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Plush Vivacious Vegetables

Published by designy things

These new plush veggie toys are exactly what the world needs right now. Available through the MoMA Design Store, the super-soft Plush Vivacious Vegetables are crafted by the London-based brand Jellycat and include a bell pepper, carrot, leek, onion, and eggplant made of polyester and cotton.

Whenever you start to feel stressed, try to imagine a baby chewing on this adorable little onion, or a toddler cuddling up with that little smiling leek at bedtime. It’s better than Xanax.

$12.50 each

Photo Credit: Rita Catinella Orrell

Joining the veggies are the bipedal Plush Flower Plants ($25.00 each) that were also introduced at the MoMA Design Store Spring 2020 preview earlier this year.

All images courtesy MoMA Design Store.

Osuza Canvas Backpack

Published by designy things

The Osuza Canvas is a backpack made for folks who like to make things. The premium black canvas backpack is intended for painters, photographers, architects, designers — basically anyone who needs to safely and securely carry random tools and gear with them on a regular basis. Inside mesh pockets and multipurpose molle loops keep your things where you want them. The backpack is expandable up to 40 liters, has weatherproof closures, and can be customized with patches and pouches to express your personality or promote your brand. $349.00 (Free shipping in the U.S.)

All images courtesy of OSUZA.

OstrichPillow Hood

Published by designy things

If you’ve ever wondered if ostriches really bury their heads in the sand when they are scared, the answer is, sadly, no. According to the San Diego Zoo, when an ostrich senses danger and can’t run away, it merely flops to the ground and remains still. The newest member of the OstrichPillow family of products, the OstrichPillow Hood, might not help you avoid danger, but it does help keep your head and neck cozy while looking cool. You might be familiar with the first product in the OstrichPillow line, a soft helmet with holes for your hands to let folks more easily nap in public.

For those who want some privacy, but don’t feel like wearing a giant pillow on their head, there is now the OstrichPillow Hood. Available in one size and two colors — Ocean Green and Night Black — the cotton/poly/spandex hood works as a modern Riding Hood-type accessory to any work out or casual outfit. I imagine it can also be used in open offices when you want to show your coworkers that you are freezing (again!) or that you have lupophobia. The hood is machine washable and retails for $39.

All images courtesy of OstrichPillow.

Floquem Neoclassical Busts & Sculptures

Published by designy things

One of the most colorful booths at last month’s ICFF show in New York City belonged to Floquem, which displayed a collection of neoclassical busts and sculptures finished with bright colored flock fiber. Purple, blue, red, and pink velvety fiber are applied with electrostatic technology to replicas of masterpieces such as Michealangelo’s David and new visions such as “Ludwig Van Creepy” a bust of Beethoven with a split head revealing a skull inside. It’s not for everyone, but the pieces would be a good fit for hotels, restaurants, and other spaces looking for a certain type of quirk in their interior design.

All images courtesy Floquem.

Horticulture Grow Cabinet by Leaf+Wood

Published by designy things

With cannabis now legal throughout Canada (and more and more states in the U.S. like New Jersey heading there shortly) there is a huge market for good design in the home growing market.

An alternative to cheap grow sets, The Cabinet by Leaf+Wood is the first all-in-one grow cabinet built for display in a modern home. It is intended for any horticulturist or enthusiast seeking a sustainable, easy-to-use growing space for a wide range of plants. Created by woodworker Robert Pettit in his Boerum Hill, Brooklyn workshop, the cabinet comes in a range of custom finishes including Walnut, Maple, or Cherry and features cast iron finishes and handles.

Included in the turn-key setup is a powerful, energy-efficient Vortex Fan, best-in-class carbon filters which scour the air to make it clean of dust and odor free, and full spectrum Samsung/Horticulture Lighting Group LED Light Quantum Boards with the highest flux and lowest voltage bin for an energy-efficient performance. Included in the customized setup is a Grow Journal with a guide for growing. The cabinet measures 48” wide x 24”-deep x 72” tall.

Prices begin at $13,500.

Behind the Scenes: Mudshark Studios

Published by designy things

On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I got to tour the production facility for Mudshark Studios, a one-stop shop for developing and producing ceramic objects, with CEO and co-founder Brett Binford. Binford, a well-known ceramicist, is also the owner and curator for the contemporary Eutectic Gallery, located in a storefront attached to the studios.

In their 10,000-square-foot facility (an additional 7,000 square feet upstairs is mostly for mold and gallery storage), Mudshark offers model making, mold making, and production services for projects ranging from custom designed plates for Eleven Madison Park in New York City to lighting fixtures for Portland-based Schoolhouse Electric to technical parts for the aerospace industry. Other clients include Cedar and Moss, Barn Light Electric Co., Rejuvenation, and many more.

After my tour, I couldn’t wait to head back to my friend’s house (ceramicist and painter Nicole Curcio), where I got to spend some time playing around in her pottery workshop. I won’t be showing a photo of my endeavors, but let’s just stay I tried and it wasn’t very good. I think I’ll leave the ceramic making to the experts.

Custom plates for Eleven Madison Park in New York City, which happens to be one of my favorite restaurants.

One of the displays of artistic drinking vessels at the Eutectic Gallery, located in front of Mudshark’s facility. Top row: Tim Kowalczyk and Chayo Wilson; Second row: Clara Lanyi and Allan Kluber; Third row: Kate Westfall and Naomi Clement; Bottom row: Lindsay Oesterritter (Jeff Campana green cup in the middle of her two darker cups) and Perry Haas on the right.