IDEA Design Fustal/Soccer Ball: "I'm Only One" Rainbow Ball

I do not know anything about soccer or fustal (indoor soccer), but I do know this month is the 2010 World Cup and I love the cheery appeal of this exuberantly rainbow colored fustal ball by IDEA Design.

The ball is named "I'm Only One" as the Pakistan fabricators are allowed to be creative in choosing the color arrangement, making each ball's patchwork pattern unique.  At $72, the balls are pricey, but they are Fair trade certified and each is packed in an organic cotton bag fabricated by a Japanese company employing disabled adults. From each sale, a small donation goes to a mine clearance program in Cambodia.

Duck Link: IDEA Design Fustal Ball at A + R Store



For $20, you can test your own color creativity with the Design Your Own Soccer Kit and make your own happy ball:

Duck Link: Design Your Own Soccer Ball Kit
 

Ceramic Mixing Bowls: Rainbow Nesting in the Kitchen

While I am a big fan of all things white for the Kitchen, I know I would have a big smile on my face seeing a rainbow nesting in the Kitchen.

Below, a beautiful, ceramic 7 piece mixing bowl set by Waechtersbach, a German company founded in 1932.

 
I love the combination of the simple footed shape and the glossy brilliant colors.
While the set can be used for mixing and serving, it is not dishwasher, oven, microwave or freezer safe and at $199.99, definitely not budget safe. 

Duck link: Williams-Sonoma

Below, a more budget friendly option is the Sensations II 8 Piece Mixing Bow Set by Gibson, an American company founded in 1979.

While the shapes may not be as elegant, the colors may not as be as brilliant and the bowl size may not be as large as the Waechtersbach set, this set does have several advantages. In addition to being used for mixing and serving, the set is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe and at $23.98, a steal to boot.

Duck link: Walmart


We all can afford a little color in our Kitchen.


 

Helga Steppan: See Though-All My Things

In this fascinating series titled "See Through-All My Things" from 2004, the Swedish artist, Helga Steppan, gathered all her personal belongings, grouped them by coloring and photographed them.

I am intrigued by the deconstruction and reconstruction her belongings.
Each still life beckons the viewer to take a closer look at the elements that have lost their individuality within the monochrome whole. 

Via TrendLand

Chris Cobb at Adobe Books: Rainbow Installation

I have rainbows on my mind this week.

I spotted this post on Remodelista on arranging books by color and I thought, crazy or inspirational.  At first, I thought, crazy, as I would NEVER be able to find my books, but, in the hands of an artist, this idea can be beautiful and inspirational.

In late 2004, the artist, Chris Cobb, created a temporary installation piece within Adobe Books, a bookstore in San Francisco.

The piece titled "There is Nothing Wrong in This Whole Wide World" required a team of 16 volunteers and the artist, working overnight, to arrange 20,000 books by color.

Watch and hear the artist during the installation process:
Chris Cobb: Adobe Books Installation

A simple concept that transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Via Superhero Journal