MARIA CRISTINA, HOW OLD R U?

MARIA CRISTINA CODECASA CONTI, fashion designer, Le Troisième Songe How is your bed? A bunk bed full of stuffed animals and with a red blanket. Which kind of meal you do not like? I do not like the fat of meat and spinach! And your favourite? I like the junk food: the breaded veal cutlet and sofficini and candyfloss. Your favorite book to read? La famosa invasione degli orsi in Sicilia, written and illustrated by Dino Buzzati. Have you got an imaginary friend? No, but I draw and draw and draw my imaginary world.

ANNA, HOW OLD R U?

ANNA EMILIA, illustrator How is your bed? My bed is upstairs and I can see the stars shining on dark autumn and winter nights when laying on my back. Sometimes I close the curtains, which are hanging above my bed. It is almost like to sleep in a tent, made of lace. Which is your favourite book? Everything is very good, there is no bad food. My favorite is lingonberry porridge with milk. It is pink, bright pink. And the cheese that my mother makes in the big oven. That is eaten with cinnamon. Also, everything that is sweet cannot hide too long from me and the times I am left alone, you can be sure that I find these sweet things because I think that they fit my mouth very well. Your favourite book? A book by Gabrielle Vincent where a big bear and a tiny mouse live together and the mouse looses her small doll. The big bear sews a new doll for her. Then I also start to sew. To knit. To crochet. Everyday.

Damien Hirst: let's count all the spots

              I  was always a colorist, I’ve always had a phenomenal love of color… I mean, I just move color around on its own. So that’s where the spot paintings came from—to create that structure to do those colors, and do nothing. I suddenly got what I wanted. It was just a way of pinning down the joy of color.  —Damien Hirst

Gagosian Gallery presents “The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011” by Damien Hirst. The exhibition takes place at once across all of Gagosian Gallery’s eleven locations in New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Athens, Geneva, and Hong Kong, since January 12, 2012. Visit all eleven Gagosian Gallery locations and recieve a signed spot print by Damien Hirst, dedicated personally to you.

JOANA, HOW OLD R U?

JOANA ROSA BRAGANÇA, artist and illustrator, Borbotos & Barbelas

How is your bed? My bed has a fluffy pink, yellow and blue blanket and is made of wood! My gray cat loves to sleep on it! Which kind of meal you do not like? I don't like tomatoes, mushrooms and complicated dishes with mysterious ingredients and sauces. And your favourite?  Strawberry ice cream with real red strawberries in it and portuguese "sweet rice" with cinnamon! Your favorite book to read?  Richard Scarry's books and Spot Goes to the Beach (O Bolinha vai à praia)! Have you got an imaginary friend? No... but I see colorful creatures in the ceiling at night...!

FUORISALONE 2013, Milan

BEN, HOW OLD R U?

BEN KLINGER, designer, Studio VEHow is your bed? My Bed is very comfartable, it’s a water bed and I like to jump on it and make waves. Which kind of meal you do not like? I don’t like fish, just the smell makes me sick. And your favourite?I like hot bread that just came out of the oven. Your favorite book to read? Winnie the pooh is my favorite book. Have you got an imaginary friend? Yes, of course. I have 5 imaginary friends.  Together we save the world.

VALENTINA, HOW OLD R U?

VALENTINA ALBAEK, Fab goose How is your bed? It is a big bed (adult size), but cosy and i can play in it.  Which kind of meal you do not like? Onion and boild carrots. And your favourite? Raviolli  Your favorite book to read? So many, i still have them... Have you got an imaginary friend? No

ALESSANDRA, HOW OLD R U?

ALESSANDRA TACCIA, la casita How is your bed? It’s like a white fluffly cloud, of course! Which kind of meal you do not like? I don’t like anything with mince meat on it! And your favourite? Cherries and apricots and peaches on top of a mountain of icecream! Your favorite book to read?  Pippi Longstocking Have you got an imaginary friend? I have two: one is very big and furry the other  one is really small and very clever, both of course, can fly.

KATHERINE, HOW OLD R U?

KATHERINE EDMONDS, fashion designer, WOVENPLAY How is your bed? I have a bunk bed and sleep on the top.  It feels like a fort to me. Which food do you hate? I hate liver ! And your favourite? I love spaghetti ! ? My favorite book is the Lemonade trick about a boy with a magic chemistry set. Have you got an imaginary friend? i don't have an imaginary friend.

MADELEINE, HOW OLD R U?

MADELEINE SARGENT, Made by Mosey

How is your bed? I have a lovely bed and share a bedroom with my sister. We whisper in the night and hold hands if we feel scared. Which is your favourite food? I like eating almost everything except for tomatoes. Yuck! My favourite is a special ice-cream type cake made by my Granny. It's called Cassata. Which is your favourite book? My favourite book is My Naughty Little Sister. It reminds me of my own cute little sister! Have you got an imaginary friend? I don't have an imaginary friend but I really believe in fairies and spend lots of time making gardens for them should they come by my place for a visit.

STEPHANIE, HOW OLD R U?

STEPHANIE RAUSSER, photographer How is your bed? It is on the top bunk. I wish it was a Hastens but it is only a Sears. Which kind of meal you do not like? And your favourite? My mom's lasagna. She is always mixing different foods in between the pasta and cheese and she never seems to forget the spinach. I never like the spinach. I love french toast and milk. Your favorite book to read? I love the red balloon. Have you got an imaginary friend? No, just a dog, a guinea pig, and a few ducks that roam the back yard.

Kiki & Coco in Paris!

Kiki loves Coco, Kiki, her girl. The two are never apart. Together they travel to Paris and delight in the city of lights. But then Coco is separated from Kiki. Will she ever see her girl again? Do not miss the end!

Kiki is the daughter of the photographer Stephanie Rausser. Coco is an hand-made doll made created by the doll maker  Jess Brown.

Nina Gruener (author), Stephanie Rausser (photographer), Kiki & Coco in Paris, Nov. 2011, Cameron books, CA