Train layout building kits including the W.E. Snatchem UndertakerSaturday, February 28, 2009
Garage Sale Report - February 28, 2009
Train layout building kits including the W.E. Snatchem Undertaker
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hand Forged Iron Hospital Bed
Hand Forged Iron Hospital Bed at Form and Reform
Captain Ray-O-Vac
I suppose somewhere in the world there may be a flashlight more beautiful than my Captain Ray-O-Vac. It is possible. Unlikely, but possible.
Monsters of Snow Removal
That's obviously a huge amount of fluffy stuff, but per ususal, as I drove east into the alpine heights of the Sierra Nevada mountains along Interstate 80, the roads were plowed to hard-pack perfection — even though the snow was still falling.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Russian Vespa Clone on eBay
Who knew that Russia built Vespa-licensed knock off scooters? Sure, we all know about the odd Soviet decision of building Ladas based on the Fiat Brava, but I had no idea they built Vespas.
1963 Russian Vespa Vjatka VP150cc Scooter (via the Noisy West)
Alexander McQueen Leather Corset
Unquestionably, the best use for a laser cutter that I have ever seen.
Alexander McQueen Laser-cut Leather Corset
Amy Crehore's Painted Ukuleles
Artist and friend Amy Crehore has posted close-ups of her beautiful painted ukuleles.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Felt Owl Brooches
Fantastic, startling color combinations on these felt owl brooches by Lova Revolutionary.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Innate Oddness of Hearse Design
It's a bizarre design exercise. Coachmakers don't create hearses from vehicles that were intended to carry bulky cargo. Instead, for whatever reason, tradition dictates that hearses should be adapted from the kind of luxury cars that one might expect to find in the parking lot of a Midwestern country club.
And if the original base vehicle came off the assembly line with tailfins? Well, that's one of those challenges you just have to design around:
There's an entire Flickr group devoted to hearse vehicles, so let the design workshop begin.
Artist: Susan Collis
D+R reader Chris writes:
I thought I'd blundered into a construction area when I first saw this work at the Victoria and Albert Museum's 'Spectacular Craft' exhibition last winter. Luckily, I stopped to look more closely!
Susan Collis crafts ordinary objects out of extraordinary precious materials. For example: a golden screw inside a ruby 'plastic' wall mounting, or a 'paint-splattered' step-ladder inlaid with mother-of-pearl. She thus calls attention to the importance of such objects, and (I think) demonstrates an even higher skill than the maker of a conspicuously 'precious' art piece.
Not paint splatters; those 'random' splotches are embroideredI agree. This is really great work. It doesn't translate very well to the couple photos here, but it is well worth the time to check it out.
Susan Collis at Seventeen Gallery
Susan Collis at Out of the Ordinary - Spectacular Craft (Thanks, Chris!)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Happy Fat Tuesday
Happy Fat Tuesday, everybody! If you're not fortunate enough to be in New Orleans for the festivities today, you can make up for it with a visit to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World later in the year. Mardi Gras World is the largest maker (and warehouser) of Mardi Gras parade floats. Admission to the museum gets you tons of face time with the amazingly crafted, airbrushed foam sculptures, as well as the chance to play dress-up with their costume collection and a piece of King Cake.
There's something vaguely nightmarish about wandering through Mardi Gras World.....but at least it's a distinctly American nightmare. The place is a post-modern treat, where pop culture is put in a glittering blender. Start planning your trip today! If you're crazy lucky, you can even catch some Roller Derby action there!
LINK
Learn to Solder Kit
For a measly $15, Elenco's kit has everything you need to get started including the solder and a 30 watt iron. I can't think of a better way to get started with electronics.
Learn to Solder Kit at Maker Shed
Scratchbuilt Racers with 200cc Motorcyle Engines
These homemade little race cars put all my endeavors to shame.
La Jetée (1962)
If you invest 26 minutes and 21 seconds of your time to watch the 1962 short film, "La Jetée," it will pay off in a lifetime of memories. (Via Mindfuck Movies)
From the Museum of Supplies: Real Thin Leads
Michael Leddy of Orange Crate Art ran the first post in an occasional series he calls "From the Museum of Supplies."
I admire this arrangement in ivory and black: the tilting balloon of "ONE GROSS," the lower-case "e's" and "l" of "Real Thin Leads," the jaunty cent sign, the chuckle-headed repetition. Real Thin Leads. Real Thin Lead. Ask for it by names! And I admire the cursive Autopoint, the forward-looking sort of cursive one might see on a home appliance.
And I like that this little package has been marked by history: at least three different writing instruments, green, red, and purple, have been tested on its surface. Just scribbles — no room to inquire Does this pen write? One side of the package has been resealed with tape in a hapless effort to honor a stern directive: "SEE THAT THIS SEAL IS NOT BROKEN." Ah, but it has been.
The "2H" correction — made in the store, I assume — is a reminder that some people are persnickety about their pencil leads. The potentially misleading "Extra" won't do when the unambiguous "2H" is at hand.
Sculptor Matt Johnson
Interesting art, amazing craftsmanship.
Matt Johnson at Taxter & Spengemann
(Flash site is unlinkable. Click Archives, then Matt Johnson)
Garage Sale Report - from, oh, three weeks ago? Something like that.
As previously mentioned, garage saling has been dormant in 2009. However, even in the darkest cold and rainy mornings, I will head out just to make sure that there isn't a hidden gem waiting for me.
A couple-three weeks ago, I bought the above Japanese lantern. Admittedly, this not an extraordinary example of high end design. And, of course, it is not a period piece unless you consider the 1960's a high point for jet age, Asian disposable trinkets. I think this would make an excellent project to sell in kit form.
I will post photos when it has been refurbished.
Futurliner and the TVS-4
While you'd be hard pressed to find something that GM has done just exactly right lately, that doesn't take away from their past triumphs. Concept vehicles are one thing but motor homes that were actually produced, albeit in small numbers, are another thing entirely. Two cases in point. 1940's Futurliner and especially the totally boss 1972's GMC TVS-4.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Capitalism 360 in Tomorrowland
One of the earliest attractions at Walt Disney's fledgling theme park in Anaheim California was CIRCARAMA, a movie-in-the-round tour of the American West. Visitors viewed the spectacle in a circular theater amid a floorshow of American Motors automobiles and Kelvinator appliances.
Wyoming Sheepherder Shackitecture
Without electricity, plumbing or a toilet, I understand that these little trailers don't offer much in the way of permanent employee housing. I get it. With a headline like "A Lonely and Bleak Existence in the West," you can be certain that the article is very short on the romance of the open west.
However, check out that shackitecture!
New York Times: A Lonely and Bleak Existence in the West, Tending the Flock
Shackitecture previously on D+R
Gouache Illustration for Mexican Pulp Novel
There's a nice collection of original, vintage gouaches for Mexican pulp novels up for grabs on ebay. Lots of colorful, lurid images. Evil brujas inexplicably plotting the demise of young lovers. Zombies and cops. Packs of dogs and wheelie-popping motorcycle bandits. The bidding's only at $25 and so far, no takers. I am being conservative with my money these days, so go get 'em.
Link
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Garage Sale Report - February 21, 2009
Everybody is asking, "What happened to the garage sale reports?"
Well, garage sales all but cease to exist between Thanksgiving and New Year as people are busying themselves with holiday shopping and fruitcake baking. Additionally, as those who live in Los Angeles can attest, we have had an uncommonly wet couple of months. Even when it isn't raining, the mere threat of rain deters all but the most committed (or most desperate.) Usually, by February, garage saling season is in full swing!
As pictured above, I purchased a terrific stainless steel cart. Handy as can be. Of course, it was caked under god-only-knows what sort of filth. It is astonishing how dirty things can get. For those with a strong stomach, click here to see a sample. Now, it is not truly disgusting - that is reserved for the mind boggling Parrot/Lovebird book (scroll to end for the link of horror.)
Perhaps the most important skill in garage sale acquisition is the ability to clean things. To really clean them - without screwing them up. For example, you should be extremely careful when using abrasives on brushed metals. The risk is "over polishing" so that spots are shinier than the surrounding metal or, disastrously, not polishing with the grain of the metal which will cause scratches.
Cleaning Brushed Stainless
- Spray liberally with Awesome! or something like Fantastic
- Before it dries, rinse with hose
- Spray again, rinse again
- While very wet, scrub with the grain using soap and water and a soft scrubby pad. Do not use the aggressive green Scotchbrite pads! Use the white pad that is on the backside of a pink sponge.
- Pick out the corners with more Awesome, a dental pick and a toothbrush
- Polish with Simichrome and an old t-shirt. Don't use a standard terry shop towel as you would be amazed what will scratch brushed metal.
- With a different, clean t-shirt, buff the Simichrome away.
Empire Sugarland Supreme!
There's nothing better than miniature cities... with the obvious exception of miniature cities built entirely out of edible substances (especially ones that are yummy sweet and melt in your mouth). And that must be why Meshac Gaba built his fantasy city out of loads and loads of white sugar (though I have no proof for this).
If you look closely at these photos, you'll notice that many of the larger structures are scale replicas of famous buildings from around the globe. Combined togther, they form his mini-metropolis which I call, "Empire Sugarland Supreme!"
Gaba however, has gone for the more subtle (and practically gloomy) "Port City". What's with these artists?
via, building collector
Nina Ricci Shoes
Paul Simon once said that much of his music is him writing the same song over and over again until he gets it right. To grossly overstretch the analogy for a less noble pursuit, I have been buying the same pair of black stilettos over and over again until I find the right ones. Found. But, their discovery presents heartbreak as they are Nina Ricci and probably a gabillion dollars.
The only disgrace is that the model’s foot in this photo is too small for the shoe. Hrmpf. Lemme try ‘em on! Tsk.
Not to be confused with the perfect pair of mary janes (I already own those). I was going to wax on about what constitutes my ideal heels, wondering if the perfect lines of a high-heeled shoe, designed to complement the curves of a woman's calf in counter-balance (at least, I believe so) can be represented by mathematical formula, thus explaining why too-straight and outwardly curving heels are offensive to the form and aesthetic... and then thought I'd better not. Oh, sigh.
Link
Previously on D+R:
Lamborghini Gallardo Stilettos
Kansas Project: Ruby Slippers
Vivienne Westwood x Melissa
YSL Mary Janes
Friday, February 20, 2009
Art Deco Masterpiece: the 1934 BMW R7 Prototype
D+R Reader John points us the recently unearthed and restored 1934 BMW R7. Only a snip of the magazine article about the rebirth is online, but it seems to have been nearly forgotten and languishing in a box in a BMW basement. A romantic tale, to be sure.
BMW R7 in BMW Motorcycle Magazine #3 (via New Cafe Racer Society) Thanks, John!
Previously on D+R:
Graceful Moped
1949 Moto Major
Vincent Black Shadow on eBay
1937 Zenith-JAP
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