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12 Works of Art Made From Books

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0800

You needn't spend top dollar on oil paints and horsehair brushes to prove your artistic skill. These days, plenty of artists are creating magnificent works of art from things as simple as books and X-acto knives. Some of you may think that books are sacrilegious, and that they should remain as they were printed, from cover to cover. But don't forget that books are printed en masse - and these days, available for download - and one-of-a-kind artwork made from books can be much, much more than the sum of their parts. Let me show you!

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Home Library: Downtown Chic

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:47 -0700

No academic course will teach you how to give a derelict house a gut renovation and turn it into a fantastically unique, high-style home. That skill comes with experience and serious design savvy, something which Robert and Cortney Novogratz accidentally learned they had.

After renovating their first home in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood 10 years ago, which then was a neglected, not-so-fashionable area, they realized they had a knack for building and decorating, together. Since then, they've renovated and designed numerous buildings in and around NYC, including an entire block in SoHo and a house in the country, and founded their own design powerhouse, Sixx Design. As a memoir of sorts chronicling seven of the couple's projects, the Novogratz clan - did I mention they have seven children? - published Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home, From Wreck to Ravishing. Hear my thoughts on the volume when you read more.

The first seven chapters of the book each cover a house the Novogratz couple have renovated, including lots of before and after shots. The duo offer advice learned from each experience, such as how to handle contractors, tips for buying a wreck, how to make your house renter-friendly, and how to mix high- and low-cost furnishings.

While the book jacket says each project proves "time and again you can bring charm to any four walls - and do so affordably," it actually just left me with a sense of envy, and with the reminder that the word "affordable" is all relative. The pair do have a knack for flea marketing and using vintage artifacts and architectural treasures in a unique way, but having the time to do so is a luxury in itself.

The book is full of tips like taming bold colors with neutral furnishings and mixing modern pieces with regional furnishings that in theory are helpful and affordable. But in reality it's the Cappellini coffee table, the luxuriously upholstered bed frame, and the couple's extensive collection of artwork that make me want to "get the Downtown Chic look."

This book is definitely a treat to read. It offers a sneak peek into one family's wonderful life as well as lots of inspiration, but in all likelihood, it won't solve the everyman's design woes. But then again, I guess you can hire Sixx to do that for you.

Cool Idea: Books by the Foot

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:00:26 -0700

I am on a never-ending quest to expand my home library, and fortunately my home is small enough that I'm not plagued with any bare bookcases giving guests the illusion that I'm illiterate. But, if I did live in a sprawling space with lots of storage, why not fill those built-ins with books? Enter Wonder Book, which sells books by the foot. Prices for "like new" hardback books begin at $6.99 per foot. Depending on what look you're trying to achieve, or what you're interested in, you can choose from modern cloth hardbacks, vintage club books, oversized coffee-table books, vintage kids books, sets, books by subject, books by color, and more. I love the look of the Vintage Club Books ($49.99). I would prefer a collection of books I've bought one by one myself, so that they're not only decorative functional, and so the collection tells a story. But you never know, maybe you'll find a gem around foot 2.

Fun Summer Geek Reads

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:45:26 -0700

To me, Summer is not only about throwing parties, taking trips and getting out your waterproof beach gear, it's also about winding down . . . and by winding down, I mean losing yourself in a good book. They are geeky, witty, and full of flair - here are some of my favorite Summer beach reads for all the geeky gals out there.

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Geek Reading: Tech Girls Are Chic

GeekSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:44:50 -0700

Lately, it seems like publishing has started to recognize us - us, as in geek girls (sorry boys) - by churning out books for us, even if it's not in our usual medium.

I enjoyed How to Be a Geek Goddess, and for different reasons, Geeky Dreamboats, so Tech Girls Are Chic ($18) is a welcome addition.

The book focuses on 16 women who work in technology jobs, to show an audience of all girls (not just us geeks who already know what's up) that tech jobs are welcoming to women. I'm all for something that encourages girls not to shy away from tech.

One question though: Does it come in a Kindle version?

Do You Store Your Books on Chairs?

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:00:23 -0700

It's a trade secret for interior designers to set coffee table books on side chairs, creating an instant, elegant little vignette. You'll often see a small bowl or objet d'art set on top of the books as well. Although this is mostly a decorative trick, it's also a good place to store your coffee table books, instead of allowing them to hog your cocktail space. I personally like to switch my coffee table books out every now and then, to keep my guests interested with new material. Do you store your books on chairs?
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What's All This Tweet Stuff About? Twitter Gets Its Own Book

GeekSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:33:25 -0700

With Twitter taking over our lives, I suppose it was only a matter of time before it got its very own book. Twitter Tips, Tricks, and Tweets is a beginner's manual that brings you all the goods on Twitter, from how to sign up to adding your Twitter feed to your blog and social networking sites.

If you didn't already get enough info from my endless Twitter news, then I guess this book might be worth picking up if you absolutely must have a book to hold in your hands. The glossy cover is totally attractive and eye catching, but how someone crafted a 272 page book from Twitter is beyond me. Isn't the basis of Twitter pretty simple? Or are you really interested in Twitter tips and tricks in book form?

Website of the Day: Book Army

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:30:44 -0700

Though I've yet to splurge on a Kindle 2, I'm dying for one, since I don't think I'll ever grow out of my bookworminess.

Until I get one, I'll still read them the old-fashioned way, and I can still use tech to find new reads. Book Army is my new destination for literary recommendations. "Never read a bad book again" is its tagline, and I say amen to that.

From pages dedicated to talking about authors to the book reviews, the pretty UI and easy-to-navigate layout set the site apart. I've already got a few new titles lined up to read next.

Found a cool website you'd like to share? To learn how to post your favorite websites to our Website of the Day group, read more.

I know that this long list looks scary, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it'll be a snap the second time around.

First of all, join the Website of the Day group.
Click the pink "Share" menu on the top left side of the page.
Choose "Blog" and "Regular Post."
Give your story a "Title."
Fill in the "Body" with a link to your favorite website and the reasons why you love it.
Click "Next."
Choose the audience for your story to "Website of the Day" in the dropdown menu.
Add keyword(s) (for example mine for this photo was "Website of the Day").
Change channel to "Technology and Gadgets."
Fill in tag field with relevant tags.
Click "I’m done" to submit content.

So join the Website of the Day group and share information about all your favorite sites! Yours just might end up on the geeksugar homepage!

Crobots: I'm Gathering My Crocheting Tools Now

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:25:17 -0700

You're a crafty bunch, so I know you're going to love this. On a recent trip to SF's Japantown, I stopped in to one of the many bookstores and found this awesome amigurumi craft book that includes two of my favorite things: robots and DIY. Called Crobots, this gem contains 20 patterns to make your own crocheted robots to post on your desk, and show off at work. Although I'm not much of a knitter, the sight of these little robots makes me want to test my skills.

Just released this month, Crobots ($10) is geared toward the novice crocheter, but is fun enough for pros to pick up. And if it doesn't work out in the crafting department, you can always just cut out the pictures and post them in your office as some geeky wall art. Yup, they're that cute.

How to Be a Geek Goddess: A Textbook For Aspiring Geeks

GeekSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:30:19 -0700

Christina Tynan-Wood is a girl after my own heart - tech savvy, but knows that technology is something that can and should be used to make your life easier, not harder. So when she wrote How to Be a Geek Goddess, she had all those women that are afraid to dive in to the (sometimes intimidating) world of technology in mind, and uses the book like a guiding hand to ease you in. Gently.

From how to set up an RSS feed, to explaining what a modem is used for, to sharing her lust of some cool gadgets, How to Be a Geek Goddess is like geeksugar, but on actual paper! She dishes on the joys of online shopping, but reminds us that just like any new relationship, you gotta use protection . . . then tells you how to keep your WiFi and credit on lockdown.

I enjoyed reading through HTBAGG, especially since it helped me refresh on some subjects I had forgotten! To see who I think this book would be perfect for, read more.

If your BFF is tired of relying on her boyfriend for tech support, or if your cousin gets a blank look on her face when you ask her if she's done her system updates lately, this book is the perfect birthday (or anytime) gift for an aspiring or wanna-be geek. It's well-written with a witty and easy tone, and never makes you feel like you are trudging through mud to understand. Just think of it like the textbook you keep on your shelf for reference when you need it.

How to Be a Geek Goddess is available now online and in stores for $ 17.