{ Eye Candy: Plaid Love }

Totally reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright (at least for me)... These Plaid Benches by Raw Edges use interlocking colored wood to create a delightful "woven" pattern with wood ::swoon::  

{ Winx to Linx }

Synthesize by Anthony Neil Dart

• Work from Anthony Neil Dart has been my latest graphic inspiration. It's a beautiful collage of information and text and imagery. Reminding me of Corner & MacClean beautiful landscape images, Dart's work uses images of beauty and limited color, but still very bold and capturing. Think Design Blog did a great interview with Dart, which worth filing away for a read of inspiration. {via}
• While researching websites this week, I came across some beautiful examples, including this awesome full screen video website, Uniqlock. It might not seem like much, but the full screen/scaling site option is pretty new (to me) works beautifully in multiple sizes. And the super text graphics for the loading screen doesn't hurt either. 
• Hot wheels on steroids - I was (and still am) a huge lover of slot cars and tracks. Having grown up with no brothers, my father treated me like the son he didn't have, so I had a few of these racing kits growing up (and still do!). But these tracks will blow any enthusiast away!  {via}
• JCPenny's new logo screams America, but to me its more reminiscent of London's Mind the Gap campaign. I definitely see the market they were going after, but I'd have to say my verdicts still out on the revamp. What's your thoughts? {via}
• I love bacon more than the average person, but I'm not so sure about this one. Bacon Flavored Diet Coke. {via}
• Artist, Chad Wys new series, Nocturne and Process of Elimination series is total eye candy. Taking works of master paintings and leaving out gaping 'pieces of information' is great to see what conclusions or assumptions the mind recognizes and fills in. This is a beautiful way to revisit the classics. 

{ Nerdy Architecture Game }

My nerdiness is about to run amuck! NextArchitects have gone and developed and produced an ARCHITECTURE game! Ahhh! my inner architect (which seldomly gets to come out) is so excited!
All my knowledge from school can finally be put to the test... although, I still appreciate being texted for precedent questions. The game features iconic buildings and a set of infamous LeCorbusier for the player who is taking his turn. Originally launched in 1999 but only available to that damn awesome dutch Delft University, this is the second edition is the international version, meaning that it is produced in English, but also that the questions range right across the breadth of modern world history.




I can't wait 'til this is available for online purchase ...if you find it let me know. But when it is, expect a call from me for an uber nerdy board game night. {via}

{ Eye Candy: exploding eames }

::swoon:: that is all.{via}

{ Eye Candy: 1912 Type Edition }

Talk about a Beauty! The Internet Archive is hosting a copy of the American Specimen Book of Type Styles put out by the American Type Founders Company in 1912. It's a 1300-page book listing hundreds of typefaces and their possible use cases. It's Nouveau-esque page borders are enough to swoon over, but the types, oh the beautiful types! {via}

{ Childhood Reading of the Day }

I think Christopher Walken can read Where the Wild Things Are anytime to Donovan. Enjoy!

{ I Knew She Looked Familiar }

LDR on left, Baker on right

Lana del Rey's SNL performace last week has been all the talk on the interwebz. Even Brian Williams had some choice words about her performance. Now I've been a fan of LDR since 2Pz posted Video Games, and have been starring anything new on the hypemachine. So needless to say I was psyched about her performing on SNL, but half way through the song, the boy and I had to change the channel. Not only was Daniel Radcliff less than stella but LDR was a let down.

But I digress... I keep tryin to place her 'look' and Saturday I figured it out! She's totally Ginny Baker (Andy's sister) from Sixteen Candles! Especially in that wedding dress! done and done. I knew I would get it!

{ The Day the Internet Goes Black }

If I could black out this blogger site, and also bring it back tomorrow I would. But apparently I'm too ditzy to figure it out, so I'm posting to encourage everyone to read up about SOPA (stop online piracy act), and contact your congressman. Wikipedia has set up a zip code search for your representative, in addition to blacking out. I do wish the major players had done more, but Google did post a censor bar, and Craigslist is down too.
Be sure to be informed, and realize what this means for you! {via}
and once you do, and this has seriously pissed you off, call your congressman click here

My letter to Congressman, John J. Duncan.
I doubt this will have any effect on you, or that you will actually read this, but I have voted for you since I have been able to vote. Your father worked closely with my father, even though my family is a strong democratic family, we've always liked you. PLEASE do not let SOPA pass. It is wrong and ruins everything that I love. you wouldn't like it if I ruined everything you loved? but I suppose you like money and that's why you are doing this. Please don't be a douche and vote no on SOPA. 
thanks.

It's not much, but it's a start, and really that's all we can do.

{ PhotoBomb }

Now, I didn't see the Golden Globes... I'm not really one for award shows, I have been reading about them all day, and I think this might be the only bit worth sharing.

{ I'll Take them All }

Found this retro site via A Beautiful Mess, and one clicked led to another, and here I was, on a page with hundreds of vintage black cats (in for an audition). This is so fabulous! I mean, so many of the same kitties! and look at those cute old men and spinsters ladies. {via}

{ Eye Candy: Hey Girl }

Previous student and peer, Ashley not only is rockin' out at Yale this semester, but has made just about the best tumbler out there... I know what you are thinking, how can there be something better than Paula Dean riding things? But for all the architects / architecture students out there, this is gold! Architecture Ryan Gosling is my newest obsession. I mean, just look at those eyes and tell me you didn't wish he was whispering those nerdy references to you. {via}


Update: another nerdy Ryan Gosling craze with fonts, also worth checking out. {via}

{ Winx to Linx }

This has been a crazy few weeks, and like always I'm behind on what I'm doing. But I'm in need of sharing my awesome finds of late.

• Swissted is an ongoing project by graphic designer mike joyce, owner of stereotype design in new york city. Drawing from his love of punk rock and swiss modernism, two movements that have absolutely nothing to do with one another, mike has redesigned vintage punk, hardcore, and indie rock show flyers into international typographic style posters. And these are definitely worth the bookmark. These are real shows, and totally reminds me of some of my fave Frank Stella work, and probably needs me to print a few.  
• I knew I wasn't the only one who was noticing handwritten letters, typically from editors, finding it's way all over the publishing world! and even on some of my fave blogs, A Beautiful Mess uses it all the time! Luckily Noteworthy put together a great list of brushes (free!) to download and try, I can't wait to get home and really try these out on my tablet! {via}
• The Creativity Post put together a really great list of 12 things you were never taught in school. I'm not normally a big fan reader of these sort of posts, but I found this one pretty inspiring for the new year and my new positive outlook. {via}
• Fourth Year Studio - a great letterpress company, and former architecture students with me, out of Knoxville is having a fund raiser for Baby Tyson (who is a heart baby of another fellow archy over at Vandy). You can check his inspiring story here. And as a new mother, I have no idea how I would be able to be half as strong as Tyson's mom, but they are so wonderful, and it's great to see how wonderful he has been doing, I'm somewhat addicting to checking his status, and hoping (since I'm not the praying type) he's continuing to do well {to purchase a calendar}.
• Best Movie Posters of 2011 - some definite eye candy in the mix. I'm in LOVE with the Eames one .. of course! also a brilliant documentary if you haven't seen it, it's a must. And I have a serious crush on Cam Archer's film, Shit Year. {via}
• Shrinking Kat - Kat, whom you might remember from previous post, is dieting like no other, and documenting her journey on the dukan diet, the one Kate Middleton supposedly lost all her pre-wedding weight on. I know it's a fad diet, but it seems like one I could get behind, with all these veggies and meats! If you want to follow and encourage Kat's success please click. {via}

{ FontShop's Top Fonts of 2011 }

As a Typo-philliac (ha! I just thought of that one... hope it doesnt mean anything weird) FontShop has announced their top fonts of 2011... I know, another best of list. But hot fonts are always worth cataloguing. I know, I'll be coming back to a few of the people's choice. {via}

{ Need A Job? }

Well then you are in luck, there are two ridiculous openings announced today.

1. Stephen Hawking needs a graduate assistant. Now at first this seemed really awesome, who wouldn't want to hang with one of the smartest minds in history? But after reading the duties this position entails, I'm less than enthused...
+ Managing Prof. Hawking's national and international travel.
+ Preparation of lecture graphics and public speaking
+Dealing with the media and press
+Development of Prof. Hawking's computer systems
+Maintenance of computer and medical equipment
+Answering inquiries from the public and maintaining the website
... yup. overall a snoozefest, I think I'll pass but you could always apply. {to apply}

2. Kanye West has been tweeting up a storm about a newly formed idea design company, DONDA. This new venture will consist of architects, designers, and directors. Cause we all knew his first fashion line went so well, I'm sure this will be a success interesting too. Either way, if you are interested here's the page to apply, which does only include a gmail address. I will admit that I am curious to see how this goes, and might drop a line. I mean, it doesn't hurt to see? But then again, no one wants to get interrupted at work either. {to apply}

{ Texts From Bennett... wait, who? }

Texts from Last Night eat your heart out, cause Texts from Bennett might be my new fave time waster. TFB is a tumbler site compiled of texts from this dude's 17 year old white cousin, who believes he is a crip, works at amoco, dates a ho named Mercedes, and apparently has no idea this site exists. Enjoy an exert on thanksgiving...

{ Beetlejuice on Community? }

How did I miss this? Well I guess if I'm honest, I wasn't a huge fan of Community for a while, I think it was season one's Halloween episode that first won me over.  But apparently for the past three seasons, the word “beetlejuice” has found its way into the script of Community , and we all know what happens when you say Beetlejuice 3 times. Be sure to pay attention at the third scene's background... clever! Hopefully this doesn't get cut, I'd hate for this show, now that it's won a place in my heart, to get the axe. Enjoy!
list of episodes from the clip...
1.16 Communication Studies
2.08 Cooperative Calligraphy
3.05 Horror Fiction In Seven Spooky Steps.

{ Heavy Weights }

It appears as though the heavy weight titans of nbc's thursday night line up is gettin ready to rumble... and boy do I hope it's fo'reals.

{ Eye Candy: Cats + Classic Works of Art }

Sandro Botticelli, The Birth of Venus

Who doesn't love a good classic work of art? Now infuse it with kitties (or one very cuddly looking orange cat) and I'm lovin' it! Great Artists' Mews does just that and very pompously too... check out this exert: Our name is Zarathustra. We are a cat. According to our assistant (named by ignoramuses as our “owner”) We are the best cat in the world. By the will of the gods, We have been relieved of our animal desires, therefore Our postprandial time  is given to the reflections on lofty matters. We are so gracious in Our enjoyment of repasts. And We are also very very fond of Art. {via}

Salvador Dalí, Dream caused by the Flight of a Bee 
around a Pomegranate a Second before Waking up

{ Hot Dam }

On October 26th, a hole was blasted in the base of 125' tall Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in Washington. In less than 2 hours, the reservoir behind the dam drained completely and the White Salmon flowed unimpeded by a dam for the first time in 100 years. Here's a beautiful time lapse view of the water transitioning. {via}
Explosive Breach of Condit Dam from Andy Maser on Vimeo.

{ Welx to Kitty City }

{ Need a Drink with your Spotify Playlists? }

Have you been rockin the new music player Spotify? It does sure beat the pants off of pandora with their (although no longer implemented) 40 hour listening limit. Also mizmargauxxx's fave 2Pz seems to do a really rockin playlist every friday, but aren't your listening parties missing something? I know mine were... luckily someone found what it was, DRINKIFY! What drink should you pair with those listening parties? Now you no longer need to think of what to drink, simiply enter your artist and drinkify will suggest the appropriate beverage for your current ear candy. Enjoy! {via}

{ Wine Review III: Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante }

Wine Review: Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante
Price: $12.99

Pros: I have recently been on a champagne kick... I know, I'm always a party! And this bubbly (technically it's a sparkling wine) champagne is a little sweet, but it's crisp and light and tastes good when you add a fruity liqueur, or in this case cranberry juice. I think I read somewhere that it has hints of delicate flavors of melon, peach, apple and grapefruit.

Cons:  I could drink this all day.. is that a con? ha! no, but seriously. I suppose it could have been cheaper? or maybe a little teeny tiny bit not as sweet. but over all this was a win for team help margauxxx drink!

 Overall: 95% - Maybe I'm being too easy, but I FLIPPIN' LOVE this wine / champagne. I think I found the drink that will one day accompany my xanex's... HA! (jk)

now my new fave, Martini & Rossi aren't on here,
but this was cute (and a lil' douchey) and made me ctm.

 {via}

{ Kitten Covers }

Who doesn't love a good kitten on an album cover remake? ctm. Be sure to check out the rest. {via}

{ Too Good Not to Share Infographic: Anatomy of an Agency }

I suppose since I am sorta the 'Art Director' (actual title being Senior Graphic Designer) at MedMaps and John my stay at home dad / Developer (for freelance and M+J) this was particularly amusing to me. Enjoy! {via}

{ November: 'stache tastic! }

Don't forget to do your part this glorious month of my birth... plus it's for a good cause.