this cute little bug caused a lot of trouble around my house when i wrapped it up as a present for my son's friend. i have since ordered another one for him, plus a couple of extras for whomever.
made with love from recycled sweaters by FreedomRainbow in portland, oregon.
(each doll is 'reiki attuned. if you need some reiki for a specific reason, let <her>know ...and she will add extra sparkle rainbow magic for you!')
highly recommended!
this past week, i cleaned my studio (a rare and challenging event!) and unpacked more from my recent move.
i found many goodies, such as errant pieces of my personal jewelry collection, cassette tapes from back in the day, sewing supplies, beads, and a single bag of yogi tea, specifically green tea and kombucha.
for months, i've been exclusively drinking red rose earl grey tea. from now on, i really need to get a keep as supply of this green tea with kombucha instead- I had forgotten how simply delicious it is...
and how health-promoting!
from the yogi website:
'Yogi’s special formula of kombucha
with organic green tea is designed to support your immune system, fight
fatigue and detoxify your body. Spearmint naturally aids digestion, and
plum and lemongrass combine to create a fragrant tea with a light,
fruity flavor.* Once the steeping process has released the benefits of
these ingredients, you are ready to enjoy a delicious, delightful and
soothing cup of tea—one that is naturally rich in antioxidants and
other health boosters.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.'
additional links: more about the benefits of green tea (camellia sinensis) and kombucha (which is fascinating, and i know it's really good for you, but i still can't stomach except in this delicious tea)
i also like recycling yogi tea boxes into sleeves for shipping earrings that are too big for my regular boxes(!)
a natural history museum in portland,OR ?! yes, please!
yes, i am obsessed with greenhouses. and completely fascinated by hydroponic gardening.
when i think about what i would like to be doing with my life 20, 30, 40 years from now, i'm pretty sure it has something to do with working in a hydroponic greenhouse.
the idea is simple- give plants a constant dose of exactly what they need to flourish.
the result- much greater yields, with an extremely high degree of efficiency (a hydroponic greenhouse uses as little as 1/20 the amount of water as a regular farm to produce the same amount of food)
in stores, i generally opt for foods i know to be hydroponically grown (e.g. peppers labelled 'hot house') there is no concern about contaminants in the soil, and many (most?) hydroponic farms do not use pesticides. regardless, it is difficult for hydroponic growers to achieve 'organic' certification, either because states require soil to qualify a farm as organic, or because of the difficulty inherent in reconciling the 'organic' nature of the growing media.
there is a ton of great information on the web and in print, as well as many commercially available systems.
i was prompted to write this post when i came across this comprehensive tutorial for making your own 11 plant garden (above). i'll look around some more and post some of the best links as i find them.
does any one know any universities with strong hydroponics programs?
i keep coming back to these photos on the website of sculptor miwa koizuni
especially to the PET project ('making something from nothing...'),
an increasing collection of marine organisms crafted from plastic bottles.
i am always excited to see artists successfully using trash (or any creative use of our industrial nutrients.)
i think it's really upsetting that so much is wasted; we worry about running out, but we don't think much about what we throw out!
(also on miwa's site: make a kite from shopping bags- it really flies! instructions here)
opportunity for artists:
lark books seeks images of original work to feature in the gallery of Fantastic Plastic by David and Robin Edgar. (info here) to be released in Fall 2009.
'Fantastic Plastic will capture the artistry of recycled plastic. From fun and funky to elegant and thought provoking, all sculptural forms will be considered and all types of plastic innovation will be welcomed.'
photo: neri oxman (materialecologist), by noah kalina
if you're looking for some brain food, check out my new favorite magazine, Seed magazine.
Seed is a smart and stylish modern magazine with 'a passion for science and ...(the) advocacy of science literacy around the world.'
apparently, they've been around since october 2005 (order back issues here), but they caught my attention a few months ago (thank you anne!) with the headline: 'the future of science...is art?'
the current issue, 'the design issue', continues to explore the developments in art and design as it relates to the advancement of modern science. (hooray!)
my own interest has always been split between art and science
(i plan to go back to school for something bio-chem-related when the bean enters kindergarten...)
expect many more science geek posts here as i renew my interest in reading up on modern science.
thank you, seed!!
'ritual adornment for the undiscovered tribe'
one of my favorite (ok, my very favorite!) fellow etsymetal member
and kindred biology fanatic is tosca teran of nanopod: hybrid studio.
tosca has been working with metal and computers for over 20 years. she currently lives in toronto, ontario, where she is very involved in the local art scene, teaches workshops and classes, runs a gallery, and continues to make gorgeous (mind-blowing!) jewelry and small sculptures.
on the right is a ring from the 'Descent to Perelandra' installation, for which she also wrote and composed the music (with Andrei Gravelle)
visit nanopod's etsy shop for fabulous glass and metal biomorphic ornaments, as well as haeckel-inspired silkscreened clothes and accesories.
(i ♥ nanopod!)
i just stumbled across some photomicrographs by ray nelson that i just had to share. photomicrographs are probably my favorite art to look at. maybe because they're not art, but simply a record of the beauty of the truth of our existence. or something.
the above image is a cross section of a bud of a huckleberry plant. enjoy!
march 29, the obsession continues. i've been researching new source material for a series of bracelets, and have found oodles of sites with micrographic eye candy. my new favorite is Nikon's Microscopy U. this site has vast galleries, a microscope museum, tutorials, screen savers, an annual photomicroscopy contest, and even a calendar!
anatomical travelogue (founded by alexander tsiaras: journalist, artist, technologist, ...) uses innovative medical imaging techniques to create comprehensive models (2d, 3d, interactive, animated, etc) of the human body.
following in the tradition of the earliest anatomical drawings, these images are not simply art for art's sake. the company's mission is to:
inform the public and scientific communities about:
-the marvel of our own physical existence
-the nature of disease
-current and future medical research
-the paths back to health
publications include:
From Conception to Birth: A Life Unfolds
and the InVision Guides:
The Invision Guide to a Healthy Heart (check out this link for the interactive website)
The Invision Guide to Sexual Health
This company is so prolific, you can spend hours (days +) oogling their flash-happy websites. enjoy!
what would a comprehensive overview of my interests and inspirations be without including ernst haeckel?
(1834-1919) A prominent biologist, philosopher, naturalist, physician, and illustrator, he captured my heart with his detailed drawings of jellyfish, diatoms, and radiolaria (and so much more!)
there are a lot of images online (and in our collective consciousness), but you'll probably want your own: check out amazon.com.
(it is from studying haeckel's Art Forms in Nature that i adopted the name discomedusa-a taxonomic group of jellyfish)
