EXCITED. Jenna found this on etsy today, and I bought it instantly. I've seen one on ebay once before, and was sure I'd never see another one again.

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I don't know about you, but we've been watching a lot of Olympics around these parts. I'm glad it's almost over though, 'cause I'm getting real sick of how much filler there is in the coverage.

Obviously, a big part of any Olympics is the graphic design. This is a pretty cool little video about Olympic pictograms. I have to say though, I really don't agree with it's assertion about the two good sets since 1984. Both sets from '68 and obviously the Munich '72 set are awesome. And pretty much nothing has been good since then in my books.

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Loving these Bacon Takedown images. Mmm, bacon. (thanks baconbaconbacon)

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Here's a nice classic Sesame Street bit, featuring some kids learning a bit about letterpress printing.

Speaking of letterpress, if you don't know much about it, there was recently a little overview of one person's printing process over on Design*Sponge.

After feeling like I've been lagging on poster work for awhile, I busted out 3 posters in the last few days, so that they can get up for the weekend. Feels good to be productive. I'll get them up on gigposters sometime soon.

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Don't forget, Layer Tennis is tomorrow. Someone mentioned that last week they couldn't figure out how to get to see each volley. If you click "The Match Preview" it'll take you to this page, which is the page for tomorrow's match. As the match gets going, keep an eye on the numbers on the bottom right hand side of the box, as they'll become links for each volley. Check it out on the page for last week's match here.

I'm so excited that some of you also seem interested in watching Layer Tennis!

Check out an in depth re-cap of last week's match by the competitors here.

I know I said last week that I thought Felton would win, but in the end, I was won over by Vinh's volley's 6, 8 and 10 (which I mostly loved, minus a thing or two. Love the rectangles that become the previous volleys, and, though unsubtle, I think images of the Catacombes are impressive).

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Jenna's mom's friend Ellie sent me this link this week. I remember hearing about someone doing really impressive Etch-a-Sketch art a few years ago, I wonder if this is that same guy? Cool stuff.

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So much minimal re-imaging of book cover and movie poster art these days! This Stephen King set really fits into both groups. Trying to pick a favourite I managed to cull it down to either Carrie or The Shining. Carrie so nicely sums it up in one bold, simple image, The Shining does that, but then makes the image complex. Both awesome. You should just check them all out though, because the Firestarter one, and the Misery one are pretty cool too. And I dig the trees in the Stand by Me one.

That's a lot of tree! Seriously, how could those two horses pull all of that weight? Impressed. Well, impressed, and feeling kind of bad for them. Awesome image though. Thanks once again Shorpy!

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To continue to the thread of awesome (and overpriced) shelves from two posts ago, these tetris shelves are awesome. Seriously, awesome. And expensive! $2630? Ridiculous! Plus $150 freight charge? Yipes!

I did find a price on the triangle shelf from the other day too... $3500... Yipes!!!

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These Converse First String chucks have popped up a few times in my google reader. The more I look at them, the more I would LOVE a pair of the grey ones. Subtle changes from the regular chucks, but so nicely executed. I'm sure they'll be pretty far out of my price range though...

Speaking of Converse, check out this 1928 Converse letterhead. Neat.

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Bacon potato chips? I am kind of tempted to order some of these. They DO combine two of my favourite things...

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As you may or may not know, I have been using self-made duct tape wallets since about grade 10 when I sat down and made a copy of my old wallet. Using the same design, I've made a lot of wallets over the years, for myself, family, and people who have bought them from me. It's something I've always been kind of proud of, and extended to foam padded ipod and laptop cases for myself.

I'm verging on being a traitor to myself though, because I really like the look of this wallet. If it wasn't $29, I'd have already bought it. Inner conflict is brewing on this one for sure, both on the pride and on the price. (I know it's not really all that pricey, but when your wallet budget has been $0 for 14 years, any amount is a big change!)

This all comes out of Jenna pointing this bag out to me. Which is a pretty tempting purchase too, but again, the price is currently holding me back.

This mini wallet is really cute too! Such great fabrics over there!

Ahhh! Layer Tennis starts today!
I was recently wondering when the layer tennis season would start, but I kept forgetting to check it out. Thank god for email notifications, 'cause it turns out there's an exhibition game today. YES!

For those of you who don't know, Layer Tennis is basically competitive designing. Two designers volley images back and forth, each having 15 minutes to create a response to their opponent's previous volley. It's good stuff. Posted live, in real time, with commentary (that obviously comes a little after each volley, as the commentator sees it when we do).

I LOVE layer tennis, even if I can't really watch it live because I'm at work when it's on...

By the way, my money's on Felton. Nobody can graphically represent data like that guy. Always impressed.

I LOVE that shelf. I have no idea how big it is, and I'm sure it probably costs a ridiculous amount of money, but I am coveting it pretty hard right now. Here's what was said about it where I saw it on Design*Sponge: "Imagine it floating alone on the wall, merchandised with memories and other precious possessions. Beautiful and amazing." Could not agree more.
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I made reference to My Parents Were Awesome the other night, and found out no-one I was with knew about it. I assumed everyone did. It can be pretty entertaining, and I know I've got some pictures of my dad that would go well on there. Whether he'd hate me for sharing them or not, that would be up for debate...

Recent highlights in my books include: Tom and Jan (LOVE the VW sweater. Vehicle/clothing matching is key.); Alan and Barbara (AMAZING.)

It's good to be reminded sometimes that your parents used to be young, and potentially awesome. Before they got old of course...
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Speaking of families and photos, have you seen Awkward Family Photos before?

The Final Frontier has to be the best one I've ever seen on there. Hands down. Best.
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I have seen some pretty great music boxes in the last few years (like these ones from Something's Hiding in Here), but the sound of these ones that The Lovely Package featured seems extra nice.

Seriously, I swear when I listened to You Are My Sunshine, I almost cried. So nice. I always find that song sounds somewhat tragic, and that aspect really comes through when you listen to the version they have up there.

Other highlights? The Simpsons, and valse d'amelie (1)
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I find the first image in this Design Porn feature on James Deavin so striking. I love the idea behind that series, and all of the images look pretty amazing. I'm definitely going to have to give his site a good once over.
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Mar/Apr film guide is done. Maybe now I'll be able to feel caught up on something. Oh wait, there's all the work I put off to get that done, and then our big March Break festival... Fun.

Still feeling behind after being out sick, especially when it comes to my internetting.

Best thing I've seen on the internet this week? This 365 bear project. Seriously. So cute. So many bears! Click each one for bigger pictures! (but I think I love the page full of mini bear faces best!)

Best part of the Olympic opening ceremonies? The spirit bear, of course.
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Ever wonder how a polaroid picture works? This video by the office of Ray and Charles Eames explains not only the SX-70 SLR Polaroid camera, but it also explains what happens to the film after you push the button.
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Michael Johansson showed up in my google reader 3 times last week, so I thought I should link to him too. It combines my love of well packed spaces, and vintage items. The first place he showed up was on Grain Edit, and I love the quote from him there: "I am fascinated walking around flea markets finding doubles of seemingly unique, though often useless objects I have already purchased at another flea market. Despite the fact that I did not have any use for them even the first time, the desire to own two of these objects becomes too strong to resist."

I know that feeling! But most of the time I can resist it...
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Have you heard about the new Heinz ketchup packet redesign? I am (perhaps sadly) excited about this! The dip functionality, and also the ability to get all of the ketchup out of the package, is something that always bugged me about the old packages. This new one looks to have solved that. I'm intrigued as to how well the squeeze functionality will work, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

What a weekend. I got a new phone, and the flu. I've been bed/couch-ridden since Sunday afternoon. Not so pleasant.
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I'm loving this moon globe. The owners run a vintage shop on Etsy where they sell a lot of things that are pretty up my alley. Definitely worth taking a browse through.
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These minimalist Star Wars travel posters are pretty great.

So are these object-based tv images.

I need to carve out more time to design stuff just to design stuff for my own fun and enjoyment. That's what things like this always make me think of...
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Wes Anderson's Spiderman. Josh Chong shared this on Google reader. I have to admit, I thought it was going to be crap. I was pleasantly surprised!
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Exit Through the Gift Shop. Bansky makes a movie? I may have to put this on the 'must see' list. It's definitely on the radar, and I need to find out more about it.
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Check out these awesome van designs on A Time to Get. Nice find!

Bears everywhere!

Oso Ice Cream. Cute bear in a scarf!

Bear family! From the cover of a 1966 Eddie Bauer catalog discussed on ACL.
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Speaking of bears (when am I not speaking of bears?), have I mentioned Message to Bears yet? EP 1 has been a go to pick for me when I've been listening to music for the last couple months or so. I don't remember where I first heard it, but I clearly checked him out based on name alone, and was definitely not disappointed.

My top recommedation? Found and You're Safe. Or maybe Swim. It seems you may be able to (illegally) download all of his stuff here. I had no idea there was a split release, so I'll be grabbing that for sure. More music, and potentially another band to get into? Yes, please.
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I generally find it pretty interesting when people do photo-a-day projects. This is the most comprehensive one I've ever heard of. March 31, 1979 - October 25, 1997. Damn.
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How is The Big Lebowski not on this list of Jeff Bridges' best films? Unacceptable.
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Pterodactyls are pterrifying. I'm sure Eileen would agree.

At my meeting with my sister yesterday she showed me Selleck Waterfall Sandwich, and I thought I should pass it along. Ridiculous.
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Another interview people/musicians that I love! Racoon Wedding on Side B. Good stuff. As always, I love what Tim has to say about Brantford. Also, boozy is definitely a good descriptor for their music. I love the brawl-y, boozy, drunken sing-a-long vibe of their stuff.
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Do you want to play one of the weirdest video games I've ever played? First person Tetris. It hurts my head!
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Tiny Living Room Inside a PC. I don't remember how I found this.
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Came across this one at work today: flexible cd/dvds. More environmentally friendly, more versatile. Interesting.
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Millenium Falcon Bed. Seriously ridiculous.

Last week my (proper) use of the term bindle was questioned which got me off on about an hour long search of Hobo related things on the internet (we may or may not have been watching The Littlest Hobo at the time), and I came across this picture on wikipedia. I've really been loving it since, so I thought I'd share it with you.
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Look, it's an interview with my friend Ben Ong, about his band Bocce! Two great things in this world.
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This here giraffe on the Guelph Graffiti blog sure is cute!
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I have found my new choice of vehicle for use in the Zombie-pocalypse: the Armour Horse Vault XXL. Protection AND luxury.
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Worst collab. ever? I guess the end result isn't as bad as it could be, but still, when I saw that these two highly overrated brands (I guess Tommy Hilfiger seems pretty down these days, but Haring seems to be a totally undeserved and annoying upswing) were working together, I immediately wanted to puke. Why do people like either of these brands? (I say brand as, even though Keith Haring was a person, his legacy does live on in the brand associated with his name.)
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Edie Harper, Charley Harper's wife, and a respected artist in her own right, passed away last week. Read a bit about her on Grain Edit. Talented couple for sure.