Thersic

New iPhone Covers

Kiersten — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:02:27 +0000

We’ve had to take an unplanned break from the blog lately, but just thought I’d post a quick little update on some iPhone covers that were recently made featuring my artwork! All are compatible with 4 & 4S models. :D

Share/Bookmark/Email

Volo Classic Auto Museum (part 1)

Wes — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:50:15 +0000

I spent a good bit of time this past Saturday checking out classic American cars at the Volo Auto Museum. Here are a few things that caught my eye- I got a lot of good stuff so I’ll break this up into two posts, more next week.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Material Focus: Amorphous Alloys

Wes — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:55:46 +0000

Your Apple product will eventually be made of an amorphous metal- Vitreloy. This is a member of a strange family of alloys called amorphous metals, otherwise known as liquidmetals. Amorphous alloys are metals that do not have a crystalline structure (if you have ever seen a broken piece of cast iron I’m sure you probably noticed the dull, gray crystalline structure) but they instead have a liquid/glass like composition. These amorphous metal alloys are much stronger than their crystalline metal counterparts, so parts can be lighter.

Liquid Technologies, inc is a spinoff of a long Caltech/NASA/DOE research project into amorphous metals. While Vitreloy has been commercially available since 2003, it is relatively expensive and we have not yet seen widespread use of the material- but that may change soon- Liquid Technologies granted Apple an exclusive license to use their alloys for consumer electronics last year.

An amazing thing about liquidmetals is that once formed, they can be reheated and molded- while retaining their amorphous, non-crystalline structure. In my mind I compare this to glass- once sand, etc becomes glass, the glass can be remelted, cool, and it is still glass- it doesn’t become sand again. So, liquidmetals can be diecast, injection molded, etc. Here is an article in Nature News, another in Plastics Today, and one more.

So, watch for the Ipad3 or 4 to have a Vitreloy frame. For you bicycle riders out there, amorphous metals will be playing their part soon.

If you get a wild inclination to be a penny stock investor, Liquid Technologies is trading at 16 cents a share, search “LQMT.OB.”

Share/Bookmark/Email

Ten Hairdryers

Wes — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:54:22 +0000

Pulled from flicker, here’s ten blow dryers:

Share/Bookmark/Email

Carbon Nanotube Speaker

Wes — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:25:15 +0000

This little speaker is made of carbon nanotubes, and it functions as a thermoacoustic speaker. Whats kind of amazing is, unlike a conventional speaker, it doesn’t have to move to make sound. This speaker makes sound by way of abrupt temperature changes that pressurize the air, sending pressure waves (sound) without actually moving. So, look forward to one day walking through the trade show and picking up a promotional wind-breaker that will play a jingle. Wall paper as our surround sound. Maybe we can even have sound canceling blinds for the city sleeper. The nanotube & graphene era will be an interesting time. This particular speaker is made by the Finnish company, Canatu. Canatu, among others, is working towards commercializing this technology.

Share/Bookmark/Email

More from Longoland

Wes — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:39:17 +0000

Some recent work from Josh Longo’s unordinary mind:

Share/Bookmark/Email

Zimoun

Wes — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:07:14 +0000

For those of you that are cat people, you’ll understand when I say that the following films are like cat DVDs for humans. More about the artist here…

Share/Bookmark/Email

Bates US Navy Dress White Leather Shoes

Wes — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:48:56 +0000

I can’t articulate it, but I kind of love these shoes. Bates makes these for the US Navy. I’ve had two or three of the US Army versions of these, which are black. You can usually find these in any decent surplus store, they are tough shoes. They are graceless, but there is an appeal in their brutal simplicity- that is, in black.

In white, they are surreal, and somehow I like it.

Bates says:

Lightweight oxford for US Navy dress uniform.

Leather upper
Breathable lining
Cushioned removable insert

Non marking Bates Lites® outsole
Goodyear welt construction
Assembled in the USA

Share/Bookmark/Email

Quilt time!

Wes — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:55:40 +0000

Whahhhh? Well, soon. I wait for blizzards to come to get the best deals on vintage motorcycles. So the dog days are the right time to buy a quilt?

Share/Bookmark/Email

1954 AJS 497cc E95 ‘Porcupine’ Racing Motorcycle Frame no. F3, Motor No E2 / 54

Wes — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:45:34 +0000

My friend Larry Au is handling the sale of this rare beauty. By rare I mean there was only four ever made!

1954 AJS 497cc E95 ‘Porcupine’ Racing Motorcycle Frame no. F3, Motor No E2 / 54
Britain’s first success in the modern era’s Grand Prix World Championships was achieved by a marque with an illustrious racing history – AJS. And the machine that carried Les Graham to his, and AJS’, first and only World Championship in 1949 was, of course, the legendary Porcupine. To this day the Porcupine remains the only twin-cylinder motorcycle to have won the 500cc World Championship.
The 1954 AJS 500 c.c. E-95 Porcupine represents the final development of the most exotic, innovative, and graceful British Grand Prix racing motorcycle ever made. New for 1954, its final year of competition, the unique low handmade alloy “pannier” fuel tank wraps around the motor. The magnesium camboxes protrude out from under the front of the tank, capturing the cooling air.
Only four E-95’s were built. They first appeared at the 1952 Isle of Man TT. Development continued, eventually under the genius of race shop head Jack Williams. For the 1954 Season he introduced the pannier fuel tank (which required a fuel pump) with the matching lowered chassis.
Unlike the rival works Nortons, the Porcupine shares little with the production machines sold to the public. The motor and gearbox are unit construction with gear primary drive. Power is transmitted through what may be the most beautiful exposed clutch ever seen. The long graceful cast alloy underslung oil tank is a full gallon in capacity. The twin overhead camshafts are driven by a train of gears that also drive the special aircraft magneto and the high capacity oil pump. Extensive use is made of lightweight ELECKTRON castings.
Conceived towards the end of WW2, the Porcupine was originally designed to be run either with or without forced induction. Supercharged multi-cylinder engines had begun to threaten the single’s supremacy towards the end of the 1930s and indeed, AJS themselves went down this road with their fearsome water-cooled V4. Fast yet difficult to handle, the latter had demonstrated that horsepower bought at the expense of excess bulk and weight was not the answer, so the thoughts of designer Vic Webb turned to a twin. Laying the cylinders almost horizontally with their heads facing forwards ensured adequate cooling and a low centre of gravity while at the same time providing room, if required, for a blower above the gearbox. When the FIM banned supercharging at the end of 1946, AJS was ready with new cylinder heads designed for normal aspiration!
Typed E90 but dubbed ‘Porcupine’ by the motorcycling press because of its distinctive spiked ‘head finning, AJS’ new challenger debuted at the 1947 Isle of Man TT in the hands of Les Graham and Jock West, the pair finishing 9th and 14th respectively after encountering a variety of minor problems. By way of consolation, West’s best lap was only three seconds down on the fastest and showed that the bike had promise. The Porcupine’s first race victory was achieved later that year by Ted Frend at the Hutchinson 100. Development continued throughout 1948, with a number of Grand Prix podium finishes and 18 world speed records among the season’s highlights.
The inaugural 500cc World Championship of 1949 consisted of six races, with victory going to Les Graham at the Swiss and Ulster Grands Prix. Bill Doran won the Belgian GP to assure AJS of the manufacturers’ title, while Graham’s two wins were enough to take the riders’ championship from Gilera’s Nello Pagani.
Many years later, AJS works rider Ted Frend – the first rider to win on the bike – recalled that carburetion had been the Porcupine’s biggest problem. Over the years several different induction arrangements were tried. Eventually, the 1954 pannier fuel tank and fuel pump solved this problem. The E90 was also bedevilled by failure of the gear driven magneto shafts – the cause of Graham’s retirement from the lead of the ’49 Senior TT just when two minutes from the finish. The problem was solved when chain drive for the magneto was adopted on the revised E95 engine.
Introduced in 1952, the E95 engine had its cylinders tilted upwards at 45 degrees, an arrangement that permitted a shorter wheelbase. The new motor layout featured a more robust crankshaft, and improved cylinder head architecture. Its distinctive spike fins had gone, but the ‘Porcupine name stuck. The E95 enjoyed a dream debut, new recruit Jack Brett and Bill Doran finishing 1st and 2nd respectively at the season-opening Swiss Grand Prix, with New Zealand star Rod Coleman in 5th place.
Another new addition to the AJS team for ’52, Coleman had first been given an E90 to try at the ’51 Ulster GP and followed that up with a strong showing at the Grand Prix Des Nations at Monza. ‘In the race it was quite definitely faster than the Nortons and I had little problem getting past Geoff (Duke) and Ken (Kavanagh) with just three Gileras only a short distance ahead,’ Rod recalls in his book, The Colemans. ‘I did get with them and found again that the Porcupine was just as fast as the Gileras but was down a little on acceleration from the slower corners, but not by much. I was just beginning to think I had every chance of second place behind Milani when the motor stopped.’ The cause? Yet another magneto shaft failure.
For 1954, the final year of competition, the E95 Porcupine (and works ‘triple-knocker’ 7R3 350 single) gained the new pannier-style fuel tanks which extended down on either side of the engine, thus lowering the centre of gravity and affording a measure of streamlining at the same time. An AC fuel pump was used to raise fuel to the carburetors, a delivery system that involved mechanics standing the bike on its rear wheel to prime the internal header tank for starting! Jack Williams took over the race team that year and the result of his development was a much smoother engine, which now produced a maximum of 54bhp at 7,800rpm. Bob McIntyre, Derek Farrant and Rod Coleman were the riders, the latter providing the Porcupine with its best international results of the season, placing 2nd in Ulster and winning the Swedish Grand Prix. Other riders to swing a leg over the Porcupine during its short career include Bill Lomas, Robin Sherry and Reg Armstrong.
Sadly, 1954 would prove to be the Porcupine’s swansong year. With the death of AMC founder Charlie Collier, AJS withdrew from direct involvement in Grand Prix racing at the season’s end, never to return. But the record books tell the story: between 1949 and 1954, Porcupines finished 24 races with five wins, seven 2nd places and one World Championship. In total, only four
complete E90 and four E95 machines were built. Only one E-90 survives. With the exception of the E95 acquired later by privateer Tom Arter, they were raced exclusively by the works team and never offered for public sale. Fortunately, all four E95s survive today. Two are in a Chartered Museum. One other is in private hands, owned by Team Obsolete.

The E95 Porcupine offered here was acquired by the late Roy Richards, founder of the UK’s National Motorcycle Museum in the 1980s. On display at the Museum for decades, ‘F3’ was mechanically restored in the USA between 2000 and 2004 by New York-based Team Obsolete – luckily escaping the Museum’s disastrous fire of 2003.
Quoted in Motorcycle Sport & Leisure magazine (August 2011 edition) Team Obsolete’s Rob Ianucci enthused about the Porcupine: ‘It’s the Holy Grail of British motorcycles. It was conceived in the darkest days of the Second World War, and was created on limited budgets during the austerity of post-war Britain by dedicated men who were passionate about their craft. Yet they created a motorcycle which won the 500cc World Championship, and in my opinion was a truly beautiful mechanical object… It’s a two-wheeled work of art.’
After the rebuild’s completion by Team Obsolete, the Porcupine went back to the NMM, arriving in time for its reopening in December 2004. The machine was acquired by the current owner after the passing of Mr. Richards, who had planned to have it do a Lap of Honour at the Isle of Man TT. Ultra-rare and of immense historical significance, ‘F3’ represents a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most legendary and exotic of all Grand Prix racing motorcycles.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Pendants

Wes — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:08:00 +0000

Several pendants from Trainspotters

Share/Bookmark/Email

Mural Advertisment Painters, Manhattan

Wes — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:52:28 +0000

Interesting 10 minute documentary on the ad muralist of Manhattan.

UP THERE from Jon on Vimeo.

via A Time To Get

Share/Bookmark/Email

Circuit Board Boxes

Wes — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:05:26 +0000

Circuit board boxes, available here.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Andrew DeGraff

Wes — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:47:54 +0000

A few great recent pieces from our overly talented friend, Andrew DeGraff. We can’t get over just how freaking good he is.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Joel Dugan, Feather

Wes — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:00:16 +0000

Joel Dugan, “Feather”, vellum, gesso, and watercolor
7.5″ x 11″ x 7″

Share/Bookmark/Email

Specimen Horn Speakers

Wes — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:56:23 +0000

Specimen horn speakers- made in Chicago.

Share/Bookmark/Email

The Shindler Garden

Wes — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:32:42 +0000

Nice layering + textures. Via Dig it

Share/Bookmark/Email

Happy Father’s Day!

Kiersten — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:45:33 +0000

Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful Dad’s out there! A very special thanks to my Pops for being one of my greatest role models and teaching me what you can accomplish with love & family. We love you!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, Dad, we love you!

Share/Bookmark/Email

5 New (but random) Style Icons

Kiersten — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:14:33 +0000

Well first off, apologies for the lack of posts the past few months. Things have been a bit crazy here and there are some BIG decisions being made! More on that a little later.

Anyway, it’s Resort season, which means new Style Icons! Here’s a little edited version of what’s been going on over at TSI.

Cubism

Vintage Fortune Teller Machines

Crow’s Nest

I’m on a Boat

The Misfits Get Conservative

Share/Bookmark/Email

Packaging for Cassius Bakery and Deli

Kiersten — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:08:22 +0000

I really like this boxing-based packaging designed for a bakery in NYC.. and the bread that comes in it. Designed by Avigail Bahat.

via The Dieline

Share/Bookmark/Email

Style Icon: Cubism

Kiersten — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:17:27 +0000

It’s been a while since I posted a Style Icon, but it’s now Resort 2012 time, so I thought I’d better get busy! First up, Oscar de la Renta’s new collection, which I’m 99% sure he must have based on the Cubist movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

See more Style Icons HERE.

images via Style and google

Share/Bookmark/Email

Toggles for your lamp cord..

Kiersten — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:10:53 +0000

I love these lamps by Vij5, because rather than get in the way, the cord becomes a sculptural element that the owner can control. Plus, they remind me of the toggles that used to come on old Starter jackets back in the 90′s.. Simple, but brilliant!

Share/Bookmark/Email

Mini Concrete Towers

Kiersten — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:17:16 +0000

I really love these little (spray paint) buildings that have been popping up c/o Berlin-based street artist, EVOL.

via Freshome

Share/Bookmark/Email

The Perfect Tiny Grill (and I’m not talkin’ the teeth kind)

Kiersten — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:51:40 +0000

Now that’s it’s officially spring, all I can think of is laying in the park and grilling out! (Probably because I’m stuck indoors in my studio)

How cute is this portable grill from Klaus Aalto? Available HERE.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Happy Mother’s Day!

Kiersten — Sun, 08 May 2011 17:55:58 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day to all you amazing Moms out there!

Our lovely Mom

Share/Bookmark/Email

John Jacob Omenhausser, Civil War Sketchbook

Wes — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:25:54 +0000

John Jacob Omenhausser was a Confederate soldier imprisoned as a POW at Point Lookout, MD for a year, between June 1864 & 1865. He documented his time there in a sketchbook full of watercolors, this sketchbook can be seen here. Here are a few of his drawings.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Baikonur Cosmodrome

Wes — Tue, 03 May 2011 05:18:09 +0000

Baikonur Cosmodrome. One of the few spaceports in the world, and the first, on the desert steppes of Kazakhstan.

images via flickr

Share/Bookmark/Email

Material Focus: Black Nickel

Wes — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:14:13 +0000

Black nickel plating is a nickel zinc alloy. This plating finish has a distinctive warm feeling to it- most all nickel plating has a warm color to it, but the warmth is even more apparent with the black nickel cuts down on the bright chrome-like reflections. There is a sort of vague iridescent coloration to the plating that gives more life to this finish than most other black finishes. One downside is that bright black nickel plate will take on fingerprints like nothing else.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Ebbet’s Field Flannels

Wes — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:00:36 +0000

Ebbet’s Field Flannels makes some great looking uniforms from obscure, defunct sports teams. Or they’ll make something custom for you. Attention to the fabrics, patterns and details of the classic stuff obvious in their recreations.

Share/Bookmark/Email

Black Transformer Lights

Wes — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:07:25 +0000

These pendants are available here.

Share/Bookmark/Email

The Royal Wedding Hats

Kiersten — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:07:19 +0000

I didn’t stay up late or get up early for the royal wedding, since I figured it would be replaying all day (which, it already has). So far my favorite part has been the amazing hats that some of the stylish guests wore! Especially the ones designed by Philip Treacy for Prince William’s stylish cousins.

images via People

Share/Bookmark/Email

Mr. & Mrs. Essenpreis

Kiersten — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:18:44 +0000

Happy 37th Anniversary to my lovely, amazing parents!

Share/Bookmark/Email

Happy Easter!

Kiersten — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:41:34 +0000

.. from the creepiest, Florist-shop-window-display mannequin ever! Saw this guy while we were on the road in Virginia.

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!

Share/Bookmark/Email

Our Drive to Georgia

Kiersten — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:09:56 +0000

Well, it started with some of the worst weather I’ve ever seen (we drove through Virginia & North Carolina not knowing over 60 tornadoes were occuring), but the days after were beautiful. And we ended up having a great time on our last minute roadtrip! He’s a bunch of random snapshots..

Share/Bookmark/Email

Sorry We’ve Been Out!

Kiersten — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:32:52 +0000

Wow, sorry for the crickets here again.. there has been so much going on lately, I can’t keep anything straight! We had to take an unexpected roadtrip to Georgia this past weekend. It wasn’t for the happiest of reasons, but we ended up having an amazing time (despite driving through tornadoes in North Carolina!) Funny how that works out.

Anyway, we’ll be back to normal hopefully soon. Thank you so much for the understanding and loyalty!

Share/Bookmark/Email

Style Icon Weekly Update

Kiersten — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:55:26 +0000

A few new ones over at THERSIC Style Icons! Have a great weekend, everyone!

- The Paperboy

-The Wizard of Oz

- My Dad & Brother

Share/Bookmark/Email

Alexander McQueen at the Met

Kiersten — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:55:04 +0000

I absolutely can not wait to see Savage Beauty, the new Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met.

Opening May 2nd and running through July 1st, it is a retrospective of more than two decades of McQueen’s work. It will include pieces from his MA graduate collection from Central St Martins College of Art, couture pieces from his years as Givenchy’s creative director, as well as pieces from his namesake collection up to his final one, which was shown posthumously in Paris just a few weeks after his passing.

Yale is also printing what looks to be an amazing book based on the exhibit.

Share/Bookmark/Email

It’s Creepy Quiz Time!

Kiersten — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:57:57 +0000

A friend of ours posted a link to this strange & eerie test which I just had to take, since I’m inclined to both. I have to say, I was even more creeped out how bizarrely accurate it was. Check it, it’s fun!

Share/Bookmark/Email

County Cork Painter’s Studio

Kiersten — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:41:32 +0000

Found my little home in Ireland! It actually looks larger than it is, standing with only about 500 sq/ft, with the stairs, kitchen and bathroom all designed like that of a ship.. tiny and compact.

via ArchDaily

Share/Bookmark/Email

Style Icon: House Beautiful Magazine from the 1970′s

Kiersten — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:50:34 +0000

I posted this a few days ago over at THERSIC Style Icons, but it’s been a busy week, so it’s my only weekly update! :/

Don’t ask why, but I have a small collection of House Beautiful Magazines from the 1970′s. They sit in a box with some other junk and I don’t really look through them often, but they always seem to make the cut whenever I’ve moved.

Anyway, the Fall 2011 collection from House of Holland kind of reminded me of some of the interiors.