The Shenyang Gallery is currently showing a series of interactive 3D paintings where the audience is encourage to be part of the art work. Kicking it with Bruce Lee? Dione!

This is an awesome way to introduce people to art and culture; it's like a science museum, for grown ups. I And let's face it, it kinda sucks that we can't touch most of the art (and for a good reason), so being this up close to original paintings is quite the privilege.

And hey why not taking this as inspiration for a photo booth? Perhaps looks for an image and print it on a huge poster, use it as a background, add a few props and bam! Your guests will definitely have fun for a while.

To see the full article, visit CJWHO on tumblr (such a good art/design blog, by the way!).

When Mad Men actor Vincent Kartheiser found success and bought his own Hollywood home, he ignored the sprawling mansions and purchased this, instead: a 580 square foot cabin. The space is full of clever space saving details and designed with a masculine yet sleek aesthetic the Kartheiser calls "Japanese industrial." 

Dwell magazine reports,

Astoundingly, the diminutive space was carved into a variety of rooms, something that the actor endured until he commenced a partnership with designer and builder Funn Roberts in 2010...An obvious move—considering that Kartheiser had yearned for a loft—was to completely open up the space to make it one large room...The home’s masterstroke is a bed that descends from the ceiling for sleeping and then rises again to give Kartheiser extra living space once he’s up and about. The pulley system that controls the hanging bed needed some serious hardware, including a 300-pound steel counterweight that’s hidden in a corner of Kartheiser’s closet. For the headboard, Roberts fastened a huge slab of redwood to the wall but put it on hinges so that, when the bed is raised, the piece of wood can flip down to double as a desk.

Take a full tour of the cabin, including a rad outdoor space with a killer sauna and ceiling treatment at Dwell.com:  THE TINY HOLLYWOOD HOME OF MAD MEN'S VINCENT KARTHEISER

Artist, maker, and friend of ManMade Mr. Lentz details his process for making a sturdy and efficient workbench designed for all kinds of crafts and projects. The more projects I finish, the more I realize how essential a strong flat work surface is to every kind of endeavor, and that it should be among the first projects any creator takes on.

What I love most about Evan's bench is that it's made entirely from easy-to-find dimensional lumber and a few hand tools - a crosscut saw, screwdriver, speed square - and a drill. 

Get the full tutorial with an exact cut list at MrLentz.com: A Workbench for Every Craft 

For more workbench ideas, check out this roundup of links: 6 DIY Workbench Projects You Can Build in a Weekend

Apartment Diet shares this cool image of pegboard organization writ large. Taking inspiration from small scale pegboard sheets, where the holes are spaced one inch on center, a large sheet of plywood is drilled to accommodate 1" thick dowel rods for a fully adjustable and re-imaginable organization system. 

In practice, this would be super easy to execute and make for a super rustic yet functional look for most rooms in your home. We approve.

See more: Pegboard Storage Inspiration 

Matthew Schuler has been reading the scholar's Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi book Creativity: The Work and Lives of 91 Eminent People, and has had a few reflections based his own creative experience. Matthew quotes  the author and notes,

I have devoted 30 years of research to how creative people live and work, to make more understandable the mysterious process by which they come up with new ideas and new things. If I had to express in one word what makes their personalities different from others, it’s complexity. They show tendencies of thought and action that in most people are segregated. They contain contradictory extremes; instead of being an individual, each of them is a multitude "

Nine out of the ten people in me strongly agree with that statement. As someone paid to be creative, I sometimes feel kaleidoscopic in my views or opinions, and that “multitude” of expressions sometimes confuses those around me. Why does that happen? My thoughts make cohesive sense to me, yet others sometimes feel that I am contradicting myself or switching positions. What is wrong with me?"

Matthew then shares nine observations that explore the experience of contradiction that seems to coincide with the creative lifestyle.  It's an interesting look at all the factors that go in to making things...perhaps you'll find some meaning in the grey areas.

Why Creative People Sometimes Make No Sense [MatthewSchuler] 

Wahl Grooming recently teamed up with St. Baldrick's Foundation and the Clinton LumberKings baseball team to launch a charity campaign raising money for cancer research. In the city of Clinton, where baseball's a pretty big deal, seeing the hometown team shave their heads was a moment of great community spirit. Watch the video, A Healthy Cut, to see how it went:

(Can't see the video? Click here)

To learn more about this fundraising project, go to WahlGrooming.com

This post was sponsored by Wahl Grooming. 

An interesting little graphic that details what's actually going on inside three different kinds of folding knives. Just learned that my favorites all fall into the "lockback" category. Cause the more you know...

See it in full resolution at Best Made Projects: Folding Knife Types 

The team at Primer offer these free pieces of downloadable art. Just snag one (or all) of these vintage patent designs - such as the Fender Precision Bass, E. Sauer's Camera with Coupled Exposure Meter, and the Double Edge Safety Razor - and take them to your local copy shop or office supply store and have them print them as an "engineering print." 

Andrew says, " love these prints: They’re minimalist in design and work in any room with almost any kind of frame. They’re beautiful line drawings – just imagine the skill needed to draw one of these before computers. They’re also incredibly versatile. You can hang them vertically or horizontally, based on whichever works best for you or what you think looks the coolest."

Get all the downloads formatted by ColbyJH, at PrimerMagazine.com - Free Art Download: 8 Vintage Patent Designs

To celebrate their one year anniversary, design and branding firm Fieldwork created "A Guide to Making Things."The ideas shared were born out of their own reflection and process and they grew over their first year. Fieldwork collaborated with Hey Studio to create a limited edition print version (drool...) but they offer the digital version for free: 

Check out the entire work on Fieldwork's new "Volumes" series: A Guide to Making Things  [via DesignWorkLife]

Austin-based photographer Emily Blincoe has been experience with shapes and texture inside of different color families. In this series, she takes on candy, gum, and other sweets. 

Not sure if this is exploring and commenting on the chemicals and dyes used in the food we eat, or just trying to look nifty, but we like it. 

See them all at Colossal: Color Coded Candy by Emily Blincoe 

Seventy-five years ago, in 1938, Harvard University began a study following the lives of 250+ young men to see how the various ups and downs of adulthood would affect their experience. As Feelguide summarizes, "The study’s goal was to determine as best as possible what factors contribute most strongly to human flourishing.  The astonishing range of psychological, anthropological, and physical traits — ranging from personality type to IQ to drinking habits to family relationships to “hanging length of his scrotum” — indicates just how exhaustive and quantifiable the research data has become. "

Last year, scholar George Vaillant, who ran the study for more than three decades, published some of the results in a digestible form, his book, Triumphs of Experience. The whole book certainly seems like a worthwhile read, but in the meantime, this summary from Feelguide.com provides lots of insights.

Like if you want to be happy and successful, you have to manage your alcohol consumption. And your IQ and income don't really affect your level of perceived happiness. And, oh yeah, your relationship with your mom matters. A lot.

Check out the Feelguide.com's article on the study here, as well as a link to an interview with Dr. Valliant: 75 Years In The Making: Harvard Just Released Its Epic Study On What Men Need To Live A Happy Life

Whether you're actually looking to buy some clothing and gear for a man, or just fulfilling your mom's wish to "send her a list," here are my (Gabriel's) ten picks for style-oriented holiday gifts.

We hope you'll use this gift guide as more than just a bunch of shopping links: it's actually a mini-compendium of rad ideas that mix classic style and some 2013 trends. If you wish to purchase the product, you can do so by clicking on the link provided, but if for any reason you can't buy it (either out of your budget or they don't ship to where you live), take it as inspiration and go use the internet to hunt down something similar.

1. Camo Bow Tie $40 (above): we spotted this awesome bow tie on the tie guy via instagram. We like it because it isn't flashy at all, yet still fun to wear. Pair it up with a denim shirt for a casual look or wear it with your favorite suit!

2. Ripley Oak Barrel Glasses $145: This pair of spectacles will automatically make you extra smart and charming. Not true. But, we're into this pair  of oak barrel Warby's for a subtle retro look without too much plastic. They're a subtle, elegant addition to any look.

3. Faux-Wood iPhone Case $23: This faux-wood iphone case looks manly, rustic, earthy, yet still clean and modern. Oh, and each case is made to order by the manufacturer, so they're each one-of-a-kind.

4. Timex Weekender $45 : Speaking of accessories, we suggest a watch? It's a key piece that brings your whole deal together. The Weekender has a timeless design (umm....) and plenty of band options to customize it to the occasion.  

5. Herschel Backpack $59: Even though there are tons of options for backpacks this year, we feel Herschel is still a safe bet when it comes to quality and design. We like the contrast of the leather handles with the black canvas, and are hoping these won't look as outdated in a few years. 

6. Ranger Hat $285: Hats are always a solid fall/winter item. This ranger hat is definitely a bit more pricey than the other items above, but you can always find something more affordable at your local handmade hat store (think old school hat store, that's where the affordable stuff is). Just pay attention to the shape and materials.

7. Bits and Dots sweatshirt $130: Okay, this one's a bit wild, but if you pair this up with some dark jeans and a sport coat you can totally rock it. The design may look intimidating, but trust us, we're deeming it pull-off-able. It's fun and quirky, so if you have a friend that's a bit nerdy, this is for him!

8. Drop Crotch Zespy Pants $88: This is the grownup version of track pants. The drop crotch makes it modern and a bit edgy, and the fabric makes it super comfortable. Just note: these are for lounging, the gym, and maybe a lazy Saturday, not for everyday use! 

9. Navy Varsity Jacket $96: A subtle scholarly look in a fairly affordable jacket. The All-American look never goes out of style, and this avoids the "I've never grown out of high school" image.

10. Minerals T-Shirt $16: Wow. Geeky rock lovers rejoice! Totally affordable and unique, what else could you ask for for less than $20.

Again, if you find some of these items to be a bit over your budget, we totally get it. Just try to look for something along the same lines and use these items for some inspiration. 

A utensil that can be eaten = less cleaning and more food. Sign us up!

Scissors, Paper, Wok may have created the perfect holiday treat: edible spoons! I know, sounds crazy right? But just look at that picture, don't they look delicious? Since they're pretty neutral, you can use them on almost anything (sweet or savoury), and as we mentioned, you don't have to worry about having enough of those Asian-style soup spoons to serve every bite.

Mind you, they suggest yo buy a Edible Spoon Making Kit, but I'm pretty sure you can find a substitute for it: a cookie cutter, some aluminum foil, etc

Oh and another bonus, you don't need to prepare any dough from scratch! All you need is a loaf of your favorite sliced bread and you're good to go! This is where you can get creative though. Instead of using just regular white bread, why not getting some rosemary rustic bread? Or Cinnamon/raisin and add some creme cheese?.

If you do end up getting the kit, then there's even a video tutorial with tips to help you make the perfect edible spoon.

For full instructions, read this post by Scissors, Paper, Wok

My friend Jaime recently shared this super cool decor installation piece from Cush Design Studio on her always excellent site, Design Milk. Entitled "Balance Bookshelf," each item is handmade by Chris Cush in Brooklyn, and designed to "[help] you visualize your stack of read books vs. unread books...[and provides] motivation to get some reading done."  

Cush's design is simple but executed perfectly, and uses easy-to-find parts such as galvanized pipe fittings, lightweight pine shelves, and twine. We'd never recommend directly copying the work of an independent designer/maker, but the design has me thinking of all kinds of other interesting ideas to display items in kinetic ways.

How could you take inspiration from the Balance Bookshelf in your own projects? Do you like that this piece isn't designed to store an entire library, but provide an ever-changing way to interact with your home decor?

Check them out on Cushdesignstudio's Etsy shop: Balance Bookshelf [via Design Milk]

GQ shares this fascinating chart excerpted from the new book The Kings County Distillery Guide to Urban Moonshining: How to Drink and Make Whiskey by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell. In it, you can see the dominant bourbon whiskey's produced in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, while noting that a surprisingly high number of labels come from a mere handful of corporations and only a few mash recipes...meaning a whole bunch of bourbons and ryes are basically the same liquid and aged for different lengths. And since the barrels used for bourbon all have to be brand new charred white oak, the container for aging actually matters very little.

Here are a few highlighted quotes from the GQ article,

• "Each tree shows the type of whiskey made, and the various expressions of each style of whiskey or mash bill, in the case of bourbons. For instance, Basil Hayden's is a longer-aged version of Old Grand-Dad, and both are made at the Jim Beam Distillery."
• "At Buffalo Trace, these three bourbon mash bills and a rye whiskey recipe become at least 15 labels and many reserve and limited-release variants within those labels. To read those labels, one would hardly imagine that the Blanton’s Distilling Company, W. L. Weller and Sons, and the Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery are all fanciful names for the same distillery, Buffalo Trace, that distills 60,000 gallons of mash into bulk spirit in a continuous still."
• "But if you, like most people, can't find Pappy, try W. L. Weller. There's a 12 year old variety that retails for $23 around the corner. Pappy 15-year sells for $699-$1000 even though it's the exact same liquid as the Pappy (same mash bill, same spirit, same barrels); the only difference is it's aged 3 years less."
• On LDI Rye "This is how one generic whiskey became known by more than a dozen names, including Templeton Rye, Redemption Rye, Bulleit Rye, Willet, Smooth Ambler, and George Dickel Rye, among others. The companies that own each of these brands have purchased LDI rye whiskey and now bottle it under their own labels, adjusting the proof and length of aging in order to create their own differentiations."

Of course, this doesn't mean that all whiskeys basically taste the same, because anyone who's tried a few can tell you: they don't. So what's the difference?

"While the four mash bills contribute to the flavor, the more significant differentiation among brands is done in the warehouse, where the type of construction, placement within the warehouse, and duration of aging have a stronger impact on the finished spirit."

Fascinating stuff. Read the full article (there's lots more to learn) at GQ: The Bourbon Family Tree

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

A fascinating looks at what it took to create the A7L number 056, the space suit worn by Neil Armstrong during the moon landing. It was made, turns out and in of all places, by a bra manufacturer, specifically the division "that manufactured Playtex bras and girdles, ILC had engineers who understood a thing or two about rubber garments. They invented a bellowslike joint called a convolute out of neoprene reinforced with nylon tricot that allowed an astronaut to bend at the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and ankles with relatively little effort. Steel aircraft cables were used throughout the suit to absorb tension forces and help maintain its shape under pressure." Read more about the process at Smithsonian.com 

Mark Fraunfelder came across this image from a 1962 LIFE magazine article called, "How Food Becomes Fuel: The Phenomenal Digestive Journey of a Sandwich." Mark notes, "The hallucinatory illustrations were painted by Arthur Lidov and I have to assume that they reflect LIFE publisher Henry Luce's wife Clare's strong interest in LSD."

NPR experiments with creating an entire meal...in a hotel room-style coffee maker.

The world's tallest and fastest water slide is now under construction in Kansas City. It's called the Verruckt Meg-A-Blaster and the park won't be making any speed or height stats public until the slide opens next year, but it will supposedly shatter all current records.

Brilliant: a mini Lightning cable that you can keep on your key ring so you'll have one at all times. See more at Kero

Russian photographer Alexey Kljatov created a surprisingly simple homemade macro photography rig, with which he was able to shoot these incredible images of intricate snowflakes. The setup involves a basic point and shoot camera, a piece of scrap wood, some black tape, and a reversed lens from an old film camera:

That's it? Yep, that's it...plus the appropriate spacing for focus. And with that, Alexey was able to pull off images like this:

And this:

And this:

For the complete details about Alexey's camera setup and to see the full collection of his snowflake images in high resolution, visit his blogpost:

My technique for snowflakes shooting [Chaoticmind75.blogspot.ru]

(via and camera image collage: Bored Panda)

Murray Carter is the 17th generation Yoshimoto bladesmith. He was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but and traveled to Japan when he was eighteen, inspired by a karate competition. There, he encountered the Japanese bladesmith tradition, and he stayed in Japan for half his life and apprenticed under a Japanese bladesmith for six years.

Murray now works at his own shop just outside Portland, Oregon, and the Tristan Stoch and the Cineastas film crew visited his workspace to create this fascinating portrait of what actually goes into forging and shaping this precision tools by hand.    

Click play to watch the video below:

Learn more about Carter knives at their website: Carter Cutlery

I know the first thing that blew my mind, creatively. I mean, I remember especially liking the "Under the Sea" part of The Little Mermaid when I saw it in the theater, and realizing that I could tell the difference between early moptop Beatles singles and the more experimental stuff that came later, but I distinctly remember the first time I was like, "Man, this is real craftsmanship"... or whatever word made since to me at age seven or eight. It was the Calvin and Hobbes anthology "Something Under the Bed Is Drooling," and I remember being nervous to ask my friend Nick if I could borrow it, cause I didn't want him to think I didn't already know what it was (I didn't.) And, like most kids who grew up in my generation, the strip changed my life. 

Creator Bill Watterson is a noted non-public figure, and has given precious little interviews about his work and process, and only a few actual photographs of the guy have ever been published. So, this cover piece in the latest issue of Mental Floss is a rather notable feat, and totally worth the read.

If this doesn't excite you, then there's probably not much that can be done to convince you...but something tells me this is exactly the kind of thing that ManMade readers will dig. 

The full piece is on news stands now, but you can see a shorter Q&A with Watterson at their site -

Mental Floss Exclusive: Our Interview with Bill Watterson! 

The Ettore Guatelli Museum near the city of Parma, Italy, houses a collection of more than 60,000 used artifacts that reflect the importance of the things we used everyday: tools, toys, kitchenware, clothing, clocks. The collection was begun by Ettore Guatelli himself, and the objects are now artfully arranged around his estate.    

Concerning his collection, Guatelli is quoted as saying, “These are humble things, sure, but some of them are incredibly ingenious, poetic in their humility, and loveable. That makes you want to understand who was there, and what was behind these objects. It makes you want to know in what way and under what circumstances these items were used." 
  

See more photos at: The Museum of Every Object You Can Probably Think Of [MessyNessyChic]