the flying font

by Michelle on September 21, 2010

in Design

How fun is it to look up into a bright blue summer sky and see skywriting?! Five planes, flying in absolute unison, each blowing out a single puff of smoke (or a blank) at exactly the right moment, to create a letter. Of course the trick is to read it before the puffs fade away. Skywriting – though usually an advertisement – is always fun. Read it while you can.

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digital goes 70′s

by Michelle on August 17, 2010

in Photography

Photo circa 1976? Try 2010. Just yesterday, in fact. And thanks to the  iphone’s hipstamatic app, I can create all sorts of retro effects. From sepia, blue toned, discoloration, casually-off-centered and much more, my ultra-cool iphone can go old-school instantly. The graphics take you back to the old instamatic days  -  with the cube flash that rotates  -  and romanticize them for today’s designers. The photo effect is often a surprise and always a hit.

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art in the round

by Michelle on August 3, 2010

in Design

Where else but the Guggenheim Museam can you see art and have fun at the same time? Besides being an architectural masterpiece, the museum itself is just fun. Slowly strolling up the circles, taking a dip into one of the adjacent galleries and/or seeing the artwork across the rotunda – doing the Guggenheim is as much a delight as viewing the artwork.

And a big thanks to Andrew Prokos for this stunning photo.

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window garden

by Michelle on July 19, 2010

in Design

Imagine waking up to this every morning. Henry the VIII did. In Surry, England circa the late 17th century. A palace of pink brick, Hampton Court Palace just outside London, was a combination of Tudor and Baroque styles intended to rival Versailles.

May your own taste decide, or side with me and choose this elegant, sophisticated, symmetrical and graphic view out of one of the upstairs bedroom windows. Symmetry always prevails.

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someone’s grandpa

by Michelle on July 16, 2010

in Design

Forgive me if I didn’t recognize this probably famous Englishman, but I call this portrait “Someone’s Proper Grandpa” on view at the National Portrait Gallery in London. A gem of a museum: not too big, not too small -  the place is just right. Organized by centuries, the main floor, contemporary portraits, was my favorite – and especially the series by Alex Katz. Bold, colorful, casually-cool close-ups are the trademarks of this series – one that graphically focuses on the subject and nothing else.

So next time you’re over the pond, do visit this portrait delight. And be sure to stop by the cafe on the top floor: a more than splendid view of the city.

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