Hipster Essentials

I’ve shot a little still life called Hipster Essentials and I’m reviewing/highlighting the products that feature in the shoot. Some are made and designed locally, some are classic designs and some are popular items from the big players.

Noddy Boffin Plywood Milk Crates:

I’ll start of with my favorite! These plywood milk crates are laser cut from marine ply leaving very clean and accurately cut shapes in the ply. This is great design, materials and techniques coming together to produce a quality product. I love that you can assemble and disassemble the milk crates easily and quickly without using any tools. The 4 sides and base all slot into each other. So you can pack them away flat when they are not needed. Just like the plastic milk crates you have “borrowed” over years, these have 101 uses. You are only limited to your imagination. They could be stacked up in columns and rows to make a bookcase; you could use one as a stepladder, use them for storage… Even stack a couple in your living room and use them as a designer feature.

Link: http://www.noddyboffin.com/portfolio/plywood-milk-crates/

WeWood Watches

Watches made out of wood! These are fantastically cool watches that look completely unique; they will be a conversation starter for sure! On the WeWood website you’ll find plenty of different styles and designs to tickle your fancy… Get one for each of your different outfits! The best thing about this company is they will plant a tree for every WeWood watch bought!

Link: http://www.we-wood.com.au

Fuji x100 

This awesome little camera has become a very popular carry-around camera for professional photographers since it was released in February 2011. The idea was simple: make a light and compact camera with a retro design, give it manual controls for the aperture and shutter speed, then add a killer lens with a huge (for the size of this camera) APS-C sized sensor. I’ve been very impressed with the quality of this camera. Its size and weight means that I can carry it around with me. I can have a professional quality camera with me so long as I remember to put it in my bag before I leave the house. The quality is good enough for me to use it for a couple of personal projects I’ve been working on. Unfortunately the camera interface and autofocus do let the camera down. The autofocus can be slow and inaccurate in low light. The x100s has recently been released and most of these issues have been addressed in the new model.

Link: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/finepix_x100/

JLP Melbourne Gil Gil Bore Bag:

I stumbled across the JLP (Just Leather Products) stall when I was making a shortcut to the fruit and veg section at the Queen Victoria Markets. JLP has a large range of locally made quality leather products. Being a sucker for a nice leather man-bag, I made the impulsive buy. Upon inspection, the first thing you will notice is the quality of the materials and how well they have been put together. Initially I was looking for a replacement for my 10-year-old (and falling apart) Ted Baker man-bag but I got excited and ended up with a larger bag. I might have to head back there when my next invoice comes though and get the Tocantins bag, which is closer in size to my original Ted Baker. Good enough for your wallet, keys, phone, lip balm, headphones and your x100 camera!

Link: http://justleather.com.au

Uppercut Featherweight hair wax

I got a tin of this from my local barber. It’s great stuff! Here’s the description I pinched from the Uppercut website: “Don’t be fooled by the name, just because this wax is light doesn’t mean it can’t pack a punch. Featherweight has plenty of tack and dry finish for a natural looking hold. Great for messy quiffs and textured styles. Another great feature with this product is that it’s water soluble which means you get a great dry look without any build up or residue. Without a doubt the great all rounder.” I like it for all those reason but especially because it’s water-soluble. It feels good in and washes out easily.

Link: http://www.uppercutdeluxe.com.au

Pavoni 2a espresso machine

This little machine belongs to one of the guys at my studio. It looks great but I can’t tell you how well it performs as it does not belong to me. I did offer to buy this one but they are worth a bit more then I expected. Second hand they go for about $350 to $400 and you can get them band spanking for about $800. Maybe I could borrow this one and have a play. Till then I’ll keep using my Hario pour-over, which I like very much.

Link: http://www.lapavoni.it

Roselli 16t track cog:

This is the only cog that can withstand the awesome power of my legs!

42t front cog from Cycle Underground in Sydney

I’m told these are the same cogs as Fyxomatosis ones without the branding. You can get them from Pony Bikes.

Links: http://www.ponybikes.com/blog/

Izumi Chain and drivetrain from Pony Bikes

As it says on the box: for easy running. These chains are smooth, heavy and strong. I got my whole new drive train and a new back wheel (Velocity Deep V rim, Gran Comp hub and Vittoria Randonneur tyre) from Pony Bikes. I can tell you there is noting like having a new solid drive train. It’s super-smooth, tight and responsive! And when you are running fixed without brakes, it’s all about that feeling you get back from the bike. You are connected to the bike and if you are connected to poor quality components then you will feel that though your whole body. Man I freaking love my new fix-gear setup!

Links: http://www.izumichain.co.jp/en/ http://www.ponybikes.com/blog/

Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch with Retina Display. 2.4 Ghz i7 with 8 gig of RAM

This is my photography workhorse! It’s nice and light so I can throw it in my bag and jump on the bike to do editing work at my studio (Of course I plug it into an Eizo monitor when I get there). The retina display is nice and crisp but some applications are not supported yet. All the Apple applications are super-sharp but my old version of Word is fuzzy because it is not made for a monitor with such a high resolution. Another slight issue is the glossy finish on the monitor, which is not ideal for photography. This is no huge drama as I do my serious editing on a proper graphics monitor in the studio.

Apple has decided that Thunderbolt is the future so they ditched the Firewire port. This was a problem for the first couple of months owning the laptop because I could not shoot tethered with the Phase One back… Then they released a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 adaptor. Problem solved. Then I wanted to connect to the internet to do some trouble shooting… No network port. Then I realised I can buy a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adaptor. So all is good… So long as I remember to take those little adaptors with me to my jobs!   And guess what? No CD drive either. And I don’t think you can upgrade it either. I think the idea is buy it, use it for a couple years then buy another one.

What else is good about this computer? Well it’s super fast and performs very well for the $2500 I paid for it. It’s light, it’s quiet, it’s good! I love that the only moving part in this computer is the cooling fan! Who needs a CD/DVD drive. CD/DVDs are old technology and it’s cheap enough to buy a couple of USB thumb drives. When I first got it I did try to fit a software DVD into the side of the computer… Luckily most software can be downloaded from the internet. At least you get the most current version. Startup time is lightening fast because of the solid state drive.

I can see why many other professional photographers have opted to get one of the older model MacBook Pros and spec them out but this little beast will suit me well for the next couple of years… I hope!

Link: http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

View the original article here - Michael Gordon Hill’s Blog.

They take the reader back to a simpler time, when children were allowed to roam free, parents trusted their neighbours and animals smiled!

These children’s books are are fun and and irresistible, with images you could simply melt into.

It is a collection of books that illustrate a time of innocence and a Huckleberry Finn-ish childhood, which I assume we are all nostalgic for and probably never had.

“Some collectors desire beetles, while others have divergent and decided propensities for empty bottles, full bottles… silhouettes, tea caddies… horseshoes, guns, stuffed owls, stuffed animals, stuffed shirts, candlesticks, trademarks, first editions… Although it is quite evident that collectors are not entirely “all there,” I have always found them to be nice, harmless people, whom any of my readers could invite home without danger of being disinherited.”

Check out some more cute illustrations at Piccoli Editions

Here are some photos of the processes that I go through in order to make some incredibly high quality tool blades.

In essence these are kits that allow the blokes to get quality tool steel item i.e. M2 HSS at a competive price. That is flat and true, that will hold a keen edge. Thereby removing the difficult metal work component. Allowing the them to use their woodworking skills to finish the tool to whatever level, function or form desired. 

The following are the chisels. They turn rusty from the waterjet cutting. However they are surface ground on all faces and cleaned up. They are then heat treated. 

Here are the plane blades for wooden planes, going through the last process of getting them true. NOTE the shine in the surface grind of the metal.

 In the end the blades are covered in a protective rubber. 

You get the raw materials and you assemble items to your preference. Here are some photo of the paring chisels finished by there end users . 

While Helmut is the lead administrator he is backed by an outstanding group of people. A special thanks going out to Ray & Josh Gardiner.

Very excited to be featured in Belle twice in the early stages of 2013, and even more excited about the progression of Noddy Boffin this year.

1)    What early influences led to your pursuit of a career in design? 

My interest in being creative and making things was apparent in the early stages of high school and this was evident in my grades with both Art and Design Technology. It was only while studying at the ANU Art School in Canberra, that I realised that I wanted to manufacture unique designs under my own brand.

Overall, my ambitions towards being a designer is driven by the feeling of satisfaction and pride for the completion of an innovative, interesting and beautiful products. This satisfaction is highlighted even more so when another individual is drawn to my creation.

  2)    What have been some of your career highlights?

Having Noddy Boffin product displayed in the London Commonwealth exhibition, coinciding with the London Design Festival. The Common Wealth exhibition is an initiative showcasing the best in design from down under in the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Also, recently being contacted by Good Morning America with interest in showcasing, the very gimmicky ‘Lobster Mobile Phone Case’ on their show. The phone case which was inspired by Salvador Dali’s ‘Lobster Telephone’ and was originally published on the Noddy Boffin website as a satirical comment. Surprisingly, the piece engaged an online audience of thousands across the globe.

 3)    Could you discuss the concept for the design/s that you are pictured with?  

It was with ‘negative space’ in mind that I developed the ‘Stage Leg’, a folded steel leg that is reminiscent of the Queen Anne style – cabriole leg and could maybe even be considered as a modern version. The leg is a simple design and robust in strength, which is identifiable on sight with its use of industrial processes and material. The ‘stage leg’ is named as such because of the ‘negative space’ it creates, which looks something like the drawn curtains of a stage area. As subsequence to this form and space, the product conceptually demonstrates and reminds us of the true importance of ‘negative space’. It’s metaphorically the stage in which design comes to life, the dramatic space in which we identify shape and form and it should work to entertain our eyes.

 4)    Could you name some of your current sources of inspiration? These might include artists, designers, travel destinations, films etc.

I am heavily influenced by the designs of ‘Droog’, a design group out of Amsterdam. Their design philosophy is to offer a different perspective and a narrative in products, this is something I attempt to instil into my practice.

5)    What project/s are you looking forward to in 2013? 

2013 is an exciting year for Noddy Boffin. The business has snowballed in 2012 and is now looking for a bigger studio premises. There will be lots more prototyping and experimenting with aesthetics and materials in furniture and lighting.

I’m looking to continue the ‘NB table’ series with further experimentation with staining and marking timber surfaces and I hope to be refining the ‘Spare Table’ to be more accessible for residential purposes.

‘The cup project’ is a youth, not-for-profit, initiative publishing young emerging Australian artist profiles + works on takeaway coffee cups.

The project’s co-ordinator, Amy Craig, says: the project will promote awareness and recognition of young artists, and their amazing work, within the Melbourne community …. seeing the fantastic work of young artists – its wonderful and inspiring. Melbourne coffee culture is going to love the artworks too!


See more here – The Cup Project  and Australian Business Art Foundation.

Thanks to an innovative partnership, Melbourne coffee lovers have been introduced to the vibrant work of emerging artists all over the city. ‘the cup project’ profiles the work of young artists on takeaway coffee cups alongside the artist’s name, a brief biography and website details.

‘the cup project’ not only brings the wider coffee drinking community into contact with young artists, it creates new opportunities. Poets, illustrators, painters, photographers, sculptors, animators and comic-strip artists have all been represented, with many having been approached by coffee drinkers for exhibitions and other work.

Melbourne is a city known for both its art and its coffee. ‘the cup project’ has brought them together through its partnership with Detpak, a member of the Detmold Group of companies and a manufacturer of packaging products.

Detpak supported the printing of 36 young artists’ work on 100,000 takeaway coffee cups. Since June 2010 both partners have been working to achieve the shared objective of profiling and recognising the achievements of young Australian artists. More than 95% of these artists are aged 30 years and under and many have had only minimal publication and profiling opportunities until now.

As well as providing exposure for young Australian artists, Detpak has been able to fulfill its commitment to invest in local communities – in this case within the city of Melbourne’s buzzing café scene. Detpak has also been able to showcase its high quality print capabilities to potential customers and has demonstrated its commitment to innovation and creativity.

 See more here - The Cup Project  and Australian Business Art Foundation.

Katie takes inspiration from botanical and natural elements where she tries to replicate the uncontrolled beauty. Her jewellery collection is hand crafted from a variety of materials including silver, gold, brass, bone, rough stones and porcelain. Her pieces are characterised with elegant simplistic lines contrasted with raw natural components.

Visit the website, to view the original works that Evergreen Studio itself produces and a peruse of Katie’s blog for a careful selection of globally practicing artists and craftsmen.

see more here : Evergreen Studio

“I do not understand why, when I ask for a grilled lobster in a restaurant, I am never served a cooked telephone.” THE SECRET LIFE OF SALVADOR DALI (1942)

The red ‘Lobster Mobile Telephone Case’ is a modern appropriation of Salvador Dali’s ‘Lobster Telephone’ (Aphrodisiac telephone), created in 1938.

Unlike the typical phone case, it doesn’t offer functionality of protection and style. Its features include; camera incapability, ergonomically awkward, too big for your pocket or handbag and most importantly, it’s ability to cause its users embarrassment.

read more here.

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One man’s poison ivy is another man’s spinach. George Ade

So maybe you don’t go so far as to slide down a steep road on a tabletop or to create small campfires on a tabletop.

Try as we all do, inevitably accidents happen through general use and scratches, dings, wear and tear happen. The product still functions as it should, however these new marks from use will devalue the object in most minds.

I urge you the consumer, the maker and the designer to consider the function of a product and how it affects the way you live, and more importantly buy, make and design to the highest quality, so that products can be used without protection, while achieving their function. Lastly, I urge you to see value in the maker’s mark, the impure, the warped, the tarnished, that which is marked by time. It’s time to revaluate and seek to understand the misunderstood.

‘Once I discovered how much fun it was to become active in the process of making, maintaining, and modifying the things I use and consume everyday, the little flaws, quirks, and imperfections in my handiwork stopped becoming shameful and instead felt like badges of honor.’ A. C. BENSON.

Victorian Blackwood 700 mm (W) x 750 mm (H) x 1400 mm (L)

NB Table – Construction, Destruction and Documentation

This stepladder, made with Mountain Ash, is a unique commission piece designed as a gift for a ‘sweetheart’.

“I try to give my sweetheart a commissioned work for her birthday each year…in order to give some meaning to gifts.”

The brief requested a snake reference, which I pondered for some time, considering things like the application of snake like textures, colour and even form. I adopted a more lateral solution, in that the structural shape of the library ladder spells out the word snake.

“She is afraid of snakes and there are plenty about in the garden and paddocks – the snake reference adds an amulet quality. One day she shot one that threatened her in the dairy and all these babies came out… gross! Apparently many cool climate snakes have live young”

The function of a step / library ladder is primarily to obtain things from a height. However, in a gift context it could quite possibly lend itself to the pretense of a pedestal and subsequently, romance. Through this pedestal-like function, the user is given opportunity to stand at height, symbolically taking the position of high regard or being adored. Its gift context is accentuated and reiterated through the application of text, that runs vertical along the stand / handrail reading; ‘ for my Sweetheart…’.

Lastly, the ladder offers a point where a lamp can be hung. Whether utilised in a library context, or placed in a living room corner, its secondary function provides a reading light for those perched on the highest rung with a book or placed as lamp in the corner of a room, and therefore regular use, as its ladder function is possibly infrequent.

A ladder for your sweetheart in order to revere them all the better.

“The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there” Betty Grable