Words can’t describe how much I love these magnets from Jailbreak Toys. There seems to be so much out there for iPhone tragics like me, but they’re not all as functional as these!

Whatever you want to do… There’s an app for that. That’s right. Whether you want to buy movie tickets, read the news, write a review, pay a tip, catch a taxi, or even train your dog, there’s an app for that. But what if you want to hang a photo on the fridge? Or leave a note on the microwave? Or save that Chinese take-out menu in a place where you can’t lose it? When it came to certain old-school tasks, the apps were coming up short. A little reverse innovation was needed. Well, good news, everyone… Now there’s an app for that, too.

Introducing the App Magnets by the Jailbreak Collective! In order to bring the magic of the iPhone into the third dimension, we asked an artist to reach into the iPhone home screen and literally pluck out the apps. Then we added a little magnetism. And best of all, we mass produced them so now you too can own your very own set of 3-D App Magnets!

My only complaint is that they don’t seem to ship outside of the US. Please consult your calendar app, Jailbreak – you appear to be stuck in 2003.

Spotted at Design Fetish.

I can’t stop staring at this beautiful idea, discovered at Design Fetish.

This staircase was designed by Imagination Metals, based in Tampa FL. It’s such an interesting idea, although I understand why the commenters at Design Fetish had some issues with its safety.

I’m such a sucker for all things trees and birds…

The very fancy Natalie Perkins of www.definatalie.com is illustrating a zine on body image, and she invites us to share our feelings about our bodies using 10 words or less.

Natalie writes: “Lots of people have contributed their statements already! Some of them are sad, some are funny, but all of them speak to me of honesty and struggle.”

Natalie will be turning her illustrations into an A5 sized zine, and also intends to make it available online for free. If you’d like to contribute, read all about it at www.definatalie.com or submit your statement right here.

Good luck Natalie, I think this is an excellent project!

www.definatalie.com
www.natalieperkins.com

If I was Whitney Houston, and looking for a replacement for my crack addiction, I’d choose washi tape.

Today I received a delivery from kozo tape, and it makes a beautiful addition to the order that happy tape sent me two weeks ago.

Don’t they look beautiful?

My challenge is to actually use this stuff, and not just sigh wistfully at its potential every time I pass the shelf! If this was the year 2020 you’d be able to reach into my website and touch it to see how beautiful the texture is, and how lovely it is to tear and write on. Until then you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Perhaps I have no right to make fun of Whitney. Don’t judge me!

Anyone who has seen my house knows that I love growing plants in vessels of water. It doesn’t matter if they’re vases or repurposed objects like wine bottles, there’s just something cool about being able to see the root systems as the plant develops.

So when I saw this nifty idea over at That’s Noice!, it practically leaped off the screen and into my heart. Isn’t this awesome?

US-based craftyperson Star Redesigns sells these lightbulb vases from her etsy shop for US$10. If you’re prepared to don some protective eyewear, she even tells you how to do it yourself.

A beautiful little video, spotted at Reuben Miller.

Beautiful photograph discovered via weheartit.com

I’m feeling incredibly inspired after signing up for Polkadot Robot’s Quiet Nights Art Journal class, and it hasn’t even started yet! I’ve organised all of my scrapbooking supplies (which are plentiful, despite not being a scrapbooker) and scoured the web for pretty images like the one above that will get the creative juices flowing. It’s been fun.

Other members of the class have begun to discuss their tools-of-the-trade, and after hearing so much praise about washi tape I decided to find out what all the buzz was about. A Melbourne-based online store called Notemaker had lots of different tapes in stock, so I placed an order a few days ago.

There were some lovely little touches in the package that arrived, including a cloth drawstring bag with a pretty pear tree design. Most importantly, the tapes are gorgeous and delivery was swift (and free!).

If you’re reading this from the Northern Hemisphere, you might like to check out Happy Tape for a huge selection. I recognise some of my own designs in there too, so they must be sourced from the same place.

People seem to be using this Japanese tape for all sorts of projects – everything from floristry to cardmaking and wedding table settings. I love the way that this Dallas cupcake bakery (Citizen Sweet) uses it for its distinctive packaging.

In the past 24 hours I have accidentally come across heaps of references to washi tape, but my favourite was a link to this tape dispenser from Tinted Mint, made from reclaimed wood.

Isn’t it beautiful?

I’m looking forward to putting pen to paper in March, with the help of some journal prompts and like-minded people. Tomorrow’s project is to clean up my study a little so that my desk is clear enough for me to work at – we’re still very much in unpacking mode here!

Do you write in a paper journal? Have some tips about using Japanese tape? I want to hear all about it…

W class tram cushions by Mrs Beckinsale. How amazing is this? I think I’ll be in touch with her next pay-day for a custom order that features my tram line. She also has a blog with lots of other Melbourne and London-inspired goodies at www.mrsbeckinsale.com

I’m completely in lust with this cute coffee cup cozy from Polkadot Robot. Pictures like this have started to make me really excited for the beginning of Winter. It’s definitely my season, and I’m sorry that it seems to make everybody else miserable!

I was lucky enough to sign up for Polkadot Robot’s Quiet Nights online art journal class before it sold out. It begins at the beginning of March, and I’m itching to get started. My poor journals haven’t seen daylight in some time, and I think a little prodding is all I needed to get drawing again.

Lifehacker has all the info you need to create your own string lamp shade. It’s easy and looks like fun to make! Does anyone know where I can buy those beautiful big, round balloons?

I’m coming out of my moving-house haze to post this lovely thought from the aptly-named Perfect Sentiment. Thanks to pois rouge for pointing me in the direction of this lovely blog!

I’ll be updating here again soon. Moving and working has sucked everything out of the tank over the past fortnight, but we’re nearly on top of things. Can’t wait to show you our pretty new abode!

How cute are these? I love that we’re still making discoveries like this.

A marine biologist has discovered a startling new crab species that resembles a large strawberry.

The unusual crustacean was found off the coast of southern Taiwan. It has a dramatic bright red shell covered with small white bumps.

Professor Ho Ping-ho from the National Taiwan Ocean University said the crab resembles a species called Neoliomera Pubescens, that lives in the areas around Hawaii, Polynesia and Mauritius.

However it has a clam-shaped shell about 1 inch wide, which makes it distinct.

Crabs are omnivores feeding primarily on algae. There are more than 5,000 known species in the world.

Professor Ho said his team found two female crabs of the new species last June off the coast of Kenting National Park, known for its rich marine life.

The crabs died shortly afterwards, possibly because the water in the area was polluted by a cargo ship that ran aground.

Taiwanese crab specialist Wang Chia-hsiang confirmed Professor Ho’s finding.

Article from dailymail.co.uk