WW180: PEACHES, CANISTERS, and HOW THE SUN SEES YOU

WELCOME!!
It's Wonderful Wednesday!
So here are the 5 things I want you to love this week:

1.) Paper. I love when an artist can turn paper into magic. Like these from artist Bovey Lee.…..

Layered freeways, power lines, rebar & steel bridges & high rises..…that create delicate and beautiful flowers here:

SEE MORE!

See more on Facebook

Also check out her blog!
AMAZING STUFF!

(via http://www.thisiscolossal.com)

2.) Dear Jonathan Adler,  WHYYYYYYYYY???????

I NEEEEEED these ceramic containers SOOOO BAD!!!!!

My birthday is coming up…….a set of 5 of these would be perfect.
NO LESS THAN 3!
:-)
Get them on Jon-Jon's website.
(thanks Deb!!!)

3.) OH MY GAWD. This. THIS PEOPLE!!! Thomas Leveritt ‘How the Sun Sees You’……

He set up a special camera and monitor that was able capture an image in ultraviolet and relay it back to a viewer in real-time. UV lighting allows those within in its scope to perceive, beyond the range of the human eye, not-yet-visible changes, and otherwise unseen parts of the skin.

Leveritt asked passers-by to take a look at the screen and check out the changes in their faces! These poor people then saw faces full of freckles, scars and sun spots  - AKA sun damage where they might not typically apply sunscreen!!!

Follow his tweets at:  twitter.com/thomasleveritt

(if you can't see the video go HERE!)

See his whole site at  Thomas Leveritt 

Now go put some sunscreen on already, would ya??

(via www.designboom.com)

4.) Grilled Peaches and Pound Cake….Ok…..so this last weekend I made a yummy desert.

EASY PEASY!

Because I am lazy and challenged in the kitchen, I just bbq'd my peaches (with a tiny bit of sugar on them) and bought a poundcake to grill with it…adding a bit of low fat whip cream on top! 

But you should go whole hog and follow this recipe by

Bryan Calvert, chef and co-owner of James in Brooklyn, New York, loves the versatility of his supermoist lemon pound cake: He uses it to make everything from French toast to a stuffing for baked apples. At this time of year, he grills it until crisp and toasty, then tops it with warm, tender grilled peaches and whipped cream. 

Get the whole recipe here:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/grilled-lemon-pound-cake-with-peaches-and-cream
MMMMMM!

5.) I leave you with these images from Funny or Die:

See more HERE -- and have a great week!!!!!!

WW179: THE CORNERSHOP, GROWN UPS READ, and THE SAPPHIRES

Sorry I haven't blogged since last week……I am bring to take some time off…..but I didn't forget about you, dear readers!!! Here are the 5 things I love this week:

1.) Lucy Sparrow in the UK…..transformed an abandoned Cornershop into a unique pop-up grocery store filled with hand made felt products. Each item- from the bean cans, to the snacks, drinks, frozen dinners, chewing gum and newspapers are made entirely out of felt: each meticulously hand sewn, stuffed and priced to sell! Just look at this…..

 CRAAAAZY!!!!
I love it so much!
Now if you are like me, and simply cannot make it to the UK this month…..go to her website…
http://www.thecornershoponline.com

AH-MAH-ZING! Right???
(thanks to Junk Culture for this!)

2.) You need to listen to this Canadian podcast (if you don't listen to the CBC Radio One) Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids.

The premise is simple and wonderful (and perfect for my friend Cheepay!!) Adults recite passages written by their younger selves, culled from old school assignments, letters from camp, poetry, short stories and personal diaries kept safe over the years.

The series is hosted/created by Dan Misener and taped all over Canada! It is marvellous!!!!
GO GET IT ON ITUNES!!!
or go to the Facebook Page or follow on Tweets

(thanks Deb for sending me to this!!)

3.) THIS!!! Belle Air bathtub hardware designed by Christo Lefroy Brooks!

COME ON!!!!!!!
So fan-freaking-tastic!!!

4.) Way behind on this…..but I really enjoyed the movie "The Sapphires"

From 2012 -- this is an Australian musical/comedy/drama film based on the 2004 stage play of the same name which is loosely based on a true story! It is really enjoyable….and is about four indigenous women, Gail (Deborah Mailman), Julie (Jessica Mauboy), Kay (Shari Sebbens) and Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), who are discovered by a talent scout (Chris O'Dowd), and form a music group named The Sapphires, travelling to Vietnam in 1968 to sing for troops during the war.

Enjoyable!!!! Here is a clip:

(GO HERE IPHONE USERS!)

I thought the music was great, it looked great. Loads of heart….what else do you need????

Go see it!

5.) Unnecessary Censorship. THIS is amusing….a bit filthy…..but amusing…..(the YouTube links are below if the clips don't show up on your phone! ;-)

Frozen…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0v7rFSUrGE#t=77

or UP…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9HQJ8OhBuY#t=97

WW138: SIGN PAINTERS, WORLD'S TALLEST MURAL AND CARRIE BEHAVIOUR!

Here are the 5 things I love this week:

1.) Ok...this one may NOT be for you. But it IS for me. If you know my work, you know that I am OBSESSED by fonts and painting them! So this movie....caught my eye.....I wish it wouldf come here........but check out the trailer for the "Sign Painters" documentary. For information regarding screenings, and other news please visit signpaintermovie.com

SIGN PAINTERS (OFFICIAL TRAILER) from samuel j macon on Vimeo.

There was a time, as recently as the 1980s, when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards, and even street signs were all hand-lettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fueled promise of quicker and cheaper. The resulting proliferation of computer-designed, die-cut vinyl lettering and inkjet printers has ushered a creeping sameness into our landscape. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to seek out traditional sign painters and a renaissance in the trade.

In 2010 Directors Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, with Cinematographer Travis Auclair, began documenting these dedicated practitioners, their time-honored methods, and their appreciation for quality and craftsmanship. Sign Painters, the first anecdotal history of the craft, features the stories of more than two dozen sign painters working in cities throughout the United States. The documentary and book profiles sign painters young and old, from the new vanguard working solo to collaborative shops such as San Francisco’s New Bohemia Signs and New York’s Colossal Media’s Sky High Murals.

The book published by Princeton Architectural Press in November 2012 features a foreword by legendary artist (and former sign painter) Ed Ruscha. We encourage you to pick up a copy at your local book shop, or directly from Princeton Architectural Press -goo.gl/aTZLq

PRETTY COOL, HUH?

2.) I NEEEEEEEED THIS!! This incredible chandelier from Hilden & Diaz is impossibly cool!! Created by Thyra Hilden and Pio Diaz, “Forms of Nature” chandelier is a beautifully designed bundle of white tangled branches, casting shadows on the walls that look like forest trees. As the light bulb is placed in the center of the chandelier, it projects a 360 degree shadow formation on every wall and the ceiling.

LOVE IT!!!!

(via: caoine.org)

3.) The "tallest mural in the world," recently completed on the side of 200 Wellesley, a 32-story Toronto Community housing building. Funded by a $24,000 city grant for public artwork, the mural was coordinated by STEPS (Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Places), and is a colourful beacon of positivity after the building was engulfed by a fire in 2010. 

photo by UrbanToronto member Androiduk

THIS IS SO GREAT!!!

4.) I like this item. Is it one big promotion for coca-cola? Maybe.....but I liket the potential! EKOCENTER: water purification shipping container:

The idea is to help provide communities in need with access to safe drinking water and other basic necessities, the coca-cola company and DEKA R&D have launched ‘EKOCENTER’

 KOCENTER is a modularly designed kiosk with ‘slingshot’ technology at its core, transformed from a shipping container with solar panel awnings into a local community hub, offering clean, safe drinking water, alongside other services, such as access to wireless communication, electricity, vaccination storage, and more tailored to address community needs. the shipping container unit strives to help communities thrive – each and every community member – from the people using it, to the local entrepreneur operating it.

 The initiative aims to improve the holistic well-being of developing communities around the world, focusing on those within the ‘bottom of the pyramid’, the largest, poorest socio-economic group – representing nearly 4 billion people who live on less than us$2 per day

How cool is that?

5.) This is funny......well in a scary way......I am not much for prankster behaviour...but THIS is good:

Those poor coffee drinkers in New York City’s West Village!! I cannot imagine my screams as I watched that woman use her “telekinetic powers”! (The stunt was made as a clever promotion for Carrie, the upcoming remake of 1976 horror flick of the same name. The movie opens in theaters on October 18th, 2013.)

(Thanks Cindy - and Laughing Squid)

WW123: LAURENCE VALLIÈRES, URBAN TORONTO and PHOTOSHOPPED CELEBRITIES!

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKIN'!

Rob....you be lazy!! What have you been doing this week?

Well.....loyal readers, I am up to my t*ts in tigers. (AKA I'M BUSY, Y'ALL)

With The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition sneaking up (next weekend) I have kicked production in to high gear. BUT....I know how you would feel sad and dejected if I missed my weekly Wonderful Wednesday post!

So here are 5 things I LOVE this week:

1.)  Laurence Vallières is an artist from Montreal who creates AH-MAH-ZING animal sculptures using layered cardboard cutouts taken from found boxes. Laurence says of her work, "I create art that maintains both visual appeal and an understated sense of humor. I want the meaning of my pieces to both capture the eye of the viewer initially and leave them with something to consider long after they’ve left. I sculpt monkeys, elephants and rhinoceroses, thinking about their human correspondents or the ideologies they represent." THEY ARE INCREDIBLE!!! See for yourself!

Find out more about Laurence's work here.
via [Junk CULTURE] via [Lustik] via [DecoverMag]

2.) Hey Torontonians....I just discovered this. LATE TO THE PARTY!! I have been enjoying my daily emails from URBAN TORONTO...... There are a lot of great regular posts daily...

The picture of the day:

Updates on construction (and proposed plans) around the city........like the Student Learning Centre at my alma mater (Ryerson university):

 Projets around the city (like the pedestrian walkways by the St Lawrence Market):

 And STUNNING before and afters:

  

 Go and check out URBAN TORONTO and get the RSS feed into your mailbox daily!!!

3.) Thank gosh I subscribe to 'If It's Hip, It's Here'......or I may have missed this furniture....

Good Vibrations is part of a collection designed for Fratelli Boffi with the name "F* The Classics"! it is a crazy mash up of antique furniture with modern elements. OH BOY!!!!! I LOVE IT SOOOOOOO MUCH!!

I want to go to there!!!!!

See more on Fratelli Boffi's site! 

4.) Thanks to my friend Ben on Facebook....I am not HYPNOTIZED BY THIS PRODUCT. It is Rust-Oleum's liquid-repelling product, NeverWet. Ok...I am gonna let the vido speak for itself:

OH-MAH-GAW!!!!

See?????? You just Spray the silicone-based coating on ANYTHING and it appears to become almost completely impervious to moisture. SPRAY DOWN YOUR CHILDREN (or sloppy Husbands)!! 

YES....I am worried what toxic crap might be in it.......but....just think of how long my ADORABLE canvas runners will last with this product!!!!!!!!!

[NeverWet via LancasterOnline]

5.) THIS IS GREAT:

Frustrated about how over-retouched all the celebrity pictures are, New York-based artist Danny Evans decided to retouched them the opposite way by taking away all their glamor. “It was a reaction to the insanely over-retouched photos of celebrities that are everywhere,” says Danny, who started so-called Celebrities Make Under project back in 2006.

Here are some examples:

for more go to his Facebook page...
(thanks Cindy for this one!)