Harmful Viruses Made of Beautiful Glass When glass blower Luke Jerram saw visualizations of viruses and pathogens in the scientific world he noticed one big theme: color. Wondering what effect the artificial color in normal scientific drawings had on our interpretation of these invisibly small forms, he created his own exquisite versions out of his favorite material: blown glass. Covering such well known maladies as AIDS and Swine Flu, his works are both beautiful and disturbing, challenging observers to reinterpret their view of the tiny organisms. See Also SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENA CAUGHT BEHIND THE LENS Swine Flu E. E. Human Papilloma (HPV) Small Pox Malaria T4 Bacteriophage HIV Sculpture by Luke Jerram
DIY: Furniture Makeovers I'm obsessed with making-over old, worn out furniture. It's amazing how almost any old piece can be totally transformed with new paint, hardware and a little imagination! Here are three examples from Ladies Home Journal...click here to read the entire article. Out-dated side table with stone top transformed into a bright and cheerful accent piece! *First they removed the hardware and stone top, sanded the table all over, and applied a coat of primer. *They cut a length of seagrass wallpaper to fit the inset and topped it with a pane of 1/4-inch glass. Old dresser transformed into a chic sideboard with plenty of storage! *They gave the whole piece a light sanding, a coat of primer, and two coats of semigloss latex paint in a pale blue shade on the outside and a deeper blue inside for contrast. *To dress up the doors, they picked out a pair of modern nickel pulls. *Click here to read the details on how they transformed the inside...
Recyclebank Get closer to nature by living in an underground home built from sustainable materials I’ve always wanted to live in an underground dwelling because it’s the closest I’ll ever get to living like a Hobbit, and it seems like the perfect place to go in case zombies attack. Most importantly, underground homes are very eco-friendly and are built directly into the earth, which means they take up less construction material and produce less waste. Here are 4 underground homes that get my “thumbs up” for being truly green and innovative: 1. This earthen home designed by KWK Promes has a grass roof that absorbs water and helps to regulate temperature inside the home. 2. Designed by Dutch architecture firm SeaRCH and Christian Müller Architects, this beautiful underground home located in a Swiss village has rooms that wrap around an interior courtyard, and they all get flooded with natural light. 3. This low impact woodland home was built in Wales by Simon Dale. 4.
Steampunk Insects Created from Bullets Tom Hardwidge’s Arthrobots are robotic insects — steampunk creations made from upcycled gears, nuts, bolts… and bullets! All images courtesy of Tom Hardwidge . English artist Tom Hardwidge has an unusual specialty: creating steampunk insects from old, inactive ammunition and pieces of clockwork. Each piece is so delicately and masterfully crafted that it is sometimes hard to even imagine what the recycled components might once have been, or to decipher where one part ends and where the next begins. Even harder to believe is that Hardwidge creates steampunk insects only as a hobby; he is a digital designer by day and gets time to work as a creative insect maker only at night. Apart from old bullets, discarded pocket watch parts make up the bulk of his little insects. Most of the pieces are supplied by local company, The Watch Lab, who sift through their rubbish bins to find parts for Hardwidge. This golden grasshopper ( Roborthoptera aurum duo ) has long legs, curly antennae and no wings.
How To Mix Chalkboard Paint in Any Color We love using chalkboards as backdrops for displays and parties (like this one here!). So we were super excited to learn that you can create your own custom colors-and it's really easy! We first learned how from Martha Stewart whose tutorial you can read here. She recommends that you use latex paint, but we tried it out with acrylic paints with much success. Here's how you too can create your own chalkboard paint... Supplies: 1/2 cup acrylic paint (choose any color you like, or mix colors together to make the perfect shade!) 1. 2. Once your chalkboard has fully dried be sure to slate the surface before using it for the first time. Have fun creating any color combination you like!!
Incredible Looking Loft Filled With Natural Light This 94 square meter apartment has a privileged location on the corner of the building. You are looking at a nicely arranged flat with three rooms, one beside the park, with unobstructed views over the green expanse outside, and one facing the street, while the kitchen overlooks the pleasant and peaceful courtyard. In the middle lies a spacious hall and in relation to this, a new bathroom. The overall floor plan with massive windows on three sides and the bright color scheme fills the apartment with light. via – Alvhem - Yuki Matsueda ‘While most designers are busying adding more and more elements into their artworks, Japan-based Yuki Matsueda has, however, managed to let some elements escape from his art pieces. The result seems quite amazing… A vivid 3D image is successfully created and all the elements are believed to be more shocking than those stay still on paper.’
20 brilliant things to make in a jar Via: mycakies.blogspot.com Start saving your old jam jars! From cakes to herb gardens, pies to photo frames, and even entire meals … here are 20 fantastic things you never knew you could make with a jar. (Above: red velvet cupcakes in a jar. Get the recipe here). Via: fatgirltrappedinaskinnybody.blogspot.com Word on the street: salad in a jar is all the rage. Via: bakerella.com Cookies in a jar – a great gift idea. Via: rikkihibbert.co.za For a rustic vintage look, display your photos inside glass jars and bottles. Via: goodfoodbreadandmuffins.blogspot.com Chocolate muffin bread cooked in a jar. Via: pizzazzerie.com Super sweet. Via: simplebites.net Bread, cooked in a jar? Via: marthastewart.com A fabulous visual reminder of your favourite holidays. Via: bigredkitchen.com So let’s just cut to the chase – what about making all your meals in a jar?! Via: runwithglitter.blogspot.com There isn’t a child on earth who wouldn’t be wowed by these: rainbow cupcakes baked in a jar. Via: flickr.com