humptydump digs FRANK

we chanced upon this series of chunky goodness from a good friend at Front Row over the weekend and can't wait to share it with the whole wide world (although we vowed to keep it a secret so it remains elusive and exclusive). we love how the hard metal and the soft buttery leather collides to make these lovelies so spunky yet so ironically elegant. And at the price range of S$100-S$145, you'd better grab them fast. Lovely work from a Bangkok designer we are still trying to track, who says Asian fashion is outdated?

by Alexander McQueen

by Pamela Love

by Delfina Delettrez

by Jack Vartanian

by AKONG

All Dressed Up - Make it your own

Question: Can we make this? Answer: Yes we can. Inspired by Sven Tan - alldressedup

www.alldressedup.com

Bottega Veneta Parfum - Understated Luxury - Michel Almairac

We caught a whiff of this fragrance during its launch in Paragon. Immediately, it brings to mind luxurious old manors with under-stated opulence. 'Composed by renowned master perfumer Michel Almairac, the Bottega Veneta fragrance Bottega Veneta fragrance is described as a leathery, floral chypre, representing the scented signature of the house - the "invisible, private luxury." 

Tomas Maier, the creative director, describes the inspiration for this creation: “An old house in the beautiful countryside in the Veneto region of Italy with rolling green hills, where we’re from. I envisioned a room with old wood floors, library walls and leather-bound books with the windows open wide, the breeze coming in and cut grass, hay, moss, garden flowers, growing through the room and everything mixing up. That’s where we started.”

The face of the campaign is Nine d'Urso, the daughter of French fashion icon Inès de la Fressange and Italian art dealer Luigi d'Urso. The campaign was shot Bruce Weber in South Florida. The perfume bottle is made of Murano glass (limited edition). More from fragrantica.com 

The Campaign

another local gem

Always on the look-out for beautiful things, the folks at icing gifts have upped their game again but kept to their pocket-friendly prices. We really appreciate that such beautifully-made things are so accessible, and by the way, they are not just sweet lil things; some can be quite spunky too, which we like.

more here

Koonhor SS12

Our little red dot, as Singapore is so often called, has never been deigned a fashion capital, but look how far we have come. Local labels have emerged in recent years and they are no longer the poorer cousins of established international fashion labels. A prime example, Koonhor, or APERCU as they were previously known, has been making their rounds at Paris Fashion Week and guess what, they are home-grown and have made a name for themselves in the cut-throat and fickle world of fashion.  Like the designers Koon Lim and Catrine The said, the design philsophy is to 'create alluring womens' wear that is effortless in its appeal, timeless in its construction and consumately bold in its attitude.' We agree wholeheartedly. Ogle...

wish we can still draw like that

Humptydump chanced upon this simple but effective rendering on the sesame street site, which brings to mind Pablo Picasso's beautiful quote 'Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when he grows up'

Another gem from Kings of Convenience

In the sky the birds are pulling rain,

in your life a curse has got a name,

makes you lie awake all through the night

that's why.

She's intoxicated by herself,

everyday she's seen with someone else,

and every night she kisses someone new

never you.

You're waiting in the shadows for a chance,

'cause you believe at heart, that if you can,

show to her what love is all about,

she'll change.

She'll talk to you with no one else around,

but only if you're able to entertain her,

the moment conversation stops she's gone,

again.

support local talent - hansel

humptydump has always been a fan of local labels, more so when Hansel creates their own prints and collaborates with fellow designers. So whimsical, slightly off-beat and totally original. more here

The Little Barn Owl - iittala - Oiva Toikka 1973 - Birds by Toikka Collection 2007

Credit to Oiva Toikka for such beautiful masterpieces, mouth-blown glass done to perfection. Each so handsomely made, unique, timeless and a privilege to own.

Quote from iitala 'Oiva Toikka's boundless inspiration and imagination find expression in his glass birds. Toikka's birds are handmade in Nuutajarvi, a glass-making village in Finland that is over two hundred years old. The creation of the birds demands great technical and artistic insight from the glassblowers. Each and every one is unique, featuring its own distinctive color variations. The collection is renewed annually.'

Edgy Homeware, courtesy of Bouf.com

Everyone, go visit Bouf. it has everything and more. enough said.

http://nick.bouf.com/hires. clever

He is the guy who thinks the world of himself

Don't think he has ever flown anything let alone fly a paper aeroplane. But Howard's ego is huge like a hot air balloon, literally. He wears his pilot attire proudly, and goes around telling everyone tales of his travels, albeit from his fantasies.

Kings of Convenience - Misread

one of those soothing songs you can listen to for hours, just to sort out your thoughts. Listening to it feels like someone is talking calmly to you. And by the way, lovely acoustics help.

Here are the lyrics:
If you wanna be my friend
You want us to get along
Please do not expect me to
Wrap it up and keep it there
The observation I am doing could
Easily be understood
As cynical demeanour
But one of us misread...
And what do you know
It happened again

A friend is not a means
You utilize to get somewhere
Somehow I didn't notice
friendship is an end
What do you know
It happened again

How come no-one told me
All throughout history
The loneliest people
Were the ones who always spoke the truth
The ones who made a difference
By withstanding the indifference
I guess it's up to me now
Should I take that risk or just smile?

What do you know
It happened again
What do you know

And Dumpy makes it through again

Humptydump had a roller coaster week, what with granny's hospitalization and moving into a new place all at once. But there is always therapy in the form of our glove dolls. Introducing Dumpy. He slouches too much, is imperfect but he doesn't care a hoot. He lives life the way he wants it.

The Desk 51 from Bludot

This amazing desk, so streamlined and effortless, yet contradicting with it's uneasy legs which suggests the tendency that the desk has to lean against something for it to balance itself. Yet it need not. Love it! See it at http://www.bludot.com/modern-desks/desk-51.html

A Tiffany-inspired ring pillow for a special couple.

Humptydump sewed this in all of one week, and nearly killed ourselves in the process. Materials include cording, a Christmas decoration, Tiffany-colour cloth (approximately 20cm by 20cm) and lots of patience. Sold at S$30. See another one of our gingham creations here. Sorry guys, we dont make lacy kitschy traditional pillows. Yucks those, and we are not apologetic for it. Here's to you Nic! Lovely Martha Stewart ones here too!

H&M comes to Singapore!

Fashion-starved Singaporeans often steal a short flight out to the nearest H&M stocked country, Hong Kong. Now that this Swedish store has finally landed on our shores, does this spell the dearth of high-street stores in Singapore? Top-shop, Abercrombie, Gap, Uniqlo, these have all opened up in a country known more for its hoity-toity political landscape and inscrutable laws than a shopping haven. 

It is without a doubt that H&M fills the gap between over-priced high-street Zara and hitting-rock-bottom Mango, and that inevitably creates a niche that drives us Singaporeans into a frenzy. But how long will this last before we crave for the next masstige brand? Perhaps its time we look at creating individual style than let labels dictate us and define who we are? Still, I am succumbing to the beautifully-styled ads and as we are writing this, heading out to join everyone in the H&M vortex. Who can resist a $99.90 MARNI look-alike? arrrrgggh. We hate ourselves.

Interior of H and M featuring the Commes des Garcons collaboration. Photo courtesy of WWD

The beauty of the local hardware store

we love going to the local hardware store. You are in for a surprise everytime you go. And not forgetting it inspires us to make something new. From the old school coffeebags to screws and nuts and even the forgotten toy for a kid, it is like a genie lamp. Rub it and wish for something, you might just get it.

This is so bouncy (the last time we poked it) and looks like it is longing for an owner

look carefully and see what you can find

Enough said

The bottled plants factory is open again!

thanks to a dear friend, we opened for business again! thanks, you know who you are! They are going for $40. height: Approximately 13cm. Base Diameter 6cm across. All in vintage food jars with metal levers. If you notice there is just one species of plants, that is because through our experiments, we have discovered that Fittonia thrives best, is colourful and requires minimal care, so that does it.

We do not believe in over-landscaping with unnecessary decorations. This is our idea of a rainforest.

The Amazing Expedit - IKEA

humptydump bought the by-now iconic IKEA EXPEDIT bookcase and is looking for inspiration. We welcome suggestions!

Lovely storage options from ClarissaJane

We think the crucial thing is the organisation

this is so infectious - Sophie Ellis Bextor x Spiller 'Groovejet'

This single by Spiller (vocals by the the ethereal Sophie Ellis Bextor) keeps ringing in our heads. We are dying from humming it.



More of the song statistics here

Small Spaces need not be cold

just a small space, but so many ideas. rug settings, picture placement, absolutely divine...           Apartment Therapy

simple bathrooms

humptydump is in a dilemma. English or clean minimal lines? Please help.

humptydump gets inspired by collar necklaces

humptydump bought many vintage lace collars from Chinatown. Think this is the most dignified way to turn vintage into beautiful wearables. Inspiration from Bryndis