Creative Graphic Calligrams by Ji Lee

Clever Calligrams That Visualize The Meanings Of Various Words

New York-based designer Ji Lee started creating calligrams 20 years ago in his typography class at art school. What started as an assignment turned into a lifelong hobby and Lee’s passion for typography has led him to create over a 100 calligrams so far. The challenge, says Lee, is to visualize the meaning of a word, using only the graphic elements of the letters forming the word. It’s not easy but the reward of ‘cracking’ a word keeps him going. Lee’s work has been featured in leading publications and he’s even published a book titled Word as Image. Check out some of his calligrams below.

Stone Carvings by Matthew Simmonds

New Miniature Architectural Structures Carved Into Raw Stone by Matthew Simmonds

Matthew Simmonds sculpts miniature architectural structures from raw stone. Part of his interest in producing these pieces is centered around the contrast between the carved precision of his hand against the rough nature of the natural material he chooses for each work. The pieces’ concept also deals with this human influence on raw environments, humans physically displaying their beliefs and achievements by building large physical forms.

“In my sculptures I am concerned with the common human achievement; the cultural expressions thrown up by different societies, and how the various cultural traditions interact with and influence each other,” said Simmonds in an interview with Colossal. “Stone is the thing that survives the most from older times, and has an inherent sense of strength and permanence that has given it a central role in historical architecture. It is also a natural material, and in this way it inherently has a connection with the Earth’s past.”

Simmonds work Ringrone was commissioned for a client who owns a castle in Ireland that lays in ruin. Simmonds’ sculpture depicts what he believes to be the castle’s original appearance as a “tower house” from the 15th century in which vaulted rooms would be stacked upon each other with twisting passages. The miniature form responds to this internal maze by its play with light, which he hopes “encourages this sense of exploration.”

You can see more of the Copenhagen-based artist’s work on his website.

“Tetraconch” (2015), limestone, height 31cm, all images courtesy of Matthew Simmonds

“Ringrone” (2016), Faxe limestone, height 61cm

“Ringrone” (2016), Faxe limestone, height 61cm

“Ringrone” (2016), Faxe limestone, height 61cm

“Ringrone” (2016), Faxe limestone, height 61cm

“Ringrone” (2016), Faxe limestone, height 61cm

Ringrone – material, Faxe limestone, 2016, height 61cm

“Ararat: study II” (2016), Faxe limestone, height 20cm

DIY Home Decor Ideas for Upycling

The Art of Upcycling: 7 DIY Home Decor Ideas

DIY upcycling is an eco-friendly, inexpensive alternative to redecorating your home (topdreamer)

When it comes to decorating, it’s the little details that make a room – the pillow for a splash of color, the rug to pull the room together, the vase to add a modern touch. But buying new home decor is often expensive - and excessive, too. Upcycled, do-it-yourself home decor, on the other hand, are one-of-a-kind, singular pieces that reduce waste, save money, and greenify living spaces. With upcycling, used or discarded objects are recreated as unique home accessories - old wine barrels transform into bookcases, flip flops to floor mats, and skateboards to stools. Ready to get creative? Read on.   

1. THIS LAMP RECREATED FROM A BOTTLE

The perfect DIY project for wine-drinkers, this eclectic piece will bring a rustic feel to any living space.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Lampshade, bulb, old wine bottle, engraving device or drill, wiring.
HOW IT’S DONE: With a diamond tipped drill or engraving device, create a hole near the base of the bottle. Run the appropriate wiring through the hole and connect with the lamp and bulb fixture.

Add an energy-efficient bulb to make this lamp a truly eco-friendly home accessory (lanaredstudio)

2. THESE FRAMED MAPS

A creative way to preserve memories while upcycling old maps, you can even stitch your route for a trip down memory lane.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Old road map, embroidery needle, embroidery thread, frame
HOW IT’S DONE: Cut the map to fit the frame and then use the needle to poke holes in the map along your route. Using a backstitch, sew along the route, finishing with an X at your destination.

You can also use old maps, instead of a regular mat, to add a quirky border to any picture (marthastewart)

3. THIS BULLETIN BOARD MADE FROM AN OLD DRAWER

Salvage old drawers with this quirky bulletin board that will make a practical and colorful addition to a bedroom, office space, or kitchen area.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Old drawer, corkboard, colorful paper
HOW IT’S DONE: Cut the corkboard to fit inside of the drawer and glue in place. Cover with colorful paper and hang on the wall.

This hanging drawer can also double as a display mantel. Add some decorative items to the bottom frame for an extra touch (bhg)

 4. THIS PILLOW REPURPOSED FROM WORN T-SHIRTS

It’s time to clean out your closet and get rid of the mountain of old t-shirts you never use. Instead, repurpose them as soft, sentimental pillows.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Old t-shirts, rotary cutter, ruler, sewing machine, thread
HOW IT’S DONE: Cut the fabric to the desired size, allowing for 1/4-inch seams. Sew the sides together, leaving an opening to fill. Use filling to stuff your pillow, and then sew it closed. Push the filling to the bottom of the pillow and feed the unfinished edge through the sewing machine.

T-shirt pillows make great gifts! Try it out with a shirt of your friend's top band, college mascot, or favorite colors (diynetwork)

5. THESE CANDLES MADE USING OLD TEACUPS

If you’re looking for something to do with the ancient collection of inherited tea cups, these candles are a great way to light up your home and preserve antiques.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Teacup, candle wax, candle wick, old metal bowl, saucepan, scissors
HOW IT’S DONE: Combine the candle wax with water and melt over low heat. Position the candle wick in the center of the teacup and slowly ladle the melted wax into the cup, filling to the rim.

This is also a great idea for mugs or cups with cracks in them. Instead of throwing them out, make a candle! (popsugar)

6. THESE COASTERS MADE FROM UPCYCLED DENIM

It’s time to put your old jeans to use and create one-of-a-kind, durable coasters that will protect your surfaces from heat and water.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Old jeans, scissors, fabric glue
HOW IT’S DONE: Cut away the inside, outside, and bottom seams of the jeans and trim them so they are all around the same width. Place a dot of glue at one end of the same and roll, place a line of glue along the denim while working. Continue rolling and adding new lengths of seam until you have a four-inch-round coaster.

With the leftover fabric, try your hand at crocheting a handmade denim rug (popsugar)

 7. THESE BOOKENDS THAT WERE ONCE VINYL RECORDS

If you’re looking for a nice way to display your neglected vinyl record collection, these bookends bring a pop of vintage to your bookshelf.WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Two vinyl records, kettle or pot for boiling, flat-bottomed heat resistant container
HOW IT’S DONE: Boil enough water to allow an inch of water in your container. Dip about 1/4 of the record into the hot water. The vinyl bends easily once it heats up. Bend the record so it forms a 90 degree angle and let cool.

Because vinyl records melt so easily, there's a lot you can make with them. Try this bowl next! (instructables)

8 Signs You May Be an Outgoing Introvert

There are introverts, extroverts, and then there’s you - falling somewhere in between.

The term "outgoing introvert" is an oxymoron on par with "jumbo shrimp" and "deafening silence," but for people who fall into this category, life can be an unusual mix of traits and tendencies that only they can truly appreciate. 

So what are the signs that you're an outgoing introvert?

1. You’re not anti-social, you’re selectively social

When you're an outgoing introvert it’s hard for you to meet people that you like. You can be simultaneously charming as hell, but also introspective and reflective to an annoyingly mind-numbing degree. You live inside your head, but can also be the life of the party - it all depends on the people surrounding you.

2. Meeting someone you really like can feel like finding the Chupacabra

Outgoing introverts HATE small talk and avoid it at all costs, but when it’s inevitable that they have to interact with people, they can’t help but to try and make the other person feel comfortable. According to Psychology Today, the reason you may not like someone when you first meet them may be as simple as that the person you just met is an extrovert. Outgoing introverts, though still introverts at their core, tend to view extroverts as basic, simple, annoying, overconfident and pushy. This natural, almost subconscious tendency serves as a filter, often referred to as a first impression, through which a person’s future words and actions are judged. 

3. Coffee can actually be counter-productive for you

Science of Us writer Melissa Dahl reported on findings from psychologist Brian Little's latest book on personality science, Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being, which showed that introverts are better off avoiding caffeine before a big meeting or important event. Since you have spectrums of introversion, coffee can actually overstimulate your central nervous system that may cause you to feel overwhelmed and exhausted, rather than excited and engaged. 

4. You probably hate traditional systems 

Most of our societal constructs cater to the extrovert - from large office spaces to loud bars to the structure of our educational system - despite the fact that anywhere from one-third to half of the population has an introverted temperament. Since an outgoing introvert can feel distracted or vulnerable when they are in overstimulating environments, you probably dislike traditional systems. 

5. People always confuse you for an extrovert

Extroverts and outgoing introverts may seem almost the same on the surface, and if you’re an outgoing introvert you’ve probably been called an extrovert many times. Though the way extroverts and outgoing introverts process the world is quite different. Since introverts and extroverts have different world perspectives, they view each other as different and thus are naturally predisposed against one another. Extroverts focus on the outside world, while outgoing introverts remain mostly introspective.

6. You can be the life of the party, but you need time to warm up 

While you may enjoy being the center of attention, you feel best it in a controlled environment. You need time to warm up. You tend not to outwardly express your feelings and spill your whole life story in the first hour of meeting someone. Or the first year. You have no interest or energy to prove yourself in a crowd of strangers.

7. Your energy level depends on your environment

Outgoing introverts often need to recharge after a large use of social energy. That’s why many people often annoy the outgoing introvert and social settings are often tricky for them; it’s usually a hit or miss. If you vibe with the crowd or a person, you can get your energy from human interactions. But if you don’t, those social interactions end up draining your social batteries and the extroverts in the room end up annoying the crap out of you for sometimes no specific reason. And when your batteries are drained and you’re annoyed, you will tend towards withdrawal into yourself. 

8. You probably didn’t even know you were an outgoing introvert 

Since you're not completely an introvert nor an extrovert, in can literally take years to figure out that you’re an outgoing introvert. But once you do, you can understand why so many people easily annoy you and why you sometimes process experiences through your brain's "reward" centers quite differently than other people. In fact, a 2013 study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that people who are naturally introverted do not process rewards from external factors as strongly as extraverts do. So since you fall somewhere in the middle, that can sometimes explain why you're such a conundrum.