springtime 06

This could be the spring cocktail for 2008.

Hokkaido Highball
1 1/2 oz Bombay Sapphire® gin
1 oz sake rice wine
1/2 oz triple sec

Pour the Bombay gin and sake into a highball glass filled with ice cubes.
Add the triple sec, swirl and leave briefly to chill before serving.

simple

A number of people that we work with were working on a version of this type of touchless hand-soap dispenser. The human factors sort of dictate an odd form that leaves you the challenge of either making it look like a tech device or struggle to adapt the form to be more comfortable in the bathroom environment. Cool product but I think they should have tried harder to simplify.

springtime 05

If you are thinking of adding on to your building (as we are here at Evo) check out Kithaus. The official kitHAUS website is www.kithaus.com. It is a modular site constructed pre-fabricated building system and with global warming the flat roof might be just fine. The material options and finishes are great but I think that they ought to show how the site and utility logistics are handled.

springtime 04

Sure it is raining today but this is the time of year when we visit the playground most often. There are a couple of new and fun parks near my house but none of them are very imaginitive. They all look the same and have nothings as whimsical or inspiring as the stuff pictured below some of which was done by Naguchi. I would love to find a picture of my favorite climbing equipment, it was bright reddish-orange, made of cement, and sort of looked like a thick warp piece of swiss cheese. It is possible that it is a Naguchi piece too. If anyone knows where I can see a picture I'd love to see it.

springtime 03

classic

I think that I heard some where that this is going to be DiTullo's next "new" car?

Springtime 02

This picture was shot on a private farm that is known in the area for the unusually large fields of daffodils that were apparently planted in the 40's. It draws hundreds of people a day this time of year but I am not sure that I really get the big attraction. The boys love it though.

The world’s first Sports Activity Coupe

According to the marketing department at BMW the X6 is The world’s first Sports Activity Coupe. An entirely new vehicle concept. But damn if it does not remind me of the Eagle. According to them, BMW has "once again defined a totally new vehicle concept." They are also claiming to have invented the concept of raised seat height. I know, this happens all the time, it is harmless self promotion and they just need a story to tell but it is funny.

Springtime 01

According to Martha Stewart's blog, "asparagus are edible shoots, commonly called spears. They rise early in the spring from underground stems called crowns. These perennial plants require patience and at least a few years to become a well-established patch in the garden. I made sure that an asparagus crop was planted when I first bought this farm several years ago."

So what is better tasting, thin spears or thick spears? It’s widely thought that thin asparagus are tastier, based on the notion that slender spears are younger. Again, according to Martha "that isn’t true because the thick spears are already thick when they poke up from the ground, and the thin spears will never get any fatter. The two are just different varieties. I like them both but prefer the thicker ones because they are firmer. It may also be because I want to be being contrary. Attached is a steaming rack.

classic

Classic handle forms. I believe that these are in Pewter as shown on classicshaving.com. I think that it is interesting to see how the category continues to reference these classic silhouttes even as the technology dramatically changes.

Spring time

it is spring time and what is better than relaxing on the patio with some friends after a hard days work.

more metalwork

I am not sure exactly what this table top item is for but the light, elegant look is great.

Award winning?

I just found out that the Made for Me line has made it to the finals on the Businessweek IDEA awards. Really exciting to once again be a finalist although I know that this category is a real long shot for one of the few golds that will be handed out. Still I can not help but hope. It would be an amazing cap to a terrific project with our friends at Playskool/Hasbro. Projects with the kind of scope, ambition and vision of this one do not come along every day and we would all love for that to be recognized by our peers.

metalwork

This was on Unicahome. I think that this kind of detailing would make for a great line of grilling products. In particular the way the flat band blends into the wire.

littlebig

The "Littlebig"chair by Jeff Miller does a lot of the things that we strive to do here. Simple and relevant creativity combined with compelling form that gets your attention.

It is about time

Back when we were working with Holmes we suggested this idea several times. You can count on Herman Miller to actually deliver the goods. Unfortunately although the functionality is there, the form is way off for the masses of consumers that could use this.
Seriously why the goof-ball form? Maybe they can only make a few thousand a year. It is available on Unicahome for $300.

It is ultra quiet only gives you control over the temperature of your immediate workspace, it cleans the air of pollutants as small as pollen, dust and pet dander. thermal electric technology allows for both heating and cooling in a single unit and the GREENGUARD certified filter is washable as well as reusable (no harmful chemicals or reservoirs to fill). C2 uses less than 1.5 amps of AC current, approximately 90% less energy than the space-heater under your co-workers desk.

Bike storage

The cycloc cycle storage was the winner of numerous awards including the time magazine consumer 2006 product design of the year and design award week, UK - most outstanding product design

The space-saving bicycle storage device has a special shape which guides the bike frame securely in place, and can accommodate a wide range of frame shapes. The cycloc provides additional functionality in the form of storage for your biking accessories. Unfortunately they do not include any mountng hardware, just instructions based on wall-type...not very consumer friendly. The cycloc can provide secure storage in public places by passing a lock through the holes once the bike is attached.

It is available in green, white, orange but also in black which is made of 100% recycled MDPE plastic.

View from the hallway

Our bedroom window looks out into a marina but a window in the hallway has this great view of the pool. Ian prefers the hot tub that is just out of view on the upper left. It is not all that hot but it is right on the sand and is a great place to watch people walking the beach. During the day the hot tub is really more of a kiddie pool, today it had about 10 kids under seven in it all afternoon.

Superman

Ian picked out this new Superman hat in Charlotte today on our way to the beach. It came pre-distressed which he seemed to really like along with the camo color palette. He fell asleep at 7:00pm tonight, our first night, so he must have had a fun first day.He originally wanted to get a Buffalo Bills hat but "Lids" did not have any. I think that Ian has been following the draft and is excited to see the Bills finally get a tight-end into the action so he was bummed about not being able to show his support. But, as the picture shows he rebounded well.

Vanderbeek?

Karl, You must be freelancing on the side because this has your chair design from '97 written all over it...unless perhaps it is an homage?

Another RW

Another great example, although I think that this would have been better in plastic without the modeling or the sheen it is still a sight. BTW, I think that I have to mention Mr. John Killar, he was the one who first introduced me to Russel Wright and I imagine he still has an impressive collection. Thank Killar.

Residential

I have several pieces in a variety of colors so I think I can say that the Russel Wright's Residential collection is one of those designs that holds up in your hands as nicely as it does in a photo. I wonder what it was like to create such a lasting work that people would appreciate forever. When I see these products, watch a great movie, visit an exception building, etc. I wonder if the people creating these things had any perspective on the longevity of their creation.

XC60 Crossover

While really interestingly detailed and strongly proportioned I think that this is a good example of what happens when designers that do not know and love the brand try to get in and change the identity to fit their design vision rather than the other way around. There are LOTS of great things going on here but is it what you want when you buy a Volvo...or a Mazda? Maybe I need to see it in person.

Aperion Audio

If you are in the market for speakers you have got to check these out. They ship the same day online, look great and have an unbelievable sound that is way better than what you will find with most of the retail or direct market brands. You will love them and they are also affordable. They also have the most friendly, helpful staff you can imagine. Thanks Don!

great gifts

Talk about great gifts, long time friend of Evo's David Beckstrom stopped by with a gigantic bottle of sapphire this afternoon. I have never seen a bottle of Sapphire this size, I think it is a gallon. Really excellent and generous of David. It reminded me that the annual sapphire glass design competition is underway. Check it out if you have a chance. Pictured above is the 2005 winner
(I think).http://www.designerglasscompetition.com/

Juicer

Finally found an old style juicer that I like. This one by progressive is great. Although the connection between the pieces is a little sloppy and loose, it is otherwise terrific. I think that a recycled version of this would be awesome and I bet that our friends at Recycline could pull it off with style.

Easter dye

Here are the boys dyeing their Easter Eggs which quickly became a really nice egg salad.

7 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped sweet pickles (such as sweet gherkins)
3 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion (such as Vidalia or Maui)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon

4 3/4-inch-thick slices whole grain bread, toasted, each cut in half on diagonal
12 cherry tomatoes
8 large watercress sprigs

Prep:

Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Remove yolks from 3 eggs and reserve for another use. Cut remaining egg yolks and all whites into 1/2-inch pieces.
Whisk mayonnaise and mustard in medium bowl to blend. Add chopped eggs, celery, green onions, pickles, sweet onion, and tarragon. Stir gently to blend. Season egg salad to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

early morning walk

Ian got a suit from my good friend Don and he has not taken it off since. He insists that it is a winter jacket and I think he is even wearing it to school. Here he is asking me to take him for a walk in the woods early on a saturday morning.

Father and sons

I never saw a bottle of Polish Brandy go so fast...and yet everyone claims that the only had a couple sips (including me). I learned on this trip that both of my brothers know many more ways to open beer bottles than I do.

kid pyramid

This is a picture of the kids at dinner during our recent trip to the water park in New York. Ashleigh was already asleep at this point...and sick from drinking too much of the heavily chlorinated pool water. It was a really great time...although they really need to work on their pizza.

From Jenn

My cousin Jenn had this on her blog. Really neat.