Marimekko X Converse - 13 Styles And Many Are On Sale!

Original Marimekko patterns from the 1960s created by the well-known Finnish textile mill are applied to some Converse favorites in this special collection. The signature prints are paired with such classic Converse styles as Jack Purcells and All Star Hi and low tops.



Right now, about half the Marimekko Converse kicks are on sale. Here's a look at the 13 shoes in the collection:













Each pair of the 13 different styles comes with a matching cinch bag made in the Marimekko pattern, like those shown below:




Just Reduced Merchandise at Converse + Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more


click on the above logo to start shopping.

A Luxury Watch That Looks As Though It Could Hop, The HM3 Frog By MB&F.

above: The newest HM3 Frog is the Chocolate frog. Red gold with Chocolate PVD coated titanium in a limited edition of 10 pieces

MB&F presents Horological Machine N°3 Frog. Haute horlogerie is (usually) a very restrained and serious business; however one of Maximilian Büsser main goals in creating MB&F was to bring a child's sense of awe and sense of playfulness into high-end watchmaking. There is no doubt that with the HM3 Frog, MB&F have certainly achieved that goal.

The protruding eyes of the (amphibian) frog enable it to see in many directions without having to turn its head. The bulbous domes of the HM3 Frog have the opposite, but no less important, feature of enabling the time to be easily seen from many angles without having to turn the wrist. The Frog differs substantially from HM3 in that it is the aluminum domes that rotate under the sapphire crystals in the Frog, whereas it is the hour and minute hands that rotate around their respective stationary cones on HM3.

The HM3 Frog is available in Grade 5 titanium with blued rotor, a limited edition of 10 in chocolate PVD-coated grade 5 titanium with red gold rotor, or a limited edition of 18 in black PVD-coated zirconium with purple rotor:


Rotating domes of this size and shape posed MB&F with a number of technical challenges. The hour and minute domes are machined from solid aluminium - chosen for its optimal strength to weight ratio. The domes weigh in at just over 0.5g. They are milled first from the outside and then the inside to arrive at a paper-thin wall thickness of just 0.28 mm, which reduces their energy requirements to an absolute minimum.

Even the fabrication of the semi-spherical sapphire crystal domes was incredibly demanding and only recently even possible at all. This is due to the fact that any slight imperfection in the sapphire might introduce a disconcerting magnification effect. The sapphire has to be shaped and polished to be perfectly uniform.



The Frog's unusual method of indicating time necessitated the development of a new gear train for the HM3 engine. This was because the aluminum hour dome of the Frog rotates in 12 hours compared to the 24 hour revolution of the HM3 hour hand. And as the oversized date wheel is driven from the hours, the gearing driving the date had to be reworked as well.



The Frog may portray the time in a playful manner, but there is nothing but serious and meticulous attention to detail and care regarding the fine hand-finishing of the high-tuned engine purring within its lightweight high-tech titanium or zirconium case.

A close inspection of the case is rewarded with carefully thought out detailing including a figure 8 engraved around the domes that mirrors the form of the display back(revealing dual ceramic bearings); distinctive clover-head white gold screws; and an engraved arrow discreetly indicating the easy to read over-sized date.


above image courtesy of ablogtoread

If the viewer's gaze manages to break away from the obiculate indications, it is likely to be arrested by the brightly-coloured 22K gold battle-axe winding rotor or the intricacies of the thoroughbred movement beneath.

the original HM3 in Grade 5 titanium with blue rotor:


The limited edition of 18 in black PVD-coated zirconium with purple rotor:



a limited edition of 10 in chocolate PVD-coated grade 5 titanium with red gold rotor




Case
Grade 5 titanium/blue 22K gold rotor; limited edition of 10 chocolate titanium/22K red gold rotor; limited edition of 18 black zirconium/purple 22k gold rotor
 Screwed-down crown. 
 Dimensions (exclusive of crown and lugs) 47mm x 50mm x 16mm
. Number of case components = 53.

Movement
Three-dimensional horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/Agenhor
. Powered by a Girard-Perregaux base. 
Balance oscillating at 28,800 bph
 22K gold battle-axe shaped 'mystery' automatic winding rotor. 
Hour and minutes information transmitted via ceramic ball bearings to rotating domes. 
Number of jewels 36 (all functional)
. Number of components = 304.

Functions
Hour and day/night indicator on one dome (aluminium dome rotating in 12 hours). 
Minutes on second dome (aluminium dome rotating in 60 minutes)
. Date around the movement.

Dials
Rotating aluminium domes, stationary hands
Sapphire crystals
Domes and both display backs with anti-reflective treatment on both faces
. Domes for indications in aluminium, 0.58g

Price ranges from $82,000 to $100,000 USD

And you gotta love the Horolobot!:

all images and information courtesy of MB&F

Visit MB&F for more information

KARDASHIAN KNEWS: Days after "Dancing with the Stars" producers vowed to go after "more high profile", "A-list" stars for next season multiple sources are reporting that KIM KARDASHIAN'S little brother,ROB KARDASHIAN, has signed on for the next season.

Kim, if you recall, lasted just three weeks on the show in 2008.

2. Invitations for Kim and KRIS HUMPHRIE'S August 20th wedding have gone out. The ceremony, a black tie affair, will be held in Montecito, California. Hmmm. Mine must've gotten lost in the mail.

RELATED: Kim's Got Rash Goof Song - As Heard on Mike and Tricia Mornings

SCARLETT TURNS DOWN MARINE BALL INVITATION: SCARLETT JOHANSSON is the latest celeb to receive an invitation to a Marine ball, and the latest to politely decline.

In a recent YouTube video, Sgt. Dustin L. Williams asked Scarlett to be his date for the November 10th event, but Scarlett said no, and sent him some champagne as well as her gratitude instead.

Scarlett said in a statement ... "Sergeant Dustin L. Williams, unfortunately due to prior commitments I will not be able to attend the Ball with you this year, but I am sending you a case of Moet and Chandon with gratitude."

She added, "In my absence, I raise a glass to you and all the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps, past and present, in thanks for your continued commitment to preserving the safety of our nation."

Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis recently accepted invitations to the ball, prompting an avalanche of YouTube invites to other stars.

Meanwhile ... "Terminator" LINDA HAMILTON is going to the Marine Corps Ball with Sergeant Ray Lewis. Lewis was the one who did a video asking BETTY WHITE to accompany him, but she'll be busy filming her sitcom "Hot in Cleveland" so she had to turn him down.

Linda jumped in and made a video of her own, offering to go with Ray in Betty's place. And he accepted.

RELATED:: If you could get one celebrity to go to an event with you, who would it be and which event would you like him or her to accompany you to? Follow the link to our Facebook page and let us know.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY'S FOR FRIDAY JULY 29 INCLUDE TIMM GUNN AND JOSH RADNOR OF 'HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER'

KAT VON D OPENS UP ABOUT BREAKUP: After the break up with JESSE JAMES, and then walking out on an interview with Good Day L.A., KAT VON D cancelled all promotional commitments yesterday and took to Facebook to address her fans.

In a page titled "What Can I Say? I Suck," Kat wrote that she “made a mess of things” and that she "never planned on walking away from this relationship." Click here to read Kat's complete post.

KATY PERRY - BLONDE OR BRUNETTE?: KATY PERRY is the voice of Smurfette in the new "Smurfs" movie that opens today, and recently showed up at the premiere working a new lighter 'do.

But which look do you like best? Katy Perry - Blonde or Brunette? Follow the link to our Facebook page and hit us up with your preference.

QUOTE/UNQUOTE: "I have the smallest penis in the world. I'm serious." -- ENRIQUE IGLESIAS during a show in Melbourne, Australia Tuesday night.

Iglesias’ confession happened after he brought three guys up on stage and starting talking about losing your virginity. Enrique admitted to losing his at 17. One of the guys made a comment about Enrique's, quote, "Spanish good looks," and that's when Enrique let the crowd in on his shortcomings ...

LISTEN

He's talked about this problem before. You can read more about it here.

California Shaped Desks and Coffee Tables By J. Rusten Studio

The California Series of desks and coffee tables by Jared Rusten of J. Rusten Studio are functional and fun handcrafted wood tables whose tops are shaped like the state of California.


above: prototype on the left, finished table on the right

The wooden top is made of salvaged Claro walnut (native to CA) and the base is salvaged white oak, treated with a vinegar & steel solution to produce the charcoal/ebony staining.







The prices are as follows:
Large Desk $2,950
Medium Desk $2,350
Medium Coffee table $2,250
Small Coffee table $1,650

you can purchase the pieces online here or you can mail a check to him at:

J. Rusten Furniture Studio
P.O. Box 40755
San Francisco, CA 94140

Jared Rusten creates modern, solid-wood furniture, sculpture, and artwork under the appellation: J. Rusten Furniture Studio.


above photo by Neil Barrett for Taylor Stitch

The studio was founded in 2003 with a mandate to advance the craft of woodworking, explore new and challenging solid-wood furniture designs, and construct beautiful, compelling, singular, and enduring objects.

The studio/workshop is located at 2815 23rd St. in San Francisco’s Mission District

See more of his fine wood furniture here.