ink & vine leaves

Bioluminescence in the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, Australia

2011-07-13T16:46:00.001+08:00

For this post, I am going to put my Geek Cap on, which I rarely ever get to wear because my friends don’t really get why I’m so into this stuff. But this phenomenon is just too amazing, I have got to at least write a short background about the breathtaking photos below.

First things first. According to Wikipedia, bioluminescence is:

- the production and emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and anglerfish.

- used as a lure to attract prey by deep sea fish such as, again, the anglerfish. A dangling appendage that extends from the head of the fish attracts small animals to within striking distance of the fish.

Remember this fella from Finding Nemo?

image via Google

Anyway.

In the summer of 2008/2009 in Australia, a free-living non-parasitic marine-dwelling species of dinoflagellate that also exhibits bioluminescence (via Wikipedia) called Noctiluca Scintillans (or Sea Sparkle) was found in large concentration in the Gippsland Lakes following a series of bushfires and floods. Sea Sparkles emit a beautiful blue glow when there is movement in the water.

Photographer Phil Hart was there to capture the remarkable phenomenon.

Read Phil Hart’s informative blog post about his experience here.

Infinity Tub

2011-06-27T00:33:00.001+08:00

If I can sleep, eat, work, and basically just live here, I would. How gorgeous is that infinity tub? Not to mention the beautiful shower tiling. Ahhhhh.

Edible Rainbow: The Happiest Cake on Earth

2011-06-24T16:02:00.001+08:00

I have wanted a Rainbow Cake since I first saw one online about a couple of years ago. I hoped that Mother would make me one, but she didn’t, even with my incessant demands.

Fast forward over a year later, my best friend had found her passion in baking the yummiest cakes and cupcakes, and was inspired to try and make a Rainbow Cake.

She had promised to make me one a million times, but up until today, she hasn’t--not even for my birthday last May! How unfortunate. So if I wasn’t getting one out of love from her heart (kidding!), I was buying one! It’s been way too long a wait.

Mother’s 50th birthday was the perfect excuse, since she has started dreaming of this cake almost as much as I have. So as part of the second surprise party that we had for Mommy, my sisters and I got her a Rainbow Cake.

Cake topper: Mommy wearing a French beret, having a lovely picnic.

Cake topper details: Croissants & Pierre Hermé Macarons

Cake topper detail: Tuni à Cinquante mug

Getting my first ever slice of Rainbow Cake!

It. Was. DELICIOUS.

It was the perfect blend of moist cake, creamy cream cheese filling, and fluffy white frosting. And I swear that the colorful layers heightened the eating experience.

Needless to say, every guest made sure that they had a slice or two to bring home.

The Happiest Cake on Earth.

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Want one?

The Cake Shack: Website | Facebook

Keira Rathbone: Typewriter Art

2011-06-08T23:00:00.001+08:00

Keira Rathbone makes incredibly detailed drawings using a typewriter. This is only one of her many mind-blowing pieces of art. I’m still in total awe. Her work reminds me of those equally crazy Etch A Sketch artworks.

Image Credits

A Hearty Sandwich

2011-02-26T00:16:00.001+08:00

How darling would it be to surprise your loved one with breakfast in bed one random morning? Oh it would be lovely. And why don’t you take it up a notch and make this delightful looking sandwich?

Via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Fiery Side Chignon

2011-02-23T23:06:00.001+08:00

I enjoy having short hair -- it looks better on me and I spend ten minutes tops with the blow dryer and I’m out of the house. But this side chignon just makes me ache for my long hair (and want to color my hair red).

And that tomato-red lipstick? Oh le sigh.

Via Martha Stewart Weddings

A Skinny House

2010-11-15T22:31:00.001+08:00

Oooooh. Tall narrow houses have never looked this good. I love!

Source

Tilt-Shift Photography

2010-11-11T12:11:00.000+08:00

I have absolutely no knowledge about photography, and the jargon just makes my head spin, but Tilt-shift Photography is really cool!

Tilt-shift photography refers to the use of camera movements on small- and medium-format cameras, and sometimes specifically refers to the use of tilt for selective focus, often for simulating a miniature scene. Sometimes the term is used when the shallow depth of field is simulated with digital postprocessing; the name may derive from the tilt-shift lens normally required when the effect is produced optically. -- Wikipedia

Okay, so that’s just gibberish to me. Simply put, photographers use this technique to make things like buildings, cars, and people look like miniature scale models. Pretty awesome, right?

But they say that the lenses are really expensive, so other people rely on Photoshop to fake the Tilt-shift effect, which I think sucks.

I don’t know how to tell the real ones from the fakes, but these images are a few my favorites.

Source, Source

Weekly Snippet #10

2010-10-19T21:40:00.001+08:00

ink & vine leaves

Bioluminescence in the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, Australia

Infinity Tub

Edible Rainbow: The Happiest Cake on Earth

Keira Rathbone: Typewriter Art

A Hearty Sandwich

Fiery Side Chignon

A Skinny House

Tilt-Shift Photography

Weekly Snippet #10

Crepe Cake

New York Loft

S’more Mini Cakes

PostCarden

Roasted Strawberry Bruschetta

Weekly Snippet #9

Clock

Fish Condo

Paper Art

Weekly Snippet #8

Pop Me!

Dreaming of Paradise

Little Itty Bitty Notebook

Baby Nurseries

Pup Trailer

Weekly Snippet #7

Walnut Boats & The Amazing Race

Aged Cheddar and Apple Melt

The Happiest Place on Earth

Home Theater

Alarm Clock Wall

Weekly Snippet #6

Journal Junkie

Where Sweet Dreams Are Made

Little People

Weekly Snippet #5

Lead Pencil Sculpture

Ladles

Childhood Friends

Taking Out the Trash

Sweet Dreams, Please

Weekly Snippet #4

Be Loved

Romantic Dinner Date

Personal Library Kit

Sandstone Cottage

Weekly Snippet #3

Poolside Kitchen

Tow Mater

Boat Tub

Book Art

Dreaming of Paris

Prism Rings

Weekly Snippet #2

It’s Laundry Day

I’m a Little Teacup

Will you come with me to Villa Vals?

Buddha Pears

Ink Calendar

Oh, let me Google that for you

Weekly Snippet #1

Closet Office

Burst My Bubble

Long Curly Hair & a Rose

Dining Rooms

Crafty Birthday to You

Through the Pink Door

Twinkle Twinkle Fairy Lights

Seeing Spots

Teensy Weensy Paper Cranes

Treehotel

Mila’s Daydreams

Quilted Pincushion

Sand Art

Into the Woods

Cheek-pinching Cute Babies

Handmade Leather Flats

Invisible Floating Bookshelf

I wanna be crafty

Modern Stone House