October 2014 - Page 2 of 3 - Improvised Life

Tree Branch Book Shelf + Cut-Out

We discovered artisan/designer Olivier Dolle‘s lovely tree branch book shelf when reader Kevin Neff sent us an Instructable for a cardboard version inspired by it. We find the wooden one quite beautiful and appreciate its asymmetry, unusual in shelving. The cardboard version has it’s own charm.

Optical Illusion Rug or Floor Stencil

When we looked closely at this 3D rug, we realized that it was really an assemblage of simple shapes that LOOKED way more complex that in is. Very cool as a rug OR as a painted floor.

Fallen Autumn Leaves are a Material for Making

Walking in the park the other day, we saw a young woman lying in a huge pile of brightly-colored leaves…half buried really, resting; she looked relaxed and content. Around her three little girls were all happily making things out of leaves. And we thought LEAVES. What a beautiful material-for-making things all around us. That got…

Open Source Systems for Everyday Objects, Food + Living

(Video link HERE.) Bio 50 has applied open-source thinking to electronic appliances we use in our homes everyday. They’ve prototyped of a system built upon standard components that offers the user the ability to assemble, customize, repair, and repurpose existing products. Check out their clever fan, hand mixer, and a balloon-encased lamp all configured from the same elements.

Adjustable Rolling Table for Matisse AND Us

When we looked closely at images of the invalid Matisse sitting in bed or in a chair making his beautiful paper cutouts, we realized that he used an adjustable bed table similar to one we’ve had for years. We came across ours while trolling Ebay for mid-century furniture nearly 20 years ago. Billed as a Danish…

Seth Godin: Make Two Lists, then Choose

We were struck by Seth Godin’s recent post about the two lists we seem to carry with us at all times, which become apparent during a crisis or moment of doubt: one is the positives, the other, the negatives we perceive in our lives. His point: we have a choice in which we choose and…

Gif of the Week: Brain Storm Coming In!

via Hedviggen

Forssman, the Heart Pioneer who Used Himself as a Guinea Pig

Reading the illustrated walls of the hospital waiting room a couple of weeks ago, we learned this compelling little fact about Werner Forssmann, one of the pioneers of heart catheterization. He had the idea that you could thread a healing device through an artery and into the heart. Then he tried it on himself. At Improvised Life,…

BIG Leaning Mirrors Expand the View

I’m crazy about how mirrors can animate a room and bring it to life. Particularly oversize, leaning mirrors. I thought these were beauties. … You don’t need to do anything — no hanging or rigging; just set them where the look best or reflect the best view. An oversize picture frame can easily be fitted…

Playing for Change’s Glorious, Global “Stand by Me”

(Video link here.) In 2005, Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard Roger Ridley singing “Stand By Me” with stunning soul and conviction. Mark asked, “With a voice like yours, why are you singing on the streets?” Roger replied, “Man I’m in the Joy business, I come out to be with…

Tessa Traeger's photos of hands in the Vivarais region of France

Hands as Tools: Ethiopian Version

(Video link HERE.) State-of-the art eating in Ethiopia. Made by hand, eaten by hand. When I was there, I don’t think I saw a cooking utensil that wasn’t either wood or clay, a rough panga for chopping beef, and a cheap plastic cup here and there for pouring. No need for Sur la Table, Williams-Sonoma or a…

Josef Albers Postage Stamp

We’re crazy for this Josef Albers postage stamp, circa 1980. Great visuals, inspiring message. Hmmm. Wonder if the postal service would be interested in making our inspiring SIGNS and REMINDERS into stamps…sending them around the world…

Friends with Benefits: How to Increase Your Support

After our recent plea ‘er “invitation” to support Improvised Life by subscribing to Friends with Benefits, several subscribers wrote to ask: How would I increase the amount of my Friends With Benefits contribution? Is there a place on the site I can log in to change the amount? Hmmm. We hadn’t thought of that and consulted with…

Annals of Hair Design: the Hair Hat!

We are continually amazed at the mighty improvisational and creative brilliance-in-the-realm-of-hair-dos we see around town daily. But these hair hats may take the cake. We don’t know HOW this Caucasian guy got his bone-straight hair to stay put (or why?… the mysteries of the artist’s impulse). Dig this African American version. The bill can be…

Wood Scrap Room Partition Surprise

We recently stumbled on designer Olivier Dollé‘s very compelling room partition. Or that’s what we thought it was until we started wondering why he add the two horizontal pieces at the top and realized… they were LEGS! It’s a table, turned on its side. Eureka!

So Many Pathways At Any Given Moment

This morning we ready this haiku by Buson: Coming back— so many pathways through the spring grass. Only nine words, it has been resonating all day

Second Graders Discover Haute Cuisine

(Video link here.) Some brilliant soul at the New York Times had the inspired idea to see what second graders would make of a meal at Daniel, one of New York City’s fanciest, seriously haute-cuisine, restaurants. Six kids from P.S. 295 in Brooklyn were treated to a seven-course, $220 Tasting Menu. Their reactions are captured in this…

Max Lamb’s Inspired Furniture

We’ve written quite a bit about Max Lamb in the past because of his unique ability to combine art and simple practical design. An integral component of his art is showing people HOW he made it. At MaxLamb.org you can see illuminating how-to’s on just about all his pieces. His latest work is his Marmorial series of…

Ultimate Aikido for Everyone

The invitation to a baby shower asked guests to include a note divulging our most sage piece of advice for successful child wrangling. Two words make an equally effective mantra spoken anytime and anywhere—with significant others, friends, co-workers, and all the others with whom you co-exist. Here they are.

Posts navigation