The zen of Shoji Hamada's pottery techniques




I've recently fallen in love with pottery making ... the texture of it, the feeling of it, the goal of a simple yet almost unattainable perfect piece make this a delightful challenge. Ultimately, it is about the zen of trying to achieve a perfectly imperfect piece which is deeply satisfying (and sensual) .... especially if you are doing this in a beautiful and quiet space.

Above are just a few videos (circa 1968) by Japanese Master Potter Shoji Hamada, but Brits such as Bernard Leach, Simon Leach, Michael Cardew and the likes are a joy to watch (if you like this activity!).

Fun T-Shirts ...








Click on the the image and it will take you to the site where you can buy it ... (or where I found it)

3D Door Stickers







"These aren't real staircases, doors, escalators, but they are ordinary doors covered with 3D door stickers. These are made on opaque white fabric with satin finish, are adjustable to the size of your door with just a pair of scissors and one can apply them with regular wall paper glue. These creative stickers are sure to attract attention of your friends and visitors!"

This post via the very cool blog Crooked Brains

Strijdom van der Merwe - Land Art











If you like Andy Goldsworthy, Christo and the likes ... you will love the (very similar) works of South African land artist Strijdom van der Merwe.

Check out his amazing work/website @ http://www.strijdom.co.za/

Cortijada Los Gazquez - creative retreat








"At a thousand meters above sea level, Cortijada Los Gázquez is an 'off-grid' destination for creatively minded travellers high in the mountains of Andalucia.

In the heart of the 'Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez', this ‘eco-chic’ guest house and 47 acre farm resides within a place of extreme natural beauty, profound peace and tranquillity and an awe inspiring wilderness, in one of Spain’s most dramatic alpine deserts.

Cortijada Los Gázquez combines two of the principle ideas fundamental for people who love peace, inspiration and the natural world. Ecology and creativity.

As a guest house, Cortijada Los Gázquez has a benign influence on the earth making power from the sun and wind, cooking and heating with wood and recycling everything.

As a creative retreat Cortijada Los Gázquez is a place for the expression of art, design and creativity in all it’s forms. It is a place where one can withdraw from everyday life and focus on one’s creativity in a culturally stimulating environment.

Cortijada Los Gázquez is also taking bookings for a range of holidays and creative events. Please refer to the Holidays & Events page for further information"

Text above taken from their site: http://www.losgazquez.com/en/index.php