- April + Hien

Christmas in a Glass

mulled wine

• 2 clementines

• peel of 1 lemon

• peel of 1 lime

• 250g caster sugar

• 6 whole cloves

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 3 fresh bay leaves

• 1 whole nutmeg

• 1 whole vanilla pod, halved

• 2 star anise

• 2 bottles of Chianti, or other Italian red wine

This is dead easy to make and tastes like Christmas in a glass. It’s a lovely celebration of those traditional festive spices like cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. If you’ve got your own favourite spices, then feel free to add those to the pot too. Let everything cook away and warm up gently so the flavours have time to mingle with the wine.

Peel large sections of peel from your clementines, lemon and lime. Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the clementine juice. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Throw in your halved vanilla pod and stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar. Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine and then bring to the boil. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you’ve got a beautiful thick syrup.

When your syrup is ready turn the heat down to low and add your star anise and both bottles of wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into glasses and serve them to your guests.

H.N.

Blackmago: Life is a big project!

Blackmago (DeviantART’s ID)‘s works are ‘amazing’, ‘cute’, ‘admirable’, ‘charming’, ‘wonderful’, ‘lovely’, and ‘awesome’. They are just a few among hundreds of comments he receives every day. Let’s meet the guy (who is, by the way, just as lovely as his works):

Q: Please introduce yourself and what you do.
A: My name is Alejandro Velasquez, I am Peruvian and am currently residing in Equator. I enjoy illustrating using both traditional and digital media (painting in gouache and working on pixel art). As of now, I am an assistant working for a game's development.

Q: How on Earth have you mastered the two very different techniques – gouache and pixel – I am amazed! A quick description of your artwork please, especially your pixel pieces. (You’re the first pixel artist I know so I am super curious!)
A: Basically, I will always use a specially selected colour palette. This is how I try to keep it all under the same atmosphere. My pixel works are mostly based on friendly characters inspired on Peruvian or Japanese culture, sometimes even elements from my own life.
Green is a must in my pixel works; you will always find nature thematic as well.

Kappa Planet

Q: How is pixel art different from other more traditional types? What is your process of producing a piece?
A: it is different because here you can easily depict small things while keeping its sharpness. It is addictive, a challenge in its own way, not unlike many other medium. Sometimes I think of pixels as Lego blocks. Firstly, when producing a piece, I sketch the character on paper. Once I define the desired shape, I start doodling on "Paint" program using a single base colour. After laying down the black line art, I add the colours and detail. If animation is required, I use "Animationshop3" program.

Q: In your works, what theme do you pursue?
A: Nature, whimsical stuff, green colours, anything that can be friendly and cute.

Bringael Kappa Bottle

Q: What do you like and dislike about your works?
A: As any other artist I have to like my own works in order to show them to others...even if I still think I am " under training", I like to push the limits all the time , even if my style is minimalistic in some way. There are many things I can do better, it's just a matter of time and practice.

Q: What is your dream project?
A: I think I used to have this dream when I was a child... Now I AM living my dream... to be an artist and live of it. Life is a big project presented in several layers.

Opito's Spring Garden

Q: Name three artists you would like to be compared to.
A: I would like to be known for having a personal and original style; I would prefer that, instead of being compared.

Q: What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
A: To never think there is a limit... as long as we are alive, we can change anything we can, as long as we let others do the same.

Q: Professionally, what's your plan from where you are at the moment?
A: I am working now as an pixel artist in Equator, I will stay here until March next year, one of the parts of this project is a game made entirely in pixel art. Once the project ends, I still have other proposals for other kind of projects (related to pixel art or illustration). At the same time I supervise my new collection of nativity ornaments for Italy and Germany, as for today it's something I am doing online.

Q: What wouldn't you do without?
A: I wouldn't have done it ...without the people who are all the time encouraging me, my mother, God and my beloved friends.

Thank you Blackmago. Please write us again when your pixel game is done – we can’t wait to see/play it!!! :) Now you readers, go to Blackmago’s website and swoon! There are some of the cutest things you can ever find on the Internet, like these:

Sonata Quatro

The Place I'll Return One Day

H.N.

Sketch

Design

{work in progress for my friend's website}

How are you doing invisible peeps? I hope you liked our interview with Vinyl Disco. Please come back tomorrow for another Q&A session with my favourite pixel artist ;)

H.N.

P.S.:

Warrior

Under the name of Vinyl Disco on deviantART, Kim Akrigg is an amazing photographer from Vancouver BC whose works are worth checking out. Similarly to Bella’s pieces, Kim’s are fantastically dreamlike. And although they are strong in ideas and concepts, the femininity and subtlety shine through. This is what she writes on her website: She picked up a camera in 2007 and hasn't been able to put it down since. She aims to find the unusual in the usual, searches out the beautiful in the everyday, and wants to make you look at things in a different way.

I was really impressed I sent her some questions, and she was so kind to answer them for us. Please visit Kim at her blog and her website for more awesome photographs – be supportive and leave your comments too ;)

Q: Please introduce yourself and what you do.
A: I'm Kim, and I'm a photographer. I work in a hair salon sometimes too, but I'd rather not.

Q: A quick description of your artwork.
A: I find that I think in pictures more than I think in words, and my photos represent that. I like to be able to create things that don't necessarily exist.

Q: What is your process of producing a piece?
A: It varies; sometimes I'm inspired by a place, the way someone looks or a piece of clothing. Once I have an idea I try to figure out all the other details such as make up, lighting, location, who I want the model to be. Then I shoot and then edit.

Q: In your works, what theme do you pursue?
A: Fantasy, things that are a little odd or different, finding beauty where you didn't think it was, things that don't exist, childhood memories, dreams

Q: What do you like and dislike about your works?
A: I like how I can express what I think through photos, I dislike most of my work after a little while because I believe it could be better!

Q: What is your dream project?
A: I'd overall rather be able to only take photos and have that as a career than achieve just one project...but that said I'd love to shoot for Vogue one day.

Q: Name three artists you would like to be compared to.
A: I think everyone wants to find their own style and voice rather than just be compared to someone else, but my favourite photographers are Tim Walker, Bruno Dayan, Lara Jade, and Paolo Reversi.

Q: What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
A: Do something you love and the rest will follow.

Q: Professionally, what's your plan from where you are at the moment?
A: Build my book up more, work on getting more photos published, and figure out how to obtain an American working Visa!

Q: What wouldn't you do without?
A: Aside from food/water/etc., I think the things we take most for granted are the ones we usually couldn't live without.

Bones

Shadow and Light

Oh Deer

H.N.

‘How much did your architectural education cost? No idea? Well, consider yourself lucky.’

I read this article on Building Design Online and got really curious, I decided to calculate exactly how much my architectural education has cost, well, so far. (God helps me, 7 years and it’s not ever done yet???)

Let’s see:

3 years of Undergrad, £8 700 each = £26 100

Plus living expenses, say £10 000 a year = £30 000

2 years of Postgrad, £12 000 each but thanks to International Scholarship I had to pay ONLY a mere £12 000 for both years!!!!

Again, living expenses = £20 000

Don’t forget the loveliest £1 500 or so I had to depart with for my Part I exam. Hmm.

This amounts to a staggering £89 600 altogether. Let’s call it £90 000!

Seriously WHY DID I BOTHER?????????? I’d have been much better off with £90 000 in my bank account! ;D

H.N.

The New Establishment*

*this is the abridged version of an article on Blueprint.

‘I hate how no one ever talks about how bad British architecture really is. I hate the bastards who make these buildings. So here I am, taking the piss out of them.’ This is the strap line for Bad British Architecture (BBA), a website written under the pseudonym Ghost of Nairn that strives to point out all that is wrong with new buildings in the UK. Rowan Moore recently mentioned the site in an article for The Observer as an antidote to the pro-British cheerleading that emerges from the excessively cosy architecture establishment.

BBA, though, is not so far from the establishment itself: it is written by Kieran Long, ex-editor of the Architects Journal and Architectural Review, and current architecture critic for the London Evening Standard. Like Gavin Stamp’s Pilotti column for Private Eye, although considerably less well written and researched, BBA is an outlet for reactionary bile that doesn’t make its way into Long’s contribution to mainstream outlets.

Blogs don’t necessarily mean outlets for rage. It is, fundamentally, a mean of communication.

Moore’s distinction between the voices of establishment and the opinions of the blogosphere is understandable and widespread. Bloggers are widely seen as lone, independent hobbyists. Andrew Marr recently caused a stir by characterizing bloggers as ’socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed young men sitting in their mother’s basements… They are very angry people.’ (seriously?!)

Long’s Bad British Architecture, though highly critical of modern buildings, focuses upon work by large commercial architects or faceless developers that have no critical standing. Largely based on upon renderings, photographs or passing observations, it hardly amounts to a useful form of criticism. One can see the beginnings of a critical approach to architecture online: recent articles by Murphy on Zaha Hadid’s aquatic centre for the London Olympics, or Hall on the legacy of Alvar Aalto give some indication of the direction it could take, but still they remain isolated examples, and take a deeply personal view rather than a critical position. As traditional publishing media and institutions become less influential, one wonders where architects can go to find informed, intelligent criticism of their work.

Personally, I think BBA is a great blog, giving architecture the so-much-needed ‘fun’ factor. Hands up if you DON’T want to rate buildings as ‘Normal Bad’, ‘Funny Bad’, or ‘GBH’ (short for ‘Grievous Bodily Harm’)! Why so serious?

It’s no longer possible to consider architectural blogging to be purely the realm of lone speculation. They are means of establishing networks of dialogue and debate, they are increasingly by architects, students and academics, and institutions will increasingly use them as a way to curate and disseminate ideas. As blogs become a more important part of the establishment, a more realistic and rigorous approach to architectural criticism online is urgently needed.

H.N.

The Pursuit of Happiness

As the world unravelling in front of us,

it's not your fault those hands are freezing.

But wherever we go, we'll be together.

H.N.

The Desirables

*from asos.com

Darling by name, and quite simply darling by nature - this delightful cardi will go the distance this season and is just perfect for nailing the 60s Lady Like trend that's so hot right now. Wear it by day to jazz up your jeans or team with retro accessories for a touch of old school evening glamour.

Darling Embellished Peter Pan Collar Cardigan, £55

There's statement jewellery and then there's this attention-grabbing gem by Peter Lang. Ticking this season's love for all things Gothic, add some bling to your wardrobe with the nicest sort of knuckle-duster. Guaranteed to bedazzle.

Peter Lang Swarovski Crystal Skull Statement Ring, £155

Granted, you mightn't be able to climb Everest in these hiker boots, but you will be at the pinnacle of style and the envy of all your friends. They've got everything going for them: the oh-so now shade of tan, the perfect heel height, the sturdy cleated sole and utility detailing. Wear with your entire daytime wardrobe and earn instant fashion stripes.

Miss KG Siren Lace Up Heeled Ankle Boot, £100

If I'm absolutely honest, I want everything in this picture... but if we can't buy the lifestyle, at least we can invest in our very own studded crop top. Perfect for Christmas Parties.

ASOS Premium Oversized Stone Crop Top, £60

Love, love, LOVE this beautiful wool cape by Reiss. Granted it's one of the more expensive outerwear options out there, but certainly one of the most luxurious, too, with it's double breasted button fastening, contrast trim and super-huge collar (perfect for cocooning yourself in on wintry mornings). The inky-blue hue is also to die for, giving this cape the edge in the sophistication stakes. Ama-zing.

Reiss Indigo Bound Edge Cape Coat, £275

Now where's my credit card? And what are you waiting for?

H.N.

Renowned illustrator René Gruau is responsible for the some of the most iconic fashion images of the 40s and 50s. Throughout his illustrious career, he worked with prestigious design houses including Balmain, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Givenchy, his most memorable partnership being with Christian Dior. The Dior Illustrated exhibition which currently opens at at Somerset House (UK) showcases groundbreaking artworks by Gruau including original illustrations for Christian Dior Parfums, vintage perfume bottles, sketches and magazines; as well as a selection of Dior Haute Couture dresses personally chosen by John Galliano among which a special dress designed by Galliano himself, in homage to Gruau.

René Gruau’s bold lines and fluid style were perfectly in tune with the spirit of Dior, capturing the energy, elegance and audacity of the brand. His illustrations also tell of a special understanding Gruau had of Christian Dior himself, born of a close friendship between the two men. Gruau influenced the graphic style of a whole generation of fashion illustrators and the exhibition features specially commissioned pieces from five UK based illustrators, whose works draws inspiration from the rich collaboration between Gruau and the House of Dior.

*from http://www.somersethouse.org.uk

I drooled over these illustrations – aren’t they the loveliest things? Go now when you have the chance, and please share your pictures/experience.

Exhibition opens until 9 Jan 2011
Daily 10.00-18.00, Thurs 21.00
Embankment Galleries
£6, conc £5, under 12s free

Some more of Gruau's works:

and the exhibition:

H.N.

Amigurumi

..are small stuffed toys made by knitting or crocheting a body and then stuffing to create a three dimensional shape. These can be animals, people or inanimate objects. Facial features and details are often embroidered onto the finished amigurumi.

They are just too cute for words - maybe I've got to learn how to make some:

H.N.

For the non-fans, “24” is an American TV series with Federal Agent Jack Bauer the main character. There are a total of 8 seasons, each has 24 episodes covering 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration. Well, true that it was the finale of the series last year, but if you thought “24” was OVER, you couldn’t have been any wrong-er.

CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit – The Unit of all Units in America) have just recruited 100 of the most die-hard “24” fans to celebrate the DVD release of "24" The Complete Series by participating a "24" Marathon Fanfest in Hollywood, California.

Started at 20:00 the day before yesterday (2 December 2010), participants have been watching back-to-back Jack (continuous episodes of “24” starting with season one), until there is only one fan remaining. The winning fan will potentially set a new world record for longest TV viewing (currently just over 3 days) and receive $10,000 in cold, hard cash. But for your information, it probably isn’t as easy as it sounds. Rumour is that, after just one day, there are only over 50 people left out of the 100.

How long could you last? How much 24 can you handle at once? My personal record stands at about 12 or 13 hours – more than half of season 7 in one sitting. Mind you, we resumed the second half after only a few hours of sleeping, so we actually watched the whole of it in just over one day. But that’s nothing compared to the marathon taking place right now in Hollywood: 150 hours of “24” and they will have to experience the pleasure of hearing Jack Bauer say “Dammit!” and “Wheeeeeere!?!?!?!” an estimated 5 million times.

Now, preparing for a “24” marathon takes a lot of mental toughness. Seasons vary wildly in quality. The few proud marathoners who actually survive the first four seasons — roughly 72 hours of TV-watching — will then have to suffer through the orgy of Beloved Character Deaths at the start of season 5, which in their sleep-deprived state might cause suicidal depression. Don’t even TRY to imagine how they’ll be when they get to season 8 (remember what happened to Renee Walker??? and the grand finale of good-byes?). Well, invisible peeps please tell us, how long could you last in a “24” marathon? Do you have a personal record that you’re proud of?

In the mean time, watch the marathoners in action:

H.N.

*re-blog from creativeoverflow.net

WTF is a term used throughout the world when something just doesn’t make sense. These posters depict the situations accurately and accordingly. These posters were designed by Minga and I’m sure everyone will find these posters as funny as I did. Check them out below.