Am pretty sure if my math classes had used chocolate to demonstrate theories and ideas you would now be reading the words of a professional mathematician.

(via Oh Happy Day)

From the man himself:

“What started out as an exercise in model building and photography, ended up as a dream-like reconstruction of the town I grew up in. It’s not an exact recreation, but it does capture the mood of my memories.
And like a dream, many of the buildings show up in different configurations throughout the photos. Or sometimes, the buildings stay put and the backgrounds change.

The buildings are 1/24th scale [ or 1/2 inch equals a foot ]. They are constructed of Gator board, styrene plastic, Sintra [ a light flexible plastic that can be carved, and painted ] plus numerous found objects; such as jewelery pieces, finishing washers and printed material.”

All of these amazing little dioramas have not been photoshopped at all! What you see is what you get, which is a lovely scene of someone’s memory. Sigh. Double sigh. I feel like Gregory Crewdson would appreciate this work.

If you are back to school shopping, and want something neat to bribe your kids back to school without having to resort to whistles and air horns, then why not peruse our Textiles section? Lilypad Designs has some pretty sweet pencil case alternatives (which probably won’t go “missing” as easily as the Tartan ones) and for those older students who are maybe heading back to university, perhaps a new Portfolio from Portfoli-Oh or sweet new bag from Emma Coast might be up their alley?

From the get-go, Laura Ingalls Wilder had us hooked, regaling us with touching family tales set in America’s developing heartland. All was going swimmingly, until we stumbled upon Farmer Boy. 

Not only was the content objectionable (”No!” I remember my mother shrieking. “First, you ice, and THEN you apply heat — not heat first!” [Though, in fairness, looking back, it WAS summer, and in days pre-Frigidaire, being THE 1860'S AND ALL.]), it was downright boring. 

For weeks we tried to plow forward, stubborn and insistent upon just. getting. though. this. cursed. book. Over time, Farmer Boy became in-house vernacular for something so unbearably monotonous it brought on the snoozles. 

Needless to say, we didn’t make it. But despite never finishing it, we could not bring ourselves to remove the (much-beloved, may I add) flat plastic neon yellow googly-eyed snake bookmark that nestled within the tedium, marking the spot where we simply gave up. We were too strong, too proud; prairie women were we, through and through.

Thinking it all over, I believe that one of the secrets to Farmer Boy’s abysmal failure (for us, at least) was the absence of chickery (no Laura, Mary, and Carrie — aka the Girls Gone Wilder). And then, most glaringly, the lack of details on domestic dwellings. 

For all the horehound candy in the world, I could not tell you the plot of On the Banks of Plum Creek. But I can recall being enraptured with the dirt dugout the family lived in, until Pa built a proper above ground house for the gang. It sounded so cozy, so bunnicular; truly fantastic. Screw the restored Victorian house I was growing up in, with its six bathrooms, antiques-laden parlors, original stained glass picture windows, and optimal sled-trail backyard. Just dig me a hole in a hill and I’d be in heaven.

As can be gathered from the images featured in this here blog, some lucky besterds finally have that chance. Coming atcha straight from Vals, Switzerland (what, you haven’t heard of it? Guess you’re not one of its 1,049 inhabitants) is the chicest rabbit hole this side of Alice’s golden afternoon. (Leave it to the Swiss to put holes in things and make ‘em great…)

And so, I must ask you: Would you like one mountainside manor of your very own? START DIGGING.

Love,

Allison

While my hairdresser was sudsing my mop pre-snip, we had the standard Q&A exchange: How often did I wash my hair? (Every 4 days.) Did I want conditioner? (Yes, please.) Did I blow dry it? (I try.)

And then, the money question: Did I wish to continue growing it long?

“I think so…” I replied with hesitancy. I was fully prepared to be shut down. I was still reeling from last summer, when my mother told me the Rapunzel look wasn’t working. That smarted. And this woman was a hair care professional. The stakes were much higher. (For one thing, she was wielding scissors.)

But, she didn’t shut me down. Instead, she wanted me to grow it long — really long. Like just above the butt-hump long. Longer, actually, than I’d like. Way longer. So long that, save place-of-employment dress codes, I mightn’t need upper-body clothing coverage from July through September. That I might start dreaming as Alanis Morissette. Or Cranston.

But I wouldn’t be alone. I’d be joining two of her other clients — her special clients. Her show-pony clients. Her *STAR* clients. 

“They both have hair down to [pointing at a spot far down on her back] here. And it’s healthy! And it looks beautiful! And they STAND OUT!” She was getting excited, and fairly animated. A little crazed, even.

Then I entered her orbit. Did I want to stand out? Those two other girls were blonde. Did I want to join them, but as a dark-haired addition? WAS I IN?

Her spiel entranced me. I felt like I had been selected for inclusion in a glamorous girl group, like the Carrie Nations. And if we got a redhead — imagine the possibilities! (It may also have been the first time I was asked to be a part of something? But we don’t have to get into that right now.)

The other thought that sprung to mind was: this was my moment. Brunettes represent! Barbie and Skipper were on the move. They had it goin’ on. Was Midge ready to step up and join them?

In the end, the whole discussion was inconsequential. I was going for a haircut, after all. Guess what? My hair got shorter. Will I grow my hair out longer than it was before Saturday’s splicing? Only time can tell.

In the meanwhile, and following up on the Mattel tip, check out these Barbies all done up like Lady Gaga. Righteous! Tiny styling rules. 

By the way, I’m Allison, the newest Moose blogger. I was born in NYC and now reside in Boston, Mass. I suppose I enjoy the Eastern seaboard, but I am also very excited to be virtually “here” at Moose HQ in Australia. Till next time…

In his own words:

I am fascinated by flea markets. Walking around to find doubles of seemingly unique, though often useless objects I have already purchased at another flea market, is not only an inquisitive activity for me but part of my working process. Despite the fact that I did not have any use for most of these objects in the first place, the unlikely ness of discovering them twice in two different places makes the desire for their possession irresistible. The unique and the unknown origin of the object increases my wish to own its double. The rules compelling me in selecting things at flea markets are also central to my art practise.

For the Somewhat Quiet Niece Who is Sort of Adorably Awkward at Family Get-Togethers and Social Events:

Kearnsie Knitwear Bangles ($35)

For the Rambunctious Nephew Who Needs Something to Pass Out on After His Overload of Pavlova:

Lisa Max Kitty Cushion ($38)

For That Cousin Who is Studying Something Arts-Related at Uni But You Forgot What Exactly:

Portfoli-Oh! Grey A4 Portfolio ($48)

For Your Girlfriend’s Mum Who’s Good Books You Are Desperately Trying to Get Back Into Since She Walked in on You Kissing her Daughter:

Andrea Smith “The Bird is the Word” Print ($50)

For The Husband Who Never Takes a Relaxing Tropical Holiday but Might Sort of Need a Gentle Reminder That There are Some People That Might Quite Enjoy That:

Flatland & Flagship Palm Tree Figure ($32)

Stay tuned for volume two in our helpful gift guide for this holiday season, and remember if the idea of wrapping all these great gifts makes yo feel squeamish, Moose has it covered! Just send us a little email with your purchase and we can wrap everything up so all you have to do is grab a delicious mug of eggnog and sit back and wait for the postie!

How amazing is this?! In his own words: “I made this as my costume for Halloween 2009. It was kind of inspired by big-head mode seen in videogames. I really wanted to get the faceted geosphere look with wireframe.”

I wish I had the time and patience to pull this off and also the guts to just wear it on an every day basis.