THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE

A revista do The Observer dedicou a sua última edição à ecologia e produtos éticos, sendo que o shopping, entre outros, incluiu um dos nossos primatas de eleição, o Mr Ape!

The Observer magazine has dedicated its latest issue to ethical matters, and among others, has included our very own Mr Ape in the eco shopping wish list!

TIME OUT LISBOA

A edição de compras de Natal da revista Time Out Lisboa, já nas bancas, vem com um dos nossos bonecos... O One of a Kind #2, disponível na loja alfacinha Paris-Sete.

The Xmas shopping edition of Time Out Lisbon has included one of our soft toys... One of a Kind #2, available at lisboan design shop Paris-Sete.

( Texto de Iolanda Mealha; Imagem por Time Out )

CASA RUIM

Já com cheirinho a Natal, os nossos bonecos mudaram-se para uma nova casa... A Casa Ruim.
Localizado em Torres Vedras, neste lindíssimo espaço podem encontrar-se os mais variados objectos, como coleccionáveis livros (entre eles os portugueses Planeta Tangerina) e outros deliciosos artigos de autor.

Funcionando igualmente como Atelier para as áreas criativas (design, ilustração, pós-produção de vídeo e webdesign), esta casa bem-humorada encontra-se de portas abertas a dois passos de Lisboa.
A visitar!

Casa Ruim, Rua Almirante Gago Coutinho 4 B/C, 2560-303 Torres Vedras


( Texto de Iolanda Mealha, Imagem por Casa Ruim )

BOOKWORM DESIGN

With summertime full on, besides enjoying the glorious sunlight so characteristic of this part of the world (yay!), and also working more closely on my animal welfare and adoption project, i've been been taking the time to read a few books which were postponed in the cooler months.

And speaking of reading material, Harper Collins just launched Harper Perennial Classic Stories, a sixtet of literary classics - Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Wilde, Cather, Melville, and Crane - in pocket book form and a spanking new look by graphic designer Adam Johnson.
Featuring colour blocks and a black and white cutout image of each author, it plays on the image of the writers, giving readers a graphic insight of the person behind the words.

( Words by Lola )

IN THE PRESS

We're excited our new Fauna cushions, by way of the 'Dachshund' one, have made an appearance in the June edition of deco magazine Caras Decoração, where they're described as 'full of colour and the characteristic charm of La Maison de Lola'!

Our soft toys have also been blogged, via Little Catwalk, by You Lool So Fine, a kids fashion design consultancy based in Verona who also has the most gorgeous website.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

ANNIVERSARY OFFER!!

We're turning 3 years old this month (yay!), and to celebrate in style, we're offering our loyal customers - besides free worldwide shipping - one Archie Grand notebook of your choice with every order above €50!

Colourful and tongue in cheek, we're in love with these themed notebooks... and so will you.

Hurry up, because this offer is valid only through the month of May, and Happy Anniversary to us!

( Written by Lola, Photograph by Archie Grand )

NEW: FAUNA CUSHIONS

We ♥ our new cushions... Inspired by nature and so decorative, they come in two designs and mesure 45x30 cms (18 by 12 inches).

'Adelie', which features two Adélie penguins and a blooming heart on a dotty print, is available in beautiful colours such as grass green, black, hot pink, lime, peacock and pistachio, and 'Dachshund', featuring a wiener dog, plays up the most gorgeous earthy colours like ginger, rust, chocolate, latte, yellow and peach.

Both are shipped with stuffer.

Recently, the 'Dachshund' cushion has made an appearance - along with Ms Oink - on a lovely new blog called Miyo Wada Wants. Check it out here.

( Written by Lola, Photographed by Álvaro )

OLD SCHOOL CYCLING

Being an everyday cyclist, i'm always looking for stylish accessories for my hobby turned mean of transportation.
Launched in 2004, Rapha is my favourite brand when it comes to cycling clothing.

Known for its wonderful and well designed pieces, the collection is made in the finest materials and includes a wide range of products, such as jackets, shorts, jerseys, gloves and shirts.

A complete delight for all fans of the two-wheeled sport, the british brand doesn't stop at the clothing and accesories, but also celebrares the full glory of road racing.

Besides having a UCI-registered team (in partnership with London based Condor Cycles), Rapha also publishes a quarterly magazine called Rouleur, where cycling is portrayed in a truly inspiring and appealing way.

But that's not all. Since 2007, the british brand embarked on a new adventure - Rapha Continental - in which two groups of riders (east coast and west coast) roam through the most epic routes of the United States to show Rapha's commitment to the lost art of cycling.

( Written by Álvaro, Photos courtesy of Rapha )

AGITATTO

Recently launched and based in Switzerland, Agitatto is an online gallery dedicated to bringing the best of the international creative scene to all lovers of fine art.
Showcasing the works of artists and delivering them worldwide, among others Agitatto represents Whitney McVeigh and Connie Noyes (painting), Daniel Weisser and André Wagner (photography), and Conor Wilson and Matt Chivers (sculpture).

Besides art, it also boasts a book store and a design one, where besides our soft toys, you can find other design objects such as Hulger's phones and Vitamin's modern plant pots.

( Written by Lola )

IN THE PRESS

I've been working lately on making a few changes to our website, adding some new lovely products (quite soon now!), and changing a few bits and bobs in the overall look, so although we've been having quite a few press articles, i haven't been able to write about it here or add it to our in the press pages.

So, as i daydream of having a little more time to keep everything updated, here's one of our latest features to hit the newsstands, in portuguese deco magazine Caras Decoração.

Shown alongside the lovely Wooden Dolls by Alexander Girard (we're big fans), our soft toys couldn't be in better company.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

GEORGE NELSON EXHIBITION

Last week, and for the second time, i visited the beautiful swiss city of Basel and the nearby Vitra architectural compound, located in the small german town of Weil am Rhein.

Like in so many other exhibitions that Vitra has shown in its amazing Design Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, the George Nelson one takes an in-depth look on the american designers' work. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Nelson's birth (1908), the exhibition is the first comprehensive retrospective of his career.

From the most renowned classics - the Marshmallow Sofa or the vast collection of wall clocks are just two examples - to the innovative office furniture that Nelson designed in the fifties and sixties, the exhibition also shows other areas where Nelson introduced his creativity, such as graphic design, photography, literature and exhibition design.

From all the projects and pieces featured in the presentation, i especially loved the Experimental House size model, a prefab home that never left the paper, the delicate Miniature Chests, and last but not least, the beautiful range of sofas that Nelson designed over his career.

Open until May 3rd, 2009.

( Written and Photographed by Álvaro )

THE ITALIAN JOB

We've been doing some redecorating, finding a place for a few favourite magazines, putting up some pictures, changing accessories from A to B.

It's an ever evolving process, as it's always improved by a new piece we find, or by giving a new purpose to an old one, so it's an ever changing canvas.

In the process of this overall change, i fell in love again with an old favourite of mine, Bassotto, a royal blue dachshund from Bitossi which sat sadly on the cofee table and now looks lovely next to some magazines and books.

The italian brand has a never ending variety of products to choose from, but i particularly love their Rimini Blue collection with its ceramic figurines and vases, which is quite eclectic and retro and has enough presence to look good on its own, or proudly displayed next to other prized possessions.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

ROOM EMBELLISHMENT

The Rug Company is known for making the most fantastic rugs, like the ones from Neisha Crossland, Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenberg, and Paul Smith (as pictured above), but besides the newly released capsule collection by Alice Temperley, we're loving their wallhangings, which are the perfect solution to embellish one's walls in a truly fun and tactile way.

Besides the ironic and floral 'Jubilee' designed by Lucinda Chambers, for kids we love the zoologic 'Ark' by Paul Smith, in which Noah's Ark is portrayed in a colourful needlepoint wallhanging.

( Written by Álvaro, Photo courtesy of The Rug Company )

A SHOT OF COLOUR

I love notebooks... Apart from their obvious practicality, when beautifully made, they are a pleasure to own and flick through from time to time.
As the beginning of the year is the ideal time to renew one's stock, i love these by Orla Kiely, which having her signature colours and prints, are definitely smile inducing.

Containing 128 off-white ruled pages and being perfectly sized for a handbag, like a bunch of flowers in the home, or an uplifting scent, they're the perfect antidote for handbag depression.

Besides the bags, clothing line, stationery and homewares, the irish designer has teamed up with Target, so if you're in the US, an exclusive line of Kiely's homewares will be available at Target stores from the 15th February.

( Written by Lola, Stills courtesy of Orla Kiely )

DOMINO FOLDS

It's very sad news to all Domino readers, as the lovely magazine closes its doors due to the economic recession.

Its inspirational website is also shutting down, along with the galleries, videos and deco files.

First it was Blueprint, which i loved, and now my favourite, Domino, is also folding.

I was always looking forward to the next issue, as it never failed to bring a smile to my face.

The latest one arrived in the mail just a few days ago, and i was amazed by the lack of advertising in comparison with the previous ones... Around 60 something in October 2008, and a mere dozen in February 2009!

Well, it's the end of an era where publications are concerned, and by all means, there's a HUGE gap in the market for magazines of this genre, for those who enjoy style and quality, without wanting it to be sterile or overtly conceptual, so i do hope others will come along the way.

The last issue of Domino will be the March 2009 one.

It shall be missed.

( Written and Photographed by Lola )

SARGADELOS CERAMICS

Founded in 1806 by Antonio Raimundo Ibáñez, spanish brand Sargadelos is well known for its wonderfully crafted porcelain ranges. 

Inspired by traditional forms of Galician culture, Sargadelos pieces are specially appealing for their original motifs and retro look. Of the whole collection, we're particularly fond of the 'F-73' range, inspired by the organic shape of leafs, and also the architectural 'Portomarínica' one, influenced by the geometric corbels in the church of San Juan de Portomarín.

( Written by Álvaro, Photo courtesy of Sargadelos )

HEAVY METAL

Our soft toys have found a new home in Loja das Quasi, the first shop of cultural project Do Impensável.

A space totally devoted to art, literature and design, this shop/gallery opened last Saturday with 'O Espírito das Coisas Invisíveis', an exhibition by surrealist painter Artur do Cruzeiro Seixas which can be seen until February 9th, while unveiling its impressive all-metal, circle bound industrial space.

Located at Rua Conselheiro Santos Viegas, n. 102, 4760-129 V. N. de Famalicão, it's definitely worth a visit.

( Written by Lola, photography courtesy of Loja das Quasi )

OLD SCHOOL PLAY

In a world full of poorly made mass produced toys, we're happy to see brands like TobeUs are doing an effort to present children with well made, life lasting ones.

Taking inspiration from old school toys, which were passed from generation to generation, the lovely wooden car collection stands out not only by the grain and unique aroma of the lebanese cedar in which it's made, but also by its simple and sturdy design.

Handmade in Italy, the cars are available in five different models and can be found in several shops worldwide.

( Written by Álvaro, Photographed by Lola )

THE CAT'S MEOW

We're excited to announce our soft toys are now available from Little Catwalk, the recently launched online children's boutique for everything lovely and sweet.

Based in Spain, besides our creations, this yummy mummy's dream of an online retailer also stocks desirable clothing items from Caramel Baby and Child, Antik Batik, Little Paul & Joe and Tammy Donohoe's, plus kiddie-friendly accessories such as Kidsonroof eco doll's houses, and Child Child Chair award-winning table and chairs combo.

Check it out and fall in love whether you're a parent or not... the items on offer are that cute.

( Written by Lola, Photos courtesy of Little Catwalk )

INSIDER SCOOP

We love magazines, and one of our absolute favourites is Domino... Easy on the eye, full of decorating tips and truly unpretensious (inspirational instead of aspirational), it's such a fun and gorgeously edited publication it always cheers us up.

The good news is, besides the magazine, Domino has launched a book, Domino: The Book of Decorating, which is packed full with the most inspiring decorating ideas, interior designer tips, must-buys, and everything one needs to know when creating a space to live in, and most importantly, to be in love with.

We love it.

( Written by Lola, Images courtesy of Domino )