Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 341
May 18, 2011
Art Giveaway: 10 Independent Artists, $600 Worth of Art = Free
I just heart that the art blog called Habit of Art is running an "Instant Art Collection Giveaway" from Thursday, May 26 until Tuesday, May 31 where ten contemporary artists from around the globe will give away 25 pieces of art, including a few original pieces, to 3 lucky winners. Each of the three collections range in value from $160 - $275. For a chance to win you simply need to visit Habit of Art starting on May 26 and comment on the giveaway post. However, the giveaway isn't all I'm keen on sharing but it's the amazing artists behind the work whom I'd love to shout out below with hopes of introducing you to some great new artists.
• Hollie Chastain is a collage artist in Chattanooga who is, "focused on vintage and found material, influenced by nature and fairy tales" and who, "creates worlds of adventure and secrets" in her work.
• Eloise Renouf is a textile designer living and working in Nottingham, England who experiments in a range of mediums to create pattern and color.
• Jo Cheung is a London-based freelance illustrator who draws on her holidays in Hong Kong for inspiration along with her love of wildlife photography.
• Estibaliz Hernández de Miguel is a self-taught artist/illustrator in Bilbao, Spain who is inspired by music, dreams, magic and women.
• Liesl Pfeffer in Melbourne, Australia is a photo/media artist who creates collages from toy camera photographs, paint, fabric and his drawings.
• Becca Stadtlander in Covington, Kentucky is an artist who seeks to convey the poetic moments she sees in the world around her into her work, which is largely inspired by folk history.
• Belinda Kemp is a self-taught mixed media artist who lives in Melbourne, Australia and is a die-hard romantic who loves road trips, living by the sea and large open fields to wander in. The shapes, patterns and colors in the natural world around her are huge inspirations that she channels into her work.
• Nancy Mungcal is an artist in Los Angeles who is inspired by the, "Woods and the animals that inhabit them, the connections and disconnections between ourselves," and she is inspired by people around her that she observes in her day to day life.
• Jessica Mill in Omaha, Nebraska is an artist who, "Draws things that are close to home and most commonly found on neighborhood walks or long wandering drives." You can see hints of this in her work for sure.
• Cathy McMurray is a former art teacher and shop keeper but now this Portland, Oregon-based mixed media artist spends her hours drawing and then painting landscapes of the Pacific Northwest that she finds inspiring.
I hope that you found a few new artists with a style that resonates with you - enjoy all of the those great links and I'll see you back here on Friday!
Which Sunscreen is Right for You?
Though you no doubt wear sunscreen year-round (right?), it's especially important to wear it during the spring and summer when you're spending more time outside. But how do you know which one is best for your skin? The key might be in the active ingredients.
The two most common ingredients are avobenzone and either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Avobenzone actually absorbs the sun's rays and prevents them from damaging the skin. It's a good option for most skin types. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, on the other hand, actually help reflect the rays from the skin; meaning they might be a better option for those with sensitive skin.
Keep reading for more information on what to look for in a sunscreen.
Do you wear sunscreen everyday?
Related:
The Best Sunscreens (and Summer Skincare Tips)
Do You Take OTC Meds When You're Sick?
I'm sick. My body aches, my head pounds, my stomach is upset, and I've had a fever off and on. The works. Last night was the apex; I crawled into bed at about 7 p.m. and didn't get up until this morning.
At first, I balked at "taking something", thinking I'd just sink into sleep, but after a few hours of unrelenting discomfort, I asked my husband to bring me to two Tylenol capsules and a glass of water. Ahhh, soon my fever broke and I could drfit off to sleep. I repeated the process 6 hours later when my fever spiked again.
It all got me thinking about the many people out there who say they "don't believe in taking medicine" when they're dealing with a cold or flu and hesitate to ever turn to these sorts of meds. They may opt for teas and tonics, herbs and homeopathic remedies, but never a mainstream, OTC pill. After all, doctors do remind us that fever in and of itself is not a bad thing (unless your temp is over 103 degrees, many say). A fever is your body simply fighting off the intruder. However, if being more comfortable allows you more rest, then taking something to alleviate the symptoms can be good, don't you think?
So while ultimately I fall into the "take something!" camp, I do initially struggle with the concept. After all, two Tylenol aren't actually going to make me get better faster; they aren't really going to speed up the recovery process at the most cellular level. That's an entirely different thing, and I do think some people may conflate the two, believing that those colorful gel-caps are actual treatments, not just a temporary breather.
So what's your m.o. when it comes to hitting the medicine cabinet during an illness? Do you make a beeline for the bottle or just wait it out? Or do you opt for other remedies?
May 17, 2011
Can a computer help my son's writing?
As I write this my 8 year old son is sitting next to me, working his way through one of fifty book reports (yes, I said, fifty, as in 5-0, as in the number of states in the Union, which is why the program is called "Read Across America" or RAA) he is required to complete this year.
You can imagine that, for my dyslexic child, RAA has been one of the ongoing challenges of our second grade year, and has lead to many breakdowns, arguments and tears.
While I was researching assistive technology to address his writing issues, I received an e-mail about goQsoftware, a company that designs solutions for struggling writers.
Thanks to the company, we were given licenses to wordQ+speakQ ($279) and wordQ ($199), two pieces of software that "float" above open applications to provide assistance as he writes. We've been testing wordQ since March.
Our first challenge was figuring out where to install the software. A big thanks to our friends at Intel, for which I am an Advisor, for lending us a Dell Inspiron Duo Convertible Tablet for our testing. This allowed our son to work on a computer that was separate from our work laptops (and are largely unavailable because, you know, we are working on them), and because of it's small size, was easier for him to handle with his smaller hands.
Our second challenge was typing. Turns out I've forgotten what it's like to be unable to touch-type – Watching him hunt-and-peck was almost unbearable for me! (Note to all parents - make your kids take a typing class!)
Anders had some frustration which came with using a computer – accidentally erasing everything on the page, forgetting to add carriage returns, having trouble finding the comma. But soon got the hang of using a computer, and remembered not to hit the space bar when everything on the screen was highlighted.
As for wordQ, we found the software to sometimes be helpful, and sometimes to be a distraction. After each space or period the software reads the word typed, helping Anders determine if he spelled the word correctly. While the floating box of suggested words seemed like a great idea, it usually distracted our son from the task at hand, rather than helped him.
While I'm hoping to have him try wordQ+speakQ, which layers speech recognition onto the functionality of wordQ, I'm not entirely convinced that typing or even a computer is the right solution for our son - at least not right now. Both because of the cost of having another computer in the house, and because the mechanics of using a laptop seem to get in his way.
Do you or your child use assistive technologies to read or write?
A New Use for Binder Clips
Using bread clips to keep your cords labeled was a hit last week, and this week we have another great way to repurpose an everyday item in your home office.
This time it's binder clips, and the use is pretty self-explanatory. Take a look:
It's an easy way to keep all of your chargers organized on the side of your desk when you leave them plugged into a surge protector. Imagine how nice it would look with some fun brightly-colored binder clips?
Do you have a new use for binder clips to share?
[boing boing via unplggd]
Related:
New Uses for Things in Your Office
The Best Gift You'll Ever Give or Get (and It's Free!)
Given the incredible trendiness of vampires these days (Team Edward!), this year's World Blood Donor Day on June 14th should draw some serious...blood. But if you're not aboard the "Twilight" or "True Blood" trains, here are some other compelling reasons to mark a big, red "GIVE BLOOD" note on your calendar for 6/14/11:
*According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
*Due to the severe winter weather that impacted most of our country this year, Red Cross blood collections in the month of January were the lowest they have seen in a decade. Just one month of lower donations can have ripple effects all year long.
*If one percent more Americans gave blood, all national blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.
To that end, the folks at Nexcare have created colorful limited edition bandages to add a punch of style and meaning to your giving spirit. With their ongoing "GIVE" campaign, people who donote blood in June will have their prick covered with limited edition bandages in funky prints like zebra or plaid emblazoned with the word "give." Go onto Nexcare's Facebook place to pledge to donate and you'll get a sample bandage, too.
To find a place near you to give blood, go to GiveLife.org or call 1-800 GIVE LIFE.
May 16, 2011
Smart Product: Whitelines Notebooks
Last week on our Facebook page, we asked how you organize your to-do list, and the resounding response (with 1,716 votes) was that you use pen and paper. So, we're betting that you'll like Whitelines, a clever notebook company that has pulled a switcheroo on the traditional lined notebook.
What makes Whitelines so unique is that they've reversed the traditional light paper with dark lines, and instead their sheets are a light grey paper with white lines. It's especially helpful for graph paper, because the lines act as guides without getting in the way of your drawings or notes. Take a look at a close up of the paper:
And the best part? When you photo copy Whitelines pages, the lines disappear. So it's perfect for making handwritten posters or handouts. Just be ready for people to remark on your perfectly spaced handwriting.
You can see the range of their products available on Amazon.
What do you think of Whitelines? Do you think it would be easier to write on?
Related:
Great Over-the-sofa Art Idea
Ah, that dreaded white space over a bed or sofa. There are two great ideas that I spotted online today for art over the sofa or bed that I think you'll love. The first is over on my blog, decor8, where I shared an amazing new Dutch product that I think you will really find cool and they'll ship to the states for a reasonable price. Click here to check that out.
And the next great idea is this one... coming from Nichole who writes the blog, Little Brown Pen.
Nichole Robertson and her husband Evan live outside of NYC and frequently travel on work-related business to France where she captures tons of Paris views on her camera, then sells her delightful pictures on Etsy. I've blogged about those before, but this post is more to praise her for her display idea for over the sofa in her living room.
"We have 14 foot ceilings, so we needed something large scale. We printed nine 16x20s for a client, which gave us the idea. In addition, each of the photos in the black collection is a place/thing that has special meaning to my husband and me."
I think the layout is quite amazing and a great use of wall space given that she has higher ceilings than most. This looks great, and I liked that she used all of her photographs from the Black and White series she took. Great work Nichole, very inspirational!
(image: nichole robertson)
You Could Be in the September Issue
Hi, Bookies:
For the book club page in the September issue, our friends over on the print side would like you to weigh in on this: What book do you often quote?
Answer in the comments below, making sure to include the book's title and author, and you may see your name in print in the September issue. Thanks, all!
Are you reading this via an e-mail or RSS feed? If you wish to comment, please click here.
May 13, 2011
What's Your Favorite Spring Food?
After a long, freezing, snow-filled winter, spring has finally arrived in NY. Trees are blooming, sidewalk cafes are filling up, and open-toed shoes and sandals are making their debuts. And I'm seeing those eagerly-anticipated spring vegetables on restaurant menus and farmers' markets everywhere—ramps, asparagus, fava beans, and more. I know that in other parts of the country, strawberries, radishes, and rhubarb are starting to pop up as well. After months of eating potatoes, acorn squash, cabbage, and cauliflower, it's always a treat to indulge in something fresh that's a sign of many more weeks of abundant, exciting produce.
But I have to admit, I'm probably most excited about the asparagus I've found at the farmers' market. It's only available for a few short weeks, so I like to grab it while I can. Asparagus is so easy to prepare—I often just toss the stalks with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast for about 10 minutes until tender and caramelized. A squirt of lemon juice or some Parmesan shavings before serving, and you're done. One of my favorite go-to recipes involves quickly blanching asparagus pieces, then mixing with chickpeas, olive oil, lemon, chopped scallion, and maple syrup, and serving with sautéed salmon. It's easy, fresh, and delicious. And of course, asparagus is exceptionally nutritious; it's full of folic acid (especially important if you're pregnant) and provides lots of fiber, potassium, and B vitamins. It's thought to be an anti-inflammatory, contains a variety of antioxidants, and aids in digestion.
I'm looking forward to several more weeks of asparagus-eating. Which spring food are you most excited about?
(image: Bill Deering/Getty Images)
