Thursday, January 13, 2011

size matters

The manipulation of size has often been played with by many artists over the years (Claes Oldenburg, Louise Nevelson, Ron Mueck), distorting reality into something more akin to fantasy and fairy tale. One of my favorite set designers Simon Costin took this idea, but mixed it up a little. Not only did his model crouch within a glass greenhouse, but lean on a larger-than-life apple and pose amidst tiny chairs. This difference between the model as a giant (but also as a smaller, fragile being) creates a more visually interesting contrast. To put it simply, it's fun. (And to finish off the spread, he hangs bedroom furniture from a tree. I'm in love.)









Wednesday, January 12, 2011

papercuts

These cut paper pieces I found via flickr are incredibly adorable (and beautiful too!) For more from this artist, visit Elle's flickr.






















Monday, January 10, 2011

if life gives you lemons...

With a day off from school, and hyped on the magic of snow, I decided to bake today. I started with a lemon cream cupcake, then a quarter inch of fresh homemade lemon curd, topped with an airy swirl of meringue topping. Sweet and fluffy, these lemony summer cupcakes juxtapose the wintry weather perfectly.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

maybe sometimes

I'm not always a fan of artist/set designer Michael Howells, but sometimes, when he gets it right, I'm truly blown away.












Tuesday, January 4, 2011

iced and spiced

I've always enjoyed baking, and when I came across this recipe for chai tea cupcakes, I had to try it out. Rather than the buttercream, I chose to make a spiced cream cheese frosting instead. They were delicious.

Monday, January 3, 2011

He's done it again

After reviewing a spread by set designer/artist Simon Costin in W's October issue several months ago (see it here), I once again returned to his site on CLM and found this spread. It takes the art of shadow puppets (those funny animal-like images you made on your bedroom wall with a flashlight and your hands when you were little) to a whole new level. How can you not love this darker take on such a childlike idea?














Saturday, January 1, 2011

you're the top

I discovered many of my favorite books, music and movies in 2010.
Here are my Top Ten in each category:


Books:
10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)
9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer)
8. The Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka)
7. Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him (Danielle Ganek)
6. Psyche in a Dress (Francesca Lia Block)
5. My Friend Leonard (James Frey)
4. Less Than Zero (Bret Easton Ellis)
3. Bright Shiny Morning (James Frey)
2. , said the Shotgun to the Head (Saul Williams)
1. A Million Little Pieces (James Frey)



Music:
10. Veruca Salt Eight Arms to Hold You
9. Charles Aznavour 40 Chanson D'or
8. The Airborne Toxic Event The Airborne Toxic Event
7. My Chemical Romance Danger Days
6. Tori Amos Crucify
5. The Dandy Warhols Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
4. Adele 19
3. The Strokes Room On Fire
2. Elvis Costello This Year's Model
1. Elvis Costello and the Attractions Armed Forces


Movies:
10. Basquiat
9. The Science of Sleep
8. Lollilove
7. Easy A
6. The Labyrinth
5. Benny and Joon
4. Before Sunrise
3. Reality Bites
2. Disco Pigs
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind