Infinity and Beyond

A really great video about taking responsibility for our own footprint on this earth. Very enlightening and in my opinion, genius. Artist, Jae Rhim Lee has designed not just a suit, but an entire kit for decomposition using mushrooms called Infinity Mushrooms. Jae Rhim Lee's work challenges us to think about the final stages of life but in a way that incorporates acceptance and giving back to this planet. Check it out below--it will really enlighten you. Here is more about her and her project.

Flying High

 Balloon Lamp, $100

I love love love balloons. The shapes, colors, characteristics of balloons have always fascinated me.  My husband proposed to me on a hot-air balloon. Even for my wedding, we used balloons as a theme. So when I saw this wonderful lamp idea by Haoshi Design, my heart soared with love. Such a wonderful idea for a child's room or for a quirky little accent on any wall. There is an online shop to purchase the creative light fixture here.

And while on the subject of balloons, here are a few from my wedding last year:

 

Photography by Ethan Yang Photography.

Cutest Video!

This is the cutest thing I've seen all week.
Check out this four-legged family member getting ready for a nap.





<3 I die.

Sail Away

I must have travel on my mind.

Currently loving this awesome necklace by Aprés Ski. How cute are these striped sails!

L'Atalante

 

This Golden Butterfly is also so cute too:

 

Golden Butterfly 

 

 

*Dreaming*

I want to be here!!

http://www.zadan.nl/pics/weallneed/

Obsession: Elena Kalis

Elena Kalis Photography

Stunning. Breathtaking. Surreal. Beautiful.

Elena Kalis continues to capture the most whimsical, unreal, imaginative, and quietly intense photography I have ever seen. I love her styling and her use of colors. Her Alice in Waterland are my favorites I'm going to buy one of her photographs. I've decided.

She has recently added some new photographs to her online portfolio. Oh, and have you seen her video?? It's been around for a bit, but that doesn't stop me from watching it again and again. Her work is timeless beauty. Enjoy some other samples below:  (* note: all images were taken from her site here)

Box Templates

I've been working on some fabric necklaces for my etsy shop, and when they started to sell, I totally realized I had to consider a different packaging system for these larger, more delicate pieces. Thus my hunt for larger boxes that didn't look too clunky. I did some researching and came across a few sites that had templates for you to print out and use. Awesome. Whether they become the next packaging model for my larger necklaces or not, these are going to be useful for birthdays, showers, favors, cookies, etc.

Check out this beautiful collection of prints from Margit Ammentorp that you can print out on cardboard (or posterboard) and then flip over to print out the template. Great idea and lovely prints.The site is in Danish, but you can go straight to the papers here and the templates here.

Skabeloner

This site gives a cute idea for a favor box:

Package Tech

Mirkwood Designs (below) also has great templates for party cones, suitcase boxes, button boxes and more: (All free!)

Mirkwood Designs

Angry Birds Cake

This is about to get viral. So sweet. What great parents. Happy Birthday Ben!

Mallard Tea

How awesome are these cups?

and bags...and tins....

          I know this cute little company has been around for some time, but as I'm researching for pattern inspiration for some posters I can't help but find myself responding to the design aesthetic of this little boutique tea shop. I love everything about these designs! The color palette, the silhouettes, the type. All winners. I'm way more partial to coffee than tea, but seeing these designs makes me wish otherwise. Have a favorite pattern?

A Day of Glass

Check out this video made by Corning Glass that shares a glimpse into what the future could be like. The camera follows a family through a "typical" day using state of the art glass and technology. Often when I see or hear about advances into the future, I feel both a little excited and scared. Technology has come a long way and continues to make advances so rapidly. I start to wonder how much is too much?  Lately I've been itching to re-watch Wall-E--the animated movie with the little robot. When I first watched it, I had such different expectations (i.e. I was caught off guard by the deeper issues and message it put out about the state and direction of humans and their consumerism.) Looking back it brings me to think about how we spend our money and how much we rely on technology–almost to a point where it inhibits us from challenging our own minds and bodies. Just something I've been thinking about...

I have to admit though...the video is pretty cool. I love the refrigerator and that phone. Check it out.

Thursday Travels

Last week I spent a wonderful weekend traveling aimlessly across the east coast with the hubby. Okay, not aimlessly but enjoyably, I suppose. Its hard to take time off these days, so with the upcoming break (thank you Mr. Presidents) I was excited for the opportunity to go just about anywhere. 

     With our pick of places, we decided to do a simple "road trip" to New York which eventually led us to Boston. We tasted Halal food for the first time and devoured cream puffs at Beard Papas in New York. Then drove to Boston where we ate Lobster Rolls and Pizza at Quincy Market.  It was all about good food and quality time (and maybe some shopping thrown in for good measure ;) ).

It was a simple trip but I'm hoping to save for a bigger trip later down the line. Not sure where but when I saw this video on Etsy about a candy maker in Vietnam, I'm probably putting Vietnam on my places to visit and this little shop as a must go. Le Thi Tan is a third generation candy maker who shares not just her love for her craft but also a peek into her candy making process. A lovely video that showcases a small but thriving example of handmade goodies.

Handmade Portraits: Sugar Street from Etsy on Vimeo.

Name of Shop: Thoan Tinh Tan Lan
Location: Hanoi's Sugar Street (Vietnam's capital)

A time for everything

1. Original Composition 2. Cup of Jewelry 3. Hope for Patience 4. New York Bridge

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. How true. As I take this fresh start into blogging my inspirations and ideas I'm reminded of three P's: Present, Patience, Peace.
     I've been meaning to start a new attempt at blogging but have found every reason (not excuse, of course) to save it for another day. But today I am taking advantage of the present moment. Today is the appointed time. But I know that this blogging stuff–it takes work. And time. And patience. Hopefully, this time around I'll be able to channel the countless visuals I come across on the web as well as the crafty ideas that run through my mind on a daily basis, into a creative blog that will organize my ideas--and keep me from forgetting them. Then I'm one step closer to finding some peace in this crazy mind of mine.