Beautiful Playground

Heart-warming Dog and Polar Bear Friendship

2012-01-19T13:02:00.000+08:00

Warm friendship in a cold cold place.

A collection of miniature food toys

2011-11-24T19:00:00.002+08:00

Well, what can you say? Aren't these so cute?

The collector is a Japanese guy who also collects candies, erasers, key chains and other miniature toys. You can check his youtube page here: http://www.youtube.com/user/RRcherrypie

Nail Art is not just for the vainness!

2011-11-22T00:01:00.001+08:00

It's amazing how anyone can make a hobby out of applying nail polish. You may call it vanity, but for me it's another form of art. Colette, the author of My Simple Little Pleasures have drawn special attention for sharing her creative imagination in achieving professional-looking nail art.

What's more interesting about it is that anyone can do it! No special talent in art needed!

It all looks very simple but not everyone has the most imagination to make art. Nevertheless, it tells us how random art can be.

Check out more of her designs here: http://mysimplelittlepleasures.blogspot.com
and her tutorials here: http://www.youtube.com/user/SimpleLittlePleasues
all photos are from her blog.

An artist who makes photos imitate paintings

2011-10-26T22:20:00.004+08:00

Alexa Meade is so awesome I've never seen anything like her art. I am in awe of its uniqueness and her creative power. If painting imitates reality, her photos imitates the impression of painting. She transforms a 3D space and subject into a 2-dimensional canvas.

Jaime

the Artist and her model Jamie

Blueprint 1


Alexa working on her Blueprint 1

Alexa self-portrait

Found

Know more about Alexa Meade and her works at her PORTFOLIO and at her FLICKR PHOTOS

Your Daily Dose of Webcomics

2011-06-15T01:23:00.001+08:00

Comics is always the lighter visual literary, though it is more explicit in its strength and freedom. Since the use of online publishing through blogging, online comics crawled its way to a more accessible form of entertainment, self-expression and art. Around 5 years or more, I've collected a few url's that I regularly check for inspiration and entertainment. The top 3 on the list have have earned a tattoo in my butt for inspiring me in my daily grind. lol.

QuestionableContent - started in 2003 and until now it's still rolling! I've seen the transformation of Jeph Jacques' drawing style. I regret Faye and Marten didn't became a 'thing' but Dora was just perfect for him although they've split up. I think Pintsize was the inspiration to the Android icon and Hannelore will always be my inspiration.

Wulffmorgenthaler - blunt, sometimes blasphemous and very witty weekly comic strip created by Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler. I looooveee Wulffmorgenthaler!

Natalie Dee - stick illustrations and anecdotes of life. Natalie Dee can be sarcastic and funny. Her comic stories are random references from her own life. She and husband Drew Dee created another webcomic called Marriedtothesea.

The Oatmeal - created by Matthew Inman in 2009, the sole author and illustrator of The Oatmeal is a home based artist and entrepreneur. It has gained much popularity because of it's mockery to social trend, technology and while most people can relate to topics about what we always rant about life.

xkcd - stick figures like Natalie Dee's but not as colorful. It's doodles and statements of love and life.

Another list of 20 best webcomics can be found here.

Found my way back!

2011-06-14T23:20:00.000+08:00

I was somewhere remote and uncorrupted because I needed a fresher breath of life.

Well, I attempted to make a U-turn and welcome myself with a band of monkeys but that didn't pushed through because the idea was too uninteresting. So, when I suddenly remembered the existence of this blog, a gush of creativeness overwhelmed me and an idea was conceived. LOL.

There, I'm back. Fasten your seat belt and ride with me in this carousel :)

Anton Tang's Box Toys

2010-08-24T23:46:00.000+08:00

Anton Tang is a photographer, BMX rider and Danbo Creator.

Never Give Up

Love Lockdown

By Your Side

Push Push

See more photos of his Danbo creations here.

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Jeff Nishinaka is a Paper Geek!

2010-07-31T09:00:00.006+08:00

Just like Yulia Brodskaya and Jen Stark, Jeff is one obsessed with papers too.

See how precise he cuts and folds all those tiny pieces! Amazing!

Watch Jeff working it:

Check out Jeff Nishinaka's website to see more of his works.

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Coolest Music Videos

2010-07-19T15:16:00.006+08:00

There are a thousand unique song interpretations out there. Some are just unforgettable and quite popular.

Who actually started the 'lying' music video? The most recent one is perhaps Adele's 'Chasing Pavement'.

But Oren Lavie's 'Her Morning Elegance' is better way done

For me, Gorillaz popularized the cartoons concept. But the 'Stylo' video is the post-cartoon era of Gorillaz. I believe this is their coolest video.

Some more electronic musicians decided their videos in animated cartoons too
Gigi D'Agostino's 'Bla Bla Bla'

and Jason Forrest' 'War Photographer'

And speaking of entertaining animations, I think Blur's Coffee and TV is unforgettable from the 90s

How about entertainment + humor? Ok Go's 'Here It Goes Again' is on the benchmark

And Dave Grohl is such a LOL! is he really a funny guy? I like him better than Jim Carrey here --- Foo Fighter's 'Learn to Fly'

And of course they have 'Big Me' which makes me quite bias on Foo Fighters just because I like Dave Grohl =D

Moving on to ballads, I just found a counterpart of Tom Jones' 'Delilah'. I wish somebody made a video interpretation of it similar to Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue's 'Where the wild roses grow'

It's like I'm watching a short film about the song's lyrics. I like literal interpretations.

My first impression of Bat for Lashes' 'What a Girl to do' is boring. But if you give it a chance and watch it intently until the song is finished, you'd see it isn't easy to make the other wierd bikers to appear and hide at the back of the vocalist.

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do

Parlophone Records | MySpace Music Videos

Sia's 'Breathe Me' video was one of those which uses still animation. I didn't really expected it to be less dramatic than the song itself. But it's definitely cool.

Underwater or yet submerged subjects is I guess not an easy video to make. My thumbs up are on Tool and Massive Attack for digging the challenge.

submerged in the watery womb, I mean.

I hope you enjoyed my list. There are definitely more cool videos from Bjork, Moby, Prodigy and more. I even bow my head to Enigma's Return to Innocence. You can also check out Smashing Magazine's 29 Brilliant Music Videos here.

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Snack Pack Pudding vs Black Sambo

2010-06-25T00:10:00.012+08:00

It was Emily's indulgence in The Devil Wears Prada that reminds me everytime I pass by that shelf in the grocery. I couldn't be sure how it would taste. Emily was hungrily devouring each spoonful. It actually look like chocolate-peanut butter spread that's too sweet without bread.

I had to give it a try tonight.

It tasted familiar! I have even made a similar dessert called Black Sambo. From my calculation, each cup was at least P25 ++. My Sambo was cheaper. Anybody can make it, no special skills required. All you need are the following ingredients:

1 pack Alsa Gulaman (unflavored)
2 or 3 table spoon cocoa powder
white sugar
1 small can evap milk
1 packet all-purpose cream

Dissolve the Gulaman according to package instructions. Replace water with milk. Add in also the all-purpose cream. The liquid mixture can be increased or decreased depending on the thickness that you want to achieve. I like mine thicker so when it's cool, it can stand when removed from its mold. When the Gulaman is dissolved, remove from heat and gradually add the cocoa powder and the sugar while consistently stirring the mixture. I don't really measure my sugar, so you have to taste it. Anyway, it doesn't actually need to be cooked. When everything is thoroughly mixed, you can pour it in a mold (if its thick) or on individual cups. Let it cool. I like it best when it is chilled. I believe it's not more than P100 for 1 and a half cup Black Sambo.

You can replace cocoa powder with any flavoring that you like. You can even use fruits like mango or strawberry sliced thinly. I think this process is also used for a Cathedral Window. But I guess Knox Gelatin is used here instead of Gulaman.

Enjoy!

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Amazing Paper Art

2010-04-26T13:15:00.003+08:00

By Yulia Brodskaya:

By Jen Stark:

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Ziggy is a Blobfish in real Life

2010-02-12T16:18:00.010+08:00

Now, we know to whom these creative cartoonists are inspired of. There are in fact, 50 more animal inspirations lining up for stardom. Check them out here.

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Meryl Streep and Country Living

2010-01-27T19:05:00.010+08:00

Watched It's Complicated last night. This past weeks, I had 3 Meryl Streep movies: Death Becomes Her, Julie and Julia and It's Complicated. I watched The Devil Wears Prada 5 times and Mama Mia was like a fever, The Winner Takes It All became a theme song for awhile.

I'm starting to get fond of Meryl, I think.

Anyway, the movie was cool, funny and Meryl's character is sooo adorable. I LOVEEE Jane's house, kitchen, garden and pastry business.

I'm a big fan of country design. There is a nostalgic feel to rustic furnitures, pastel colors, wood and fresh flowers that seem to be very comforting.

One day, I will have a nice kitchen, a vegetable garden and a pastry shop like Jane. If I did not become a graphic designer, I would have been a baker. But it's never too late to have a baking career :)

I found some other blogs with really nice country style interiors. Check this:

and this

Also check Remodilista.com where I got the images of Jane's kitchen above.

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Dinner with myself

2010-01-26T18:43:00.014+08:00

I learned this recipe from my mom some 18 years ago. We don't know it's official name. We just describe it as beef in Kamote flour. I call it Beef Fritters:

Ingredients
1/4 kilo beef steak
1 pack camote flour (you can find this in the flour section of the grocery store)
1 beaten egg
3 large garlic cloves (crushed and chopped finely)
1 teaspoon crushed peppercorn
1/2 tablespoon refined salt
pinch of MSG or other seasoning granule (I'm a cheat, these new seasoning mixes can really enhance the flavor)

How to do it
Slice beef steak in strips
Add in the garlic, salt, seasonings and pepper corn

Pour some amount of Kamote flour in a plate

Pour the beaten egg into the seasoned beef strips

Roll each beef strip on the Kamote flour, make sure each beef strip is coated with flour

Fry until each side is off-white. A brownish fritter is overcoked

Tada!!! Serve with vinegar sauce or best with"Suka Pinakurat"

Though, I overcooked some batch of these fritters because I was busy shooting and trying different angles (I really suck at food photography and using the flash). If anyone knows this recipe's official name or a similar recipe, please let me know.

Oh, I'm enjoying this cooking thing :)

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Peculiar Animals

2009-10-16T20:37:00.021+08:00

Japan is quite blessed with lucky charms. Two years ago, people adored and clamoured over a chihuahua puppy born with a heart-shape pattern on its fur. He was named Heart-kun by his breeder.

Now, he has a baby brother with a similar heart patch! The younger valentine puppy is named Love-kun.

This kitten is also from Japan. Though she looks sad and confused most of the time, she's actually cheerful and has a high self-esteem.

And she finds a match in Panda

Most animals are born with siblings. Some are having a twin stuck in their tiny bodies.

(click images for more siamese animals)

This one is a Black Vulture ironically, it's white

And who would forget the elegant pink dolphin in the lake of Louisiana? Gorge of the gorge!

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I want this Rolltop!

2009-10-15T16:58:00.004+08:00

Perfect for people who moves a lot, like me. Such a creative idea from Orkin Design. I am amazed! Can this be the future generation of portable computer?

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The Art of Lucille Umali

2009-09-29T18:11:00.015+08:00

Her unfathomable imagination and her vivid visuals of passion, Lucille Umali portrays the phantoms of pain and bliss. The vehement rapture of her strokes and colors summons mirage and truth, surreal and real, lifeblood and death. Her first solo art exhibit, SORE/EROS mirrors the tragedy and redemption of her love and pride.

(click image for details)

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Good Beautiful Morning!

2009-07-10T08:12:00.008+08:00

when the sun wakes up

and your eyes first see the morning

the sweet smell of mist provoked your slumber

my heart will be born

to embrace you―

warmer than the sun

happier than the light

lighter than the wind.

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Thank you Manny

2009-05-05T10:26:00.006+08:00

for uniting every Filipino fan, breaking the walls of religious and political differences,
for making us proud of our being a Filipino - You are the contemporary patriot,
and for temporarily ceasing hostilities.

Here's a compilation of Manny's greatest fights:

Alright, I know this post is kind of overdue clamor, I'm such a procrastinator and a loafer. SRY...

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Little Boys Do Fall In Love

2009-05-04T10:25:00.006+08:00

She said , boys do fall in love , they make time
They get love on a saturday night
And she said , hearts beat as they dance
In the street to a radio , oh
Boys fall in love

Damn, I never knew love can be so cute and... funny. lol

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Today is Earth Day!

2009-04-22T10:19:00.011+08:00

Yahoo and Google are having its celebrated logos once again:

This one's from Yahoo is in Flash animation, so better check it from the website itself ;)

Ok now, lets give our earth some warm lovin'

(polar bears Bill and Lara photo by Associated Press)

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This Week's New Singing Sensation

2009-04-21T10:37:00.007+08:00

...is the surprisingly talented Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent.

Embedding of her performance video is disabled so just copy paste this URL on your internet browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

Here's an interview of Susan by the cbsnews

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Super Granny!

2009-04-14T18:17:00.010+08:00

There's no such thing as too late to get famous. This 91-year old cook and great grandmother, Clara is earning fame in her videos in youtube because of her unique way in preparing delectable and practical dishes. Currently, she has more than 200,000 views in her Great Depression Cooking videos. Here's one episode:

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Fantastic Easter egg art

2009-04-12T14:06:00.008+08:00

How do you celebrate Easter? In my country we celebrate Easter in church when after the mass (which is almost sunday midnight) there will be a play portraying the descend of angels from heaven to remove Mary of Nazareth's mourn veil and to welcome Christ's resurrection. In my dialect, we call it "Sugat" or Meet. I once portrayed one of the choir angels when I was 11. lol.

In most part of the world, the Easter egg and the Easter bunny is more popular than the angels on Easter Sunday. How did the bunny lay eggs? And what's with the egg? The egg has been the symbol of fertility and rebirth and it was believed that every life form is born from an egg. Egg decoration was practiced by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and Persians to enthusiastically celebrate and welcome the coming or the rebirth of life, hence Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And the bunny? Because they are known to be the most fertile animals.

And so, Easter egg decoration has become a serious art, really serious art:

Franc Grom egg shell art.

In Croatia, their intricately painted giant Easter eggs is slowly earning global fame, it's even touring!

Awesome American States Easter Eggs from Damn Cool Pics:

more.

And the Eggstravagant Easter eggs. See Reuters' video.

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Oh HELVETICA!

2009-04-08T10:40:00.001+08:00

Last night, I was invited to watch a short documentary film on Helvetica. The film was released in 2007 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the typeface's introduction in 1957. Now in it's 52nd anniversary, a group of Cebuano graphic designers hosted the film showing with 30 local graphic artists gathered to celebrate and appreciate the universal Swiss-born typeface. The group aims to regularly assemble local artists to share and exchange ideas and knowledge in any design field.

Here's a trailer of the film that I'm talking about:

I think the audio is not loud enough, sorry. Anyway, this is the article that BBC News released during the typeface's 50th birthday.

(Helbotica image above courtesy of typeneu.com)

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404 Error Page, hate it or love it

2009-04-02T11:11:00.001+08:00

Oh yeah, we all get annoyed when we can't view what we want to see on the net because its server is being configured or you typed in the wrong letter or numerical code or it's simply playing tricks on you. Whatever the reason, they wouldn't tell you why, instead there are these websites that has creative 404 page to entertain you and somehow delay your boiling point.

Speaking of tricks, this is actually an effective way to tease and entice viewers to stay around or come back to their website because it draws interest and curiosity. My first encounter with a creative 404 page is in wulffmorgenthaler and almost every minute I would come back to check if the page is working already. lol

I found a gallery collection of creative 404 pages in Smashing Magazine:

more 404 collection here.

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Plush Microbes!

2009-03-31T12:31:00.001+08:00

Over the weekend, I had to stay at home and rest and drink a lot calamansi juice because my tonsils were swollen and i had colds, cough and fever. Ugh! Might be the unbearable heat or more scientifically a viral or bacterial infection.

So I kinda picture them microbes that infected me and found out that they were cute anyway! Haha!

common cold

cough

more Giant Plush Microbes here.

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Because we all get bored

2009-03-27T12:05:00.002+08:00

And this is a kick-ass boring BLOG.

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Haha for summer!

2009-03-26T15:03:00.002+08:00

Because the aggravating summer heat has been stinging our skin and our mood, it is just healthy to entertain ourselves at arduous work intervals with some entertaining animated commercials.

Enjoy!

more of this in youtube.

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Dora the Explorer Makeover

2009-03-20T12:20:00.001+08:00

Early this month, a teaser silhouette of the new and fashionable Dora doll was released by Mattel and Nickelodeon. Last Tuesday, some blogsites and entertainment news sites exposed the image of the grown-up doll.

Unpopular responses surfaced. But of course, Nick and Mattel has a defense on this controversy. In my opinion as a graphic designer, I'm not impressed with the revamped character design. It's not distinctive of the gamine character, but well, what's a makeover to you? (nyerher) But really, it looks like a Miley Cyrus doll. Maybe the cheeks.

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I can see your brain, literally

2009-03-18T17:04:00.001+08:00

The Macropinna microstoma

Not exactly: hey, I can read your mind! That would be another story, but isn't it amazing? Read full article from MBARI News

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Who's the new hottie?

2009-03-11T17:00:00.002+08:00

Alright, I know this is kinda' a two-day-old news. So what? I'm still fascinated!

Learn more about it from Telegraph.

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Did you know?

2009-03-11T16:56:00.002+08:00

Finally, my first entry. Wohoooo!!!!

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