Crayon Art Sculptures

An artist by the name of Hoang Tran takes Crayola crayons to a new level with her amazing pop culture sculptures. I can't believe she's able to get this much detail on the tip of a crayon. Incredible!
I LOVE the Game of Thrones set, but they're all equally impressive, don't you think?

Beauty and the Beast 

Game of Thrones sigils

Star Wars

What I'm Watching

As a new mom, my evenings are significantly simpler than before I had children. Give me a glass of wine on the couch and a good show to watch and I'm set...for a few hours at least, until the kids wake up for a feeding.

So here's my current list of must-watch shows:

1. Boardwalk Empire. If you liked The Sopranos, you'll love this one. I can't get enough of the history in this show either. The Prohibition Era was certainly an interesting time in American history.

2. True Detective. Matthew McConaughey is on fire these days! Most times I see him on the screen, I'm 100% aware that I'm seeing the actor play a character. Not the case with this show. He becomes the character. It's an amazing sight to behold.

3. Downton Abbey. Between the talented cast of relatively unknown actors, the soap opera-like storylines, the beautiful English countryside, and the fabulous British accents, I'm hooked.

4. Game of Thrones. It has all the sword fights, dragons, and damsels in distress that one could hope for in a sci-fi show.

5. Modern Family. I don't necessarily agree with some of the content, but I have to give it props for the way it can make me laugh. It's the only show besides Arrested Development where I find myself literally laughing out loud at the TV. If you love the kind of humor that's derived from awkward situations and fast-paced, witty dialogue, don't miss this one.

6. Mad Men. The clothes, the clothes, THE CLOTHES! Hello, Joan Holloway! Curves and cocktails abound in this show which often leaves me feeling like I was born in the wrong decade.

7. House of Cards. Political discussions usually lead to heated debates in my family, which is why I'm not usually a fan of anything even remotely related to politics. However, there is something about Kevin Spacey playing a southern politician that is undeniably entertaining. I can't take my eyes off of him!

And that's it! If you have favorite shows that didn't make the list, please throw out your suggestions. I've got to keep this list going or else I'll be forced to do something productive at night instead, like *gasp*, read a book.

The Wonderland Project

Check out these breathtaking photos from professional photographer Kirsty Mitchell. They're all a part of her Wonderland Collection, which pays tribute to her deceased mother who loved to read and tell great stories. These photos certainly tell stories of their own, don't they? Stunning!

Mid-Week Blues

Anyone else feeling the mid-week blahs? It would be so nice to stay at home and craft something like this Sharpie pen bowl today, but alas, I started a new job last week and duty calls. I have a love for all things with polka dots so this bowl really speaks to me, but this project could be replicated using other fun shapes (hearts, triangles, etc.). I also love that it utilizes Ikea dinnerware. Cheap and easy! 

You can read the full set of DIY instructions here. 

Yusuke Oono's 360° Storybooks

Japanese artist Yusuke Oono creates storybooks that read frame by frame like a regular book, but also transform into 360° sculptures. It's amazing what can be done with simply a few sheets of paper and a pair of scissors, isn't it?

The process..

Snow White

Food Figures

Who is in the mood for a little art exploration? I sure am! That's why I'm happy to have stumbled across this project from photographer Klaus Enrique Gerdes. He recently recreated Giuseppe Arcimboldo's famous 16th century portrait paintings using real fruits, vegetables and flowers. You can see some of Arcimboldo's originals below for comparison with Gerdes' interpretations. I'm amazed by both portrait versions. They're creepy, yet mesmerizing. If you stare long enough, you sort of expect them to start moving, don't you?

The 16th century painted version

Gerdes' photographed version

Another painted version

And Gerdes' photographed version

Easy Halloween Boa Wreath

Who cares if it's only October 3rd? I'm getting into the Halloween spirit this week with decorations.

I love this idea from Simply This and That featuring a wreath made out of a black boa and Halloween knick-knacks picked up from Michaels. It sounds like it only takes minutes to make which means I may have a fun craft project on my hands this week! (I'll be sure to post results.)

Unexpected Rainbows

Artist Gabriel Dawe (hat tip: Dude Craft) has some of the most amazing rainbow-inspired art installations I've ever seen. They're made from cotton thread which is strategically arranged to create unique, colorful patterns. I know that art speaks different things to different people, but to me, these exude happiness. They're gorgeous.

Plexus No.6

Density of Light

Plexus No. 11

Keyboard Tile Art

Check out these amazing celebrity portraits by Australian artist WBK (Works By Knight) made entirely from keyboard tiles. According to the artist, the use of tiles from both the analogue and digital eras pays homage to important transitions in technology.

Hey girl it's me, Ryan Gosling.

Usain Bolt

U2's Bono

Not So Ordinary Things

Ever heard of Los Angeles-based artist Andrew Lewicki?  Me either, until I stumbled upon a review of his work on one of the design blogs I follow. Interesting stuff, isn't it? The Oreo cookie manhole cover is definitely my favorite. There's something about imagining a handsome, sweaty, McSteamy kind of man crawling out of the ground with a gigantic cookie shell like this one that makes me smile.

Louis Vuitton waffle maker. 

Accordion Obscura

Manicure Masterpieces

Today is all about nails! Check out these inspiring manicures from Incredible Things.  I love the Calvin & Hobbes theme!

Unlikely Mediums in Art

You may recall my post from a few weeks ago regarding beautiful knife art displays. Today's post promises something equally unexpected.

Artist Marcus Levine creates striking pieces of artwork using nails! Even more amazing is the fact that he doesn't use sketches, drafts or mapping before he begins a project so the end result is always a surprise.

Incredible!

Globes Galore

Lately, I've had a major sense of wanderlust which may explain why I'm so drawn to these amazing repurposed globe projects.  Aren't they fascinating? I love it when something ordinary takes on a new, inspirational form.

1.  Clock - Dishfunctional Designs
2.  Night Lights/Art - Positive Ponderings
3.  Disco Ball - Six Axle
4.  Grill - Inhabitat.com
5.  Bowl - Rose of Sharon Blog
6.  Kitchen Light - The Inspired Room

The Amazing Ryan Berkley

Ryan Berkley is an incredibly talented illustrator whose work very much reminds me of something out of The Wind in the Willows.  Each print comes with its own story too. Aren't these characters great? My sister Katie is in love with this stuff and I can see why. These portraits really bring me back to my childhood. It's hard not to smile!

We're lucky enough to have Ryan's artwork on display here in Seattle at the Assemble Gallery in Greenwood. If you're ever in the area, you should definitely check it out. The shop is small, but it packs a mean punch of talent.

The Ultimate Tron-Inspired Stroller

I was browsing one of my favorite websites, NeatoBambino, when I came across this stroller project. Amazing!!  I'm not a Tron fan, but I might use this dayglow lighting system to be seen better if I took kids for an evening stroll.

Before

After!

Check out the video of the lighting sequence in action:


Stroller Upgrade: lighting test from Bhautik Joshi on Vimeo.

Coffee Filter Lamp Shades

Dude Craft has a great idea for transforming an ordinary paper lamp (think Ikea) into a work of art, using nothing but a Modge Podge and coffee filters. The patterns are beautiful, aren't they?

Color Crayon Art

Ramblings from The Sunshine State has this cool DIY color crayon art project and I'm in love with it!  It would be perfect for an arts and crafts room or an office space. I love that it's something you might see in a high-end art gallery, but it's also easy enough to create that kids could help with it.  See how it's made!

Paper Ornaments Aplenty!

Paper ornaments are in all the store windows this holiday season, or at least that seems to be the case in Seattle. I've never really appreciated the craftsmanship that goes into them until now.  They can truly be works of art! I also love that they serve a double purpose as both a decorative piece and a present to be used and appreciated year after year. 

If anyone has any fun tutorials on making paper ornaments, please send them my way! I'd love to make anything that even closely resembles these beauties:

Cute Overload - Marcel the Shell

Have you ever heard of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On?  It's only one of the cutest animated films out there!  My favorite part about the series is the voiceover work. I think Marcel's character is captured perfectly.  It helps me buy into the fact that I'm watching an animated half-shell creature hop around the screen. So cute!  My second favorite part is the that the film is only a few minutes long.  Just the right amount of "squee!"

Enjoy!

Iron Crafter at Fireflies and Jellybeans

I came across Fireflies and Jellybeans a while ago and had to share it with you readers because I think it does something extremely well.  It's called Iron Crafter and basically, it's an open casting call for crafters out there who are up for a weekly challenge.  The challenge consists of creating something out of the "secret ingredient" (this week it's toilet paper rolls) and then sharing your results with other contestants. Visit this link for more details.

I wish I was going to be around for this particular challenge.  It looks like fun!  What would YOU do with toilet paper and towel rolls?