Finally someone invented a compact florescent that looks great!  The PLUMEN 001 is the world’s first designer low energy light bulb. The Plumen has a sculptural look that reminds me a bit of those cool, old-fashioned exposed filament bulbs.

The PLUMEN 001 works like any other high quality low energy bulb – saving you 80% on your energy bills and lasting 8 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. It screws into any standard bulb fitting, gives off a warm white light and will work either shaded or even better, completely naked.

Be patient…it’s not yet available in the US. Plumen’s site says they’ll be launching a 110V version in April 2011.

Found via Urban Gardens. These amazing string gardens are hanging works of art. They’re based on the Japanese art of Kokedama, a form of bonsai planted in a moss ball. 

Check out the string gardens facebook page for many more images.

Our good friend, Beth Weintraub, is an amazing artist. Her prints and metal etchings are filled with botanical images…but not those girly, sweet flowers you might be imagining. Beth is drawn to wilted, bizarre and deconstructed flowers.

Her work is on plywood panels that are inspired by mid-century design. Their modular nature lets you customize your collection and the format in which they hang. Group them vertically, horizontally or in square. They adapt to your space.

The blog Seeds and Fruit recently wrote a great piece about Beth’s work.

Stop by Grounded to see her work in person or check out Beth’s website for more incredible images of her work.

image courtesy of harviekrumpet.com

We’ve all heard the news report of an Alzheimer’s patient who wanders away in a moment of disorientation. The most common solution is to simply lock the patients up to protect them. But this seems cruel and can cause more panic.

Radiolab’s podcast tells an incredible story about how the Benrath Senior Center in Dusseldorf, Germany found a caring, and unusual solution.

The center noticed that patients tend to go to public transportation in an effort to get back home. So, they created a fake bus stop directly in front of the facility. And it worked.

Patients trying to escape wander out and sit at the bus stop. This gives the staff a chance to ease them back into the facility.

A bit reminiscent of the Academy Award-winning claymation movie Harvie Krumpet about a man with a lifetime of bad luck. The nursing home he winds up in has a bus stop installed inside the grounds.

Check out the entire story at Radiolab. But, first, go get some tissue—you’ll need it. Then buy or rent Harvie Krumpet, it’s excellent.