The Plum Island Museum of Lost Toys & Curiosities

The Plum Island Museum of Lost Toys & Curiosities is in Amesbury, Massachusetts. This charming museum is filled with doodads, trinkets, and toys that have wound up on the shores of Plum Island. I love looking at these objects and wondering where each one came from, and how they got separted from their owners. — Read the rest

Recently Published Book Spotlight: Nussbaum’s Politics of Wonder

Wonder is the mind's excitement and proceeds by getting lost. And that is what democracy calls on us to do together.

What the Garfield telephones and mysterious metal spheres washing up on beaches reveal about our oceans

The mysterious metal sphere that washed up on a Japanese beach has been removed. But this is far from the only odd object that's turned up on beaches. It doesn't look entirely dissimilar to the weird ball found on a London beach in 2019 that turned out to be an oversized model of a Christmas tree ornament. — Read the rest

Fungi Forest Toile Comes for the Le Bambole Capsule Collection

In her first-ever interiors collaboration, British eco-conscious pioneer Stella McCartney worked with B&B Italia on a series that launched at Art Basel Miami Beach. Based on both’s shared values of sustainability, the Le Bambole capsule collection features a hand-drawn “Fungi Forest” in a dark red and white toile print. The upholstery pattern was pulled from McCartney’s Summer 2022 runway collection, and can be seen adorning the exclusive Le Bambole armchair and Granbambola 3-seater sofa. In reimagining Mario Bellini’s armchair, McCartney was able to experiment with a designer’s work she loves while also celebrating Le Bambole’s 50th anniversary with B&B Italia.

Five decades after its introduction, Le Bambole has evolved using innovative design elements that contribute to its comfort and environmental footprint. The capsule collection brings together the quality and durability of B&B Italia with responsible materials and construction choices that are in line with McCartney’s eco-conscious mission. The new Le Bambole is designed to be fully disassembled, allowing for easy repairs when necessary and a circular end-of-life process to do the least harm.

While the original construction used a metal structure wrapped in polyurethane, the updated versions employ a recycled polyethylene frame, elements in polyurethane foam, and thermoplastic elastomers. These are encased in recycled polyester fabric beneath the upholstery to give Le Bambole its iconic shape, comfort, and breathability.

The capsule collection also introduces sustainable innovations developed by B&B Italia’s R&D team. Happily, Le Bambole’s upholstery is made of 100% biodegradable and toxin-free polyester that leaves no harmful microplastics in the environment. It’s produced using 25% bio-based, 75% petroleum based feedstock and made in audited mills which follow the strict OceanSafe Compliant standards, and the ink used for the print is Oeko-Tex® certified.

To learn more about Stella McCartney x B&B Italia three-piece capsule collection, visit bebitalia.com. They are available for purchase in all B&B Italia direct, mono-, and multi-brand stores globally as well as online.