In this interview, Christoph Niemann is so charming—about humble design versus "fine art," about failing to get a good night's sleep, about making his kids a bathroom-tile map of the NYC subway system. He's done covers for the New Yorker and Wired, a blog for the New York Times, and several books that showcase his cleverness and imagination. His new children's book, "That's How," is a perfect distillation of how kids imagine the inner workings of ordinary things like trucks and boats:
This book held Tessa's interest way more than I expected. I thought the images were pretty—but appealing for me and RP in a retro nostalgic kind of way for people who like graphic design. I didn't really think it would excite a kid who doesn't have the same frame of reference (or interest in midcentury-inspired design). "Seasons" is a series of single-page images about (duh) the four seasons, each headlined with one related word. They look like woodcuts, or maybe a well-rendered computer facsimile of woodcuts; the colors have a lovely washed-out, slightly off-tone look. Tessa, meanwhile, said she liked learning new words. Like "avalance" and "glum"—and I suppose it's nice she made it to four and a half without knowing those.
This fragrance smells like 1980s-vintage suntan lotion. It takes me back to middle-school summers: Cocoa butter and almond oil. Tinfoil sun reflectors in the cool-girl neighbor's yard. Copies of Seventeen magazine pilfered from her older sister. And all the good songs by Duran Duran and Thompson Twins and Cyndi Lauper. On cassette.
Speaking of bows again, this pin has great contrast: sweet ivory leather (itself kind of a contradiction) and rounded-off gold studs. I like it in black too:
...but it doesn't seem available on jcrew.com—when you click on the black pin, you're only given the ivory option.
I don't usually go for anything red, but I've had my eye on this little girl's bikini for a few weeks now. Fresh stripes, white bows, old-school shape—and just my luck: it got marked down today.
I used to *love* REM. I mean, in high school and college, I was REM girl. One of the first conversations I had with my (now) husband was about "Automatic for the People." (Yes, we're that old.) Sadly, the band's music has mostly gone sour for me; even the songs I loved most ("Superman," "Sidewinder") seem dated. And Michael Stipe's recent interview with Kurt Andersen only confirmed what I'd suspected in recent years: he's still really smart and interesting but way too self-conscious and serious. (Of course I respect and admire him greatly. Let's just say he's not a barrel of laughs.)
But tonight, I couldn't stop singing "Gardening at Night" to myself as I pulled weeds around the azaleas and tomatoes and mint. It was totally peaceful, with the fireflies for company and the neighbors walking by. Then it got too dark to see what I was doing, so I came in and scrubbed the mud from under my fingernails and looked up "Gardening at Night" on YouTube. Turns out this song holds up. It's nostalgic, mild and sweet—mumbled lyrics, jangly guitar and all. Look how young they are. Look at the prehistoric production values. Look at Michael Stipe's hair!
Stumbled on this site selling beautiful global home objects: Mostly textiles, many in my beloved cool blue and gray, they all look so peaceful and airy.
MUNY (Mumbai/New York, get it?) has a small selection of Indian-produced children's clothes. The Maggie dress has a great mix of prints—and you have to love those patch pockets. I'm also digging the owl quilt
These Are Things, run by a couple in Columbus, has great (Fathers' Day–friendly) silkscreen maps and charts of cities, countries, and continents. I love the graphic design and the cool, slightly off color combinations: mint green, lemon yellow, light coffee, orange.
Little Star's handmade clothes from Melbourne have a sweet, simple, fresh look. Nice detailing like broderie anglaise, smocking, tiered ruffles—but nothing too overdone.
Don Hamerman shot a series of baseballs he found in a park near his house while walking his dog. He turned kids' lost or discarded fly balls and strikeouts into something thoughtful, moving—and beautiful in the way that used, once loved things can be. My baseball-fan husband might get one or two of these prints from 20x200 for Father's Day.
Hamerman also photographs toy trucks and matchbox cars that he buys on eBay. I'm not in the market—Charlie's wall space is definitely full—but these sure would look snazzy in a boy's room.
Blue water surrounded by a gray rectangle and green, green grass: I love the simplicity of this pool in the Berkshires. It's a weekend retreat for the reality-show-starring, house-flipping, many-kids-with-eccentric-names-having Novogratz family.
