The Fun Animal Illustrations of Ashley Percival

The owls were the first to grab my attention.

So cute and quirky and endearing. I couldn't resist them.

Not to mention their eye glasses!

Artist Ashley Percival of the UK illustrates children's art.

Owls, pugs and sloths are among his favorite subjects.

These animals are all quite hip and lovable!

Wearing cozy sweaters (OK - jumpers, Ashley)

and ball caps turned backwards,

they're ready to have a good time on bikes or skateboards.

Such a friendly bunch!

Here's where you can find lots more

of Ashley's terrific art:

Website

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Images used with direct permission from Ashley Percival.

Asbury Park, New Jersey

We recently stopped in to visit the seaside town of Asbury Park, New Jersey!
In its heyday, it ranked up there with Atlantic City for attracting fun-loving tourists.

On its southern end lies a gorgeous, round, copper-turned-patina green building.
Once home to a lively carousel, it now stands quiet and empty.

The Carousel House is of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture, 

as is New York City's Grand Central Terminal,

both courtesy of the design team of Whitney Warren & Charles Wetmore.

So, what is Beaux-Arts style?
In French, it means "beautiful arts" or "fine arts."
It's architecture of grandiose proportions, identified by, among other things,
ornate cornices and columns, decorative medallions and grand arches.

BeachTownPosters

Only the shell remains of the Asbury Park Casino.

The old heating plant.

Oh, and I spotted another reminder of the "Glory Days" of Asbury Park...

(well, they'll pass you by...)

Here's an Asbury Park City Guide pamphlet.
More info at VisitNJ.

Things Organized Neatly

Toy trinkets.

Since 2010, Austin Radcliffe has been curating a website called Things Organized Neatly. 

And it's exactly that. Photos of collections of items displayed in precise rows and patterns. 

Methodical, deliberate placement. Images sure to warm the hearts of neat-freaks everywhere.

One might expect that Austin is true-blue OCD, 

but he claims otherwise, with his cluttered apartment bearing witness.

He appreciates order and attention to detail, seeing each photo as a visual list or documentation.

If you'd like to try your hand at lining up your collection in an eye-appealing way, 

you can submit a photo on the site, and maybe it'll be chosen to be published. 

Along with cool subject matter, Austin looks for simplicity and good quality photos.

Collection of 8-tracks. 

Antique bottles.

Gardener's tools.

Hunter's gear.

Bottle cap collection.

An entire bike.

Jewels from the sea.

Vintage band.

Here's the link to Austin Radcliffe's Tumblr site, 

Things Organized Neatly, 

where you can see lots more!

Bike Art by Off The Map

South Carolinian Leslie DeRose is a mixed media artist. For her canvases, she uses old road maps that she's been collecting for years. On each one, she paints the image of a bicycle, leaving the city cleverly exposed. The result is a bold, graphic, colorful piece of art personalized to show off your favorite biker's neck of the woods. (Or asphalt.) This would be one great gift, don't you think?

Visit Off the Map's website and Facebook page.

Images used with permission from Leslie DeRose.

Invisible Bike Helmet

Watch this GE Focus Forward video about the Hövding Invisible Bike Helmet.

An intriguing story of two women who came up with an idea and then made it happen.

As of this posting, the helmet is not yet available in the US.
Here's the Hövding website.

March Gallery

replacements

"The year's at the spring,

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His Heaven-

All's right with the world!"

-Robert Browning

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