Yeah yeah yeah, you’re thinking ‘a nine hole button? What’s that all about, I have enough problems dealing with the four it has already when one comes off…’ But wait! This is different, nine wholes are there so you can actually write using yarn and a needle… You can personalize your buttons, isn’t that a wild idea!
Now, whether you intend to spell your name or just try a single letter that’s up to you but alongside the two buttons comes a needle, a threader (in case you find it as challenging as we do to get that thread through the needle) and 3 colors red/orange/green yarn to get you started. But this ain’t it, buying this set gives you exclusive access to the font our dear friends at e27 designed that goes beautifully with your new hobby and installs in a snap on your Mac.
Here’s the technical info: Each of the 2 buttons per pack is made out of dark brown horn has a diameter of 0.8″ (2 cm) comes with the patented 9 holes and a needle and three color thread.
Price: $12 / 9€

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, kids, Soupe du Jour

We brought you Mark McKenna’s latest Designer Emulation Kit yesterday, but the series would not be complete without Orchadia. Orchadia began as a collaborative work between sculptor Rodger Stevens and designer Mark McKenna. Inspired by a motion control system Mark designed and fabricated, gallerist and mutual friend John Erik Karkula introduced the two; Rodger then conceived and produced the wire teardrop mobiles. In response mmckenna produced the complementary lighted mobiles, aided by Mark’s expertise in and appreciation of the printed circuit board.
The artwork was first displayed in the design store Karkula to celebrate NY Design Week 2007. It consisted of 12 mobiles, both lighted and unlighted, all moving according to the dictates of the motion control system. Orchadia received enthusiastic acclaim and clate last year, the team was preparing to exhibit the artwork at the Hangaram Design Museum in Seoul, South Korea.
In a whirlwind of Orchadia excitement, the mmckenna team reasoned, “Everybody should have one of these beautiful treasures.” So we have set out to do just that. The product version of Orchadia is smaller and more robust, but still exudes the magic of the original.
Technology
A lover of technology might say that Orchadia represents the apotheosis of the printed circuit board. The same process used to shape PCB’s pioneered in the Designer Emulation Kits was employed to maximum effect. In place of the standard green coating and rectangular shape is nickel finish and an elegantly curved profile.
Brought to light by some of the world’s smallest incandescent lamps, the mobile employs technology originally created for the aerospace industry. These lamps are small, consume minimal power, and best of all, radiate a warm and comfortable light. Connected by amazingly thin custom-made wire, Orchadia is as magical and delicate as it appears.
Here are some details for those who appreciate them:
Hand assembled
230 / 125 / 9 Volts
15 Watt total power consumption
50 x 120 cm overall size
7 m cord length
Energy Star and ROHS compliant
UL listed transformer
Made in the U.S.A.
That’s it, simply gorgeous!
Price: $590 / 400€

Technorati Tags: chandelier, Charles & Marie, decoration, design, lighting, Modern Living

Mark McKenna’s Designer Emulation Kits (DEKs) shouldn’t be news to any of our regular readers anymore, to those who don’t know them yet: they are miniature lamp replicas from designers that created some of our favorite lighting fixtures.
How could a designer emulation series be complete without Philippe Starck? The Philippe Starck’s Miss K desk lamp was a clear choice. This is the first DEK to have it’s own shade, creating a diffused light, just like Stark’s design.
Similar to the miniature chairs from Vitra, Mark’s DEK’s are meant to pay tribute to great modern designers of our time. Take one of these small, do-it-yourself contraptions (a computerized circuit board, to be precise), snap off its template, assemble and just plug it into a nine-volt battery (not included). Voila! A simple path to gorgeous light
Price: $26 / 25€

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, design, gadget hip, hip home, lighting, Modern Living, Soupe du Jour

Today’s Soupe was definitely the biggest hit of 2007 and had we known how immensely popular it would be, we would have ordered a lot more! But good things come to those who wait, the shipment has finally arrived, everybody who pre-ordered one will have it in the mail any day now, for everybody else, it is available now!
So get your hands on them quickly, we don’t expect this shipment to last very long either and the next one won’t be here until April at least! Don’t know what we are talking about? Well then read on, it is pretty cool:
At plain sight it is a standard black mug as they come a dime a dozen and in big white letters it say OFF. Nothing fancy, but once you add the hot beverage of your choice, the mug changes color and is turning white and in big black letters it states: ON
Nifty eh? Do we need to explain more? Nah, we didn’t think so, we’ll just leave it to the wonders of heat sensitive pigment… Dishwasher safe of course!
Price: $25 / 16€

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, contraptions, Epicurean delight, hip home, Modern Living, Soupe du Jour, tableware

In case you haven’t noticed, we are doing a round up of our favorite valentine’s goodies and we’ll end it with this brand spanking new idea from our friends over at SuckUK in London. You’ve seen it in countless heart breaking romantic movies, the hero and his loved one carve their initials and a heart into a tree in their hometown when they are teenagers and when they return, the tree is gone and a strip mall has taken its place – or something equally heart breaking! Well, here’s your chance to copy the experience without the drama and heart break of the strip mall.
This is a standard sized postcard with the exception that it’s made out of lightweight and soft wood, allowing you to take your key and go to work, in the comfort of your home or office, no rain, no danger of cutting yourself with a knife, no need to get the beloved one to the tree – very very convenient, just add a stamp and off it goes…
Now don’t tell us that isn’t romantic!
Price: $20 / 13€

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, gifting, Soupe du Jour, valentine

If you actually remember eating this quintessential candy, then you have probably outgrown the whole Vday thingy, but if you only remember them from your parent’s stories, then it might be the perfect little gift to get your valentine…
The quintessential candy silver dipped and presented in a cute little gift box – too cute!
Call us romantic if you want…
Price: $50 / 36€

Technorati Tags: Charles & Marie, gifting, Soupe du Jour, Tragically Hip, valentine

The dual purpose Dunk Mug - 4.1″ (10,5 cm) high - is a C&M favorite and a fun addition to any bedtime snack ritual and now available in bubbly pink, making it a perfect Vday accessory gentlemen! The Sunday Express calls this clever mug “a must-have for every cookie lover.” We concur.
A hidden cookie compartment allows you to sip coffee or tea and nibble on your favorite sweets with minimal cleanup. Cookie plates are a thing of the past for us. Take special notice of the pink earthenware which lends a solid feel and attractive appearance.
Price: $23 / 19€

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, contraptions, Epicurean delight, mug, Soupe du Jour, valentine

We don’t know where you are, but it’s raining cats and dogs where we are and we are in desperate need of an umbrella to get through the day! The usual question is: what do you do with the umbrella when you get back inside?
Well, we use this smart contraption by our friends over at Kyouei in Japan. In essence, it is an umbrella holder like there are many others out there, but if you look at it more closely, it is also a planter, as all the water is collected and channeled into a small little planting area. So not just is your office/home dry, but it was also just turned into a garden. Well, maybe a small one!
This beautiful piece is hand made out of ceramic and ships straight from Japan, so you will be amongst the first to have it!
Price: $500 / 400€
Read the rest of this entry »

By now you should know that we are suckers for all things smart and helpful and today’s Soupe is another prime example! Such a smart contraption – and so simple! It’s a clip that you can attach to pretty much any notebook or folder or diary of your choice and once done so, you can attach your writing utensil of choice to it.
It is such a simple idea, but so amazingly clever! And because pens and pencils come in various sizes, so does the Pen Clip; it is either 9 cm (3.5″) long or if you prefer to use smaller utensils, opt for the the 7 cm (2.7″) version. And because choices make life exciting you can even choose between the polished or the brushed version.
Fabulous!
Color: Brushed, Polished
Size: Small, Long
Price: $16 / 11€

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, design, diary, Modern Living, pen, Soupe du Jour, stationary

Finally, they are back! Today’s Soupe makes us really happy because this fabulous cardholder has been around for quite a while in Japan already, and we loved it from the moment we first saw it, but not until now has it been available anywhere else! Designed by dutch designer Samira Boon in Japan, the entire Furoshiki Shiki line is based on the traditional Japanese way of folding a bag. This time it is interpreted in a very different way though and uses the unique structure of vinyl and the fact that it is so sticky to create a fabulous truly tight wallet without any stitching, just by folding it… Enjoy!
Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, White, Black
Price: $15 / 11€

Technorati Tags: accessories, Charles & Marie, design, gadget hip, Soupe du Jour, stationary, Tragically Hip