Monocover for plastic chair

Personalize your monobloc plastic chair with the DIY manual and guidelines to build your monocover with the endless variations of oilcloth fabrics

Miu Miu New Design New York City Lina Ben Mhenni How to Create a Happy Home

Science Weekly Podcast: Man's best friend? In Defence of Dogs

This week's show is a distinctly canine affair. John Bradshaw is a fellow at the University of Bristol specialising in anthrozoology: the science of human-animal interactions.

He is also one of the world's leading experts on dog psychology and the author of In Defence of Dogs: Why Dogs Need Our Understanding.

His book uses recent DNA evidence and archaeology to trace the evolution of the dog from wild and threatening wolf to domesticated pooch.

John also discusses dog psychology and the ethics of breeding show dogs from an ever-shrinking canine gene pool.

Subscribe for free via iTunes to ensure every episode gets delivered. (Here is the non-iTunes URL feed).

Follow the podcast on our Science Weekly Twitter feed and receive updates on all breaking science news stories from Guardian Science.

Email scienceweeklypodcast@gmail.com.

Guardian Science is now on Facebook. You can also join our Science Weekly Facebook group.

We're always here when you need us. Listen back through our archive.

Alok Jha

Jason Phipps

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Topping Out?

Developers try to push Fifth Avenue luxury past 96th Street.

Hope Von Joel Brooke Roberts Design Miu Miu New Design New York City

Trend Forecast 2011

...and this season we shalll be mainly adorning ourselves and our homes with, triangles! Modernist, masculine, feminine, glamorous, illuminous and 50's retro triangles. In today's post I will be looking at the three-sided from all angles!

I bought one of  these pink Alchemia chairs from Calligaris at the Ideal Home exhibition in London several years ago. Funnily they arrived from Rome 6 weeks later, when I was actually in Rome and I saw them in the showroom! The colour of these is incredible, but I also love the orange and red ones too!

...whilst lady Gaga isn't everyones' cup of tea (personally I think her image is great fun!), you have to admit that this headpiece from the utterly brillant fashion prop designer Fred Butler is a work of art. Commissioned and made for the unforgettable "Telephone" video with Beyonce earlier this year

...I really enjoy AnOther Magazine, and they have this great feature called "Another Loves", and this watch from Urban Outfitters was "loved" by Fred Butler; go take a look at her blog and you can see why - it is very much in her style!

...Modernist and masculine - Tamasyn Gambell notebooks. A real Bauhaus feel to this design!

...sadly, on a final note, Britain lost two of its' finest designers this year- Lucienne and Robin Day. I've had a lifelong love of Lucienne's fabrics. The top fabric is the one which started it all off, "Calyx", designed in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, and eventually produced by Heals (the rest is history)! You can see the design at the V&A Museum in London. Here it is again used to furnish some incredible chairs!

For other great trend forecasts, check out Design Refuge!

Pargy

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Unique Mama Bear Cookie Jar

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? Mama Bear knows, but she?s not going to tell ? she?s too busy protecting the sweets and treats stored inside her spacious [...]

Stefano Dolce Liam Motyer Duo Hope Von Joel Brooke Roberts Design

Growing Your Own Heirloom Vegetables

Growing heirloom vegetables should be part of every homesteader's gardening plan. In some cases, these old-fashioned specialties have been almost lost to the world, simply because most people end up growing today's more common hybrid varieties. When you grow heirloom vegetables, you'll have a much larger selection from which to choose, due to the myriad of different varieties and strains that gardeners have grown throughout the past decades. Many people are absolutely amazed at the variety that exists, such as the many different sizes, shapes and colors of tomatoes. Growing heirloom vegetables on your homestead is a great way of getting back to nature, as well as a wonderful way to enjoy vegetables which were traditionally grown for taste, instead of their ability to sit on store shelves for a week without spoiling.

Planning Your Heirloom Vegetable Patch
One of the most difficult parts of planning an heirloom vegetable garden is choosing from among the almost endless variations. However, because heirloom vegetables lack some of the disease and insect resistance that has been bred into hybrids, you would do well to do a little research to find out which varieties are especially suited to your area. Farmer's markets that feature heirloom vegetable growers in your area are often willing to share their expertise with varieties, if you ask them. Online sites and gardening forums, especially those which specialize in heirloom vegetables, are also a great resource to utilize.  Once you've gotten some good ideas about what you want to grow, it's time to start looking for seeds. Although heirloom vegetable garden plants are available in some areas, most likely you will need to start your plants from seeds. Shopping for heirloom seeds can be a lot of fun, because you will find varieties that you likely never even knew existed. The internet is a great source for heirloom seeds and seed catalogs.

Starting Your Heirloom Vegetable Plants
Seeds that can be directly sowed outdoors are among the easiest to grow. Vegetables such as beets, lettuce, carrots, corn, beans and peas are almost never started indoors, but are instead planted directly in the ground at the correct time of year. However, some plants such as tomatoes and peppers need an extra head start for the growing season, and require seeds to be sown indoors in most climates. Growing plants from seeds is not as difficult as you might think. You'll need a sturdy table, one or more fluorescent light fixtures, planting containers, and growing medium. Always use sterilized growing medium instead of ordinary outdoor soil when starting your seeds indoors, to prevent disease and plant loss. This is even more important with heirloom plants, since they lack some of the disease resistance of today's hybrid varieties. Keep the containers moist and warm until the seeds sprout then move them to a cooler location directly under the lights. As the plants grow, you should continue to raise the height of the light fixture, so that the bulbs remain only an inch or two above the leaves of the plants. Once they have grown too large for their original containers, repot them so that they can grow more roots. At this point you should start leaving them outdoors for part of the day, so that they can "harden off" and become accustomed to the outdoor environment. Then, when the danger of frost has passed, plant them directly in your garden and enjoy.

This article was written by Theresa Hill of Metal-Wall-Art.com who specializes in creating stylish interiors with wall mounted coat racks and outdoor metal wall sculptures.

Photo by robstephaustralia

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

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Canopy Modern Bird Feeder

Every curious kid tries to make a handmade bird feeder at some point or another, but the results, while endearing, are rarely as attractive and charming as this cute Etsy [...]

Hope Von Joel Brooke Roberts Design

Houzz Tour: Freshening Up a Modern California Box (7 photos)

When a single mother hired interior designer Vanessa De Vargas, her monotone, white-walled, cement-floored home in Mar Vista, California needed some zhush. While she had a collection of furniture, she needed help softening all of those modern lines, choosing fabrics, adding layers, arranging furniture...

Brooke Roberts Design Miu Miu New Design New York City Lina Ben Mhenni

The China/Britain Fashion Alliance

The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announced the historic China / Britain Fashion Alliance; a combined initiative between the BFC, the Beijing International Brand Management Centre (BIBMC) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).

The China / Britain Fashion Alliance will promote British fashion in China, showcase British fashion designers in China, foster mutual cooperation and collaboration, open strategic and economic dialogue for regular exchange at senior level and provide strategic guidance to the development of fashion in China.

Harold Tillman CBE, Chairman of the British Fashion Council, announced the alliance this evening at the China-Britain Business Council’s (CBBC) Summer Party which was hosted by Sir David Brewer, Chairman of CBBC.
Tillman, commented “London is a creative powerhouse and China is the manufacturing powerhouse – if we combine these two things we believe great things can happen.”

This announcement follows China’s decision to officially list the Cultural and Creative Industries as one of their key development pillar’s in 2011 and Monday’s launch of the China-UK Creative Cooperation Office.


For British Fashion Council press enquiries please contact:
Gemma Ebelis or Will Rowley at the British Fashion Council
+44 (0) 20 7759 1989 / + 44 (0) 20 7759 1968
gemma@britishfashioncouncil.com / will@britishfashioncouncil.com

Body Conscious Chic Maheshwar Antony Lisa Van de Ven Design Harry Potter adventure

Iron It Out! Storage Solutions for the Ironing Board (12 photos)

An ironing board is a household essential that's often forgotten about when designing a home. "Ironing boards are one of those necessary evils, like vacuums, toilet brushes and buckets," says designer Jamie Herzlinger. "They're just constantly overlooked." Instead of shoving your clunky ironing board...

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Home Lake Shore Boulevard Model Wall: Ginta Lapina Body Conscious Chic

Holmes: Air conditioners need a tune-up

It?s been really hot this summer, right across the continent. How are you doing? And how?s your air conditioning doing? If you?ve been doing the regular maintenance on your AC unit, as the manufacturer recommends, you are probably reading this in a comfortable room. But if you are one of those people ? you know ...

Etat Libra Orange How to Create an Eco-Friendly Home Lake Shore Boulevard Model Wall: Ginta Lapina

Grayson Perry Scarf

How amazing is this silk scarf from former Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry? It is a reference to scarves that were distributed during the second world war to help escaped pilots find their way around alien territory, and is a "social and cultural map to help aspiring artists navigate the hostile territory on their way to being accepted by the establishment". Super Chic and available from the always brilliant Tate Online shop!

Pargy

Jessica Ackerman Decor Roberto Cavalli Stella McCartney Armani Prive

Are you joining Operation Cup Of Tea?

Given that #OperationCupOfTea is trending on Twitter and on Facebook (Their slogan is Stay in and Drink Tea), I thought it would be a great time to talk mugs and cups. Perhaps it’s just me but a cuppa feels so much more comforting if it’s drunk from a nice mug. Here are just a few [...]

Stefano Dolce Liam Motyer Duo Hope Von Joel Brooke Roberts Design

The Dieline Conference: Call For Speakers

We are in the midst of planning our next events, and we are looking for amazing speakers with innovative and provocative ideas. Interested in speaking at a future The Dieline Package Design Conference? Please provide any topic ideas you have, and have a general idea of what you would like to talk about.�Email ivan@dielinemedia.com for more information.

Rustic House in Nîmes Jessica Ackerman Decor Roberto Cavalli Stella McCartney

God connection - good connection

Sin indicator

Miu Miu New Design New York City Lina Ben Mhenni How to Create a Happy Home

Topping Out?

Developers try to push Fifth Avenue luxury past 96th Street.

Lina Ben Mhenni How to Create a Happy Home Alan Sykes British Museum

The Intricate EA House by Barbosa e Guimaraes

From the outside, the EA House by Barbosa Guimaraes Architects boasts its nineteenth century roots with grace ? but tucked away inside the granite and plaster is a surprisingly refreshing [...]

British Museum Etat Libra Orange How to Create an Eco-Friendly Home Lake Shore Boulevard

New condos in Beaches try to respect institutions

By Alex Newman It?s an oft-repeated saw that Toronto has turned its back on the waterfront, regarding it in only the most utilitarian of terms. Even the city?s east-end beaches of Woodbine, Kew, Scarborough and Balmy ? at one time pleasure destinations with their Coney Island-like amusement parks ? fell into the doldrums for several ...

Liam Motyer Duo Hope Von Joel Brooke Roberts Design Miu Miu New Design

Omlamp

Hybrid of an omelet and a lamp

Stella McCartney Armani Prive Stefano Dolce Liam Motyer Duo

Letters: The politics of social unrest

It is absurd for Simon Jenkins to lecture other cities on how recent events highlight the need for powerful mayors (Comment, 10 August). I hope Boris Johnson enjoyed his holiday. But it didn't seem to impress people in London.

In Liverpool councillors were on the streets from early on Tuesday morning cleaning up after the night's violence. Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the council, condemned the violence and co-ordinated the cleanup. Councillors in affected wards spoke to residents and businesses, and identified problems needing immediate action and ways to prevent further trouble. My cabinet colleagues joined in the cleanup while talking to partners ? police, housing associations, companies, community groups, youth workers ? about how to deal with the problems we faced. Most people, including political opponents, would agree that our council leader speaks for the city at moments like this. But it's the force of his passion that brings people with him, not the power of his office.

Of course, policing is the responsibility of the whole community. In wards across our city, councillors, police, residents, youth workers, council and housing staff will be meeting every week to discuss how to tackle crime and other problems facing our communities. Liverpool is united in condemning the violence and damage created by a few hundred criminals, just as we are united in condemning the long-term damage our unfair treatment by this government is inflicting on the city. But the latter neither excuses nor explains the former. We will not let crime or the cuts hold us back as a city or act as an excuse for failure.

Cllr Steve Munby

Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Liverpool city council

??I am the white, middle-class mother of two sons, now young adults, born, raised and educated in Hackney. I get the impression that when certain people say things like "being liberal is fine, but we need to be given back the right to parent" (Report, 11 August), they are frequently saying that they want the right to use corporal punishment. Well, I know that it is possible to raise sons in Hackney without using corporal punishment, but I think it might be fruitful to look at what they had.

They had parents who had a good relationship, who communicated well, and who are still together. They had parents whose income was such that they were always well nourished and provided with stimulating toys and books, and whose level of education was such that they could be provided with factual information appropriate to their age. They had parents who were not afraid to say no.

What they didn't have was the pressure of being stopped and searched; of being raised by a single mother short of cash and time. They did not come from a history of colonial oppression based on slavery, with its concomitant fractured families and internalised brutality. I think the riots are multifactorial and complex.

Meg Taylor

London

??I would like to assure Seumas Milne (Comment, 11 August) that most parts of Tottenham (the football stadium excepted) have superlative public transport links with the rest of London ? a city where probably over one million foreigners have found employment in the last decade. Furthermore, as one of the largest private sector employers in Tottenham for over 40 years, I can assure Mr Milne that no presentable, industrious, literate local has ever found it difficult to find employment. Why else would we employ Nigerians, Asians, etc and risk falling foul of the employment laws?

Edward Atkin

London

??The complaint that the rioting and vandalism earlier this week was only mindless criminality has been repeated mindlessly all week, and was not improved on in parliament today. The idea that other riots have been "political" while these were only opportunistic is a nonsense. This week's riots were very much political, but conducted by people without the articulacy to speak their cause. Until that is understood, we're not going to get anywhere, and certainly not when the only response is to ask where the parents were, and demand punishment.

Stephen Games

London

??Whatever explanations are offered for the riots (for instance, a state-dependent generation with a false sense of entitlement, and a "victim culture", underpinned by family failure and woeful leniency on the part of the authorities; or a natural instinctive human response from those brutalised by decades of neglect and social deprivation on the margins of our market society, now facing further levels of deprivation and hopelessness in a society replete with exhortations to consume the latest products), each will remain firmly rooted in the ideologies, epistemologies and methodologies of those putting them forward. But this does not mean that all explanations are equally correct or valid. For my part I am happy to acknowledge my bias towards a deprivation-based socioeconomic analysis, rooted in decades of neoliberal policymaking and an associated neglect of the British "underclasses". For me, therefore, the complete lack of any coherent political agenda on the part of the rioters does not imply that the causes are not rooted in a highly complex form of political economy.

For the reasons I outline above, there will never be agreement on what caused these riots, even among scholars, perhaps especially among them. However, one view will eventually win and underpin the consent of the majority of the public and be reflected by victorious political elites in their policymaking, and this will lead to very specific policy outcomes. My fear is that it will be a simplistic authoritarian "law and order" view that prevails, and that therefore little will change in Britain as a result, aside from greater use of force by the state and plenty of new jails, and a new generation of deprived young people with even less commitment to the wider society in which they live ? if that is humanly possible.

Dr David Lewis Baker

Bath

??For many years I taught a final-year undergraduate course on the uprisings of the peasants and artisans that swept across large parts of 17th-century France. Buildings were attacked, their contents pillaged, crops destroyed and occasionally a perceived oppressor was killed. Had my students explained it all by simply invoking feral criminality they would have failed.

David Parker

Emeritus professor, University of Leeds

??Anyone seeking explanations for the recent riots might wish to look up a comment piece by the late Michael Young which appeared in the Guardian a decade ago (Down with meritocracy, 29 June 2001). In it he reflects on his 1958 book The Rise of the Meritocracy, where he had warned of what would happen to society when people are sieved "according to education's narrow band of values".

In his Guardian article he wrote: "I expected that the poor and the disadvantaged would be done down, and in fact they have been. If branded at school they are more vulnerable for later unemployment.

"They can easily become demoralised by being looked down on so woundingly by people who have done well for themselves.

"It is hard indeed in a society that makes so much of merit to be judged as having none. No underclass has ever been left as morally naked as that."

David Harding

London

??Since Thatcher, and certainly since Blair, we have grown accustomed to the idea that there are people at the top who are above the law. Private equity firms have been allowed to legally load healthy firms with debt and sack half their workers in order to "extract value" from them, in a manner far more damaging to their long-term health than simply ram-raiding the front of their high street stores. For the likes of many big corporations and their executives, it is entirely a matter of choice whether (or not) they wish to make a contribution to the public tax pool. Bankers have gambled with the livelihoods of millions for the short-term enrichment of the themselves, and until recently were praised for their cleverness in doing so.

Our last prime minister but one waged a war of aggression that destroyed millions of lives simply in order to enrich a few particularly nasty corporations. He went on to undermine the rule of law in this country by intervening to stop an investigation into bribes paid to a tyrannical monarchy by a British arms company. He has not only avoided prison, but is doing rather well for himself.

At the other end of the scale, street gangs run riot, and vast numbers lack the dignity to even try to work their way out of the poverty trap (liberals can sympathise all they want with the circumstances that led the people who have been rioting over the last few days to behave as they do ? there is no getting away from the fact that they are profoundly unpleasant individuals).

We now seem to have an amoral underclass that has opted out of civil society, and a morally identical group of people who float above society with similar disregard for the consequences of their actions, with the significant difference that they are careful only to wreak havoc well away from their own backyards.

For those who work, pay taxes, and try to respect the law, there is an increasing feeling that we are clustered together on a melting iceberg.

I'm pretty sure that civil society will eventually muddle through, but if this is where 30 years of neoliberal economic policies have brought us, perhaps it would be better to try something else ? and soon.

Qasim Salimi

London

• UK riots
• Liverpool
• London
• Hackney
• Tottenham
• Police
• Local politics
• Local government
• Boris Johnson
• Parents and parenting
• Young people
• Communities
• Parents
• Social exclusion
• Poverty

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Lake Shore Boulevard Model Wall: Ginta Lapina Body Conscious Chic Maheshwar Antony

On sale now - Matthew Williamson CD

The Collection For London Fashion Week Volume Two
On sale now - BUY THE CD HERE

This season London Fashion Week’s (LFW) album series entitled ‘The Collection for London Fashion Week’ is being curated and compiled by Matthew Williamson. The album series was launched in September 2010 to celebrate London Fashion Week and the creative relationship between fashion and music through the BFC/Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation and its music partner Sony Music.

Matthew Williamson features some of his favourite tracks from shiny electro-pop to rock and shimmering soul; it includes names that are familiar such as Kelis and Roisin Murphy alongside tracks that he has discovered on his extensive travels – such as ‘Oh Land’, a Danish electro artist resident in New York City.

The artwork for the album has been designed by Matthew Williamson and the package is a lavish hardback book, housing the CD and stunning photography within the booklet. It will appeal to fans of the brand and the artists and be highly collectable.

It will be released straight after London Fashion Week on 28th February and be available nationwide from iTunes, Amazon, HMV, Play as well as selected contemporary fashion boutiques. Also on sale in Matthew Williamson stores and online at www.matthewwilliamson.com.


Track Listings:

1. Marlena Shaw – California Soul
2. Empire Of The Sun -Walking On A Dream
3. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
4. Best Coast - I Want To
5. I Blame Coco – Selfmachine
6. R�is�n Murphy - Overpowered
7. Kelis featuring Andr� 3000 – Millionaire
8. The Charlatans – The Misbegotten
9. Ladyhawke – Back Of The Van
10. The Raveonettes – Lust
11. Santigold - L.E.S Artistes
12. Cold War Kids – Hang Me Up To Dry
13. Ali Love – Love Harder
14. Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun (Yuksek Remix)
15. Brazilian Girls – Pussy
16. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
17. Caribou – Bees
18. 4hero - Morning Child

Matthew Williamson, said ‘Music is an integral part of my life. It evokes ideas, feelings, powerful emotions. Music is with me from the start to the finish of my day: when I’m getting ready to leave the house, during travel, in my studio, and of course on the dance floor at night. The most exciting moment is when the lights go down and the music begins at a fashion week show; selecting the right music is so crucial to expressing the inspiration behind a collection. I don’t mind that it’s subjective; I love how music takes people to different places.’

As part of the collaboration between Sony and the BFC/Bazaar Fashion Arts Foundation there will be a Music Moves Fashion Cafe in The Exhibition at London Fashion Week at Somerset House. The cafe and bar will have Live DJ Sets each evening provided by Sony’s Deconstruction and throughout the day Sony will provide a playlist.

www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/collectionforlfwcd



For press enquiries please contact:
Gemma Ebelis, PR Manager, British Fashion Council
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7759 1989  
gemma@britishfashioncouncil.com

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Inspiration Monday: The Work of Eric Hopkins

Are you familiar with the artist Eric Hopkins? His beautiful renderings of Maine’s landscapes continue long tradition of artists being inspired by the sublime landscape there. This list includes Edward Hopper, Fairfield Porter, Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth, Alex Katz, Winslow Homer and Neil Welliver. If you’re lucky enough to be in Maine this summer, check [...]

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Guest Picks: The Best of the Best Little Web Shops Around (20 photos)

If you've ever wondered where shelter mag editors and design bloggers go to find the next big (little) thing, look no further then this roundup of well-edited web shops that are "off the beaten path."From handmade heirlooms, vintage wit and the creations of global artisans, I've selected a few of...

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Canal+ Extends Rights to La Liga

CC-license: DawnHuczek (Flickr)

The Swedish Canal+ has secured the exclusive rights to the Spanish soccer league La Liga for the 2012-2013 through the 2014-2015 seasons. La Liga has been broadcast on Canal+ since 2010, and will continue for the next four seasons. The contract is for all media platforms including matches shown exclusively on Canal+ and a selection in HD.  

"Spanish soccer is in a class of its own," says Johan Kleberg, CEO for Canal+. "Spain dominates the national-team soccer and Barcelona local-club soccer. We're proud and happy to be able to continue to offer our customers the biggest stars and best soccer." 

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Take a tour: Elegant round kitchen

Seeing as purples are the colour du jour, I thought I’d share lots of pictures of a kitchen that, if I had the space, I’d choose in a heartbeat. Essentially, it’s an elegant curve of cabinets in the centre of a room, with a fridge freezer off to one side and a wine cooler and [...]

Jessica Ackerman Decor Roberto Cavalli Stella McCartney Armani Prive

Triangles!

If you like tetris/ triangular type shapes in your design than you will love the Los Angeles based J1Studio, which wonderfully describes itself as doing thus: "producing simple, functional, unique, modular and systematic objects that function as furniture". The T.Shelf, the M.Stool and the V.stand have now arrived!

T.Shelf

Various Past Projects

M.Stool

V.Stand

Pargy

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Guest Picks: Faux Bamboo Furniture (20 photos)

Let's just say I never met a piece of faux bamboo furniture I didn't like. The lines and texture are a great way to establish an eclectic look without going too far out of the box. There's been a resurgence of faux bamboo pieces on the market lately and I'm having to put limits on myself to one piece...

Stella McCartney Armani Prive Stefano Dolce Liam Motyer Duo