Walking over to the HighLine the other day, we came upon this amazing scene… …the King of Cans was so absorbed in his book, he didn’t notice us, or the traffic zooming past. We wondered how long it took him to collect all those cans, and what the pay-off would be. We saw him as…
Read Mored-i-y: paint a headboard right on the wall
We not crazy for headboards but find ourselves really liking the idea of a virtual headboard – painted right on the wall – that we recently stumbled on. When you want to change the style, just repaint…
Read More‘what’s not wrong?’ and other ways to start your day
For a long time, it was our habit to jump out of bed and start working: reading blogs, news, emails, writing. We were, literally, swept away each day by the virtual world we love to wander around in; there were no real breaks and downtime, no time to turn inward, quiet. Every morning, we simply…
Read Morekid’s book we love: joel henrique’s ‘made to play’
We’ve written before about how much we love Made By Joel’s, Joel Henrique’s website that features his charming handmade children’s toys. This October 11th will mark the release of Joel’s first book, Made to Play!: Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations.The book compiles a number of great toy-making and craft projects for children and…
Read Mored-i-y bench of strapped-together boards
Dutch Interior magazine VT Wonen recently commissioned stylist Frans Uyterlinden to create interesting ‘show house’ using an eclectic mix of materials. (Check out a preview at VosgesParis). Our favorite bit: a bench/sideboard made by lashing together recycled boards. We see big possibilities in this idea…
Read Moreapple’s ‘think different’ video: tribute to steve jobs
(Video link here.) We’ve been at a loss for words to write about Steve Jobs’ passing, so thought we’d publish a few really potent ones from our friends and colleagues, along with the original “Think Different” ad from the 90’s, sent to us by Pamela Hovland: “…it expressed his vision for the company (Apple) but embodied…
Read Moreelizabeth streb on the necessity of risk-taking
(Video link here.) We’ve long been a fan of Elizabeth Streb, an “action architect” whose wondrous choreography interweaves risk, action, danger, and flow into a thrilling experience; her dancers interact with swinging concrete blocks and giant wheels where the potential is full-on hurt if they make a mistep; they often run into walls and fall…
Read Moresteve jobs: ‘you have to trust…’
kickstarter project: a magazine about ‘makeshift’
Here’s a magazine idea we find compelling: called Makeshift, it’s about the ingenious solutions and inventions people all over the world are making with what they’ve got on hand. Right now it exists as a Kickstarter project. We see it as a quarterly reminder of possibilities in magazine form, an antidote to Martha Stewart Living, Wallpaper,…
Read Moretransforming cheapo materials with paint
Walking around the Meatpacking District a while back, we spotted this weirdly beautiful door to an under-construction building: rough, completely utilitarian, cheap (actually warped) plywood painted silver -possibly using the silvery paint meant to seal metal. It’s one of those surprise transformations of an ordinary material that we find both heartening and thought-provoking (and why…
Read Moredept of the future: how would you like to be remembered?
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to live our lives in a way that honors our spirits, however you might define the word. But even though some may find it a bit grim, we also find ourselves thinking about how we honor each other in death as well. Sometimes we come across…
Read Morehelp us fly!
If you find yourself looking forward to our posts in your inbox every morning, or thinking differently because of what you find on ‘the improvised life’, please help us continue to fly ad-free. Become a Friend with Benefits to lend your monthly support AND link to the community. via The Boston Globe Related posts: thanks…
Read Morethe lightbulb dilemma: looking for beautiful light, environmentally-friendly
The disappointingly ineffective, much-touted high-design of the Plumen, to us, reveals just how desperate designers are to find a bulb that will override the ugly light of CFLs. Starting in 2012, the provisions of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act will go into effect: incandescent bulbs will start to be phased out, starting with…
Read Morebe a guest-blogger for the improvised life; tell us Iris’s story
A couple of weeks ago, we were walking through Marcus Garvey Park when we came upon a tree that had come down during Hurricane Irene. The Parks Department had finished the job, cutting all the way down to the stump. We were deeply touched by the newly scrawled message—written before the debris had even been…
Read More‘without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible’
We TRIED making this great Frank Zappa quote into a loud pink sign… and found it CLASHED crazy on the homepage. Just look!!!
Read Morevoyeur: suzanne shaker’s interiors
A few years ago Suzanne Shaker made the decision to change her path, from stylist par excellence to interior designer. She quickly became known for “a unique style that combines modern, traditional, and custom-designed furnishings, using natural materials and the sculptural qualities of light, personal objects and art” to make serene, minimalist spaces. Soon, she…
Read Morethe ten principles of burning man (and life in general?)
We’ve long been fascinated by Burning Man, the annual “art event and temporary community” in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Every year our friend Kim Sykes participates in the infamous festival firsthand. This year she sent us photographs and a report. To those that aren’t familiar with it, Burning man might seem like a 70’s style…
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