The Tuyo Vibromassuer

by Tim Yu

Blurring the lines even further between "personal massagers" and vibrators, this Tuyo "vibromassuer", part of the new B3 range made by Big Teaze Toys, is a little ambiguous. Is it a sex toy or massage ball? Where vibrating massage wands have often been confused for the former, this is the first time it's been the other way around—which prompts us to ask, does it matter?

The eight modes of vibration, three speeds and five pulsation patterns seem like the standard traits of a vibrating massager, but a silicone non-slip grip, splash-proof housing made of hygienic stainless steel and non-porous silicone and a satin-lined case? If it's a vibrating massager, it's the most sexy and stylish we've encountered. Big Teaze comments, "unique in design and inoffensive in appearance, the appeal of the B3 range is that it does not appear to be what it is!" Either way, don't massage and sex go hand in hand? Let's just call it versatile.

Available in black or pink, get more information on Tuyo and the whole B3 range from Big Teaze.

Also on Cool Hunting: Haute Sex II, Haute Sex, Designer Dildo and Toys and The Iris Pleasure Object.

+41 Fairtilizer Tee and Peacock Scarf

by Ami Kealoha

Maybe because we're excited about the upcoming U.S. release of Control or maybe just because we appreciate any interpretation of Peter Saville's pulsar-inspired design, but either way +41's new Fairtilizer t-shirt turned our head.

Developed for a music sharing site (called Fairtilizer) that +41 is art directing, the 100% cotton tee is a nice addition to the rest of their (almost) all black-and-white 2007 collection. A different version highlights the reinterpretation going on in the Fairtilizer logo by depicting it as a tree with the leaf made up of smaller leaves.

We also liked the unique offering for women this season, a handcrafted silk scarf. The delicate symmetry of the peacock pattern makes for a lovely and unusual way to ride the current trend in neckwear.

The scarf (€130) and shirt (€39) are both available from +41.

Wood at the 2007 London Design Festival

by Leonora Oppenheim

The recent revival of natural aesthetics continued at all the shows during the London Design Festival, highlighting the new awareness of eco-friendly design. Whether in floral patterns, organic forms or just in materials, the environment was clearly an inspiration and wood was everywhere. Here are five of our favorites.

The "Made in Denmark" stand at 100% Futures was one of the highlights at the 100% Design show. Thomas Bentzen's Pine chair, with its great contrast of angular geometric form with soft, warm pine wood, was just one of many beautiful pieces of Danish wooden furniture on show.

Ryan Frank's Bourke's Luck chair was the sleekest design on show at SIT UP, [re] Design's exhibit at 100% Futures. Made from the reclaimed chipboard of discarded office furniture this chair makes eco-design look good and deceptively easy. (Below right.)

At Designer's Block, Heather Smith's beautiful "Come Rain or Come Shine" project emerged seductively from the dimly lit space. This textile designer has begun to experiment with patterns on solid materials. These studded metal designs on oak and birch panels were the result of letting "nature take its course." (Far left.)

Jon Male's reinterpretation of the collector's cabinet made a big impact at Tent London. His extraordinary craftsmanship can be seen in "They All Flew From The Cuckoo's Nest." (Below right.)

On a smaller scale but no less dramatic, emerging designer Anthony Roussel's laser cut wooden jewelry, was also a highlight at Tent London. He says, "The jewelry I create functions as sculptural objects as well as wearable pieces of body adornment in their own right…The tactile, symbolic and inherent qualities of wood appeal to me. Its smell, texture and grain draw me closer to working with it." (Above right.)

Also on Cool Hunting: Eco-Chic at the London Design Festival

Lola&Bailey

by Fiona Killackey

With stockists all over Australia as well as a sprinkling in the States and New Zealand, Sydney's Lola&Bailey is rapidly gaining cult status for eclectic, off-beat and charming jewelery that merges old-fashioned femininity with modern detailing. With collection names like "When Lola Met Bailey" and "The First Kiss" the label injects a sense of romance into every outfit, conjuring up images of whimsical lovers and unforgettable moments. CH caught up with the duo behind Lola&Bailey, Cheri Uppal and Theresa Nguyen, to chat about romance, design and wearing your heart on your sleeve.

When did you begin Lola&Bailey?
Lola&Bailey began less than a year out of yearning to create beautiful and intriguing design products that are a reflection of the user. It was essentially a desire to build a business—a brand, and ultimately be responsible creatively for what we create. We both enjoy the process of collaborating and experimenting with different materials and techniques; it's the delight in realizing scribbles on paper into actual products that continues to inspire us. Ultimately we wanted something we could call our own.

What makes Lola&Bailey better than other labels?
Lola&Bailey goes beyond pure decoration, each design tells a multi-layered story bringing the wearer along with this conceptual and romantic journey. We see jewelery as an interactive dialogue between the wearer and the piece itself, as a consequence a piece may look different each time it is worn—depending on the interpretation from the wearer. We like our customers to have as much wearing them as we had designing them!

What was the biggest obstacle in getting started?
Confidence. Ideas are plentiful and easy to have, but actually having the confidence to put yourself out there, into the public realm, is like wearing your heart on your sleeve. Lucky for us it has been received really well, both internationally and here in Australia.

Are you able to make a living from this or do you both work other jobs to pay the rent?
At the moment we are focusing on building a successful business so we can make a living out of it, therefore everything we make we reinvest back into the business. In the meantime, we both work in design and advertising agencies as Art Directors. Our focus moving forward will be trying to break into the U.S. market.

Where do you stock?
Online you can find Lola&Bailey at Moda Muse, Shop Moose and The Crazy Beautiful Store. In th U.S., we're at Room 30 (Olympia, Washington) and in New Zealand at Madame Fancy Pants (Wellington). For Australian stockists, email us at info [at] lolaandbailey [dot] com.

Luke Feldman: The Whimsical World of Skaffs

by Lost At E Minor

Australian artist Luke Feldman's exhibition of visual and audio artworks, "The Whimsical World of Skaffs," opens at Seattle's Bluebottle Art Gallery today, 2 October 2007 and runs through 30 October 2007. Combining visual works with atmospheric music (also composed by Feldman), the world of Skaffs is an AV experience, evidently.

With illustrations composed of simple bold lines, vibrant colors give Feldman's compositions movement and surrealist backgrounds reiterate the element of fantasy. It's a style that's led to a number of high-profile projects, including animation and interactive content for Wallop, a Microsoft social-networking company, as well as illustrations for Coca-Cola's 2007 advertising campaign. He was also a finalist in the Cut & Paste Digital Design tournament last year.

What's next for this motivated artist? Look out for the Skaffs vinyl toy line in the near future.

The Whimsical World of Skaffs
2 October 2007-30 October 2007
Bluebottle Art Gallery
415 East Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98122 map
tel. +1 206 325 1592