Pensketch app for Android review

Turns photos into pen & sketches.  May be useful as base for further work, especially building scenes.   Has basic slide control of how much detail to be included - see St Pauls 2 pics - more and less detail.  Its not Photoshop or Illustrator Trace but more the level you get on camera affects.

Another crazy sewing project - Giant carrier

When I stay in Travelodge or Premier Inn hotels I find there is not enough table space or chairs when John is with me (and believe me the less we are on top of each other the less we argue).  So, I wanted to take a couple of my camping items - fold-up director's chair, small fold up table for eating and computer and white tray with base for for breakfast food items.  

I had a great cheap but strong wheely from Ikea (I bought for moving biggish loads - wasn't sure what but it looked useful).  I made the bag section big enough to take my air conditioner should I ever end up in hotel in summer with no A/C.  I was meant to avoid stares at bringing in furniture past the reception desk but I think I've failed on that point.   

I was hoping to fit in my electric cooler box but though it fits, it just makes the whole thing look too big so that will go in separate plastic wheel box that fits it perfectly (not sure i will take it as depends on weather - i have small normal cool box for a couple of drink cans which may be enough this time as it's mainly for breakfast milk/butter, juice and cold drinks - I prefer to keep my money/stomache space for nice lunches and dinners in seaside restaurants and just have a light breakfast - I don't like the hotel breakfasts - £8 for too much food and I'm not paying that for a coffee and toast.) 

It looks crazy but I had the plastic coated fabric tablecloth material I'd bought from John Lewis about 6 years ago and wanted to use it.  I may eventually make a black one if I find it works ok.

Designers Block: 1. Reuse old suits and 2. Leaf cutting

1.  Upcyling old suits

I've got some old suits to add to my old shirts and jumpers I've been upcycling and this is inspiring.

More of this at Designers Block  designersblock.blogspot.co.uk/

2.  Amazing Leaf Cutting

Would love to give this a go if only I had the patience and talent.

More at Designers Block  designersblock.blogspot.co.uk

Artist Quiltmaker's throw away - another piece for my art collection

When I heard that my quilter artist friend, Kim was going to get rid of an quilt she made purely for experimenting with technique I rushed in with beggar bowl in hand of course.  It arrived today by mail and I love it.  I have put it in a temporary frame until I get a new white one with mount - I will then replace the picture below.  It makes one realise that quilting takes so much work and patience.  If you paint or draw and don't like something then often you've only lost a few hours or days.  Quilting takes so much more.

Kim was going to throw this out.  Now having been able to have a closeup look, I know I would never have the patience.  There is so much work.  Even the backing looks great.  I know quilts are suppose to be hung but I think it will look great in its new frame with proper mounting.  Love the fallen logs - very Hockney.

New ipad (mini?) supersentive Pen for taking notes and drawing released soon

I've been following these designers this year as they develop this pen and now it's about to be released.   Interestingly in their FAQ on compatibility, they mention the mini ipad?  What do they know?  Surely they needed to be in contact with Apple for future compatibility?  

rumours of ipad mini in october - 7.8" retina display

Could it look like this?

http://www.tenonedesign.com/connect.php

Add caption

It also has a great no-see magnet ipad stand.

Whitechapel Gallery - Tree Branches -The Bloomberg Commission: Giuseppe Penone: Spazio di Luce: wax then cast in Bronze and Gold leaf

There is something interesting about this artist talking about his pieces.  I might go take a look at the work.  Something  haunting about it.  Will see if this is so when I see it. 

Video of artist talking about this work

Video of artist talking about his work.

Paratastic Paralympics - Beauty and the Ability

Yes I am one of over 3 million people in the UK hooked on the paralympics.  Yes it's exciting sport (not usually interested in sport), more exciting than the Olmpics perhaps, and more interesting because there are sports and abilities you've just never seen before.   Though some disabled people like to own the term 'disability',  it really feels time now for a new term for this group of athletes who, let's face it, can do much much more than most of us will ever be able to do.   Of course, with fit athletes like this to look at, it's not all about the sport.

Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius running - how many Golds this time - it's really hotting up - in all senses.

Oscars' hobby outside sport - looking gorgeous

Mickey Bushell

21 year old Mickey Bushell winning Gold a few days ago - and more to come.

Mickey more gorgeous while bathing in glory.

Just imagine him on a magazine cover after he's had the QG/Pistorius/Becham stylist treatment.

Jon-Allan Butterworth

Cyclist John-Allan Butterworth.  The gorgeous eyes were always there but the cycling has helped him get those chiseled features, having lost a lot of weight in the last few years. 

Butterworth working for his 3 Silvers. He only started cycling less than 4 years ago.

If you were wondering how he lost part of his arms - that's him centre back - says it all.  There have been some great stories of how athletes got to the olympics and part of that story is how their so called disability originated.

Channel 4 the Olympic Broadcaster

And I love the irreverrent post daily events show on Channel 4, Adam Hills Last Leg, hosted by Australian comedian Adam Hills (himself with a prosthesis foot) who along with other disabled and non disabled comedians, athletes and celebrities take the piss out disability, look at the triumps and taking questions from online tweeters in the segment - 'Is it alright to .....' - and let me tell you these tweets really push the boundaries.   They showed a pic 4 year old girl with her leg in a cardboard tube - not a crack at disability, but because she wanted to look like her hero runner from the games.  A knitted doll of Hills with his missing foot is on ebay and Hills has been following it on the show - it started off at a few pounds and is now over £10k - money going to charity.

Australian comedian/presenter - presenting Channel 4's nightly 'The Last Leg'

Channel 4s promotional campaign (BBC did the Olympics and Channel 4 is the Paraolympics channel) is the their biggest campain since they opened.  It's amazing.  Funky, sexy and is helping change the concept of disability.  They will definately win awards.  Unfortunately, this morning they showed the world press rooms in the Olympic grounds and most of them had left after the Olympics, even NBC.  It is now suppossed they must be kicking themselves as the popularity of the games is growing like crazy here.  It's increasing slowly and much smaller elsewhere but this is partly because people haven't been given a chance to see it.

Not everyone loves the superhuman tag but most do.

On TV and billboards all over London - thought this was a great tag - placing the Olympics as a warmup - and the Paralympics are becoming more popular than the Olympics.

Ellie Simmons

Swimmer, Ellie Simmonds has been the poster girl for the GB team. There was a worry that the huge picture of her overlooking the Olympic park, might put too much pressure on her but she has 2 Golds and going for another tonight.

Videos of the campain

Videos of the sexy channel 4 campaign from Youtube:

Love the music in the first one especially, by Public Enemy - funky, sexy, goes perfectly with the great editing.

http://paralympics.channel4.com/index.html

Whitechapel Gallery - Suicide Squirrel

I don't often go to the Whitechapel Gallery - it's a bit out there for me - but I still get its enewsletter to possibly educate/inspire me - beside the Artists' Book Fair coming up later this month,  this piece caught my eye as I like a bit of humour in art - yes, no doubt it's all post modern existential alienation etc. but I just let that flow freely over my head.

Collection Sandretto Re Rebaudengo: Maurizio Cattelan: Bidibidobidiboo (1996),
'after the fairy godmother’s song in Disney’s Cinderella, encapsulates Cattelan’s acerbic wit and his melancholic worldview.'

Click here for more on this exhibtion

 

 

Designers Block - Beautiful ipad docking station by Scott Eaton and a minimalist Japanese Bakery

 More great finds by designers block.

Soctt Easton has designed this lovely quirky ipad docking station.  His site shows his beautiful drawings and the design process.  It's nice to see the crossover between art and design.
Gives me ideas to make plaster/paper mache one - curled up cat with reading glasses or maybe wo/man's butt cheeks?

More at scott-eaton.com

2. also like the simple/minilimast Japanese Bakery - i must de-clutter my kitchen.

More of this from Designers Block

The Bakery's site