I think I’m going to start a baby and kids cookbook…
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Unjarred
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Sticker Charts
Sometimes it’s the little things that need redesign. Not every child-related object needs to be tacky and saturated with uncomplimentary colors. These sticker charts were made specifically for my set of friends and can be printed over and over again. Suits a 13 x 18 cm frame. Download all here. -
Child’s room
This basement level guest room needed to be converted to a toddler’s room, while still letting in enough light come into the rest of the house without exposing it. Custom glass doors were designed so that the room continued to have two walls of sunlight. The view from the street through the facades window is the room with a glaring reflection.
A custom shutter system was also put in place to block out the street level noise and light.
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A Conversation with Nadege
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A Conversation with Christine
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IkPod Nominated for a Spin Award!
Mediamatic’s Ikpod for the Joods Historisch Museum has been nominated for a Spin Award in both the “Best Mobile Concept” and “Best Crossmedia Concept” categories, which means my first crack at designing an iPhone app isn’t totally pot!
The ikPod itself lives at the Hollandsche Schouwburg where it is an interactive part of the Wall of Names:
At the Hollandsche Schouwburg there is a wall of names, with all 6,700 family names of the Jews from the Netherlands who were murdered during the German occupation. The ikPod, an iPod specially adapted by Mediamatic, links the names on the wall to all the available information about all family members on the Digital Monument website. Visitors can read the names on the wall with the ikPod to learn the individual histories behind them. Visitors to the wall of names can now see information about family situations, addresses, and occupations, supplemented with personal stories and more than 10,000 photographs and documents. This makes the monument interactive and meets the growing need for individual commemoration, in a fitting, dignified manner.
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Recycling Unused Bags
It’s the end of the first month of 2011 and it’s time to get some of resolutions out of the way. On the top of the list — getting rid of all the excess plastic puffs littering the kitchen drawers by finding more uses for them than just as a nondescript carryall.
Use them as packaging
I first got this idea when I realized most of my online purchases were coming in these glorified zip-lock packs. Store bags that are typically made out of a thicker plastic and have sturdier seams (or have been kept purely for their looks) make an attractive alternative for your typical run of boxes, puffy packs, envelopes, and brown paper. As long as you keep a bit of tape around the house, you’ll always have the right materials to send something off at a moment’s notice.
Try a paper bag instead of a paper towel
This tip comes from my friend, Nadege, who swears up and down that brown paper bags soak up more oil than paper towels, making them the perfect fry-up companion. Having used them now several times for this purpose, I have to agree with her, adding that food doesn’t seem to stick as much to the paper than a paper towel. Bonus!
Donate the bags you don’t like
Here in the Netherlands plastic bags aren’t every consumer’s right. People are expected to bring their own grocery bags or pay 20¢ for the emotionally-damaging task of carrying around a promotionally-printed, store-branded sack of shit. These odd-shaped bags have no real use except as the means of suffocation for anyone who brings one into the house.
I have yet to find a way to recycle them except to give them away every chance I get. At a store called the Natuurwinkel, there is a bin that welcomes the communal reuse of grocery bags. I’m surprised more stores don’t have a similar scheme, especially when all it seems to take is a bucket and a sign.
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Petits Pierres for Friday, September 24
- NEON, ZIG-ZAG, AND VARIOUS COLORED TEXTILE ELECTRICAL CABLES FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF LIGHTING — Find the Nud Collection in Amsterdam at the De Kinderfeestwinkel, or go to Frozen Fountain for slightly less attractive, but cheaper cord at €2.50 per meter.
- JUST BECAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE HUMBLE PIE DOESN’T MEAN WE CAN SHARE A SLICE RAINBOW CAKE — With Glenn Beck, Pastor Jones, and Geert Wilders all being complete dickheads at the moment, I thought it would be nice if we all took a moment to bake a cake.
- MAKE CORN TORTILLAS JUST LIKE THE ONES YOU USED TO GET AT THAT LIQUOR STORE ON VENICE BOULEVARD — ‘t is zo makkelijk! Mix a little Masa Harina (Tjin’s €5.50) with water, flatten with a tortilla press (Duikelman €30), and heat with a flat iron skillet!
- TURN YOUR DEFUNCT IPOD INTO A BABY MOBILE — Since I can’t find a mobile with decent lullaby music, I’m using my Elecom Soundblock speaker I bought from my last trip to Japan to play the soothing tracks of Animal Crossing Wild World. Tip: 1) Using a later version ipod will allow you to put the iPod to sleep with a timer which is helpful if you plan to loop short songs; 2) More video game soundtracks here.
- CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL — Watch ex-Party Downers Meghan Mullally and Ken Marino try their hand surgery. Is that Adam Scott I see making a cameo?
- HEIDI KLUM ON BENELUX’S NEXT TOP MODEL — De Auf! meisje spreekt Engels in een programma uit Nederlands? Waaroom geen Duits?!
- VANILLA ICE PICKS UP AN
MCHAMMER — And renovates a house on the DIY Network. - WOOD CARVING CLASSES AT TORTOISE — Only 10 spaces available per class. 10/23 (Sat) 1-4pm @ TGS, 1208 Abbot Kinney Blvd. 10/31 (Sun) 1-4pm @ Ananda, 1354 Abbot Kinney Blvd. 11/14 (Sun) 1-4pm @ TGS 1208, Abbot Kinney Blvd. 11/21 (Sun) 1-4pm @ Ananda 1354, Abbot Kinney Blvd. The class is $25 and he provides everything! Each class is limited for 10 people, so call quickly to save a spot! 310-314-8448
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Petits Pierre for Friday, September 3
- PARTY DOWN WITH THE GÜT! — Newbies to the show skip right to Season 2, Episode 5. It’s got everything you’re looking for: Steve Guttenberg, art, sci-fi, fine wines, and (of course) a photo of a guy trying to fuck porcupine.
- ELIZABETH SHUE KILLS ON LAST WEEK’S “DOUG LOVES MOVIES” — The ex-Karate Kid star talks side boob and other movie magic secrets, so much so that some of them get bleeped. This week’s podcast should be available later today.
- DUTCH JERSEY SHORE! — Hey, you can understand douchebag in any language! Watch it on RTL5, Thursdays @ 22.00
- COLORFUL SLEEPING TERRORIST COSTUME NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE USE! — Finally, the Snazzy Napper covers all of your travel needs including looking like a weirdo and making children cry.
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A Conversation with JD
