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Fleur De Lis clock by Mr. Ernest Clingon... aka Cory Clinton. The Louisville native crafted a laser cut clock as birthday present for his sister. (Louisville is often represented with the fleur de lis, in honor of King Louis XVI, whom the town is named after) 
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Today I found this fun online site that takes jpegs and converts them into animated gifs. It works best when you have a few chronological images (or illustrations, etc). I just used some photos I took last fall of the ever-talented Cory Clinton demonstrating his mad juggling skills. Make your own at Picasion.
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While perusing a small outdoor fair in Encinitas, Ca, I came across a journal maker. Really my nose led me to him. The distinct smell of leather permeated the air within a 15 ft radius of his booth. He had journals, sketchbooks, and albums of all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. I was drawn to a handbound, 8.5" x 5.5" sized, raw cowhide sketchbook., with 100% recycled cotton paper. As I walked away, carrying my new treasure, the nostalgic Rawhide lyrics, my dad used to sing, came to me: "rollin' rollin' rollin,' though the streams are swollen, keep them doggies rollin'... Cowhide!" If only the journal could satiate my yearnings for a matching rug...
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Tool: Wood Type 03/25/2010
 
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Last December, I won the lottery. The letterpress lottery. It was right after Christmas, when I  came across some small pieces of wood type at an architectural salvage shop in San Diego's Little Italy. Immediately, I was hooked. I bought out their supply... all 3 letters... for $1 a piece. I needed another hit, and fast. Soon, my letterpress purchasing withdrawls became unbearable, and that's when I started bidding on entire boxes of blocks on Ebay. Luckily, post-holiday bidding appeared to be ebbing, because I won nearly 100 pieces of 19th century type for $32. Jackpot.

What am I going to do with all this wood? ...(that's what she said)...  One idea was to get a curio coffee table (with a removable glass top) and display the type treasures inside. Or perhaps I might try my hand at stamping with them (maybe on canvas bags or posters) and see what kind of effects I can produce. Most recently, my good friend Melissa McDougall, of Belle Photography, used them as her subject. She just purchased a new lens (on Ebay of course) and took these stunning photos. 

(more photos after the jump)
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An organized desktop is bliss. In fact, I often make folders titled "to be filed" or "put on server," and drop all my desktop icons into them, just so I can have a clean screen.  But about a year ago, I came across this clever image from Veer. It allows me to organize all my stuff in designated areas. I often get asked if I made it myself... and I'm always tempted to lie. Actually, I think I may make a personalized one. Areas would include: "Private Information," "Passwords," and "Naked Photos." Man it would be hilarious to open my computer at a meeting, and see the looks on peoples' faces.
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I'm obsessed with two big blades of steel.  These 9" beauties were made, in India, by a family that has been making scissors for generations . The blades are hand forged carbonized steel (that cut like a hot knife through butter), and the handles are cast brass. They are also signed by the maker, "Parveen." I bought mine at a boutique in Athens, Ga... the closest I could find on the internet was this 6" pair. I'm so enamored with them, I even used them as my subject in some scan photography (pictured above). 
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I'm pretty low tech when it comes to cameras, but I recently splurged on a photo tent contraption for taking photographs of objects. I bought mine, new, on ebay for $75 (inc. shipping and tax). It came with 2 different sized cubes (one 12x12x12, and one 36x36x36), two lamps, a tripod, and it even has a carrying case for all the equipment. I just use my point-and-shoot digital camera (no flash). I can't believe the difference in my photographs!
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