Repurposing ...The Telephone Booth

A couple of weeks ago I came across a 2012 Japanese art installation (below) involving old telephone booths and goldfish. It was such a beautiful and brilliant idea that I not only wanted to share it but investigate how others were converting this dated architecture. 

IMAGES BY KINGYOBU


CANADA
Contexture Design's 'Home Phone' sought to assist the homeless by providing them with the basic necessity –  a home.  While it may not be the best solution to conquering the homeless problem in the city, they believe it's an "opportunity for discussion."

IMAGES FROM CONTEXTURE DESIGN

LONDON

Seeking wifi? Don't pass by these vintage booths too quickly. Most, if not all of them, have been changed into free public wifi stations where you can plug in and recharge.

FRANCE

Creatives Benoit Deseille and Benedetto Bufalino created installations over several years that involved exotic fish throughout Europe. Unlike the Japanese one above this one lights up at night.

SMITTEN WITH ...Papercutter Catherine Winkler Rayroud

Catherine Winkler Rayroud has perfected the art of papercutting. With 30 years of creating intricate paper pieces under her belt, this Swiss born femme fatale is quite the scissorhand (sorry bad pun). Her work which has been showcased around the world has landed her many awards and accolades varying from 'Honorable Mention' to 'Best in Show.' Now based in Houston, Winkler continues to delight with masterpieces with works such as these lingerie pieces and accessories that inspire fans local and abroad. She's clearly a cut above the rest!

PHOTOS FROM CATHERINEWINKLERRAYOUD.COM

Me and 'My Adidas'

With all these Adidas collaborations going on, the latest being the already sold-out Kanye West Yeezy Boosts, I fell victim to my own peer pressure to have a another piece of the legendary brand. No I didn't pay $350 for Kanye's below. I put down $90 for something more original and classic — The Adidas Superstars!

You know them oh too well. White shell toe with an all leather upper, a non-scuffing rubber sole and  three glorious stripes. The shoe available in low and hightop versions was and is the epitome of classic cool. Launched in 1969 and marketed to basketball players throughout the 70s, the shoe quickly monopolized the league. By end of end of the decade, 75% of the NBA teams were playing in  the performance lines. 

And then ...drum roll ... RUN DMC, who wore the shoes with the tongues out, rapped about them in their 1986 song "My Adidas," as a rebuttal to the haters who weren't feeling the urban look that involved Adidas gear, Kangos and gold chains. One song and thousands of followers later, the Superstars became a household accessory. The group eventually signed a $1 million dollar endorsement deal (though that wasn't the case at first) and the rest is history. 

To read more about others who played a significant role in the lines history check out High Snobiety. For insider info regarding new Superstar collabs join the Adidas Superstar Facebook page. In the meantime, I'm gonna throw on my track jacket, put in some big gold hoops and rock 'My Adidas' literally and figuratively. 

Bloomingdales + Crayola Team Up for Spring Campaign

For a gal who loves creating designs out of found objects, nothing makes me want to concept a project like childhood instruments refashioned into clothing. Growing up — heck throughout my adulthood, I dreamed of dresses constructed of paper, those tiny pompoms as earrings and rubber bands as bracelets. Oh wait that latter did happen. They were called jelly bracelets and all 80s kids had them. Anyway, the story here is that retailer Bloomingdale's has commissioned 12 fashion designers using assigned Crayola colors to create an exclusive collection. Out of the 12, seven of them pushed it even further with crayon sculpted ready-to-wear pieces. Now don't get excited about seeing these works of art at a Bloomingdale's near you. They're only onsite at New York's 59th location. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW CARASELLA

DESIGNER Rebecca Minkoff  // CRAYOLA COLOR Banana Mania (Above)

DESIGNER Ronny Kobo  // CRAYOLA COLOR Bittersweet

DESIGNER Clover Canyon  // CRAYOLA COLOR Mountain Meadow

DESIGNER Rebecca Taylor  // CRAYOLA COLOR Midnight Blue

DESIGNER Nanette Lepore  // CRAYOLA COLOR Unmellow Yellow

DESIGNER Cynthia Rowley  // CRAYOLA COLOR Denim

DESIGNER Parker  // CRAYOLA COLOR Jungle Green

Not Your Average Rolling Pin

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a baker -not even a little bit and though I come from a long line of exquisite bakers, I admit the skill skipped me and went directly to my brother whose an avid one. With that admission, I CAN say I support the trade in other ways umm ...taste tests anyone?

I recently came across an awesome culinary tool by artist Zuzia Kozerska that is both useful and artful. Sold through her Etsy shop, Valek Rolling Pins, bakers and designers alike can purchase beautiful graphic laser-engraved rolling pins out of beech wood. The patterns which include typographic and geometric icons like dogs, cats, robots and hamburgers are perfect gifts for a foodie friend or a hostess in addition to being a conversation starter. Note that they come in kids sizes too! Prices start at $41.67.

PHOTOS BY VALEKROLLINGPINS.COM