I'll try.

Starting January 1st, I'll try to do a 365 project; actually a 366 one, because 2012 is a leap year.

Now that I've said it, I have to try it! Good luck for me :)

Image by Muffins in my backpack.

2011: 12 months, 12 photos.

January _ FCBarcelona     February _ BCN Motocross and Enduro indoor

  

March _ Barcelona traffic night lights     April _ Cap de Creus

  

May _ Girona Temps de Flors     June _ GR-92

  

July _ Scuba diving     August _ Trip to Portugal

  

Septembre _ Owl City concert in BCN     October _ Trip to Dubai

November _ Beech forest     December _ Christmas and family time

Images by Muffins in my backpack.

Wrapping up.

I made some wrapping paper with my rubber stamps and a craft roll. I also used my gift tags. Enjoy!

Images by Muffins in my backpack.

Color palette: Bokeh Christmas lights.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3.
Color matching: Muffins in my backpack

DIY: Christmas gift tags.

I really like to customize the presents I give, so yesterday I tried to make my own gift tags.
I've been wanting to try stamp carving for a while, so these gift tags were the perfect way to do it. You could find most of your craft supplies wih a Target promotional coupons and save.

I started by drawing some (easy!) Christmas decorative motifs: a tree, a snowflake and a candy cane. I printed and transferred them to the rubber. As I didn't have the required tools I cut them with my regular cutter (I think it made a pretty good job).

I could have used stamp pads but I tried gouache instead. I thought that this heavier texture would match better with the craft paper. I chose white, magenta (with a tiny pigment of white) and paynes gray.

Then I put some washi tape around the corners, made a little hole and attached a strip of white and red baker's twine. Finally I wrote the names with black marker.

I love this imperfect look and characteristic texture of the little drawings.

Images by Muffins in my backpack.

No. 14.

"It consists of six pieces of wood - two circles, two sticks and a couple of arches - held together by 10 screws and two nuts. Together they make the wooden chair known as Thonet Model No.14, which although no one has ever actually done the math, is thought to have seated more people than any other chair in history."

This is how the great NYTimes article of the Thonet No. 14 starts.

It was produced by Michael Thonet in 1859, and it is also known as Bistro Chair. He wanted to achieve an affordable chair with a simple design. He won the gold medal in the 1867 World Exposition in Paris for this incredible chair.

It was all studied to save space in transportation, a box of 1 cubic metre could contain 36 disassembled Thonet No. 14 chairs.

Numerous designers have customized these chairs; just a coat of paint can transform it and match so many differents styles.

Image credits: B&W, Box, Fluo

The library. (II)

This is the university mensa and library of Leipzig (Germany), made by Behet Bondzio Lin Architeckten.

"The building is one of the old buildings of the 1970's era campus. Its interior was marked by brick-clad foyer walls as well as the Scandinavian charm in the library. The library was connected to the foyer by a central atrium and the basement expanded in order to accomodate approximately 100,000 volumes. It mantains a quiet and concentrated atmosphere with the bright wall surfaces and wood trim."

"The starting point for the architects for the conception of the inner city university complex was the reintegration in the city structure on the basis of the historical blocks with their alleys, passageways and courtyards. The connection of the buildings of the campus is accomplished by the dominant bright façades surrounding a dark plinth."

Image credits: Behet Bondzio Lin Architekten
Text credits: Masterpieces: Library Architecture + Design by Manuela Roth.

My tiny entryway.

I love the shelf with the Christmas lights on!

Images by Muffins in my backpack.

Mustaches from Etsy.

Vinyl wall decal; iPhone case; glass; t-shirt; ring; laptop decal; pillow cases; scarf; stamp set

Color palette: Winter.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3.
Color matching: Muffins in my backpack

GR-92 (Part 3).

STAGE 3: Cadaqués - Roses
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Distance: 22,54km (14mi)
Time: 7h 25min
Moving time: 6h
Start elevation: 0m 
Finish elevation: 0m 
Min. elevation: 0m
Max. elevation: 228m (748,03ft)

 1. Cadaqués.

  2. View of the mountains that separate Cadaqués from the rest of the area.

  3. The first beach of the day: Jòncols.

  4. View of the beaches, La Pelosa and Calitjar, from Cap Norfeu.

  5. The whole path is characterized by beaches between mountains; that's the reason why it's a very tiring track: you have to go up and down to reach the next beach.

  6. La Murtra, a naturist beach.

 7. Typical view of the whole area, rocks reaching the sea at Punta Falconera, near Roses.

More pictures from the trip here.

Next stage: Roses - El Cortalet.

Images by Muffins in my backpack.