the exceptional internet // 08.30.2011

andrew kolb adapted david bowie's space oddity into a children's book (no physical copies are available... yet, but you can download the full PDF here). does it work? if you're at all familiar with the song, you'll know the subject matter is a tad macabre for tots, but the illustrations are truly fantastic | via how to be a retronaut

from one oddity to another: willie nelson covers coldplay's the scientist for chipotle. the last headline you ever thought you'd hear? me, too. it's odd on so many levels, but one of those things you just have to see + hear | via stereogum

i continue to adore adalou's ware. wear. where series. check it out if you haven't already!

education first (ef) made a series of videos to encourage studying abroad. it works. i wish i was a student again | via uppercase

i've been poring over paint chips the past few weeks trying to choose colors for the rental house. now i know exactly what to do with them after i'm done | via how about orange

a nifty camera stabilizer for $1 - nice! | via doobybrain

fashion + dancing + london? yes, please! | via boing boing

eek! it's a bit short this time (and full of videos - now you know how i really spend my time on the internet), but i got it done within my dinner hour, so... yay?

back to work for me...

the exceptional internet // photography edition

if you know me, then you know i take pictures of everything (much to the annoyance of those around me, i'm sure). i just like to capture the world around me in stylish, nostalgic, quirky, and beautiful ways and it's never been easier for the amateur shutterbug -- there are so many great photography tutorials, apps, projects, and accessories around the interwebs these days!

here are just a few of my current favorites:

my new obsession is the gif shop app for the iPhone. the app creates animated gifs on the fly from still shots and allows you to upload your creations to facebook, twitter, and tumblr or you can send animated texts. win. i made this simple animated gif in a matter of minutes during an extremely boring webinar yesterday - giving the librarian finger has never been so amusing to me.

speaking of animated gifs, cinemagraphs seem to be all the rage right now and i so want to make one (weekend project?). cinemagraphs are similar to animated gifs, but a bit more refined and definitely more subtle. photojojo has a tutorial and from me to you is a tumblr chock-full of gorgeous and mesmerizing examples of cinemagraphs (like the one above).

i'm kind of in love with this iPhone case by drop it modern (reviewed here by totally rad!)

matt richardson from make has a short and sweet tutorial on how to create pretty bokeh effects in your photography. yes, please.

i need to frame this manual photography cheat sheet by miguel yatco. for reals.

i'm also really loving the diptic app paired with instagram; it's a nice way to combine my gazillion (give or take a few) photos into one.

and finally, in honor of polaroid week, here's a nifty little video on how the impossible project makes polaroid film | via boing boing

the exceptional internet // 06.14.2011

i cannot express how much j'adore jean-pierre jeunet (i've tried, trust me...), so i was quite happy to see my favorite design*sponge column feature his film delicatessen. the living in series always, always makes my day and i have to admit that my heart skipped a few beats when i saw the lovely items selected for delicatessen. i want to go to there. you should, too | via design*sponge

growing up, i always loved shel silverstein and his nonsensical poetry books; as a grownup, it's pretty cool to realize he had so many more talents, including composing and songwriting (and singing with johnny cash, apparently) | via hear ya

growing up, i always loved roald dahl and his nonsensical children's books; as a grownup, it's kind of a bummer to learn that he was cruel, condescending, and highly unpleasant | via boing boing

how much do i want an iPad so i can play antiques road trip usa? you go on antique shopping trips to earn money to open a thrift store. hello? can this be my life? | via freckled nest

i love this thought and this neon sign by robert montgomery. so pretty | via doobybrain

just... YES. | via neatorama

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sfgirlbybay's newest curated collection is majorly swoon-inducing. typography and art. a perfect marriage | via sfgirlbybay

these paper doll prints by the lovely etsy seller claudiavarosio are just plain awesome. i looove the grey gardens set (keith!) especially, though i know she also has a margot tennenbaum set, too. tough choices... | via moddern kiddo

CH Presents: The Conjuring Arts Research Center from Cool Hunting on Vimeo.

i would love to: a) work in new york city and b) work in a special library. to think i could have both! what a cool little secret | via neatorama

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famous people hanging out with their vinyl. greatness. be sure to look at all the pictures, including (if not especially) the last one. | via boing boing

the exceptional internet // 05.20.2011

let's celebrate the internets!

how incredibly brilliant is the cosby sweater project? very, i say. one clothing item per episode is artistically rendered and countless memories are brought to life. i grew up with the huxtables and i remember many of these remarkable knit creations, especially the asymmetrical shirt denise made theo. man, i ♥ that episode | via neatorama

hee! this wedding party portrait by hoffer photography is super awesome and super geeky. sometimes i want to get married just to plan a fun and nerdy wedding... | via geekdad

i had a dream about the london underground the other night and the next day i saw this beautiful luggage tag (by etsy shop of the fountain). i think the universe is telling me i need to go abroad again | via doobybrain

i usually prefer salty over sweet and when i do go the sweet route, i tend to opt for lemon. but a close second? banana. even better? banoffee (banana + toffee). talia christine, as guest blogger for elsie, shared a quick and easy mini version of my favorite british pudding. yum and drool | via a beautiful mess

i fell for this dreamy video as soon as i saw it on diana's blog. i think these boys would be friends with this boy, yes? | via our.city.lights

just YES. the world needs more awesome in architecture | via modern kiddo

you're lying if you've never fantasized about snuggling up in the dude's sweater. thanks to andrea rangel, now you don't need a lebowski to have your own (knitting skills are required, though) | via CRAFT

and finally, if you don't read chocolate and cream cake, you really should. this week's nerd news was pretty epic. i think i spent about an hour reading and squee'ing over all the amazing links mandy put together for this volume - she's pretty awesome.

the exceptional internet // 05.10.2011

another reminder of why the internet is amazing on this somewhat cloudy and muggy may day:

first off, a big happy 76th birthday (or what would have been) to roger hargreaves, author of the mr. men and little miss books. i love google doodles and i used to save the images as they appeared until i found the google doodle repository. there's lots of neat doodles from other parts of the world that we (in the united states) never get to see. check it out!


Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo.

my grandfather was in the print business and there's nothing i find more interesting than the letterpress and screen printing process. this nifty instructional video by naomie ross makes me happy | via doobybrain

i really love shanna murray's new wall decals. and now i must go out and buy chalkboard paint | via poppytalk

an exit through the gift shop of the crafty world? yes, please! sarah gonzalez is directing a documentary on yarn graffiti | via CRAFT

there are a lot of dangerous things out there! moss is wise beyond his years. i had to laugh because we are having a pretty bad case of scareware popping up on library computers recently | via f**k yeah it crowd

this is probably one of my favorite covers of one of my favorite songs | via skunkboy creatures

christine berry's 28 cameras print is amazing. i want | via doobybrain

Finger-nose stylus for touchscreen technology from Dominic Wilcox on Vimeo.

this finger nose stylus looks helpful, but so, so disturbing on so many levels | via boing boing

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and finally? i have to say that i think i'm more excited about the upcoming nuptials of elsie flannigan and jeremy larson than i was for the royal wedding. you probably already read a beautiful mess (elsie's fantastic blog), but if you don't read jeremy's, you should! he's a thoughtful musician with heartfelt posts that i always enjoy. this week he is writing about why he loves elsie so and it is the sweetest. stuff. ever. 

the exceptional internet // 04.19.2011

i've been slacking on promoting the brilliance of the internets. here's a small remedy.

man, how much do i love dyna moe's hipster animals? as the tumblr accurately describes, "it's like richard scarry characters went to a grizzly bear show." yes! | via boing boing

this stars of facebook vid cracks me up. i think i'm a foodographer. i don't know what to think about that | via swissmiss


Altoids "Curiously Strong Awards" from Marc Ritzema on Vimeo.

i need this mac keyboard shortcuts print by etsy seller birdAve | via whorange

i am totally loving sfgirlbybay's newest feature, separated at birth, where interiors are matched with fashion photos. they're all dreamy.

if i knew how to hack, i'd follow matt richardson from MAKE's instructions and construct an awesome replacement button | via doobybrain

i'm not gonna lie, i would probably pick up a few of these books by designer christophe gowans if they were real. i'm digging the suburbs cover | via boing boing

the thought of these spiderweb-covered trees existing on the same planet as i do freaks. me. out. | via neatorama

have you stumbled upon anything exceptional lately?

the exceptional internet // 03.27.2011

the internet is exceptional and here's why:

i can't wait to try this project! i come across vintage embroidered linens almost every weekend at estate sales and they're all so beautiful, but i never know what to do with them. annalea heart shows how to create a charming lampshade slipcover with heirloom (or somebody else's heirloom) pieces | via poppytalk

david lynch fan? check out his various coifs and their fine art equivalents | via jeremy larson


The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

seeing the aurora borealis in person is extremely high up on my "things i must do in life" list. this incredible time lapse video was shot over the course of one week in below freezing temperatures in russia. amazing | via geekdad

i'm totally digging these 1950s-inspired wallpaper designs by sanderson. want | via deedee9:14

aled lewis' toy stories series is pure greatness | via whorange

i'm not gonna lie to you, nick pitera's one-man disney movie made me feel warm and fuzzy with nostalgia. i listened to disney music on cassettes well into my early teens. my first cd? the lion king soundtrack. okay, i'm a bit ashamed about that, but in my defense it was a gift from my brother | via doobybrain

hello, my favorite easter candy made even better. cakespy made cadbury creme deviled eggs. i don't think there's anything else that needs to be said | via serious eats

i'm just now trying to finish my collection of coralie bickford-smith's clothbound cover designs for penguin and a new series starts. i'm going to go broke, but i'm not really complaining. her work is so lovely | via design*sponge

these historic wtf photographs had me cracking up and scratching my head | via how to be a retronaut