Even though it's in London and there's a conversion from pounds to dollars to be calculated, most of the packages appear quickly in the US and your mailbox. Most of the items are unique, colorful and well designed and conceived.
Typeface Memory Game might be a little too subtle (unexciting?) for most players in the crashingly violent world of video games, but then again, the V&A is in London and more reserved, perhaps. But considering that the older cohort is now being besieged by memory games, it is worth a look.
This game includes 25 variations of the letter ‘A’, each in a different letter type. Players attempt to find the matching A’s in the same letter type. The player who has the highest number of matching letters wins the game. Typographic information about the letter is included on the card, and a separate folder provides a general history of the typography. This is an enjoyable and instructive game for graphic designers and anyone who is fascinated by letter types.Another version of this is the Street Style Memory Game which challenges players to find combinations of young people with special characteristics and street-style clothing. These are photographs of people photographed in the streets of Amsterdam and for the game, the pictures have been cut in two. Based on their clothing, their attitudes and backgrounds of the people in the photographs, players can join the slightly enlarged faces with the rest of the bodies.
There's a Diaghilev' Paper Theatre Kit, set and costume designs for Chout by Mikhail Larionov, 1921, from the William Beaumont Morris Collection which includes cut outs of theatre, backdrops and cast.
Kirigami Paper Kit introduces children to the Japanese art of kirigami which includes paper cutting as well as folding — making it a little more simple. It includes exquisite sheets of patterned paper, thread and instructions for making beautiful hanging decorative balls that will look lovely anywhere in the house any time of year or on the tree at Christmas. (Frankly, although the emphasis is on children, the results look most appealing to adults, too.) Suggested age from 4 years (younger children will need assistance).
Moving back to the adult world consider a Bonsai Laptop bag or a Kimono IPhone skin, Laptop or Blackberry skin. Loved the white crochet gloves by Dents. Established in 1777, Dents still practice hand-cutting and hand-stitching. And don't overlook the doll bag, made from 100% rayon batik scraps, each one of these dolls has its own personality and transforms into a bag.
Another paper product (easy to ship!) is 'Cut Out and Keepsakes' by Fred Butler; most recently Lady Gaga wore Fred’s blue telephone headpiece in her video with Beyonce: Telephone on a Piano. There's also Scraps' Decoupage Kit by Ed Kluz. ‘Scraps’ contains 3 sheets (420mm x 297mm) of designs to be cut up and used for decoupage/craft work. Ed Kluz is fascinated by the objects of English cultural heritage. He seeks out the eccentric, the lost and the overlooked, vanished buildings, follies, curiosities, tales and uses them as starting points for vibrant artworks which explore themes of renewal and reinvention.
For the home, consider 'Clouds' Salt And Pepper Shakers (Web exclusive). "Add some spice to your dinner table with these cloud-shaped salt and pepper shakers. Useful and fun whatever the weather!" Finally, two pages of Peter Rabbit-themed gifts; Peter Rabbit™: the tale of The Tale (3 July 2010 - 8 January 2011) draws on the collections of both the V&A and Frederick Warne to trace the story of Peter Rabbit from its beginnings as an illustrated letter in 1893 to its publication by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902, and beyond.
The jewelry selections are well worth a look and travel well! And don't forget fashion and accessories.
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