ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN.

These animal bookmarks are designed by Mai ONO and I want. There's something completely delightful about something so small and so practical; and maybe, okay, it's the whole, sudden animal theme spilling over from yesterday. But I want. For any book. For any planner. A place for every animal bookmark and an animal bookmark for every place.

ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE.

A very cool print by Katie Kirk, which takes the iconic pieces of Alice in Wonderland that we all know and love. It's so funny, but there's been such an explosion in love for the Lewis Carroll favorite and with the release of Tim Burton's film, back in early March, it's been really interesting to see who does what with Alice.

TWO HUNDRED FOUR.

If you ever wanted to know my guilty pleasure, you would open up my closet and see the piles of Moleskine journals on the shelves. All filled. And a cleaning nightmare, as told to me by my mother. But Moleskine has introduced 'the hand of the designer', a collection of 462 reproductions of hand made sketches by 150 internationally recognized designers, including Bouroullec Brothers, Michael Graves, Hella Jongerius, Karim Rashid, and many others. It's really an intimate look into the creative process of the designer. The general layout has the familiar look of a Moleskine notebook, which indicates a visual connection to the sketchbooks often adopted by designers.

ONE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX.

Anna Karenina designed by FUEL.

Penguin has collaborated with AIDS awareness fund (RED) and a team of designers to produce new covers for eight Penguin Classics. Each cover replaces the usual black band with red, employing a quote from the text of the book as the visual hit. And really, sometimes we do judge a book by its cover.

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-SEVEN.

Somehow the weatherman seems to be convinced that we've got our own snowapocalypse waiting in the wings - except, you know, the sun is shinning. This is definitely a point for another day, of course. But just before you head out to enjoy the day, check out some of our favorite things.

SO YOU WANT A BOOMERANG CHAIR. The thing about the internet is that it makes you an eternal skeptic and when you read a link that says 'boomerang chair, you're faced with two decisions: a) ignore it because there's a 99.9% chance that it may be the campiest thing you've ever seen or b) don't ignore it and face that percentage come hell or high water. But the Neutra Boomerang Chair is quite cool both in design and style, coming in both dark and light woold. It's modern, sure, but it feels like classic beach chair in a way - do check it out.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. If this doesn't make you a Spike Jonze fan, we don't know what else will. There's something ultimately magical about your childhood coming to life - and in such a big way as well. It's about the colors and that feeling, that pulsing feeling of curiosity and insight at the big bad world that still exists for us as adults even though we sometimes forget. There's such color in this film and heart and if you didn't see it in October, here's a chance for you now. The DVD came out on the second.

GUESS THAT BREAKFAST. An interesting new series by German photographer Oliver Schwarzwald that looks at typical breakfasts around the world. The photographs are incredible. Check it out.

THE PERFECT SANDWICH. The problem with spending too much time on a food blog and really it's not a problem but ultimately it does make you hungrier than you want to be - but you do stumble onto things that you love and then want, not necessarily to make but to appear out of nowhere like magic. Take the Pain Surprise, which is hollowed out bread made into little sandwiches of different flavors and then stuffed back in. No particular order, of course, so that it's a complete surprise which is great and scary, depending on where you are, when thinking about it.

FRANK CHIMERO HAS A BLOG. And I can't help but fall madly in love with it more and more every day. Chimero muses on all things thought and design, creativity and business and even Kanye West. A favorite post? 8 Ways to End the Internet which includes this point, "Dancing Baby and Hamster Dance make another go at it in light of the recent success of other come-back tours." It still makes me laugh.

YOUNG ME, NOW ME. In a culture where aging is both a fear and fascination, this photography blog is a warmer response to that sensibility and ultimately really endearing. Two photos, the same people, different times - from mothers and sons then to mothers and sons now, you as the viewer really get to face how much people really don't change. And these photos are really great. And makes you want to hug your family.

HEY HEY JIMI. From the March 2010 issue of Vogue Spain, comes this really wonderful editorial from photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Of course, Hendrix was the seventies and the aesthetics from the time range from leather and feathers and colors. But the tribute in itself is very romantic and gorgeous without a doubt, and there a few really incredible pieces that you definitely want to get your hands on.

A PORTABLE DESK FOR YOU AND ME. From Swedish Headoffice Design, secretaire is a foldable and portable workspace made in wood. The keyword here is portable and it's quite the accessory - check it out.

VIKTOR & ROLF PRE-FALL 2010. Although I'm sure most of us are ready for spring to come, for the colors and the prints, we're certainly excited about Viktor & Rolf's pre-fall collection. Each piece is phenomenal, of course, and while I'm also sure that many of you are going "black, really?", the construction to each piece is phenomenal.

DID YOU KNOW: THE DAFFODIL EDITION. The one thing about spring that we all are excited about is flowers. Spring means fresh flowers and if there's something that I really enjoy, it's putting fresh flowers everywhere - thanks mom. Design Sponge has a phenomenal entry on daffodils and the various types. It's an interesting read, check it out.

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ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE.

How fantastic is this? The Book Cell, an octagonal building made entirely from books that was installed in the Modern Art Center in Lisboa. Slovakian artist Matej Kren built an octagonal framework, filled it with books and removed it, leaving a symmetrical, enclosed room of stacked literature.

ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN.

This weekend, just because it's ungodly cold and the feeling in your toes is non-existent, doesn't mean you can't go and enjoy a little something. Pancakes, for example. Everybody loves pancakes. But for now, we want you to enjoy our Friday favorites, full of some of the things we find fantastically inspiring. Stay warm!

LOST BOOKS. There is television and then there’s LOST – and there’s not enough time in the day to talk about LOST. What needs to be said is this: for its last and final season, which premiered Tuesday, there are heads already spinning and mass discussions of “what happened?!” (LOST can and might be an entire full and separate entry later, once the heads do stop spinning – if ever) and if anything, theories and spoilers are too much of an addiction. Instead, we bring you a list of the books that are read through out the show – a cool, if not mind-blowing list for the book nerd in you that brings a whole different level to speculation.

LUXIRARE. Taking on food and fashion, luxiarare offers a gorgeous way of marrying the two together on her blog. From the latest to her favorites to her own stunning (chain jacket, oh my god!) creations, each of these images is perfectly selected to burn into your brain the moment you stumble onto them.

IDEAS ON LEGS. The brainchild of Bill Hess, an artist, product designer, engineer, and teacher, this recycled glass topiary installation was a project that he did for the 2009 NEXT Art Fair as part of Art Chicago – and just a really cool way of putting to us your leftover beer bottles! Watch the video, at the source, to see how it all came together.

SOMEECARDS. When we talk guilty pleasures, someecards is definitely one of those guilty pleasures. For cheeky, if not sharp, e-cards (and assorted store items, mind you) someecards is that perfect place to find a card for that special someone should you be miles and miles away from them, possibly in another country and with terrible cell service – mostly it’s for a great laugh.

FISS. This is a really great group of lighting objects by designer Rui Alves with a nice combination of bright colors and the pure beauty of wood; fully function and could very well add a cool twist to any space.

GREGOIRE ALEXANDRE. You may recognize some of the French photographer Gregoire Alexandre’s work from advertisements such as this one from Absolut Vodka. His vibrant photography takes theatrical elements into dynamic composition to make incredible photos.

SPLINTER WORKS DIME KITCHEN. UK-based designers Miles Hartwell and Matt Withington taking inspiration from the spinning coin – it has ten blades that shuffle right back to reveal a stone surface that holds all of your appliances and accessories which help you cook. Open or closed, the cabinet looks like a sculpture or piece of art!

THE LOOPS BENCH. From American designer Aaron Asedo, who had this to say about his creation, “Loops was designed to fill a void in today’s market – knock down furniture that appears to be a one-off piece of art. Inspired by bungee jumping, Loops was ergonomically tested to provide form and function with an aesthetic made from 2/8 rubber cordstock, 1/2 in PETG plastic and maple wood. The piece was created to fit inside a UPS shipping box.”

THE TITANIC LAMP. While it does look simple and plain in design, the fact that it's "sinking" right into the table like the famous ship did into the sea so many years ago is just ingenious. The lamp is made of lacquered wood with a cotton and steel shade, and it does turn on to provide light so it appears more like a normal lamp that just happens to be sinking. Available in white only from Viable London.

PEARL JAM, JUST BREATHE. After this week, we’re letting the song and video speaking for itself. Beautiful song, brilliant band. Enjoy.

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ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE.

NEW YORK – J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose "The Catcher in the Rye" shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, has died. He was 91.

Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son said in a statement from Salinger's literary representative. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in the small, remote house in Cornish, N.H.

"The Catcher in the Rye," with its immortal teenage protagonist, the twisted, rebellious Holden Caulfield, came out in 1951, a time of anxious, Cold War conformity and the dawn of modern adolescence. The Book-of-the-Month Club, which made "Catcher" a featured selection, advised that for "anyone who has ever brought up a son" the novel will be "a source of wonder and delight — and concern."

Enraged by all the "phonies" who make "me so depressed I go crazy," Holden soon became American literature's most famous anti-hero since Huckleberry Finn. The novel's sales are astonishing — more than 60 million copies worldwide — and its impact incalculable. Decades after publication, the book remains a defining expression of that most American of dreams — to never grow up. (Source.)

ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN.

!!!!!!

That's right. That right there has been the reaction this blogger's had (and ultimately, making her struggle with third-person references) upon discovering the latest in this strange but genius revival of classic novels.

Sure, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was a strange and unexpected phenomena - can you imagine how much more exciting Jane Austen might have been with zombies back in high school? That's what I've been doing too. Then, of course, there's Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters which just speaks for itself - come on, first zombies and now sea monsters. Sea monsters.

Now, there are robots.

Of course, it's true to the original novel - the story follows two relationships: The tragic adulterous love affair of Anna Karenina and Count Alexei Vronsky, and the more hopeful marriage of Nikolai Levin and Princess Kitty Shcherbatskaya. The kick? These characters live in a steampunk-inspired world of robotic butlers, clumsy automatons, and rudimentary mechanical devices. And when these machines begin to revolt against their human masters a la Terminator (!!!), these beloved characters must fight back using state-of-the-art 19th-century technology.

If that doesn't scream read me, I don't know what else to tell you.

NINETY-THREE.

Happy long weekend, readers! Hopefully, today's warm temperatures and Project Runway reruns on BRAVO mean it's going to be a long, if not relaxing kind of weekend. We hope that you might find something special this weekend that will kick some inspiration into gear. So to start us off, here are few of our favorite things for the week!

DWELL. With its tagline at home in the modern world, DWELL’s website is an excellent, eclectic mix of product recommendations, insights into assorted home renovations and creations, events, people, and places. Pay special attention their ideas section, where DWELL offers a range of perspectives that are organized by topic and room for easy accessibility.

YSIOS BODEGA. The winery is located north of the classic wine-growing region of La Rioja in the province of Álava, Spain. Bodegas y Bebidas, is one of the largest groups in the region, and wanted a building that would be an icon for its new wine “la Rioja Alavesa” and have the space to accommodate the precise and rigorous program needed to make, store and sell their wine. They commissioned internationally-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava to create a distinctive piece of architecture to give an exceptional image to this new label.

THE WRIGHT. Located within the Guggenheim Museum, the new restaurant is an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright’s celebrated design. It is designed by ‘designers to watch’, Andre Kikoski Architects. The restaurant’s opening commemorates the 50th anniversary of the museum with it’s contemporary design and mood, also assisted by British artist Liam Gillick’s gorgeous, commissioned installation.

B-SIDES. So we’re pretty excited about this one! BARNEYS has officially joined the blogsphere with B-SIDES with a mix of fun fashion favorites, something you would expect from them of course. But the real delight is how personalized and fun their commentary is – something that makes you feel like you’re sitting, chatting with your friends about the fashion favorites you love.

FUNKY LUNCH. So everybody knows that if it doesn’t look right, you’re not going to eat it whether you’re just kid or a grownup. Funky Lunch solidifies its status into one of the internet greats. Born out of wanting to take the ordinary into something extraordinary, Funky Lunch creates wonderfully fun ideas that allows you to step past saying, “oh, just a sandwich.”

FLYLYF. This is a very cool style, design, photography, film, and tech site. Take the time to especially look through their design section, where you’ll be able to glance at a mix of what’s the latest in graphics, animation, installations, and art. Pay special attention to the photostreams, like this one from a Scottish photographer whose images are both vibrant and haunting.

JOSEPH HEIDECKER'S PHOTOFURNITURE. While it's another addition to the growing trend of apply any image or pattern along the contours of a particular product, Heidecker achieves his own spin on the trend by going the old school route of cut and paste - which has lead to an expanding collection of vintage kitchen, coffee, low tables, and a six drawer dress. The best part? Greatest use of the embarrassing yearbook photo ever.

BRYANBOY. One of the biggest stars of the fashion blogging world, his blog is hysterically fantastic and full of great commentary. You know you're doing something right when Marc Jacobs goes and names one of his great handbang - the BB ostrich bag - after you.

HIPHOTELS. We love Hip Hotels with their gorgeous, gorgeous collection of galleries of some the coolest and most innovative room designs. Another reason to love them? Joining with Warner Music, Hip Hotels has launched the first of a series of albums that are based on music discovered traveling; it's aimed to share music that reflects the emotional nature of travel too.

THE MOST ANTICIPTED BOOKS OF 2010. Of course, there are albums. Of course, there are trends in fashion, design, film, etc. But we do know that it’s terribly hard sometimes to find both the time to read and to go find the perfect book for yourself. Thus, we give you something a little different to go through to make it easier.

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SIXTY-FIVE.

This book begins simply:

This isn't for you.

No, it's not Halloween. But if you're a fan of scary movies, without the blood and the gore and the guy with chainsaw running down the hall after the girl that you've spent the last five minutes yelling at for taking the wrong turn -

This book isn't for you. This book, however, is for those of us who enjoy scary movies but like to be terrified properly. Let's be real here, if you're going to go to see a scary movie then it's got to be done right.

Mark Danielewski's book is of an entirely different caliber, however. This isn't the book that you want to read home alone or by yourself in the dark of your room (particularly when your room has no windows - not a good idea, guys) and this isn't a book for someone who gets lost a lot ... everywhere.

What's utterly brilliant about House of Leaves is that it takes the concept of space, how we know space and how we try to create and change it. It asks this question: what can you do if the space is alive and unwilling to change at all. The novel is a dizzying read with passages that are littered with footnotes and columns that go up and down, forwards and backwards. But if you're a fan, this is the book for you. Here's an excerpt:

"To get a better idea try this: focus on these words, and whatever you do don't let your eyes wander past the perimeter of this page. Now imagine just beyond your peripheral vision, maybe behind you, maybe to the side of you, maybe even in front of you, but right where you can't see it, something is quietly closing in on you, so quiet in fact you can only hear it as silence. Find those pockets without sound. That's where it is. Right at this moment. But don't look. Keep your eyes here. Now take a deep breath. Go ahead, take an even deeper one. Only this time as you exhale try to imagine how fast it will happen, how hard it's gonna hit you, how many times it will stab your jugular with its teeth or are they nails?, don't worry, that particular detail doesn't matter, because before you have time to process that you should be moving, you should be running, you should at the very least be flinging up your arms-you sure as hell should be getting rid of this book-you won't have time to even scream.
Don't look.
I didn't.
Of course I looked.
I looked so fucking fast I should of ended up wearing one of those neck braces for whiplash."

FIFTY-ONE.

Now, it's time to talk about the greatest thing ever. Usually when one hears any sort of news about remakes and revivals and Kevin Costner making another sports movie, there's that moment of cringing - not even cringing, it's this deep and unabated sense of oh my god, really.

But, but, but every once in awhile, that one thing comes along and you're struck with a wide-eyed sense of amazement and pure glee.

I kid you not. The Baby-Sitters Club is coming back.

“The Baby-Sitters Club,” ran from 1986 to 2000, and had quite the following from preteen girls - think Twilight without the sparkly, brooding vampire love interest (another topic for another time) - and had a run of 213 titles, with the publisher ultimately printing 176 million copies. The series followed four girls, Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia and Stacey and the cast grew to eight main characters later in the series. There were several spinoffs, including a mystery series and a collection of books about Kristy’s little sister. All of the books are now out of print.

So why the sudden interest? The editorial director at Scholastic and an editor of “The Baby-Sitters Club,” David Levithan said the publisher made the decision to bring back the old series because of requests from fans who wanted a comeback. “This whole generation of girls who had grown up reading ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ were now teachers, librarians or mothers,” Mr. Levithan said. “And at any opportunity they had, they let us know they wanted them back. We couldn’t go to a convention without having women come up to us and say, ‘You’ve got to bring these books back.’ ”

Ann Martin wrote more than 60 of the books in the original “Baby-Sitters Club” series, has written several stand-alone novels and started another series for young girls called “Main Street” since “The Baby-Sitters Club” ended. She says though that she's started to miss the books were such a part of her writing career for so many years.

So this is why you should look out for a coming prequel to the series, as well as a full revival to the books that opened a door into the lives of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia and Stacey.

(Credit for quotes go to the NYTimes.)

TWO.

With 2009 coming to a close, the end of the year becomes a quick and easy fix for variety in holiday conversations. But let's be honest here, why wait until the end of the year?

Every week, we're going to come together and bring our favorite things of the moment. From new and upcoming design trends to what's hot in the fashion world, the cool and innovative, and to a few books and albums that puts an extra spring to our step from day to day.

So worried about your upcoming holiday party? No problem. Worried about your multiple holiday parties? We've got those covered too.

Here are some of our favorite things for this week.

1. WINES THAT ROCK. Winemaker Mark Beaman, inspired by some of his favorite albums has created a series of wines, all with familiar names: Dark Side of the Moon Cabernet, Forty Licks Merlot, Woodstock Chardonnay. Wines That Rock are both green-friendly and affordable: $16.95 a bottle. For further information, check out the site winesthatrock.com or even follow them on Twitter.

2. CASSETTE FROM MY EX. In Cassette from My Ex, sixty noted writers and musicians wax poetic about their own experiences with these charming artifacts and the relationships that inspired them. Includes contributions from: The Magnetic Fields’ Claudia Gonson, This American LIfe’s Starlee Kine, The New Yorker’s Ben Greenman.

3. DAMIAN ORTEGA’S DO IT YOURSELF @ ICA Boston. The exhibition is the first-ever survey of Ortega’s work and will showcase a range of sculpture, installation, video, and photography. Exhibit runs until January 18th. Want more information? Check out the ICA for more the exhibit and quick slideshow of some of Ortega's work.

4. TUMBLR. The latest in the blogging crazy, tumblr offers a set way of sharing anything from photos that inspire you, to quotes and mp3s. Already on tumblr? Follow PHI at translateyourcreativedna.

5. WE HEART PRINTS. A blog that features a compilation of beautiful, interesting art prints at assorted prices and ranges.

6. WORK AND DESIGN. Features furniture and assorted, custom pieces manufactured from environmentally-friendly and recycled materials, pigmented natural concrete and metals, and custom sizes, material, and colors are available.

7. PEDRO ALMODOVAR’S BROKEN EMBRACES. A man writes, lives and loves in darkness. Fourteen years before, he was in a brutal car crash on the island of Lanzarote. In the accident, he didn’t lose only his sight, he also lost Lena, the love of his life. Really cool, colorful, and insightful film starring Oscar-winner Penélope Cruz. Watch the trailer.

8. BEACH HOUSE'S TEEN DREAM. A follow up to last year's Devotion, Beach House returns with a soft, dreamy tribute to lost loves and a falling adolescence. Reminiscent of the likes of Nico and Neil young, Teen Dream is a sure, future best of for 2010. Listen to off the album, Zebra.

9. NOTCOT.ORG. A cool mix of links from art and design, music and fun blog recommendations. Check out a link to Copenhagen’s RETHINK, an exhibit where climate change meets contemporary art and design or designyearbook’s entry on the redesign of Jane Austen’s classic novels and their covers.

10. STUDIO TOOGOOD. London-based event, interior, and exhibition design company. They also do styling and set design projects for fashion and interiors. Incredibly cool, inspiring, colorful and just all-around visually stunning. Check out their portfolio for a view of their work!

(Warhol-inspired Darth Vader by Rétrofuturs (Hulk4598) / Stéphane Massa-Bidal)