Media Minded: 1000 Awesome Things

Bookmark this site immediately. Rarely do I just give commands, but this blog is one special cookie. It should be nibbled daily. Here, some FAQs in case you're reluctant:

Q. What's the premise?
A. Starting at 1,000 and counting backward, a new awesome thing is revealed each day.

Q. OK, but what's so awesome about these awesome things?
A. It's that they're not awesome at all! They are the simple pleasures we take for granted or the things we sometimes fail to recognize as great in life.

Q. Like what?
A. Like watching something download really fast and perfect parallel parking on the first try. Not to mention wearing underwear just out of the dryer.

Q. Ha! That IS awesome. What else is on the list?
A. Go to the site to find out! Wouldn't it be crazy if the site itself somehow made it on the list of awesome things? That would totally blow my mind.

The Thriftster: Abandoned Art

I always look at the frames in thrift stores. Sometimes you'll find a great one, you never know. Oftentimes you'll find them, all dusty in their original plastic wrap with a price tag from the 1980s. Sometimes they'll still have art in them, which was the case with this find. A nice print of a weathered door, matted and all. But the most interesting thing was the inscription on the back:

Beyond every storm lies a new sky, with open horizons and endless possibilities. However you choose to travel, wherever you decide to go, may your journey be safe and filled with everything you desire in life. Follow your heart and be true to yourself and the world is yours! Best of luck on your journey, Nicole, wherever it may take you. Your friend forever, Scott

I'm curious. What happened to Nicole and Scott? Are they on the outs? Why did Nicole get rid of the nice gift? And where was she going -- somewhere where frames or sharp objects weren't allowed? LAX? Prison, perhaps?

Whatever happened, I will toast to Scott's great sentiment. Dear readers, may your journey be safe and filled with everything you desire in life! Now let's clink glasses.

Fashion Forward: It's a Wrap

There was a period of a year when I wore cardigans like it was my job. This was in Myrtle Beach, where shopping was limited because most stores stocked clothing only for 80-year-old retirees who recently purchased beachfront property, not twentysomething hotshots who wanted to look age-appropriate. I would say I totally rocked the geriatric cardigan look, though, almost to the point of retro goddess status.

I've since put away most of my traditional cardigans to make way for more trendy threads. A girl cannot dress like she's going to the sock hop for the rest of her life, now, can she? But she also cannot go cardigan-free! No, that wouldn't do!

The ubiquitous wrap is the perfect middle ground for a cardigan junky. Just the right amount of cardigan "flavor" but without the oh-so-stodgy buttons. The wrap is to the cardigan what the bra was to the corset. Look, I'm even doing SAT-level comparisons for the damn thing. Now I just need to buy one. Help me decide which one.

The plain Janes

Chicffon Intimate + MJAnne Couture + Rhea Belle Apparel

The patterned Patsys

Revival Ink + Harrilu + Regeneration

Yellow Art

Husband and I were feeling creative, so we each took a turn at making some spontaneous modern art. The idea is to sit down and move your hand. Create something off the top of your head with no preconceived notions. We used Photoshop (less messy, plus an "erase" button for missteps a canvas wouldn't forgive). After we were done, we stepped back and gave a take on what each other's art "meant."

Untitled by V. Morsse

H's interpretation: You see how your edges aren't hard? They're flexible, expanding outward, as if reaching out, wanting more. It means you're a creative person that is constantly wanting to learn and expand as a person. The blue circle in the middle has a hard outside edge, it's unchangeable. That's the core of who you are.

V's explanation: I was thinking about the emotion of realizing you're not invincible. You can be a bright, shining star, but there will always be an obstacle to hold you back in this cruel world.

Difference of Perspective by H. Morsse

V's interpretation: Thoughts aren't just right (white), wrong (black) or compromises (gray). Some are completely new, innovative and forward-thinking (yellow). These are the thoughts that form the future.

Husband's explanation: The white rectangle can only think in "white," completely engulfed in himself. The black rectangle can only think in "black." They'll stay that way forever, unaffected by the yellow around them. They are both small, while the big one is gray. He can see both the "white" and "black" because he is bigger. But all three are so engulfed in themselves that they can't see the beauty that surrounds them, thus they will never change.

Photoshoot: Mojave Desert, Part 2

Imagine, if you will, driving down the highway at 80 mph, possibly more. Then abruptly pulling into the shoulder and slamming on the brakes at the slightest suggestion of a cool photograph. This is my kind of photoshoot!



When we first entered the Mojave, it was party cloudy, highly windy. After driving for an hour, the clouds took over and cast this bluish green tint across the desert floor. Check out the tonal difference in the first photo compared with the other two, for example.



Have you ever seen such big, fluffy clouds emerge from the horizon? Well, now you have.

See Part 1 of the photoshoot here. The third and final installment is coming later this week.

Design Dialogue: Guns N Roses

I was re-watching "Pineapple Express" (hilarity!) when I noticed this great vase in one of the scenes. At first I just thought, "Great design!" and "Axl Rose!" almost simultaneously, but when I went on my online search to find said vase, I noticed an obvious symbolism to the piece.

Make flowers, not war. When life gives you guns, shoot roses instead.

I realize there was no great philosophy behind the band's name (it's just a mishmash of two bands: L.A. Guns featuring Slash and Hollywood Rose featuring Axl). But wouldn't it be nice if there were?

OK, before I get too peaced-out, lemme just say one more time: Yay for an awesome vase! Here are some Etsy finds along the same theme:

Earrings by Love and Lust + Hoodie by Supapun

Flickr Fridays: #19

1. Stimulus Package, 2. DEATH and TAXES, 3. tax_money, 4. Tax time!

This is my Friday night. Begrudgingly giving money to Uncle Sam, that greedy jerk. And retrieving cash from the Terminator, as long as he lets me that is.

Hope your taxes go swimmingly. And don't forget to have a happy Friday!

Written Word: Judging a Book by Its Cover

You like that? That's my prototype for my brilliant debut novel. Sure, I may be missing a few steps (er, a polished ending and a book deal), but I have a clear vision of the cover design. This is a first impression and, no matter what they say about never judging a book by its cover, it matters.

"Oh, but I don't judge a book by its cover," you might protest. Phooey, I say to you! That's right, phooey. You're honestly telling me that, on the search for a sci-fi thriller, you picked up "The Bronzed and Bold" with an airbrushed Fabio on the front and somehow expected space expeditions and laser guns? Didn't think so.

However, I'd like to suggest that genre novels need not look so predictable. Fabio can put his shirt back on. Creepy shadows on horror novels, now that's not original, either. This is where good design comes in. Here, a few websites that champion innovative book design:

Browse a library of great book covers, including
the three above, over at Bookcover Archive.

Read about the process of creating great book covers, including this James Bond collection, from the designers themselves over at FaceOut Books.

The Thriftster: Toucan Sam?

We were taking some time off the Strip to do some thrifting. Husband was perusing the books for a good 45 minutes, so Dad and I had some time to scan the store. That's when I spotted this little guy for $1.

"It's Toucan Sam," Dad noted.

I have to agree that the beady eyes are similar. And what's that smell, that fruity scent? All of a sudden I'm craving some orange, lemon and cherry. Great. Now I can't look at my wooden friend without thinking of Froot Loops. Thanks a lot, Dad.

Tune Time: Open Letter to Peter Doherty

Pete, Pete. Or is it Peter now? We go back a long way, you know, back to The Libertines and Babyshambles and jail and Kate Moss and robbing your bandmate Carl and jail. I mean, really, what am I thinking hanging around you as long as I have? You're nothing but trouble, man! Just look at your Wikipedia entry. It reads like a rapsheet.

Every time I turn around, someone's telling me to get out before I get hurt, that a ne'er-do-well like you will just break my heart, but each time you manage to draw me back in with your rambling melodic tunes and oh-well attitude. It's like you are a magnet and I am steel.



So you came out with your first solo album, eh? I wanted to hate it. I wanted to have a reason to finally cut the cord with you before I ended up burying a hooker in the desert with you or something, but you did it again. Another great album! Granted, you waltzed in like you've been on a 12-day gambling bender, running on nothing but Coke and Chiclets. You look like you scraped yourself out of the gutter just in time to don an Amish hat, prop yourself on a chair and strum absentmindedly on your strung-out guitar. But I get it. I've been there before. Sometimes it just takes too much effort to locate the wire cutters. And I dig that.



Your sound is in huge juxtaposition to how you started out in The Libertines, you know? Very few people could hang on for this ride, when you started out as a shiny rocker and turned into rocky swingset. But I'm sitting in the passenger seat, and I'm not getting out till we reach the final destination.

Yours truly,
V

Media Minded: Film the Blanks

Be still my heart. An artist who mixes movies (how I love thee) with abstract design (let me count the ways)! Be prepared to swoon while searching the archives at Film the Blanks. Seriously, I spent nearly half an hour with my mouth agape, gushing over the illustrations while willing my cranium to guess which original film posters were being deconstructed and re-imagined in a minimal way.

Psst: If you're a movie buff and want to really impress your pals, you might consider buying a screenprint of your favorite abstract. Film the Blanks launches its store tomorrow.



There are so many good posters, it was difficult to pick out just a handful to showcase here. Can you guess them all?*



The two above are on my short list for best flicks of all time. Swoon.

*The cheat sheet is in the comments.

Fashion Forward: Feather Earrings

I've been a sucker for all things feathers lately. I have a feather necklace and feather hair accessories. It only stands to reason that I would want to add feather earrings to my arsenal. No self-respecting "bird" would want small feathers, no. I say the bigger the better!

Noémiah

I've got a major crush on these gorgeous looks by Noémiah Bijoux. You'd do well to buy anything by this Montreal-based jewelry maker. She really has her pulse on the perfect blend of trendy and timeless, classy style.

Bones and Things and Bionic Unicorn

For a more bohemian look, Bones and Things has you covered. And if it's whimsy you're looking for, head over to Bionic Unicorn.

Pix-elated!

Two new notecards and postcards are up in the store for $3. More to come ...

Photoshoot: Mojave Desert, Part 1

It's taking me a long time to get through the glut of images I captured during our annual Las Vegas jaunt in February. Bear with me as I share some of my favorites. Strange how the scenery looks so serene. Absolutely no hint at the turbulent, blustery wind that marked the day. Oh, and one more descriptive for the wind: frigid.



Past trips to Vegas at this time of year led us to believe the weather would be warmer, perhaps even pleasant. Not this time. There were several instances of snow along the way. Snow! In retrospect, perhaps I should've watched the Weather Channel. But that would mean I was prepared, and as everyone knows, I'm hard pressed to wear the right shoes for any outing, let alone the proper outerwear.



There has been talk among friends of taking a weekend trip to Joshua Tree. If this transpires, please remind me to pack for anything from a full-fledged solar disaster to a nuclear winter so I don't end up wandering the desert like a zombie Jim Morrison, only without the pleasure of peyote. Thatisall.



Educate yourself on the Mojave and its mysterious ways here.

Design Dialogue: Beetle

1. A Little Power Under The Hood, 2. You Came In Through The Rearview Mirror,
3. Squash You Like A Bug, 4. It's Like You're Smiling At Me

This is John Jr., my beloved New Beetle.

I've always had an affinity for the Volkswagen model, starting back in high school when I spent hours riding in a friend's classic Beetle. There was something so free about being in that car, with the deceptively open interior and the smooth, curvy lines of the exterior. Every time I think of the Beetle, I imagine all the windows open on a summer evening, with the warm breeze caressing my face. I almost cried when the New Beetle was introduced, I was so excited to own one someday.

Others have asked me on occasion what the appeal is. Why a Beetle and not a Ford, for example. I find that I boil down all my complex emotions for John Jr. into one coherent thought: "I love the design."

Now I know I'm not alone. Samantha Warren from Badass Ideas echoed this sentiment, with a nod toward a book that will soon make its way to my nightstand: Geometry of Design.

Photo via Badass Ideas

Maybe if my high school geometry teacher had enticed me with spectacular things to do with my compass, like draw a Beetle or design a chair, I might've been more interested in the subject.

Flickr Fridays #18

1. Elysian Park, 2. Hazy Los Angeles Sunrise

Another crazy hazy day in L.A. I can't even see the skyscrapers from the 30th floor!

What does a hazy day look like in your neck of the woods? To play, go to Flickr, search for "hazy" or "foggy" and "your city name," then post links to your fave pics in the comments below. Happy Friday!

Written Word: Overeditors Anonymous

"I can't wait to hear what you think," Husband said, excited for me to read the first 20 pages of his baby script.

"I'm sure it's great," I said, positioning myself in front of the computer. I scrolled a few lines down, reading at the speed to which I'm accustomed after having been an editor most of my adult life. Then it happened. I quickly fixed a comma splice and a typo, all in one fell swoop, without even blinking.

"You don't have to edit it." Husband was annoyed, and rightfully so. I have a problem. I can't stop editing.

Confession: After posting my blogs, I re-read for errors and readability. Sure, you might say, everyone does that. But I do it several times ... or until I can read through an entire post without cringing or thinking of something to change. My overediting is so severe it's interfering with the creative process!

What's strange about my condition is that I don't worry about typos or mistakes in others' work if it's already published. So, friends, you don't have to go copyediting your holiday cards or emails on my account. But if you put a vulnerable manuscript in front of me, in Word format, it is fair game -- and you have my word that my pen will be mightier than the sword as it cuts grammatical errors and run-on sentences.

Now that Husband knows my plight, he leaves me messages on Facebook with intentional errors. "Hye cutie pie. Bet you want to edit thsi." He is mocking me. Still, I have to believe I'm not alone. There must be other overeditors out there. Perhaps we should form a club: Overeditors Anonymous. In this club, we will give each other exercises to help wean ourselves from our obsession.

Exercise #1: Do not edit this post.

Tune Time: Soledad Brothers

I'm feeling nostalgic today for the early millennium, back when the Soledad Brothers were just starting out with their Detroit gritty blues sound (with some help from Jack and Meg White). Back then, I would listen to the CD over and over in my car. That's right. I said "CD." This was before a suitable -- or even affordable -- digital music player existed. Subsequent albums never felt as good or as raw as their self-titled debut, though, and by the time the band split up a few years ago their sound was lackluster, prompting me to revert back to the first album, putting it on repeat again, just like I did in the car this morning, this time on my iPod.

more about the band
MySpace
Buy the music

Chic for Cheap: Spring Wedding

Living halfway across the country from the majority of my family, I've missed out on a lot of weddings. I'm almost going through wedding withdrawal. There's nothing like a springtime garden wedding, with the fresh scent of newly bloomed flowers and the sun gently kissing your skin. And later, drinking cocktails and dancing a jig. Speaking of dancing, you might actually be able to get through the reception without kicking off these 2-inch t-straps and dancing barefoot like you're the too-drunk guest. Oh, wait, you ARE the too-drunk guest. Just resist the urge to tug at your skirt, lest you flash your Aunt Betty.

Aunt Betty, if you're reading this, this is hypothetical. Your little angel would never do anything embarrassing like that -- er, um -- again.

Thanks as usual to Creature Comforts for the idea. Check out Ez's outfit here.

Media Minded: Jay DeFeo's "The Jewel"

"The Jewel," 1959, with Husband circa 2009

Hopefully it's obvious, craptastic cellphone photo and all, why Husband and I were mesmerized in front of Jay DeFeo's "The Jewel" this weekend.

We spent a good two hours gazing at modern works at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, surrounded by gods like Mondrian, Matisse, Picasso, Duchamp, de Kooning, Rothko, Pollock and Magritte. But the one piece that made the biggest impression on me was DeFeo's, with its thick, sculpture-like texture (I have this "thing" for texture in art). It spoke to me. Naturally I had to find out more about her.

"The Eyes," 1958

I was pleasantly surprised to find out about DeFeo's affiliation with the Beats and San Francisco Bay Area painters of the 1950s-1960s. She started working on "The Jewel" and her crowning work, "The Rose," at the same time: 1958. "The Jewel" was done in 1959. "The Rose," well, that took eight years. Eight years! It ended up standing nearly 12 feet tall and weighing a ton. A TON! Can you imagine?

"The Rose," 1958-1966

Fellow artist Bruce Conner filmed the day "The Rose" was plucked -- construction crane, rigging crew and all -- from DeFeo's apartment in 1967. You can watch it here.

Fashion Forward: Bunny Rabbits

I woke up the other day craving an oval, creme-filled chocolate egg made by Cadbury. Yes, it's Easter candy time again. Only, to get the full extent of my excitement, you have to pronounce candy "can-day!" (Exclamation mark not optional.)

The only things that irk me about the springtime saturation of pastel-colored candies is that (a) they're pastel and (b) the bunnies are all cute and fuzzy. I'd rather they be more interesting, like my friend Big Bunny, the mindchild of the very talented Amy Winfrey.



Big Bunny even has his own Easter-themed webisode. For the rest of his tasty tale, go here.

What do you say, friends? Think we can start a fashion movement of awesome, self-aware, regal rabbits who have artistic gumption and look like something out of the original "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" rather than the Disney-fied version? We could start with awesome handmade finds like these:

Harrilu + Rainbow Swirlz

Kristiana Parn Prints & Paintings + Emma Klingbeil + Amber Alexander + Amanda Monkey

Photoshoot: How Near How Far

Near.

Far.

What a difference a perspective makes.

On the road to Las Vegas last month I decided to do an impromptu depth-of-field experiment in Death Valley, and I was reminded of how much I love the digital format.

In school, with our manual SLRs, we had to line up three people at different distances to gain an understanding of f-stops. It was a painfully scientific and boring photoshoot. Get it wrong, and expensive film (not to mention your precious afternoon) is being wasted, people! So we had to study up: If X is Y feet away, use f/Z. There are whole websites devoted to formulas and calculations, like this one.

I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. Seriously. When I'm in the middle of an artistic venture, I'd rather not bother with stiff numbers and whatnot, or I might end up missing the forest for the trees. This brings me back to my first point: Thank god for digital cameras. You never run out of "film." The best shots are often happy accidents, and that's the way I like it.

Design Dialogue: Pixels

With a name like Little Gray Pixel, you would think pixel-inspired art would be a no-brainer, something I was naturally drawn to or something I sketch out during sleepwalking sessions. I wish this were the case because then I might've actually thought of these ideas instead of just drooling over them.


Totally drool-worthy: chairs by Cristian Zuzunaga of Spain. This designer has lent his pixel touch to everything from couches to wrapping paper to clothes.

I can't thank fellow blogger Designers' Brew enough for the introduction to Zuzunaga, not to mention a dozen more great pixel designs. After you're done scrolling through my finds, you'll definitely want to check out this post, which includes Pixel Notes wallpaper (read: Post-it notes as wallpaper! Squee!).


Are you one of those people who can "beat" a Rubik's cube? If so, I stick my tongue out at you and your freakish spatial abilities. Also, you might be able to pull off an art installation like this, shaping scores of cubes to form a Rubikcubism. Click on the link to see the child's toy rendered into images of the Mona Lisa, and atom bomb and Scarface. Yep, it's really as cool as it sounds.


The idea is to take your boring (or super embarrassing Fabio romance, not that I would know anything about that) book collection and make it hip and exciting with book covers that mimic low-res pixel art when lined up correctly. Download the template free here.


I've been drooling uncontrollably over Rosemary Pierce-Lackey's pieces for some time now. In fact, I could find a spot in my home for every single thing the Dallas, Texas-based artist creates.


Christian Faur takes a mathematical approach to his artwork, meticulously lining up crayons to create images. Definitely not child's play. I feel an urge to mimic this project, but something tells me I will start off strong and eventually get distracted by something shiny. Y'know, the same thing that happens every time I try to put a jigsaw puzzle together.


Typographer Pascal Zoghbi created this pixel font, Alef Caps, inspired by the arabesque “Msharabiyé” eight-star shape. You can download the entire family for free here. Free, I say!


The blogosphere is humming with praise for these pixel coasters, sold by Taiwanese retailer 25togo. The best thing about them is that you can shape them any way you want. For more info, check out this succinct description.