WW133: OOBJECT, THE GREAT LEGO PHONE and BUTTERCUP CHICKENBROTH

Hey folks! Let's gedder dunn! Here are the 5 things that I want you to LOOOOOOVE this week!!!!

1.) OH MY GAWD. I soooooooo need this:

LEGO has collaborated with belkin to introduce the ' builder case', a fully customizable iPhone 5 accessory that can be personalized with LEGO bricks. designed with a co-molded hard plastic back for scratch-resistance and a semi-flexible outer frame for shock-absorption, the easy-to-grip case also protects the buttons on the sides while keeping the ports and speakers fully exposed. the 'builder case' can now be purchased at belkin's online shop for $39.99!!!!!!!!

COME ON!!!!!!
This is a super great time waster for adults!

(thanks Design Boom)

2.) This is creepy...and cool! it makes me want to go to these places to see these houses! Ben Marcin's "Last House Standing" is a photo project documenting the forgotten solo row houses scattered around Baltimore, Philly and New Jersey. Standing alone, in some of the worst neighborhoods, these nineteenth century structures were once attached to similar row houses that made up entire city blocks. Time and major demographic changes have resulted in the decay and demolition of many such blocks of row houses.

"My interest in these solitary buildings is not only in their ghostly beauty but in their odd placement in the urban landscape. Often three stories high, they were clearly not designed to stand alone like this. Many details that might not be noticed in a homogenous row of twenty attached row houses become apparent when everything else has been torn down."

Very cool!!!

Check out more from Ben HERE.

(via www.featureshoot.com)

3.) Ok....so thanks to DEB, I am wasting a LOT of time on:

Thats's OOBJECT. It has daily lists of stuff. Weird and wonderful stuff. I encourage you to go and waste some time there!!! The firest thing I enjoyed was a grouping of 12 unusual cameras, posted by David Galbraith

Isn't that enough to make you want to waste your time here?????
GO!!
(not yet - finish my post - THEN go)

4.) ok.....now I am not sure about this one yet.....but I wanted to share......ROCKY: The Musical. Yup. You heard me!!!

Here is what the creaters are promoting:

In 1976, an unknown actor wrote and starred in an independent movie about a struggling but indomitable Philadelphia boxer who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to go the distance.

An underdog story both on-screen and off, Sylvester Stallone'sRocky went on to win the Academy Award® for Best Picture and touch the hearts of millions. Now, that iconic film has inspired an innovative new stage production, brought to extraordinary life by afive-time Tony Award®-winning creative team, including director Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher), book writerThomas Meehan (The Producers) and songwriting team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime).

What they've done with Rocky pushes the limits of the ordinary theatrical experience, bringing the audience into the heat of the action. Both an adrenaline-infused spectacle and a surprising tale of blossoming romance between two lonely outsiders, Rocky is a visceral and heart-stopping new production for everyone brave enough to follow their dream.

I have to admit, I am curious.....I generally enjoy Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's musicals.....still.....this isn't an endorsement......just a bit of curiosity!!!!

5.) Ok....you LOVE the TV series "Sherlock"....and you loved him in "Star Trek 2".......and now you are gonna love the Benedict Cumberbatch Name Generator........very amusing!

WW100: HOT TUB BOAT, THE POCKET BOOM, AND INFLATABLE BAGGINS,

WOW! 100 Wonderful Wednesday Posts - THAT IS AH-MAH-ZING!!!!
I mean, that is 500 things that I have found inspirational and suggested to you(s).
CRAZY!!!
Ok......well let's hope I have another 100 in me.
For now, I still enjoy bringing you my top 5 things each week that are exciting!!!!
This past week I have been sick with the plague, so I haven't had a chance to explore the real world for you.......but I give you these:

1.) THIS IS CRAZY! But I need to go to there!!!!!!!!!!!  I give you the  'the hot tub boat'! PERFECT for cottage life.

 "Engineered and built in seattle, by a marine carpenter 'the hot tub boat' utilizes a vinyl-ester hull topped with a slatted deck handcrafted from african teak. positioned on the vessel's center of buoyancy, the vessel provides exceptional stability -  drafting only 20 inches, even when filled with its maximum load of 2,100 lbs of water and six adult bathers.

An integrated diesel-powered boiler with an adjustable thermostat heats the tub's water to a maximum 104° F - also powering the built-in waterproof MP3 stereo system plays through its two flush-mounted 50-watt speakers that pop-up from the deck. A 24-volt electric motor propels the boat up to 8 km/h on calm water, steered via a joystick. A rechargeable battery provides up to 10 hours of power from an overnight charge using its built-in 'smart plug shore power connection' and on-board chargers.
WAIT.......I don't have a cottage.
DAMN!!
(via)

2.) Meaghan Smith. I am enjoying her music right now. You'll see why:

It is from her album "The Crickets Orchestra". I like it! Here are a couple more tunes from her:

GO BUY HER ALBUM!!!!!

Great, huh??
Ok...moving on.....

3.) I am NOT a huge Lord Of The Rings fan, but THIS is amazing. Honestly, I saw the movies and even enjoyed them, but I am not a die-hard fan! Utah based balloon artist Jeremy Telford is a CRAZY FAN! He has constructed Bilbo Baggins’ hobbit house entirely out of balloons.

This Tolkien super fan spent over 40 hours with swollen fingers creating the life size structure right in the middle of his living room using only a hand held balloon pump, his imagination, and a spiffy green vest to hold the balloons in. The structure comes complete with a fireplace filled with wood and flames, ornate chandelier, ceiling beams and closet doors that open and close! Watch a time lapse video after the jump of Telford in action as he creates the ultimate nerd shrine to Lord Of The Rings.
CRAZY!!!!!! But amazing to behold!
(via and beautifuldecay.com)

4.) This is the coolest thing I have gotten this year! The "Pocket Boom Portable Vibration Speaker". I know......big name for such a tiny thing......ok....so here it is:

The X:VIBE

First, it is such good design.  I love that it is small enough to fit in your pocket or your small purse.
But then all you have to do to make it work, is turn it on plug into your phone,  unscrew the cap that houses the speaker part and stick it something! VOILA! Easy-peasy!

Yes, attach it to ANYTHING that makes the sound resonate.......anything from a cup to a window into a speaker! I have tried a cup, which was pretty good.......I tried a tin - which was.....well.....tin-y.....I also tried a cardboard box which I liked a LOT better.....it works well on the packaging it came in.........but my favourite place was when it was on my filing cabinet!!

The 'Pocket BOOM' is super cool.......and super effective too!!!

So now I can enjoy my music through a speaker ANYWHERE!!!!
WOOT WOOT!
I may try it on a window of a streetcar.....and see it people enjoy it!!
Here is a little example of how it works....I am maybe not tech savvy enough to make my own video.....but you get the drift from this:

Remember to check out more mobile phone accessories at Mobile Fun!

5.) OK. This is from last month......but I still like it. It is amusing!
     I give you the "Disney corporate retreat."

WW96: CHRISTMASSED!

Hey folks...I know I have been not too great with my posting in the last week......Christmas has a way of gumming up the works........ya know???
BUT..........I give you 5 things I love this week:

1.) Wow. I love this one. Yusuke Oono's amazing laser cut book opens out to reveal a beautiful three-dimensional diorama. He is "expressing scenes from a story in a three-dimensional way using the pages of a book". It is amazing - enbiggen the photos below to be impressed!!!

(Thanks to spoon tamago for this one!)

2.) I made these Christmas cookies.....I realized this week that I REALLY am a terrible baker....thankfully these cookies make it idiot proof!!!!! Melted Snowmen...are delightful!!!

              - make any kind of cookies - then let them cool!!
              - melt a marshmallow in the microwave and drop it on the cookie (5 sec will do it)

              - use mini-cocolate chips for eyes, and a orange jimmy for a nose, and a hat!!!

                (do it while the mallow is gooey) I made my hats from a mini Reese peanut butter cup, and a 

                chocolate looney (also available at the Bulk Barn)

              - heat up royal icing (or buy tubes of pre-made from - guess where - the Bulk Barn!) and pour 

                over cookie...to look like the melting body! 

              - add some buttons (chocolate chips) and two pretzel arms

You can make these super fancy if you are an accomplished baker/decorator - BUT I AM NOT!!

Here are someone else's:

Good for them!

Easy and fun baking for the whole family!!

3.)  Whilst we are in a Christmassy mood....I give you this...yes.....it is a commercial......but I enjoyed it!

Did it make me want to get T-moblie??

Mission accomplished!!!!!

4.) Ok.....here is a great gift idea.......it is a two parter......but totally great.

     Part one.......I make a personalized cover for my phone:

Gelaskins..........great ways to personalize your phone....for me....I got the stickers......of my artwork.....

and then applied them to my phone. You can get a hard case or a soft case OR the stickers.

I like the stickers because they cover the front and back of the phone!!

Now that might seem like enough of a gift......but for me....I am a CLUTZ.

I needed something to protect the sides and such. I went with this:

Look at this iPhone 5 case!!

This little guy was a LIFE SAVER......well....a phone-saver.....

It has great bumpers around the edges, an nice metal looking button covers! 

It doesn't have a plastic back cover, so I am able to see the splendour of my artwork! 

It is simple and effective. It really is a discreet and attractive way to protect my iPhone!

I got mine HERE! And I am thrilled with it!!

Go and check out MOBILE FUN.COM for great deals on iPhone cases of all kinds!

GO NOW!!!! 

And they have more than just cases....they have lots of great techy stuff for EVERYONE on your Christmas list!!! 

Oh.....here is my phone with the new case and stickers!!!

again....check out this iPhone 5 case

This iPhone 5 case is beautiful from every angle

LOVE IT??? 

Me too!!!!!

5.) Okay, I leave you with this. Beaker ALWAYS makes me laugh.....

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!

WW: LES MIS, POTATOES and THE IPHONE5

FIVE THINGS I LOVE THIS WEEK:

(sorry about the yelling)

1.) I SAW these and LOVED THEM. (get it? saw???) Anyways, I love me some vintage typeset!!!! New York-based design studio Vault49 has created a series of hand-painted saws as part of a statement project about international budget cuts, titled “(SUB)PRIME-CUTS”.

Here is what they say: "Budgets are being butchered all around the world, and even worse it’s been done in such bad taste. These finely crafted financial tools should trim the fat nicely."
Check their site: http://www.vault49.com
(thanks to Junk Culture for this one)

2.) Ok...although I am a big show tune queen, I admittedly was not super jacked about the upcoming "Les Miserables":

UNTIL NOW......here's why:

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is super-fantastic! LIVE singing. I love love love it.
Finally people with TALENT....singing LIVE.
Can't wait!
And am I crazy...but even with his weird-y beard-y...Huge Jackman is still HOT???
(If you didn't get that YouTube link - go to the site to see the trailer - you will not be disappointed!!)


3.) Love these cool rings recycled from billiard balls!!!

Check out Eleanor Salazar's great work HERE! 

or buy the rings HERE!!

4.) Here is the EASIEST recipe EVER. DEEEEEELISH (thanks to my sister for making these first!!!)

Hasselback Potatoes
6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
30 g Butter
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

(NOTE: My sister added bacon and cheese to these - which REALLLLLLLY made them deelish)

5.) This.

WW69: A BROOKLYN WATER TOWER, PAPER ART, AND BELLE(ish)!

I had a perky title for this post all ready (because it is my #69 post) but then I realized that I am already being detected as 'spam' and BLOCKED for adult content by the servers at the government......
(true story)
So I decided not to go for the tasteless joke!
Ok...on with it......the 5 things that I LOOOOOVE this week:

1.) My obsession with 'the big apple' doesn't stop at the Brooklyn Bridge. HECK NO! I am in love with many of the super cool stuff happening in Brooklyn! THIS is exceptional......

For his latest project called "Watertower", Brooklyn artist Tom Fruin, has created a monumental water tower sculpture using colorful salvaged plexiglass pieces gathered from all over NYC. Illuminated by the sun during the day and by Ardunio-controlled light sequences designed by Ryan Holsopple at night, this beacon of light is a tribute to the iconic New York water tower and a symbol of the vibrancy of Brooklyn. Watertower opened June 7th, with daily light shows beginning at dusk and continuing to morning.

AM I RIGHT?????? WOWSERS!!!!!!!! 

Check out Tom's site for more info: www.tomfruin.com

I WANT TO GO TO THERE!!!

(Thanks to www.gizmodo.com)

2.) So you know that I am all about the paper-art movement right now.....well check out this stop motion video......it will AH-MAH-ZE you. 

It is set to the song “Østersøen” by the band Ödland. The animation was directed by Vincent Pianina & Lorenzo Papace.


#16. Østersøen (Ödland, Sankta Lucia) from Lorenzo Papace on Vimeo.


(if link doesn't work - click HERE)

(Thanks to Thisiscolossal)

3.)  Do you have an iPhone or iPad? Do you consider yourself an artist? Would you like to make art WITHOUT all the hassle of actually getting an arts education and being an artist? Check out this app! Yes, you will have to pony up 99 cents for it.....but it is pretty cool!!  The 'popsicolor' iPhone and iPad app by brooklyn-based software company tinrocket transforms photographs into watercolor-like images. An adjustable setting controls the focus and balance of white space, while two rows of colour palettes along the top and bottom of the image let users decide which colours to blend within the imitation watercolor. If the iPhone or iPad is kept face-up and level while 'popsicolor' is at work, the paintings will feature a clean border; otherwise the app adds in mock drips. Like so:

tried one myself...turn this:

 into this:

or try a different filter:

A great time waster!!!

4.) Ok...so this is a product I LOVE.....(thanks to Design Sponge for this one)

So......have you ever been annoyed by the collection of 1/4 gallons of paint in your basement??
Wish there was a simpler way to store a little bit of touch up paint for your home?
Slobproof has a solution....I give you the Slobproof Paint Pen. This handy dandy little guy lets you load up the pen and save it for years in case you need little touch ups here and there. If you’re in the market for something that will help with those little dings, click here to pick up a set of two paint pens for $19.99.
SMART?? NO????

5.) You know I am a bit of a Disneyphile.....well this made me laugh. Stick with it....it is the WHOLE song......and there are some funny cameos at the end of it.......
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL:

Here is the "UPDATED" (aka funny) version:

****SPECIAL THANKS TO Josephine Cleo for this one!!!!