TUBE flop

SANUK has created a hybrid sock/flip flop, which is sold as a set.

Any takers?

Image source: 6pm.com

Silver Balls for Cookies - DRAGEES

I have always been fascinated by these supposedly non-edible COOKIE DECORATIONS. (The FDA says they have a minute amount of heavy metals.) It does seem strange to eat what looks like little balls of mercury. At least they are considered non-toxic?

Image source: fancyflours.com

FABERGE EGG

If I were to be a Faberge Egg, this is the one I would be.

Imperial Rose Trellis Egg (1907) by House of Fabergé and work master Henrik Wigström.

Image source: sfgate.com

BAGGAGE PILLIAR - Sacramento, CA Airport

Constructed of over 700 pieces of refurbished luggage of all shapes and sizes, this 23-foot tall pillar sculpture titled SAMSON, 1998, was created by artist BRIAN GOGGIN. It is one of two luggage pillars supporting the airport’s roof, and if they were rolled away, the roof might come cave in! The sculpture was commissioned by the Sacramento Arts Commission.

Image source: photolulu.com

Euro COFFEE Equivalent

I finally discovered the perfect STARBUCK'S concoction to replicate the density of cafe coffee in Europe: a triple short Americano.

Image source: harding.edu

COLORED PENCIL wall

For anyone wondering what I would like for Christmas, this is it! (I thought I would save you hours of guesswork!)

These pencils come as a monthly 25-piece set and are sent from Japan over a 20-month period. Made in China (sent from Japan), these high-quality HB pencils have been created for the European market. They also come with a mounting kit. What a great functional interior design element!

Image source: 500coloredpencils

Fiestaware FLATWARE - Masquerade

Using this FIESTAWARE flatware would make eating dinner all the more entertaining.

I checked them out in person, and love the colored enamel. Their weighty appearance even seems substantial, and they aren't over sized like some flatware I see nowadays.

Image source: norbysonline.com

Fair Isle Sweater CLOCK - Anthropologie

A random, yet carefully-crafted Fair Isle SWEATER CLOCK from Anthropologie (a feminine paradise [store]) coddles time in cozy warmth.

Image source: anthropologie.com

CONVERSATION - Christi Belcourt

Canadian artist Christi Belcourt created this dotted floral pattern painting on a black background symbolizing nineteenth-century Métis beadwork. From her Lessons from the Earth exhibition (2003) the central flower symbolizes her mentor, a woman who was a great connector.

As a fan of anything floral and decorative, this intricate piece is right down my alley: color, pattern, folk art-oriented and whimsy.

The Conversation, 2003
Acrylic on Canvas
52" x 52"

PATRICK BLANC's Vertical Gardens

How incredible are Patrick Blanc's vertical wall gardens?! I love the incorporation of nature into urban environments to create texture and color. The first image comes from the Caixa in Madrid Spain, the second from the Athenaeum in London, UK.
Image sources: lisastown.com and reclamationproject.com

ALLIUM

I can't wait to see my ALLIUM in the spring! They're like a bouquet of bouffant poofs.

Image source: easytogrowbulbs.com

PAINTED Overpass

In 2007, The Seattle PI asked readers to identify GINA. Still, no takers...but I LOVE the idea.

(This is painted on an unused portion of i-520 in Seattle,WA.)

Image source: Seattle P-I

Liu Bolin - CAMOUFLAGE PAINTER

Liu Bolin is a internationally-known Chinese artist (b. 1973) who camouflages himself into settings or scenes.

Oh, the excellent and entertaining guesswork!

Image souce: www.artnet.com

ROOMBA!

A Roomba (a robot vacuum cleaner) is my answer to BLISS it comes to house cleaning! IT REALLY DOES WORK!!!! Every ARTIST should own one to allow more TIME for ART!

SLASH: Paper Under the Knife at NY Museum of Arts & Design

New York's Museum of Arts & Design (at Columbia Circle) hosts an exhibition devoted to art using paper - October 7, 2009 - April 4, 2010.

One artist's work in the exhibition, Ferry Staverman, creates cardboard constructions which are wonderfully whimsical, delicate in appearance and bio-decorative in feel. I love the grouped composition within this photograph thanks to the variety shape and size.

I would run, knees high, to see this exhibit if I were in NY.

Image source: designboom.com

I found this background image on a DOVE website (the soap brand), and I love the graphics, particularly at the bottom.

Image source: dove.com

DRAWING paper

Nothing is more THRILLING having a ROLL of drawing PAPER on hand! Thanks Ikea for such a great idea.

(I use mine as a table runner on which to write/draw/doodle.)

Image source: Ikea (mala)

Topiary SOFA

This looks comfortable. Perhaps it would be better as simple yard sculpture. Beware of bugs!

Image source: foundshit.com

Sushi USB Flash Drives

Yummy!

Image source: toxel.com

PUFFY Garden

Better Homes & Gardens' illustrated design for a deer-proof garden is soft, fuzzy and amoeba-like. (They suggest allium and daffodils.)

How else could an illustrator paint a bird's eye view of foliage successfully?

I'd like to see this image made into a 3-D stuffed decorative pillow.

Image source: bhg.com (print article)

LUIGI COLANI Rotor House

Luigi Colani's Rotor House is an awesomely self-contained 6 x 6 meter pod. With rotating bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, you could live in a tiny space sans issue.

I think I would trip in the dark trying to enter the bathroom.

I also love the how the house is stackable.

Image source: designboom.com

Designer Rachel Hendricks creates divine and fabulous modified yearbook photos on facebook.com
You will need to log into facebook.com to see the work.

If you want to create your own, see yearbookyourself.com

TOUGH & TENDER Style

Here is my version of TOUGH & TENDER, thanks to inspiration from accessories designer, RJ GRAZIANO's leather and bead bracelet.

Image sources: iweardoyou.com, dailynmakeover.com, hsn.com, gallery.pictopia.memphiscom

Dinner Plate DAHLIA

Nothing can describe the sight of a HUGE dahlia blooming in full!

This is a "bonaventura" dahlia.

Image source: Kerry Michaels

Red

Nice intensity!
Photo by Jakob Esben.

Prussian BLUE

Prussian blue is my favorite color.

Image source: dickblick.com

GUNNERA plant

May 2008 I discovered this massive plant called GUNNERA. It has MONUMENTAL leaves, and four foot span is not uncommon.

I found these at the gracious Potshed Garden in Grayland, Washington.

Maidenhair Ferns

Maidenhair ferns are my favorite delicate plant. These are watered by Multnomah Falls' mist (Oregon).

South African CHANDELIER

I discovered this gem through the NY Times'
ARTISANAL TREASURES with Stephen Burks

This South African Terracotta Mud CHANDELIER is sold through (amaridianusa.com)

Its organic design creates a luxurious dripping effect. So DIVINE!

Image source: amaridianusa.com

Ballpoint DRAWING - IL LEE

IL Lee uses a ballpoint pen and gel medium to create LARGE and sublime compositions on paper using only one hue.

Doesn't his/her arm get tired?

BL119
Ballpoint pen on paper
117 x 75 inches

Image source: Gebert Contemporary

VW Bug COZY

I would like to give a medal to the person responsible for knitting this.

This image comes via an art car parade in Houston, Texas.

Image source: knithacker.com

Li XIAOFENG porcelain dress

Made from porcelain ware, Li Xiaofeng creates gorgeous dress and suit forms with a fragmented patchwork of shards.

Image source: oddee.com

Cat Scubadiver

Image source: Presurfer

XXXL

I adore Zeloot's illustration from Elizabeth Kolbert's book review. (New Yorker, July 20th 2009)

What a great use of distortion, color and shape to compose a compelling image.

In the NY'er article, Kolbert lays out various authors' insights as to why Americans - and ever more so - global citizens are and are becoming so fat.

Image source: New Yorker Magazine

The AUGEN is 30!

The AUGEN GALLERY in Portland, Oregon is 30 years old!

Congratulations to owners Bob & Phyllis Kochs for a successful long-term art gallery business within the national and Portland art scene.

Image source: augengallery.com

Note to Self: Wear Sunscreen!

I admire this woman's commitment to the sun.

Image source: image shack

BEARGRASS

Beargrass flowers Xerophyllum tenax (syn. Helonias tenax) are a gorgeous sight!! I recently saw them driving over Oregon's Santiam Pass.

They are a grass-like perennial - related to lilies - and found mostly in Western subalpine meadows.

Image source: gallery.photo.net

POLLIWalks Kid's Shoes

I'd like to wear these too...

Image source: polliwalks.com

IBM Analytics Ad

IBM placed this ad in "The Economist" magazine. I love the geometry and oh yes, the ever hot split complementary color scheme (BG - RED - YG)

Image source: ibm.com/analytics

FREESTYLE - Bliss

A stumbled-upon watch - called the Freestyle Bliss. A magnificent find, and so sweet is the design.

Image source: Freestyle USA

SUCCULENT Wreaths

I am addicted to collecting, looking at and admiring succulent plants. Now I must make one of these!

Image source: www.succulentscactiwreaths.com

Sleeping in JUNE

Every summer, around early JUNE, I want to slumber for days...
WHY IS THIS?

COLOR SCHEME - split complementary

BLUE-GREEN RED YELLOW-GREEN-
this is my latest favorite color scheme.

SYBARITE - Luxury and pleasure

SYBARITE \SIB-uh-ryt\, noun: A person devoted to luxury and pleasure.

Sybarite is derived from Greek Sybarites, from Sybaris, an ancient Greek city noted for the luxurious, pleasure-seeking habits of many of its inhabitants.

I AM ONE. I ADMIT IT!

Armstrong Flooring Ad

The photo manipulation, saturation, shapes, color and of this ad are rich!

Crystal Method's - DIVIDED By NIGHT - New CD Cover

The musical group The Crystal Method clumps speakers together to create the appearance of something organic and 3-D. I love it!

Image source: thecrystalmethod.com

ELLEN GEORGE @ PDX Contemporary Art - until May 30th

Such excellent biomorphic objects floating off the wall.

I prefer her pieces with more saturated color, like the one pictured.

Ellen George's exhibition runs until May 30th at PDX Contemporary Art in Portland, Oregon.

Scatter, 2009
polymer clay
14.5" x 14.5"

Image source: PDX Contemporary Art

House of BLUES

Architecht Peter Kaschnig wanted to see the psychological effects of living surrounded by just one color.

Located in Klagenfurt, Austria, the bathroom and bedroom also blue!

If I were to live here, I would go crazy from the brightness (either that or I'd get used to it).

What a great experiment.

Image source: The Sun

Alessandra EXPOSITO - skulls

Alessandra Exposito's sculptural pieces of fictionally named horses, chickens and pets are creepily beautiful, and appear as a fetish-like objects.

What I admire is the decorative quality of the porcelain antlers, the rhinestone additions and portraits of the "owners".

Her most recent show appeared at Mixed Greens in NYC.

Cinnamon, mixed media on horse skull, 23"h x 56" l x 18"w, 2008

Jacques KNIZDOVSKY - print maker

Jacques KNIZDOVSKY is a Ukranian print maker (1915- 1985) whom I discovered in a recent print making class lead by Barbara Mason.

What I love about his images are their strong graphic qualities and attention to line. The image can either be like a punch in the face or a delicate caress.

Jacques Hnizdovsky. Cactus. Woodcut, 1970. Edition: 98/150. Signed in pencil. Reference: Tahir 93. 16-1/4 x 15 inches. [28103c]



Jacques Hnizdovsky. Bouquet. Woodcut, 1964. Edition: 138/150. Signed in pencil. Reference: Tahir 41. 15 x 18 inches. [28141c]



Image sources: Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA