Check Out: Astronomy Picture of the Day

THIS IS A REAL PHOTO AND NOT SOME THOMAS KINKADE/ADOBE/ A-HOLE CREATION
photo credit: The Brilliant David Kaplan

From the site: "Sometimes a morning sky can be a combination of serene and surreal. Such a sky perhaps existed before sunrise this past Sunday as viewed from a snowy slope in eastern Switzerland. Quiet clouds blanket the above scene, lit from beneath by lights from the village of Trübbach. A snow covered mountain, Mittlerspitz, poses dramatically on the upper left, hovering over the small town of Balzers, Liechtenstein far below. Peaks from the Alps can be seen across the far right, just below the freshly rising Sun. Visible on the upper right are the crescent Moon and the bright planet Venus. Venus will remain in the morning sky all month, although it will likely not be found in such a photogenic setting. "

NASA has this great site: Astronomy Picture of the Day-- it is humbling and it's a reminder that we are just passing through...enjoy the view.

Please click here to see more beauty bigger than ourselves ...

art art art: Steve Thomas

Modern Vintage-- oxymoronic, sure.. but makes perfect sense when you see Steve Thomas' work. Steve is the boy I WISHED had grown up next door to me instead of the passel of snot-nosed, smelly, loud rascals who would hold cannibal grasshopper contests and throw game controllers at the wall when they lost their 54th try at Cosmic Ark. We'd hang out and draw, he Transformers and Inhumanoids, and I would sketch out things for She-Ra and Shirt Tales... and it would look cool.. and we would get married.. and we'd have children who would create amazing works of art...

All until the next water balloon was hurled at me.

Ah.. Imaginary Nostalgia...

See Steve's brilliant eye here

Love love love: Denver Egotist

Admittedly, the artist in me is conflicted about advertising because there is SO MUCH BAD stuff out there.*
However, there are a few people who will call it out that crap, raise the bar, refusing to suffer idiots or mediocrity (unless it is ironically funny). The Denver Egotist will post interesting things, but more importantly, they also serve as a reminder that creatives must PUSH themselves to produce the best and to remember that we are all always part of a community. I can always get behind that.

*To be fair, there's a LOT of bad art out there too.

Click HERE to go to Denver Egotist

Music: The Dollyrots

New obsession.

Travel: Crestone Colorado

I'd read there was a spiritual vortex here. After visiting, I'd believe it. I'm pretty sure I'm getting back there. Not sure when though. Soon, I hope.

Real Life: Trees + Forest

Someone whose humor I absolutely get.Sometimes, you just need someone to break it down in a true way.

Click here for Trees + Forest

Music: Lusine

Maybe, I'm late to the game with these guys, but this is the most gorgeous sound I've had in a good long while. It so reminded me of dawn in the mountains. Have you ever seen the sun come up while in the Rockies? You should.

Check Out: The Swelle Life

Sometimes, I go online, and I see a person's blog that very much feels as if it were sliced out of my very own brain. I want to hang out with this person, talk about the most minute details of the fashion of the Golden Age Hollywood, Weimar Republic, British New Wave and/or French Revolution...all while discussing it over the most beautiful assortments of desserts and cocktails. This blog, too, I add to my favorites of places to visit. Denise is the friend I want to show me around LA, Paris or Madrid. Love the Swelle Life.

Sweet, eco-savvy, stylish with good style icons..I admit, sometimes a LITTLE twee... however the overall fun and good taste keeps me. A fab fab fab read. Please click here to visit the Swelle life.

Delicious: Cupcake Royale

Feeling in a Seattle mood...SO adorable. Drooling staring at this.

And I know it feels like the cupcake thing is overdone, but I will always fall for a delicious dessert.

Click here to go to Cupcake Royale

Music: Nicki Minaj

I just love the look of this video. Sucker for bright color

WOW

Every week should begin with this!

CLICK HERE FOR THE AMAZINGNESS

Be inspired!

Insanity : Russian kids

Oh, to again be as fearless as a kid.



I was scared to death to watch this, but also slightly wistful...

Design: Jonathan Adler

Be still, my heart...

Surely, there's a holiday coming up where I can justify purchasing these.... I want, I want, I want!

GO here to find & buy

Check Out: Barbie as Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds

MODERN ART. Love it.


For more info go here

Fashion: Kobi Levi

If something is playful, quirky and unique, it's pretty much guaranteed I will love it.

Slide

Sling Shot

Miao

To see more of Kobi Levi's amazing and whimsical work, please click here

Music: Innerpartysystem

"American Trash"..as we all have been at some point in our lives?

Check Out: Barbie as Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan

She is here!! But WTF on those shoes? Joan Collins would not approve.

Pop Fantastic update

Well,.. looks like I haven't been active here since October. Funny how work snows you in... however, I've seen a lot of really amazing stuff, and I can't wait to post it bc I'm scared it's going to evaporate from my mind!

So stay tuned!!!

Animation: "Dot" by Aardman's Sumo Science

This is INSANE!!!! The world's smallest stop motion animation...shot on a Nokia N8



WOW

Here is the "Making Of" segment, which is RI.DIC.ULOUS.



Wow, just WOW. COuld you imagine if someone bumped this set???!

Retro: Go-Go Dancing Contest circa 1970

art art art: Christian David Moore

Fashion illustrators sometimes feel like a dime a dozen, however, when a unique talent comes about, it is so refreshing.

Christian David Moore is a self taught, London based illustrator (SO much great illustration coming out of the UK these days....) who loves Tom Ford, Miles Davis and has a wicked, yet very delicate hand.

Never underestimate the impact of watercolor or goauche!

Here is an interview with the illustrator:



Too see more of his work please click here

Retro: The Origin

This video has more hair flips than a Pantene commercial, but my GOODNESS they were one of the most engaging bands during the 90's. Truly, they were... just a year or two before the entire grunge movement steamrollered everything in rock media...They lost Daniel and gained a new member whose name eludes me, and went sort of hippy dippy for the second album, which turned out to be a pretty solid collection of work...I loved Bend.

Gah, my silly artist's eye has to comment: It didn't hurt that the entire band was very photogenic. You have to love the boys from the West in the 90's. Topper Rimel's hair flips are The Best. I wonder what they are up to now?

Music: Youth Group

A leetle, leetle formulaic.. but not so much so that we miss the beauty of this song... This is still easily the most gorgeous version of "Forever Young" out there now.

Photo: David Leventi's "Bjoerling’s Larynx"

La Fenice, Venice, Italy, 2008

Amazing and grand, these photos are PURE visual confections. From photographer David Leventi, here are some of the world's most beautiful opera houses. Just look at that INCREDIBLE curtain at the Palais Garnier below. GORGEOUS. Enjoy!
Curtain, Palais Garnier - Paris, France 2009

For more, click here Margravial Opera House, Bayreuth, Germany

Hotness: Dolemite, muthaf*cka!

Oh, I LOVE this...still laughing for so many reasons...

OMG

Good grief, has it been THAT long???? And it's not that I haven't been inspired.. I have, many many times...I just pulled a sort of Rip Van Winkle...eep.

Posts to follow... trust.

Retro: Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt. So classic, so original. Very missed.

Art art art: Toothpick City

Stan Munro would have been the guy in your 3-D Design class that you knew would kick your ass EVERY week. You'd be green with envy, but you'd probably love everything he turned out.



Here's to vision!

Click here to see more amazing stuff.

Music: Kid Sister

Love this dreamy, funky, pop & fun ditty.

Check Out: Modern Toilet Restaurant

Ok, this one goes in the same category as those soaps that were shaped like babies' hands... is it creepy or not?

In this case, is it gross or not?


For all you closeted coprophiliacs (and I really don't want to know, trust me), you may want to take a trip to Taipei where you can have your entrees served in urinals and sit on toilet seats...

Can't help but wonder what the bathrooms look like?

I don't even have a link! Just google "MODERN TOILET RESTAURANT!" You'll find it.

Music: Aesop Rock

Comment: On Hipsters

The funniest thing about a hipster, is defining who IS a hipster. I don't think anyone really knows. Urban Dictionary defines it as "The blend of every failed fad since the early 1900s." THe closer that you get to an epicenter of hipsters (NYC, Austin, Portland, San Francisco), the finer the definition seems to become. I, personally think the world is a better place with hipsters, regardless of how annoying they may be. But then again, I don't really live amongst them. I do like to watch them, and I find the culture around them funny.

This lovely clip features stylist Erin Hirsh discussing/lamenting about the irony of the hipster... watch, enjoy.

Erin Hirsh, Fashion Stylist :: 120 Seconds from friendswelove.com

Check out : Apocalpyse Cakes

(Fallen Angel Food Cake)

Sometimes, I wonder where are all the people who share my warped sense of humor are. Some of those folks are definitely behind this hilarious site Apocalypse Cakes.

(Leviticus "I Told You So" Aporkalypse Pie)

Some of the recipes on the site seem edible and delicious, but I can't assume that someone out there won't think that dirt, salt and vegetable shortening is a bad combo and is not to be eaten.

(Seismic Haitian Mud Cake)

Please click here to see more irreverent cakes!

art art art: Rinee Shah

There has always been a part of me that admired the simplicity of line drawings. I can't remember how I stumbled upon Rinee Shah's portfolio, but I am glad that I did.

"A Woolgathering Exodus" // Benoît Pioulard from Church and Steak

She is not an animator in the sense of someone who illustrates movement convincingly-- it is more in the tone and atmosphere that is created: unusual, sparse, emotional,and powerful.

THough this link leads to her commercial work, you can see her aesthetic clearly.. a very strong sense of style and strong presence. I'll be keeping my eyes on her.

TO see more of her work, please go here

Check out: Barbie as Muse

When was she never a muse?

(Barbie does Vermeer)

Remarkable little site that shows some great moments in art, fashion and film with the girl who has nearly done it all..

(Barbie as Coco)

(Barbie does Magritte)

Bitch has everything!!!!

Click here to see more, including Barbie as Mona Lisa, Barbie as a Warhol, Barbie as a Picasso.... yeah, you get the picture...

Check Out: Opening of H&M in France

hahahahaha--- sorry to laugh, but young girls can be so funny (and scary) at the same time...

from D-Listed

Retro: fluid

Comment: Johnny Weir

Fur controversy aside (is there anyone PETA won't criticize?), we have an extremely articulate, and eloquent guy who can see and speak to our higher natures. Love him.



Go Johnny, go!

Art Art Art: Yvonne Lee Schultz

Why do I LOVE it when artists are so naughty with porcelain?

This is the work of Yvonne Lee Schultz, and I love it! A porcelain gun? That would be the name of my bad ass band if I had one. This is absolutely brilliant and confounding, and reminds me a bit of Barnaby Barford's work.
I want to hold one. I really do.

Click here to see more of her work.

Music: Miike Snow

Addictive. Good music to draw to for me.

Check Out: Nicolette Mason

I love this blog, not just for the stylish aspect of it, but because of Nicolette's personal photos. I love how she captures a charming, gentle and romantic New York in her blog (flowers, cafes and close-ups of personal favorite items), and punctuates them with swoops and dashes of high fashion. My favorite pics are when she shoots food! Very intimate, and extremely charming work, and I'd love to have tea with her!
Please click here to see more.

Excuse My Cuteness! : Baby Shiba

Check Out: Kate Earl, Gabriel Jeffrey

Classic situation of maker and muse....though which is which I will let you decide...

Kate Earl: Something BETTER from Alaska. Proof that the Northern Lights are not the only beautiful things from The Last Frontier.

Drowsy, sexy, sweet and intoxicating--- her music takes me to my first evenings in Manhattan--- fragrant, stylish cocktails... indulging in French cuisine in the candlelit, sleek lounges in the West Village at 3 am ... gorgeous, exotic young things with names like Lorien and Ericson.



Find her music here

And Gabriel Jeffrey... His photography work is sun-soaked whimsy, with a sort of NYC hipness that meets Malibu casual. Imagine walking into a a very hip vintage boutique and LOVING everything you see. Now imagine that everything you try on makes you look Incredible. Distinct. And so so so coo.


I want his portfolio to be my life. I want to live in his pictures. I've never said that about any photographer.
Find his magic here

Comment: CosPlay & Kirsten Dunst

Ok, this is bad, right? It's not just my imagination, right?



It just seems so...unnecessary, so.. devoid of originality, so...tired. How is that possible when at first glance it seems so cute and weird and fun?

What went wrong?

Le Sigh: Nikki Sixx

For the winter....