Hero: Jenny Odell

it is wet and messy time, why was everyone suddenly crazy for crocuses? the young and the growing already have the hopeful and inconsistent energy of spring. they don't need it from nature.

for me, it is fast becoming a favourite season. every time i see that awkward, strident shade of yellow green lining the city streets, i think of my grandmother's voice on the phone the year she died: 'get out there and see that green. the trees don't stay that way for long.

enjoy them now!' she wasn't really talking about the trees. springtime is trouble again. almost everyone reading this will be in a state of some uncertainty about school and work, health and sanity.

for this we offer what we can, some tips on staying sane and some products to cheer up your own four walls. the best antidote to global panic that we can offer you is the essay 'how to do nothing' by artist jenny odell. the title is misleading; it is mainly a manual for how to stay sane and grounded in the global attention marketplace.

think about the quote 'my experience is what i agree to attend to' (william james, 1890) and then check out our shrine to odell , which links to more of her surprisingly accessible work. most doctors say that a solitary walk in a park is compatible with self isolation, especially to those under 60. so let's follow jenny to the rose garden (at a respectful distance of 9099 km) we went to the humboldthain , an improbably lovely traditional rose-garden set as a jewel in this otherwise gritty neighborhood.

wait until may for the roses to bloom, but there are many other plants here too, some already showing. in the springtime you can expect to meet a new flowery friend every week. we have been getting more and more feedback from our mailings, so we would love to hear about your favorite local garden, and what makes it special, send us pictures and we will make a section in the next letter.

we're no doctors, but we can try to help you get the most out of your home in the coming weeks. there are 6 of us here in the studio, and we have decided to do staff picks, where each of us will recommend a favourite product that will be half price for the next 48 hours. this month it will be steve, faith and sebastian watch out for gunnar, alice & antoine's recommendations in april!

steve's favorite: i founded fundamental in 2010 with gunnar. the product that has brought the most usefulness and joy to my home has been the vine lamp. it's so easy to hang from a nail or something.

i have it connected to alexa, so i just yell at it to turn it on. VINE LIGHT was now faith's favourite: i have been managing partnerships at fundamental since 2019. i love the hope shelf because its so waterproof!

i have it in my shower and i just hose it down every time i have a shower and its always so clean and white. no gunk. HOPE - SHELF was now sebastian's favourite: i joined the design team as a student back in 2014.

my favourite product for this time of year is the bubble tea pot. i make 2 or 3 pots a day and it lives on my desk at work. it's so important to keep drinking, now more than ever.

BUBBLE - TEAPOT was now In this new feature block for the newsletter, we will be profiling some of the stores where our products are sold: Smart, modern, streamlined and fun. This is probably what you think of when you think of the legendary Paris Centre Pompidou . As you enter from the square, on the left, there is a quite sensational shop, going beyond gifts to make it possible for visitors to take something of the stylish, optimistic futuristic spirit of the building home with them.

Make sure to drop in if you're in the area, you can access the store fully without a ticket or queues, and for a quick shot of inspiration, it's hard to beat. 🖤 Ev'ry superman have his kryptonite. A low key, gently upbeat playlist this month, with love from us to all you home office workers out there.

Put it on and think of us. 🖤