sightings
photo: stephan tamiesie
Many of the blogs we read have direct practical applications to our lives; they give us ideas we can use in our home, office, traveling, relationships, work, self-image…
One category of blog is really for pure escapism; they offer us a break from our usual routine and vision. Of late, our favorite is Cabin Porn, pictures of cabins all over the world. Some of the images are accompanied by a bit of interesting commentary, like The Best Hut built by Jono Williams (and friends) in New Zealand.
“Built for less than $1500 using mostly scavenged or donated materials, the treehouse includes solar panels, rainwater collection, a gas-fired outdoor bathtub and a radio-controlled drawbridge.” read more…
02.03.12 |
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in buildings, cool spaces, dream houses, inspiration blogs + sites, outside, sightings |
photo: peggy markel
Our intrepid friend Peggy Markel just arrived in India to prepare to lead one of her amazing culinary adventures, Tasting Royal Rajasthan. She sent us this amazing picture of an ironing board computer table and the story behind it:
“We’re staying with a new friend, Rajiv Jani, friend of a friend. It is his rig, was already here. I knew you would love it. I thought to call it ‘permanent press’. Here’s how it came about:
Rajiv lived in Atlanta for 10 years and had all of his stuff shipped back to Delhi. He set up the ironing board in a spare room for his ironing. But he found out that he could have his shirts ironed for 2 rupees each. (1/2 a penny.) 25 shirts? $1.00.
He was looking for a place to set up his home computer and set a few things down on the ironing board until he found the right place. His electronics started growing there as that was where the internet connection was and the wiring was getting too complicated to move.To buy a new table from Ikea would cost $150. Then you need a chair. read more…
02.02.12 |
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in elements, inside, people, repurpose, road warrior, sightings, strategies, travel, why not? |
photo: susan hochbaum
We love things that change our view. With the wind howling and the temperature cold, we found ourselves delighted with a little book that has taken us on an armchair trip through Paris, showing us the city through new eyes: the eyes of a pastry-o-phile. Pastry Paris: In Paris, Everything Looks Like Dessert
grew out of a teeny film graphic designer Susan Hochbaum created a couple of years ago, which we posted here (sadly, it has since been taken down.) It was perfect, with a sweet story behind it: “I came to Paris middle-aged, divorced, and newly in love. Granting myself a sabbatical and renting out my suburban home, I moved with my beau to this romantic city for a year of living shamelessly…Abandoning restraint, and with the appetite of a teenager…”
Hochbaum ate her way through the pastry worlds of Paris, seeing pastry everywhere she looked…
read more…
01.18.12 |
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in food, gifts, outside, paths + processes, people, road warrior, sightings, travel |
nicole dextras
We really love artist Nicole Dextras ice texts series, especially this 6 foot high “VIEW” made out of ice and set out in the landscape and left to melt – a lovely, ephemeral artwork that changes our….view. You’ll find other potent ice texts and installations at her website, along with what amounts to “how-to’s” for making ice words. Dextras builds molds of individual letters out of wood, fills them with water, sometimes coloring them with food colors, and then waits for them to freeze before removing the molds…curiously similar to making a popsicle. read more…
01.11.12 |
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in art, d-i-y, how-to, inspiration blogs + sites, outside, paths + processes, people, projects + play, sightings |
The Irish Times reported an amazing story of a 100 year-old letter to Santa found tucked in a Dublin chimney. It was found by the house’s current occupant, John Byrne, who works in the building industry.
“At that time, the fireplaces were made of brick with a shelf on either side,” Byrne. “The letter was found on one of the shelves.”
It makes some simple, very specific requests: read more…
12.22.11 |
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in celebrations, family + friends, kids, sightings |
We are curiously attracted to this loud, happy neon pink and orange graffitied doorway, patched together with an ill-fitting plywood floor. Could anyone have contrived such perfection, or could it only have evolved organically?
via Reference Library
12.13.11 |
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in outside, sightings |
dargelosny.tumblr.com/
On Dargelos’ Tumblr, we found this picture with a mysterious caption: “Leaf art found in Prospect Park.”
It seemed too simple to be true. This leaf sculpture was so beautiful, we wanted to know more of the story. So we emailed Dargelos and asked. Right away, we got an answer:
“We were literally just walking through the park, about to exit and Max noticed it at our feet. It broke soon after : ( “
So we wrote back: “Was it just made of leaf? It looks almost like it had been gold leafed… wonder if someone was just hanging around and took a knife or swiss army knife to it..” read more…
12.09.11 |
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in art, nature, outside, sightings |
photo: peggy markel
The streets of Tangier in North Africa are a mix of the ancient and the contemporary but some traditions still hold fast. Outdoor cafes are populated with men who seem to sit for hours on end, drinking strong coffee or Moroccan ‘whiskey’ – gunpowder green tea with loads of fresh mint and sugar. Passing the day in conversation or sitting quietly is normal. But every day? Don’t they work? I wondered.
“They are working”, said our friend Said. “Did you see the paint bucket sitting on the side of the street? read more…
12.01.11 |
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in business, identity, outside, sightings, travel |
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