Miniature Photographic Realism

Anyone who has been reading along for awhile, knows that I have a fascination with all things miniature. These incredible pencil drawings by artist, Paul Chiappe are no exception. Absolutely baffling, aren't they? Via IIHIH

Yet Another Darth Vader

Somehow, stuff like this just never gets old! Going to have to do a giant Vader round-up one of these days. Congrats to Bellino Alain on this one and thanks to Malcolm for the tip!

A New Angle

I love aerial photography. I often feel lie it affords me a view of a gigantic puzzle that I am often to close to see otherwise. I am especially digging this series by Klaus Leidorf. Much more to see over at his Flickr stream. via Illusion

Wine Cork Designs

Sometimes, blogging is like a really good scavenger hunt. This morning, I followed this post from Recyclart to this board on Pinterest, which let me to this site, full of corky goodness. Dig it.

Vintage Camera Night Lights

Please add these to the "I didn't get it for Christmas but I am accepting early birthday gifts" list. So want. via Swiss Miss and Junk Culture

Incredible 3D Printed Cube Kite

Three Cubes Colliding from Jimandtonic on Vimeo.
When I first saw the pictures, I thought: "hey, cool sculptural piece on a beach." Then I realized: "Holy cats, that thing is a KITE!". SO awesome. This from the description:

"UK-based designers sash reading, heather + ivan morison have created a three dimensional cube kite, 'three cubes collide'. The kite is formed by 1,700 3D printed connected segments and was engineered and manufactured by queen + crawford. The modular piece's easily scalable form levitates easily, regardless of its size, due to its lightweight composition of carbon fiber rods and cubenfiber aerospace fabric."

via DesignBoom

Sculptural Ribbons Add "WOW" to Gifts

At first, I was stoked because I was sure there was a tutorial in there somewhere but, alas, it was not to be. Simply a really cool little company that creates a sort of flowing, ribbon origami in impressive animal shapes. Very nice stuff. Even without a tut, I think I figured out the bird. If you attmpt any of these, give me a shout.

via IIHIH

DIY Snow Machine

Looking like you may not get a white Christmas? Don't despair. Thanks to this step-by-step guide over at Instructables, you can be having a snowball fight in no time flat.

via SwissMiss

Everyone's Mixtape

Sometimes the cleverness never ceases to amaze me. Check out this brilliant, yet simple, collaborative music site. Makes me feel like I'm in high school again. I miss mixtapes! via NotCot

Classic Paintings Remade

Caught these fun remakes over at Colossal this morning. As usual, Christopher does an excellent curatorial job, featuring his favorites. Nice!

More here

Star Wars Paper Snowflake Templates

Ten sweet new templates for 2011 from Matters of Grey. I'm getting to work on the R2D2 today! You can download all of the templates here. Oh, and these projects are refreshingly Jar Jar free. Bonus!

via IIHIH

Nothing Like Holiday Hedgehogs

Hubcap Xmas Tree

Dan sent me this sweet hubcap tree that was put together by one of his advertisers in Maine. I can name about half of the models they came from. Can you name them all? Thanks, Dan!

Robbie Cooper's Alter Egos

I find gamers and game play fascinating. While I have not participated in any online games, I've always been interested in the identities that people assume when they create their avatars. Speaks volumes, no? Artist, Robbie Cooper thought so too when he was traveling the world to capture these gamers and their alter egos. Nice. Also worth a look on his site is the video piece, "Immersion". via NotCot

The Buttoned Down Objects of Augusto Esquivel

Ah, the humble sewing button. In the hands of someone like Augusto Esquivel, this mundane little item, in combination with thousands of others, can represent just about anything. Very cool.

via Illusion

Ice Cube and the Eames'

Before he was a rapper, Ice Cube studied architecture and drafting. No joke. And it's surprisingly fun to hear him talk about Charles and Ray Eames. This would be the best Discovery Channel show ever. Warning: Brief but colorful (and hilarious) language. YouTube Link

David Clarke's Modified Teapots

I'm loving David Clarke's refashioning of old and unwanted teapots into new and interesting pieces that juxtapose the formality of silver with raw materials like lead and solder. Although, I must say that his description of his process could easily double as a serial killer's confession on Law and Order. Case in point:

'I only bid on the most unwanted, most unloved; the ones closest to the [garbage] bin. I only buy the one that no one desires. I want to give them a new start in life, a second chance. they come to me; I study them, handle them; I cut them almost surgically, with precision, accuracy, and focus. at this point they are released from their history; they are free to start afresh.'

via Design Boom

Strongbow Neon Night Surfing

Strongbow Neon Night Surfing Bondi

Not much explanation needed here. Some awesome kids put on some equally awesome, light bright wetsuits and ride their Tron boards in the waves. Very fun.

Maki Longboards for 2012

Friend of the blog, Erik Maki emailed me today to announce his line of 2012 skateboards and, I must say, I'm impressed with the line up. There have been some nice additions to the Signature Series as well as a brand new Craftsman Series with some beautiful boards on display there too. Thanks goodness they're in time for Christmas. What could be cooler than giving your sk8er a handcrafted longboard? Check them out here.

String Theory in Paris

Photos copyright Mary Jane Lee

Mary Jane Lee and her husband happened upon this delicate little installation of string art on an abandoned bridge in Paris. The artist is unknown. Talk about hidden treasure, eh? The rail bridge is located south of Parc de la Vilette, between the Hotel Ibis Paris and Quai de la Marne.

via Untapped Paris