Archive for June, 2010
The only thing more popular with America’s kids right now than Justin Bieber are Silly Bandz, these extremely inexpensive silicone bracelets that expand into stuff like unicorns, lizards, and a number of other shapes and creatures. And it’s not just the youngsters either, as high school-aged kids are reportedly infatuated with Silly Bandz, wearing, collecting and trading them back and forth like the second coming of Pogs, circa 1994. Invented by Robert Croak, a businessman from Toledo, Ohio, Silly Bandz are offered in themed collections like beach, zoo and rockstar, usually for under $5.00 for a set of 24.
It comes as no surprise that Zoomdoggle, the company behind Buckyballs, has given its million dollar baby a slight makeover, and is now selling the product in three “Executive Editions” at a slight markup. I’m on the record dishing out admiration for both the company and the product, so kudos once again to these guys. The executive editions feature “rare” black nickel, “real” gold and “real” silver plating and cost approximately $5.00 more each at retail. Pick up a set here.
London-based Thabto (Two Heads Are Better Than One) Design has just added this set of Mood Mugs to its online store. Meant to match the drinker’s state of mind, Happy Larry, Monstrously Moody and Seriously Sleepy are hand-made from porcelain and coated with double wall insulation to keep drinks warm and hands cool. Pick one up from Thabto for $13.00 each.
Facebook is continuing to grow — maybe even getting bigger than Google — one click of the “like button” at a time. Their plan is to control the internet, and one method is getting that little social interaction indicator placed on every website possible. We have two, and pretty much everyone else has one too, so I’d say they’re succeeding thus far. Now, in true Easy Button fashion, UK-based Nation Studio has ripped the like button from the interwebs and made it a stamp. While we’re a bit queasy about Facebook essentially convincing everyone to herd like sheep, we’re huge suckers for turning things that only exist digitally into products. Tom from Nation emailed us with the info, and while they’re looking into a short manufacturing run, there’s no definite time line for this thing to actually be mass produced. Email them to register your interest, and soon enough everyone will be running around stamping physical things they like. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? On that note, please hit the like button above so all of your friends, co-workers and family can know that this is something you like. Hooray social media!
Above (from left, counterclockwise): Cock Blocker, Fingerstache, Flipper Guitar Spatula, Pot Holder Getting its start in a garage at the turn of the aughts, San Francisco-based GAMA-GO, founded by Chris Edmundson, Greg Long and artist Tim Biskup, has evolved from a small company making hand-printed apparel to a globally-distributed brand, dipping its toes in various creative industries and making a wide range of products. Walk in your favorite hip neighborhood shop and it would be difficult not to spot one of their creations. From the Cock Stopper, a wine-bottle plug shaped like a chicken, to the new Fingerstache, a set of 19 temporary tattoos shaped like mustaches, the guys at GAMA-GO produce items with the caveat that it must be something they would personally use. That philosophy has proven successful, as they continue to introduce new products that each evoke an “I wish I would have thought of that” reaction from customers, and an “I need that in my store” response from buyers. In fact, we were just about to hit play on a set of Record Coasters (shown below) when we saw GAMA-GO had beat us to the punch. That trifecta of appreciation from consumers, stores and their competition, when paired with a consistent array of innovative products, is why they have been able to carve such a nice niche for themselves in a saturated industry. Hit the jump for a collection of our favorite offerings from the Bay Area brand. Visit their website for further info. Things That Might Be Art is a weekly feature here on The Jailbreak. We present you, our readers, with a product, idea or creation that skirts the line between art, design, food or something else entirely. Then you must tell us what you think via a handy poll. Sound good? Great, let’s get started.
Overlooking the fact that a.) together they look like a sculpture meant for a gallery, and b.) this post is making you really want some chocolate, please tell us, objectively, whether or not you think this is art. Vote below! Comments, tweets and shares are also encouraged, too … if you’re feeling participatory that is. [Via Gastronomista]
Playing ping pong is hardly ever a stylish affair. Popular, sure, with “hip” ping pong clubs popping up in Manhattan and other places, but not stylish. Well, now at least the paddle part of the game is making some progress, with the release of this colorful, striped — and yes, stylish — set from Alice Supply Co. Pick ‘em up here before summer hits.
Above: John and Yoko — $1,200 During our interview with Seattle-based artist Mike Leavitt last month, we ran out of time and didn’t have a chance to discuss or share his series of satirical Custom Wedding Cake Toppers. The sculptures range from 3″-7″ inches tall, and depict famous–or infamous–couples like Bert and Ernie, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Sigfried and Roy, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono (shown), often in compromising and hilarious positions. Each of Leavitt’s toppers is one-of-a-kind, non-posable and finely crafted; thus the $800 to $1,200 asking price. The best part is that he also does customs, so if having Sonny and Cher atop your wedding cake isn’t going to happen, Leavitt will happily produce one of the bride and groom. Look below for the ones mentioned above. Further information about Mike and his work can be found by clicking here. 
Shed Simove — author, performer, novelty gifts entrepreneur and all around Ideas Man — has just released the iNotePad, which really needs no further explanation. My fondness for Shed is less about what he makes than how he publicizes himself and each of his products. He seems to embody each creation, becoming like an actor, immersed in whatever he’s trying to sell. He’s impressive in his self-deprecation and shameless in his salesmanship. In the case of the iNotePad, which is being released through his brand Nice Pearâ„¢, Shed has transformed himself into both Jonathan Ive (Apple’s principal designer) — for a spoof of Ive’s now infamous iPad commercial (above) — and Steve Jobs. The latter finds Shed actually (and legally) giving himself a new name, HANS JOBS, an homage of sorts to Apple’s head honcho. Included below are some photos detailing the video’s creation, a few images of the iNotePad, and a copy of Shed’s legal name change form. The video is hilarious and well-conceived, so check it out!
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Mangez Moi, a series of variously-flavored edible chocolate body parts from French “design gourmand” 
