happy bubble pics

Check out these incredible shots of bubbles by Richard Heeks! Apparently bubbles don't really "pop"- they rip/tear/shread! More on his flickr site. (via)

Sarah Applebaum

Here's a bright burst of knitted color! kinda wacky, kinda crazy, kinda LOVE IT! All from Sarah Applebaum. More here, via here.

reminder!

Poor lil Pepé is very bored. I'm currently swamped with work before the weeken. However, I do have a few posts for you that I just need to finish up. Hopefully I'll get them up soon!

In the meantime, just a reminder that you have two days left to enter the giveaway- what am I giving away? check it out here. See you in a bit...

folder type

Folder Type from Emilio Gomariz on Vimeo.

blue munday: graphkin by Colin O'dowd

spotted these in UK Elle Decoration- fun idea by Colin O'Dowd. Available for purchase here. (if anyone knows a place to get them in the US, let me know!)

Blue Munday: tear drop ipod speaker

available here.

Who Is it

So, going off the usual happy mundane topics,- it was kinda crazy last week in the world of pop culture with both MJ and Farrah passing away- There's obviously a gazillion tributes going on, but thanks to youtube, here's a video that many of you might not have seen- it was rarely played, but I always loved it- Prior to Se7en, Fight Club, Benjamin Button, director David Fincher was synonymous with ultra glam, super stylish and sexy music videos. Here's one he did for MJ for the song, Who is it- love the dark and weird/mysterious futuristic escort ring storyline-


and here's Farrah in total 1975 fabulousness for Mercury Cougar


RIP.

HM Giveaway! Lisa Congdon and McSweeney

Yes! Yes! Yes! more free stuff! This time, as a thank you for being such loyal and fabulously happy mundane readers, I have for you some new goodies! Since it's summer time, it's all about postcards right? so- We have two sets of cards- one from one of my favorite fellow blog buddies, Lisa Congdon, we have a set of her Le Foret notecards. And the other is a box of 100 fun "Greetings from the OCean's Sweaty Face- 100 McSweeney's Postcards"- the packaging is really fun for both- Here's a better look at the Lisa Congdon postcards, and here's a more detailed look at the McSweeney's set.

I'll be giving one to one lucky HM-er, and the other one to another one reader, chosen at random. Unfortunately I only have one of each, so if you're a winner, you will either get one or the other. They're both equally awesome, and... well.. it's free! All you have to do is send your name and email address to hmgiveaway (at) gmail (dot) com. You have until Friday July 3rd, 2009 to enter. (I'll notify you by email the following week if your name was chosen!)

(Über thanks to Christina at Chronicle Books for giving the hook up!)
images from buyOlympia

KROOOM stump at Target

I just posted this on I(k)W, but how awesome is this cardboard "stooobe" storage stump?! It's printed cardboard! and you can put stuff inside. So. Awesome. I got it at Target, it was on the endcap, and immediately grabbed it. only about $15. I can't find it on the Target yet, but looks like Krooom is from Australia and is now distributing in the US. I'll have a full review over the weekend after I put it together. Anyone else see these? Have one?

LG LGenius "happy time"

made me laugh. Want it for my TV too. (i'd take puppy please...)

(via Cuteoverload)

CA Modernism Symposium at the Mingei

Recently, I mentioned the A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Ackerman exhibition happening at the Mingei in Balboa Park, San Diego. Well, this weekend, there's going to be a symposium on CA Modernism, at the Mingei.

"Topics ranging from “The California Design Aesthetic” to “Heath Ceramics” and “San Diego Designer-Craftsmen at Mid-Century” will be presented by respected authorities including exhibition curators Jo Lauria and Dale Carolyn Gluckman, San Diego collectors and modernism website founders Dave Hampton (ObjectsUSA) and Keith York (ModernSanDiego.com) and the owners of Heath Ceramics, Catherine Bailey and Robin Petravic. Gerard O’Brien, whose Reform Gallery in Los Angeles specializes in twentieth century decorative and fine art from the post-war period, with a concentration on California design, will present Julius Schulman’s photographs of the gallery’s 2005 exhibition “California Design 1956-1976,” and discuss the wide array of production and hand-crafted design that was part of that show. "

It sounds really interesting and I'm definitely planning on attending, plus just getting a chance to look at the exhibit again will be great. It costs $25 for members and students, and $35 for non members. Reservations, call 619-239-0003 ext 405- click here for more info.

Hopefully I'll see some of you there! (here's some more shots of the exhibition)

yikes

yikes! it's already... wednesday?! sorry for the lack of posts- been buried under a rock- but some exciting things happening- more on that soon- in the meantime- I do have one bit of news to share to brighten your day- FREE STUFF! Yesirree folks- I have another Happy Mundane give-away! Woo hoo! And this time- I will be giving away not ONE- but TWO things! really, for no reason other than to thank you for reading- and because it's summa summa time! Ok- so hang tight I'll share with you the details on thursday... Pepé can't wait... (to take another nap that is... hehe)

Avant Garde Preschool in NY

If any of you live in NYC and are looking for something fun and creative to do this with your kids (4-8 years of age) definitely consider this stencil workshop being hosted by artist Karen Kimmel. If you're a regular reader of HM, you'll recognize that name- (She's simply faboo, her work is amazing, and her house is too!)It will focus on abstract thinking and promotes the exploration of color, shape, and form. It's going to be held at Partners and Spade, the new shop set up by Andy Spade (of Kate Spade and Jack Spade) and Anthony Sperduti.
June 21st 11am-12:30pm, $30 donation requested to help fund the art program.
Partners and Spade is located on 40 Great Jones St, between Lafayette and Bowery
space is limited so reserve at info(at)partnersandspace(dot)com.

TGIF video break: Kat Macleod- Process

Kat Macleod doing what she does is just incredible and inspiring to watch-

Kat Macleod's Process from Jacky Winter on Vimeo.

textured white vessels

diggin' the tonal textures of these mid century-esque vessels from West Elm.

July 09 Real Simple - Solutions

Some fun ideas in the July 2009 Real Simple column "Solutions- new uses for old things."
Three of my favorite ideas: 1) using an angel food cake pan to hold the cob when you remove the kernels with a knife- 2) using a colander on top of a bowl, bucket, or vase to drain the water from melting ice (love the look of the clear vase underneath)- , and 3) using paint swatches as place cards for your next dinner party- more ideas in the July 2009 issue of Real Simple- (photos by Aya brackett, styling by amy wilson, from July 09 Real Simple)

here's a tip

Totally random, but it made me smile- a collection of 36 tip jars!
See the rest here.

(via topcultured)

visionary

great cover of the latest Interview with Bjork. Photo by Inez Van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh Matadin)

sfgirlbybay new site!

happy munday! fellow blog buddy Victoria has just launched her new site sfgirlbybay.com- definitely check it out! it looks fantastic! (congrats V!)

deadline

more post-it fun- this time by Bang-yao Liu

mundane aesthetic: pineapple

(whew!) what a week- I've had a long frustrating and annoying past few days, hence not as many posts this week. Just normal work grumblings, but TGIF!! It's still very "june gloom" here in So Cal, so my thoughts are on something sunny and yummy- Pineapple. Every time I go to Hawaii, it's tradition to hit up the Dole Pineapple Plantation on the way to the North Shore. I always have to get me a soft serve pineapple cone. (sigh) sooooo good. And just today, I was flipping through a recent Donna Hay magazine (issue 43) , and saw this pineapple yumminess- Carmelized Pineapple- put it on skewers, brush it with the brown sugar mixture (brown sugar and water) and grill it (love the twine wrapped handles idea). You keep the remaining brown sugar water and serve in a cup as a dipping sauce.
(photo by hugh stewart, styling by steve pearce for Donna Hay issue43)

anyway- go have some pineapple this weekend. it's sunny and yummy. hope you have a good one!

21 cake

"luxury cakes" and cake packaging from 21 cake (via wallpaper*)

monte & marmont vases

Saw these in-store today. tres moderne. sculptural, faceted, and matte white- available here

blue munday: urban carpet (cyan)

I'm totally fascinated by the work of Instant Hutong, which are Marcella Campa and Stefano Avesani. The image you see above is a detail shot of one of a series of 8 carpets. Each carpet represents "... different maps of Hutong areas (narrow streets/alleys of courtyard residences that form neighborhoods in Beijing, China). Read more details about it here and here. Be sure to check out some of their other projects at their website Instant Hutong and on behance.net.

blog Out loud thanks

just a quickie shout out to everyone that attended last night's Blog Out Loud event- thank you so much for coming out and supporting! I hope my mumblings weren't too incoherent- (thank you for not throwing any tomatoes, hehe)I apologize I couldn't hang out much after (had to pick up lil' Pepé from the babysitter) however, it was great to meet some of you, including these two bloggers, Peggy (blue pool road) and Jessica (destined to design)- Definitely check out their blogs! Gooood stuff! Also, I'm so sorry to the girl who mentioned she was also from Irvine, I didn't get you name- but thank you for coming all the way down! OC reprezent!!

I heart neon duct tape

Continuing on my current fluorescent pop color lovin- totally digging the current fun window displays using neon duct tape at J.Crew- I love how on the women's side, they have been mixing fluoro pop accessories with muted tones and white. Such a nice, fresh, modern color palette for summer. How awesome would this skirt be as a pillow? You can't really tell in the picture, but in store, the orange is really bright neon-y and the other color is like a muted/burlap/woven texture- ooh- what if you made a pillow using neon duct tape and burlap or natural/raw linen? hm... ideas...

adonde wood and stoneware vases

I'm so into these vases by Adonde. Wood + stoneware + fluoro color pops = need entire collection now. (images from Adonde)

calgon take me away

I am back from my quick little trip to Hawaii, but I've sadly gone from the sunny beach to immediately being sucked down into the hole of "this is what happens when you leave work for a few days and all hell breaks loose"... I am unfortunately caught up in the aftermath and am buried in work drama for the next few days. Seriously, "Calgon, take me away!"- I'll be back asap- in the meantime, don't forget that this thursday night is the Blog Outloud event- hope to see you there!

mundane aesthetic: color on a gray day

blue thursday: enjoying the view

Aloha!- sometimes you just have to heed the call of the island- I somehow have found myself spontaneously booking and running away for a really quick trip back to Hawaii. Posting may be a bit spotty- but I'll be back over the weekend. Just a reminder that if you're in LA, next week (thursday) is the Blog Out Loud event at Patio Culture. More details here! Be right back- the beach is calling...

continent pillows

Travel the world without leaving your sofa! Love the simple graphic-ness of these continent silos- made via batik process- Set of 3 available here.

mundane aesthetic: watermelon

hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend- Does that mean it's officially summer now? I'm so ready...

I (finally) got the hook up(s)

Awhile back, I mentioned I was looking for some sort of wall hook/coat rack to my entry situation. Well- I finally got round to figuring out a solution. It was surprisingly quite a mental journey. I started out with the intention of having just a one-piece wall mounted coat rack. I looked around the local stores and ended up purchasing this one from Umbra. However, I still wanted something above it because the wall is so high and it just felt empty. I had a small picture ledge from IKEA left over from another project, and figured I could use that. However, it just looked kind of awkward when I placed it above the Umbra piece. Then, I spotted this great DIY idea over at DesignSponge and was totally inspired. I thought about returning the Umbra piece and using a plain piece of wood as a backer and putting a couple random hooks together instead. I also was thinking to do some sort of modern paint or paper treatment- perhaps just paint half the wood white, or use grid paper... So, I was all set on doing that- went and returned the original wall hook, and was starting to look for individual hooks to try. But then I spotted these "hook up" hooks by Three by Three Seattle- and everything changed- again. I thought to myself- y'know- all I really need are three of these guys and I can call it a day. They were modern, clean, already white- and only $3.99. The original wall coat rack I got was $29.99- and I would have had to find at least 3 other random hooks for the DIY idea. That would take awhile to scout and be a major hunt- and when all completed could've ended up costing the same if not more- So I decided to scrap the DIY idea and just go with the "hook ups." It turned out to be just what I needed and I'm happy as a clam (and the total was only $12, since the ledge I already had). The ledge worked out great above and I was able to find a place for some random art pieces that hadn't found a home yet. Yay!(Whoa- Sorry- that was totally a way too long story for such a simple result! Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions)