From Europe with Love #47 👀 – Fractals, furniture, and a French apéritif

Buonasera from Merano!

Welcome to this week’s installment of what’s hot in brands and products.

Two weeks since we got back from New Zealand, and I’m still emotionally jet-lagged.

On Friday, I picked up the analogue photos (lost just one roll of film — RIP, Hong Kong memories 😢) and finally wrote up the trip.

We saw mountains, fjords, villages I can’t pronounce, and — at one point — waited 90 minutes in Oamaru to watch a colony of penguins waddle ashore.

What we expected: hundreds of penguins making their triumphant return from the open ocean.

What actually happened: one lone penguin climbed out of the waves... and sat there.

For an hour.

Respect.

If you're curious: photos, words, and that penguin are all over on my personal blog — check it out here.

Now back to Europe.

Every week, I share five of the coolest products I’ve come across in the past 7 days.

No more waiting on penguins. Let’s dive in.

With love ☀️
Jakob

Fractal Vise [🇬🇧]

Imagine a vise. Now imagine it fractal. Still with me? Good.
This mechanical puzzle from Leeds-based MetMo uses interlocking jaws to clamp down on oddly-shaped things like it's been possessed by a very precise demon. Originally designed in the 1930s (seriously), it’s now reborn on Kickstarter for the modern tinkerer. I have at least 5 nerdy readers of this newsletter in mind who could be potential buyers… 🙃 Back it here.

Senseables Bioplastic Stools & Tables [🇸🇰]

They change color in response to UV radiation! The Senseables collection by Crafting Plastics Studio blends playful geometry with serious eco creds — stools and side tables crafted entirely from bioplastic that’s biodegradable and made to last (yes, both can be true). They’re lightweight, stackable, and ready for indoor or outdoor lounging. See the full collection.

Ruby Rush Apéritif [🇫🇷]

A French apéritif without the headache. Ruby Rush by Midi Apéritifs brings that bitter-sweet, citrusy bite you want before dinner — minus the alcohol. Think pomegranate, gentian, hibiscus, and a splash of yuzu. Mix it with tonic, pour it over ice, or just drink it while pretending you’re in a sun-soaked courtyard somewhere in Provence. Sip on the details.

Orbit Baritone Guitar [🇩🇪]

A guitar for people who’ve already had their Telecaster phase. Just kidding — I can’t tell a fret from a bridge (still waiting for a ukulele teacher to appear in the Alps), but I know good design when I see it. And the Orbit Baritone from Verso Instruments in Kassel, with its clean lines and deep tones, hits all the right notes (pun intended) — like if Bauhaus joined a surf rock band. Also: magnets instead of screws. Because of course. Play it cool here

Camper Modules [🇪🇸]

This one came via my friend Ivo — who knows his way around a road trip. VanCubic’s Spanish-designed modules turn your van into a cozy camper in under an hour. You get a living room-bedroom combo with a fold-out bed, sofa, and storage, plus a kitchen-bathroom unit complete with a sink, stove, and optional shower. No permanent modifications needed — just slide them in, secure, and hit the road. Have a look here

WHICH ONE’S CALLING YOUR NAME THIS WEEK?

REPLY WITH A #1 TO #5 — OR JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU’D ACTUALLY BUY. ALWAYS CURIOUS WHAT MAKES THE CUT.