Birthday and 101 in 1001

Last week was JV's birthday. He turned 33 on Thursday. We had a great weekend out in Uppsala, but I'd like to celebrate in a small way here:

"I Love You More Than Scary Movies" card by HopSkipJumpPaper

Genuine NES Controller Wall Art by RandomID

Aren't they cool? Happy (belated) birthday to my favorite man!

Anyway, on to my list:


In progress:

I'm still biking towards Rivendell. (6 - 1) I'm at 415 kilometers!

Another post and comment. (1 - 3) (7 - 3)

I finished another nonfiction book, A History of Histories. (9 - 2) Very dense, but a very interesting read and I'd recommend it to anyone with a fondness for history and politics. He also includes a selected bibliography of recommended historical works, which might become part of a future 101 list.

I finished another WhatCulture article and have started on another. (10 - 16) I have two more to pitch stewing at the back of my brain.


Completed:

 I'm embarrassed to say that it took me so long to finish A History of Histories that it qualified as an "owned for over a year" book. (2 - 12) Any other book I've owned for over a year is currently packed up in a box across the Atlantic Ocean, so that's the end of my "book backlog" goals for this list. Still, I read more this time around than I did the first list, so that's a promising trend!

I also brushed my teeth every night for two weeks. (6 - 6) I'm not sure if it's a habit now because I live with someone, or if it's a habit because of the goal; I think both are factors, to be honest.

Failed:

None!

The entire list is after the jump.

Jewelry Inspirations: Southwestern and Boho

I haven't made any jewelry in ages. We (I) have been lax in getting a larger table for the kitchen, where I would have room both for Regan (my laptop) and for beadwork. It's been long enough now that I am really itching to to string up some new things. Browsing Pinterest for design inspiration and color schemes, I find myself drawn towards the "boho" and Southwestern: earthy neutrals with bright jewel tones, chunky cuffs, layers of strands....sharing here is the next best thing to sitting down and working out my own stuff.

Truth be told, I'm also desperate to branch into a new look and style, jewelry-wise. Not in terms of my own personal style, but what I make. At the edge of my brain there's the realization that no one's really combining these styles with the techniques I use.  Something about these styles and concepts feels like a next step or momentous occasion. Is there a market for math versions of the following? Who knows?

African Trade Bead Necklace by FIPDesigns on Zibbet

I love the colors, but especially I love the random (pseudorandom?) chunks of citrine in there as a complement. The natural, earthy effect is exactly what I strive for in some of my pieces, but I don't really achieve it to this degree. The large beads and big chunks are perfect for working with physical constants, since I only have a handful of numbers to work with.

Boho Bracelet by BohoStyleMe on Etsy

The colors. The colors! Turquoise has been all over Pinterest lately, or at least it was the last time I was seriously ODing on pins. The combination with bright oranges and deep reds is always so stunning. I also love the chunky multistrand look in bracelets. The variety in beads is great, too: there are so many, but yet they all thematically work together. Variety is an area I know I need to start working in, as an artist ("artist"), but done wrong it can just be distracting chaos. Reminders like this about how to do it right are important. (Note how almost every strand alternates a gemstone bead with a silver bead or spacer. I think that's part of this bracelet's secret.)

Brown and Green Seed Bead Triple Strand Necklace by AvesDesign on Zibbet

Again with the variety and controlled chaos. There's so much going on there and yet they all work together. I love the jewel tone colors in this one, as well as the fascinator/dangle thing going on at the end.The length and the multiple strands of this one would be perfect for irrationals; I think truncating them too early (like I do for single strand necklaces and bracelets) takes away from some of the beauty. Being able to stand back from a piece and see the whole (well, "whole") number, or multiple parts of it working together is neat, and probably why I like my memory wire cuff bracelets the best. It's like collage work, but with beads.

Seen any good jewelry lately?

Setting up the Geek House

After many trials and tribulations I have finally (and permanently) relocated to Stockholm, Sweden. At the moment I am at a loss for words. It is surreal, after years of brief visits or semesters abroad, to finally be here for more than a transitory visit; if there is a positive version of trauma or PTSD, then I'm feeling it right now.

Unfortunately, it looks as though I'll have to move house before the end of the year. Instead of being frustrated and stressed about that, however, I'm going to look on it as a chance for a (maybe) better apartment and to escape the terrible upstairs neighbor, Takjävel, and most importantly as a chance to decorate!

JV and I are both mad for pillows. We can't ever get enough. The pillows we have now, though, lack any sense of humor or personality. These pillows from pillows4fun on Zibbet would be a great alternative:

Ctrl Alt Del pillow covers

We don't have much in the way of art at the moment. This print from minouette, a fellow Mad Scientist of Etsy, would be great to frame and hang in the living room:

"Hello Dolly!" linocut print

The mark of being a proper adult is maybe the switch from paper to cloth napkins. Maybe. In any case, I like these circuit board print napkins from juniperberries enough to buy a few for our new kitchen, whenever we may get it:

Organic Circuit Board Reversible Cloth Napkins 

That just leaves the bathroom. JV is inordinately sensitive to most scents and perfumes, so my days of artisan soaps and bodywashes are over. At least I can still lust after nice hand towels for the bathroom, like these his and hers Totoro towels from QuantumStitching:

My Neighbor Totoro hand towels

If you've found any other great pieces of geeky home decor, share in the comments!

Friday Finds: Science Jewelry

I'm always on the prowl for neat science-inspired jewelry (besides my own, of course). Here are some of the best I've found recently!

I was totally stunned both with how creative the idea behind this bracelet is and gorgeous it ended up being.

Hydrogen Necklace by MChandraJewelry on Etsy

"Hydrogen? How is this hydrogen? I'm skeptical," you're probably thinking. I was too. Then I read the description:

Hydrogen gas, when excited, emits characteristic colors. The colors of the hydrogen spectrum inspire this necklace - violet amethyst, turquoise and red coral. Hydrogen has a "line spectrum:" the bands of color are very narrow, hence the use of rondelle beads. There are dark regions in between, indicated by hematite beads. 

What an awesome and artistic depiction of an important chemical property!


If you want something a little more flashy, how about this Mars rover statement necklace?

Mount Sharp Necklace from MarsBling on Etsy

The image in the middle is a photo of Mount Sharp taken by the Curiosity rover. The copper chain and accent pieces are a perfect fit for the Red Planet.

If paleontology or biology is more your thing, here's a great, understated pendant for you from Zibbet:

Red Fossil Coral Necklace by CindyLouWho2 on Zibbet

In the end, though, I have to come back to astronomy. This solar system bracelet is just too cute.

Solar System Bracelet by TheDopelerEffect on Zibbet

I love how there's even the moon there, dangling off of the Earth!

Friday Finds: Mortal Kombat and Biology

Two finds today, one courtesy of Zibbet and one courtesy of Etsy.

First, from Magpie House on Zibbet, these awesome Mortal Kombat earrings.

Sterling Silver Mortal Kombat Earrings by Magpie House

If you're more an FPS player than a fighter, how about this Tribalman's Shiv? It's perfect for all you TF2 snipers out there:

Wood and Copper Tribalman's Shiv by Magpie House

Finally, some gorgeous biology art from sandraculliton on Etsy:

The Genetic Code by sandraculliton

Mitosis ACEO by sandraculliton