Poetry is words woven and bound - expressing thyself; thought or opinion

Monster

by Guy Little

I don’t give him a name.

A name is human.  He is not Human -
bringing back memory; memory of the other life.
No escape in that life and
it is the same now.

He isn’t my sort
I knew from the start. 
The child inside has been ignored
but correct it was.  The knife he has dug
deep to the face of the child; chipped.

Pity child’s voice was ignored.
As a tear is sniffed; child’s head is turned –
away. 2am quiet it is, and still
no little voice I hear.

Correct from the beginning,
I let child run away far; to be lost.
Not too late for child to be found
I hope, back to a soul’s desperate bosom.

I bite the clock and wonder

when the moon will turn him back.
He has lived through much.
Perhaps it is The Child I need to find first
before...

Marc Jacobs and Playboy Collaborate for the Fight Against AIDS

by Guy Little

The redefinition of the iconic Playboy Bunny has now proved its worth in the collaborative designs between Marc Jacobs and Hugh Heffner. T-shirts designed Marc Jacobs (above) – which went on sale at Marc Jacobs’ stores at the start of New York Fashion Week - combine symbolic Playboy imagery with urban street style comfort.  All proceeds from the sale of the T’s will directly benefit Designers Against Aids (a non-profit organisation that aims to raise AIDS awareness by using elements of popular culture).  For more information visit www.designersagainstaids.com

Designer Medical ID Jewellery

Taking a step out of the ordinary – New York designer Emily Rothschild presents a fresh take on medical identification jewellery

By Guy Little

The Medical Cuff Bracelet expresses one’s medicinal needs, medical condition, or blood type. Current words include Bee Sting, Epinephrine, Penicillin, Insulin, Nut Allergy, Type O, and Love Sick.  Visit www.emilyrothschild.com for more information

A leap ahead of the familiar ‘Medi-Alert’ bracelets and necklaces, Emily Rothschild’s designs combine critical medical information with high-end design.  Channelling Pop Art styles – seen specifically in works by Robert Indiana - only adds to the allure of her designs.  Large cuffs featuring cut-out typography (above) of specific blood groups and other medical conditions appear as status pieces – appealing to the bold, trending-setting type of person.   Rothschild maintains her jewellery should be seen rather than hidden.   Another innovation within her range includes a medical locket (below) – housing a 2GB USB flash drive, containing the wearer’s vital information.  Amazing how the seriousness of a medical condition can be translated into a striking and stylish piece of designer jewellery.  For more information visit www.emilyrothschild.com

Emily Rothschild has channeled the typographic styles of Pop Artists like Robert Indiana (above).  Innovative and modern, the ‘Medical Locket’ (below) could be the 'stylish' key to your survival



Branded Condoms, by Chanel and Marc Jacobs, Inspire the Glamour in Safe Sex

Luxury fashion houses use ‘safe-sex’ as inspiration for expanding on product ranges and brand awareness

By Guy Little

Designer condoms - recently launched by Chanel and Marc Jacobs - have sparked a new trend in luxury brand awareness.   The glamour and appeal surrounding these fashion labels now culminates into the promotion of practicing safe-sex. A clever move in sparking new interest and attracting a wider audience; these brands are becoming increasingly aware of global and social trends.  Simple and sleek packaging – with the inevitable hefty price tag – the message of self-preservation from these high-fashion flyers is clear.  Catchy slogan, ‘Keep It Classy’ by Chanel (above) makes for a more mature approach to safe sex, while Marc Jacobs’ love-letter style packaging (below) offers a personal touch, “Remember, safety first!’

Concrete Concept Designs

While we might see concrete as one dimensional, designers are using it for its modern and raw appeal

By Guy Little

Concrete has long been used as a basis for structural form – commonly used in building construction.  Made by mixing cement with sand, gravel or shale, and then adding water, allows for the substance to harden into desired form or shape. 

22 Design Studio’s concrete concept rings (below) come in a range of contemporary designs.  With the rings lined on the inner side with stainless steel – they make for a comfortable fit.  The outer however, has been moulded and faceted using concrete.  The durability and endurance of the concrete is dependent on the habits of its wearer.  Like a rock that is weathered and paired down by the elements; these concrete rings ‘grow’ in character – giving it a unique style with each day of wear.  For more details and ordering information visit www.22designstudio.com.tw/onlineshop.html

A variety of designs - including these - are available through 22 Design Studio’s online store.  Ring sizes are available online and shipping is available to South Africa

Designer curtaining comes in as another expression of the concrete craze.  Textural, fabricated awareness is taken to new heights in these concrete-constructed curtains (below).  Designed by Christine Pils and Werner Schedler of Memux International; curtains have been created by small pebble-like concrete stones, bound together giving them a geometric, quilted effect.   Most suitable for room partitioning, these concrete curtains are the ultimate in contemporary design, for both interior and exterior use.  For more information on these designs and others by Memux, visit www.memux.com

Social-Media Inspired Decor

By Guy LIttle

Social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Gmail are a great help in the promotion of new design fabrications and ideas.  Using the former as inspiration for the latter; amounts to another level of thought and design.  Social-media inspired decor, like these cushions designed by Craftsquatch (below) are an example of a trend that links ideas of techno-communication with that of decor. Craftsquatch cushions, available from www.etsy.com/shop/Craftsquatch are a great way of adding humour, depth and conversation into an interior – whether it’s in your office or home.   Quite similar to the principals surrounding Pop Art movements of the 50’s and 60’s, Craftsquatch cushions take the  iconic symbols of social media networks – which most of use on an everyday basis - and transform them into engaging, functional decor pieces like cushions.  The only thing you can’t do is double-click on them! 

100% handcrafted 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' cushions, designed by Craftsquatch and available to order online at www.etsy.com/shop/Craftsquatch

Decor Stick-Up

Switch to a more trendy form of wall decoration by using sticker-art - an innovative way to create character and flare to a space or piece of furniture – now available in South Africa

By Guy Little

I first came across wall decoration stickers from IKEA UK.  A friend bought some stick-on designs for the walls of her apartment.  It worked out to be a very cost effective way in creating a focal point - without the mess of paint and the expense of wallpaper or art.



The design options from Wall Art are extensive and can be customised.  Visit www.wallartstickers.co.za for more information



South Africa now has a company that offers just this.  Wall Art South Africa boasts a huge range of visually stimulating stick-on designs, where their focus lies not only on stick-on graphics, but also in the specialisation of custom wallpaper design, canvas printing and vinyl decal design for glass surfaces.  With decor tastes and trends moving toward a more personalised feel, Wall Art is a haven for adding your own creative fabrication to an interior. The possibilities are endless – if the surface is flat and smooth, it’s completely worthy of adornment.  From that dreary bathroom to that old cupboard that’s seen better days, Wall Art has the inspiration for you to create a solution.  For more information visit Wall Art’s amazingly executed website at www.wallartstickers.co.za – a true feast for the eyes.