Tags: Derek Diedricksen, micro-shelter, microshelter
Something Small Posted on June 29th, 2011
Meet Derek Diedricksen of Stoughton Massachusetts who makes playful micro-shelters out of junk. For ingenuity, thrift and charm, Diedrickson’s structures are hard to beat. Made of scavenged materials, they cost on average less than $200 to build. They have transparent roofing – all the better to see the tree tops; loads of imaginative and decorative details – like a pickle jar for a window; and a port hole salvaged from a front-loading washing machine and walls made from pallets. Diedrickson’s structures are alternatives to the cardboard box, far sturdier and sprinkled with charm and make great use of recyclables. I like creativity. I love his mini-houses. But my first question is – where is the toilet?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/garden/24tiny.html?pagewanted=all
Tags: Anthony, Anthony Weiner, Weiner
Rep Anthony Weiner is Stupid Posted on June 14th, 2011
Is anyone watching the debacle of Rep Anthony Weiner unfold on national television? It seems a state representative and a grown man who should know better, has been caught sending nude photos of himself via Facebbook to women – some of them underage. What is going on? First we have the Schwarzenegger scandal, then we have John Edwards and his despicable behavior and then we have rep Weiner who has taken his name far too seriously. Rep Weiner is married and his wife is pregnant. What has happened to common decency and the moral compass that we were all taught as children? More and more of these scandals are coming to light. And it’s not just men – women are not exempt either.
Unfortunately Rep Weiner apparently has done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law – yet. But in the eyes of women he’s a fool. It is time to take these scoundrels to task and portray them for what they are – a detriment to society. Facebook is a fun way to connect but when it damages the lives of innocent people, it has gone too far. Rep Weiner should step down, change his name, grow a beard and set up a hotdog stand on a street corner in a far-away city. Woe betide his children if they take his name – there will be no end of bullying and taunting. If his wife stays with him, in my opinion she’s just as stupid as he is.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/anthony_d_weiner/index.html
Tags: clothes, fashion, sewing
Sew Fun! Posted on June 3rd, 2011
I have always loved clothes and fashion. I got my start as a writer in the world of fashion and interior design. I wrote for a major newspaper and glossy magazine. My love of clothes stemmed from my days as a teenager where the family hand-cranked sewing machine produced many an outfit. Bought clothes seemed expensive and boring. So I would look at a length of fabric in my mother’s sewing drawer and whip up a skirt over the weekend. I also made clothes for my dolls. Dolls were a great comfort to me growing up.
Every young girl loves clothes and today there are a number of “Kiddie Coutouriers” ready to burst onto the “tween” clothing market before they’ve even hit high school. There are 12-year-old fashion bloggers, 12-year-old food critics and even teen conservative pundits who are being discovered and celebrated. Today’s teen design aficionados are obsessed with fashion, inspired by teenage celebrities and empowered by the Internet. Madonna’s daughter Lourdes has her own clothing line. Cecelia Cassini is an 11-year-old from Encino California has sold over 500 designs since she started her business at the age of 10. In a recent phone interview, Cecelia said, ”Fashion is a hot thing to be into when you’re young.” There’s nothing more fun than messing around with clothes and fabric but this is a far cry from the hand-turned sewing machine of yester-year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/fashion/24KIDDIES.html?pagewanted=all