Category Archives: Design

Praise chocolate

The Mayan calendar predicts the world’s end in December.  But in case it’s wrong…

Some ‘architects’ have built a Mayan pyramid out of chocolate big enough to kill us all.

In fact, this model of the Kukulcan Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico broke the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Chocolate Sculpture.

California dessert and pastry school Qzina labored more than 400 hours to create the six-foot high structure which weighs over 18,000 pounds.

That’s one-thirtieth the size of the original Mayan temple.

The chocolate sculpture will be destroyed on December 21 — the last date on the Mayan calendar.  According to the Qzina website, they haven’t decided exactly how to dismantle the thing.

Seriously?

I know a lot of folks who would volunteer to help make that baby disappear.

4 wrongs make a blog

Inspiration comes in many forms. Graffiti. Photography. T-shirts. T-shirts of t-shirts.

Let me explain.

Last week the Marc Jacobs store in New York City’s Soho neighborhood was hit by street artist Kidult.

Well…at least the ginormous graffiti said ‘art.’

That may sound like bright-side thinking.  But Marc Jacobs went one step further.

The label created t-shirts bearing a photo of the abused storefront and is selling them for a whopping $689 exclusively at the Soho store.

I believe that’s known as ‘high art.’

Kidult has denounced Marc Jacobs as a ‘capitalist thieve’ on Twitter.  And Tumblr Wilfry has decided to make some bucks off the very public altercation by selling their version for only $35.

And I’m telling the story.  Of the artist who spray painted Marc Jacobs. Who made t-shirts of the graffiti.  Who ticked off the artist.  Who was copied again in a tee by Tumbler Wilfry.

And everyone made money but me.

Yep.  Sounds like a blog.

Call me corny

My sister posted this photo today on Facebook.

Is that beautiful or what?

It’s glass gem corn, an heirloom corn variety.  If you’re interested in the specifics of how it was farmed — I know there are members of my family that will be — check out SeedTrust.com.

Me?  I’m a city chick, so all I see are the colors…and how much it truly looks like glass.  I could decorate an entire house using that color palette.

But eat it?

It would be like snacking on the Crowned Jewels!

See thru

People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Or pick their noses or walk around naked…or watch Swamp People on the History Channel.

No one should watch that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ‘transparent house’ is located in Tokyo.  Designed by Sou Fujimoto architects, the multi-level structure occupies 914 square feet and features lots of ramps and cool built-ins.

And glass walls.

Now, your first concern might be the lack of privacy.  And sure, there aren’t that many solid walls in the place.  But I think you would get used to the constant exposure.

The Internet has prepared us for that, right?

Personally, I would be more concerned about the light.  Unless the photos are hiding retractable awnings or shades, the sun would be your almost constant companion.

So. Much. Light.

The vampire in me says no.

Beyond real

Images in black-and-white have a special power.

"After"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, as hard as it is to believe, this isn’t a photograph.

It’s a pencil sketch — graphite on cartridge paper — by Scottish artist Paul Cadden.

Cadden is a student of the hyperrealism movement.  Where as photorealists strive to meticulously recreate an image, artists of the hyperrealist bent add their own emotions and narrative to take it to another level.

“Intensify the normal” is how Cadden describes his process.

“After” is just one example of his success.

Play big!

Over the weekend, students at MIT hacked the Green Building on campus and made it play Tetris.

It’s not the first time a college building’s lights have been hijacked.  Students at Brown University and Delft University in the Netherlands pulled off similar stunts years earlier.

But it’s still pretty darn fun.

And I think New York City should consider itself challenged — not the colleges per se, but all the wonderfully tall buildings that occupy downtown and bring in millions of tourists each year.

Sure, we have dancing snowflakes on the side of the Sax Fifth Avenue Building each Christmas, but I’m talking bigger.  Taller.  Faster.

I’m looking at you, Empire State Building.

We know you can vary the lights at the very tip-top to reflect the seasons.  How about using the lights on the side of the building to create the biggest video game in the world?

If you don’t do it, I’ll bet there’s a hacker out there who will.

Game on.

Eightfold

So I’ve been thinking a lot about the number 8.

It’s taken on a near mystical quality this week — for an obvious reason — for Kentucky Wildcat fans.

But as digits go, it was already pretty cool.

Turn it on its side, and you’ve got an infinity symbol.  It’s the figure in figure skating.  And a few figure eight turns of a rope and you’ll got yourself a decent cinch.

But this week, it’s a magic number for me.  And I want to share that feeling with the world.

So, here you go.

The Magic Eight Ball

Go ahead — ask it anything.

You can thank me later.

 

 

 

Got my number

I’m being stalked…by a number.

The number? 328.  I see it everywhere.

Does it see me?

Every time I randomly glance at a clock, morning or night, it’s 3:28.  I notice the numbers on street signs, too.  In catalogs.  In books and articles.

Does it really appear as often as it seems?  Or have I just become hyper-aware of it?

 

 

 

 

Nope.  It’s following me. And it’s been happening even more so this week, since March 28th came and went. But I’m not complaining…

I had a great birthday.  (Thanks everybody!)

Head down

The ceilings in the terminal at Miami International Airport are so low, I feel like I’m gonna bump my head.

I’m only 5’7″, folks.

image

Why would any airport, your last stop before flying off into the ‘wild blue yonder,’ be so claustrophobic?  Wouldn’t it try to inspire, to remind you of the trip ahead with grand vistas and high ceilings?

This terminal is so cramped, the airplane I will soon board is gonna feel roomy.

Oh — maybe that’s the plan.

A blue note

Have you heard?

‘Olympian Blue’ is the Pantone Color of the Week on Stylelist.com.

Designers tout the strength of its ‘jewel tones,’ and how this ‘pop of color’ enhances neutrals. As we say in the country…

Whatevs.

I say Olympian Blue is especially hot this week for one reason and one reason only…

‘Cause these bad boys are burning a trail up and down the floor!

Sweet Sixteen and beyond…

GO BIG BLUE!