+ Blue Ant's alphabet proved so popular that they are releasing a series of design posters ahead of schedule.

+ Ripple Design Courtyard House, nestled into a L.A. hillside, offers a private plaza that allows for cross breezes and climate control as well as social interaction. Reflective materials have been used in this home, as well as solar cells and the use of thermal mass to control heat gain. Note the kitchen nook, bottom left.

+ Confession: we are currently craving the Patent Pendant by Leslie Tarbell Donovan. Black patent leather on the outside, silver outline Harlequin pattern on the inside makes for a classy, yet decadent, object of desire.

+ Later this month in Tokyo, New Zealand design collective Cina will be presenting their tote collection of custom-printed laminated paper and leather bags.

+ Jill Malek's hand-screened wallpaper collection is entitled Frequencies, reflecting the fluctuating patterns of frequencies that occur in nature.