hovering cat

we have moved

2009-12-01T05:10:00.000-08:00

This blog has hovered off to www.hoveringcat.com!

Make sure to change your bookmarks accordingly.

If you have not automatically been redirected, click here.

etsy finds

2009-11-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things which caught my eye on Etsy recently:

1. Red Bear Brooch by ememem, $37
2. Happy Sloth necklace by marymaryhandmade, $30.

3. Ctrl Alt Del Geek Pillows by diffractionfiber, $46.40.
4. Totoro Leather Journal by BindMe, $30.

squirrels from outer space

2009-11-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

Squirrels! From Space! What's not to love?

Found in pilihp's Flickr photostream.

follow the line

2009-11-28T03:04:00.000-08:00

This book by Laura Ljungkvist looks great - a continuous line leads you through the stylishly illustrated pages, joining various objects along the way.

Via stickers and stuff.

julien pacaud

2009-11-28T02:49:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually a huge fan of collage but Julien Pacaud's work is a perfect example of how effective the medium can be when it's done so amazingly well - clever compositions and strong colour pallettes.

Via animinimalism.

jazz

2009-11-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

Wow! Jazz. A book cover by Cliff Roberts in 1955, for 'The First Book of Jazz'. Found in davidgeorgepearson's Flickr Photostream, where you can also see illustrations from the inside of the book.

tree railing

2009-11-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

I really like this unique stair railing (not so keen on the vase next to it but you can't have everything), made by a company called Imagination in Metals. I live in an apartment, so I don't actually have any stairs to call my own. Heck, the apartment isn't even mine, we rent...but railings like this make me want stairs.

Via stylisholmes.wordpress.com.

lego and paper

2009-11-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

LEGO + paper + special hole punch = genius. MUJI Japan have teamed up with LEGO to create these gorgeous innovative sets, whereby you can use the hole punch to create LEGO-sized holes in paper. Even more playful possibilities than ever before.

Sell them in Europe please, MUJI!

Via Highsnobiety.com.

froot loops

2009-11-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

Whilst browsing a brilliant blog called stickers and stuff, I came across this Froot Loops image. This cereal is one of my enduring memories of a holiday to Florida when I was 8 years of age...I need to buy some off the internet! Or I could buy this book of retro packaging instead. Both would be appreciated.

PS Just noticed the Pig Latin translation in the image - "ootfray oopslay". I like this detail muchly.

Sam Weber

2009-11-21T04:02:00.001-08:00

I've seen a lot of talk about Sam Weber recently, husband of the previously mentioned Jilian Tamaki

I really love his work, a move skewering the human photocopier approach to rendering and bringing in some very powerful use of negative space.

I will gladly admit he's very much one for me rather than Z.

B.

erwin wurm

2009-11-18T01:46:00.000-08:00

If cars really could fly then I'd take lessons to learn how to drive straight away. As it so happens, cars don't fly. So I don't drive.

Erwin Wurm's 'UFO' is very convincing, though. I almost believe that my futuristic fantasy car already exists out there, somewhere.

Via we make money not art.

karolin schnoor

2009-11-18T01:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming soon - here's some fabulously festive work by Karolin Schnoor to get you into the spirit of things (click to view larger size). Visit her website to enjoy equally great and non-Christmas related illustrations!

kodak booth

2009-11-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

A fascinating post on Kevin Kidney's blog, paying some respect to a Disneyland booth and detailing the history of how it came to be (it was originally used to sell Fantasyland tickets). It's still in use today!

shadows

2009-11-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

They have their own lives.

Via Benjamin F.

donut seeds

2009-11-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

Oh wow - plant those seeds! I want to see donut trees.

For a book called "Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin". More photos for this project by Jason Fulford here.

water on lens

2009-11-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

Last month, The Movieum of London in Southbank showcased underwater photographs from Pinewood Studios TV, music videos and films such as Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. I can't resist an underwater room!

Via ShortList.com.

noma bar

2009-11-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

Noma Bar's work is very intelligent indeed - his use of negative space is incredibly effective.

Via Existing Visual.

darling clementine

2009-11-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

Enjoying the retro chic illustration and design work of Norway's Darling Clementine.

Via FFFFOUND!

pantone swatches

2009-11-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

Why do these not exist yet? I want one. These super swatches are Paul Finn's idea - I sincerely hope they get made!

Via We Made This.

yoko tanaka

2009-11-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

This painting at Nucleus Gallery by Yoko Tanaka made me smile. It is entitled "Passport of Pawland for Zinfandel".

what i wish i'd worn for halloween

2009-11-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

Quite a lot of effort on the behalf of an artist from MAC Cosmetics, who painted a woman as a figure from a Roy Lichtenstein painting for Halloween. I wish I'd thought of this! Photos from Tasha Marie.

Via Neatorama.

lucky cat candy

2009-11-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

Well, these are just very clever, aren't they? These "sweet" creations use the candy contents of the packaging in conjunction with the printed design on the cellophane to create a miniature lucky cat! Or a Maneki Neko, as they are also known.

Via TheDieline.

simon page

2009-11-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

Oooh...gorgeous retro-ness courtesy of Simon Page, with a set of posters created for the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

Via ISO50.

light blubs

2009-11-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

I'm a bit obsessed with anglepoise lamps at the moment, so I loved this as soon as I saw it - it is a "light blub" by Pieke Bergmans.

This piece and others in the series are described as light bulbs which have "gone way out of line", taking on strange forms and sizes. There are some really great images on Pieke's website.

Via Dezeen.

here is the house you'll live in tomorrow

2009-11-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

A vintage 'Space Age' illustration, courtesy of Will S. on Flickr. They (and by "they", I refer to the good people of 1957) reckoned that we would live like this in 1989.

I feel somewhat cheated.

Via WellMedicated, where there are many more vivid visions from the 1950s.

kerstin zu pan

2009-11-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

Sparkly and surreal photography by Berlin-based photographer Kerstin zu Pan.

Also, one day I am going to stick sequins all over my face in such a considered fashion. Hmmm!

Via today and tomorrow.

mood bottle openers

2009-11-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

These mood bottle openers could help you to express your emotions - shocked, crazy or happy - when opening a bottle.

Available on Poketo, 3 for $40 or $14 each.

dkng studios

2009-11-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

DKNG Studios are Dan Kuhlken and Nathan Goldman. I was particularly impressed by their perfect portfolio of posters (drawn in by an image on FFFFOUND!, as per usual).

paris street view

2009-10-23T02:22:00.000-07:00

Michael Wolf used Google Street View to create interesting images of Paris. Largely unaware of the Google cameras, people (and pigeons!) go about their everyday business, allowing for artistic crops of natural moments.

Via things magazine.

caramilk

2009-10-22T00:54:00.000-07:00

Great confectionery wrapper designs in this Flickr set by Joad Henry.

Via UPPERCASE.

mona hatoum

2009-10-22T00:33:00.000-07:00

Artist Mona Hatoum exhibited this 'paravent', a black finished steel folding screen, at 2008's Art Basel. It takes the form of a giant steel cheese grater!

Via designboom.

stats

2009-10-21T06:07:00.001-07:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE

When executed visually, statistics can speak very clearly indeed. Information Is Beautiful has a lot of really well-designed inforgraphics. This one based on the cervical cancer vaccine facts is particularly strong (click to enlarge).

shameless self promotion

2009-10-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

I have set up a shop on Etsy selling some of my illustration work as prints - check it out at www.zaraillustrates.etsy.com!

jeanie nelson

2009-10-19T02:35:00.000-07:00

Stunning typographic designs by Jeanie Nelson - this letter 'C' is so inventive! More letters in this post on Jeanie and Jewell, with plenty more work on The Paper Nut.

further proof

2009-10-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

Remember - they only hover when you're not looking. It's how they move so quietly.

Superb airborne cat photography on junku's Flickr photostream.

tea origami

2009-10-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

Russian artist Natalia Ponomareva created this clever project combining tea bags and origami. As the tea infuses, the bird unfolds gradually.

Via Fubiz.

peter coffin

2009-10-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

Impossible logic made real - I admire this ambitious untitled piece by artist Peter Coffin, which is reminiscent of Escher's work, forcing the viewer to question their perception.

ray gun pendants

2009-10-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

These tiny ray gun pendants are super - made from wood and measuring under an inch long, I love seeing the variety of designs in one image. Made by The Builder's Studio, there are lots of different ray guns available to buy, as well as being displayed for viewing on Flickr.

treehouse

2009-10-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

I keep finding great photos of treehouses. I'd happily live in any one of them.

Via FFFFOUND!.

walter martin and paloma muñoz

2009-10-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz are responsible for these super snowglobes, entitled 'Travelers', part of an ongoing series. More exquisite up-close narrative details can be seen on this page.

nibs

2009-10-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

I found this in letteror's Flick photostream, entitled "Andreas Frohloff's nib museum". I love collections and this is no exception.

jason limon

2009-10-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Jason Limon has some beautiful work on his website - I remember seeing these electricity-inspired pieces a while ago but there is also a lot of fresh new work on his site you should definitely take a look at.

kurney ramsey

2009-10-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous photographic work by Kurney Ramsay, accomplished at capturing atmospheric darkness.

Via BOOOOOOM!

pencil scarf

2009-10-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

This scarf? Yes, it looks like a pencil.

Yes, I would like to wear it.

I rarely wish that I could knit but on this occasion, I would really love to learn how to knit, just to make something like this.

Emma Beddard made this, talented lady.

Via the marvelous Monster Munch.

noel tanner

2009-10-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the 'Project Snack' updates from Noel Tanner's Flickr photostream. Some excellent work on his website, too.

polaroids

2009-10-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

Nuh Sarche lives in Berlin and takes some wonderful polaroid photos. My favourites are the ones with colour codes added at the bottom, drawing your attention to the subtleties of the image which might have been missed.

mameshiba

2009-10-03T04:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine the scene: just as you're about to eat, a bean with the face of a puppy appears in your food and dispenses an unusual fact.

This is the world of Mameshiba - there are many more of these videos on their Youtube channel. I have watched them all.

Via Drawn!

calculator

2009-10-01T02:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know if this is an incredibly nerdy thing to say but I really like this calculator packaging.

(Yes, on reflection I do think that actually was an incredibly nerdy thing to say. However, it is true, that packaging is awesome and I stand by my original statement.)

Found in The Product Manual Archive.

heather sloane

2009-10-01T02:06:00.000-07:00

Just came across the wonderful portfolio and blog of Heather Sloane - this illustration is especially clever.

amanda wachob

2009-10-01T01:59:00.000-07:00

I have never seen tattoos like these before - beautiful, abstract and brushstroke-like, created by artist Amanda Wachob.

Via (Into) the Fray.

hamster wheel

2009-09-25T01:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, this is how lights are operated, definitely.

Wall sticker from Hu2 Design.

emiliano ponzi

2009-09-25T01:08:00.000-07:00

Emiliano Ponzi's illustration work is very impressive - I found this image particularly striking.

pac-gentleman

2009-09-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Doktor A created this one-off sculptural tribute to Pac-Man. This steampunk approach to gaming made me smile - I can imagine Victorian gentlemen playing this in the pubs of the 1800s!

Via technabob.

big head(phones)

2009-09-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

Giant headphone speakers - if I had these, I would hold them up to my ears on the bus to unnerve fellow passengers.

Via Addictive DJ Designs.

fantazma gloria

2009-09-18T03:52:00.000-07:00

Some awesome work on Fantazma Gloria, which you should go and look at right about now.

jim and kermit

2009-09-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

I find this quiet photo of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog quite touching. I think it's perhaps something to do with the eye contact, a silent moment of understanding between the two of them. The fact that I can even read so much into this goes to show what incredible and believable creations Henson gave the world. They will never be "just puppets".

Photo via YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF.

cake

2009-09-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

This cake grabbed my attention over on FFFFOUND! I followed the link and it's by Kaitlin over at Whisk Kid - she's written a recipe so you can make this 'Super Epic Rainbow Cake' yourself.

miki sato

2009-09-15T05:57:00.001-07:00

Canadian illustrator Miki Sato's work is so fresh and tactile-looking. This wonderfully surreal piece caught my eye on her blog.

to dry for

2009-09-12T02:29:00.000-07:00

ToDryFor.com sell the best tea towels in the world! There are loads of super designs, though my particular favourite may well be these brilliant bricks, designed by Unity Peg. Who'd have thought you could dry your plates using a wall?

design*sponge desktop - lena corwin

2009-09-11T01:44:00.000-07:00

The wonderful Design*Sponge have a great free desktop wallpaper design by Lena Corwin to download - go and download it now! It is beautifully detailed, just exquisite.

buddha pears

2009-09-11T01:40:00.000-07:00

These pears have been grown inside a Buddha-shaped plastic form by a Chinese farmer. I don't think I could bring myself to eat one, they look too good to eat!

Via Incredible Things and Inspire me, now!

alexey titarenko

2009-09-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

"City of Shadows" is a series of stunning long-exposure photographs by Alexy Titarenko, featuring Russian street scenes. I love the ghost-like quality to them - you should go and see more on his website here.

build your own

2009-09-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

"A kit containing all you need to build your own kaleidoscope." Just what I've always wanted - the packaging is rather lovely, too. Buy one from the Tate Online shop.

alla kinda

2009-09-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Alla Kinda sell all sorts of wonderful illustrated items which radiate happiness, as well as having a super Flickr photostream.

Via Where the Lovely Things Are.

rainbow necklace

2009-09-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Mixko sell elegant, hand-crafted jewellery, all of which I would like to own, thank you very much.

Via NOTCOT.

ray gun

2009-09-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

This incredible 1950s toy is called the Pyrotomic Disintegrator. I love it - it's exactly how I imagine a ray gun should look. Now all I have to do is wait for one to appear on eBay....

Via the Attic of Astounding Artifacts.

dali clock

2009-08-26T01:27:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I've already posted one timepiece today, I may as well draw your attention to this Dali-inspired clock at the same time (Haha, time! Geddit? Ah, never mind...). It is rather wonderfully surreal and can be bought for £19.99 from Vertigo Interiors.

alessi watch

2009-08-26T01:23:00.000-07:00

Oooh, I really like this futuristic/retro watch - designed by Will Alsop and available for £79 from Panik.

nicholay saveliev

2009-08-26T01:14:00.000-07:00

I'm digging this image by New York-based graphic artist Nicholay Saveliev.

sea saw

2009-08-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

Can't beat a good pun. Made me laugh! From Olly Moss's Flickr stream. He also has a great website here.

300th post

2009-08-19T02:43:00.000-07:00

Oh my, it's the 300th post on 'hovering cat'! Let's celebrate with an image by Canadian stencil artist Roadsworth, AKA Peter Gibson, whose witty work adapts existing road graphics to great effect.

Via We Made This.

momonga

2009-08-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

These little dudes are known as Momonga, or Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrels. They live in tree holes in forests in Japan. They are awesome.

Via Cute Overload.

edamame keychain

2009-08-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

This looks like a whole lot of addictive fun. The Japanese Popping Edamame Keychain ($9.99 from ThinkGeek) contains three beans, the middle bean having one of 12 random faces printed on it. Furthermore, the beans are connected to some sort of elastic band, so they pop back in to be popped again as many times as you want. What more could anyone want from a keychain?

Via Lost at E Minor.

spiral wine cellar

2009-08-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Spiral Cellars are a wine cellar design firm who build these clever and stylish cylindrical systems which are sunk into the ground.

Via dornob.

skeleton key chess board

2009-08-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

This walnut and maple chess board is a concept design created by Dave Picket, featuring actual brass skeleton keys. I don't play chess very well but would really like to learn, just to get the satisfaction of locking these beautiful keys into place. However, it might make it less satisfactory for me to throw the game off the table in disgust when I lose....

Via The Awesomer.

blanca gomez

2009-08-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

These simple, colourful faces are simply wonderful - look at all of those wonderful hairstyles! From the excellent Blanca Gomez's blog.

playing the building

2009-08-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

David Byrne's installation 'Playing The Building' is at the Roundhouse in London from the 8th - 31st August.

The work consists of an old pump organ with a series of low-tech cables and wires attached to the building’s pillars, pipes and beams. These vibrate and resonate in response to the organ keys, and the building itself becomes a giant musical instrument.

More information about the work can be seen on David Byrne's website.

hiroshi sugimoto

2009-08-08T00:38:00.000-07:00

I love this photo by Hiroshi Sugimoto - there's an eerie atmosphere to it which appeals to me, I find it very intriguing. More can be seen here.

Via but does it float.

mr. switch

2009-08-04T02:04:00.000-07:00

I sure hope John Caswell finds a manufacturer to make the wonderful Mr. Switch: "Mr Switch is designed to add a little character to an otherwise inanimate object."

ammonite sink

2009-08-04T02:02:00.001-07:00

An ammonite-shaped washbasin, made by High Tech? Yes please! I'll have one of those.

ritzy misfit

2009-07-31T06:22:00.000-07:00

These monogrammed necklaces by Ritzy Misfit are super nice. I'd love a 'Z' hanging round my neck, though if you'd like another letter you can buy one here.

Via fancy frills.

lamp dog

2009-07-31T06:19:00.000-07:00

Awww, poor dog! By arzie13.

cookie

2009-07-19T05:00:00.001-07:00

Cookie (Simon Cook) is a fabulous illustrator with a fabulous portfolio and a fabulous blog (Made in England) to boot.

He was recently commissioned by Beck's to interpret a famous album for their 'Cover Story' project, for which he chose 'The Moon and Antarctica' by Modest Mouse. Great artwork for great music - hooray!

reveal watch

2009-07-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

"With Reveal, time is always in the present. This timekeeper reveals the current time through a looking glass while fading the past and the future. If you are a person of the present, this watch is made specifically for you."

Designed by Daniel Will-Harris, buy it for $89 here at Watchisimo.

sophie henson

2009-07-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

Sophie Henson makes fabulous illustrations, I especially like her typographic creations such as the image above. Lots more to see on her blog, too.

scott hansen

2009-07-11T03:24:00.000-07:00

Ghostly goodness! This poster was designed by Scott Hansen for Ghostly International's 10th anniversary concert series.

It's a rainy Wednesday morning

2009-07-08T02:04:00.000-07:00

And i was browsing ffffound when i should have been drawing and this cheered me up.

By Tom Gauld

HERE

Dan Haskett

2009-07-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dan Haskett's website is one that you should be visiting right now. Go, go and look at his wonderful illustration work.

soup of the day

2009-07-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Via Liquorsnob.

The Big Picture, Boston

2009-06-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

Me again!

Some of the most inspiring photo journalism you will ever see, all in high res can be found at boston.com's the big picture

The london at night pictures first alerted me to this amazing source of inspiration, the compositions alone are worth a browse through.

Anyway, go! navigation is top right, it's glorious.

B.

Jilian Tamaki

2009-06-29T03:34:00.000-07:00

I am aware she's been on the scene for sometime, but looking back through at jilian tamaki's endless versatility and very confident composition, i had to post some up. I'm finding her very inspiring at the moment in my quest to nail my visual language.

MORE

B.

mikey burton

2009-06-29T02:03:00.000-07:00

Much love for the work of creative person Mikey Burton. Go see!

mushroom swings

2009-06-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

Wheeeeeee! This looks like fun...

From baumann-fotografie, via FFFFOUND!

tree tent

2009-06-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of camping but I like to think that if I had to do it, I would be able use this tree tent designed by Dré Wapenaar.

Via Toxel.com.

live now

2009-06-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Live Now is an absolutely brilliant project which focuses on the notion of 'living now'.

Created by artist, illustrator & graphic designer Eric Smith, the project is a growing collaborative collection of artwork, quotes, thoughts, experiences and ideas. Check it out and be inspired.

vintage coke cans

2009-06-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

I might be pursuaded to drink more Coke if these cans were re-released. Liking this crazy turquoise design in particular. Plenty more to see at Inspiredology.

dynamite

2009-06-24T02:12:00.000-07:00

I like these (non-explosive) candles, shaped like a bomb and sticks of dynamite. Available from the Mystake shop.

Via likecool.com.

circle

2009-06-22T01:55:00.000-07:00

This is probably true.

Courtesy of Banksy.

chewing in venice

2009-06-19T04:48:00.000-07:00

Simone Decker's work "Chewing in Venice" consists of giant amounts of chewing gum in the streets - they look great but I wouldn't want to step on one inadvertently!

Via unitedrotation.

matte stephens

2009-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This image is called "A happy town in France" - fun! I love most "mid-century modern"-style artwork painted in gouache, especially if the artist is Matte Stephens, whose awesome Flickr feed can be found here.