Serpentijn Art & Athletics

One of the things I'm most grateful for in my life is knowing ubersmart, motivated, kind people.

Case in point: one of my favorite people in the whole world, my buddy Jason Reimer, recently launched this amazing little company – Serpentijn Art & Athletics.

Serpentijn was founded In 2015 to make a positive impact through art and athletics, based on the belief that both play a vital role in learning and living life to its fullest [...] 10% of each purchase you make goes to a worthy non-profit organization, selected by you during checkout.

Serpentijn's first products include designs by illustrator Keith Negley and painter Barbara Ignatiev.

Serpentijn Art & Athletics

The Chickadee by Brevard Tiny Homes.

I've always had a secret, wild desire to own a tiny home, but this has sent that desire into overdrive. A proper kitchen with full-size appliances! Coo. I just can't stop looking at it.

This was me all weekend. Duck = Chickadee

Modern tiny home boasts a big kitchen for foodies : TreeHugger

ArtSnacks

It's not often I see something and think, "UGH! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT??" This is one of those times. A monthly art supply subscription – nothing you can't get in other places and obviously targeted at hobbyists. Instead of going to your nearest Blick, this company just picks some supplies and sends them to you for a monthly fee. So smart.

ArtSnacks

Synonym Wall Cards

Simple and lovely.

Synonym Wall Cards – Present & Correct

The Urban Agriculture Co. | Nordstrom

I have terrible luck with plants, but this packaging makes me want to put them in every window. Would be a nice DIY project to find the right non-leaky bags...

The Urban Agriculture Co. | Nordstrom:

Chocolate Cumberbunny

Yes. For real. They're for sale. Unfortunately for some of us, they're from England so it might take awhile to get here.

Chocolate Cumberbunny — chocolatician

Renato Bialetti was buried in the coffee pot that made him famous

I thought this was an Onion article at first, but it's not. He was buried in a Moka pot. And I think that is awesome.

Renato Bialetti, the Italian businessman who turned an aluminum coffee pot into a classic global design, died last week at the age of 93. In accordance with his and his family’s wishes, his ashes were interred in an urn shaped like a large version of a Moka pot, the stovetop coffee maker he introduced to the world.

Italy’s coffee pot king was buried in the appliance that made him famous - Quartz

German Bacon Paper (1970s)

This made me giggle. So much love put into a pork-wrapping product.

A perfect wrapping paper for your piggy themed gifts, or just for a bacon sandwich in your lunchbox. This is vintage german packaging paper for lard and pork products. Great pig and a nice bit of type. 27cm wide and 100cm long.

You can buy it here: German Bacon Paper (1970s) – Present & Correct

Van Gogh's Bedroom - Available on Airbnb (Soon)

Created in conjunction with The Art Institute's new Van Gogh exhibit. I want to go to there. 

From Airbnb:
This room will make you feel like you're living in a painting. It's decorated in a Post-Impressionist style, reminiscent of Southern France and times gone by. Its furniture, bright colors, and artwork will give you the experience of a lifetime.

Photo: This Is Colossal

Van Gogh's Bedroom - Apartments for Rent in Chicago

(via This Is Colassal)

NASA-Commissioned Posters by Invisible Creature

So. Cool. They were commissioned for NASA staff and insiders, but you can buy them from the designers as well. 

When our buddy Joby Harris, a visual strategist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, asked us if we were interested in creating ‘travel posters’ for NASA last Fall, well … given our family history, you can only imagine how we responded. We are very honored and lucky to have worked on such an amazing project.

These 3 commissioned pieces are part of JPL’s Visions Of The Future 2016 Calendar – an internal gift to JPL and NASA staff, as well as scientists, engineers, government and university staff. 

Invisible Creature NASA Posters 

More here: New Work: Visions of the Future for NASA

Fist bump

I'm in love with this photo.

Young students close their hands in anticipation of "fist-bumping" President Obama after he spoke at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. | (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

THE WEEK | The week's best photojournalism

School lunch in Japan is not just about eating.

This is SO lovely to watch for SO many reasons.

According to this video, Japanese school lunchtimes are not treated as a break – they are used to teach children about food sources, hygiene, respect, service, appreciation and responsibility.



p.s. I think this is actually from 2013, but it's going viral right now.

New Airplane Design with Detachable Cabin for Safely Landing in Emergencies | Infinite Legroom

Whoa. Mind blown.

 Fashioned by Ukrainian aviation engineer Tatarenko Vladimir Nikolaevich, the new plane features a detachable cabin that ejects during emergencies, then uses specialized parachutes to softly saunter down to the earth’s surface with shock absorbent pads that keep the landing smooth on ground and allow the cabin to float on water. Even your luggage will be unharmed, as it’ll be stored in the same detachable cabin, under the floor of the passengers. 

New Airplane Design with Detachable Cabin for Safely Landing in Emergencies | Infinite Legroom

Rad American Women A-Z

I hope a lot of people use these as flash cards with their kids. Good stuff.

Rad American Women A-Z: Resources

Bowie-inspired boots.

I loved this photo (of YSL Spring 2014 boots). on Iman's Instagram feed. Vogue published it as part of a birthday tribute to Bowie just last Saturday. Who knew it would serve as a memorial less than a week later?  Sad and strange. Goodnight, Mr. Jones.

Tracing David Bowie’s Impact on Fashion - Vogue

classic slipper – mahabis // slippers reinvented

classic slipper – mahabis // slippers reinvented

My Dad Used to Be So Cool: Keith Negley

From the uber-talented author/illustrator of Tough Guys Have Feelings Too.  Now available for pre-order. I'm proud to say I worked with Keith for awhile. You know, back when he was cool. :)

Keith Negley's playful and emotional art tells this story of a new father who is no longer the cool guy he once was. He looks back wistfully on his crazy times playing in a band, riding a motorcycle, and getting tattoos. Those days may be behind him, but his young son still thinks he's the coolest guy in the world.

Amazon.com: My Dad Used to Be So Cool - Keith Negley 

Keith Negley at Society6

The Heads of State "Star Trek" 50th Anniversary Stamps

I was already a fan of The Heads of State's work, but now they've given me one more reason to love them – these fab Star Trek USPS stamps. I'm gonna buy a lot of these. Like, a LOT a lot.

Star Trek Gets Retro Postage Stamps for Its 50th Birthday | WIRED

Itty bitty bonsai plants!

JUST LOOK AT HOW TINY THEY ARE! (If they put a kitten or a baby sloth next to it, I think my head might explode from cuteness.)

Industry experts consider bonsai plants less than 3 cm (about 1 inch) to be particularly difficult, but artists have taken on the challenge, creating tiny plants and tiny planters that, literally, are at your fingertips. It’s given rise to a new category, known as cho-mini bonsai, or ultra-small bonsai.

Teeny Tiny Bonsai Plants Give New Meaning to the Word Miniature | artFido's Blog

Babe Scrub Organic Body Washes

I'm finding these almost irresistible because of the packaging. I especially want to try the charcoal hand wash. So cool.

Babe Scrub Be Excellent Organic Charcoal Hand Wash | Nasty Gal
Babe Scrub Be Rad Organic Body Wash | Nasty Gal

The Pantone Color Factory

I saw this before Christmas, but forgot to post it. So lovely.

 

Designers and artists all over the world use Pantone’s color guides to make sure their blue is actually blue. Like a Webster’s dictionary for color, Pantone guides are a standard against which anyone can check their own work. Those standards are created at Pantone’s factory headquarters in Carlstadt, New Jersey. In this video, Quartz talks to the workers who maintain and enforce those standards.

via Digg[TV]

Iris, Her Therapy Cat and Her Art

First off, the pictures of this little girl and her cat are gorgeous. But the story gets better when you find out that the cat is a service cat, helping Iris (who was diagnosed with autism in 2011) to connect to the world. Then it gets even BETTER when you check out Iris' paintings.

Amazing. All of it.

Early Morning Water

Explosions of Colour 

Sun Dancing

The Heartwarming Bond Between Iris and Her Therapy Cat - My Modern Met

Paintings and Prints | Iris Grace  •  Iris Grace Painting | Flickr - Photo Sharing

Tiny PMS Match

It's been around for awhile, but is still worth a look. Tiny things! Precision! Lots of loveliness. (Thanks, Beth!)

Tiny PMS Match