Awe

Gustavo Aimar's blog, La Mesa de Trabajo (The Month of Work) chronicles his mixed media collage and illustration work in photographs of his studio, works in progress, and completed pieces. I am completely struck by this one in particular.

There's something captivating about the detail of this figure. The delicately ornate eyelashes, straightforward and expressive eyes, high, rouged cheeks and Mona Lisa-like, reserved smile. The punctuated eyebrows and halo of blue around the face add a really interesting element and the chalk-white pallet of the face is so great. of At a mere 36 years old, this native Argentinian is a true talent and artistic inspiration. Not to mention I completely envy his studio and collection of antique papers.

Something to think about

Conceived by Bud Caddell- a man who clearly has a direct line to my brain lately. Now if only I could find my "hooray!" spot.

Things to do

-Learn calligraphy (properly this time)
-Begin collecting old stamps
-Buy a super eight camera
-Listen to more music music
-Use my gocco more

Meet TED

My dear saltinies,

If you have not met Ted- you're missing out. Please. People are doing amazing things, and you need to hear about it. It's for your own good.

Fondly,

Salty

Put a smile on your face

This:

(click to enlarge)

Is the email I got back in response to my email regarding a craigslist ad for a free eames-style chair and ottoman. The posting specified it would be removed when the chair was taken so I figured I had a shot. And who would pass up something like that? So I get this reply and oddly- rather than getting completely annoyed that some random stranger would send me this bite-sized (no pun intended) directive... I barely blinked and kept scrolling through my inbox as if it had been another email offering to enlarge my penis. Mr.Mr. insists I send a reply and kindly recommend the sender "eat poop" but I've refused despite his nagging that I really should  be reacting in a more shocked way. Actually, I've managed to get quite a few laughs out of the whole thing since then. 

The fact is, someone took time out of their day to tell me- a complete stranger, to "eat poop." That's like saying, "eat butt" - and it's about as offensive. If they had just changed a few measly letters, delivering a more profane message- I would be singing a different tune entirely. So thank you, mister/ms. sellmychair@live.com - you totally made my week.

Human feats

This is really long but play it in the background while you check your email and just remind yourself from time to time that these are people... not machines making these noises.

I really need to learn a skill... stat.

Inspiracity

Lisa Hannigan - Lille from ATO Records on Vimeo.

Travel made [more] tolerable

Check out this clip on YouTube of a unique pre-flight experience. I'll be crossing my fingers that the next plane I board has an equally talented crew.

Thanks MYM!

I can't wait to have kids

If you promise I can take them to the dentist.



I wish Mr.Mr. had been even one fifth this loopy when he got his wisdom teeth out. Sadly, he was just a bloody, gauze-stuffed mess of limbs. I did, however, have to school him regularly on not smiling or talking, much like David's dad tells him not to touch the stitches. I think this should win best webernets video of the year. And they should send it in to America's Funniest Home Videos. I can't stand that show but the kid could easily get a year's worth of college tuition out of his narcotic-induced episode.

Dancing Queen

Why is it that I've never been recruited to take part in this type of AWESOMENESS?

Musical stylings from across the pond

...And they say the British have no sense of humor.



Courtesy of Mary the awesome.

This...

Just totally changed my mood for the better. All adults should learn foreign languages from children. Their imagination and excitement makes the language all the better for translation.


Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo. (Thanks to Beefy for this tiny treat.)

Feel good music

Just try not to dance to this... I dare you.

Jet setting with Salty (Part IV, Section II)

Taking in the sights at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, we enjoyed the special exhibit of Martin Puryear's wood sculptures as well as the highly entertaining interactive components of The Art of Participation. I definitely recommend both... and this is from the Fine Art major who typically lasts all of thirty minutes max at some of the most esteemed museums and galleries.

I have to admit though, I was taken with the gift shop. Mr.Mr. gets the MOMA catalog from time to time and I typically shrug it off as hawking over-priced knick knacks. But some of their stuff was altogether too cool to avoid taking note of to share with you all. I wasn't able to find all my favorites on their site so I had to do some sleuthing. But here you are:

Edamame Chopstick Rests

found on Dean and Deluca

5 for $35.00

Cast iron molded with a green

patina finish.

-Cute and affordable.

Daily Aesthetic Ceramic Canisters

found on Seletti's site (Italy)

$16.00, $20.00, & $40.00 respectively

Porcelain with silicone gaskets

-These would make great sugar, flour, and

brown sugar containers for the counter top.

Soehnle Page Digital Kitchen Scale

found on Chef Tools.com

$39.99

-We have a red theme going on in our

kitchen and this slim jim would fit

in perfectly. AND I could finally

measure out 3 oz. of ginger

accurately!

Cubix Lamp by Catherine Mui

available through the SF MOMA

$70.00

-I love that this is interactive. The

design is relatively simple but the

execution is brilliant. Literally.

I am not a paper cup

found on Perpetualkid.com

$19.99

-A little twist on DuChamp's classic... I like the idea but I'm not sure I could hang with the chalky-feeling, matte finish. I imagine difficulty in cleaning it and stains a plenty. Nonetheless quite cool.

Bleached Oak Cuckoo Clock

found through Yahoo! at SF MOMA

$398.00

-This tones down your traditional ornate cuckoo clock and reiterates

the popular nature silhouette I've been seeing a lot lately. I might paint

mine black or some other singular color though.

Hansel & Gretel illustrated by the fabulous Jen Corace

found on Amazon.com

$11.55

-Ms. Corace has a way with colors and her drawings are captivating. I can imagine any child enjoying this new rendition of a classic favorite. I also enjoyed the Drop & Splash bowls ($12.00 each), the Double Bowl ($34.00) and a set of clever Happy Holidays and Non-Holidays cards- customizable for the occasion (6/$14) from Quiplip.

And finally, Part V, the final leg of our San Francisco trip will post soon.

All photos care of the credited websites.

Oh yeah

If Seattle is so excited that they break out into spontaneous dancing in the street... that's got to be a good sign. Right?

Care of Mary via Facebook. Thanks!

Ellen Degeneres school of dancing

Well. In a dance off with me, he would totally lose. He's got the foundation but perhaps needs to spend some time with a master like myself to really hone those skillz.* However, I have yet to see John McCain step out and shake his money maker so I'm thinking it's Obama: 1, McCain: 0 at this point- just on dance credentials alone.



Regardless of who's the better dancer- don't forget to vote by November 4th.

*Sometimes when I'm watching video of people dancing and they're really struggling to find the rhythm or just look plain awkward, I actually find myself dancing a little bit in my seat like somehow I can will them to be better dancers.

Un Be Lievable

This is the type of game I could get completely lost in.

The Unfinished Swan - Tech Demo 9/2008 from Ian Dallas on Vimeo.

Only available as a demo for the time being, I could see this totally kicking Myst's ASS.

(Via the always bleeding edge, Kottke.org. How does one man do it?)

For the love of Mary, just click it!

Those clever Unbeige people are at it again.

Call me grandma

...because I can hardly make it past 10pm these nights. I'm definitely struggling on this new schedule and as an eight hours-a-nighter, I'm in bed at 10:30 and up again just before 7 to make it into the office by 8. But when I was forwarded this link to Saturday's SNL opener, I couldn't resist passing it along.

No one can deny how dead on Tina Fey is as Sarah Palin. Hold your applause until the end but feel free to laugh until you cry. It's so good. Oh so good.

Everday giving

I read a lot of blogs. And I mean- a LOT of blogs. It's gone way past the casual clicking and become a full-fledged part of my day... so much so that I sometimes feel frustrated or bad if I don't have a chance to catch up on a daily basis. Ridiculous, I know. So to offload some of the internal conflict I feel about spending so much time online, I make a habit of incorporating a small bit of daily giving into my blog routine. Charity USA is the link on the top of my list of blogs as a reminder to spend at least the first fifteen seconds of my web day on something productive.

Through their homepage you can visit all six of their charitable sites (Hunger, Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, the Rainforest, and Animal Rescue) and contribute to their causes with the click of a mouse. Once you "click to give," you'll be directed to a page listing the site sponsors whose ad revenue supports each cause. Not to mention, some of the shops selling items made and sold through fair trade exchanges offer really unique gifts with frequent shipping discounts. Double up on your good deeds!

I know it doesn't seem like much but I remind myself that sometimes big change is manifested through small (and frequent) acts of kindness, and that it's the least I can do before I start clicking madly through the mass of design, art, and food sites to spend a little time thinking of others.