Material Science makes Yahoo!?

Today I found this article on Yahoo!'s front page. A new lattice structure of metal created to make ultra light materials from the researchers of HRL Research Laboratories, The University of California at Irvine, and the California Institute of Technology .  It is certainly nice to see something AWESOME instead of the lives of celebrities int the headlines.  I would love to know if other people are interested in this, and how our collective knowledge would be effected if this is the news we were given?

Book Club Meeting!

So there has been a change in plans... A new book has been chosen. "The Lab: Creativity and Culture" by David Edwards. We will be discussing soon, with the first topic being that of the barbeque utensils on the cover.

If you would like to join us, let me know.

A book club

So I have one of the best of friends in the world - who is also an amazing designer, and sometimes we are so similar it makes me wonder if she can read my mind. The other day when we skyped - and we were both wearing pretty much the same black and white striped shirt (mine had sleeves, and hers didn't - that was pretty much the only difference).

Unfortunately - we normally live a bajillion miles apart (we are currently the closest we've been in years. She's down in the Boston area and I'm a 6 hr drive away in Montreal - too bad neither of us have cars). So with such in common - we often read the same books, and always are looking for projects we can work on together.

We've finally come up with a good long distance project; a book club focusing on our fascination with Design and the Future. The first book we are reading is "The Singularity is Near" by Ray Kurzweil. So if you would like to join in on the discussion, pick up the book, and get reading, further details on our discussion plans will be posted soon.

So cool

Continuum is so cool I backed it on kickstarter....

Project Inspirations

In trying to figure out an economical method for storing all of my imaginary materials - I came across this image from Ferm Living:

Now it may not look like much at the moment, but I have a plan. My favorite thing to buy when I have cash in my wallet are empty wine crates from the local SAQ. They are beautiful wood, and they sell them for a very small sum of money for charity.

Step 1: Buy crates - use an oil rub to make them the same colour as the ones in the picture, and then line with some sort of textile - I think plain muslin or canvas should be sufficient for this project.

Step 2: Get them set up like this - or think about how this can be translated into a drawer type structure

Style vs. Ethics

In the world of fashion the term 'ethics' is seemingly most often used lightly and always with quotations around it. Most companies have CSR documents to which they send to their vendors and ask them to sign - and this is the extent of their investment. There are companies out there that try to do a little bit more, and then tout their small improvements as revolutionary.

I was faced with a dilemma today when walking down the street... To buy a new favourite t-shirt, or to leave it there. I have two of my favourite t-shirts - a raglan sleeveless number that has the perfect neckline... the problem is that they come from American Apparel. This 'made in the U.S.A." , "sweatshop free". They tout their labour practices as fair and equitable - but what may I ask is 'fair and equitable' about being subjected to sexual harassment at work? There have been several suits launched against Dov Charney (I am ashamed to call him a fellow Canadian), in regards to his treatment of his female employees. On the blog of the Law Offices of Peter M. LaSorsa there is an outline of some of the horrendous things he has said in legal depositions... According to Wikipedia article on Dov Charney, none of these lawsuits have been proven, but it is safe to assume that the Wiki page has been carefully edited by the staff at American Apparel or their PR firm.

Needless to say, I did not purchase anything - and will refrain from purchasing anything from them in the future - and will make my own new favourite t-shirt, and I'm starting with this awesome shirt from pixielink on BurdaStyle...

Green Products Innovation Institute

I wish the Green Products Innovation Institute was a real place where I could go and study... but I guess it is in its own way... Basically, its seemingly the next step in Cradle-to-Cradle in the creation of a more holistic design economy. It is seemingly being implemented in California in order to create a 'sustainable economy' (sorry for the quotation marks, but I had to - I believe everything to do with sustainability needs to come with quotation marks). Pretty awesome, and I can't wait until the toxicity database is ready to be perused....

Emeline & Annabelle

So there is new store that has opened up in Montreal by my dearest Emeline of Cochonet Rouge and Annabelle of A Day in the Week. Named after them (Emeline & Annabelle), its a Sewing Lounge - so you can learn how to sew with one of the awesome classes, or if you already know how you can come in and hang out, drink coffee and sew. I'm working with them in the afternoons - so come in and say hi, or stay awhile and sew a bit with me, or sign up for a class on how to make some lovely projects. Do Check out their website here...

I was away...

Sorry... I've been away in oh so many senses it seems. I was on the West Coast for the OLYMPICS and to be around for the birth of my nephew (whom I love and adore). While I was gone, I spent lots of time making things, but strangely I forgot to take pictures... or maybe not so strangely (how very much like me to forget to document). I did take a lovely little day trip to Salt Spring Island and was truly enthralled with the beautiful textures of the forest. The pictures below are a few I managed to eek out of my little camera.

Something to remember... about persistence

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

– Calvin Coolidge

Thanks SwissMiss for the link

Awesome...

A whole manifesto about awesomeness... what can I say other than awesome (you do know its one of my favourite words, right?)

Teaching each other

I keep thinking about this idea from Swiss Miss' Creative Mornings. What a lovely idea. I also saw a guy at the Tate the other day with a sticker on his t-shirt that said 'I am Smart'. I want one, I'm smart, I need a sticker. I was thinking about getting one and wearing it to our private view, just as a little validation for myself. Luckily I'm even smart enough to be able to make one all by myself!

Lovely Video

Here is a lovely video full of hope sent by my lovely friend Jen. I'm in a place where I'm thinking about possibly becoming an entrepreneur, this is a nice thing to see. All of us have the capacity to change the world, at least I hope so.

Confrences without going anywhere

If you know me, you know I love going to conferences... except for the 'networking' parts, those are terrible, I'm so awkward and I don't know who to talk to and about what. I usually sit on a chair and look focused and write in a notebook so I don't look like so lost.

So you can imagine how much I love the internet. I don't have to go anywhere or embarrassingly have no one to talk to during the coffee breaks. I can sit at home and listen or watch the presentations... When looking for the Greengaged lectures online today (which I couldn't find), I found this gem of a page from the Design Council. Yea! More fun things to listen to! And of course I should link you to my favourite online lecture series - TED, someday I'll get to go in person, but until then I'll just watch online.

Material Database!

I love materials... Rematerialise is all about Eco Smart Materials from Kingston University (UK Kingston, not Canada Kingston). Thanks Sarah for the link!

Green Xchange

Creative Commons is going GIANT. They are making a patent networking platform for sustainability in partnership with Nike and BestBuy. How cool is this. Thanks to Worldchanging for the report!!! I want a patent now, so I can share it. Thank you to here for the nice image of kids with ice cream... now I want ice cream too...

Fabric

I wonder if anyone could have guessed that I love fabric. Not in a minor way, but with a bottom of my heart kind of way that I can't accurately describe... the fabric shop is the best place in the whole wide world (followed up closely in second - stationary shops). I'm having a love affair with antique linen at the moment... oh the excitement of printing on it, and thinking of all the things it could be. ahhhh fabric.

Anyhow, I think I might have found a kindred spirit of sorts in the blog True Up. Give it a look!

PS. Image above is some of my new fabric... I'll have more info up here soon - I promise on what it is and how amazing it really is.

Top 10 once again

Woot! Another top 10 list. this one on being a designer by Milton Glaser.

Igniting Change

I found this awesome initiative today via Core77... Its everything all of us at MATF are working towards each in our own little way - so its nice to see it on a bigger scale. I think we will have to become involved in some way!

I clicked on an advert

and I found this!!! StyleShake. Its this amazing site where you can design your own dress, and then they sew it for you (in your size), and send it to you in the post! AMAZING! I absolutely love it! I just need to go there and get swatches now so decisions on fabrics can be made for my very first order!