Porcelain

Espresso, Vertigo, Go.

Yesterday morning I suffered a massive vertigo attack. I’ve never had it before, and I hope I never have it again. Here it is 36 hours later, and I’m still dizzy with occasional waves of nausea. One of the side effects of vertigo comes from the meds they give you. That side effect is “drowsiness”, and like the dizziness it sucks.

What better way to overcome drowsiness than a fine cup of espresso, and what a better way to serve it up than with a fine espresso machine like this one designed by Arvid Hauser.

The espresso machine is wall mounted, and manufactured from porcelain and wood. The wall mount helps free up kitchen counter space, and the exposed components “make the coffee preparation process comprehensible for the user”. I just like the sculptural quality of the espresso machine and the natural materials used to construct it.

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Ai Weiwei, Sunflower Seeds.

There can be a fine line between “Art” and “Obsession”. The video clip below is rather slow paced, but it is worth watching. Artist Ai Weiwei is using ancient porcelain techniques to create millions of ceramic sunflower seeds that are being used in a series of exhibits. The mass scale, and the intricate manufacturing process really demonstrate the line between art and obsession.

I’ve Been Mugged.

Maybe it’s because I went to engineering school for a while, or maybe it’s because I see the geometry that is associated with good design, but these mugs made me smile. I love the fact that they have the mathematical formula on them. I love the fact that they are named Zero Gravity. I love the fact that they stand on edge precariously balancing your cup of coffee.