Daruma-san

Did you miss me?

2010-10-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back, just over here! Come join me at darumasan.posterous.com.

Dress post

2010-04-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

new blog

2010-04-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

http://orsonthecat.blogspot.com/

Good Design

2010-02-24T22:49:00.001-08:00

According to Dieter Rams

Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design helps us to understand a product
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is long-lasting
Good design is consequent to the last detail
Good design is concerned with the environment
Good design is as little design as possible

From wikipedia

Year in Pictures

2009-12-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Movie Stills

2009-12-24T18:10:00.000-08:00

From a few of my favorites this year. (From top to bottom, Where the Wild Things Are, New Moon, The September Issue).

I forgot one!

2009-12-21T12:19:00.000-08:00

I forgot what is probably the second-most important focus for 2010: conserving our planet's resources.

To me, this encompasses a lot of things.

Buying less
Buying items without packaging
Getting paperless statements for everything
Turning off the lights and taking short showers
Telling waiters to stop refilling my water glass
Treat water like liquid gold, because it's going to be soon
Being willing to pay for items that I think will last 100 years
Using what I've already got creatively
Driving less - as a new used car owner currently living in Burien, I need work on this one
Saving every scrap of leftovers; one drummy and you've got yourself a stew!

In the year 2010

2009-12-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

I don't believe in resolutions anymore, but I do believe that years have a certain focus. Sometimes a focus is only clear after a year is done, sometimes a focus for the upcoming year is already evident. Without further ado, here were mine for this year and here's what I expect they'll be in 2010.

Last Year
Really listening when people talk
Eating vegetables
Sleep!
Constantly creating art
Exploration/second teenagerhood
Learning to complete tasks

Next Year
Community involvement
Even more vegetables!
Being kind to my joints
Openness to new people
Focused creativity

What were your focuses for last year? What do you think yours might be in 2010? Happy Holidays, everyone!

So cool

2009-10-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Scientists are studying hermit crabs by creating blown-glass shells that the hermit crabs move in to. Found this image plus more info here.

A pattern I'm working on

2009-10-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Behold, the God's Eye.

So damned cool

2009-10-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

I lost the link to the place that sells this! Agh!

From Stella McCartney's Spring 2010

2009-10-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Photography from style.com. I am loving the lace and the kimono shapes!

Tunic

2009-09-28T08:41:00.001-07:00

2009-09-28T08:39:00.001-07:00

Some drapey stuff from StockholmStreetStyle

John and Yoko

2009-08-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've never seen a pic of Yoko looking happy before now. She's very charming here!

Another round of inspiration images for things to create

2009-08-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

Adorable!

2009-08-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

Just several of the doggies available through petfinder.com in Seattle.

Ed Droste

2009-07-06T00:08:00.000-07:00

Ed Droste and his manfriend, I believe. Have been listening to his songs on Grizzly Bear's new album constantly!

The Indigo

2009-06-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Dang, they were at Folklife!

High Line

2009-06-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

So cool: http://www.thehighline.org/ -- A repurposed railroad, now a green promenade in the middle of NY NY.

(Above are some photos from the opening, from style.com)

Another Huge Scarf

2009-06-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

From style.com.

Huge Scarf!

2009-06-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

From Carolines Mode.

Cool Back

2009-06-18T10:53:00.001-07:00

Dress by Alexander Wang

Thinking about reading this again

2009-06-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

This was the color plate in the version my mom had, that I read when I was young.

Thought

2009-06-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

"A man is occupied by that from which he expects to gain happiness, but his greatest happiness is the fact that he is occupied."

Quoted here in the New York Times.

Of Montreal

2009-06-07T12:43:00.001-07:00

Would see them again in a heartbeat. Something about them absolutely captured me. Felt the way I did when I first saw Hedwig.

More things to make

2009-06-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

I think she looks perfect.

Discovering Peaches

2009-05-16T11:22:00.001-07:00

Refreshingly direct

Graphic leggings?

2009-05-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

From Stockholm Street Style.

Octopus

2009-05-06T11:42:00.001-07:00

Things I think I could make

2009-05-03T09:34:00.001-07:00

Pretty Dress

2009-05-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Crystal Gale and her hair

2009-05-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Skins

2009-04-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

This show is really enjoyable! And they play The Gossip and Yeah Yeah Yeahs frequently.

Andrew Gn

2009-04-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

I didn't really know much about this designer, but just look! Images from his spring ready-to-wear from Nymag.com.

Plus one from People.com of Drew Barrymore in his dress:

Gorgeous subtle graphics on the front of a shirt

2009-04-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

From Stockholm Street Style.

I would kill to see this

2009-04-16T11:35:00.001-07:00

The Knife is writing an opera on Darwin. From www.theknife.net

Bjork as seen by Yuko Shimizu

2009-03-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

DROOOOOOL. A cover by Yuko Shimizu of Bjork in her Medulla era.

Karen O in Christian Joy

2009-03-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

I really like the simplicity of these clothes from Christian Joy. Am trying to figure out how to make clothing that can be a vehicle for my art and still look good.

Akron/Family

2009-03-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

I like this photo

Neko's new album

2009-03-01T23:21:00.000-08:00

Listen to it it all here.

Penny tile

2009-03-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

How adorable is this honeycomb tile? From Penny Tile.

Linda Ronstadt Appreciation

2009-03-01T23:09:00.001-08:00

She's so damned cute. I've been trying to emulate her hair without knowing.

I would wear this all day if I could get away with it.

2009-03-01T23:06:00.001-08:00

From American Apparel

The most beautiful picture I've seen in awhile

2009-02-19T01:54:00.000-08:00

I can't believe this photo exists. It's such a treat to see so many beautiful patterns sharing and caring and living harmoniously. Yum. From Wai Lin Tse; more here.

Cool graphic dress

2009-02-09T08:23:00.001-08:00

On Taraji P. Henson, from People magazine.

Inauguration Moment

2009-01-20T17:25:00.000-08:00

From the NY Times' gallery of reader-submitted photos. I thought this was very moving.

Graphic jewelry

2008-12-21T14:55:00.000-08:00

Made by Brevity.

Ok, she wears good dresses.

2008-12-09T06:46:00.001-08:00

Even though Twilight failed to pass the low, low expectations I'd set for it, Kristen Stewart has been wearing some good dresses on the promotional tour.

Move over, Chrisperogative

2008-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

Neko Case album art

2008-12-03T09:49:00.001-08:00

From Pitchfork

John and Cynthia

2008-11-28T13:17:00.001-08:00

From Wikipedia, 1959.

OMG CUTE!

2008-11-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

Sold on Etsy by hansigurumi.

Boots/Socks/Stockings

2008-11-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

New Blog on the Block

2008-11-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

I created a new blog where we can all share our bus stories. Let me know if you'd like to be added as a contributor. Otherwise, subscribe and enjoy!

busodyssey.blogspot.com

The Women of Twin Peaks

2008-11-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

Personal Style

2008-10-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

Award goes to Lil Wayne

2008-10-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

I like the colors on this one best.

I tried anyway!

2008-10-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

My versions!

Mushroom underside

2008-10-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

I was trying to create an awesome pattern with the underside of a mushroom as well. Marimekko beat me to it. Oh well, I can still make something awesome. It'll be hard not to emulate! (fancy word for steal).

Goddammit, Marimekko Part II

2008-10-29T16:41:00.001-07:00

"Kulkue", "Aarre", and "Aarni", by Maija Louekari. At Marimekko.

Goddammit, Marimekko Part I

2008-10-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

"Valmuska" by Erja Hirvi. At Marimekko. Wish I'd made it!

Couldn't help braggin'

2008-10-27T13:50:00.001-07:00

My first foray into surface design! Available at REI.

The Gossip Cover Art

2008-10-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

I found this image playful and striking and hot.

Lykke Li

2008-10-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

Listening to her album Youth Novels.

The Knife

2008-10-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

They put on strange masked shows as well that I would give my [insert bodily part here, except not literally, ew] to see.

<3 #2

2008-10-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

I was looking for images of Bjork to put into my iTunes library for album art. I was reminded anew of how much I love her and her work.

<3

2008-10-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

Elegant / Simple Interface

2008-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.jamiejoseph.com/diamondsgold.html

Murakami Quote

2008-10-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

"If it hadn't been for the increased height of the grass since my last visit, I might have believed that time had stopped in this one particular place. Thanks to the long days of rain, the blades of grass glowed with a deep-green luster, and they gave off the smell of wildness unique to things that sink their roots into the earth."

- p. 59, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, Haruki Murakami

Michael Hughes' Souvenir Optical Illusions

2008-10-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

From Telegraph.co.uk
From Telegraph.co.uk

It's clear that I should make something like this

2008-10-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

From Facehunter. Last one, I promise.

More from Facehunter

2008-10-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

This jacket speaks to me. Missing button intentional?

I am enamored of this kimono! Pants a little baggy.

Both images from Facehunter

Elaborate Folds

2008-10-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

I love love love these colors. I also love that there is an envelope lurking between her pockets and scarf. From Facehunter.

Marathon Lore

2008-10-06T16:36:00.001-07:00

According to Wikipedia,

"The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon.^[2] It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming "Νενικήκαμεν" (Nenikékamen, 'We have won.') before collapsing and dying.^[3] The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD who quotes from Heraclides Ponticus's lost work, giving the runner's name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles.^[4] Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) also gives the story but names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides).^[5]

There is debate about the historical accuracy of this legend.^[1]^[6] The Greek historian Herodotus, the main source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentions Pheidippides as the messenger who ran from Athens to Sparta asking for help, and then ran back, a distance of over 240 kilometres^[7] each way.^[8] In some Herodotus manuscripts the name of the runner between Athens and Sparta is given as Philippides. Herodotus makes no mention of a messenger sent from Marathon to Athens, and relates that the main part of the Athenian army, having already fought and won the grueling battle, and fearing a naval raid by the Persian fleet against an undefended Athens, marched quickly back from the battle to Athens, arriving the same day.

In 1876, Robert Browning wrote the poem "Pheidippides". Browning's poem, his composite story, became part of late-19th century popular culture and was accepted as a historic legend."

Acme Made

2008-10-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

Maybe the economic turmoil is making me crave useful durable items.... Here's a bag by Acme Made with all kinds of awesome storage.

A woman at work today had one that perfectly held all of her papers and notebooks.

Urban Farming

2008-10-02T15:01:00.001-07:00

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/365448_urbanfarming02.html

More Words

2008-09-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

"By age 3, a child of professionals hears about 500,000 encouragements and 80,000 discouragements. A child of parents on welfare hears almost the exact opposite: just 80,000 encouragements and 200,000 discouragements."

--Paul Tough, This American Life

Words

2008-09-30T16:32:00.001-07:00

"A pair of psychologists did a close-up study of two sets of families. One group in which the parents were on welfare, and another in which the parents held professional jobs. It turned out that the biggest difference between the two sets of homes was language. The kids with the professional parents heard 20 million more words in the first three years of their lives than the kids on welfare - mostly just the regular jibber-jabber of parents talking to their children. And those extra words had a huge effect on their verbal ability. It was stunning news, that the biggest factor in determining a kid's later success in school wasn't any of the things we always assume to be true - it wasn't money, it wasn't parental education, it wasn't race - it was the sheer number of words that your parents spoke to you as a child.

Among scholars who study inequality, there is more and more evidence out there that the divide between the kids who make it and the kids who don't, starts in the very first years of life."

--Paul Tough, This American Life

Dress Shape

2008-09-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

I like the shape of this dress. Also from Hel-Looks.com.

Shirt Dress/Tunic

2008-09-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

From Hel-Looks.com. I wonder if my mom could make me something like this?

Quote from Psychology Today

2008-09-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

"Style is optimism made visible. Style presumes that you are a person of interest, that the world is a place of interest, that life is worth making the effort for. True style, in addition to being irrevocably social, is even morally responsible. Consumption isn't promiscuous or random, at the whim of the marketplace, or the urging of marketers. Rather, it is focused on what is personally suitable and expressive."

"The Style Imperative", Hara Estroff Marano, Sept / Oct 2008, Psychology Today.

Floral Chair

2008-09-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Cool print, love vertical lines. From Anthropologie.

Birfday <3

2008-08-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

I didn't want this fine piece of work to disappear after the evite died.

Fresh Addiction

2008-08-29T13:49:00.001-07:00

Just started Disc 1, Season 1. It really is that good.

Eyes

2008-08-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

How cool is this?! Repeated patterns of eyes are an obsession of mine. Found this on designsponge - it's a display from Hable Construction.

Coolest Pattern Ever

2008-08-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

I saw these yesterday at Anthropologie, and the one on the right is pretty much the coolest thing I have ever seen. I wish I'd drawn it myself! Their site: www.nantakajoy.com

Naked and Angry

2008-08-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

www.nakedandangry.com: A continual surface design contest a la Threadless (and also run by Skinnycorp). This design is called Heavenly Scales and designed by Richard Lee.

Neko Case will be at Bumbershoot!

2008-08-22T14:07:00.001-07:00

I'm totally repeating myself but I am too excited to see her next Saturday not to!

Speedo LZR suit

2008-08-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

I miss swimming. Aside from Michael Phelps, these new suits by Speedo seem to the be talk of the games. I do love the Comme des Garcons graphics on the legs.

Circles

2008-08-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love clusters of circles. These are also on style.com, by Taher Chemerik.

Sweet ring

2008-08-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Cool ring featured on style.com by Delfina Delettrez.

The Scene Yesterday

2008-08-21T18:35:00.001-07:00

Words don't do Radiohead's White River show justice except that it was exactly what I was hoping for. These pics are from The Stranger's Lineout section.

Tree Print

2008-08-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Is blogging content from another blog tacky? Because I'm doing it here's a cool print by Melissa Moss I found scouring Design*Sponge on their guest blog.

I like how it shows the relationship between roots and tentacles. So many repeated patterns in nature, like brachia, roots, branches, tributaries - designed to cast a wider net for resources.

Bulletproof by Radiohead

2008-08-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Limb by limb and tooth by tooth
Tearing up inside of me
Every day every hour
I wish that I was bullet proof

Wax me, mould me
Heat the pins and stab them in
You have turned me into this
Just wish that it was bullet proof

So pay the money and take a shot
Leadfill the hole in me
I could burst a million bubbles
All surrogate and bullet proof

Bulletproof, by Radiohead, from The Bends

Ronsons as Tennebaums

2008-08-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

A shot from Harper's Bazaar photoshoot with the Ronsons, using the Royal Tennenbaums as inspiration. Accompanying article.

More More Marimekko

2008-08-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

The colors in this print reminds me of fabric my grandma used (that I loved) in the early 80's. It's missing the crocodile/Monte Carlo/convertible graphics, however.

More Marimekko

2008-08-12T11:20:00.001-07:00

Giant cool graphic here.

Quote: Lao-Tzu

2008-08-11T15:16:00.001-07:00

"Be really whole. And all things will come to you."

Rabbit Fur Coat

2008-08-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Digging into this harmony-filled album by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, thanks to my cousin! I wonder if this cover is supposed to be Shining-esque?