collapsible solar powered lantern : by jesper jonsson

Project Soul Cell was designer Jesper Jonsson‘s thesis project last year. I’m hoping to see this developed as a real product sometime soon. It’s an attractive and intelligent lantern — small and collapsible, and powered by the sun through the panel at the top. This one is sized for soft lighting and hangs easily from the little handle. Jesper suggests hanging it from your bike handles when you’re set up for an evening picnic in the park.

(*via Inhabitat)

great day : at the illegal wedding fair

Yesterday’s Illegal Wedding Fair was an elegant, celebratory affair at the incredible townhouse, 632 on Hudson. Thanks to all who came! I was really happy to be a part of a beautiful and inspiring event and to show my support for marriage equality. I’m eager to see professional photos but for now, here are a few shots of the Paperfinger table and the collaboration I did with the talented ladies of Poppies & Posies who a put together a gorgeous tablescape. Hope to have more pics to share soon!

good cause giveaway : for liam

I wrote a little while ago about a friend and industry colleague’s son, Liam, who has a rare disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. Lynn, of Satsuma Press, organized a fundraiser/giveaway to help raise money for the renovation of thier home bathroom so that her son Liam, who just turned six, can use it. She invited artists and crafts-folk to contribute a gift to this raffle-esque fundraiser. I contributed a gift certificate for a custom return address stamp. There are loads of amazing goodies to be won. Check out the full list here and if you’re inclined, make a contribution to the cause via PayPal for an entry. $15 for one entry; $25 for two; $50 for five.

showing support : we love liam

Lynn Russell — the talented designer and founder of Satsuma Press in Portland, OR + a friend-of-friends + a warm colleague in the world of paper goods — let me know about a new blog for her son, Liam. We Love Liam was set up to inform people about her son’s rare neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 and to help raise funds for a renovation of their bathroom so that it is fully Liam-accessible. This is a huge financial undertaking so Lynn and her husband are reaching out to their community for support. Liam turns six years old in just about a week. You can visit, contribute, comment or spread the word at http://www.weloveliam.blogspot.com/.

it’s not every day you find : a good luck spot

Ms. Blades and I came upon an official good luck spot on Front Street in DUMBO yesterday. Did my best to soak it up.

Does anyone know who created it?

celebrating : international women’s day

(*Image via NYC Dept of Parks & Recreation)

bryn listens : martin luther king, jr. tribute by nina simone

On April 7, 1968, one day after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, Nina Simone performed live at the Westbury Music Fair. Her entire show that day was in tribute to Dr. King and this song has always been one of my favorites.

Listen and celebrate his life today:

Why? (The King of Love is Dead) by Nina Simone

partners in health : supporting haiti

For over twenty years, Partners in Health (PIH) have been working Haiti to provide the country’s poor citizens with access to health care for free. It is a remarkable organization and they are poised to provide tremendous assistance in the wake of this disaster.

I learned about PIH by reading Tracy Kidder’s life-changing book, Mountains Beyond Mountains.

I encourage you to learn about PIH and to join me in making a donation to help them as they tackle this crisis on the ground in Haiti. Their mission statement is below:

The PIH Vision: Whatever it takes
At its root, our mission is both medical and moral. It is based on solidarity, rather than charity alone. When a person in Peru, or Siberia, or rural Haiti falls ill, PIH uses all of the means at our disposal to make them well—from pressuring drug manufacturers, to lobbying policy makers, to providing medical care and social services. Whatever it takes. Just as we would do if a member of our own family—or we ourselves—were ill.

———–

Until further notice: $15 from each custom return address stamp order goes to PIH

good works : hot bread kitchen

Hot Bread Kitchen is one more thing New York City has to be proud of. It is a non-profit social enterprise that provides professional employment opportunities for immigrant women. The business of selling breads and baked goods not only creates jobs; the products and baking methods are designed to preserve the baking traditions of the world’s cultures, thanks to the rich diversity of their staff. Hand-ground corn tortillas, traditional lavash, foccacia, granola — their baked goods earn rave reviews in publications like Food & Wine, Town & Country and The New York Times.

Support Hot Bread Kitchen through donations and purchases! Retailers are listed on their website or make a donation online.

www.hotbreadkitchen.org

(*Image via Brooklyn Flea)

good works : window farms

Window farming at the Whitney Museum

The Windowfarms Project started here in Brooklyn. Window farming is just as it sounds — making a little farm in your window. The system they’ve designed uses recycled materials to grow plants with hydroponics and capitalizes on whatever amount of sunlight you get. Vertical farming indeed.

At home window farms

A window farmer's bounty

The project is successfully working towards two key goals: 1) to spread the word about and engage people in window farming here in New York and other urban areas; and 2) create a collaborative research group fed with ideas from all over on how to best implement window farming — an open source approach.

They need support! With great press and growing interest in their project, they need funding to continue their work.

There are five days left to contribute to their Kickstarter campaign — and they are only about $1000 bucks away from their goal of 25K! If they don’t meet their goal, all the money is refunded to the funders — but if they do meet their goal, they will be able to invest the time and resources into growing this project.

Donate now to support Windowfarms. And spread the word!

Check out the Cool Hunting video about making your own window farm.

These photos and lots more in the Windowfarms Flickr photostream.