The Window Seat

The Window Seat has moved!

2010-03-25T07:53:00.003-05:00

Hi friends. It's been weeks in the making, but I've made some changes to this blog so that it's better for everyone. Bigger photos. Less scrolling. YouTube videos where you can actually see the whole screen. And my personal favorite, a minimalist design. Check out the new and improved Window Seat and please set a new bookmark or RSS feed.

Cheers!

Wall Mirrors + Frames

2010-03-24T14:50:00.004-05:00

I'm always looking for different things to put on the wall that add some character and interest to my home. I was on the hunt for wall mirrors just like this about 3 years ago and was able to find one at an antique market, but they are hard to come by. Urban Outfitters makes it easy now with their awesome selection of wall decor. I love the Hand Mirror Frames... it has a great throw back feel yet keeps it fresh at the same time.

June and a snowman

2010-03-23T22:52:00.002-05:00

June found a snowman that's just her size.

Wine Glass Candles

2010-03-23T17:28:00.004-05:00

Here's an elegant and simple table decoration for any beautiful event. All you need are some sheets of vellum paper, scissors, glue and a battery-operated tea light candle. And of course, the wine glasses. CasaSugar gives you free downloadable templates and step-by-step instructions on how to create these wonderful treats.

Puzzle Laptop Stand

2010-03-23T17:08:00.005-05:00

Looking down at your laptop can be a huge pain in the neck. This eco-friendly laptop stand works with any size laptop, allows the heat to escape and can easily be taken apart and laid flat for traveling. I love the little holes for your mouse cord.

Favorite Quote

2010-03-23T17:02:00.002-05:00

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

— Abe Lincoln

iPhone Font

2010-03-22T08:42:00.003-05:00

iPhone font. The font was created from 540 iPhone Apps. I want to know what happened to the W?

A big thanks to Mike Laskonis for sharing this.

Lego Island

2010-03-19T19:17:00.002-05:00

I'm seeing a ton of things being done with legos lately... here's another example of one - a lego island. Pretty cool.

Dutch Eco Architecture

2010-03-19T09:54:00.003-05:00

If you thought the Chicago Spire was a disruption to the skyline, check out this thing. The Dutch have designed a solar-powered high-rise tower for Rotterdam. The ambitious plan will minimize wind, keep the carbon footprint of the architecture to a minimum and make use of a network of walkways to connect the tower to the land. This design will have the elevators and stairs on the outside of the tower... in the last photo you can see the floating walkways leading to the elevators. Wild.

New Jewelry Ideas!

2010-03-18T18:05:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be making jewelry again. The new line is going to focus on chain with hints of found objects or stones. I love the idea of mixing different metals through color, shape and size. For now, it all lives in my head and my sketches. I just bought all this vintage chain and can't wait to get started! I'll post the first piece here once it's finished. Just for you.

Solar Powered Stadium

2010-03-18T14:44:00.003-05:00

Holy solar panels. This solar powered stadium, designed by Japanese-based architects Toyo Ito, has 8,844 solar panels in the roof. The structure is shaped like a dragon for good luck and seats 50,000 people. The stadium will hold the record for largest solar-powered stadium in Asia.

Burial Ceiling

2010-03-18T09:16:00.006-05:00

I saw this a few years ago and found it in my inspiration folder yesterday. It was a Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) anti-smoking campaign from India... images were adhered to ceilings in smoking rooms, giving the impression that you're inside a grave and seeing the burial from a dead man's perspective. Brilliant.

Has anyone else noticed that there are far less smokers these days compared to 10 years ago? I wonder if the ban in public places had a lot to do with it.

Vintage Beauties

2010-03-17T17:54:00.003-05:00

Pharmaceutical Company, 1960s-80s, Via Lovely Package

Year Unknown, Via Lovely Package

Year Unknown, Via Lovely Package

Year Unknown, Via ffffound

Metal Sign, Year Unknown, Source Forgotten

Metal Sign, Year Unknown, Source Forgotten

Old Poster, Year Unknown, Source Forgotten

Beer Cans, Year Unknown, Via Hello Again

Baby Products, 1974, Via So Much Pileup

Model Airplane News, 1946, Source Forgotten

Vintage Posters, Year Unknown, Source Forgotten

Obama Seeks Graphic Designer

2010-03-17T15:04:00.001-05:00

This is for real. Love it.

Gold Record Wall Clock

2010-03-17T13:02:00.004-05:00

One of the best wall clocks I've seen.

Conner McKissack

2010-03-17T00:53:00.005-05:00

Salt + Pepper Shakers

Butter Box

Comfy Mug

Conner McKissack is a talented potter here in Chicago. I love his pillowy aesthetic and want to touch all of these pieces. I don't know how he gets clay to look so smooth, soft and delicious but I am definitely intrigued.

IKEA Subway Showcase

2010-03-17T00:14:00.003-05:00

The Swedish furniture retailer IKEA is currently showing a whole new way of advertising. With the walls covered in huge prints of IKEA interiors, they've also set out some of their furniture at four major metro stations in Paris. This way people can actually try out the product while resting their feet from a hard days work. Looks comfy.

The Glue Society

2010-03-16T11:05:00.002-05:00

This site is really fun to navigate through. Its simple and chunky graphics remind me of Atari.

Stitch a Shade

2010-03-15T18:31:00.002-05:00

This Pendant Stitch lamp has done all the hard work of manufacturing the lamp and left you with the fun part - designing it. It's a metal shade filled with lots of holes that you can use to embroider your own design. Available for purchase in May, they will also have downloadable embroidery designs and an area where you can upload pics of your own masterpieces. I think the white lamp itself is beautiful just the way it is.

IdeaPaint

2010-03-15T18:09:00.003-05:00

No way am I being biased, but I have to give kudos to IdeaPaint. It really is a brilliant product and deserves a mention on this blog since I'm all about clever products and creative ideas. IdeaPaint turns virtually anything you can paint into a dry-erase surface. It looks amazing, works like a charm and can be used with any dry-erase marker. It's perfect for kid's rooms, meeting rooms, job boards, message boards, desks and more. And it's an inexpensive solution for covering up old chalkboards in schools everywhere. It's pretty much the greatest thing on Earth.

Shadow Art

2010-03-15T11:41:00.002-05:00

Some pretty incredible shadow art by the the art team Tim Noble and Sue Webster and artist Kumi Yamashita.

A big thanks to Julie & Brett Burwell for sharing this.

drop.io

2010-03-15T11:35:00.002-05:00

drop.io has an application you can download that records your mouse movement over the course of a day and spits out an 18" x 11" beautiful art file at the end of it. The image above is an example of one.

25 Free Songs

2010-03-12T09:35:00.003-06:00

Urban Outfitters is currently offering 25 free downloads from bands like Local Natives, Surfer Blood and Washed Out. Are they good? I have no idea, but the anticipation alone is exciting. Just click on the link above and then click on the big red circle to download all 25 songs.

Working Bikes

2010-03-12T08:42:00.005-06:00

Chicago's weather is getting warmer which means some of you will be getting that dusty bike out of storage. Don't have a bike or looking for a new-used bike? The Working Bikes Cooperative is a not-for-profit organization that takes unwanted bicycles from the waste stream in Chicago and repairs them for sale and charity. You can donate your bike, buy a bike, volunteer to help repair bikes or host a bike drive. Each year Working Bikes gives away over 500 bicycles and wheelchairs in the Chicago area and ships about 4,000 bikes to charity organizations within the Gulf Coast, Ghana, Tanzania, Angola, Cuba, Guatemala, and Peru.

Pothole Gardens

2010-03-11T17:06:00.002-06:00

These pothole gardens made me smile. They were created by British artist/designer Pete Dungey as an ongoing series to highlight the imperfections of Britain's roads.

Creating Storage Space

2010-03-11T16:35:00.004-06:00

When you live in a small place that doesn't come with much storage space, these are some really beautiful and handy add-ons to hold your favorite things. Just click on the image to see where it's from and how to get it.

Vanity Barcodes

2010-03-11T16:00:00.002-06:00

Vanity Barcodes has taken the traditional barcode to a whole new level. They're whimsical, fun and scan-compliant.

A big thanks to Amanda Hobbs for sharing this.

Puppy Washcloth

2010-03-10T23:46:00.004-06:00

These are the cutest damn washcloths I've ever seen. Made and sold by Kasalii @Etsy for only $6 each. And you have your choice between 8 colors. If I had a baby and needed to wash it, I would use this. And I would pack a couple extras in my baby bag for spillage and heavy duty cleaning.

Custom Face Stamps

2010-03-10T23:33:00.002-06:00

lilimandrill @Etsy makes custom face stamps and sells them for $40. Great alternative to the traditional wedding logo/monogram and something you can continue to use and have fun with after the big day.

Ok Go - This Too Shall Pass

2010-03-10T12:21:00.003-06:00

Maintaining their rep as viral video kings, Ok Go has released a music video for the song This Too Shall Pass. It took months of planning.

Dog Stache

2010-03-10T12:06:00.007-06:00

I want one for my dog, June. It'd be awesome if these came in teeny tiny sizes for my tortoise.

Hans Liberg

2010-03-10T10:14:00.002-06:00

Found this musician's workspace on wherewedesign.com. Really different.

Where We Design

2010-03-10T09:58:00.002-06:00

This might not tickle the fancy of the non-designer subscribers, but I thought it was cool to see where other creatives work. Where We Design showcases different design environments by allowing people to upload pics of their office spaces, whether it's corporate, at home or a local coffee shop. The pics above are of my own workspace. With the walls closing in at 110 square feet, my husband and I share the 2nd bedroom of our small, but peaceful condo. We're both independent graphic designers working with entrepreneurs, design firms and ad agencies.

Dream Home

2010-03-09T00:51:00.005-06:00

As I sit awake at 1:03am working away on a project, I'm reminded of what it is I'm working for... this. I found these photos on a blog over a year ago and have saved them in a folder called "My Dream Home". It's what I so badly want for my next home. A loft in the city with tall ceilings, exposed rafters, brick and lots and lots of hammocks. Yes, hammocks inside. I'd like one of everything in these photos. Except the boy.

Paper Necklace

2010-03-09T00:22:00.003-06:00

I thought this was really unique. PaperBling @Etsy makes necklaces out of upcycled paper pieces cut by hand, sewn by hand and protected with self-adhesive plastic foil.

Objectified

2010-03-07T13:53:00.004-06:00

From the creator of the fantastic film Helvetica, comes this documentary Objectified, telling the story of design on so many levels. For designers, it's also a smart film about the process of industrial design. This was released in 2009, but I haven't see it yet. It's the next movie on my to-watch list.

Caligari Shirt

2010-03-05T20:51:00.003-06:00

I don't know what it is, but there is something I just love about this shirt.

Tank Tread Wheelchair

2010-03-04T18:32:00.002-06:00

This futuristic wheelchair design promises to conquer stairs and make you look like an all-around bad-ass.

Notologist

2010-03-04T18:23:00.003-06:00

Notologist is a side project by two designers in Washington DC. They leave notes in random places, and sometimes people find them and write back. What’s the point? They hope to inspire fun and creativity. Check out some of the responses.

Ride the Mustache

2010-03-03T21:58:00.007-06:00

A friend of a friend of a friend just made this site, StuffYerFace, where you take a few steps to see a mustache get superimposed on your face. A few bugs need to be worked out, but it's fun to see other people's pics. Speaking of, the girl in the bottom pic is not me. I found her in the gallery on this site. I believe I have found my doppelganger.

Shit Box

2010-03-03T08:38:00.005-06:00

Shit Box is a lightweight portable cardboard toilet. The box pops up from a flat pack to a rigid, reusable toilet. Each box comes with poo bags, so you can use again... and again... and again. Could be great for kids on-the-go. Although when I was a kid, I preferred Cool Whip containers.

Acme Ruler 4-Function Pen

2010-03-02T10:06:00.009-06:00

Remember the 4-colors-in-one Bic pen you used in high school? This Acme Ruler Pen is an evolution from that one, combining a black ball point, orange highlighter, 0.7 lead pencil, and PDA stylus all-in-one. And it's a ruler. It doesn't get any more helpful than this.

Simon Keychain

2010-03-02T09:57:00.005-06:00

For $14, you can get this travel-sized Simon memory game and play it anywhere to your hearts content. I want one for my daypack - it'd be a great camping/hiking bring-a-long.

Phone Booth Fish Aquarium

2010-03-01T09:41:00.004-06:00

This outdoor aquarium, made from an old telephone booth in Lyon, France, is a beautiful study in recycled arts. Made by Benoit Deseille and Benedetto Bufalino, the project came about from le festival Lumières de Lyon, the annual arts festival.

Book Autopsies

2010-03-01T09:32:00.003-06:00

Brian Dettmer carves into books revealing the artwork inside, creating complex layered three-dimensional sculptures.

Pencil Art

2010-02-26T12:46:00.004-06:00

Amsterdam-based artist Peter Schuyff paints, draws and carves pencils. Who would've thought a pencil could look so beautiful? His large pencil sculptures are equally impressive.

Bottom Lounge

2010-02-26T00:29:00.002-06:00

Tonight we went to see our friend Jonathan play in his new(ish) band, Torch Singer, at Bottom Lounge and I saw this neon sign. Not just restrooms. Clean restrooms.

Followed my heart with no regrets.

2010-02-25T10:46:00.003-06:00

Once asked to write a full story in six words, legend has it that novelist Ernest Hemingway responded: "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." In this spirit, Smith Magazine invited writers to distill their own life stories into exactly six words. It All Changed in an Instant is the fourth collection of very, very brief life stories. The tiny memoirs are sometimes sad, often funny — and always concise. Here's a few excerpts from the book:

Found on Craigslist: table, apartment, fiance.
Becki Lee

Alzheimer's: meeting new people every day.
Phil Skversky

I picked passion. Now I'm poor.
Kathleen E. Whitlock

Listen to the full story on NPR or share your own 6-word life story using the comment box. I'd love to hear yours!

A big thanks to Amanda Young for sharing this.

Pumpkin Sputnik Books

2010-02-25T10:24:00.004-06:00

I came across these handmade books by Emma and admired the simplicity. It gives me so many ideas on how to make my own sketchbooks. Her books are for sale on Etsy from $6-$13, depending on what size you get (A5, A6 or A7).

28 Bird Houses

2010-02-24T10:31:00.002-06:00

A man who lives across the street from me collects handmade birdhouses and hangs them all from a big tree in his front yard. It almost feels like a permanent art exhibit - one of the many reasons I fell in love with our neighborhood.

Egg Shell Carvings

2010-02-23T18:24:00.004-06:00

This is the work of egg sculptors Lew Jensen, Don Lisk, Brian Baity and a few Russian and Chinese artists. Pretty amazing.

Lego Router

2010-02-23T18:11:00.005-06:00

Wow. This is nerdery at its best. This guy converted his wireless router into a lego router, giving it a better case. If you can't sleep and want to build one, download these detail documentations.

Social Media Icons

2010-02-23T18:03:00.002-06:00

I love icondeck for making this so easy on Designers everywhere. This FREE set includes 50 icons of the most popular social media networks on the internet. The icons are designed in 32px and 16px GIF and PNG formats. You're welcome.

DesignChat

2010-02-23T15:31:00.003-06:00

DesignChat is a new idea by an old classmate of mine at NIU, Ryan McGovern. What is it? It's a weekly video and text-based conversation between creatives. Video chats start at 8pm CST on Wednesdays and last about an hour on their site. You can continue before and after on twitterfall.com/#designchat. Design superstars like Milton Glaser and Carlos Segura have been interviewed, among others.

Creative Ideas

2010-02-22T15:11:00.002-06:00

Magnetic Potholders

2010-02-21T23:50:00.003-06:00

What a great idea, especially if you're low on storage space in the kitchen. Keep pot holders within reach by magnetizing them. Cut a small slit in your oven mitts, tuck in a strong magnet or two, and sew them back up. They'll stick to anything magnetic nearby - the fridge, oven or even the wall if you used magnetic paint.

Know It All No. 2 Pencil Set

2010-02-21T23:27:00.003-06:00

This set of 6 pencils gives little tidbits of useful information. If only they could fit the metric conversion chart on one pencil. I'd use it all the time.

Stinky Daddy

2010-02-21T23:18:00.001-06:00

This was just too cute... my dog looks like she passed out after smelling Kyle's socks. Stinky daddy.

j-me

2010-02-21T23:00:00.005-06:00

j-me creates a range of modern domestic products for the design conscious. I stumbled upon this shoe rack and it got my attention. Finally, the first shoe rack you can actually vacuum under!

Live Off Groupon

2010-02-19T13:08:00.004-06:00

If I wasn't filled to the brim with responsibilities and married, I would do this in a heartbeat.

Oh Christmas Tree

2010-02-18T07:09:00.004-06:00

Down the street from where I live, there's been a deep pothole in the street for months and someone put this huge branch in it so people don't park there. In December, some kids from the neighborhood decorated it like a Christmas tree, with paper ornaments and twinkling snowmen and snowflake garland. I walk by it every night while walking my dog and thought I'd share the love. This snowman is on the same street - one of the cutest I've seen this winter.

Piece

2010-02-17T11:11:00.005-06:00

I met up with some good friends last night for pizza and beers at Piece and saw this little elephant drawing on the door of the bathroom stall. Made me smile. Sorry for the quality - that's what happens when you combine canned lighting and a 3.0 mega pixel mobile phone. JG, I put the Follow Me button on the site just for you buddy.

Valentines for Classmates

2010-02-16T10:52:00.002-06:00

What a cool idea by Design Mom. I feel like this could be one of the big perks of being a parent... getting to be creative with your kids. Don't get any ideas - the verdict is still out on whether this uterus is going to produce or not.

Christoph Niemann

2010-02-16T07:06:00.003-06:00

Christoph Niemann turns complex concepts into simple and witty iconic illustrations. His illustrations appear regularly in the New Yorker, WIRED, and the New York Times Book Review. In his free time, he writes and illustrates children's books and creates clever pictorial narratives for his Abstract City blog. I admire his artistic style and ability to take a complicated idea and put it in such a simple solution.

Tissue Box Holder

2010-02-15T17:30:00.003-06:00

This makes me smile big time. So clever. If only it was round.

Lego Ring

2010-02-15T17:26:00.000-06:00

They actually interlock. Cool idea for alternative wedding rings.

ABC Paper Cup

2010-02-15T17:06:00.008-06:00

ABC Paper Cups takes a refreshing approach to the ordinary disposable cups. You get to choose which design you want and they've made it easy for you to remember which cup is yours - in doing so they've created less waste by eliminating someone from having to take a new one. Cheers.

Motor Oil Can Collection

2010-02-15T17:00:00.003-06:00

Thought this was a nice collection of motor oil can designs.

Thoughts?

2010-02-15T12:38:00.005-06:00

I've had this blog going for 1 month now and would love to get your feedback. It's been a great outlet for me and I look forward to every post, but I also care about your thoughts. I want this blog to be a conversation instead of a show and tell.

What's been your favorite post? Your least favorite? Do you have any ideas on how to make it better? Does it keep your interest? Feel free to use the comment box to respond.

The Brown Elephant

2010-02-14T18:10:00.007-06:00

While walking the streets today, I passed The Brown Elephant, which is a resale shop that I've heard is pretty good from a few people, so I was excited to check it out. I browsed through old lamp bases, mismatched dishes, costume jewelry and forgotten treadmills. And then I saw this silver and gold square hinged tin with a scene like Oregon Trail embossed on the lid, picturing a family from the early 1900s camping in the woods with 2 covered wagons in the distance. I got it for $3 and can't wait to use it at Christmas time next year. This paper maché creature was selling for $10. I stood in line to pay for my new treasure and smiled when I saw this basket of free condoms and informational brochures on how to use them. A happy Valentine's Day indeed.

TOMS

2010-02-14T12:23:00.004-06:00

With every pair of TOMS shoes purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. Since the company first started 3 years ago, they've given over 400,000 pairs of shoes to children in need.

Funny Signage

2010-02-14T11:38:00.011-06:00

These are a few things I came across in Bali that made me smile...

This was the logo/name for our toilet. I like how the two "t"s make a butt.

This was a sandwich board at the entrance of a grocery store in Ubud. No jackets allowed? I'd love to see a Dominick's get away with that in Chicago.

These were menu items at a place we ate in Gianyar. None of us were brave enough to sample the crispy pigeon.

This sign was posted at the entrance of a temple with 2 rules. #1 being "Women during menstruation are strictly forbidden to enter the temple."

I Heart Animals (cured & smoked)

2010-02-12T07:30:00.003-06:00

Gene's Sausage Shop is a great new addition to the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. I love this shirt and their new brand identity. I may be a little biased though.

Fern Works

2010-02-12T07:06:00.007-06:00

I have a secret crush to share. I bought a necklace from Faryn Davis a few years ago when she was at the Renegade Craft Fair and I've been following her since. Her jewelry inspired me to try my hand at working with resin, but I have no idea how she does it. People keep asking if I'm ever going to make jewelry again. It is one of my goals for 2010... I'm just trying to figure out what direction I want to head in.

Ruffled

2010-02-12T06:30:00.010-06:00

Our friends, Brett & Julie, recently got married at Architectural Artifacts and had their amazing wedding ideas/photos showcased on this blog. This site is the best wedding blog I've ever seen. If anyone is looking for wedding ideas or if you just want to see some beautiful photography, check out Ruffled.

Reknit

2010-02-12T06:06:00.011-06:00

This guy's mom takes people's old sweaters they no longer wear, makes gloves from it and sends the new pair back to you. What a great way to recycle clothes and get something you like from something you don't.

Simple Diary

2010-02-09T06:33:00.012-06:00

A friend of mine got me this diary and I LOVE it. Simple Diary is not your average diary... each page has really fun questions that you answer through multiple choice or fill in the blank. The questions get you thinking and it doesn't take a lot of time. It's a great way to end your day.

Project Never

2010-02-09T06:14:00.003-06:00

For all the times you had your heart crushed because the client decided to go the safe route, here's your chance to expose your brilliant idea to the world. Project Never is a free awards competition for ideas that never got produced. I like how their only entry fee is the willingness to be slapped in the face again.

Box Bottle Bag

2010-02-08T19:55:00.005-06:00

Box Bottle Bag is a book that showcases the best of the best packaging from thedieline.com, plus never-before-seen projects from top packaging designers around the world. It just got released and sounds like a great addition to any designer's library of inspiration.

Photo Mobile

2010-02-08T09:07:00.005-06:00

This could be a great replacement for the average crib mobile... I love how you can make it so personal with photos of friends and family. I think it'd be hilarious to use flash cards or math equations on note cards instead of photos... that baby would be the smartest kid on the block.

Doors with Eyes

2010-02-08T05:48:00.004-06:00

I'm staying in a house that has these doors throughout and the lights cast a shadow on them in such way that it creates eyes. Ever since I first noticed it, I can't stop seeing the eyes. It's a little creepy. But I love love love the color combinations here. Especially the first one.

Yvette's Boutique

2010-02-05T18:19:00.003-06:00

I can't tell if this site is horrible or brilliant. It's crazy! I think my favorite part is the floating square that turns into a face on the homepage. You're not sure what to read or where to go or even really how to remember what you've already clicked on. But each new link is a little surprise and a window to Yvette's world. It's kind of like a roller coaster… really exciting but when you're done you want to throw up in your mouth a little.

Gabrielle Bouliane

2010-02-05T02:11:00.005-06:00

A friend of mine who's battling cancer just posted this on his blog and it is so touching that I have to pass it on. This amazing performance is by poet Gabrielle Bouliane at the Austin Poetry Slam. This was her last public performance. Gabrielle was diagnosed with Stage Four Cancer shortly before this video was filmed. Her fight ended 7 days ago.

The idea of living each day to its fullest and not letting the petty, insignificant stresses of the day-to-day inconveniences warp our perspective on life is something I constantly work toward. It's easy to let that shit in, but it takes a strong person to make a habit of letting go of the negative experiences and doing more of what makes them happy. This is it. This is your life. It really is what you make of it. The one common goal that every person has in common is seeking happiness and the answer is simple. Do more of what makes you happy and stay away from the things that don't.

I know that sound...

2010-02-04T23:46:00.004-06:00

Walking down Hanoman Street in Ubud the other day, I heard a familiar sound. I stopped in my tracks and peeked through a gap in the wall. This is what I saw.

Street Sign

2010-02-04T23:08:00.002-06:00

The street signs here are hand-painted by people! If you look closely in the bottom-right corner of the sign, it says "By: Yopi". So funny. In a good way.

Local Art

2010-02-03T20:42:00.003-06:00

Shops, studios and restaurants line Hanoman Street and Monkey Forest Road in Ubud. It's the best place around for shopping. I saw these paintings done by a local artist on Hanoman Street and loved his style. We actually bought a painting from another artist - our first purchase from a gallery! And we got it for $11 US dollars. Unbaliable.

The Green School

2010-02-02T19:33:00.008-06:00

Part of the reason why we're in Bali is to work on the redesign of the Lifebook website with Jon Butcher, one of Kyle's clients. Jon and his family live here 6 months out of the year and are planning to move here full-time next year. His kids are young and go to a school here called The Green School. We had the opportunity to visit their school a couple times and it's like nothing I've seen before. The complex itself was constructed entirely of bamboo. Everything in it is made of bamboo too - the shelves, desks, tables... even their swings. We learned that bamboo is stronger than steel, yet extremely flexible. The school touts a progressive, green, global approach to education, using hands-on, art-driven techniques to teach every subject. For example, they teach math through cooking. Art through music. Science through gardening, etc. These photos don't do the place justice.

Table Inspiration

2010-02-01T20:39:00.003-06:00

We went to Gaya for dinner and I fell in love with the lamps above every table. They're made by connecting cylindrical pieces of ceramic with cord, weaving them in and out of the holes like you lace your shoes... and the lamp shade can be however long you want - these used 4 separate pieces. There are 4 cords holding each lamp together and they come together about 6ft above the lamp, and hang from a rafter. A simple light bulb hangs through the shade.

I also loved the oil and vinegar bottles... thought it was really unique to have one fit inside the other.

Trapping An Animal

2010-02-01T08:24:00.007-06:00

After having something in our room for the last 2 nights, we've decided to set a trap. The first night, this thing ate an apple we had in a bag. The second time, it woke us up in the middle of the night by knocking a bottle of vitamins off the desk, rolled the bottle across the floor of our room and under a shelving unit. When we went to see what it was, it somehow escaped OUTSIDE with the bottle of vitamins. The whole bottle. We searched the corner of the room the next morning and could not find a hole anywhere leading outside. Check out the video to see how we plan on trapping this thing.

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Update: The bait didn't work. Before bed, Kyle checked all the sliding doors and realized a couple of them had small gaps, which is probably how this thing got in and out. He sealed them up pretty well, in fact, so well that this thing couldn't get in our room last night. We heard something trying to get in for a good 10 minutes in the middle of the night... scratching and biting at the wood on the doors. So I think we'll create the gap again tonight and wait. The trap will be glorious.

Beautiful Ubud

2010-01-30T00:25:00.005-06:00

This place is just stunning. The culture is so rich that it's hard to not get consumed by it and want to learn more. I'm posting a few pics that I thought were beautiful moments in time. There is so much inspiration here... the architecture, textures and colors are just awesome. Everything seems to have that vintage, distressed look to it, but it was done naturally over time and you can just feel the history in everything you see.

Monkey Forest

2010-01-27T20:50:00.002-06:00

We went to the Monkey Forest a couple days ago, which is a couple acres of forest downtown Bali where monkeys are everywhere. They're definitely wild, but used to people. If you hold a banana or any kind of food, you're going to have a monkey or two crawling up your clothes to get it from you. We saw some monkeys fighting and two boy monkeys about to mate. One tried to crawl up Kyle, but we were able to fight him off. We don't like rabies.

Fire Dance

2010-01-27T19:18:00.016-06:00

We went to a fire and trance dance last night, where 100 or more men sit in concentric circles swaying and chanting while the story of Ramayana, a Hindu epic, is told through song and dance. It was an incredible experience to watch.

Bottle Openers

2010-01-27T03:22:00.002-06:00

Awesome.

Our Bungalow at Bambu Indah

2010-01-26T07:23:00.007-06:00

Just to forewarn you, this is going to sound ridiculous. Today I learned that all 7 of the bungalows here are Javanese houses that were made in the 1800s and the owner of the resort had them shipped here in tact from Java. I don't even know what Java is. But we were told that we're staying in the honeymoon suite, which was the bungalow that a prince had made for his new wife in the late 1800s. A prince.

Balinese Offerings

2010-01-26T06:49:00.009-06:00

The Balinese make offerings of food twice a day to the Hindi gods and to ward off evil spirits. They can be flowers, rice, leaves or candy. The offerings are everywhere you walk, in front of entrances to stores and restaurants and hundreds of them line the temples. The one in the picture was at the door of our bungalow this morning.

It's also common for every household to have a temple in their backyard, built for their ancestors, and the family prays together in their temple every night for a certain amount of time. Some temples are just as big as their homes, taking up their entire backyard.

Hi from Indonesia

2010-01-25T17:17:00.005-06:00

I still can't believe it, but I'm on the other side of the world in Bali. We arrived at 2am... roughly 5 hours ago. We'll be working and vacationing here over the next 3 weeks, so my posts will probably be about random experiences or the culture here. You know that feeling when you travel somewhere new at night and wake up to find yourself in the middle of the most beautiful place on Earth? It just happened to me. Here's what I saw when I opened the door to our little wooden cottage about 10 minutes ago.

It's hard to tell, but in the fourth photo there's probably a 100 ft. drop off about 20 feet from our patio and the view overlooks a rice field. And our shower is outside! I've always wanted to shower outside!

Rockabye Baby

2010-01-22T10:37:00.004-06:00

Rockabye Baby is a company that makes children's music that you want to listen to — not only for babies but for parents too. They turned to their record collections for inspiration: punk, metal, classic rock. They have 30 CDs (and counting) to choose from including favorites such as The Beatles, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Björk and U2. Such a great idea. I've bought a couple of these for a friend and the music is so good that she put a song in a playlist of favorites she created for friends.

Recycled Ties

2010-01-21T11:18:00.003-06:00

This company takes used vintage neckties and recycles them into handmade, one-of-a-kind accessories. You have your pick between passport covers, 3 types of wallets and wrist wear. LOVE the wallets and passport covers - the design options are never-ending. The prices aren't bad either - ranging from $19.99 to $23.99.

Ampersandwich Tee

2010-01-20T23:17:00.005-06:00

I stumbled across this today and the name/idea of the shirt was too great to not post it. It only makes sense if you know what an ampersand is though. If you're wondering, it's the name for the symbol "&".

Art in my Coffee

2010-01-20T10:39:00.006-06:00

This blog is a collection of foamy awesomeness - cataloging coffee and latte art from around the world. People can upload photos of their coffee art and post where they bought their creation.