I remember the first time I ever saw a Josh Clay painting, I was at an art show opening with Olga last year. We both stood in awe for a while, in absolute silence, just taking it all in. And now he's got a solo show coming up, called "Follow the Shadows," and he's allowing us all to watch his progress as he prepares. Check it out here.
It has taken me far too long to get on the M. Ward bandwagon. But I am here. I am loaded up and I am riding along, happily.
So here's the M. Ward video for "Chinese Translation" below, which combines two of my favorite things: Animation and good music. And here's a link telling you what you really need to know: M. Ward, along with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Spoon, Modest Mouse, Thievery Corporation, and bunches of other great bands, will be playing at this year's first annual Treasure Island Festival September 15-16 in San Francisco.
These lamps make me all peaceful and happy inside. They look like little hot air balloons, ferrying traveling mice from place to place. Or small floating worlds populated by creatures made of white dandelion fluff. They make me dream, and that's a very good thing.
Sculptor Jason Taylor has installed a series of his sculptures under the sea off the coast of Grenada. The images really speak for themselves, and demonstrate what a powerful, evocative setting for an art installation the ocean floor is much more fully than I ever could. I can only imagine what it must be like to view these works with the ever-shifting light diffusing through the water above...
I finally got to see The Long Blondes at Popscene in San Francisco over the weekend, and as proof of how much they rock, I enter exhibit A, the video for "Weekend Without Makeup":
The most ingenious thing about this waffle iron is the fact that the space bar is such an ideal receptacle for puddles and pools of syrup. Not to mention melted butter. Oh! Delicious space bar! I never knew what a wealth of opportunity you represented.
It's good to know that when people hold contests with a "Ceramics for Breakfast" theme, they have the right priorities. As is only fitting, a new device for making the delicious, delicious toast won first prize. This is huge in toast news! As the designer observes, "This toaster is designed to engage the user, re-invigorating the social context of toasting by questioning everything about what we toast with today." It's about damn time.
Normally I'm a little wary when I hear my favorite bands used in advertisements, the whole Of Montreal/Outback debacle being a case in point. But when I saw this ad for Robinson's fruit juices yesterday, which uses part of the Deerhoof song "Blue Cash" as its theme music, how could I feel anything other than all ooey-gooey inside? Cartoon fruit creatures sprouting from stalks and frolicking with giant bugs? I'm in.
As obsessed as I am with Of Montreal, I am ashamed to admit I missed this acoustic set until just a couple of hours ago. Fortunately I've been making the most of the play button since then, to make up for all the lost time. There's video and audio galore, including an interview and some great David Bowie covers. The sound quality is incredible. And Kevin Barnes is cuter than a button, as always.
My favorite jewelry takes nature as its inspiration, which is what compelled me to finally buy this ring. Miss Misa has it all though. Whether you're a nature-lover, a romantic, or an adventurer, you can finally fully demonstrate that with your accessories. It's just as I always dreamed it would be!
I really hope this comes back. if it doesn't, you should hand it off to someone! I'm sure anyone (including myself) would love to take over fabulist and bring it back with a vengeance!
becca on 
