German designers Markus Gogolin and Hedwig Rotter were counting on the German football team to make it to the World Cup finals this year. Unfortunately for them, the team lost to the Italians. There is one final match for the German team tomorrow against Portugal, playing for third place. Considering that the team could still score a trophy, the finale! vases are still rather appropriate. Made from porcelain, they measure 39x25x9-cm and are modeled on a real footballer's lower leg and foot. There are no distinctive German-team markings on the shoe, so any fan could enjoy them and still support his or her favorite team. The foot is not included - and that's probably just as well. Price: €155.

[via Design Spotter]

Artist Heidi Heiss must be even more upset by the discontinuation of the Hummer H1 than we are - just kidding. She made this candy-coated Hummer as a tribute to "the soldiers who gave candies to children during the war." It is a life sized HumVee that is made of gumballs, steel and wire mesh. This one was on display at the MOCA Tucson in Arizona, but it's easy to imagine it ending up in the car collection of someone who really wants something different.

There's another picture, for perspective, after the jump.

[via OMG Blog]

Smintair is a new luxury airline concept that is being developed by a German entrepreneur. The name is derived from a longer title: Smoker's International Airlines.

On board, not only will smoking be permitted, but the airline promises to "bring back the exclusivity in flying encountered in the 1960s." The plan is to offer two jets, Boeing 747s, and round-trip service from Dusseldorf to Tokyo. There will only be 138 seats on each plane (compared to 347 on a normal commercial 747) and they will not offer coach or economy seating. Business class seats will have 70" of legroom (compared to the standard 55") and First Class will have 80" of leg room.

Alexander Schoppmann, the founder of Smintair, says that the "no smoking" policy of airlines was originally implemented so that companies could cut back on air conditioning systems; Schoppmann says that his airline will restore systems that can handle the smoking without problem.  He is confident that fliers will be willing to pay for the comfort and services his airline will offer.

On a final note, Smintair does state on its employment application that "Allergics against tobacco smoke or militant anti-smokers are asked to not apply."

It takes one million Swarovski crystals to completely cover the human body - assuming that the body you want to cover is that of a 20-year old model named Chantal. Million Crystal Body is an auction organized by eBay specialist Marion von Kuczkowski in which the million 2-mm crystals covering Chantal are sold for €1 each. As more of Chantal is revealed, her photos will be updated on the website.

Some might call this a global art project and some might call it something else, but it certainly is an interesting idea. The last stones in the auction will not be sold at the fixed €1 price, but will be auctioned via eBay. The proceeds of those final bids will go to an as-yet-unnamed charity. The person who wins the last crystal will have it personally delivered anywhere in the world by Chantal herself.

[via Ananova]

Designed by F.A. Porsche, the man behind the famous lines of the Porsche 911 and the Porsche Design Group, this sleek looking kitchen gadget is one with fashion and function. A small lever on the side of the can opener handles unlocks the device and a simple twist allows the sharp steel blade to cut through any can. A magnet in the opener holds the lid in place until if can be removed. If you're looking to turn your kitchen into a tribute to your car, a matching corkscrew, bottle opener and other accessories are available. The can opener retails for $49.99.

Bentl y - The Book has just won the "Best Book on Car Design" award by Motor Presse Club e.V., a German organization. The book is a history of the company and its cars, written by British motoring journalist Andrew Frankel. It was first published in 2003. Bentley beat out four other books for the title. The winner of the category was selected by a panel that included well-known car designers and journalists. Autoblog has the full press release.

Now in its second, revised printing, the book is available online for $69.50.