1.31.2010

Inspiration: Alphabet Art

For part of Grace's birthday present, we bought her this giant foam floor puzzle for her play area. I want to encourage her to learn the alphabet and began reading at an early age!
Imaginarium Floor Mat, Toys 'R Us, $24.99



More Alphabet Fun:
Charley Harper ABC's Board Book, Amazon, $10.17


Eric Carle's ABC (Hardcover), Amazon, $5.99


Irene Zacks - Space Alphabet, Amazon, $35
(See it captured on flickr by wardonomatic here)


From Alligator to Zebra, The Land of Nod, $119


Wild Kingdom, The Land of Nod, $99 (framed)
(also available in greens & blues)



Flickr Roundup:




















1.21.2010

Inspiration: Infrared Photography


On the light spectrum, infrared is outside of the range visible to us. However, digital cameras can use filtering to pick up the invisible instead of the visible. The result is often a dream-like, seemingly monochromatic image. Some artists combine the infrared images with their counterpart (the visible end of the spectrum) to make oddly brilliant colored images (like the one you see above).

Infrared photography has quickly gained popularity in the web world. Flickr, deviantArt and many more sites have tons of beautiful examples.

The above image is by =nxxos.

Roundup:

























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1.14.2010

Taking Chances

I stopped watching American Idol years ago, so I haven't kept up with the latest judges and their respective backgrounds. But, I will admit I am impressed with Kara DioGuardi & Dave Stewart in this version of a song they wrote together - "Taking Chances".

1.02.2010

Inspiration: The Taj Mahal

Yesterday, I flipped through my Wonders of the World calendar to see the beautiful Taj Majal in all its glory.

This incredible mausoleum is one of the many architectural masterpieces of the world that I would love to see in person, but realistically - I will probably never get to. That's one of the things I love about the internet. I can find a ton of information and photographs to enjoy on places that I'll most likely never see.

Located in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a tribute to his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. The magnificent principal structure and surrounding buildings were completed in 1653.

Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is generally credited as being the chief architect. The design beautifully incorporates Persian, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. Materials used in the construction range from white marble to jade. While astonishing when viewed as a whole, the intricate details are equally amazing.

The empirer described the Taj as follows:

"Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory."

The Flickr Roundup: