Cycloc

Bike storage just got a little more stylish thanks to the Cycloc. This simple mechanism mounts to your wall and uses the weight of the bike to keep it in place. The holder can be tilted to any angle to fit a variety of frames and the inside can be used to store your keys, gloves or whatever sporty bike gear you may have. Looking at my Calypso cruiser I think I have the one bike this won't work for - but for the rest of you this system is great. To top it all off it is made from 100% recycled plastic.

Knit-fitti

Knitta Please is the name of the Houston-based knitting crew that is brightening up everything from lampposts to subway handrails with their colorful cozies. With each tag the gang leaves behind a calling card that includes the URL to their myspace page. A clever and beautiful new form of street art that is also useful way to use up all your leftover yarn.

Mummy Chair

OK, sorry about the Tord Boontje rant, but I think it has been building up for awhile. On to better things...like the wonderful Mummy chair by designer Peter Traag for Edra. Available in a variety of colors, each beech wood seat is wrapped in app. 60 meters of polyester ribbon, giving it its lovely mummified appearance. Just in time for Halloween.

Tord and Target

Am I the only person who is tired of seeing Tord Boontje's same old designs all over the place? Now the Dutch designer, who gained fame for his laser cut "Garland" lights, has teamed up with Target to produce a line of tableware. While his laser cut designs were innovative and fun a few years ago, I can't help but wonder if the guy knows how to make anything other than stylized vines and little deer. I'm sure he's making good money, but certainly not good design.

Light of my life

The new Luau light by Vessel reinforces my belief that I really do need a little beach house somewhere to fill with lanterns and seashells. Luau turns on automatically when lifted from the base and stays lit while recharging. The portable little light is not only dimmable, it lasts for 6-10 hours a sitting - perfect for beach cookouts, camping - pretty much any outdoor activity requiring a little ambiance. (Via MoCo Loco)

Maya Hayuk

Maya Hayuk is the mastermind behind this colorful skatepark design in Pittsburgh. The artist is known for her bright and bold patterned wall murals and installations. Be sure to check out the other projects on her website. When I see beautiful murals like this I can't help but wonder why more cities don't allow for similar public installations. Here in Denver the mayor recently held a graffiti summit to combat the city's "problem". Maybe if we created an outlet for art and design rather than more regulations, everyone would be better off.

Best in Show

Guy Arzi took home Best in Show at the [Re]Design 06 exhibit this September with his fantastic Rocky Chair. Made from recycled movie theatre seats, these chairs are a great mix of bright colors and stylish vintage pieces. (via Inhabit)

Genevieve Gauckler

Genevieve Gauckler is a French artist and graphic designer whose lovable illustrations are popping up everywhere. Her trademark black silhouette characters are available as wall decals, ipod cases, t-shirts and much more. My favorite though, is when her little guys take to the streets of Paris as can be seen in the recently published Gas Book #15 (above).

Shop Stop

Bittersweet Genevieve is a Vancouver based artist and designer who makes amazing handmade hoodies, bags and so much more. She just re-stocked her shop after a long hiatus, so get there quick because her stuff sells out fast! I can't believe I stumbled across the new items before she sent out her mass email announcement. Finally, my obsessive bookmarking has paid off.

Tide Chandelier

Even though Stuart Haygarth’s “Tide Chandelier” was on exhibit in 2005, I think it’s beautiful enough to be praised again and again. Made from over 1,000 plastic items collected along the Kent coastline, the chandelier transforms the discarded into the magnificent. Be sure to check out his other projects including the “Millennium Chandelier” (made with 1,000 exploded party poppers).

Drainpipe for Two

This gives a whole new meaning to sleeping in the gutter. Dasparkhotel in Linz, Austria consists of three refinished drain pipes which are located in one of the city's parks. Complete with a double bed, linens, side table and a little light, these rooms have everything the budget traveler could possibly want. Guests take advantage of the public infrastructure of the park (i.e. you'll be sharing the bathroom with the joggers and the playground crew) as well as local restaurants for all of their other needs. This project is great not only because it gives surprising new life to, well, a drainpipe, but the hotel is also "pay what you can," leaving it up to the guests to be the judge of the project's success. (Via Wallpaper, Oct/06)

"Frames" Wallpaper

Taylor & Wood has created this great "Frames" wallpaper, which allows you to be your own designer- filling the empty frames with photos, paintings etc. While a lot of people have labeled this as wallpaper for kids, I think it's fun for adults too. I, for one, would like to have a wall of it in my house and have friends bring over their own artwork to display. Available through Graham & Brown.

Kelly Mulloy

Artist Kelly Mulloy makes wonderful handmade felt objects from her studio in LA. My favorite pieces are her handstiched bags, with their crazy scribble linework along with her colorful placemats. She also makes wool felt rugs, cuffs and rings. You can purchase items directly from her website: www.kellymulloy.com.

Normann Copenhagen

On a recent trip to Copenhagen this summer I dragged my friend over to Normann, which is one of the city's design meccas. I love their rubber pot, which can be used as a flower vase, pencil holder - whatever you want. The best part though is that the slotted top holds your item in place, so no more floppy flowers. I was also intrigued by their cognac glasses. Now I'm not really a cognac fan, but I do like the idea of the tilted glass. In fact, these glasses are so nice I'd end up putting juice in there just for an excuse to use them.

Giles Miller: Cardboard Craze

It's important to always have a project going - like right now my friends are working on building cardboard suits of armor that are pretty amazing. In honor of their endeavors I thought it would be appropriate to pass along another cardboard creation - this one by Giles Miller. Giles has used 100% 'fluted' recycled corrugated cardboard and old carpet to make these stylish and sturdy laptop cases. May not be suitable for rainy days, but it's a start. Check out his other impressive cardboard projects at www.farmdesigns.co.uk. (via Inhabit)

Sliding for all

Thanks to Jesse for passing this one along. Imagine how great your life would be if you got to fly down a slide everyday...such is the dream of Carsten Höller who recently installed several giant slides in the Tate Modern. According to Carsten, "the experience of sliding is best summed up in a phrase by the French writer Roger Caillois as a ‘voluptuous panic upon an otherwise lucid mind’." Well-put. Not only are the slides incredibly fun, but they have a beautiful sculptural quality as well. The exhbit takes place from October 10, 2006 - April 9, 2007 at the Tate Modern in London.

Wallpaper winner

It seems like everyone is a wallpaper designer these days. But why not when the results are like those of Corinne Ulmann and Isamu Kanda, both architecture students at Harvard and winners of Wolf-Gordon's recent design competition there. Their entry "Light" is subtle reminder that decorating a room can be just as much about delicate things like shadows and light as it can be about vivid color and bold graphihcs. (via Metropolis, Sept/06) (photo: James Shanks, NY Times)

Dreaming of Disco

Many of my friends know I'm a collector of bags, although I'm more of a tote kind of girl. The exception to my policy however would undoubtedly be Kisim. Kisim designer Yael Rosen creates her elegant, clean cut bags and wallets in Israel, but you can now find them in many US stores. Kisim means pockets in Hebrew, a fitting name for a line that was inspired by Japanese fabric folding techniques. I love the disco bag above (note the tote aspect), however her new Klimt collection has several stunning pieces, including Adele and Salome. Although the bags are pricey ($150-$350), these handcrafted pieces are true gems.

Hail Helsinki

Tonfisk has been around for a few years, but they deserve a lot more attention. Made in Helsinki, their ceramics are both creative and eye-catching. The combination of wood and porcelain in their "Warm" tea set will inspire many a mug of hot chocolate. The Finnish designer's "Newton" sugar and cream set is another sight to behold. The ingenious sugar bowl tilts with the pitcher, without spilling a thing. Check out their website to find a local distributor and take a look at their other lovely products (including some great sushi plates).

Padlab

I just came across LA-based Padlab, and am really liking their fun new Flexicomb material. Made from melted straws, Padlab partners Dan Gottlieb and Penny Herscovitch have used Flexicomb to create unique lighting and desktop accessories. While the company does not use recycled straws in their products at this point, the partners are focused on sustainability. The idea was impressive enough to be selected as one of the finalists in Metropolis's Next Generation competition at this year's ICFF. And with one light using over 7,000 straws, it certainly seems like a promising re-use when you consider the millions of fast food soft drinks that are sold and then tossed everyday.

Tea Time

Reykjavik designer Hrafnkell Birgisson has come up with a clever way to brighten up your next dinner party. His "Hoch die Tassen" collection places vintage tea cups on glass stems, creating one of a kind glassware that will ensure your guests will never be left wondering which one was their glass again. Available online at thorsten van elten.

Wanting Juana

It's tough selecting your very first post, but I didn't need to think long before deciding on the amazing Juana de Arco. This Buenos Aires-based fashion label has a boutique in the city's trendy Palermo district. On a recent vacation I was lucky enough to stumble across their shop and ended up visiting three more times while I was in town.

Juana de Arco's candy-colored lingerie and clothing lines are some of the most imaginative and delightful fashion I have seen. And the atmosphere of the store itself is nothing short of a Dr. Suess wonderland. With whimsical clothes filling all corners and employees fluttering around with feathered wings, you can't help but feel you're in a different world. You can find Juana de Arco at 4762 El Salvador or, for a far away glimpse into the land of enchantment, visit their website here.