remarkable. In addition to significant audio quality improvement and sound isolation, the bespoke silicon tips are so comfortable they disappear.

While the earphones ($300) and Custom Fit tips ($100) aren't cheap, they're more affordable and the modular design makes them more flexible than many of the other custom professional monitoring solutions out there. And conveniently, ACS will keep your ear impressions on file in case you need to reorder.

Keeping your cards and cash secure, vegan-friendly Holstee wallets are made from found materials sourced around the streets of Delhi. The slim Holstee wallets are the brainchild of brothers Mike and Dave Radparvar and friend Fabian Pfortmüller—an entrepreneurial trio who quit their day jobs in favor of providing a product that is better for both people and the planet.

A red trim and black interior embedded with the Holstee motto, "Live Your Dream," unifies the line of one-off wallets, which are otherwise unique thanks to their recycled newsprint fabric.

The wallet is the latest product in a line of recycled goods, which started with the Holstee Tee—a functional shirt with a colorful zippered side pocket. In addition to their own products, the Curated x Holstee collection includes a range of items they believe match their design ethos.

Holstee also partners with the Carbon Fund organization to offset shipping emissions. The wallets sell online in gray, purple or blue tints for $25each, with 10% of sales benefiting the developing world through the micro-lending organization Kiva.

Recently launching stateside, home furnishings aggregate Mydeco combines interactive tech with an extensive network of vendors for a uniquely easy shopping experience. The site—founded by Lastminute.com's Brent Hoberman—uses their finely-tuned search engine to find the best interior decor available online, but even more handy is what Mydeco allows you to do with your favorite picks.

Their 3D room planning tool enables you to build any room to scale, either by scanning a floorplan or by selecting and modifying one of the templates they offer. The exhaustive set of options means you can kit out rooms down to every last detail, beginning with the style of doors and windows to choosing flooring and finally appointing it with furniture, area rugs, plants and even wall art. The 3D view gives a sense of the scale, while the smart camera view gives an accurate look at how the room's decor looks in context.

Another helpful tool, Mydeco's iPhone app (and soon to launch iPad version) provides another way of realistically furnishing any room. Simply snap a picture of the entire room or specific area you want to furnish, and like the 3D planner, either pull from your wish-list or browse their bevy of decor choices to begin furnishing the room.

As a clever tool for amateur and professional interior designers alike, Mydeco allows you to "get more out of your home," as Hoberman intended—or creatively waste a little time.

While Mydeco typically only serves as an interior design resource, as part of their U.S. launch they're offering an online boutique peddling a hand-picked selection of homewares from independent U.K designers. Like an edited Etsy, a few of our favorites include furniture designer Alexena Cayless' Ceramic Hip Flask, Zia Meadows' handmade vintage lampshades and Takae Mizutani's Egg & Soldiers ceramic holders.

Unless you're after a "Beetlejuice" decor scheme, you've probably at one point struggled with hanging a picture on a crooked wall or with awkward tools. Combining a level and marking device in one, the same company that brought you the Stoppy (Under the Roof Decorating) came up with the Hang and Level to take the guesswork out of picture hanging.

Where most hanging tools don't pinpoint the placement of the nail, this one marks the exact spot with just the push of a button, works with all types of hanging hardware and supports decor weighing up to 20 pounds. Once in place, two separate levels align your De Kooning (or what have you) vertically or horizontally. Easy to hold and to use, it makes a commonly frustrating process much more manageable.

Pick it up for $20 from Under the Roof's online store.

by Meehna Goldsmith

With echoes of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4's sexy curves, the Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport watch is the third high-performance collaboration from the opulent Swiss watchmaker and French sports car manufacturer. Working together since 2001, in 2004 the team produced the Bugatti Type 370—a revolutionary watch that rests on a diagonal axis so drivers can read the time without having to turn their wrist.

Designed for Bugatti's 100-year anniversary, the sleek Super Sport borrows the 370's well-fitted design while adding even greater aerodynamic styling by reflecting the Bugatti Veyron's streamlined wing. Like all of their watches, the Super Sport draws on Fibonacci's Golden Ratio, using the mathematical formula's spiral lines to create a perfectly-proportioned watch.

Another design feat, flipping the mechanical components of the watch onto a vertical axis allows drivers to keep focus on the dial. Though the concept seems simple, the difficulty of configuring the dial's direction against the watch's movement makes it a triumph of engineering. By developing a 90-degree time setting system and integrating a system of double pinions with bevel gearing, Parmigiani again dramatically transformed the possibilities for watch design.

While the watch has subtle Bugatti branding, the details speak more to the renowned design of the company, beginning with the shade of orange used on the watch hands, indexes and power reserve. Other signals include train wheels cut to resemble car wheels—visible through the piece's six sapphire crystals—as well as balance and escape wheel bridges formed to mirror the Bugatti oval.

All 337 individual parts of the watch are produced in-house at Parmigiani, with the exception of the Hermès strap. Produced in a limited edition of 30 pieces in 18kt white gold, the Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport retails for $259,000 at selected authorized Parmigiani dealers around the world.

As the current gin revival continues to play off its speakeasy roots, the latest premium example departs from the French label Citadelle Gin. Distilled using historic techniques and a bevy of flavorful and aromatic botanicals from around the world, the spirit exists in a class that few other gins share.

Followed by a lingering and complex aftertaste, classic juniper berries compliment notes of anise and fresh flower notes, making for a flavorful reinvention of the classic spirit. Balanced and refined, it packs a 44% alcohol content that's well-balanced with the subtle tastes.

The unique flavor profile is the result of 19 botanicals sourced from around the world, ranging from Sri Lankan cinnamon to almonds and lemon rind from Spain, Grains of Paradise from West Africa and Moroccan coriander to licorice from China. But this heady mix is only introduced after the fourth intensive distilling process—which involves heating whole grain wheat from the Beauce region (the same used to make classic French bread) over a naked flame, and brewing with natural spring water to create the neutral spirit.

The company got its start however as the team behind Cognac Ferrand, who use the same copper stills to make gin during the season that France limits cognac production.

Taking the name of the distillery itself, the younger brand pays homage to the original Citadelle in the historic port city of Dunkirk, France where Carpeau and Stival made gin using copper pot stills and the vast array of spices and botanicals coming into the port from around the world.

Available online as well as from several liquor stores across the country, Citadelle Gin sells for the suggested retail price of $25 for a 750ml bottle.

by Meghan Killeen

Not content with just simple macabre, jewelry designer Joji Kojima's heavily-bejeweled creations layer on baroque references and over-the-top fetishism, with the kind of craftsmanship usually reserved for more conservative luxury brands. His glitzy output spans gold-chained rabbit muzzles and hats made of crystallized teeth.

Born in California, Kojima studied graphic design at Tama Art University, honing his talents while assisting the couture brand, Yoshiko Creation Paris. The label turned heads when Lady Gaga made a guest appearance on Music Japan wearing Yoshiko's black umbrella headpiece entitled "B-612" (from the Le Petite Prince collection). Later when Kojima introduced his custom brand Hotel Gluttony, Gaga celebrity helped catapult it into a fashion sensation too when she wore his chain mail mask on the cover of her "Fame Monster" album.

Kojima's latest A/W 2010-2011 collection turns death into design with a suspended skull ring (based on the designer's own head) that gracefully dangles several inches above the finger. Standout pieces also include a skull mask with a working hinged jaw piece, and a fashionable accessory to violence—a diamond studded knuckle duster.

The line sells through Tokyo-based retailer, Restir.

Of equal appeal to music nerds and esthetes alike, the U.S. release of "Keep On Running: The Story of Island Records" is a collection of album art and photographs telling the story of founder Chris Blackwell's enormous role in introducing Jamaican reggae and other fringe music to the world. Taking it back to the very beginning, the book starts with the legendary mogul explaining how his sole intention in '59 was to release Bermudan pianist Lance Haywood's album. Noticing jazz-inspired tunes infiltrating U.K. pop music, Blackwell drew on his Jamaican roots to import the sounds he knew and loved most—becoming one of the biggest independent labels of all time in the process.

Like many labels of the era, it's impossible to separate the music from an aesthetic that its vibrant album art helped define. As Blackwell explains in the book, "If you felt that the artwork was intriguing then there must be something going on inside," describing how the imagery "developed and transformed itself, always seeming a reflection of the larger world."

In spite of Blackwell's modesty, his visual strategy was just one part of Island Records' success. At 22, Blackwell had already put out 26 singles and two albums. Through constant reinvention—he started a film production company and other small music labels—and by taking chances on unknown artists, Island Records remains at the forefront of contemporary music.

Due out in September, pre-order the book from Rizzoli.

Asking 11 artists and scientists from around the world to consider the "emerging behaviors" of devices, the fifth annual Biennial of Art and Technology: Art.ficial Emotion is a fascinating and provocative meditation on the future of technology.

Leonel Moura's Robotarium SP, a site-specific robot zoo based on an existing Robotarium in Portugal, is complete with robot animals that not only have their own forms, but act in their own peculiar ways, zooming and relaxing at will.

SymbioticA, a trans-continental collective between Australia and the U.S., developed Silent Barrage—a set of robots that make their marks on columns while rat neurons, stored in a glass container on a different continent, fire away. The creatures also take notice of the presence of visitors at the show and react by scribbling on the columns.

A national entry comes from Grupo Poéticas Digitais. Its Mulberry Trees Project consists of five mulberry trees installed in front of the cultural center on the sidewalk. The wired trees are programmed to take cues from the sounds around them, then vibrating and making sounds when confronted with danger.

Two exhibits take on the human form directly. Ballet Digitallique by Lali Krotoszynski turns visitor's silhouettes into walking beings of their own. Stelarc's Prosthetic Head is a digital version of the artist's head, verbally interacting with those who speak to it.

The exhibit runs through 1 September 2010.

1. Peter Varga Concept Bicycles

Beginning with a Master's Degree project in 2007, Slovakian designer Peter Varga has continued each year to produce unconventionally intelligent bikes. Highlighted on Selectism, Varga's bikes have won several awards for their innovative forms.

2. Os Gemeos and Futura Paint NYC School

Os Gemeos follows-up their 2009 "Vertigo," a colorful kid-friendly installation, with a 80-foot-high mural on the side of a Chelsea school in collaboration with local graffiti legend Futura.

3. Adidass808

The "Made in China" mobile phone gives a nod to the classic shell-toe while offering surprisingly decent technical specs. Dubbed the "Adidass808," the knock-off is this week's guilty pleasure.

4. Interview Magazine: Takashi Murakami

In anticipation of Takashi Murakami's upcoming Versailles installation, Alison Gingeras sits down for an interview with the Japanese art star in this month's Interview Magazine. The prolific pop artist elaborates on his personal collection of art and how Manga culture and industry influenced his artistic approach.

5. Alex Randall's Trippy Lighting

British designer Alex Randall's latest collection of taxidermy lighting ensembles adds a subversive touch to classic lodge decor.

6. Limited Edition Diesel Birthday Watch

Diesel founder Renzo Rosso celebrates his 55th birthday (15 September 2010, if you were wondering) with an oversized watch dubbed "This is My Time." The matte black case, with gray, white and orange highlights, retails for $214 from Watchismo.

7. Don't Kill The Animals

Avant-garde German songstress Nina Hagen and oddball New Wave darling Lene Lovitch partnered in 1986 for this charmingly dated slice of PETA-inspired industrial dance music. We're particularly into the unassuming ducks and chicks sauntering around like there aren't grown women dressed in rags and voguing like witches next to them.

8. Madlib Espresso Blend

XLR8R points to hip hop artist Madlib's venture with Intelligensia Coffee. The "Madlib Blend" is one of four dedicated to the Stones Throw label, available exclusively at the Intelligensia shop in Pasadena, CA.