the hyggelig life

Blog of Note: Things Organized Neatly

2010-09-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Things Organized Neatly has collected a beautiful selection of images that settle my obsessive arranging habits. Everything doesn't need to be lined up, it just needs to be put in the right place.

The Shortest Distance

2010-09-08T11:24:00.001-07:00

The shortest distance between two points, in Californian terms. I'm not sure whether I should be thanking Google Maps or the local bus system for this scenic option. I could probably crawl there faster.

Helmut Smits

2010-09-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

I read about Helmut Smits on Core77 and checked out the rest of his portfolio. I like how his ideas are simple tweaks on everyday life, often blending two very familiar things. His work has a very intimate, human touch. Check out these plant lamps - haha!

Nixon watches

2010-08-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

So beautiful! I rarely like watches, but this braceletty version seems like something fun for a change. Way to go, Nixon!

Portable Scanner

2010-08-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a plan to spend more time at the library, and this portable scanner looks like my new best friend for books I can't bring home:

I think this thing might also come in handy for scanning vintage textiles when I'm on the road. I read that one of the competing brands can even scan computer screens. Woah. THE FUTURE IS NOW.

Joanna Newsom

2010-08-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

A beautiful performance...too bad about the Bud Light banners in the background. Haha.

Nurturing Entrepeneurial Talent

2010-06-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

This is a TED talk by Cameron Herold, a lifelong entrepeneur with some great ideas for nurturing talent in kids. Well spoken!

Takashi Kawashima's Ampersand

2010-06-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

J&B Scotch’s "Ampersand" from Takashi Kawashima on Vimeo.

Takashi Kawashima created this ampersand for J&B Scotch. See more of his work here.

Blog of Note: Haw-Lin

2010-06-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

These images are from Haw-Lin, a gorgeous Cargo site full of inspirational images. I want to step inside these last two pictures. Thank you for sharing, Haw-Lin!

Overkill 9000

2010-06-15T19:03:00.001-07:00

Accumulate away, my friends. Overkill 9000 is a great source for overenthusiastic collections and strange group behaviors. Thanks, Cheezburger!

Hermeto Pascoal

2010-06-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

I want to quit my job and play music in the river.

Melon Potholders

2010-06-07T18:26:00.000-07:00

There are instructions for these melon potholders on The Purl Bee. Wheee - summer is here!

Steve Reich Channels My Dreams

2010-06-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Steve Reich's Nagoya Marimbas

I like the guy at the beginning who signals his appreciation by raising his skinny fists to the sky. ROCK ON, DUDES.

Deck Towel

2010-06-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

These handsome linen towels are from Deck Towel. You can also find them at Gravel & Gold. They remind me of a light cotton towel my old boss brought back for me from India - I can almost feel it fluttering in the breeze. Summer's here!

Guatemala City, May 31st

2010-05-31T22:51:00.000-07:00

photo via Flickr

This photo seems so fake, like a Photoshop job...but sadly, it's not. There are deep, dark places under our concrete foundations.

Tauba Auerbach and Cameron Mesirow

2010-05-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

I saw these videos on Root Blog, another noteworthy place to visit. These lovely ladies remind me of artists from the 1920s, like Lyubov Popova and Varvara Stepanova, whose collaborations moved through different media to create a unique perspective of the world and its possibilities. I also love that Ida Falck Øien's costumes relate to their collaboration, forcing each to rely on the other to dress. Those shoes are dreamy.

Blog of Note: But Does it Float

2010-05-27T17:45:00.001-07:00

But Does it Float is a blog filled with amazing imagery and links to even more. Just look what I found there!

David Bazan Covers Vic Chestnutt

2010-05-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

This song is so beautifully written.

2010-05-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Classy? Well, not really...but they'd go well with these:

or these things, which seem to be sold everywhere:

But it all begs the question: is this design? I know it's supposed to be cheeky and referential, a meme of sorts...but those original plastic objects were DESIGNED with elements that made them stackable, sturdy, easy to hold and lightweight. I am still in awe of the original designs because they met their purposes to the highest degree. For once, I'm in favor of the plastic versions.

Derick Melander

2010-05-23T23:07:00.001-07:00

Derick Melander makes sculptural pieces from folded used clothing. I'd love to see him work with Jean Shin:

Square

2010-05-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Square is a plug in device that allows you to complete credit card transactions on iPhones, iPads and other smartphones. WOAH. After dealing with two clunky web-based merchants, I am totally dazzled with this new option. Not that I currently have an iPad or a business that sells things, but I'm keeping this one in the files anyways.

The interface looks really clean and simple, and it helps you keep all of your transactions in one place. Check out the video... don't be too alarmed by the guy's creepy tone. SQUARE WILL BE EVERYWHERE but it's an okay thing.

Letting Others Do the Cleaning

2010-05-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

Areca palm

English ivy

Dwarf date palm

Boston fern

Janet Craig dracaena

Australian sword fern

Peace lily

Rubber plant

Weeping fig

I've been busy, to say the least. I am hoping these plants will do some of the dirty work and clean up the air in my apartment. I'm much too busy bumbling around and sticking my finger in the wind for a sense of direction. Interesting article here. Thanks, NASA!

Chemical Heritage Foundation Kaleidoscopes

2010-05-23T14:26:00.001-07:00

These kaleidoscopic images are blowing my mind! I wish I could show the close-ups - you can zoom in on the images on the CHF website to see each individual Bakelite button, light bulb and miscroscope. I wish every museum would sift through its collections to do something along these lines. It's fun and instills curiosity about some of the more mundane objects in the CHF's immense collection of scientific ephemera. Way to go, guys!

Red Hot

2010-02-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

Crazy for Music

2010-01-25T14:47:00.000-08:00

I like music, you know? But there's something about music-related tschotchkes that just baffles me. I mean, come on:

On the other hand, I love this image:

I feel like my grandparents would send a card with this image on it. I have one with cats, fully dressed, eating cookies. Divine!