Love This!: Rossana Fani

I would die for one of these necklaces by Rossana Fani, the Florence based jewelry designer.  Her lengthy design career has evolved from being a window dresser, to collaborating on tableware designs, creating handbags and now to making stunning fashion jewelry.  The necklaces below are made of leather and resin beads (some cases, crystal beads).  Rossana’s necklaces have a beautiful minimalist quality to them but are textured, sculptural and interesting to look at.

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Neni Modern Israeli Food in Vienna

I am off to Vienna tomorrow for a couple days to take my visiting guests to explore a new city.

When I travel, I am always on the look-out for interesting and new food concepts as well as flavours that I am missing/can’t get. Israeli food/middle eastern food certainly tops that list.

Neni is an Israeli restaurant with two locations, a cookbook and a catering operation (take away dips).  I love the interiors of their restaurant and their menu looks stacked with items such as shakshuka, hummus, ful, tomato salad, kibbeh, red lentil soup and pita bread. I look forward to reporting back on their breakfast next week as I plan to pay their Naschmarkt location a visit! Hummus and falafel, here I come.

Photo Sources: Neni

Falcon Enamelware

It’s Tuesday and my fridge is still broken.  Somewhere between going to bed on Friday and waking up on Saturday my fridge decided to take a sabbatical and flake out.  Saturday to Tuesday is a long time not to have a working fridge and I am testing the limits of preservatives in food.  However, I’m a glass half full type of girl and there are some positive things to come out of this situation.  For instance, I have an excellent reason to clean out my fridge and freezer,  I have discovered a couple new cafes/restaurants in my neighbourhood to eat at and I am supporting local businesses, and I am learning about expiry dates 🙂

I would still like to have my fridge back.  Fridge, let’s never fight again.

These days, I find myself taking a strong interest in researching tableware and kitchenware materials.  Let’s talk about enamelware.  I don’t think I have ever owned a piece of enamelware, I don’t remember growing up with enamelware in my home in Toronto and I can’t say I know too much about why I would use it over stoneware, porcelain or earthenware.  Today it changes.  The British enamelware brand, Falcon, caught my attention and I decided to do some digging.  It’s interesting how something so big and popular in one country or region is almost non-existant in another.  This is not surprising but I still find it endlessly fascinating how local some brands stay, despite our increasingly connected, global economy.

Back to enamelware: Falcon makes these adorable enamel mugs, tumblers, pie sets and bake sets which are recognizable by its all white body and coloured rim.

As you can see by the date in the logo (above), this brand has been around for a long time, nearly 100 years in fact.  I surmise, part of the reason why this brand is making a “come back” is thanks to its spiffy new look from Kiwi & Pom and Morse Studio (its rebrand) and the other part may be driven by an interest in the revival of vintage or retro products mixed with its attractive minimalist, clean design.

Enamelware is made of porcelain that is fused onto steel, which helps its durability as a product.  Other beneficial properties include that it can withstand high heat and keep its colour.   Apparently enamelware was created (gotta love innovation) as a safe means to coat iron pots (the material du jour) which often left food and liquid with an iron-y, unplesant taste.

Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I think I would like to test out their pie dish and see how it compares to baking in Pyrex or a metal pan. Are there any Falcon enamelware baking fans out there? I would love to hear about your experience with this material.

Helsinki: World Design Capital

Did you know that cities get nominated as world design capitals?  This year, Helsinki holds the spot for the 2012 World Design Capital.  I think being nominated as a world design capital is kind of a neat concept.  Typically, cities are ranked on cost, livability, congestion, or environmental friendliness but design?  That’s cool.

The organization behind the World Design Capital award, seeks to recognize and reward cities who have done an excellent job integrating design into all aspects of city life.   It is no surprise that the first four cities (awarded every other year) won, however I could think of a few more to add.

In 2008, Torino (Italy) was nominated as a WDC thanks in part to its re-positioning from an industrial city to a tech hub that has attracted a wave of entrepreneurship and creativity.   Seoul won in 2010 followed by Helsinki in 2012 and Cape Town (SA) has already clinched the spot for 2014.

I am a fan of Finnish, modernism design.  In addition to producing lots of well known architects, designers and brands such as Alvar Aalto, Kaj Franck, textile company Marimekko, glass/tableware company iittala, Muuto and Tonfisk, you don’t have to look too far in Helsinki to see evidence of design integrated into daily life/business. Architecture aside, one of the design forward hot-spots is the city’s impressive design district.

Photo Source: 1, 2

It has some interesting places to eat, stay and shop.  So far my pics include:

Chjoko

Photo Source: 3

Sis Deli + Cafe

Photo Source: 4, 5, 6

Cool sushi bars…

Photo Source: 7, 8

Eco-design shop, Nudge

Photo Source: 9

Streamer Love

Have I mentioned I am in love with all things streamer related?  I think streamers may be the happiest type of decor out there, second of course to balloons.  No matter their shape, size, colour, length or style, streamers, bunting, pendants, garlands or whatever you call them, are simply awesome.  If you are looking for some streamer sources, I would recommend the following sellers on Etsy- trust me, I have done my research!  Studio Mucci, Pom + Love, Frances Moulin, and Steph Loves Ben.

French Country in Dresden

To wrap up my finds from my last day trip to Dresden, I am going to share with you a secret store that has a phenomenal assortment of items for the home.

I ventured off my typical day-trip grocery shopping route and found one more gem of a lifestyle/home accessory store called Schach Casa Colonial.  I would describe Schach Casa Colonial‘s merchandise as predominantly French country with a mix of Scandinavian modern, vintage and Asian items.   The company has been open for six years and has two stores in the city; I visited the one at Bautzner Landstrasse 7.

I have never been one to gravitate towards the French country look as I prefer a more contemporary style, but I kid you not, I could have purchased one of everything last week!   Don’t worry I didn’t do that.  I am already out of room in my narrow flat.  🙂

From the store’s product mix of candles, glass and porcelain plates, serving dishes, tableware, planters, frames, lighting fixtures, buddha sculptures, jewelry and furniture- I give this place the Lamb411 seal of approval. This store was awesome.

Photo Source: 1-5

I mostly browsed the “outlet” section of the store as I wasn’t looking for anything in particular but I did finally cave for one of those oil fragrance things.  I have been looking at the one’s by Ritual ever since I returned from the Lone Hotel in Croatia – see brands, it does work to put your products in hotels so customers can experience them!- but simply have not gotten around to picking one up.  Finally, I noticed my fiance smelling a wall of these and found a scent we both liked.  Sold.  Our fragrance is now Hommage St. Jacques by Ipuro which is a muskier smell combining Brazilian tonka bean (which smells like vanilla, almond, cinnamon and cloves mixed together), Madagascar vanilla, star anise, caramel with a hint of tobacco.

Photo Source: 1

This is the second “keeper” store that I’ve found in Dresden this past year.  There is another store on the other side of the river close to the main square that is two floors of eclectic home ware and furniture.  I am blanking on the name, but next time I return to Dresden, I’ll be sure to stop in and take the name down.  I recall the first time I stepped into this nameless store, I was referring to, I remember walking up to the sale associate and asking “Do you ship to Prague?”  It’s that good!

Have a lovely weekend.

More fun things coming your way next week.