Nest Of The Day: Bee Bundles

When I saw the images of these amazing bee cocoons made from carefully layered delicate flower petals, I just had to share them with you.

These flower nests were discovered in Turkey. The bees use 3 different types of flowers to construct their pods: Geranium, Flax, and Sun Roses. The process of crafting the colorful nest is described in a Garden Design article:

"The bees bite off one petal at a time and flies each individual petal back to the nest. When the mother bee has amassed enough petals, she layers the petals into a delicate shell, holding the pod together with nectar and a thin layer of mud… Inside, the bee will deposit one egg, before sealing up the flower pod by folding down the petals. The baby bee will hatch and grow inside, before emerging in the spring from its flowery home."

Credit: Jerome Rozen/American Museum of Natural History via Garden Design

Cabin Fever Dreams

I am told Cabin Fever is not a measurable or diagnosed affliction. It is getting capitalized here like any true disease because I believe it is real. I bet you know others who have been struck with this degenerative mood-altering ailment. What, with the snow, ice, rain, slush, mud, and the freezing, freezing temps this winter, it could strike anyone.

Here's my unofficial definition of Cabin Fever:

Cabin Fever is a type of hysteria brought on by spending too much time indoors during the winter of 2011. No matter how comfortable and beautifully designed the "cabin" is, in severe cases its inhabitants can see no end in sight.

So sad.

A Site

Designtripper is a dreamy website that's fueling a travel fantasy - Pack the bags, ditch the "cabin" and hit the road. What is Designtripper?

"Designtripper explores the intersection of travel and design with genuine curiosity and good taste."

Designtripper will not book a trip for you, but it will narrate bedtime stories with design eye-candy that will,

"…inspire you to see the world through someone else’s home."

Here is the first destination on Designtripper's itinerary I'm dreaming about…

A Place

Swedish fashion brand Elvine, has launched a new design hotel concept, Creators Inn in Stockholm, Sweden. They offer free accommodations for creative people. Yes, you read that right – It's totally free. No hidden fees. The mission of Creators Inn is to promote the local area and give something back to creative travelers who they feel will contribute to making their city more interesting.

To qualify for free accommodations, potential guests need to apply on the Creators Inn website, and write a reason why they deserve a free stay, and what creative activities they will be involved in during their stay. Then their wish may be granted. Hmm, I could think of…a zillion creative activities, none the least of which could be my role as an armchair creative.

Wait, it get's even better…

Creative Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is one of those buzzy eco-terms. It generally describes a company's business model of aspiring to have an impact on the lives of workers. Elvine takes this one step further and defines their model in creative terms:

"We tried to add some creativity to the equation, labeling what we do as CSR - Creative Social Responsibility. By offering visiting creators free accommodation, we hope to remind people of a lovely little thing called hospitality. And in addition to making the visiting creators happy and Gothenburg a more interesting city because of their presence, we hope this simple idea can be exported and implemented around the globe."

Travel, giving back, creative stimulation, design inspiration, feeling good – Just what the doctor ordered...

Cabin. Fever. Cured.

Credits: Creators Inn

Wabi-Sabi Home

Earlier this week, I wrote a green interior design post for Care2 about bringing into our homes the Japanese elements of wabi-sabi - the beauty of imperfection.

3 Elements of wabi-sabi: Nothing lasts. Nothing is finished. Nothing is perfect.

3 Questions wabi-sabi asks: Is it useful? Is it beautiful? Is it meaningful?

It seems we could ascribe the beauty of imperfection to so many of life’s essential moments. Couldn’t we?

To find 3 ways to bring wabi-sabi into your nest, CLICK HERE.

Photos: Michael Paul for Marie Claire

All You Need Is Love

There's nothing you can do that can't be done. DIY Love Headboard – Style Files

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Pom Pom Flowers – Domesticistuff

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.

Love Match – Interior Design Houses

It's easy.

Ceramic Hearts - Remodelista

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

Alexander Girard Heart - Curbly

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Tea Three Ways - Design Sponge

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time – It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

Heirloom Design At Home

When I was a kid, I thought we were Danish. I am going to tell you about it, but before I explain that far-fetched childhood fantasy, I’d like to talk about heirloom design. I promise to circle back to being Danish.

Bringing Heirloom Design Home

I wrote an article that supported the stance that we are replacing items too often. Our culture has made it easy to create too much stuff with short life cycles. The article explored the concept of "heirloom design." I had heard Saul Griffith at a design conference outline how he was planning to give his soon-to-be-born son a Rolex and a Mont Blanc pen. When his kid was old enough, he would tell him that these would be the only watch and pen he could use for the next 100 years. Griffith's rationale was that, if something is thoughtfully designed and beautiful, it could be passed down through the generations.

I decided to bring the concept home. I explained heirloom design to my kids and asked them to take a look around the house and tell me what they would consider heirloom and hand-me-down worthy. Here's one:

"The artwork collection handed down from Grandma - Particularly, the Bjorn Wiinblad posters. They make Grandma, you, and us smile."

You can read about the other items they chose here.

What Do You Mean We Are Not Danish?

My dad was a mid-century designer. His hand printed, silkscreen wallpaper designs were hung on all of our walls. Interspersed among the flocks and metallics were portraits of happy relatives…or so I thought. These whimsical portraits were the artwork of Bjorn Wiinblad (left). I truly believed Wiinblad was one of my kin. Gazing up at an oversized Wiinblad poster was like getting a huge, smiling hug from an adoring relative - Not the pinch-your-cheek kind, but the kind of family member you admire for her sense of colorful quirkiness.

The Wiinblad posters and pottery that decorated my home also greeted visitors at my Aunt and Uncle's house. The posters were winking at me there too - we must all be related.

Eventually, I figured out that we had no Danish relatives (not a blond among us), and the inspired Wiinblad collection was actually a mutual admiration that my mom and aunt shared. They also collected Wiinblad cards, wrapping paper, china and ash trays.

My children have come to love this “designer's designer” too. The twinkling eyes of Wiinblad's portraits exude the themes of music, art, humor, and the joy of life. We have many Wiinblads in my home. The main image (above) is from a rare detailed ceramic plate that I got (won) on eBay a few years ago. When my best friend Cathy got married, we gave her the "Blue Lady."

As my little home-research discovered, heirloom designed objects don't have to be a Rolex or Mont Blanc, or even a Wiinblad to qualify as heirloom. But, they do have to be thoughtfully designed, beautiful and well taken care of.

If heirloom design goes hand and hand with slower consumption, do you think this is another one of those "green" concepts we should teach our kids? In your home, what would you consider to be heirloom designed? What would your kids choose?

Main image: Ted Fink