Baby box

Why do Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes?

Baby box by Tereza Stopkova

Je m’appelle Kamila Mardi, je suis née ce matin et je suis déjà toute seule dans la vie. Je pleure – je voudrais une dose, une petite dose d’héroïne, ou, au moins, du valium, si vous n’avez pas une dose, une petite dose, pour moi. Je suis effrayée. Il est une heure, sept minutes et quinze secondes.

Je ne connais plus ma mère, ma mémoire, ma petite mémoire, des petits enfants comme moi, me trahit. Je suis toute seule dans ma vie. Normalement, les petits enfants, ont une poussette, un chaperon, une couverture, une peluche, et une mère, ou un père, ou les deux.

Je n’ai jamais vu mon père. Mais je sais qu’il a beaucoup de doses, des petites doses, héroïne, meth, cocaïne, pervitin, n’importe quoi, pour moi.

Ma mère m’a accouché dans une vieille gare, et elle m’a laissé là, une petite fille, moi, un bébé, un petit espoir. Elle n’a pas crié pendant la délivrance, car je suis petite, une petite fille, même pas trois kilos, avec de petits cheveux blonds, comme ma mère, mais propres ; et avec des yeux verts, comme elle, mais joyeux. Il est une heure, sept minutes et quarante secondes.

Elle est revenue une heure plus tard, avec des larmes aux yeux, comme moi, et on a pleuré, et elle m’a chanté une chanson, et c’est le deuxième et dernière don qu’elle ma donné, le premier, c’était la vie.

Et elle m’a mis dans une boite, chaude, et confortable, et elle ne m’a pas donné de nom, je me suis donné un nom, parce que aujourd’hui, c’est le jour de sainte Kamila, et aujourd’hui, c’est mardi. Il est une heure, huit minutes et vingt secondes.

Et elle est partie, aucun bisou, aucun mot, et je suis toute seule, et j’entends une alarme, et je veux une dose, une petite dose, pour moi. Et je suis dans la boite, et je ne sais pas bouger, et je ne sais pas parler, et je vois une infirmière, et pour la première fois, je vois un sourire.

Source of inspiration 264

Source of inspiration 249 (click on this title!): Faust

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faust_(1926_film)

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_des_bijoux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K48qSWDnwlE&feature=related

Source of inspiration 237 (click on this title!): Cupboard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Mother_Hubbard

A cupboard is an ordinary and very useful container. It is a “box” that contains everyday things: food, dishes, linen, books, message boards, etc.

There are several types of cupboards: airing cupboard (large heated built-in clothes wardrobe), china cabinet (for storing precious table ware), linen cupboard, etc.

The cupboard in my boarding school room is filled with clothes, books, and notebooks. At home, my cupboard is filled with, among other artifacts, CDs, fragrance bottles, and stuffed animals. In our kitchen, the cupboard is just filled with too much food. The contents of a cupboard say a lot about a person or a family, and so does the way the cupboard is filled up.

The cupboard in the photo shows that an ordinary cupboard can become a creative space and, apparently, a means to keep in touch. It is nice and tidy and full of interesting stuff. We can imagine it belongs to a nice bunch of people who probably get on well with each other!

Why not reinvent your cupboard and make it a real shrine to the Penates? It’ll show what an interesting person you are!

Article by Anne-Sophie Belbezet

Source of inspiration 230 (click on this title!): Tin can

British merchant Peter Durand made an impact on food preservation with his 1810 patenting of the tin can. In 1813, John Hall and Bryan Dorkin opened the first commercial canning factory in England. In 1846, Henry Evans invented a machine that could manufacture tin cans at a rate of sixty per hour, a significant increase over the previous rate of only six per hour.

The first tin cans were so thick they had to be hammered open. As cans became thinner, it became possible to invent dedicated can openers. In 1858, Ezra Warner of Waterbury, Connecticut, patented the first can opener. The U.S. military used it during the Civil War. In 1866, J. Osterhoudt patented the tin can with a key opener that you can find on sardine cans.

On January 24th 1935, the first canned beer, "Krueger Cream Ale," was sold by the Kruger Brewing Company of Richmond, VA.

Article by Elliot Jackson

Source of inspiration 225 (click on this title!): Egg box

This picture shows a normal egg box. The peculiar thing is that these eggs have faces...

An egg box is used to stock and transport fragile eggs. The molded cardboard of the box surrounds each egg and protects it a little.

Egg boxes are good soundproofing material when placed on walls.

Egg boxes are also widely used in handicrafts.

Just imagine a life without egg boxes: broken eggs, noise pollution, and lot of desperate mums, dads and kindergarten workers!

Article by Annika Nischik

Source of inspiration 215 (click on this title!): Sentinel's box

A sentinel or sentry box is a boxlike structure serving as a shelter for a soldier on guard duty (usually during bad weather).

Who is this impressive man inside the box in the photo above?

He is a highly trained soldier who protects the Queen of England. He stands guard outside Buckingham palace or St James' palace. He is a member of the Queen's Guard.

What does he have on his head? It is the standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards. It is 18 inches tall, weighs 1.5 pounds, and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear. An officer's bearskin is made from the fur of the female Canadian brown bear as it is thicker (it is dyed black).

The changing of the guards : http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/ChangingtheGuard/Overview.aspx

St James' palace:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/StJamessPalace/History.aspx

Buckingham palace:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx

Article by Elliot Jackson

Source of inspiration 190 (click on this title!): Horse box

What does the horse want? Room and light, good ventilation, and to feel safe.

Room and light: An average sized horse needs about 10 feet of usable length to be comfortable. A larger horse needs more, obviously. He needs to be able to spread his legs for steadiness, but it is also important that he be able to move his head and neck freely for balance. A light colored interior and lots of windows or slats will make the trailer much more inviting and less claustrophobic.

Good ventilation: This is important for the horse's respiratory health and to control the temperature and environment of the trailer. Hay dust and noxious gasses from manure and urine compromises the horse's respiratory system and predisposes him to diseases such a shipping fever. Roof vents will remove contaminated and/or hot air from the trailer. A light colored exterior, especially the roof, will make the trailer cooler in hot weather.

Safety in design: There should be nothing sticking out to harm the horse in anyway. Tie rings, and latches should fold flat against the wall. All center posts and dividers should quick release, but should be strong enough to not break apart until you can make the decision. There should not be any sharp edges anywhere. All parts of the trailer should be strong enough to hold up to the largest, strongest horse who will be hauled in it.

Ramps should be low to the ground and not slippery. It should be possible to reach every horse individually in the event of an emergency. Butt and chest bars should quick release.

Article by Elliot Jackson

Source of inspiration 184 (click on this title!): Pizza boxes

http://www.ehow.com/pizza-boxes/
http://www.ehow.com/topic_3997_guide-boxes.html

How pizzart…

A pizza box is a closed cardboard container used to transport pizza; it keeps the pizza warm for a little while...

Bread dough spread into a circle, covered with tomato puree and various ingredients like cheese, vegetables, meats, and then baked in an oven (preferably a wood stove)... that’s pizza! It was probably originally from Naples, and is now a popular dish throughout the world. One of life's small pleasures is when you pull open that warm box and the steamy aroma of your favourite pizza invades the room... Yum!

Artists have had the idea of transforming mundane and ubiquitous pizza boxes into works of art. This is a clever way for them to become better know ("buy a pizza, admire the art work") and to liven up something that is purely utilitarian.

Artists have also thought of democratizing art by using decorated pizza boxes as containers for works of art they want to sell; art becomes as cheap, cheerful and "tasty" as a pizza, so to speak.

Artists, craftsmen and other clever people do not just recycle or find new uses for pizza boxes, they have thought of ways of making other types of boxes ever more fun and fanciful (see the link above).

IDEA: A “most original pizza box decoration” contest! The winner wins ten pizzas!

Article by Camille Martinez

Source of inspiration 180 (click on this title!): Memory box

http://www.haimbresheeth.com/memory-box/
http://www.lannylasky.com/boxes/memory_box.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_box
http://hearingvoices.com/transcript.php?fID=80

This type of box inspires me... I could make a memory box which I would decorate in an artistic way, that would show my preferences, what I am like, and my hopes too. It would be about my reality, maybe my state of mind, and my dreams. A memory box is about the past, about myth and reality.

Article by Marie Serre

Source of inspiration 171 (click on this title!)

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2642488/the_popes_toilet_el_bano_del_papa_movie_trailer/

Source of inspiration 169 (click on this title!): Tissue box

http://www.designpackgallery.fr/designpack-expositions.php

This triangular box, decorated with a juicy orange slice (there are other designs in watermelon or lemon) was the winner of the Pentawards. This is an annual packaging design competition (it's world-wide). Packagings are given marks according to the creativity of their design. From the average scores of the 13 members of the jury, 5 prizes are attributed every year : the Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Pentawards.

More than 150 packaging designs have been rewarded by Pentaward; they are exposed in the Designpack Gallery.

Pentawards' mission is to promote design packaging to companies, the press, and the general public, all around the world.

Nothing is more ordinary (boring even), hygiene-friendly and practical, than a paper tissues box... The design of Kleenex boxes entitled " Slices of summer " by Hiroko Sanders is "very attractive, and full of joy" according to Lars Wallentin, one of the members of the Pentawards jury.

Personally, these boxes remind me of the freshness of summer; I want to buy them. We could eat them almost!

Article by Alissa Viguier

Source of inspiration 158 (click on this title!): Tea caddy

http://www.hygra.com/teacaddy.htm#THE FIRST TEA CADDIES

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/tea-in-britain.htm

British tea tins are known as caddies. They are used to store tea leaves. They are air-tight to keep the tea away from damp. They are sometimes rather artistic boxes, made from wood, metal or porcelain, and some have become collectors’ items. They can be highly ornate and precious (reflecting the fact that tea was a precious commodity at first) or plain and mass-produced.

The first English tea caddies date from the mid-18^th century when tea replaced coffee as the favourite beverage of the English.

Tea caddies are quintessentially British.

Artistic idea: recycle an ordinary box into a fabulous tea caddy!

Article by Camille Moins

Source of inspiration 101 (click on this title!): Matchboxes

“Phillumeny” is the name for matchbox collecting, which can be a fun hobby, or an obsession!

The philluminist Sunil Kumar has more than 6000 boxes. He is registered in the Guiness Book of World Records (see link).

I like matchboxes, because they can be very colourful. You can use them to decorate things (books, presents, etc.). You can also make mini drawers with them!

Article by Melissa Ben Allal

Source of inspiration 83 (click on this title!): Suitcase

http://www.thefoundbin.com/blog/airport-lost-and-found-items-auctioned/

A suitcase is a practical object. Depending on its size, it allows you to move various quantities of things. But, a suitcase is more than that...

When people go on a long journey or emigrate, their suitcase is their whole life, summarised in a few objects, a remembrance of hopes and disappointments.

To lose one's suitcase is terrible: it is a bit like losing part of yourself, of your privacy.

The idea that something personal could be sold off in an airport "lost property" auction sounds awful, but it happens: see the link above!

Enjoy your trip and don't forget your suitcase!

Article by Alissa Viguier

Source of inspiration 51 (click on this title!): Reliquary

http://www.artattackalaska.com/reliquaries.htm
http://soag.org/our-members/eva-capobianco/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliquary

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/ahow/ahow_20100705-1000a.mp3