out of contex, out of this world

Photographer Adam Rubin has masterfully managed to create quite the curiosity with this series of photos. Can you guess what these fellas are doing? They clearly look like they are experiencing quite a moment. Is it based on fear, joy, surprise, worry? How about being in the midst of pulling up a ton of weight... clean and jerk I think is what it is called. So maybe some of those aforementioned feelings are accurate... just who knew there was a massive barbell involved.

P.S. I always thought it would be fun to do something similar which focused on a drummer's face. Outside of their apparatus their expressions are pretty comical. Such is the case with most musical instruments ("O face") but this band post in particular seems to elicit some especially funny faces.

khan you tell how i feel

Brock Davis (aka Laserbread) is one of my favorite designers to watch. His Flickr is an almost daily delight and his wit and technique makes him a source of reliable greatness. This is just one example. It is probably no surprise that I admire him so.

AND by the way... I can not emphasize enough how fantastic it is that this illustration has managed to, in one swoop, annihilate my hatred for emoticons by marrying the dastardly faces to one of the best pop culture references of all time. Thanks!

1 minute photoshop: pain

Yep, I keep thinking... so I keep making this business.

good hair

I have to say that I am pretty excited about the upcoming Chris Rock film, Good Hair. The cast/interviewees is diverse (and I'm so happy to see Paul Mooney) and the subject matter is humorously educational ("creamy crack") and interesting (the birth of the asymmetrical Salt 'n Pepper 'do). It looks like a hilarious hairstory if you will.

HAPPENING HAIRS:
A Place to Get Your Sexy Back [ Hair Club ]
Hair Judgment [ Don't Judge My Hair ]
Top 100 Hair Bands [ House of Hair ]
Bump It [ Bumpits.com ]
Soul Glo Song [ YouTube ]

the shop has photography and stuff!

Holy cow, I never thought this day would come. I FINALLY have something for sale in my dusty Etsy shop. I can not decide if this is exciting or anticlimactic. On the one hand I am beyond glad to have scratched something off a list and fulfill a little dream, but I also wonder if anyone will want anything and if I "done good". I don't know... I will think about it later because I am a little bit tired of looking at the thing right now.

To give you a quick overview of what's in there before signing off --

A few 5 x 5 Polaroid prints; 5 selections from the "Want to Need Less" series and 5 selections from the "One Minute Photoshop" series, all of which are 8 x 8 prints; a set of 5 magnets from the "Reminders" series; and last, a silly selection of "prescriptions" ranging from mini lists, to mini reminders, to mini creative exercises of sorts.

I still feel a bit unsure of everything from pricing to descriptions to shipping and so on, but I think it's all affordable, fair, and straight forward... and hopefully stuff someone somewhere wants.

I also will have more things added within the week... large photo prints from the "Reminders" series as well as prints of photos featured on my website (images that are actually letter/word free). Then I can let the shop be and see if people will come. I have to say that I am glad to move on to the next thing on my list, which is starting my "Lazyholic Do's and Don'ts" project and taking LOTS of photos. I have missed you camera.

Thanks in advance if you go to my shop and please let me know if you have any questions/requests.

AND thank you parents and sponsors for helping me fund the supplies/materials to get this off the ground once and for all!!!!

the world of science

Several months ago I hauled home MANY boxes of odds and ends that had been stuffed in the back of a closet at my parent's house. Slowly but surely I am making my way through the rubble and just recently rediscovered a 1958 copy of The World of Science. To be honest I have no idea what the book says (i.e. how much is outdated, informative, and/or laughable) because I was immediately taken in by the photographs and graphics. I especially like the family photo directly above; that kid on the far left has a sort of "special" expression. You can see a few more of the scanned images here.

dirty words

Made in England just published this awesome post which they called "Pornographics", which ends up being in the same vein (dirty?) as site favorite The Art of the Title. The accompanying video can be seen here.

because money gets tired

If I were money this would be my home. I might even be too comfy to bother buying anything.

[ The Mattress Wallet via Behance ]

expired polaroid project

IDPURE currently has a Polaroid project running. The call for submissions is pretty simple -- send them a high res Polaroid image and it will possibly appear in a published book. There is no deadline other than "as soon as any of the projects have enough unique visuals". So... there. They also have a few other projects going as well; check them out here.

austin eavesdropper

I am flattered and excited to have some of my work and an interview featured on fellow Austinite Tolly Moseley's site, Austin Eavesdropper. You can read my silly thoughts if you like, but either way I urge you to check out her blog to see/read/hear about awesome things happening locally. Thank you so much Tolly for being so nice and for the gracious opportunity!

vans and the places they were

The wonderfulness of the photo series "Vans and the Places They Were" can not be measured and has no end. Seriously I love the collection so much I wish I could marry it. Graphically, nostalgically, and sociologically, Mr. Stevens has blown my mind and gets an A++++.

Vans and the places where they were documents surviving custom/conversion vans across the West and examines the dialogue which sometimes exists between a van’s visual aesthetic and that of its surroundings. This project which began in 1996 currently consists of hundreds of images shot on 120mm film by Joe Stevens.

[ via Laura Miner ]

need to want less: challenge

goodbye childhood pt. 501

By now I'm sure that everyone knows of the passing of at least Patrick Swayze (far right) and Mary Travers (middle) of Peter, Paul, and Mary; I'm posting this more for myself than to be informative. The fellow on the far left is Henry Gibson who died on Monday. You may or may not know the name but odds are he looks familiar. He was in a ton of shows and movies (Laugh-In, Wedding Crashers, Nashville and the voice of Wilbur in Charlotte's Web to name a few) over the last several decades; for some reason I had in my head that he was also Teller's (of Penn & Teller) real life dad. O--kay...

At this point it is starting to feel like a regular thing to bid adieu to a celebrity, but I wanted to make a special point to recognize this trio. Each one in their own way played a part in my memories of youth... whether it was making friends with a familiar and reoccurring face on T.V., hearing certain songs (to say my parents loved Peter, Paul, and Mary is an understatement), or witnessing the birth of a well-coiffed superstar has he subtly live a role(s) others would have certainly hammed up given the same material. Thanks for everything; you will be missed.

[ Photo credits from l-r Roadsidepictures, Getty Images via Soundunwound, ??? but I will add if someone knows ]

best of the bets

Clearly I am a lover of type and love getting in touch with my inner child. Here are some of my favorite alphabets that have been making their way through the internet.
Alphabeasties [ Werner Design ]



Alphabet in Progress? [ Haasbrokek ]



Alpha Prints [ Paul Thurlby ]

giffing her options

I like Kathryn's (don't know her last name) method for finding the right pair of glasses.

nerd boyfriend

The other day I accidentally stumbled upon the site Nerd Boyfriend, a "shopping guide and style blog for the fashionably nerdy male". I don't even remember what I initially was looking for and I'm pretty sure it was something completely unrelated (way to go Google). Anyway, I have no doubt that I have yet again discovered something unearthed by many others long ago, and while I don't make a habit of bookmarking men's clothing I really like the photos they use and the way they find corresponding outfits (do men say "outfit"?).

[ photo credit ??? ]

need to want less: you

Rainer Elstermann

German photographer Rainer Elstermann is wunderbar. Do I even need to explain why.

back to the stax

I have recently reacquainted myself with my Fuji Instax camera. Luckily there is a place in town that is selling the film (for now) and in the wake of Polaroid's scarceness I am happy to court the best alternative. When I first got this camera I was not exactly gung-ho -- yes there was fondness, but it was drool-less -- however now I am seeing it in a different light and like the view. Not sure what has changed in my mind, but I am really appreciating the format and the vivid colors.

chalk chalk, yes yes

Sharon Montrose is a photographer that I absolutely adore. Her photos, namely the ones that focus on animal-kingdom-as-models, are sweet, simple, and breathtakingly exquisite. Aside from following her work for awhile I have also been a fan of her blog, which features her latest and greatest, but also at one point offered a "Monday on the Chalkboard" feature. This recurring post centered on musings, updates, conversations, drawings, and/or artwork that was strewn over/affixed to her home's dining room chalkboard . A particular favorite were the bicycle illustrations done by her husband, which amazingly have been translated to prints that are being sold in their very own Etsy shop.

Chalk Chalk features wheeled, human powered transportation devices (bicycles, tricycles, wagons, etc.) drawn in chalk.

Chalk Chalk offers original pieces and open edition prints made from the original pieces.

Chalk Chalk originals are handcrafted chalkboards measuring 8"x8"x.75,"and are constructed from fifteen ply baltic birch. Many layers of chalkboard paint are applied, sanded, and buffed to a smooth slate texture. Drawings are then sealed with acrylic fixatif. A keyhole mount is provided on the back for hanging.

top doppleganger

God bless the internet for being better than it was this time last year. Being cable-less I am able to watch Top Chef online almost instantly. I now watch far less TV than I used to (which doesn't mean I have narrowed down my viewing to high quality shows) and have the added pleasure of the hunt, finding my favorites in weird random corners of the world wide web.

Top Chef has been one of my must watch shows since it began six years ago and this season, chef Bryan Voltaggio has caught my interest. This is not because of his cooking skills, but because I can not for the life of me look at him without thinking of Barry Tubb (oh, come on... BARRY... TUBB... wait, who?) from Top Gun. Why I remember that guy beats the heck out of me, but there IS a resemblance yeah? Yes, and don't tell me otherwise.

P.S. My vote for is for Kevin.

the happiest day of my life

... is today, because... whoa. And yes!

In the 1980s video cassette technology made it possible for “mobile cinema” operators in Ghana to travel from town to town and village to village creating temporary cinemas. The touring film group would create a theatre by hooking up a TV and VCR onto a portable generator and playing the films for the people to see.

In order to promote these showings, artists were hired to paint large posters of the films (usually on used canvas flour sacks). The artists were given the artistic freedom to paint the posters as they desired - often adding elements that weren’t in the actual films, or without even having seen the movies. When the posters were finished they were rolled up and taken on the road (note the heavy damages). The “mobile cinema” began to decline in the mid-nineties due to greater availability of television and video; as a result the painted film posters were substituted for less interesting/artistic posters produced on photocopied paper.

There are more, SO MANY more treasures on Ephemera Assemblyman. You shouldn't even be reading this anymore... go on, get!

lazy sheep

[ Mister Oaf via Share Some Candy ]

feeling felty

Seriously, how is this not the coolest stationary ever. Yes, I have an extreme felt fetish which has been chronicled for quite a while, BUT Something's Hiding in Here's little note card feels like a stroke of sweet genius never-the-less. Their products are preciously delicious (which is much like magically but more endearing). You can browse their products here or check out their blog here.

polaroid is still among us

So everyone knows by now that Polaroid is dead, or rather in limbo like poor 'ole Nicole Kidman in The Others. It brings a smile to my face however, that even though its ultimate fate still is a bit uncertain (I am eyeballing you, Impossible Project), Polaroid projects and news abound. Here are some of the latest morsels...


The Band of Outsiders photo shoots with Jason Schwartzman & Marisa Tomei [ Band of Outsiders ]





The Last Year of Polaroid Film [ Grant Hamilton ]

Polaroid Notes [ Fred Flare via Better Living Through Design ]



LIFE Nature Library [ Patrick Tobin ]

museum of broken relationships

The fact that such an institution exists only reaffirms that there is something, somewhere in the universe to cover any/every possible interest/outlet that a person could ever wish for.

Welcome to the Museum of Broken Relationships in Croatia!

The Museum of Broken Relationships is an art concept which proceeds from the assumption that objects possess integrated fields - ‘holograms’ of memories and emotions - and intends with its layout to create a space of ‘secure memory’ or ‘protected remembrance’ in order to preserve the material and nonmaterial heritage of broken relationships. Unlike the ‘destructive’ self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers every individual the chance to overcome the emotional collapse through creation - by contributing to the Museum's collection. The individual gets rid of ‘controversial objects’, triggers of momentarily ‘undesirable’ emotions, by turning them into museum exhibits, and thereby participating in the creation of a preserved collective emotional history.

I actually think I like this sound of this place.

rabbit queen

To say that Lydia loves getting tattoos is an understatement. To say that I love being able to take a few pictures of them is as well (although I do claim this is high art). And while I have your attention take a quick gander at her site here.

need to want less: heart

I think this is when people are supposed to say "at least I have my health".

goodbye summer

Well Labor Day has come and gone, and so marks the end of summer. Kind of. It's still hot and without checking a calendar I wouldn't necessarily know that anything has changed, but I am happy to pretend/accept that Fall is just around the corner. This summer has seemed far less summery than seasons passed... more oppressive/little fun. Maybe if my summers were more like they used to be, as illustrated in the above schedule from my youth, I would have something to miss. Now, I'm ready for cool breezes, getting under blankets, falling leaves, and the faint smell of a fire and smoke from someone's chimney. Hopefully nostalgia will not disappoint this go 'round.

i'm a winner

I do not generally win things... granted I also do not generally try to. Either way I was beyond delighted to find that I won Brandi Strickland's (aka Paper Whistle) August print giveaway. As you may recall I am a huge fan of her work and posted a little something about her in June. The print I was gifted with is "Daybreak", which is shown above (however that image credit is all Ms. Strickland; I have not figured out how/where I'm going to hang my copy yet).

If you want a chance to win some of her fantastic art check out her blog OR you can also buy several different prints through her shop.

1 minute photoshop: disagreement

I am just a silly white girl, feeling mad and sad. Sometimes I hate purple. And I always hate fighting.

don't call it a comeback

Ok... maybe, sort of, a comeback. I am promising to slink back into posting and hopefully the world of the productive. T.V. viewing has lost its luster after some heavy binging, sleeping has been equally indulgent but not very fulfilling, and so the next best therapy I can come up with for my sullen and crabby feelings is to jump on the horse and try, try, try. Or try-ish... on perhaps a pony.

P.S. There have a been a few folks that have written me and/or posted a comment. I swear I will write you back.

image credit [ Verity Keniger via Design For Mankind ]