On my way back from meeting with Jonathan Levien and Nipa Doshi, I couldn’t resist the temptation of stopping in the Montezuma’s chocolate store in Spitalfields (right next to the market) to pick up a few gifts for my husband, an incurable chocoholic. There are no traces of the bar chocolate I brought back but there is still a tiny bit of this spicy drinking chocolate left. The truth is that I am not sure he got to taste very much of it because I drank it all. Unlike many other drinking chocolates which are just powder, this one also has flakes of chocolate mixed with red pepper. If you don’t like the spicy kick, there are three other kinds, including with white chocolate! The cannisters make great gifts, or just give a box full of assorted gifts, no one will waste any time looking at the packaging! Organic, gluten free and handmade in Sussex.

I hope I don’t draw fire for this, but sometimes I think that some of the best artwork you can find around is supplied by the city government! I took this “Operation Clean Forest” poster from a telephone pole in Camigliatello in the Sila mountains in Calabria ten years ago (it was the only one around and just put up with thumbtacks!!!). I kept it on my wall with thumbtacks, exactly as I found it, until I decided earlier this spring that it would be better to frame it. I have always wondered why the little porcupine didn’t use his quills to speed up his work…

If you see a poster around that you like, try asking the local office responsible for the poster how you can get one… Or if it’s just hanging there with thumbtacks, uh…

Another fun interview for the weekend…

Name: Todfield Crash (BKA “Crash!”)
Breed: Border Terrier
Birthplace/Date of Adoption: 07 January 1998 in Manassas, Virginia. I arrived in my current home on 20 March 1998.
Average hours of sleep per day: I’m not too good at counting, but I think half the day. How many is that?
Sun or Shade: Sun.

Favorite piece of furniture. I like to sleep in the corner of the arm of the sofa the most. No one is allowed to sit there when I’m around. And if they do, they have to share with me.

Your first crush. Pippi, a beautiful Fox Terrier. Or was it Baba…a cute little MinPin who taught me how to use the bathroom while walking on my two front legs…(she used to raise herself off the ground while still squatting!)

One food you never want to find on your plate. Arugula.

It might make you sound like a wimp, but you’re really scared of… The noise a broom makes!!

Film or TV program you could watch over and over. Good Boy! The main character “Hubble” is a Border Terrier, like me, and he was the leader of the pack and all the other dogs thought he was the smartest and wisest dog ever. I’d like to be like him someday.

Keeping with the sketch theme, the Bouroullec studio was nice enough to share some sketches which the brothers did for charity, which I thought would be nice to post here on my last day of guestblogging!

There are so many things in the Plümo catalogue which I think are neat. I usually use my mantel as a place for post cards, but it tends to look messy, as you can see in the fireplace picture in a previous post. I thought this was a nice idea: a heart-shaped card holder!

In addition to tableware, I also really love chairs. I was very happy to receive these images the other day! Neo-retro is the word Magali Jeambrun uses to describe her design style for etc. creations. I like even more that the chair frames are handmade in a workshop in France!! In addition to the pieces in her catalogue, she also has some one-off pieces. I think a one-off chair by Magali would definitely be a great splurge gift!! And maybe, just maybe you might be able to convince her to do a custom-designed chair?

Pink Paradise

Capiton Bleu et Rose

Mise en Nue Blanche

OK, so I have presented these weeks some design, some food, and well…here’s the rest! (dysfunction!) I found a couple of other personalities willing to interview… just for some weekend fun before I say bye on Sunday. I hope you like him.

Name: Pixel Wong Jackson
Breed: Boston Terrier
Birthplace/Date of Adoption: May 2001 in Cottonwood, California.
Average hours of sleep per day: Probably at least 16-20 hours. I’m so lucky!
Sun or Shade: Lots of sun!

Favorite piece of furniture. Wherever the sun lands, you’ll find me lying there. Sometimes it’s the top of the couch, sometimes it’s the bed, and sometimes there’s a sliver of sun peeking through the shades on the carpet.

Your first crush. Bucket… until I found out she was my sister.

One food you never want to find on your plate. Chocolate

It might make you sound like a wimp, but you’re really scared of… Bushes cut in the shape of animals or other shapes.

Film or TV program you could watch over and over. I love the Frontline flea control commercial with the pug vs. the boston terrier. And guess who wins?!

happy holidays everyone! in the spirit of giving i thought i’d update the biz lady meetup on december 5 with a small twist. i thought it would be nice if those of us coming could help those who are less fortunate this season. so, if you’re attending the biz lady meetup please bring along a canned good (or as many as you’d like) or non-perishable food item with you to dwr. i’ll be collecting our donations and bringing them to city harvest the next day. i thought it would be really nice to give back in any way we could this season. hope to see you all there! [guidelines for city harvest donations are right here]