Bholu

I can't say how much i love these journals by Australian designer Jodie Fried. I'm one of those tactile people, so i really dig the textures on these.

Jodie believes in creating products that benefit people along the way so her Bholu label works closely with traditional Gujarati women artisans from the remote desert communities of western Gujarat, empowering these women with a chance to earn their own keep, and eventually, their independence.

Bholu offers a beautiful range of journals like these, along with cushions, throws, slippers, and even soft toys for children, all made from felt with silk hand embroidery stitching.

They stock mainly in Australia, but welcome all overseas enquiries. If you like them just as much as we do, click on www.bholu.com

Thanks Jodie!

Pass the salt, please!

Sorry for the lack of updates! We've been up to our ears with shoots and stories. The usual mad rush before going to print.

I stumbled upon these retro-inspired Salt & Playtime shakers from perpetual kid while scouring the web for products to feature in our WIRE section and what can i say, they're absolutely adorable! These building blocks are hand-formed from hardwood maple and then screenprinted and finished to perfection.

OMA in Singapore

Hot on the heels of Moshe Safdie's integrated resort in Sentosa, another world acclaimed architecture firm is set to leave its permanent mark on Singapore's skyline with a 36-storey residential high-rise in the heart of the city.

Pritzker Prize winning Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA (Office of Metropolitan Architects) have inked an agreement with Far East Organisation to design the 153 metre tall tower that will be located at the intersection of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road. Four individual floating towers providing for 68 apartment units are suspended from a central core, granting each unit the best possible views of the city while freeing up the ground level for communal use.

When it comes to architecture, both residential and commercial, we really haven't got much to scream and shout about (the Esplanade is a note of contention, and our few remaining mid-century buildings have all been earmarked for redevelopment), so this seriously forward thinking high-end condo is really something else.

First Safdie, now Koolhaas, could Singapore really be the next hotbed of starchitecture?

Weng Fen

I can't get over how hauntingly beautiful these photographs are. They are taken by Weng Fen, an artist from Hainan Island, who's projects usually feature figures with their backs to the camera, staring (wistfully, perhaps?) out over the landscape.

To view more of Weng Fen's works, visit his Artnet site or his personal webpage.

via Heading East

Anthony Dickens

Don't get me wrong, Anthony Dickens' Origami coffee table (via pan-dan) is brilliant in its own right, but it recalls a little bit of that Noguchi aesthetic don't you think?
Coffee table by Isamu Noguchi. Manufactured by Herman Miller.

Karim Rashid Clicquot Loveseat

So Karim Rashid was in town the other day to unveil the curvaceous Loveseat for Veuve Clicquot at the National Museum of Singapore. Typically Rashid, the flamboyant bright pink loveseat consists of two opposite facing chairs joined in the centre by a pedestal with a Clicqout ice bucket. If you ever needed a reason to drink, this is probably it.

Andre the artist

We were absolutely thrilled to receive an email from Adrienne at Air Division telling us about an extremely talented up-and-coming artist from Singapore called Andre.

Trained at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Andre mixes conventional Pop Art with new mediums such as spray paint, texilac, and acrylic on printed fabric, plastic, and wood to create some of the most vibrant and exciting artwork we've ever seen.

Andre's work is also currently on sale at Air Division.

Location details:
Air - 9 Penang Road, #01-18, Park Mall (tel: 6352 7307)
Funktion - 11 Changi South Street 3, #01-02, Builders Design Centre (tel: 6542 4566)

Husque homewares

Marc Harrison is a designer from Australia. He heads design studio Husque which currently produces a range of recycled macadamia shell homewares. Marc first grinds the waste shell, then moulds each shape by hand.

Marc's currently on the lookout for potential retail outlets in Singapore so pop by RSVP Australia at Raffles City to view his collection (until 18th march).

Enquiries can also be made to Jay at Curiosity: jaychong@sagesse7.com / 6334 6022

excuse our tardiness...

Things have been a little hectic in the office, so we hope you'll forgive us for the lack of updates!

The latest issue of nest. should hit our distribution points pretty soon, so look out for that.

I promise i'll be back later tonight (okay, okay tommorow night..possibly) with something more substantial, but for now you can feast your eyes out at our newfound friends Enqi and Pixin's online boutique, Maki Squarepatch.


They've got a really cool collection of homespun goods, like bags, blankets, and soft toys, that are all made from recycled materials. You can read more about them in our new issue.

We would also like to say a big hello and thank you to fellow design fiend/blogger imedaGoze for the lovely shoutout on her blog as well as the guys at The Home Rejuvenation (check out their blog for really cool before and after shots of newly "rejuvenated" homes)

Festive oranges from Forest & Trees

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a little punch and pizazz! Over at Mandarin Gallery, Forest & Trees take matters into their own hands with these festive hand decorated baskets. Each basket contains either 12 or 16 auspicious oranges and 8 red packets for good luck. If you're hoping to impress some potential in-laws, this one will be a shoe in.

$38 for 12, $48 for 16