Tampilkan postingan dengan label creative. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label creative. Tampilkan semua postingan
Kamis, 25 April 2013
Selasa, 23 April 2013
This Tree Can Sing !
Singing Ringing Tree
One of the most iconic artworks in Lancashire, the fascinating ‘Singing Ringing Tree’ at Crown Point high on the moors above Burnley is one of four Panopticons, part of a project across East Lancashire led by Mid Pennine Arts.
Designed by architects Tonkin-Liu the sculpture resembles a windblown tree; it is constructed from scaffolding poles welded together in concentric circles, the pipes having been tuned to emit a melodious hum as the wind blows through them.
The splendid views over the town to the hills beyond make a visit for a closer inspection of this amazing artwork an absolute must. The sculpture is only a short walk from the carpark and picnic area but if you enjoy longer walks then the best route is the Wayside Arts Trail from Towneley Park; follow its carved Lancashire oak marker posts and bricks including a brick kiln by artist Julie Miles to take a closer look at this incredible landmark.
It is obvious that there is something about Burnley that is attractive to award-winning architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu because they have now returned to design Burnley’s latest public artwork the Rain Bow Gate. Located at the heart of Burnley’s new Knowledge quarter, the design is a bow structure that integrates glass prisms to capture light and create rainbows, evoking a sence of wonder.
One of the most iconic artworks in Lancashire, the fascinating ‘Singing Ringing Tree’ at Crown Point high on the moors above Burnley is one of four Panopticons, part of a project across East Lancashire led by Mid Pennine Arts.
Designed by architects Tonkin-Liu the sculpture resembles a windblown tree; it is constructed from scaffolding poles welded together in concentric circles, the pipes having been tuned to emit a melodious hum as the wind blows through them.
The splendid views over the town to the hills beyond make a visit for a closer inspection of this amazing artwork an absolute must. The sculpture is only a short walk from the carpark and picnic area but if you enjoy longer walks then the best route is the Wayside Arts Trail from Towneley Park; follow its carved Lancashire oak marker posts and bricks including a brick kiln by artist Julie Miles to take a closer look at this incredible landmark.
It is obvious that there is something about Burnley that is attractive to award-winning architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu because they have now returned to design Burnley’s latest public artwork the Rain Bow Gate. Located at the heart of Burnley’s new Knowledge quarter, the design is a bow structure that integrates glass prisms to capture light and create rainbows, evoking a sence of wonder.
Selasa, 16 April 2013
Old Water Tower Turned Into Luxury House
Stunning Water Tower Conversion in Belgium Bursting With Modern Details
Chateau d’Eau is the name of a striking project envisioned by BHAM design studio and consisting of a water tower conversion in Steenokkerzeel, Belgium.
The tower was built between 1938 and 1941 and was functional until the beginning of the nineties. The works for a complete renovation and conversion into a single family house started in 2007.
According to the architects, “the preservation of existing concrete elements such as the main water conduct, concrete ceilings, concrete stairs and the 250.000 liters concrete water basin were essential to preserve the strong identity of the building.
Every visible concrete element inside was painted in dark grey in order to mark the old from the new. The program foresees two distinct profiles of users. The private and main user is the client, a couple living at the tower daily. Every room is equipped with the latest IT technology, domotics and the possibility to install projectors virtually anywhere on the top floor”.
The unusual residence is thirty meters high and is structured on five floors. The terrace provides a great panoramic view of the nearby village.
Chateau d’Eau is the name of a striking project envisioned by BHAM design studio and consisting of a water tower conversion in Steenokkerzeel, Belgium.
The tower was built between 1938 and 1941 and was functional until the beginning of the nineties. The works for a complete renovation and conversion into a single family house started in 2007.
According to the architects, “the preservation of existing concrete elements such as the main water conduct, concrete ceilings, concrete stairs and the 250.000 liters concrete water basin were essential to preserve the strong identity of the building.
Every visible concrete element inside was painted in dark grey in order to mark the old from the new. The program foresees two distinct profiles of users. The private and main user is the client, a couple living at the tower daily. Every room is equipped with the latest IT technology, domotics and the possibility to install projectors virtually anywhere on the top floor”.
The unusual residence is thirty meters high and is structured on five floors. The terrace provides a great panoramic view of the nearby village.
Senin, 15 April 2013
Digital Kama Sutra Apps
Kama Xcitra app allows users to 'study' sexual positions with 3D hologram technology
Xcite Books takes the Kama Sutra to the next level, giving customers a three-dimensional look at 69 different ways to make love.
Kama Xcitra is a new mobile app that takes the Kama Sutra into the digital age.
Yes, there's an app for that.
The new Kama Xcitra application for smartphones and tablets takes the ancient Kama Sutra into the digital age, using 3D hologram technology to allow customers to "study" various sexual positions.
The app comes with the purchase of the Kama Xcitra book, which features "69 illustrated positions" of lovemaking. Accoding to the Xcite website, "images can be rotated 360 degrees to explore each position for maximum enjoyment" and "skin color can be changed to reflect the reader's preferences."
“For more than two thousand years couples have turned to the Kama Sutra for advice and guidance on how to have a fulfilling love life,” Xcite Books managing director Hazel Cushion said. “But some of the more challenging positions like the Prone Tiger, the Catherine Wheel or the Peg have left readers a little baffled. That is until now.”
The app features all of the 69 positions detailed in the book.
“Each image appears to pop out of the page as a 3D hologram right in front of the reader’s phone," Cushion said. "The viewer then moves their mobile device around to appreciate the position from all angles. As a result, each position becomes clearer, finally solving the problem of where to put that awkward elbow.”
The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Xcite Books takes the Kama Sutra to the next level, giving customers a three-dimensional look at 69 different ways to make love.
Yes, there's an app for that.
The new Kama Xcitra application for smartphones and tablets takes the ancient Kama Sutra into the digital age, using 3D hologram technology to allow customers to "study" various sexual positions.
The app comes with the purchase of the Kama Xcitra book, which features "69 illustrated positions" of lovemaking. Accoding to the Xcite website, "images can be rotated 360 degrees to explore each position for maximum enjoyment" and "skin color can be changed to reflect the reader's preferences."
“For more than two thousand years couples have turned to the Kama Sutra for advice and guidance on how to have a fulfilling love life,” Xcite Books managing director Hazel Cushion said. “But some of the more challenging positions like the Prone Tiger, the Catherine Wheel or the Peg have left readers a little baffled. That is until now.”
The app features all of the 69 positions detailed in the book.
“Each image appears to pop out of the page as a 3D hologram right in front of the reader’s phone," Cushion said. "The viewer then moves their mobile device around to appreciate the position from all angles. As a result, each position becomes clearer, finally solving the problem of where to put that awkward elbow.”
The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Sabtu, 13 April 2013
Fake Funeral Service
Fake funeral service proving popular after student holds her own false ceremony
Student Zeng Jia (in coffin) staged her own funeral
Following the revelation a Chinese student staged her own funeral so she could ‘enjoy’ the day, it has emerged the fake ceremony has also proved popular with other people from the country.
When Zeng Jia held her own wake, despite the fact she was still alive, many thought it was morbid and self-obsessed but it now turns out it wasn’t an unusual occurrence.
In March, 24 people held false funerals at the Shimenfeng Celebrity Culture Park in Wuhan and the roaring trade can be put down to trainee undertaker Zeng, who came up with the idea.
‘The service has two parts – a 20-minute memorial service and a 15-20 minute “life-death experience”,’ she said.
At first, employees at the cemetery were not convinced but after the student explained the service further they came around to the idea.
The mortuary’s designer Zhang Bei added: ‘It was the first time we ever offered this kind of service.
‘We were really surprised but found [the concept] new and interesting.’
Following the revelation a Chinese student staged her own funeral so she could ‘enjoy’ the day, it has emerged the fake ceremony has also proved popular with other people from the country.
When Zeng Jia held her own wake, despite the fact she was still alive, many thought it was morbid and self-obsessed but it now turns out it wasn’t an unusual occurrence.
In March, 24 people held false funerals at the Shimenfeng Celebrity Culture Park in Wuhan and the roaring trade can be put down to trainee undertaker Zeng, who came up with the idea.
‘The service has two parts – a 20-minute memorial service and a 15-20 minute “life-death experience”,’ she said.
At first, employees at the cemetery were not convinced but after the student explained the service further they came around to the idea.
The mortuary’s designer Zhang Bei added: ‘It was the first time we ever offered this kind of service.
‘We were really surprised but found [the concept] new and interesting.’
Kamis, 11 April 2013
Origami Condoms
Collapsible 'origami' condom wins praise from Gates Foundation
Testing: The condom designs must first go through several phases testing before the company can apply for FDA approval
'Good job': Last month the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation praised the new condom company as a leading innovator for sexual health on its blog
Contraceptive innovators: Origami Condoms is working on a revolutionary new prophylactic modeled after the Japanese art of paper folding
Unique design: Origami Condoms' design has condoms folded up rather than rolled up like the ones currently for sold at most stores that sell health and convenience products
A small business in California called Origami Condoms is working on a revolutionary new prophylactic modeled after the Japanese art of paper folding which has won the approval of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for being the only design to radically change the contraceptive.
Other condom manufacturers have made continual efforts to make the existing, everyday condom more appealing to users by introducing new textures and flavors.
Origami Condoms' design, which has condoms folded up rather than rolled up like the ones currently for sold at most stores that sell health and convenience products, acts as a loose-fitting sheath when it's in use and is said to move with the natural movement of the body.
The unique design means both participants will experience a lot more sensation during sex according to the condom’s creator, Danny Resnic.
His company, based in Marina del Rey, has already captured the attention of sexual health proponents and major latex condom manufacturers who are interested in licensing the design, Resnic said.
Last month the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation praised the new condom company as a leading innovator for sexual health on its blog.
‘Origami Condoms provides an excellent example of a private enterprise focused on new condom design to promote consistent use by emphasizing the sexual experience,’ their blog post reads.
The foundation recently announced that’s offering $100,000 to other innovators who are able to redesign the condom as part of a campaign for global health initiatives.
‘The latex condom was strictly protection. No one liked using it,’ Resnic told the Huffington Post.
‘We are trying to create a condom that feels great and is much closer to the real deal to encourage people to use them.’
Origami Condoms are still in clinical testing and will not be available for purchase until early 2015 at the soonest, according to Resnic.
The condom designs must first go through several phases testing before the company can apply for FDA approval, he said.
Resnic said his company has not yet set a price for their accordion-shaped condoms, that they will likely cost more than traditional rubbers.
‘Our focus is on making condom experience more pleasurable than anyone imagined possible,’ he said. ‘We almost didn’t want to call it a condom.’
Testing: The condom designs must first go through several phases testing before the company can apply for FDA approval
'Good job': Last month the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation praised the new condom company as a leading innovator for sexual health on its blog
Unique design: Origami Condoms' design has condoms folded up rather than rolled up like the ones currently for sold at most stores that sell health and convenience products
A small business in California called Origami Condoms is working on a revolutionary new prophylactic modeled after the Japanese art of paper folding which has won the approval of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for being the only design to radically change the contraceptive.
Other condom manufacturers have made continual efforts to make the existing, everyday condom more appealing to users by introducing new textures and flavors.
Origami Condoms' design, which has condoms folded up rather than rolled up like the ones currently for sold at most stores that sell health and convenience products, acts as a loose-fitting sheath when it's in use and is said to move with the natural movement of the body.
The unique design means both participants will experience a lot more sensation during sex according to the condom’s creator, Danny Resnic.
His company, based in Marina del Rey, has already captured the attention of sexual health proponents and major latex condom manufacturers who are interested in licensing the design, Resnic said.
Last month the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation praised the new condom company as a leading innovator for sexual health on its blog.
‘Origami Condoms provides an excellent example of a private enterprise focused on new condom design to promote consistent use by emphasizing the sexual experience,’ their blog post reads.
The foundation recently announced that’s offering $100,000 to other innovators who are able to redesign the condom as part of a campaign for global health initiatives.
‘The latex condom was strictly protection. No one liked using it,’ Resnic told the Huffington Post.
‘We are trying to create a condom that feels great and is much closer to the real deal to encourage people to use them.’
Origami Condoms are still in clinical testing and will not be available for purchase until early 2015 at the soonest, according to Resnic.
The condom designs must first go through several phases testing before the company can apply for FDA approval, he said.
Resnic said his company has not yet set a price for their accordion-shaped condoms, that they will likely cost more than traditional rubbers.
‘Our focus is on making condom experience more pleasurable than anyone imagined possible,’ he said. ‘We almost didn’t want to call it a condom.’
Minggu, 07 April 2013
Zombie Babies Dolls
Zombie dolls are creepy new craze that just won’t die! Artist creates 'undead babies' with vampire-like teeth and piercing red eyes
Bean Shanine, 32, dedicates up to eight hours a day creating the babies
Reborn dolls are often used by mothers who cannot have children
The dolls sell for $1,500 (£930) to collectors in the UK and all over the world
Each doll needs 30 layers of paint and is then baked after every layer
Dedication: From vampire-like teeth to pale skin and piercing red eyes, creative Bean Shanine, 32, dedicates up to eight hours a day bringing to life her zombie babies
An eccentric artist is making a living out of the dead - by creating incredibly spooky zombie dolls which are proving a hit around the world.
From vampire-like teeth to pale skin and piercing red eyes, creative Bean Shanine, 32, dedicates up to eight hours a day bringing to 'life' her zombie babies.
Reborn dolls are often used by mothers who cannot have children, but Ms Shanine insists she receives almost entirely positive comments from people on the internet about her creations.
Her dolls have become so popular that Sharon Osbourne, wife of rocker Ozzy Osbourne, was recently given one on a US chat show - with the former X Factor judge describing it as 'very very well made... but slightly disturbing'.
The mother-of-four, who lives in Washington, USA, made her first monster baby in 2010 as a gift for a friend who takes part in an annual zombie walk in Vancouver, Canada.
But she soon turned her new hobby into a business - The Twisted Bean Stalk Nursery - and sells the creepy creations for as much as $1,500 (£930) to collectors in the UK and all over the world.
She said: 'Before I gave it to my friend I put it on eBay as a test just to see what would happen with a ridiculously high price to make sure it wouldn't sell.
Feedback: The creator insists she receives almost entirely positive comments from people on the internet
'Loads of people started asking when I would make another one as it was so good. I don't think anyone else was really making Reborn zombies and vampires at the time.
'I don't know exactly why I make zombies and vampires because I'm not a dark person at all. They're just different, there wasn't any at the time and the feedback was awesome.
'I have made more than 50 Reborn dolls and have sold every single one of them I have ever listed.
The thing which sets me aside from artists who make monster babies is that mine are genuine Reborn dolls.
'They are realistic and very tastefully done - no blood or guts - just real babies with fangs and glowing eyes. Yes they are creepy but they're really cute at the same time.
'These are expensive to make. People think the $650 starting price is high but it costs hundreds for supplies and big collectors will pay over $1500 if they really want one.
'It's like buying a painting from one of your favourite artists - they are all one of a kind. They are not toys and not suitable for young children to play with either.
'I would say a lot of work goes into making a doll look life-like and real than goes into making the dolls look scary.
'Each doll needs about 30 layers of paint and then you have to bake the doll after every single layer.
'After they are painted, you have to assemble them, add any finishing touches and root hair. If the hair is rooted that takes about eight hours or painting the hair takes about six.
'A lot of time and care goes into each one of my little monster creations.'
And even her own children don't find the bizarre playthings scary.
She added: 'People often ask me how my kids are around the dolls and what they think of them but with a mum who has pink hair and tattoos they can handle some dolls.
'My four-year-old thinks they're cool - most kids these days think zombies are awesome.
'I like to keep them tastefully done, no blood or guts or anything gross like that.
'I love doing what I do and hope people enjoy them just as much as I enjoy spending time making them.'
Bean Shanine, 32, dedicates up to eight hours a day creating the babies
Reborn dolls are often used by mothers who cannot have children
The dolls sell for $1,500 (£930) to collectors in the UK and all over the world
Each doll needs 30 layers of paint and is then baked after every layer
Dedication: From vampire-like teeth to pale skin and piercing red eyes, creative Bean Shanine, 32, dedicates up to eight hours a day bringing to life her zombie babies
An eccentric artist is making a living out of the dead - by creating incredibly spooky zombie dolls which are proving a hit around the world.
From vampire-like teeth to pale skin and piercing red eyes, creative Bean Shanine, 32, dedicates up to eight hours a day bringing to 'life' her zombie babies.
Reborn dolls are often used by mothers who cannot have children, but Ms Shanine insists she receives almost entirely positive comments from people on the internet about her creations.
Her dolls have become so popular that Sharon Osbourne, wife of rocker Ozzy Osbourne, was recently given one on a US chat show - with the former X Factor judge describing it as 'very very well made... but slightly disturbing'.
The mother-of-four, who lives in Washington, USA, made her first monster baby in 2010 as a gift for a friend who takes part in an annual zombie walk in Vancouver, Canada.
But she soon turned her new hobby into a business - The Twisted Bean Stalk Nursery - and sells the creepy creations for as much as $1,500 (£930) to collectors in the UK and all over the world.
She said: 'Before I gave it to my friend I put it on eBay as a test just to see what would happen with a ridiculously high price to make sure it wouldn't sell.
Feedback: The creator insists she receives almost entirely positive comments from people on the internet
'Loads of people started asking when I would make another one as it was so good. I don't think anyone else was really making Reborn zombies and vampires at the time.
'I don't know exactly why I make zombies and vampires because I'm not a dark person at all. They're just different, there wasn't any at the time and the feedback was awesome.
'I have made more than 50 Reborn dolls and have sold every single one of them I have ever listed.
The thing which sets me aside from artists who make monster babies is that mine are genuine Reborn dolls.
'They are realistic and very tastefully done - no blood or guts - just real babies with fangs and glowing eyes. Yes they are creepy but they're really cute at the same time.
'These are expensive to make. People think the $650 starting price is high but it costs hundreds for supplies and big collectors will pay over $1500 if they really want one.
'It's like buying a painting from one of your favourite artists - they are all one of a kind. They are not toys and not suitable for young children to play with either.
'I would say a lot of work goes into making a doll look life-like and real than goes into making the dolls look scary.
'Each doll needs about 30 layers of paint and then you have to bake the doll after every single layer.
'After they are painted, you have to assemble them, add any finishing touches and root hair. If the hair is rooted that takes about eight hours or painting the hair takes about six.
'A lot of time and care goes into each one of my little monster creations.'
And even her own children don't find the bizarre playthings scary.
She added: 'People often ask me how my kids are around the dolls and what they think of them but with a mum who has pink hair and tattoos they can handle some dolls.
'My four-year-old thinks they're cool - most kids these days think zombies are awesome.
'I like to keep them tastefully done, no blood or guts or anything gross like that.
'I love doing what I do and hope people enjoy them just as much as I enjoy spending time making them.'
How To Create A Kick Ass Crowdfunding
How To Create A Kick Ass Crowdfunding Campaign And Make Your Dreams Come True
I want you to court bolder dreams and make them a reality.
We all have a dream. Some grand vision we’d love to see come to fruition one day. Something that scares us, compels us and energizes us at the same time. So why is it that so many people seem to put those dreams in a box and shelve them away for a day that never comes?
It’s tragic to think of all those boxed up dreams, slowly dying away, deprived of oxygen and never likely to see the light of day. I don’t want to see that happen anymore.
The biggest excuse I hear aside from people’s natural, inherent fears of failure (or success) is lack of funds to make it happen. Well I don’t really think we can use that as an excuse anymore because of this phenomenon called crowdfunding.
What is crowdfunding?
It’s when people come together to invest directly in a project or person’s idea. Always wanted to design an automatic `dog pooper picker-upper’? Use crowdfunding. Fancy yourself as an artist? Use crowdfunding. Want to bring your artwork to the world at large? Yep, say it with me, use crowdfunding.
Kickstarter is one of a number of crowdfunding sites that’s sprung up in the past few years and is seeing incredible results, as is Indiegogo.
I swear that contributing and backing people’s projects on platforms like these is becoming a little addictive. In the last 4 weeks alone I’ve invested just under $700 across 5 worthwhile projects because I just love helping people see their dreams become a reality.
This has got to stop I say to myself …or has it? It’s totally inspiring to watch these people put their dreams out there on the line and then ask you to step up and make them a reality by pledging your dollars to ensure their project gets funded.
How To Succeed At Crowdfunding
Earlier this year I also contributed to {r}evolution apparel’s Versalette campaign (the perfect Suitcase Entrepreneur accessory by the way), which became the most funded fashion project in Kickstarter history!
What was it that made it so successful and how can you replicate this for yourself? That’s what I want to discuss right here and so I’ve aimed to make this post is your mini guide to creating a kick ass crowdfunding campaign so you can turn that dream into a reality.
Below I’ve dissected the projects I’ve backed and why they were a success and how you can apply this to yours as well as providing some key reading resources to take your plans one step further.
I’d like to kick off with (for want of a better pun) with this excellent two part Kickstarter Whitepaper series Lee Moyer wrote, to share his lessons on creating his own successful Kickstarter campaign of over $122,000 pledged. An important point to keep in mind that he makes is:
“Kickstarter is a value proposition. You are offering people, your “backers,” a product or service in exchange for their support. In the majority of cases on Kickstarter, you are essentially offering people the opportunity to “pre-order” your product before you actually produce it. Backers of Kickstarter projects are not loaning or “donating” money to you, they are buying a product from you and therefore they expect to receive value for their money.”
If you take a look at the Versalette example I talked about above you see that {r}evolution apparel is aiming to change the fashion industry (read their story here). That’s a pretty great start to making your campaign successful – be game changing, have a grand vision, tug at peoples heart strings.
These crowdfunding platforms allow you to do this through telling a compelling story helped greatly by the power of video. In the case of the above this was the clincher for me, having stumbled across their Kickstarter campaign. After watching it I was hooked.
Kudos to Abe Cajudo who directed this video, and is now a Kickstarter Impressario (aka consultant) – I mean this crowdfunding is truly a revolution creating new jobs and businesses too!
Five Case Studies Of Successful Crowdfunding
To make it dead easy I’ve posted the name of the campaign, the summary of the project, the outcome and the reason why these kicked ass. Get ready to learn a lot.
Seth Godin – The Icarus Deception
The Project
“Please help me show my publisher, the bookstores and anyone with a book worth writing that it’s possible to start a project with a show of support on Kickstarter. The Icarus Deception is an experiment in publishing, an opportunity for real growth, an invitation to challenge your friends and something you can touch.”
The Outcome
Seth was asking for $100,000 to make this project happen and he raised this within 3 hours of posting it! Normally you’re given a month to reach your goal and only when you raise that amount does it get completed and funded and all the pledge payments are authorized. He’s now on over $286,000 with 7 days to go!
The Reason for Success:
In large part, the reason for this amazing result is due to the fact that Seth rocks and has a huge global community of fans who were only too happy to help him out. He’s the authority on the world of traditional and self publishing and writes passionately about it day in day out, both on his blog and the Domino Project. The video is also just too brilliant to ignore. Seth gets straight to the heart of why the world needs this to succeed in a pragmatic, no BS way that you just can’t help but adore.
He wrote a great article here actually on Why (some) Kickstarter Campaigns Fail and why you do need a community to make your Kickstarter project a success. He talked about his reflections on the amazing outcome of his campaign in Reflections on Today’s Kickstarter.
Adam Baker – I’m fine thanks
The Project
“I’m Fine, Thanks is a new, feature-length documentary about complacency. It’s a collection of stories about life, the choices we all make, and the paths we ultimately decide to follow. We examine the factors that motivate and drive our major life choices. And, most importantly, whether or not the path we follow through life – and the habits we form based on that path – are truly connected with who we really are as individuals. This is a movie about the moment people realize the life they’re living is not the life that’s true to their heart… and, as a result, what they decide to do about it!”
The Outcome
Adam and Crank Studios met their funding goal with around a week to go and overshot their $100,000 goal by around $15,000 with 4,447 backers. As a result they’re thrilled to be able to piece this documentary together and bring it to the world in a series of premieres, starting with the first in Portland during the World Domination Summit that I went to and rocked. And the NYC one where my pledged amount has got me VIP tickets as well as a feature in the credits!
The Reason for Success
Adam Baker is a hugely successful blogger over at Man vs Debt with a large readership and an excellent network of other influential online bloggers and marketers who were all to happy to step up and help out by spreading the word on their blogs. When I talked to him about it he believed his audience and community were a huge part of it.
They sent regular updates to their lists and through the Kickstarter platform asking for everyone to continue to spread the word and keep the momentum going so you were naturally excited by the project. In addition the excellent video showcasing the project on Kickstarter, the fact is this is a documentary that needs to be seen and a message that must be heard. That’s reason enough to back it – and just so you know it became the most well backed documentary ever on Kickstarter!
Danny Iny – Naked Marketing
The Project:
“I want YOU to help me write this book! Instead of going away for six months and writing in seclusion, I want to write this book in collaboration with the people who need it the most. I want to share my ideas with you as I write them, develop them in collaboration with you, and get your feedback and input before I waste time writing stuff that you aren’t interested in reading. Then I’ll write up my ideas, and share them with you – every section and chapter – the moment that I’m done writing them.
The Outcome:
When I went to visit this project through a link through Danny’s blog I saw his small goal of $2,500 was already blown out and today I received an update saying they raised $5240 in pledges and exceeded their expectations. This could easily have been a $10,000 plus project but Danny is not greedy and had clear reasons for selecting this amount and managing his book project in a `novel way’ (excuse the pun). He breaks down the previous costs of publishing and his reason for doing it this way this time around.
The Reason for Success
Danny Iny is not called the Freddy Kruger of blogging for no reason. He’s a prolific writer on Firepole Marketing as well as tonnes of other sites he regularly guest posts for. He’s the author of Engagement from Scratch and has built a huge list since publishing this book, as well as his latest free manifesto Naked Marketing. In fact that manifesto is the basis and motivation behind turning it into a fully fledged contributor-led book. Everyone likes being part of a collaborative project they can share in the journey of. Danny is a smart marketer and has a big community rooting for his eternal new creations and implementations who want him to succeed – and he has.
Below is a break down of Danny’s `Special Perks’ for his writing team and a big reason why his project got funded so quickly in my mind:
I want to give you every reason to get behind this project, so I’ve put together a huge list of exciting perks that you can get when you join my Writing Team, like:
Privileged access to the book materials before anybody else
A direct line to me, and the ability to influence the development of the entire project
A behind-the-scenes look at how it all comes together
An autographed paperback copy mailed to your door as soon as it’s ready
Free access to the live Naked Marketing Bootcamp training series I’m developing
1-on-1 marketing and business strategy advice and coaching from me (I usually charge $250 for 45-minutes)
Acknowledgement, mention, and exposure in the book when it’s released
The full list of perks is listed on the side of the page, and just to be clear, the perks are CUMULATIVE – so if your investment gets you the signed hardcover, for example, it’ll also get you participation in the project.
Antrese Wood – A Portrait Of Argentina Landscapes And Portraits
The Project
“Inspired by love, this project intends to seek out and share the stories of people and places that inspire hope in the human spirit. People who inspire us to reach higher, to be better than we are. My goal is to paint Argentina from an individual, national and world perspective. As I paint portraits of the people I meet, I’ll listen to their stories and then paint enplein-aire, the scenes from their daily life; the places the nation is most proud of, and locations familiar to the world.
The Outcome
Antrese was able to fund this project of $25,000 with 159 backers with just hours to go as her friends, family and some influential people who cared about this art project stepped up to join her in spreading the word. I originally found out about it from Pam Slim who thought it was a beautiful project and reached out to several of us who had lived in Argentina to support it or spread the word. When Pam speaks, people listen! But I was also so taken by Antrese’s video and idea that it was a no brainer to back it and share with my community and other friends around the world – especially from my time living in Argentina.
Seeing how happy she was to have this project funded in this charming video she sent out in the final hours when she knew she’d reached her funding goal, was worth it for me.
The Reason for Success
As I state above, enlisting the help of a few key influential people who care about your art is the best way to get started when you don’t have a large community, or an award winning blog or website to give you the platform from which to leap. I liken it to a snowball that gains momentum, speed and size as it rolls down the slopes. A few people give that ball a push and others (e.g bits of sticky snow) jump on to make it pick up pace and spread further and further! It helps that Antrese is a clearly talented artist with a cool idea that people want to see come to fruition.
Liz Dickinson: Alpha – The Holy Grail Of Heartrate
The Project
“And they said it couldn’t be done! Alpha is the world’s first strapless, continuous heart rate monitor watch you can wear on your wrist tested EKG accurate even while you are running at performance speeds of up to 20km/h (12mph).”
The Outcome
At the time I backed it around a week ago, after Liz had personally emailed me to spread the word, she was at around $85,000 of her $100,000 goal but with plenty of time still to go. She then surpassed her goal in a very short space of time when Mashable got hold of it (read on below for that story!).
Liz is the founder of MIO Global and the amazingly generous supporter of my bike ride across Africa. Not only did she send me several watches to try out (the Triumph I wear everyday with pride), she also gave me a rewards flight on my current trip to the US! So I was hands down going to back this cool project as it’s never been done before.
The Reason for Success
Having witnessed other people’s inventions on crowdfunding platforms, most notable this stellar example of over exceeding your expectations, these kinds of projects attract people passionate about seeing these innovations making it into the shops for all of us to buy and own. In addition Liz’s company MIO Global, has built up great goodwill with their superior sports watches and by supporting athletes in their endeavours – in short a real passion for healthy living and improving sports performance. People react to that and want to return the favour in droves.
It also helps when this happens, as Liz put out in one of her updates just days ago:
Hi Everyone
Here I am in Hong Kong and was just getting ready to turn off the computer and try to fool myself into thinking I really wanted to sleep despite being desperate for breakfast when I noticed a string of new pledges coming in. Usually that means there has been some sort of favorable mention somewhere online. I did a quick search and saw that the reporter who put up with my puffing breathlessly in her ear while running around last minute getting ready for my trip was from Mashable! You think I would have known that, right?
Mashable Business
Well, within a few minutes we were catapulted right over our goal and I am thrilled to announce we are FUNDED!
Could we be another PEBBLE? Well we are starting to ROCK!
Happy Birthday ALPHA! July 4th will now be known as Chest Strap Independence Day!
Liz
Want to know more about how this worked so well, read PR Lessons From A Kickstarter Launch by my friend Elena Verlee. It’s a great resource.
Using Crowdfunding For Your Dream Project
The variety of case studies I’ve highlighted above and the reasons for their success should give you some excellent reasons for using a crowdfunding platform to make your dreams come true. Aside from Kickstarter and Indigogo here are the Top 10 Crowdfunding Sites for Entrepreneurs. All are free to use and have different terms and conditions for what types of projects you can start on there.
Five keys to succeeding in your crowdfunding mission:
1. Translate your dream into a story people can buy into and fully support – create a movement
2. Enlist the help of those nearest and dearest to you and a few key influential people to get you started
3. Continue to update people on your progress through the platform your using and any other means possible (YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, your blog, your newsletter, other people’s blogs, PR outlets – the sky is your limit).
4. Create meaningful rewards that people want to get hold of – scarcity, exlusiveness and uniqueness all help in making them more attractive to potential pledgers
5. Go big or go home. Most crowdfunding projects are asking for larger monetary amounts these days, which means the risk is higher to ensure it succeeds so your project gets backed. At the same time that seems to be the reason most people get behind it – the sheer scale and vision of making these dreams a reality.
Want to fund a worthy Kickstarter right now?
Check out Niftyfare Handcakes Kickstarter project and support my friend Nif. She’s designed these delicious handcakes that are a cross between a veggie burger and a pancake. Frozen for your convenience, they are vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free and garlic-free. (whew!). And she’s got just 14 days left to raise just over $3K so go support her and see how this crowdfunding works in real-time.
Tell me about your experiences using crowdfunding and what worked and didn’t
We all have a dream. Some grand vision we’d love to see come to fruition one day. Something that scares us, compels us and energizes us at the same time. So why is it that so many people seem to put those dreams in a box and shelve them away for a day that never comes?
It’s tragic to think of all those boxed up dreams, slowly dying away, deprived of oxygen and never likely to see the light of day. I don’t want to see that happen anymore.
The biggest excuse I hear aside from people’s natural, inherent fears of failure (or success) is lack of funds to make it happen. Well I don’t really think we can use that as an excuse anymore because of this phenomenon called crowdfunding.
What is crowdfunding?
It’s when people come together to invest directly in a project or person’s idea. Always wanted to design an automatic `dog pooper picker-upper’? Use crowdfunding. Fancy yourself as an artist? Use crowdfunding. Want to bring your artwork to the world at large? Yep, say it with me, use crowdfunding.
Kickstarter is one of a number of crowdfunding sites that’s sprung up in the past few years and is seeing incredible results, as is Indiegogo.
I swear that contributing and backing people’s projects on platforms like these is becoming a little addictive. In the last 4 weeks alone I’ve invested just under $700 across 5 worthwhile projects because I just love helping people see their dreams become a reality.
This has got to stop I say to myself …or has it? It’s totally inspiring to watch these people put their dreams out there on the line and then ask you to step up and make them a reality by pledging your dollars to ensure their project gets funded.
How To Succeed At Crowdfunding
Earlier this year I also contributed to {r}evolution apparel’s Versalette campaign (the perfect Suitcase Entrepreneur accessory by the way), which became the most funded fashion project in Kickstarter history!
What was it that made it so successful and how can you replicate this for yourself? That’s what I want to discuss right here and so I’ve aimed to make this post is your mini guide to creating a kick ass crowdfunding campaign so you can turn that dream into a reality.
Below I’ve dissected the projects I’ve backed and why they were a success and how you can apply this to yours as well as providing some key reading resources to take your plans one step further.
I’d like to kick off with (for want of a better pun) with this excellent two part Kickstarter Whitepaper series Lee Moyer wrote, to share his lessons on creating his own successful Kickstarter campaign of over $122,000 pledged. An important point to keep in mind that he makes is:
“Kickstarter is a value proposition. You are offering people, your “backers,” a product or service in exchange for their support. In the majority of cases on Kickstarter, you are essentially offering people the opportunity to “pre-order” your product before you actually produce it. Backers of Kickstarter projects are not loaning or “donating” money to you, they are buying a product from you and therefore they expect to receive value for their money.”
If you take a look at the Versalette example I talked about above you see that {r}evolution apparel is aiming to change the fashion industry (read their story here). That’s a pretty great start to making your campaign successful – be game changing, have a grand vision, tug at peoples heart strings.
These crowdfunding platforms allow you to do this through telling a compelling story helped greatly by the power of video. In the case of the above this was the clincher for me, having stumbled across their Kickstarter campaign. After watching it I was hooked.
Kudos to Abe Cajudo who directed this video, and is now a Kickstarter Impressario (aka consultant) – I mean this crowdfunding is truly a revolution creating new jobs and businesses too!
Five Case Studies Of Successful Crowdfunding
To make it dead easy I’ve posted the name of the campaign, the summary of the project, the outcome and the reason why these kicked ass. Get ready to learn a lot.
Seth Godin – The Icarus Deception
The Project
“Please help me show my publisher, the bookstores and anyone with a book worth writing that it’s possible to start a project with a show of support on Kickstarter. The Icarus Deception is an experiment in publishing, an opportunity for real growth, an invitation to challenge your friends and something you can touch.”
The Outcome
Seth was asking for $100,000 to make this project happen and he raised this within 3 hours of posting it! Normally you’re given a month to reach your goal and only when you raise that amount does it get completed and funded and all the pledge payments are authorized. He’s now on over $286,000 with 7 days to go!
The Reason for Success:
In large part, the reason for this amazing result is due to the fact that Seth rocks and has a huge global community of fans who were only too happy to help him out. He’s the authority on the world of traditional and self publishing and writes passionately about it day in day out, both on his blog and the Domino Project. The video is also just too brilliant to ignore. Seth gets straight to the heart of why the world needs this to succeed in a pragmatic, no BS way that you just can’t help but adore.
He wrote a great article here actually on Why (some) Kickstarter Campaigns Fail and why you do need a community to make your Kickstarter project a success. He talked about his reflections on the amazing outcome of his campaign in Reflections on Today’s Kickstarter.
Adam Baker – I’m fine thanks
The Project
“I’m Fine, Thanks is a new, feature-length documentary about complacency. It’s a collection of stories about life, the choices we all make, and the paths we ultimately decide to follow. We examine the factors that motivate and drive our major life choices. And, most importantly, whether or not the path we follow through life – and the habits we form based on that path – are truly connected with who we really are as individuals. This is a movie about the moment people realize the life they’re living is not the life that’s true to their heart… and, as a result, what they decide to do about it!”
The Outcome
Adam and Crank Studios met their funding goal with around a week to go and overshot their $100,000 goal by around $15,000 with 4,447 backers. As a result they’re thrilled to be able to piece this documentary together and bring it to the world in a series of premieres, starting with the first in Portland during the World Domination Summit that I went to and rocked. And the NYC one where my pledged amount has got me VIP tickets as well as a feature in the credits!
The Reason for Success
Adam Baker is a hugely successful blogger over at Man vs Debt with a large readership and an excellent network of other influential online bloggers and marketers who were all to happy to step up and help out by spreading the word on their blogs. When I talked to him about it he believed his audience and community were a huge part of it.
They sent regular updates to their lists and through the Kickstarter platform asking for everyone to continue to spread the word and keep the momentum going so you were naturally excited by the project. In addition the excellent video showcasing the project on Kickstarter, the fact is this is a documentary that needs to be seen and a message that must be heard. That’s reason enough to back it – and just so you know it became the most well backed documentary ever on Kickstarter!
Danny Iny – Naked Marketing
The Project:
“I want YOU to help me write this book! Instead of going away for six months and writing in seclusion, I want to write this book in collaboration with the people who need it the most. I want to share my ideas with you as I write them, develop them in collaboration with you, and get your feedback and input before I waste time writing stuff that you aren’t interested in reading. Then I’ll write up my ideas, and share them with you – every section and chapter – the moment that I’m done writing them.
The Outcome:
When I went to visit this project through a link through Danny’s blog I saw his small goal of $2,500 was already blown out and today I received an update saying they raised $5240 in pledges and exceeded their expectations. This could easily have been a $10,000 plus project but Danny is not greedy and had clear reasons for selecting this amount and managing his book project in a `novel way’ (excuse the pun). He breaks down the previous costs of publishing and his reason for doing it this way this time around.
The Reason for Success
Danny Iny is not called the Freddy Kruger of blogging for no reason. He’s a prolific writer on Firepole Marketing as well as tonnes of other sites he regularly guest posts for. He’s the author of Engagement from Scratch and has built a huge list since publishing this book, as well as his latest free manifesto Naked Marketing. In fact that manifesto is the basis and motivation behind turning it into a fully fledged contributor-led book. Everyone likes being part of a collaborative project they can share in the journey of. Danny is a smart marketer and has a big community rooting for his eternal new creations and implementations who want him to succeed – and he has.
Below is a break down of Danny’s `Special Perks’ for his writing team and a big reason why his project got funded so quickly in my mind:
I want to give you every reason to get behind this project, so I’ve put together a huge list of exciting perks that you can get when you join my Writing Team, like:
Privileged access to the book materials before anybody else
A direct line to me, and the ability to influence the development of the entire project
A behind-the-scenes look at how it all comes together
An autographed paperback copy mailed to your door as soon as it’s ready
Free access to the live Naked Marketing Bootcamp training series I’m developing
1-on-1 marketing and business strategy advice and coaching from me (I usually charge $250 for 45-minutes)
Acknowledgement, mention, and exposure in the book when it’s released
The full list of perks is listed on the side of the page, and just to be clear, the perks are CUMULATIVE – so if your investment gets you the signed hardcover, for example, it’ll also get you participation in the project.
Antrese Wood – A Portrait Of Argentina Landscapes And Portraits
The Project
“Inspired by love, this project intends to seek out and share the stories of people and places that inspire hope in the human spirit. People who inspire us to reach higher, to be better than we are. My goal is to paint Argentina from an individual, national and world perspective. As I paint portraits of the people I meet, I’ll listen to their stories and then paint enplein-aire, the scenes from their daily life; the places the nation is most proud of, and locations familiar to the world.
The Outcome
Antrese was able to fund this project of $25,000 with 159 backers with just hours to go as her friends, family and some influential people who cared about this art project stepped up to join her in spreading the word. I originally found out about it from Pam Slim who thought it was a beautiful project and reached out to several of us who had lived in Argentina to support it or spread the word. When Pam speaks, people listen! But I was also so taken by Antrese’s video and idea that it was a no brainer to back it and share with my community and other friends around the world – especially from my time living in Argentina.
Seeing how happy she was to have this project funded in this charming video she sent out in the final hours when she knew she’d reached her funding goal, was worth it for me.
The Reason for Success
As I state above, enlisting the help of a few key influential people who care about your art is the best way to get started when you don’t have a large community, or an award winning blog or website to give you the platform from which to leap. I liken it to a snowball that gains momentum, speed and size as it rolls down the slopes. A few people give that ball a push and others (e.g bits of sticky snow) jump on to make it pick up pace and spread further and further! It helps that Antrese is a clearly talented artist with a cool idea that people want to see come to fruition.
Liz Dickinson: Alpha – The Holy Grail Of Heartrate
The Project
“And they said it couldn’t be done! Alpha is the world’s first strapless, continuous heart rate monitor watch you can wear on your wrist tested EKG accurate even while you are running at performance speeds of up to 20km/h (12mph).”
The Outcome
At the time I backed it around a week ago, after Liz had personally emailed me to spread the word, she was at around $85,000 of her $100,000 goal but with plenty of time still to go. She then surpassed her goal in a very short space of time when Mashable got hold of it (read on below for that story!).
Liz is the founder of MIO Global and the amazingly generous supporter of my bike ride across Africa. Not only did she send me several watches to try out (the Triumph I wear everyday with pride), she also gave me a rewards flight on my current trip to the US! So I was hands down going to back this cool project as it’s never been done before.
The Reason for Success
Having witnessed other people’s inventions on crowdfunding platforms, most notable this stellar example of over exceeding your expectations, these kinds of projects attract people passionate about seeing these innovations making it into the shops for all of us to buy and own. In addition Liz’s company MIO Global, has built up great goodwill with their superior sports watches and by supporting athletes in their endeavours – in short a real passion for healthy living and improving sports performance. People react to that and want to return the favour in droves.
It also helps when this happens, as Liz put out in one of her updates just days ago:
Hi Everyone
Here I am in Hong Kong and was just getting ready to turn off the computer and try to fool myself into thinking I really wanted to sleep despite being desperate for breakfast when I noticed a string of new pledges coming in. Usually that means there has been some sort of favorable mention somewhere online. I did a quick search and saw that the reporter who put up with my puffing breathlessly in her ear while running around last minute getting ready for my trip was from Mashable! You think I would have known that, right?
Mashable Business
Well, within a few minutes we were catapulted right over our goal and I am thrilled to announce we are FUNDED!
Could we be another PEBBLE? Well we are starting to ROCK!
Happy Birthday ALPHA! July 4th will now be known as Chest Strap Independence Day!
Liz
Want to know more about how this worked so well, read PR Lessons From A Kickstarter Launch by my friend Elena Verlee. It’s a great resource.
Using Crowdfunding For Your Dream Project
The variety of case studies I’ve highlighted above and the reasons for their success should give you some excellent reasons for using a crowdfunding platform to make your dreams come true. Aside from Kickstarter and Indigogo here are the Top 10 Crowdfunding Sites for Entrepreneurs. All are free to use and have different terms and conditions for what types of projects you can start on there.
Five keys to succeeding in your crowdfunding mission:
1. Translate your dream into a story people can buy into and fully support – create a movement
2. Enlist the help of those nearest and dearest to you and a few key influential people to get you started
3. Continue to update people on your progress through the platform your using and any other means possible (YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, your blog, your newsletter, other people’s blogs, PR outlets – the sky is your limit).
4. Create meaningful rewards that people want to get hold of – scarcity, exlusiveness and uniqueness all help in making them more attractive to potential pledgers
5. Go big or go home. Most crowdfunding projects are asking for larger monetary amounts these days, which means the risk is higher to ensure it succeeds so your project gets backed. At the same time that seems to be the reason most people get behind it – the sheer scale and vision of making these dreams a reality.
Want to fund a worthy Kickstarter right now?
Check out Niftyfare Handcakes Kickstarter project and support my friend Nif. She’s designed these delicious handcakes that are a cross between a veggie burger and a pancake. Frozen for your convenience, they are vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free and garlic-free. (whew!). And she’s got just 14 days left to raise just over $3K so go support her and see how this crowdfunding works in real-time.
Tell me about your experiences using crowdfunding and what worked and didn’t
Reborn Baby Dolls
Ashton-Drake Announces New Line of Dolls Called "First-Ever so Truly Reborn Baby Doll Collection"
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For over 25 years, Ashton-Drake has introduced countless doll collections into the lives of passionate doll collectors everywhere. Ashton-Drake has become synonymous with quality dolls all around the world. A new line of reborn babies called So Truly Reborn is now the latest doll collection released by Ashton-Drake '" just in time for Christmas 2010. Reborn Dolls are so precious and are sure to hold a special place in your heart the moment you lay eyes on them.
The original creator of reborn baby dolls was sculptor and Master Doll Artist Linda Webb. The current collection has been revived by artist Helen Jalland. This Reborn from the Heart Collection is a meticulously designed set of dolls that are of the highest quality imaginable.
The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that was put into making these reborn babies is nothing short of amazing. One would think a creation like this would cost thousands of dollars judging by other equivalent dolls, but at $179.99 these dolls are a steal! You won't find a realistic, premium quality baby doll at a price like this anywhere else.
The intricate details of the award winning Ashton-Drake So Truly Reborn baby dolls are spectacular. Each lifelike baby doll has vinyl-enhanced layered skin tones, delicate human-like veins, hand-rooted hair, handmade clothing with accent jewels and other fine details, hand painted fingernails and toenails, and the absolute cutest baby eyelashes.
The length from head to toe measures 22 inches or 55.8 centimeters '" just like a real newborn. It will be love at first sight once you have one of these reborn babies in your arms! The delicate details depicted on the So Truly Reborn babies are exactly like you would see on a real infant.
Emily Reborn from the Heart is the first issue of the So Truly Real series. The second issue will be Forever Rose Emily. This special limited edition series has been released to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Ashton-Drake Galleries. Each doll in the collection comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
What better Christmas gift for all the doll collectors and little girls in your life than an Ashton-Drake original So Truly reborn baby dolls? At first sight, you will swear it's a real infant! This is a beautiful addition to any doll collector's collection. At this price, it would be wise to order now before the supply runs out during the upcoming Christmas rush.
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The original creator of reborn baby dolls was sculptor and Master Doll Artist Linda Webb. The current collection has been revived by artist Helen Jalland. This Reborn from the Heart Collection is a meticulously designed set of dolls that are of the highest quality imaginable.
The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that was put into making these reborn babies is nothing short of amazing. One would think a creation like this would cost thousands of dollars judging by other equivalent dolls, but at $179.99 these dolls are a steal! You won't find a realistic, premium quality baby doll at a price like this anywhere else.
The intricate details of the award winning Ashton-Drake So Truly Reborn baby dolls are spectacular. Each lifelike baby doll has vinyl-enhanced layered skin tones, delicate human-like veins, hand-rooted hair, handmade clothing with accent jewels and other fine details, hand painted fingernails and toenails, and the absolute cutest baby eyelashes.
The length from head to toe measures 22 inches or 55.8 centimeters '" just like a real newborn. It will be love at first sight once you have one of these reborn babies in your arms! The delicate details depicted on the So Truly Reborn babies are exactly like you would see on a real infant.
Emily Reborn from the Heart is the first issue of the So Truly Real series. The second issue will be Forever Rose Emily. This special limited edition series has been released to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Ashton-Drake Galleries. Each doll in the collection comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
What better Christmas gift for all the doll collectors and little girls in your life than an Ashton-Drake original So Truly reborn baby dolls? At first sight, you will swear it's a real infant! This is a beautiful addition to any doll collector's collection. At this price, it would be wise to order now before the supply runs out during the upcoming Christmas rush.
Real Flowers Jewellery
That's a blooming lovely necklace! Designer makes jewellery using real flowers and moss (no watering required)
Evan, 28, crafts a small wooden vase that connects to a chain and can be filled with a flower or plant, left. Right, the green plant-life in this ring has been dried and so doesn't grow or require any maintenance
Blooming lovely: Eco-designer Evan Lentz has created a range of jewellery with a tiny plant as the centrepiece - this tiny wooden vase can be filled with any small flower or plant
Green fingers: Evan, from San Diego, California, sources the materials for his pieces in the redwood forests near his home
Unusual: The eye-catching jewellery provides a natural, sustainable, eco-friendly and cheaper alternative to regular beads and pendants found on chain
Eco-designer Evan Lentz has created a range of jewellery that uses tiny plants, flowers or moss as a living centrepiece.
For his miniature vase pieces, Evan, 28, crafts a small wooden container that connects to a chain and can be filled with small amounts of grass or moss, or a tiny flower.
Elsewhere, rings and necklaces form tiny wooden containers that contain small amounts of dried moss creating beautiful, verdant decorations.
The green plant-life has been dried and so doesn't continue to grow, nor does it require any maintenance.
Sourced in the redwood forests near his home in San Diego, California, the eye-catching materials provides a natural, sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to regular beads, gems or metal.
He says on his website mrlentz.com that he was inspired to create the pieces while on a long walk in the redwood forests some years back.
'A few years ago, in the midst of a foggy overgrown forest, I unsaddled my horse and decided to take a walk. This walk lasted days, meandering through river valleys and steep, dense hillside.
'The redwood forest did not once fail to impress and inspire me, and so what started out as a trail of footsteps is now a journey into the handmade world of eco-friendly and sustainable jewellery.
'That journey continues today with a re-designed line of necklaces named The Redwood Series.
Evan, from San Diego, California, sells his unusual range of eco-friendly jewellery online for up to £20 a piece.
He said: 'Women generally love the necklaces and I receive a good deal of comments on them due to their unique nature.
'A lot of jewellery out there is the same old mix of beads or metal, so when someone walks in with a wearable plant necklace, they have a conversation starter with almost everyone they meet.'
On mrlentz.com, Lentz says he comes from a very creative background and that with his work he aims to inspire.
'A lot of my inspiration comes from my family. My father is a very serious entrepreneur, my mother is a famous artist of multiple mediums, and my sister is a bad-ass welder who also loves creating art.
'First and foremost I aim to inspire others to inspire others. It is my goal to share my work and joy with others and it makes me very happy to know that people around the world are smiling right now with a moss jewellery piece around their neck.
'My other philosophy is Creating Without Destroying. I believe in using recycled materials and scraps whenever possible. I also believe in using non-toxic stains and ingredients as much as possible.
'I even spent over a month developing a handmade all natural non-toxic stain derived from walnut husks and vinegar.'
Evan, 28, crafts a small wooden vase that connects to a chain and can be filled with a flower or plant, left. Right, the green plant-life in this ring has been dried and so doesn't grow or require any maintenance
Blooming lovely: Eco-designer Evan Lentz has created a range of jewellery with a tiny plant as the centrepiece - this tiny wooden vase can be filled with any small flower or plant
Unusual: The eye-catching jewellery provides a natural, sustainable, eco-friendly and cheaper alternative to regular beads and pendants found on chain
Eco-designer Evan Lentz has created a range of jewellery that uses tiny plants, flowers or moss as a living centrepiece.
For his miniature vase pieces, Evan, 28, crafts a small wooden container that connects to a chain and can be filled with small amounts of grass or moss, or a tiny flower.
Elsewhere, rings and necklaces form tiny wooden containers that contain small amounts of dried moss creating beautiful, verdant decorations.
The green plant-life has been dried and so doesn't continue to grow, nor does it require any maintenance.
Sourced in the redwood forests near his home in San Diego, California, the eye-catching materials provides a natural, sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to regular beads, gems or metal.
He says on his website mrlentz.com that he was inspired to create the pieces while on a long walk in the redwood forests some years back.
'A few years ago, in the midst of a foggy overgrown forest, I unsaddled my horse and decided to take a walk. This walk lasted days, meandering through river valleys and steep, dense hillside.
'The redwood forest did not once fail to impress and inspire me, and so what started out as a trail of footsteps is now a journey into the handmade world of eco-friendly and sustainable jewellery.
'That journey continues today with a re-designed line of necklaces named The Redwood Series.
Evan, from San Diego, California, sells his unusual range of eco-friendly jewellery online for up to £20 a piece.
He said: 'Women generally love the necklaces and I receive a good deal of comments on them due to their unique nature.
'A lot of jewellery out there is the same old mix of beads or metal, so when someone walks in with a wearable plant necklace, they have a conversation starter with almost everyone they meet.'
On mrlentz.com, Lentz says he comes from a very creative background and that with his work he aims to inspire.
'A lot of my inspiration comes from my family. My father is a very serious entrepreneur, my mother is a famous artist of multiple mediums, and my sister is a bad-ass welder who also loves creating art.
'First and foremost I aim to inspire others to inspire others. It is my goal to share my work and joy with others and it makes me very happy to know that people around the world are smiling right now with a moss jewellery piece around their neck.
'My other philosophy is Creating Without Destroying. I believe in using recycled materials and scraps whenever possible. I also believe in using non-toxic stains and ingredients as much as possible.
'I even spent over a month developing a handmade all natural non-toxic stain derived from walnut husks and vinegar.'
Sabtu, 06 April 2013
Anti Rape Lingerie
Indian students invent shock-emitting anti-rape lingerie
Fed up with waiting for their government to do something about sexual assaults against women, three Indian students have invented anti-rape underwear.
Three Indian engineering students have invented lingerie they say will give sexual predators the shock of their lives if they try to molest women.
The students, all studying engineering in Chennai, have named the product Society Harnessing Equipment (SHE).
SHE comes equipped with GPS, GSM mobile phone network and pressure sensors, Manisha Mohan, one of the inventors, told the Times of India.
It is capable of sending shocks of 3.8 million volts to attackers, as well as alerting parents and police, Mohan said, adding that the shocks can be emitted up to 82 times.
Mohan described it as "an apt device" that gives women "freedom from situations faced in public places," including situations where they are hesitant to go to the police for help.
India has been in the news recently for sexual attacks and violence against women, which shocked the country and the world,and spurred the Indian government to come up with anti-rape legislation.
According to a description of the product on techpedia.in, an electric circuit board is placed near the bosom. A survey showed that is the area first attacked when women are "eve-teased" — a term commonly used in India to describe public molestations or sexual harassment by men — or raped.
The inside of the lingerie is insulated with a polymer.
The device won a 2013 Gandhian Young Technological Award.
Mohan and the two other inventors, Niladri Basu and Rimpi Tripathy, write on the Techpedia site that they were inspired to make the product after identifying incidents of sexual violence while surveying women's hostels in India.
"Since the lawmakers take ages to come up with just laws and even after that, women are unsafe ... hence, we have initiated the idea of self-defense which protects the women from domestic, social and workplace harassment," they wrote.
The device's shortcomings? According to the trio, SHE needs to be more compact.
They also want to connect the system with a smartphone using Bluetooth wireless transmission in the near future.
Three Indian engineering students have invented lingerie they say will give sexual predators the shock of their lives if they try to molest women.
The students, all studying engineering in Chennai, have named the product Society Harnessing Equipment (SHE).
SHE comes equipped with GPS, GSM mobile phone network and pressure sensors, Manisha Mohan, one of the inventors, told the Times of India.
It is capable of sending shocks of 3.8 million volts to attackers, as well as alerting parents and police, Mohan said, adding that the shocks can be emitted up to 82 times.
Mohan described it as "an apt device" that gives women "freedom from situations faced in public places," including situations where they are hesitant to go to the police for help.
India has been in the news recently for sexual attacks and violence against women, which shocked the country and the world,and spurred the Indian government to come up with anti-rape legislation.
According to a description of the product on techpedia.in, an electric circuit board is placed near the bosom. A survey showed that is the area first attacked when women are "eve-teased" — a term commonly used in India to describe public molestations or sexual harassment by men — or raped.
The inside of the lingerie is insulated with a polymer.
The device won a 2013 Gandhian Young Technological Award.
Mohan and the two other inventors, Niladri Basu and Rimpi Tripathy, write on the Techpedia site that they were inspired to make the product after identifying incidents of sexual violence while surveying women's hostels in India.
"Since the lawmakers take ages to come up with just laws and even after that, women are unsafe ... hence, we have initiated the idea of self-defense which protects the women from domestic, social and workplace harassment," they wrote.
The device's shortcomings? According to the trio, SHE needs to be more compact.
They also want to connect the system with a smartphone using Bluetooth wireless transmission in the near future.
Senin, 01 April 2013
Volcanic Rock House in The Mineral Residence
Planning korea: the mineral residence on jeju island
The newest addition to planning korea's airest city-berjaya jeju resort on the rapidly developing jeju island is 'the mineral', a residence/event venue
that echoes the natural shape of the crystal clusters that form on the local volcanic rock. the structure is located on the southern coast of the island
in the gotjawal forest, and has broken ground on march 7th, to be completed by september of 2014. a central courtyard with a 10-meter wide rectangular
pool that extends out towards the sea is the anchor around which a crescent-shape structure houses the patinated metal mineral pods. four separate
entrances and the modular-like construction allows the complex to be joined into a single volume or subdivided into smaller residential units. a rooftop
garden vertically extends the ground-scape creating an ideal environment from which to view the night sky or the forest canopy.
The newest addition to planning korea's airest city-berjaya jeju resort on the rapidly developing jeju island is 'the mineral', a residence/event venue
that echoes the natural shape of the crystal clusters that form on the local volcanic rock. the structure is located on the southern coast of the island
in the gotjawal forest, and has broken ground on march 7th, to be completed by september of 2014. a central courtyard with a 10-meter wide rectangular
pool that extends out towards the sea is the anchor around which a crescent-shape structure houses the patinated metal mineral pods. four separate
entrances and the modular-like construction allows the complex to be joined into a single volume or subdivided into smaller residential units. a rooftop
garden vertically extends the ground-scape creating an ideal environment from which to view the night sky or the forest canopy.
Jumat, 29 Maret 2013
Condom Idea Contest - Get Prize $100K
Bill Gates Offering $100K for a Better-Feeling Condom
Condoms have been around for hundreds of years, but sadly haven’t seen major improvements in the last 50. Bill Gates is out to change that. The billionaire is putting some serious cash into the condom concept of the future.
Condoms are hands-down the best way to prevent both unplanned pregnancies and STIs, but for all the good they do, most guys still whine about wrapping it up. Bill Gates hopes to change all that: The billionaire's foundation is offering a $100,000 grant to anyone who can design a better condom, or figure out a way to make guys more eager to wear them. "The primary drawback from the male perspective is that condoms decrease pleasure as compared to no condom, creating a trade-off that many men find unacceptable, particularly given that the decisions about use must be made just prior to intercourse.” the challenge's description states.
True story. The only bad news in all this: "Large-scale human clinical trials are not required," the challenge states. Still think you can one-up Trojan? Let's take a look at a brief history of rubbers for some inspiration.
1,000 BC: Egyptians used linen sheaths to get it on without sharing any diseases. They even died them different colors.
1500s: Linen condoms made a comeback in Europe as a way to prevent syphilis. One major innovation this time: The cloth was doused in chemicals—the very first spermicides—and then set out to dry.
1800s: Hallelujah! Goodyear (yes, the tire folks) figure out how to mass-produce rubber.
1861: An American newspaper prints the country's first-ever condom ad, touting "French Preventatives."
1873: And, one step back. The Comstock Law of 1873 makes all contraception illegal.
1957: Durex introduces lubricated condoms.
1990s: Hello, polyurethane.
Condoms have been around for hundreds of years, but sadly haven’t seen major improvements in the last 50. Bill Gates is out to change that. The billionaire is putting some serious cash into the condom concept of the future.
Condoms are hands-down the best way to prevent both unplanned pregnancies and STIs, but for all the good they do, most guys still whine about wrapping it up. Bill Gates hopes to change all that: The billionaire's foundation is offering a $100,000 grant to anyone who can design a better condom, or figure out a way to make guys more eager to wear them. "The primary drawback from the male perspective is that condoms decrease pleasure as compared to no condom, creating a trade-off that many men find unacceptable, particularly given that the decisions about use must be made just prior to intercourse.” the challenge's description states.
True story. The only bad news in all this: "Large-scale human clinical trials are not required," the challenge states. Still think you can one-up Trojan? Let's take a look at a brief history of rubbers for some inspiration.
1,000 BC: Egyptians used linen sheaths to get it on without sharing any diseases. They even died them different colors.
1500s: Linen condoms made a comeback in Europe as a way to prevent syphilis. One major innovation this time: The cloth was doused in chemicals—the very first spermicides—and then set out to dry.
1800s: Hallelujah! Goodyear (yes, the tire folks) figure out how to mass-produce rubber.
1861: An American newspaper prints the country's first-ever condom ad, touting "French Preventatives."
1873: And, one step back. The Comstock Law of 1873 makes all contraception illegal.
1957: Durex introduces lubricated condoms.
1990s: Hello, polyurethane.
Selasa, 19 Maret 2013
The Most Viewed Romantic Wedding Proposal
Jillian Pavlica: Fox 54 WZDX Huntsville news anchor reads own proposal on air
Saturday night on the FOX54 Nine O'clock News, weekend anchor Jillian Pavlica was surprised with a ring from her boyfriend Vince.
Her producer, Dana Conley, simply told her before the segment there was breaking news. Dana told Jillian she wrote the script and put it in the teleprompter and instructed her to just read what was in there.
The "breaking news" script read, "We've got breaking news to share with you tonight. FOX54 has just learned that a Huntsville news anchor is being proposed to on live TV right now!"
Jillian made it to "proposed" and then figured it out. Out came Vince, Jillian's boyfriend (now fiance). He got on one knee and popped the question.
Jillian said yes! You can send your congratulations via twitter to @JillianTV.
Saturday night on the FOX54 Nine O'clock News, weekend anchor Jillian Pavlica was surprised with a ring from her boyfriend Vince.
Her producer, Dana Conley, simply told her before the segment there was breaking news. Dana told Jillian she wrote the script and put it in the teleprompter and instructed her to just read what was in there.
The "breaking news" script read, "We've got breaking news to share with you tonight. FOX54 has just learned that a Huntsville news anchor is being proposed to on live TV right now!"
Jillian made it to "proposed" and then figured it out. Out came Vince, Jillian's boyfriend (now fiance). He got on one knee and popped the question.
Jillian said yes! You can send your congratulations via twitter to @JillianTV.
Senin, 18 Maret 2013
Jumat, 15 Maret 2013
The Sex Cereal for Men and Women
Peter Ehrlich Makes Gender-Based 'SEXCEREAL' For Men And Women
Now this is a cereal that will bring out the tiger in you.
Introducing: SEXCEREAL, a breakfast trying to penetrate the performance-enhancing cereal industry (watch out, Wheaties). The nutrient-rich granola mix, packaged separately for men and women, claims to support testosterone and hormonal-balance, respectively.
Unusual ingredients "for him" include bee pollen, black sesame, wheat germ, and pumpkin seeds, while the "for her" version has ginger, sunflower seeds, and almonds.
Peter Ehrlich, a Toronto businessman, debuted the product last May, but it began gaining popularity after appearing on CBC's Dragon's Den, a Canadian entrepreneurial TV show, this past February.
Ehrlich said he pursued his cereal conquest because he felt there was a hole in the market that needed to be filled.
“Sexual health is so important,” Ehrlich told the Toronto Sun. “I wanted to create something sexy and fun in the health food industry because nothing is. Everything is very serious.”
Ehrlich doesn't want his lustful breakfast to be mistaken for a novelty, "shock value" product. On his website, he writes that nutritional and quality control experts developed the formula.
But the sexy cereal doesn't lack sensuality. The brand's blonde pin-up girl and male model who grace the products' packaging make Tony the Tiger and Count Chocula look like Sloth from the Goonies.
“Initially we had some pin-up girl positions that were a little more racy," Kaiser said to the Sun. "But we dialed it back a bit because of the legitimacy of the product."
SEXCEREAL's website boasts mostly positive testimonials. One overwhelmingly descriptive customer wrote, "It works."
Ultimately the public will decide if the concept of sexy cereal is something they can swallow.
Introducing: SEXCEREAL, a breakfast trying to penetrate the performance-enhancing cereal industry (watch out, Wheaties). The nutrient-rich granola mix, packaged separately for men and women, claims to support testosterone and hormonal-balance, respectively.
Unusual ingredients "for him" include bee pollen, black sesame, wheat germ, and pumpkin seeds, while the "for her" version has ginger, sunflower seeds, and almonds.
Peter Ehrlich, a Toronto businessman, debuted the product last May, but it began gaining popularity after appearing on CBC's Dragon's Den, a Canadian entrepreneurial TV show, this past February.
Ehrlich said he pursued his cereal conquest because he felt there was a hole in the market that needed to be filled.
“Sexual health is so important,” Ehrlich told the Toronto Sun. “I wanted to create something sexy and fun in the health food industry because nothing is. Everything is very serious.”
Ehrlich doesn't want his lustful breakfast to be mistaken for a novelty, "shock value" product. On his website, he writes that nutritional and quality control experts developed the formula.
But the sexy cereal doesn't lack sensuality. The brand's blonde pin-up girl and male model who grace the products' packaging make Tony the Tiger and Count Chocula look like Sloth from the Goonies.
“Initially we had some pin-up girl positions that were a little more racy," Kaiser said to the Sun. "But we dialed it back a bit because of the legitimacy of the product."
SEXCEREAL's website boasts mostly positive testimonials. One overwhelmingly descriptive customer wrote, "It works."
Ultimately the public will decide if the concept of sexy cereal is something they can swallow.
Rabu, 13 Maret 2013
Poltergeist TV
We know that April Fool’s Day is just less than a week away, so why not be well prepared with the TV Poltergeist Phantom Prank Device from ThinkGeek? For $12.99, you can always drive the resident couch potato mad and perhaps even have him/her call in an exorcist. Why do we say so? This unique device is capable of turning the TV on and off at completely random intervals every 5 to 20 minutes round the clock, for weeks on end as long as the trio of AA batteries powering it isn’t dead. Of course, you must have a pretty cluttered living room for this to work simply because it will need to have its LED aimed at the TV directly all the time, so a neat, well kept house would make it easier for the culprit to be identified.
Selasa, 12 Maret 2013
How To Teach Your Daughter About Sex And Penis
What exactly is Dora exploring here? Besides the shaft of a dong, that is.
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