Isn't Instagram great? We just really got into it recently and it's a great way for us to share all of our designer-y adventures in and around our studio. Here are just a few samples of our pics and you can follow us as well on Instagram here: http://instagram.com/andreahughes82

Flan-Tastic!

So the other day we were out for lunch and this happened...




Flan (aka Malabi in Israel) has got to be one of the most play-with-your-food inducing desserts!

Happy Birthday Shai!

But how do you ride it?

Awesome concept, but how exactly would you ride them?

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665720/ai-weiwei-piles-1200-bikes-on-top-of-each-other-for-dazzling-effect

Steampunk Bugs

 amazing creations made with real insects!
http://insectlabstudio.com/

We're totally in love.

Ron Arad 720*

We went to go see the Ron Arad 720* exhibit last week. It was pretty amazing.

Not only was the installation brilliant (not to mention STRETCHY!) but the video art displayed on it was original and inspired.

All in all, it was a pretty awesome exhibit. At one point there was even a dude inside playing the piano & singing songs!

If you ever get the chance to go see it, we highly recommend it!

Happy Birthday to Me!

We spent the afternoon yesterday enjoying a picnic in the woods for Andrea's birthday. Bubbles were obviously necessary

It was a pretty awesome day all around. The picnic was fun and afterwards we stopped by the Jerusalem museum to see Ron Arad's 720* exhibit, which was equally awesome.

All in all, it was a pretty magical day. Particularly when you consider that I spent the whole day trying to forget WHICH birthday this year was. Well, we all get older on the outside. It's what's on the inside that counts, right?

<3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">Andrea

Dashing Designer Portrait

We wanted to share a different kind of design with you this time

Andrea's been getting back into painting again (after a VERY long break) and she made this beautiful portrait of us!

For the curious, it's a combination of inks & acrylics.

Not too shabby eh?

Angie Hiesl Installation Pieces

Senior Citizens Just Lounging 20 Feet Above Ground 

X-Fois Gens Chaise, or X-Times People Chair, is a site-specific piece created by German artist Angie Hiesl. During each performance, selected people between the ages of 60 and 70 float overhead on metal white chairs attached to the façade of various buildings. As the performers sit, perched in the air, they conduct normal, everyday activities such as reading the newspaper, folding clothes, knitting, and having a snack—they just happen to be doing these activities from 20 feet off the ground!

The project is hilarious and passers-by can’t help but pause to take a look at the incredibly surprising display overhead. Hiesl’s intentions are to transform a recognizable place into what she describes as a “rearrangement of reality,” encouraging viewers to take a new look at what we once believed to be a familiar space.

During the piece, the performers ignore the crowds who stop to stare. When time is up, they simply climb down a ladder and walk away, stunning the crowds who have congregated below. Hiesl is well known for producing art in public spaces and has shown this installation piece all over Europe as well as in South America.

You can also check out a video of some live reactions to the public displays here on YouTube.

Angie Hiesl’s website

More Awesome Porcelain art...

We found some amazing porcelain art by artist Kate MacDowell - http://www.katemacdowell.com/portfolio.html

I don't know what exactly it is about porcelain artists, but they make some really amazing work.

Sunglasses that'll make your jaw drop

We discovered these awesome sunglasses by Emma Montague - they seriously made our jaw drop, particularly when we found out that they're made of actual jaw bones. Pretty awesome. Talk about upcycling!

Wine Stain Portraits

We found these fantastic portraits created out of wine-stains

There are a whole series of them on Amelia Fais Harnas' website - www.trulyamelia.com/

We love Old Jaffa

We spent last Friday having a lovely brunch with a couple of friends of ours at this great little cafe in old Jaffa. After a great brunch we wandered around the old Jaffa flea market and found all kinds of little curiosities like this glass-preserved flower.

Only on weekends

All week we watch what we eat but on the weekends...

Image by Super Silo

Masses and masses of lovely lace

We love this amazing lace exhibit - too bad it's too far away for us to visit. Take a look at all the beautiful pieces there are here:
http://www.emptykingdom.com/main/featured/manuel-ameztoy/

8 Steps to Discovering Your Own Sense of Style

Whether it's Lady Gaga or Audrey Hepburn, we all have our fashion icons. People we look up to for their confidence, style and unbelievable ability to look fabulous no matter what. As different as they may seem, there's one thing they all have in common - their own unique sense of style.

And here most of us are, wearing the same pair of jeans to work/school everyday, without the slightest sense of inspiration. So what can you do to develop our own sense of style and bring out your inner fashionista? While it's not something that's easily developed overnight, we have a few pointers to help you cultivate your own garden of fashionable delights.

Of course, it's important to consider a few things that you won't be needing. For starters, style isn't something that can simply be bought. To be honest, if you've had trouble discovering your fashion-identity, you've probably fallen into the most common trap out there - the trend-aholic.

So with this in mind, let's take a look at some of the simple things that will help you cultivate that inner fashionista who's dying to step into the spotlight.

1. Make an analysis of your wardrobe - pull out all of your favorite pieces of clothing. Toss aside anything that's less than 6 months old. What is left are your go-to favorites. Anything that has stood the test of time and you are still happy to wear (even if it is only for that special occasion) is an item that bears in it the essence of what your own personal style is.

2. Pull out the old fashion magazines - Not the new ones with this season's hottest trends. You're looking at developing your own style, so avoiding trends is going to be important. Pull out an old Vogue or Style magazine from at least two years ago and flip through it and find the cuts, prints and colors that still excite you. Keep in mind that trends in fashion come and go and go round in never ending circles, so even though something is currently "out", it doesn't mean that it's not cool, fun or stylish and definitely does not mean that it won't make a comeback next season.

 3. Make a list - Of things that you feel are missing from your wardrobe. Separate the list to types of items, cuts, colors. Here's where this is going to get tricky. We all feel like sometimes there's this must-have item that's so hot this season and we can't live without it. Our wardrobe is just dying for it! Then 6 months later - you're stuck wondering what the heck were you thinking? So when you're making this list, be sure that the items you're adding here are really something that you've been missing for a long time. A really beautiful statement necklace, a hat for sunny days, a blazer that fits properly, etc.

4.  Clear out the junk - Anything you haven't worn for 6 months or longer needs to go. The only exception should be very seasonal items (If it's July and you haven't worn a wool coat for 6 months, we'll understand) and event-wardrobe pieces - evening dresses, tiaras, etc. Everything else must go!

5. Mix it up - Take items you haven't worn for a long time and try styling them in an unusual way. Turn your old cardigan upside-down or backwards. Pull up that maxi-skirt into a strapless dress. This is the perfect way to bring new life to some of the items that you never wear, but can't bear to part with either. Another important point to keep in mind - don't be afraid of getting creative here. No one is going to notice that dress is really a skirt; and if they do, they'll probably be in awe of your innovation!

6. Swap with friends - Always a good way to clear out something you no longer feel attached to and gain a sparkly new addition to your wardrobe. As they say "One man's trash is another man's treasure". So before you drag those old items to the Goodwill, get your friends together for a wardrobe-swap. It's a cheap way to inject some new life in your wardrobe and pair that with a few cocktails and a camera - you'll have a night to remember for years!

7. Accessorize - This is the biggest fashionista secret that there is. We all have days when you just can't be bothered to wear anything more than that black t-shirt and jeans. There's nothing wrong with that, just be sure to add a little flare. Whether it's a scarf, earrings, or FABULOUS pair of shoes, a little accessorizing will bring you from blah to BLING - effortlessly.

8. DIY - There are many awesome blogs out there that can give you short and easy to use tutorials to spice up that old faded denim jacket that you can't part with or turn that colorful scarf your Mom gave you into a purse, skirt, necklace, you name it! Here are a few of our favorites:

http://www.outsapop.com/
http://apair-andaspare.blogspot.com
http://psimadethis.com/
http://www.ispydiy.com/
http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/

Developing your own sense of style is something that takes time, confidence, experimentation and most of all, patience. When you're experimenting and testing, remember that there are going to be great failures as well as spectacular successes. This process is meant to bring you out of your comfort zone, and at times it's going to be, well - uncomfortable. Being stylish is an adventure, so be brave, dress accordingly and most importantly - have fun!

Good luck and stay stylish!

<3
Shai & Andrea

Our studio - a beautiful disaster!

We thought we'd give you a little glimpse into our working process...

It's a beautiful disaster, just the way we like it!

Pink Puppy

A pretty pink puppy in polystyrene - just because!

4 Handy tips to integrate vintage into your modern wardrobe

It's surprising how many people love the concept of wearing vintage clothing. The whole idea of it is great - you get quality items that have stood the test of time, and you never have to worry about anyone showing up in the same outfit (except maybe your grandmother!).

The thing that holds most people back isn't a lack of eagerness - it's this abstract sense of commitment. Like if you start wearing vintage clothes, you have to start doing your hair every day in a 1960's beehive or something. The truth is, adding a little vintage to your wardrobe doesn't take that much effort at all.

We've put together a couple of simple ways for you to take the leap into the vintage realm:

1. Accessories are great appetizers - Accessories are the perfect way to test the waters - jewelry, belt, broaches, hats, bags, etc. They're low-commitment and they give you a little vintage flare that's actually really easy to work into your existing wardrobe.

2. Have a full budget - Just like with new clothing, quality vintage isn't cheap, but you will get more for your money. A brand new high street fashion chain is charging you most of the money for their fancy big campaigns and branding while with vintage all of your investment goes towards the garment! Even if you are spending a bit more on your item, the vintage boutique has done most of the work for you, hunting and selecting the higher quality items floating around out there.

3. Be patient, be picky - You might not find the perfect piece to suit your style the first time out, so don't force it. Also keep in mind that the perfect item you come across may happen to be 5 sizes up or down from your size. This is part of the charm with vintage sometimes, to wear an over sized  blouse pulled in at the waist by a wide vintage belt with an awesome buckle. Of course, if that doesn't do it for you, many vintage boutiques also offer a customization and alteration service!

4. Enjoy the hunt - Part of the fun with shopping vintage is that you never know what you'll find - it's like a treasure hunt! Many great vintage items come with a history - don't be afraid to ask a shop owner about something. Keep an eye as well on the fabric content. Often you will get a steal and go home with a nice silk dress for the price of a new poly-cotton blend dress from the big box retailers.

Of course there's a lot more to shopping vintage, but as long as you keep these starting points in mind, you'll find that there's a special joy in discovering a great vintage treasure.

Even more so than with shopping new, you'll want to keep an eye on the quality of your treasures. For more tips on that, take a look at our post on buying quality clothing.

So good luck and happy hunting!

Keep it flowin!

So - can someone get us an extra bottle? (Not that there's any shortage here, we just like to have a little backup!)