Paper Geek

Boredom in the office and access to the internet leads to terrible things, terrible but creative. Today I came across this, a paper iPod dock, which i thought was pretty cool indeed. I rustled up a quick version, however paper doesn't really work quite as well as card should. Very collapsible.

Template for the paper dock, A PDF is available Here

 This got me looking for other alternative paper docks, the German website DATENSTRUDEL offers this take on a paper dock. I really like this version, though it requires a digital clock app to get the full on effect, no free PDF's for this either.

I found a few, different lo-tech variations on the docking theme, including this rather cool Lego creation and an ingenious new use for the iPhone box itself,

But the master and king of all DIY iPhone docks has to be without doubt this, a classic NES controller upcycled into a docking station, instructions can be found here, It really genuinely doesn't look to complex to create and it almost looks like it was made with this in mind. This is one project that I think I'm going to have a serious go at re-creating.

Also worth mentioning because in the future I really want to have a crack at it is this bad boy,

Yeah that's totally a Gameboy external hardrive, how to do this unbelivable act you ask? Go here.

Quarter exceeded

On Friday I became twenty five, doesn't sound to bad but lets think of it like this, I'm now a quarter of a century old. Yeah, it's super. 

Anyway, to celebrate I spent the day in Birmingham, and odd choice to some I know but having spent a few years universing at Wolverhampton it was a nice little slice of nostalgia. Birmingham, for all its bad press is actually a really nice city, sort of like a Manchester in the Midlands. You have the obvious tourist spots like the Bullring (its good, not quite as good shopping wise as say, the Arndale but I will say that Birmingham's Selfridges is far, far better than Manchester's. It's also home to my new favourite and most awesome shop in the entire cosmos, Pedlars.) and the Sea Life Centre (what more do you need other than sharks and otters).

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is always worth a visit, and it's currently showcasing a glimpse of the fairly recent Safford Saxon hoard. Unfortionatly there really wasn't much Saxon treasure to see, but the craftmanship that would of gone into each of the individual pieces was incredible.

Another place I made sure to visit was the IKON gallery, set in a refurbished church up in Brindley place, it is a fantastic building and i was perhaps an awful lot more interested in the building its self rather than its exhibits. On I did like was this piece.

It captured the moment that a lamppost falls and collides with an awning, not pictured is the explosion of paving slabs surrounding the base of the post. iPhone cameras are only so wide.

Due to the rain we didn't stray to far from the centre, which meant missing out on the excellent custard factory and the vintage market on Digbeth Road. And then we left for home, the end.

This is a Turtle

A day in Liverpool

We saw lots, Matisse, the big Henry the eighth (I am, I am) and also a Banksy, I've liked his work for a while but never been a huge fanboy.
Anyway here's 'Cardinal sin'.

Cafe

As I have been tearing though my garden of late, getting everything ready for a nice summer. Well judging by the march weather we've been having this is probably our summer now.

In my garden i have an old coffee table, not sure why I bought it, its not the prettiest item. Now the dilemma is this, its a little too large to fit in a wheelie bin. Throws a spanner into the whole clear out plan really. After ripping its legs of and cutting it down I was feeling pretty triumphant.

It still Does not fit.

It's now the only thing left in my garden that's not growing or sitting related. But while watching 'Le Salvager' the other week I was hit with twin bolts of inspiration. Not only would I re purpose the table, a drew an idea for a sign from a 'cafe' in the opening credits. Because the table lacks legs, it is essentially just a big wooden sign, so i drew up a stencil and opened some rather fetching paint.

the stencil in situ

red equals class

Stay tuned as I'll be adding to it here and there over the weeks to come

The Government are bastards

Anyone want proof of the government scrapping arts and culture for the masses?

Sorry about the crappy frame, acidently shook my phone and set Hipstamatic on random configuration. This photo makes me very sad indeed. Now the National Conservation Centre is by no means the best museum in Liverpool, but I, like many others, have whiled away quite a few afternoons there. It's important that we have a plethora of insitutions promoting arts and culture in this country. This country made great by our thirst for knowledge and history.
But when the blue fuckers axe funding like this it results in one thing, one message, art and culture belongs to the rich, to the people who can afford to pay for it.

On a lighter but equaly annoying note, these are not the same as choc dips,