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How to: Make a DIY Canvas and Leather Archer's Quiver

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Matt Pierce came up with this tough and rugged design for a DIY archery quiver. Created from long lasting materials like leather, canvas, and cooper, this guy is all kinds of durable and all kinds of stylish.    Matt says, "I’ve been pretty busy in the shop and haven’t shot much lately. However with all this shop time, I have been working on a quiver. When I finally do make it out to the range again, I won’t have to carry my arrows in a rubber band. Here’s the instructions to make one for yourself. Like all my experiments on here, there’s lots of ways to do this, and modifications for your own use too."

I like Matt's clever reuse of materials, such as making the main body from a secondhand army tent, and the leather-enforced bottom, which can stand up to years of sharp arrow tips.

Get the full how-to at Wood & Faulk: Archer's Quiver DIY 

 

 

 


What to Do When Lost in the Woods

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"A clear head will find itself," begins the "What to Do When Lost in the Woods" flyer published by the U.S. Forest Service, published in 1946. It continues, "finding oneself is a test of a man..." and as you read, you realize that, yes, these are pretty good tips for finding oneself actually lost in the woods, but are equally applicable to all sorts of lifestyle situations. 

Artist Austin Kleonspotted the flyer on Twitter, and noted that the tips are powerful lessons for creativity. The flyer reads

  1. Stop, sit down and try to figure out where you are. Use your head, not your legs.
  2. If caught by night, fog or a storm, stop at once and make camp in a sheltered spot. Build a fire in a safe place. Gather plenty of dry fuel.
  3. Don’t wander about. Travel only down hill.
  4. If injured, choose a clear spot on a promontory and make a signal smoke.
  5. Don’t yell, don’t run, don’t worry, and above all, don’t quit.

“Keep the old brain in commission and the chances are you will come out of the woods on your own feet.”

Check it out in full at Brain Pickings: 7 Lessons on the Creative Life from the U.S. Forest Service 

 

 

 

 

A Daredevil's Attempt to Cross The Atlantic Using Helium Balloons

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Jonathan Trappe tries to fly using helium balloons

Looks like something from a movie (and is, a couple of 'em)...but this guy's really going for it.

Jonathan Trappe is an IT Maine-based manager who decided to embark on an epic journey of his own - a trip across the Atlantic ocean using helium balloons. And if that's not epic enough, he will try to navigate this thing by popping a few balloons to control his altitude along with the use of some ballasts. DANGER written all over it.

Rumour on the balloon street is that, a bunch of people have perished while trying to pull this stunt or have landed somewhere far far away...like, Oz  far away. For this guy it could mean that he ends up anywhere in between Iceland and Morocco. So hopefully he's into couscous and/or Björk.

Here's the whole article is you want more details of his journey. [via Let's Build a Home]

 

Style Hack: How to Make a DIY Skinny Necktie from a Thrift Store Tie

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Secondhand stores and thrift shops are filled with neck ties with all kinds of cool patterns and textures, and most go for only a dollar or two each. The problem? They're often way too wide to match the lapels of modern suits.Good news: its actually super extra incredibly easy to alter the width of a tie, and it takes precious little knowledge and equipment to do it, like an iron and scissors. No sewing machine required.

Crafter Mark Montano made this helpful video to walk you through the process.  

 

via Craftzine. Top photo: Ludlow Suit Jacket (Center Vent) in Italian worsted wool from J. Crew

Blow My Mindsday: September 18, 2013

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Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web.


It took 1000 eggs, 10 pans, 5 burned fingers, 3 hours, 1 bottle of oil, andVladimir Loginov and Maksim Loginov have created The Egg Font. I'm pretty sure the yolks were transposed on after the fact, but I'm totally okay with it. See the whole thing at Handmade Font. 

 

Photographer Alberto Seveso dripped colored ink into oil to create these stunning high speed images. 

 

Kitsch-Slapped takes a fascinating look at famous back model Vikki Dougan

 

I'm making this for dinner with friends tomorrow night: Miso Ramen With Crispy Shredded Pork and Burnt Garlic Sesame Oil. The broth is simmering away now. 

 

A straightforward video on beginning silkscreen printing (in your bathroom....) 

 

 

How To: Make Your Own DIY Whiskey Bottle Tiki Torch

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DIY Tiki Touch Bottles

Waaay better than bamboo, amiright?

Sugar and Charm came up with this super simple way to repurpose empty bottles into some functional decor. 

You can use them to add some cool lighting to your patio or balcony, or even as an emergency light for a power outage.

To make one of these torches, you'll need:

- Tiki torch wicks (found in here)

- A few empty bottles

- Tiki torch fluid

- Matches

- Hawaiian dancers (totally optional)

Once you have your materials, follow these easy instructions by Sugar and Charm and you're set. I wonder if its possible to find some darker torch fluid to complete the look. Regardless, Aloha!

DIY Tiki Torch Bottles by Sugar and Charm

 

 

Perspective

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Q: How big is the moon?   A: This big.

 

That's it. Nothing profound. Just fascinating. And I'd totally buy a print of this were it available. 

It's Okay to Be Smart

 

 

 

The Coolest Tree House You'll Ever See

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Tree in the House (2013) by Almasov Aibek of A.Masow Design Studio

The Tree in the House is a design that plays with the idea of a "tree house," but rather than building a house on a tree, you bring the tree into the house. How cool is that?

Designed by Almasov Aibek of A.Masow Design Studio, this house is located in the mountains of Almaty, surrounded by tons of amazingly beautiful fir trees. The idea of creating something that is so connected to nature is quite amazing - especially since it's totally modern and clean, rather than rustic. (Both are nice.)

Tree in the House (2013) by Almasov Aibek of A.Masow Design Studio

Mind you, it's just a concept, so I'm not quite sure if living in one would be super comfortable, unless you like the feeling of being watched by birds and bears, and maybe a few hikers. Either way, we're excited to see it completed.

Wanna see more? Then visit A.Masow Design Studio


How to: Polish Your Shoes like a Pro

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Properly cared for, a quality pair of shoes will last a lifetime. Of course, that means you'll want to opt for a classic, timeless design rather than a trendier style, but we'd probably do that anyway.Then, there's the "properly cared for" aspect: maintaining the leather uppers and the soles so that they look clean and tidy, even after years of marks, scuffs, and others signs of use.   

Lindsey of Café Johnsonia offers this very thorough guide to maintain your shoes just so, "8 Secrets to Perfectly Polished Shoes." She discusses the two major types of shoe care products and the right tools and techniques to clean and protect from water and other damage.

She says, "Brushing away dirt and dust will help keep the leather looking good, and polishing them with good quality creams and waxes will help condition them and prolong their life by protecting against water damage, etc."

Check out Lindsey's tips at Living Well: 8 Secrets to Perfectly Polished Shoes [Design Mom] 

 

For more on shoe care, check out the ManMade guide to protecting and caring for leather boots:

 

Weekend Project: How to Create a DIY Geometric Chair

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DIY Geometric Chair

A quick project for the weekend? Try this one!

This how-to by Hej Juni is perfect for the weekend; it's easy and affordable. If your seats need an upgrade, there's no need to spend money on a whole new set - especially if you're gonna have to also buy other accents to go with it.

For this geometric chair project you'll need:

  • Chairs of your choice (either new from Ikea or a few old ones that need a revamp)
  • Painters tape
  • Paint and brushes

To make it, simply cover certain areas of the chair with the painters tape to create a geometric pattern, apply paint, let it dry a little bit, then peel off and voila! New awesome seats for your modern butt.

I suggest you stick to a couple colors maximum so it doesn't end up looking like a kindergarten classroom.

For more images, visit Hej Juni! 

 

New Favorite Instagrammer: Whimsical Illustrations Merge with Everyday Objects

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Ecuador-based graphic designer Javier Pérez uses Instagram's simple image-sharing format to wonderful creative effect, looking at the shapes of common household objects and using simple black lines to bring them to life.    

My Modern Met reports, "From a still life of lungs to adventures in spaghetti rain, Pérez finds ways to bring life to all kinds of static objects. His imagination leads to many inventive creatures and characters and, through just a few quick pen strokes, he transforms small, unexpected food, flowers, gadgets, and tools into lively and expressive artworks. His cheerful collection, which will certainly make you smile, is the artist's way of reminding us that 'we [all] have an inner child who wants to have fun and play.' "

Follow Javier as @cintascotch on Instagram, and read more on My Modern Met: Whimsical Illustrations Merge with Everyday Objects 

 

How to: Make a DIY Industrial Bar Cart for Under $40

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Frustrated with unnecessarily high prices for unnecessarily flimsy discount store kitchen carts, Andrew decided to get creative and whipped up an industrial-styled bar cart.The trick is a clever repurposing of a new wheeled tool cart from discount hardware store Harbor Freight, which has stores in industrial commercial areas in every city. I don't recommend their power tools for safety and accuracy reasons, but for something like a rolling cart, they're a great solution, especially with the 25% coupon you can find everywhere. 

To give it a more finished look, add some wooden shelves, and dangle your bar tools from the handle using s-hooks.  Check out the complete how-to at Primer: Make This DIY Industrial Bar Cart for Less Than $40 

 

 

Blow My Mindsday: November 6, 2013

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Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web. 


So get this: apparently, thousands of unrelated people dream about the same guy, and nearly all of them refer to him exclusively as "this man." The dreamers even created uninfluenced artwork depicting the same face and characteristics.

 

created at: 11/06/2013

Except....not really. See the full story on i09: Why Are Thousands of People Dreaming About This Man? 

 

Casey Neistat got a ticket for riding a bicycle not in the bike lane...which is not illegal in New York City, or anywhere, because bicycles are vehicles. And he made this awesome video as a response. 

 

 

Scientists at Oxford University have found that whisky has a different taste depending on where it's sipped. Not where it's made, but the exact location in which you're drinking it. Read more on NPR: The Salt 

 

I seriously doubt the legitimacy of this, but I do find it funny. Roadkill wolf.

 

A conversation with Banksy...in spray paint. 

 

 

 

DIY Idea: Make a Minimal Wooden Lamp

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ModelWorks Lamp

Striking simplicity! This ModelWorks Lamp is perfect for your desk, as a gift, and even as a DIY challenge.

ModelWorks is a line of Scandinavian designed goods that has some awesome objects for the home - all within the traditional scandinavian minimalism that has made this region a hot spot for trend spotting for DIY'ers and home decor lovers.

This lamp is the perfect addition to your holiday shopping list, it's design is so clean and simple, you can be 100% sure that your friends will love it (no matter what kind of space they have).

Now, if you want this for your own space, you can get if for around $150 bucks, which yes, it's kind of steep for a lamp, but then again it's handmade and there's a whole team working behind this item. If your budget is tight though, you can always DIY it.

Taking inspiration from this piece, you could get yourself a block of wood, an extension cord, a hole saw to cut the recess and insert the bulb and cord and...that's about it! 

Another advantage of DIY'ing it is that you can paint it any color you want - perhaps just dip it in black or white to preserve the minimal look, also allowing you to use an inexpensive wood. 

You should definitely look around their store for more delightful inspiration, and why not? Snatch a few of their goodies!

 

 

Take the Quiz: How Creative Are You?

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created at: 11/06/2013

Growing up, we (well, at least I) learned that creativity was a facet of one's artistic talent: if you can sing or draw or make up good stories, you were creative, and encouraged to develop it. But, thankfully, we've learned that creativity is more than just a "one size fits all" kinda thing, and more than just your ability to use a pencil to make realistic looking objects or even solve problems.

 

A new article published in journal Behavior Research Methods proposes a new way of measuring creativity: through associating a verb with a noun. "A verb's creativity level is determined by gauging its unusualness, which researchers figured out by using a statistical technique called latent semantic analysis. The analysis involves taking a chunk of "English language text and statistically [determining] how substitutable one word is for another..."

The Huffington Post has a feature article on the test, and an quick excerpt you can use to test your own. Give it a shot, and come back and let us know how you did.

I got a 17, but shant tell you my answers so as to not influence your experience. Check it out: How Creative Are You? (QUIZ) [Huffington Post]


How to: Make DIY Star Wars Snowflakes (Free Templates)

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created at: 11/07/2013

Designer Anthony Herrera has released a brand new set of Star Wars snowflake templates, free for downloading and making en masse as you settle into the holiday season. Anthony's been offering a fresh batch each year (previously here), and says about this round: "It happens every year. The days get shorter, a sub-zero chill is in the Hoth air, the wampas start venturing into your hidden home base, and new Star Wars Snowflakes are introduced for holiday crafting fun. New to 2013, battles. It just isn't Christmas without a T-47 Snow Speeder making an attack run on an AT-AT, or Luke Skywalker facing down a hungry Rancor beast. Enjoy 13 new designs. So, get yourself a sharp cutting blade and have fun."

 

Each year, the designs get a little more complex as Anthony takes on more intricate characters and images, including some that only the super fans would recognize inside these rather elegant shapes. Snag all the templates - for free - at his site. Thanks, Anthony!

Star Wars Snowflakes 2013 

 

 

Alp Impressions by Lukas Furlan

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Alp Impressions by Lukas Furlan

Sometimes,  we just need photos like this to remind us to get out of our familiar cribs and explore whatever we can get under our feet. This morning, these are totally doing it for me. 

Alp Impressions is a series by Austrian-born, Italy-based photographer Lukas Furlan. Sure, they may be a little digitally enhanced, but the geology and landscapes? All nature. 

 

And it's helpful to remember that there are that many stars in the sky. 

Check out the full series on Lukas's Behance page: Alp Impressions 

 

 

FlyKly Turns Almost Any Bike Into an Electric Cruiser

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Flykly turns any bike into an electric cruiser

FlyKly is one of the coolest things we've seen on Kickstarter, and its no wonder why they are well over their goal already. This new product could potentially revolutionize the way we commute, while still allowing you to use you bike with traditional power.

Oh and this isn't only a, uh, "wheel motor."  It also serves as a bike lock, allowing you remotely lock the wheel. 

Now, this all sounds super dreamy, we know, so we'll have to wait until it comes out. If you want to get your own or you want to support this project, then visit FlyKly on Kickstarter and let us know what you think of it!

Would you get one?

 

Super Minimalist Movie Posters by Michal Krasnopolski

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Polish artist Michal Krasnopolski has taken the minimalist pop culture trend to its most, um, minimalist. Using only straight lines and a single circle, Michal summarizes dominant imagery of the film, or creates a reduced version on its (existing) iconic poster. 

Each design is built on "a basic grid consisting of one circle and two diagonals inside of a square... The artist then used playful techniques to translate elements from each story into symbolic representations of certain characters and plot points. With one simple yellow circle, he conveys the essence of The Lord of the Rings while a single diagonal line captures the powerful flight of Superman. 'There's an enormous strength in simplicity; the fewer elements, the more we engage our imagination,' says Krasnopolski."

Toss in some color, a few gradients, and a little Futura, and you're good to go. 

 

This one is eluding me a bit? It's it the line of heroin that causes Mia's overdose? The red is throwing me off:

 

Check out the whole series at My Modern Met: Classic Movie Expressed Only with Minimalist Lines 

 

 

 

 

How to: Make a DIY Reversible Bow Tie from Old Neck Ties

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created at: 11/11/2013

Jason Loper - founder of Captain Dapper and friend of ManMade - figured out this excellent technique for turning old worn out neck ties (hit the thrift store!) into stylish DIY bow ties. It's a simple matter of removing the existing stitches in the tie, adding that classic bow tie pattern, then sewing everything back up. Since it's customized, you can sew your tie to the exact size of your neck, making the scale work for you, every time. 

Jason says, "My friend Travis loves these two old ties but they're too wide to be on trend. Wanting to re-use the fabric, Travis came to me with a request to turn these old dated ties into stylish new bow ties bow ties. Ask and you shall receive, my friend. This is a perfect job for Captain Dapper! Before I started, I created a paper pattern by placing one of my store bought bow ties on a piece of Kraft paper and then tracing around it. Once I cut the paper pattern out, I was ready to get started."

If you don't have a bow tie to use as a pattern, there are hundreds free for download all over the internet.

Check out the full process - Dapper DIY: Turning Two Dated Old Ties Into One Reversible Bow Tie 

 

 

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