loose canvas http://loosecanvas.com loose canvas - musings on art, design, adventure, music, life Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:59:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 loosecanvashttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with NewsAlloySubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with Attensa for OutlookSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with FlurrySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily Rotation This Week’s Sweet Tweets – Saturday edition http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/sZfXuKy8Q9A/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/09/05/this-weeks-sweet-tweets-saturday-edition/#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:20:45 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2308

Fun and folly with a 74 page InDesign project has kept me mostly offline this week. It involved artwork being sent to me in every form possible: jpegs, .tiffs, .gifs, .docs, .docxs, .eps, .psd, PDFs, .ais, .pubs (which required a lot of running back and forth from PC to Mac) and biz cards and newspaper clippings that needed to be scanned and transformed into full page ads.

I love a good adventure.

And now it’s a long weekend and time for other, real world, great adventures. I need to find one and hope you do to.

Here is this Friday’s edition of ‘This Week’s Not So Sweet Tweets’.

A lot of what I find online, ends up on my Twitter feed. I think what’s there is informative and entertaining enough to share with more than the 153 people that are currently following me (Thank you, 153 awesome people!).

It’s nice, light fare for a Friday afternoon and oodles of link happiness for a rainy Saturday or Sunday.

If you like what you see, please follow me.
I am @loosecanvas.
I’m an excellent follow-back-er-er-er!

And don’t forget to go over to #followfriday and show your love for everyone you follow already.

Have an amazing weekend!

I'm sorry Taylor.

On 4-9-2010 14:38:49 from web

I love pop culture and so there’s this. Sincerity or marketing ploy? There’s no @taylorswift13 in the message. It’s like me leaving a post-it note on my refrigerator for my sister that lives 10 miles away…..except my post-it notes (or tweets) don’t hit the media four hours later.
shouldn't you be able to label pain in the ass files- .grr (or .gag, .ick, .agh, .arg, or my favorite- .ayfkm.)? #design

On 4-9-2010 02:56:15 from web


yes last.fm, I'm still listening.

On 3-9-2010 02:38:56 from web


yes....still.

On 3-9-2010 03:49:59 from web


Now, where can I get $4000? : ( Hell Freezes Over: AutoCAD Returns to Mac http://bit.ly/9h1NWF #design

On 31-8-2010 13:11:53 from web

I’d love to own, so I can play with, CAD (instead of my 1992 version on PC), but $4000 is a little steep….and creativity-cost prohibitive, I think…..dammit.

I Got It - Theft iIn the Name of Art. A new blog post @loosecanvas - http://bit.ly/bckIvC #art

Are You Ambitious Enough? http://bit.ly/cAqxcX (via @the99percent)

On 30-8-2010 16:08:31 from web


I just sat transfixed for 5 minutes and 6 seconds - http://www.doobybrain.com/2010/08/29/fraktur-writing-for-the-legacy-of-letters-2010/
I am a typography geek!
I want one, just because of the way they're made - http://www.doobybrain.com/2010/08/29/oxxford-clothes-a-tradition-of-tailoring/ #design
It would be like wearing a work of art.
I can make hearts of foam. I am now a barista. Drinking super-strong coffee on Sunday night, instead of wine : ( http://twitpic.com/2jio01

magic donut river http://twitpic.com/2izi7u
This little machine is so cool.  I wish I had taken video.  The plopper plops the donuts in, they float down the little river while they are cooking and the flipper flips them in to the tray when they are done.
#FF #FollowFriday @SamDensmore -cool music-here, too- @IndieSongADay upcycled tees - @looptworks great writing - @TanjaAita
]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/09/05/this-weeks-sweet-tweets-saturday-edition/feed/ 0 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/09/05/this-weeks-sweet-tweets-saturday-edition/ I Got It – Theft In the Name of Art http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/sUmLR-HKyyQ/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/30/i-got-it/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:46:42 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2288

I crept quietly along the side of the house. I slowly rounded the corner. The target was only a quick sprint across the lawn away, with maybe a somersault thrown in for good measure. Or maybe five cartwheels and a back-flip.

Either, or.

The target was a door with 15 glass panes. I had spotted it through my bathroom window three weeks ago. It was leaning against the neighbor’s garage door. I decided that if the statute of limitations on use of said door expired, let’s say in two weeks, it was automatically mine.

Not to foreshadow, or anything, but it looks like this:

My intentions were good.
Well.
Mostly.

So midway through my third cartwheel, Susan, my neighbor, appeared. I had forgotten to use the darkness of night as cover for my clandestine operation. I tried to act as casual as possible and managed to say, “Hey. How are you? Can I have your door?”. There may or may not have been cartwheels and clandestine operations involved.

She explained that a client had given her the door (she paints murals), she figured it would only end up in her giant pile of stuff with potential purpose and was more than happy to give it to me.

When I first spotted the door, I thought it would be cool to turn it sideways and create a back-painted, 15 panel story board.

This was my first back-painted glass project:

I needed windows in my windowless office.

I thought, maybe, I could run a rod through the hinges of the door to create some sort of decorative hanger, but I realized in carrying it home that it is a giant pig. It could be done. It would just have to be cleated at the bottom for additional (hidden) support.

I’m going to do a few concept drawings this week. I haven’t had a chance to doodle today so there’s nothing to post here yet. This will be the start to a series of ‘work in progress’ posts. I’m also going to play around with some designs that would accomodate re-using it as a door.

Any suggestions?

]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/30/i-got-it/feed/ 3 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/30/i-got-it/ Sweet Tweets and Bare Print Deets http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/VGBIikS-Yec/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/27/sweet-tweets-and-bare-print-deets/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:03:44 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2258

My first print is now on sale with many more prints, wallpapers, fabrics, vinyls, decorative items, furniture and cool little projects to follow.

It’s called ‘bare’. The story behind it is here and a post about the cool material it will be printed on is here.

This is a green project. The frame and glass will be created from upcycled materials, and the paper is made out of stone.
The framed size will be 13 x 13.

If you’d like something bigger or smaller, or in a different color scheme, you can contact me by email or phone.

The link is here: http://loosecanvasdesign.com/project/print/bare
The page will be updated with the information from this post and the two links above.

If you order before next Friday, the shipping is free. And if you think someone you know might like it, please and thank you, pass it on.

On Monday we’ll talk about my desire to steal the 15-glass pane door that’s been leaning up against the neighbor’s garage for three weeks. I have big plans for that door.

Here is this Friday’s edition of ‘This Week’s Sweet Tweets’.

A lot of what I find online, ends up on my Twitter feed. I think what’s there is informative and entertaining enough to share with more than the 148 people that are currently following me (Thank you, 148 awesome people!).

It’s nice, light fare for a Friday afternoon and oodles of link happiness for a rainy Saturday or Sunday.

If you like what you see, please follow me.
I am @loosecanvas.
I’m an excellent follow-back-er-er-er!

And don’t forget to go over to #followfriday and show your love for everyone you follow already.

Have an amazing weekend!

While I’m not a fan of the song (and I think there might be a dab of auto-tune), I love how it was created.

The new Double Rainbow - All the Way! -- Asian Carp http://t.co/i53EwvL via @youtube #geek
The laughing is hilarious and you have to admit, you’d love to be there.

Rock, Paper, Rock. Wait. What? - a new blog post at Loose Canvas - http://bit.ly/chvg4j #design #print #upcycle
Writing about other people’s products gives me an excuse for playing with them all day.

Past tense-"I was bitten by a mosquito.". Present tense-"I just got skeeter-bit.".

RT @IndieSongADay: The Dimes - 'Catch Me Jumping' http://ht.ly/2ugup (the shins, rogue wave, death cab) buy w/ itunes -> http://ht.ly/2ugAK
I need to include more great music (and food) finds in my Twitter feed. Here’s a song.

yes..I know..two beach cottages in one day..I'm obsessed..but check out the chalkboard! http://bit.ly/amPCbW #design #upcycle
If you go to the ocean or the lake, or anywhere near water, never, ever, ever stay in a hotel!
I can smell the ocean air (and I love the whalepaper) a life's #design: Colorful Cottage... http://goo.gl/b/40Kq

On 24-8-2010 13:52:45 from web


"I'm as fascinated by what someone does as by what they say they do." RT @daniellelaporte what do you call yourself? http://bit.ly/awDuHh

Tiptoeing Dangerously Close to the Realm of Cute - a new blog post @loosecanvas http://bit.ly/ccBooh

This cabinet, in my house, would never be closed.

"'No' is simply an obstacle on the path to 'Yes'" wld B a gr8 quote if it wasn't wht my daughter thinks.....when I say "No.".
Give the @s you follow. some Follow Friday (#FF, #FollowFriday) love.

Why just nap, when you can snazzy nap - http://t.co/P34gxPQ via @mashable #geek
Please make this go away. Please.

This week's sweet tweets - a new blog post. Have an amazing weekend! http://bit.ly/cYMsP4 #design #adventure #geek
]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/27/sweet-tweets-and-bare-print-deets/feed/ 0 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/27/sweet-tweets-and-bare-print-deets/ Rock, Paper, Rock. Wait. What? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/7tNxcqA8RaE/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/26/rock-paper-rock-wait-what/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:25:43 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2209

Paper made out of rocks?
Yup.
It’s called TerraSkin®.

MoMA has been using it for their gift shop packaging since 2006.

TerraSkin® begins and ends like this:

It’s basically post-industrial limestone or marble ground into a fine powder. It is mixed with a non-toxic resin, at an approximate ratio of 3:1, to make paper. When/if the paper needs to be recycled, it can be incinerated with no poisonous emissions.

The image above is actually the residue of several scraps that I burned.

It returns to its powdered, calcium carbonate state. That powder can either be returned to the earth or re-used for colored paper. It will also degrade to its original state if left outside for anywhere between three to nine months.

Not only is TerraSkin® tree-free, the process of combining the mineral powder and resin is water-free. Production of standard paper is one of the biggest generators of air and water pollutants, waste products and greenhouse gas (http://bit.ly/aXvyzq).

Of course, going green is like going on a diet. You’re not eating healthy if you’re eating taco salad. The same goes for what you put on your paper. Soy-based and low-VOC inks work exceptionally well on TerraSkin®. And with conventional printing ink, 20-30% less ink is necessary due to its absorption properties attributed to the lack of fiber (Diet. Fiber. Let’s not go there).

One remarkable feature of TerraSkin® is its unique texture. It feels like smooth stone. It seems to have a cooler temperature than paper. When you cut it with scissors, there’s no noise. Bizarre. And it cuts very easily which makes it great for die-cutting and, therefore, great packaging.

Here’s a simple box I created:

Writing with a pen is silent, as well. And smooth. There’s also a vibrance to the ink that you don’t get with regular paper. Markers leave minimal bleed.

TerraSkin® is water- and oil-resistant and, to a certain extent, tear-resistant. It’s ideal for adhesive labels and eliminates 80% of the plastic used to make them.

Due to its flexibility, it’s also ideal for embossing. I discovered that when I pressed on my pen as hard as I could to test it, and ended up with this:

It’s wonderful to find a product that’s eco-friendly, of great quality and just fun to play with.

I’m using it for Loose Canvas Design‘s first finished creation.

That will be available at this link:
http://www.loosecanvasdesign.com/project/print/bare

Thank you, to Lin Sanders at Design & Source Productions for the loads of TerraSkin®.
I’m having a great time with it!

Much of the information I collected for this post….and more, can be found at:
http://terraskin.com
http://www.mitzart.com/

See you tomorrow for ‘This Week’s Sweet Tweets’ and more about the limited edition print, ‘bare‘.

]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/26/rock-paper-rock-wait-what/feed/ 1 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/26/rock-paper-rock-wait-what/ Tiptoeing Dangerously Close to the Realm of Cute http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/-xnoWHSo4DQ/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/23/tiptoeing-dangerously-close-to-the-realm-of-cute/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:56:49 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2180

While cute works very well for a children’s interactive e-book, it’s not a place I want to venture into as I create my first print…with a polar bear holding a heart.

My creations are sometimes the product of a previously forgotten doodle in a sketch pad or the development of ideas once scribbled on a scrap of paper and indiscriminately stuffed into a notebook. Other times they are the result of instantaneous, wonderful, light bulb moments.

This one is the former. It started out as a simple napkin drawing 17 years ago.

I was at a medical conference in the Netherlands. I passed by a Stand in the Exhibition Hall and was immediately inspired by a small print, promoting heart health, that was sitting on the reception desk. I made a quick sketch and tossed it into my journal.

When I returned home, I pulled out the napkin and created a pencil drawing which I made copies of. Apparently, I made many copies because I still find them everywhere. I, then, painted one of the copied versions and inked the outlines. Copy paper is not the greatest substrate for paint, but it worked.

This was the finished product:

That ‘painting’ moved several times. It adorned many walls. It was adored. Over time it was ignored and, eventually, was put away.

But the copies kept popping up.

And I’d put them back thinking that they, at some point, must have a purpose.

I found one the other day and decided to draw it using my Wacom tablet.
I tweaked it, changed the colors a few times and created this:

I’m calling it “bare”.

What makes it part of Make-It Monday (since it’s already been created)?

Before we make prints available for sale, on Friday, over at Loose Canvas Design, I want to make the materials and production process as green as possible.

Reclaimed wood (and, perhaps, metal) will be used to make the frames. They will be 13′ x 13′ with a 1/2″ profile. They will be sprayed black or white with Krylon low-VOC spray paint.

Used glass will be purchased from a local vendor.

I want to use TerraSkin® paper and soy-based inks for the printing process.
Testing of those happens this week. Fine art paper will be the alternative.

I’ll talk more about TerraSkin® on “Tips and Tools” Thursday.

It’s an amazing product and a great tie-in to the release of Loose Canvas Design’s first offering-”bare”.

See you then!

]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/23/tiptoeing-dangerously-close-to-the-realm-of-cute/feed/ 2 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/23/tiptoeing-dangerously-close-to-the-realm-of-cute/ This Week’s Sweet Tweets http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/PBfmA112bQs/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/20/this-weeks-sweet-tweets/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:51:24 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2162

Here is this Friday’s edition of Fritter.

A lot of what I find online, ends up on my Twitter feed. I think what’s there is informative and entertaining enough to share with more than the 145 people that are currently following me (Thank you, 145 awesome people!).

It’s nice, light fare for a Friday afternoon and oodles of link happiness for a rainy Saturday or Sunday.

If you like what you see, please follow me.
I am @loosecanvas.
I’m an excellent follow-back-er-er-er!

And don’t forget to go over to #followfriday and show your love for everyone you follow already.

Have an amazing weekend!
Make-it Monday will actually happen on Monday next week. We’ll be talking about polar bears.

It's like hide-n-seek..inspiration is always the hider and never the seeker RT @ThisIsSethsBlog Seth's Blog:Inspiration http://bit.ly/cUiLHM


Forgot running shoes used Keens. Fell got back up. #adventure http://twitpic.com/2g8n2b
After a meeting, I was close to Wesley Hill Nature Preserve in Honeoye, NY and was not leaving until I ran the trail. Brutal! Beautiful!

thursday afternoon creative meeting #design http://twitpic.com/2g8lt3
I need to turn my phone when Twitpic-ing. And NOT step on wet branches to cross giant mud pits.

@mommywantsvodka Jarts used to make a nice gift for 9yo's. Great learning tool..I learned how to make a big hole in the hood of dad's car.

Elli Popp Wallpaper (and fabrics and ceramics) http://bit.ly/aR1nTB ( via decor8 )
I love a print that fits anywhere you choose to use it.

I love Burlington. Here's the who, where, what.. http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/08/burlington-vermont-guide.html

On 18-8-2010 18:33:39 from web

Go there on a Wednesday in early October. See the colors, explore the town, climb or drive Smuggler’s Notch, walk along the shore of Lake Champlain and collect black stones. Leave Saturday morning to avoid the leaf-peeper traffic.

I knew that I had lost it somewhere - RT @daniellelaporte your permission slip from the universe http://bit.ly/aZUWpP

Every object tells a story - Share and Track the Story of Any Object with Printable QR Codes http://bit.ly/9242s6

On 18-8-2010 18:11:15 from web

I want to organize a QR Code treasure hunt!

Possibilities - Miracle Film Turns Any Surface into a Touchscreen http://bit.ly/9Lv3w2 ( via Mashable )

On 18-8-2010 16:14:30 from web


Mr Scientist guy is kinda creepy, but the dry ice bubble thing is really cool - http://bit.ly/bp734Y
Almost as cool as the Giant Bubble videos that have been popping up  on youtube lately.

Bringing Bliss to non–speakers: idsgn (a design blog) http://t.co/IUSb1ac via idsgn.org

@looptworks your clothing looks comfy , as well!! And feels good in more than just the fit. Thank you.

Have you been served? Great resource from Behance - http://bit.ly/XW979 #design

Make it Monday (on Tuesday) - new blog post - http://bit.ly/a4IjMR #design #repurpose #upcycle #thinglink

I chose -Other, because even with all these options there are more- http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/08/burning-question-closet-quandary/

On 16-8-2010 16:22:23 from web

When a walk-in is not an option, what is the functional and visually appealing solution to the dilemma of a small space and the desire for a fully accessible closet?

this cabinet has spent it's life yearning to be a grandfather clock #design http://twitpic.com/2etrcq
In October, this cabinet will be 50% off. I want to find clock parts and convert it.

tree love http://twitpic.com/2esv59
]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/20/this-weeks-sweet-tweets/feed/ 0 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/20/this-weeks-sweet-tweets/ Make-it Monday (on Tuesday) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/kvZ1dnfqtBE/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/17/make-it-monday/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:12:30 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2117

(please forgive the blurred images, the originals are (for now) a victim of Friday’s computer crash)

I promised road kill.
Here it is:

When I was a kid, we would go on long drives after church. One day, we ended up doing a Christmas card photo shoot at an empty, country home that had a ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard. Don’t ask why. I guess it was a better alternative to a Sear’s Portrait Studio backdrop. But it was in that same spirit, that I decided to take the long way home after a Sunday morning creative meeting.

I hadn’t ventured far when I spotted the dilapidated piece of porch furniture, above, languishing at the end of a long driveway. It was evident that, in its lifetime, it had provided great comfort and was much-loved. But it had been discarded and was calling out to me with, more than likely its last dying breath, to bring it back to life.

So, after asking the (previous) owner if it was okay to rescue it and offering a picture of its restoration, we loaded it on top of my little Pontiac Vibe (because it wouldn’t quite fit in the back). It creaked a little bit, but I think it was a creak of contentment. My girlfriend, Kelly, held on to it through the sun roof while we made the short trip home.

It’s sitting in the backyard, eagerly awaiting its re-new-al.

It’s going to look something like this:

I really love its bigger-than-love seat size.

There are some minor repairs that need to be done. It needs a new panel section on the left armrest and there is some rotting wood on the back that needs to be replaced. That’s easy enough.

The slats on the back and the webbing on the seat will be removed. They will be replaced by boards with indoor/outdoor fabric mounted to them. I like that better than having removable cushions. It gives it permanence (and I hate storing cushions in the winter).

The small finials on either end will be removed or replaced and the legs will be changed to something a little less lunky.

I did a test sand and I think I’d have to take it WAY down to get a good wood finish. I will sand the whole thing to decide if it will be painted or stained. Therefore, colors and fabric patterns will be chosen later.

During the rejuvenation process we’ll take measurements and decide on a few possible modifications so we can make more.

This one is going on the porch.

The next time you see it will be with a few pillows added and me laying on it reading a book…or most likely, napping on a Sunday afternoon.

]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/17/make-it-monday/feed/ 0 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/17/make-it-monday/ Friday Night Fritter http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/Tzqb58VkLwI/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/14/friday-night-fritter/#comments Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:35:17 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2114

Today’s post is a wee-bit late due to a total Mac crash. She’s in the hands of the Apple doctors now and I’m hoping, beyond all hope, that the patient pulls through.

Here is this Friday’s edition of Fritter. The first post in the Make-it series will be on Monday.

It involves road kill.

A lot of what I find online, ends up on my Twitter feed. I think what’s there is informative and entertaining enough to share with more than the 140 people that are currently following me (Thank you, 140 awesome people!).

It’s nice, light fare for a Friday afternoon and oodles of link happiness for a rainy Saturday or Sunday.

If you like what you see, please follow me as well. I am @loosecanvas. And I’m an excellent follow-back-er-er-er!

Have an amazing weekend!

How fast would Apple shut me down if I opened a business called Max Door? (give it a second....it'll come)

On 14-8-2010 04:16:51 from web


If Friday the 13th has ANYTHING to do with my broken Mac, then Friday the 13th can suck it......a lemon, of course......but not.

RT @ducttape Make Your Own Brand of Music | Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing http://bit.ly/b35sye

Intriguing. The Darwin Chair - http://bit.ly/8y4SAx

30 Effective Logo Examples Featuring Animals :Speckyboy Design Magazine http://bit.ly/9rtHps

On 12-8-2010 14:31:22 from web


The fact that it was a hoax makes it even better- RT @TechCrunch HOPA Dry Erase Girl Identity Revealed http://tcrn.ch/bV5wYL



GMail moved my delete button.

I think I want to live at - - Anthropologie Regent Street, London http://bit.ly/blSSDw via @AddToAny

RT @jamiesanford: My new hero. RT @imrogb: Girl quits her job on dry erase board, emails entire office http://bit.ly/c0dZws via @toddo

I love this space..especially the giant mirror! http://bit.ly/aaM1LF #design

Isn't it a little silly (and creepy) to track who un-follows you?!?

On 10-8-2010 13:59:02 from web


Create an online presence that leads to real-world interaction! - RT @ducttape Duct Tape Marketing http://bit.ly/aDdVke

Awesome! - RT @alltop A “follow me” plea to Jimmy Fallon [video] - Holy Kaw! http://bit.ly/94WueJ

a bike with a brain....and a twitter account - - http://yesiamprecious.com/

Expendables Interview - Stallone destroys youtube - http://bit.ly/cK4RxW #dont4get2share

On 9-8-2010 20:09:09 from web


RT @RyanService: 5 Ways to Improve Your Porch http://ow.ly/18uWLw

There is no mention of the use of a sledge hammer. That would be fun. - - 7 Ways to Smash Procrastination http://bit.ly/92G2TW

Definitely something to be said about.....White Space http://bit.ly/9OWU2Z via @AddToAny
]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/14/friday-night-fritter/feed/ 0 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/14/friday-night-fritter/ Fritter – Week 3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/FCFr3sA0Mi4/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/06/fritter-week-3/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:00:15 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2106

A lot of what I find online, ends up on my Twitter feed. I think what’s there is informative and entertaining enough to share with more than the 138 people that are currently following me (Thank you, 138 awesome people!).

It’s nice, light fare for a Friday afternoon and oodles of link happiness for a rainy Saturday or Sunday.

If you like what you see, please follow me as well. I am @loosecanvas. And I’m an excellent follow-back-er-er-er!

I’m traveling today so just the week’s tweets. No commentary.

Have an amazing weekend!

Oh, to be able to give back like that!! http://bit.ly/bHU894

Incredibly creative use of 500 square feet - http://www.doobybrain.com/2010/08/05/small-east-village-apartment/

#geek fest!! RT @mashable “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” + Int.. http://bit.ly/cqYi4W #entertainment #movie #scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world

sometimes, dads are moms too - and for that, there's this - http://www.momswhoneedwine.com/about/

A Life approach to Art - Interview with John T. Unger - Artist and Impossibility Remediation Specialist | Lateral Action http://bit.ly/AqZbZ


Thinglink - a new blog post - enjoy and please share - http://loosecanvas.com/ #design #geek #tech #art

the customer is always right...if you, and they follow this - RT @ThisIsSethsBlog Seth's Blog: Train your customers http://bit.ly/bcsXZD


comfy, colorful chair, wall-flowers... http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/08/painterly-mood.html

On 3-8-2010 11:42:43 from web


IKEA hacks (and more) - - http://curbly.com/tags/Ikea/Post

a digital badminton paddle. hmm. RT @ThisIsSethsBlog Seth's Blog: A post-industrial A to Z digital battledore http://bit.ly/9hbYu7

“the path is the goal.” (Chogyam Trungpa) - - Personal Development and the SAID Principle http://ow.ly/1qMAL9

The Enormous Bubbles of Sly Lebulleur http://bit.ly/baCau7

Color Me Pretty: Neon Pink http://bit.ly/b2iHRw (via @AddToAny)

]]> http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/06/fritter-week-3/feed/ 0 http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/06/fritter-week-3/ Thinglink http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/loosecanvas/~3/acz2i5NpVoE/ http://loosecanvas.com/2010/08/04/thinglink/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:45:42 +0000 patrick http://loosecanvas.com/?p=2041

Welcome to the Tips and Tools series.
Every Thursday, we’ll talk about effective/fun hacks, methods and gizmos that make life/work easy.

This week we have something that I think has tremendous potential – a photo tag tool called Thinglink.

It’s not like tagging a photo in Facebook! With Thinglink, you have the ability to tag individual items within an image.

Here’s an example:

When you scroll over the photo, a series of dots appear. Mouse over the dots and you get a description. Some of the descriptions have clickable links.

Cool. Huh!?!

If you have a website or a blog, imagine the possibilities:

  • Rather than describing “clockwise from top:”, each individual in a photo of a business or social event can be tagged directly. It’s an easy way to put a name (and a Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter link) with a face.
  • An interior designer or real estate agent, could create tags that emphasize the details of a room.
  • If you are an artist, you might describe the materials you used to create a sculpture and provide links to those resources (here’s an example). You might link to the inspiration for a painting.
  • As an illustrator, you might link to a tutorial you’ve created. You could link to similar designs in your portfolio.
  • An online catalog could contain wonderful large format photos and very little text. Individual items could be tagged with a descriptor and a link to a sales page (which could provide further details, if need be).
  • The same scenario would work wonderfully for a gardening blog or landscaping site. Like this.
  • A general contractor could create a more informative punch list with visual references that link to a completed task list.
  • Teachers could create an amazing educational tool by creating questions, providing graphics that are tagged with a number of potential solutions (in text or graphic form). They could link incorrect answers to resources for further study. Correct answers would link to the next question, and the next, with a reward for successful completion.
  • E-Authors could create a wild and wonderful link adventure that is solely dictated by what is clicked.

If you have an existing photo online, the process is fairly simple:

  1. Find the image. Right-click and (on a Mac) Copy Image URL, (on a PC) Copy Image Location.
  2. Go to Thinglink and paste the URL into the bar at the top where it says ‘Image URL’. Click ‘TAG THIS IMAGE’.
  3. A pop-up window will appear. Click on an item in the image. Provide a description, and a link if desired (Do the same for anything else you’d like to tag.). If you want it to be editable by anyone (say you have a “Does anybody know what this is?” tag) click the box.
  4. Hit ‘DONE’. The image will be loaded to the Thinglink site. Click the ‘EMBED” code on the right, click ‘COPY’ on the pop-up window and paste the Javascript code into the HTML on your site.

To load the image of my office, above, I simply pasted the code directly into this post.
If your image doesn’t already exist online, it does create an extra step. You have to upload it to wherever you store your images online and copy from there (you can copy from, but not paste into, Facebook).

Try it and share your thoughts in the comments.
I think it provides an effective, useful element of interactivity.

And you can even make CARTOONS……like the really bad one below!

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