Tarting it up......

......a picture that is!

I've been meaning to post on some of my favourite 'online apps' and free downloadable software for photo editing for a while. Believe me, there's hours of fun to be had!

Some online apps for starters....

FotoFlexer

Pixenate

Snipshot

Phixr

Piknik

We haven't done 'cute' for a while......

How about a bouncing baby goat?

Photoshop tutorial with a difference

This is actually part 2 of the series.......you want to watch part 1?

Similar.....but different

Try it, and see
If you like it try Flow
About Han Hoogerbrugge at Wikipedia

Interactive flash thingy

It's been around for ages.....but it's still fun!
Use the direction arrows to move FlyGuy around his personal universe.

Send nosehairmail

Oh look, just because you can!
Your recipient gets to tweak the growing nasal hair to display the next word in the message(with sound effects).....strangely satisfying!
Do it here

It's a long time until Easter.......

.....so why not celebrate other folks festivals while we wait for the next bank holiday?

Here goes.......
January heralds the camel wrestling festival in Turkey......though I'm not sure how this would work in the (currently bleak) NE of England. OK, so maybe I didn't think this through and I need to do a bit more research!

This one ISN'T in the list......

......but I'd love to see it! Ian McShane pre Lovejoy.

Weird and wonderful films

Check out a long list posted at Eye of the Goof, all of which you can either watch online (low res, but good enough to try before you decide whether to go for the high res version) or download (copyright free and completely legal!) from Archive.org. Here's just the 'A's' for a taster.......

The Amazing Mr. X
The Amazing Transparent Man
The Ape
Assignment: Outer Space
Atom Age Vampire
The Atomic Brain
Attack of the Giant Leeches
Attack From Space

LATER....I've watched the first (small screen) 10 mins of Atom Age Vampire and decided to go for the full download for a fun-filled saturday nights viewing pleasure......but let's face it, I'm easily pleased!

Midweek game....an attempt to combat back-to-work blues

THE FACTS.....I looked at the office clock yesterday morning (first day of term!) absolutely convinced it must be nearly lunchtime.....it was 10.10am......so, roll on Spring! In the meantime, we could all give this game a try.

Jayisgames says...........
"You begin staring at a desk littered with items (and I say, "oh....that sounds sort of familiar!"), including a mysterious (and rather out of place) box. In just a few clicks you find yourself in a dark corridor symbolizing your subconscious mind. Five doors surround you, each leading to a different room packed with puzzles. As you piece together clues from these rooms you open new areas to explore and gather even more items to use. For the most part, items you find will be used in the same room to solve multi-stage puzzles. This isn't always the case, of course, so don't be afraid to carry things back and forth and try out new ideas."

It's called Synapsis.....and you can play it here

Collective nouns

So what would you call a lot of them?
Find out here

A prickly subject

Now, those cacti that I brought back from Amsterdam don't look anything like the ones on the left......yet.

I think I'll be refering to this website when it gets round to the growing season

British Cactus and Succulent Society

LATER....When I got round to actually reading some of the content I found I'd already probably killed the poor things by watering them....firstly, when I shouldn't have, secondly, the wrong way... even if it was the right time to do it.

In short.....THEY'RE DOOMED!

Alternative Dr Who audio theatre

Listen online (or download mp3s) to Dr Who, and lots more, at Darker Projects. Think this might be my next iPod shuffle refill site. I'm going for 'Tales from the Museum' for starters.... will report back!

A woman's place is in the kitchen

Knitting revisited

Current project (except in an attractive primeval slime green). Found at Knitting Pattern Central

Next project?.........

Found at Dirigo - Knitting by the Sea

Home grown recipe

Sorry, no picture....I ate it all!!

Chilli Soy Mushrooms

2 tablespoons olive oil mixed with 1 heaped teaspoon minced garlic
500g flat or button mushrooms, sliced
6 spring onions, chopped
1 finely chopped red chilli, seeds and all
3 tablespoons mushroom soy sauce (though ordinary soy would do)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Heat the oil and garlic, fry the veg, add the soy sauce and balamic vinegar after a couple of minutes, cook gently until the mushrooms are tender.
Delicious on wholemeal toast, though it makes it a bit soggy!

(Next time, and there WILL be a next time, I might try replacing some of the olive oil with sesame oil and serving it on toasted ciabatta)

Video guides on how to do just about anything

At 5min.com
Here we learn how to make a balloon hat.....just because there's times in life when EVERYONE needs a balloon hat!

Stinks and Bangs

One for Chris
The Chemistry Video Collection from the Journal of Chemical Education

Webtoy

There's a demo version of KaleidoDraw to play with online here (but sadly there's no save or print options for your masterpiece!)

Haven't tried this one yet.....

.....apparently this point-and-click, escape-the-room game includes "adult themes, blood and gore", so maybe not one for the kiddywinkles!
Play Icescape here

Beginners origami.....

.....with video instructions at PEM Origami (Don't forget the Canon 3D website for downloadable origami papers)

2008, The UN year of the potato

Oh yes it is! Check out the facts at the International Year of the Potato 2008 website

Nice vintage travel posters

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

For your listening pleasure...

....try MeeMix for music while you surf. Type in an artist name or song title to start, register to save a playlist.

Vampire Rabbit

This bizarre figure of a fanged rabbit is above the ornate doorway of solicitors' offices on Amen Corner, behind St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle. You have to wonder why?

Weekend timewaster

Upload your photo and try out a celebrity hair-do at HairMixer

New (relatively) empty calendar syndrome....

Chinese New Year, 7th February?

Art Deco Vignettes.....

.....links to lots of them at BibliOdyssey

Time for a game

CDX from the BBC.......

"A sacrificial blade forged at the birth of the Roman empire holds the key to an ancient and bloody conspiracy that threatens to erupt into the present day.
Stranded in 21st century Tunis, Adam Foster is plunged into a world of greed, betrayal and murder. But who has the blade, and can the killers be stopped?
Unlock the mystery in this unique interactive-video adventure."

4 episodes released so far
Play them here

More paper models

Here at Nice Bunny. These ones are from the HedKase Artists collection

Back on dry(ish) land

OK, so the skies weren't QUITE so blue, but it was still a great trip....DFDS did us proud! Both crossings were comparatively calm, the food excellent and in huge quantities, as much alcohol as you could stomach (it was an all-inclusive deal), beds/cabins comfortable and everything organised with military, sorry, naval precision. Our time in Amsterdam was enough for a sightseeing tour, a trip to the floating flower market to buy spring bulbs (which I'll plant as soon as it stops bloody raining!) and half a dozen cacti (now THEY were fun to transport back!), some leisurely shopping (for traditional tourist tat and 'foreign' cooking ingredients!) and several cups of coffee. We saw the New Year in offshore from Great Yarmouth apparently. Would I do it again?.....Definitely!
Link to DFDS website

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.....

.....I'm off for a short 'booze cruise' to Amsterdam......and praying for calm weather!

Not More Turkey

For those still struggling to use up that left over Turkey there is always the traditional Turkey Curry This link (scroll down for Indian version) will give you the basis for an exciting festive feast which can be served with tomato and chillie chutney if you were lucky enough to be given some for Christmas.

Christmas Cats

Given the feline theme to elements of the blog I thought you might appreciate these photos showing Merlot and Syrah joining in the Christmas festivities...not sure if it is voluntary participation or enforced by Anne...but they do look the part!!!

John

The day after Boxing Day......

......and I'm clearing out the fridge to fit in various leftovers......the way you do!

There's a lot of cheese....

Maybe there's some ideas here.........

http://www.cheeserecipes.net/

http://www.recipe-ideas.co.uk/cheese-recipes.htm

http://www.cheeseboard.co.uk/recipes.cfm

http://www.cookitsimply.com/category-0020-01g6.html

http://www.ilovecheese.com/recipes.asp

http://www.stiltoncheese.com/simple.cfm

http://uktv.co.uk/food/homepage/sid/5912

http://www.lactalis.co.uk/recipes/recipes_awt_list.asp

"Alice" by illustrators other than Tenniel

Just in time for the pantomime season....

Loads of lovely pictures over at Hugo Strikes Back

A Long lost photo is found and thanks to my lovely new christmas present it can now be seen by all!

Festive Greetings

Sarah and Hails......music video

Hails made the model, took the photos (Smiths Docks on the Tyne) and did the animation

Sarah made the model costume and did the illustration

.....neither of them sang!

Mr Monkey's World of Hats

Check out the rest of his wardrobe here

Lizzie's house walkthrough

Well done Lizzie and Russell!

It's a wrap!

At WrapArt......you'll thank them for this when you run out of wrapping paper on Christmas Eve!

They don't write them like this any more!

Social comment from the natives?

Not sure whether this is Alston in Cumbria (former family stronghold of the Clementson branch of the family).....but it might well be!

Found on Bits and Pieces

Eeeeww.....

I think this came from "Do What Now?" Don't think I'll be making it on Christmas Eve!
Click on the image for a readable version (but only if you really have to!)

Links to some lovely Dutch advertising graphics.....

.....at BibliOdyssey

Archeological underwater webcam.....

.....that you can steer and zoom

Found at Ursi's Blog.

"More than 30 meters deep in the Mediterranean Sea, these controllable cameras off the coast of Pantelleria (Cala Gadir, Sicily, Italy) offer adventurers unusual vantage points of exploration. Ancient artifacts are visible partially buried in the sand beneath the waves."

Link to webcam (you'll need to install a small IE plug-in to view)

PS.....not much point in trying in the evenings when it's dark!

Cocktail patterns.....

......from the New Scientist Videos Channel on YouTube

Nice Christmas paper animation

Do it with paper.....

Well worth a visit if you have a printer, some card/scissors/glue.....and some time!

Make anything from a 'mallet of luck' (and let's face it, we all need one of those!)...

.......to a model of Mont St Michel

And then there's the (well-worth printing) origami paper designs.....good for those small xmas presents that you'll all be getting this year! (probably 50+ designs in up to 3 colourways)

Just go visit Canon 3D Papercraft.....check out what's on offer

Here's a couple I prepared earlier......

Create your own at NAG, the Net Art Generator

They say......"the net.art generator creates images. The resulting image emerges as a collage of a number of images which have been collected on the WWW in relation to the 'title' you have chosen. The original material is processed in 12-14 randomly chosen and combined steps."

And in the same vein, I discovered another 'randomiser' that came in VERY handy when I needed a grungy background image for a poster in a hurry last week.....this one uses type to wave it's magic wand........

Try TypoGenerator next time you're short on inspiration.....it worked for me!

Escape the room/Point and click

Found at Jayisgames.....haven't tried it yet.....it took a while to load (but maybe the boy in the attic was doing some heavy-duty downloading!)
They say........
"Use the usual point-and-click skills to locate clues and find items to help you escape. Some pixel hunting will likely be necessary as well. Fortunately, the game includes an integrated save mechanism and a music mute button."

Link to 'Bon Voyage'

OK, so it's a weekend of frenzied Christmas shopping ahead.....

.......and you know, I have a sneaking suspicion it won't be anywhere near as civilised as this! (picture courtesy Plan59) But if it is, I'll be the lady in the fur coat and perky hat directing her minions please!

House of the Future

I love this sort of stuff!
Part 1

Part 2

And a modern verion.......