While messing around and killing time on Flickr today, I came across this set of pictures of London architecture. I’m a sucker for anything involving geometrical forms and architecture. These are the perfect fix for afternoon boredom.

Coveting.

I watched Do the Right Thing again the other night, and among other things, found myself fixated on the sheer coolness of Radio Raheem’s knuckle dusters.

There is no way in hell I could actually pull something like that off, (though not for lack of ardent wishing) but seeing this sparked a desire for some really enormous and/or badass jewelry for my left hand. My right hand is covering the dainty rings.

Scouring the nets, I stumbled across the following exemplars:

Rumi from Fashion Toast wearing the Elizabeth & James knuckle ring in silver.
Sadly, it’s old news, hasn’t been knocked off as far as I can tell, and is unfindable on eBay, or else I’d be all over it. I love the length and the minimalist lines. I’ve seen other rings of this shape (and annoyingly, have passed up near-identical ones from street vendors back home in Italy!) but they tend to have stones, or other things going on, which overloads the impact of the length. I do not approve.

Continuing with the minimalism, I really enjoy this take on the knuckle duster, found in Metalsugar‘s shop on Etsy.

Action shot:

I kind of fear that I would inadvertantly manage to stab myself in the eye with it, but I do love the simplicity of the line.

I also loved this, but some  horrible person bought it before I could measure my ring size. (From myheartmonster‘s shop on Etsy.)

Anyway, have to run off, but thought I would leave you with a final ring… one that I would never wear, except as a joke, but wish ardently I could pull off. Every day. All the time. For all those moments I need to feel like an action hero.

Three finger POW! ring from Ehsani‘s online store.

I want to know the story behind this store-front.

The hopes, the dreams.The soap-opera addiction? The stash of costume jewelry at the back of the wardrobe. The newspaper cuttings. The opera-length gloves tried on in front of the mirror.

[London Shop Fronts via Design Sponge]

Things I like today

Joel Sternfeld‘s photography:

Joel Sternfeld. Exhausted Renegade Elephant, Woodland, Washington, June 1979

(from American Prospects)

I was experiencing a major dose of nostalgia, for lack of a better word, for small-town America. Jeff Sternfeld’s photos come the closest to conveying the unusual beauty that expat American children mythologise to such a great extent. More on this some other time.

Sophie Blackall‘s illustration:

I desperately need to score an invitation to this tea party. Not sure if this is a very dangerous situation in the making, or if peace of some sort is to be had, but the combination of dubious snail and bizarro blue creature in checked pants and bowler hat is my kind of event. Maybe he’s menacingly sprinkling salt in his direction. The possibilities….

(The rest of her illustrations rock as well. This one just particularly struck me.)

Interesting bookcases:

Bookcase stairs = COVET.

(View is from the top of the stairs down. Click on the link for other angles.)

The fact that they function as the “secret staircase” to a loft in a Victorian apartment in London? Explosion of want-lust. You can see more pictures if you click on the link.

V-Shaped bookcase [via Gizmodo]:

Really cool concept, though the worrywart in me sees a little too much possibility for things crashing down in all directions, with books flying everywhere. Probably not meant for someone as clumsy as me. Sigh.

Clever Design:

Alphabet Buttons:

These make the craft/typography geek in me so so so very happy. A perfect marriage!

Energy Savings:

I was looking for a piggy bank of some sort, and found this. Love visual puns!

And finally, a wonderful poster:

I am obsessed with the cuteness of this poster to the point of having spent the afternoon daydreaming about the kitchen I would have to have to be able to put this in it. Yes. I am going to move apartments just so that I can put up a poster in the kitchen. But… it’s a poster about tea! Tea has wonderful, godly properties! What’s not to like?

Ok, that’s it for the day. Must actually accomplish something.