re*vibe

re*sled

2011-01-17T18:02:00.000-08:00

I picked up an old runner sled at a garage sale this summer and had great plans for it...it was pretty beat up, with a broken rail and broken bracket.
After some deconstruction and some sanding, I started putting it back together with a fresh coat of red paint on the rails.

I repainted the wings on the front and customized the sled with an "N"

...added lighting bolts on the side rails and painted them black (the old rail and the new rail)

...added a coat of poly and it's a new sled!

re*dresser

2010-05-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

I had this old dresser that I wanted to re-purpose, so I ran with it. This is what I started with. Gave it a quick sanding so the wood would hold paint.
I then painted the main part red and then gave it an over coat of white.

I then had the idea of making the drawers pop out by painting an inset square and then adding some numbers.

...and here is the final product.
I think it turned out fairly well. Kind of fun and different.

Wall Art

2010-04-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

Heather had some ideas about some fun projects that we could hang on our wall. I took on the task of making them myself! The first one is for the guest bedroom. The thought was hang 9 squares, 3x3 and use fun scrapbook paper to add some color to the wall.
I started off making the frames using some 1x2 boards that I ripped down to 1x1 and some thin mdf board for the top.
Gave them a couple coats of paint, yellow base with a dry brush khaki finish over the top.

Added the paper squares. Here is the layout on the floor before I hung them on the wall.

The finished product hanging on the wall (don't mind the empty base cabinets, that is a bathroom project in the making). I think they turned out great!

The next project was to hang up pictures. I started off making two empty frames, one square one and another rectangle. Painted them brown...

I then used some of the leftover fabric from the kitchen as the backing.

Using upholstery tacks, I strung some wire across the frame. We found these great clips at Ikea, and now we have a photo board! This is the tall rectangle frame.

Here is the square frame. Heather then cropped the Christmas cards that we received and they got hung up!

What a fun way to display our Christmas cards year round!

*free music monday

2009-12-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

One of many things I love about Amazon mp3 is their free music samples they release. Right now you can head to Amazon and get the Anti Fall Sampler 2009. It's a really good mix of alternative rock music for you to enjoy this week. For the most part you may not recognize many artist on it, except Neko Case, The Swell Season and Islands. But if you're like me, that's what I enjoy, new music from new artists.

One highlight from this free CD are the first track, The Swell Season - In These Arms, a rendition of Hey Ya by Booker T. As well as the final song on the CD by Jason Lyte - Rollin' Home Alone.

Download it now!

*tis the season

2009-12-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

So we got this new machine, a Cricut, it is a cutting machine. You program in what you want it to cut, push a button and like magic it cuts. Heather came up with a fun Christmas craft. We started with some plain frames.
Added some red vinly and cut out some letters.

Removed the backs of the frames and super glued the glass to the frames.

Drilled a couple holes and added ribbon.

Stuck on the red vinyl letters and...tis the season!

I also found out the the Cricut can cut out snowflakes!

The hardest part was sticking the letters on the glass straight.

*my trip to space and back w/ U2

2009-09-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

I had the privileged of seeing the USA launch of U2's 360 tour in Chicago at Soldier Field. If you haven't seen any of the images or video from this tour you will be blown away. It's an amazing spectacle to say the least. I found appreciation in its production value, lighting, stage design, etc. Plus it was one of my bucket list items to see U2 live. And it was awesome! It was definitely the best concert I have ever and will ever see when you consider all the elements. I like to be amazed by an awe inspiring spectacle.

Check out image of U2 360 at Soldier Field:

*word t-shirt from Veer

2009-09-21T08:11:00.001-07:00

I must have this. New to the wonderful collection of Veer merch is this totally rad t-shirt. Not only does it use the all-inclusive, universally useful phrase "Word", but it also is a great design and color. $22 is a little expensive in my cheap-skate book for a t-shirt, but I may have to splurge on this.

*color pencils

2009-09-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

What can you do with 500 colored pencils...make art with your art supplies? Have a look at Social Designer's 500 pencils. Put in this display case, creates a visual wall display for a creative space.
...how about a color roll-up

...or a color wave?

...only problem, you can't get them quickly or cheaply. Social Designer offers the pencils only by a monthly subscription, 25 pencils per month for 20 months! But if you have the time and the money, it is a sweet collection!

*dirt + art

2009-09-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

While most people write "Wash Me" in the dirt on the back of a car, artist Scott Wade has taken that to a new level.

Check out more of his work DirtyCarArt.com

*music: a sunny day indeed

2009-09-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Fans of Sunny Day Real Estate have two reasons to celebrate this month. First, the Seattle emo pioneers' original lineup is back together and heading out on tour. Second, the group's first two albums, 'Diary' and 'LP2' have been reissued with bonus tracks and all new liner notes by writer Jonathan Cohen.
From Spinner.com

I love Sunny Day Real Estate. They are the epitomy of 90's emo music, when emo was good. What's hard to believe is they are back together, from what I've heard, they have a hard time getting along. But it sounds like Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters bassist) was persistent in a reunion of the masters. ~~Take a listen to the newly remastered album Diary at Spinner~~.

*make your own chalkboard paint

2009-09-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Seth took a shot at using chalkboard paint on some lockers a few weeks back. I would say it was a success and he would say the same. It's a great way to repurpose an old item that's lost its luster or needs some coolness factor. But, did you know you can create your own chalkboard paint using any color you'd like?

Martha Stewart's site (marthastewart.com) explains how to make DIY chalkboard paint with just tile grout. Plus, her site offers some seriously inspiring ideas on how to implement chalkboard paint in all sorts of spots around your home.

very cool guide to des moines from designsponge

2009-09-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Design*Sponge has put together a rather impressive guide to Des Moines, a city I love and call home. It forced me to put together a list of items around town that I need to either revisit or visit for the first time.

Some of my personal favorites on this comprehensive list:
Smash
Beaverdale Books
Gateway Market
Great Harvest Bread
Flying Mango
Fong’s Pizza
El Bait Shop
Tasty Tacos
Java Joe’s
The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile
Hessen Haus
Star Bar
PappaJohn Sculpture Garden
Science Center of Iowa
Des Moines Art Center
Des Moines Public Library
Hoyt Sherman Place
People’s Court Avenue
Vaudeville Mews
Des Moines Art Festival
Des Moines Farmers Market
80/35 Music Festival

*bike typography

2009-09-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

I ran across this bike font, it's a typeface make from bits of a bicycle.

*new music in august

2009-08-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Lots of new music has been released this month...a few to highlight: MuteMath released their latest album "Armistice" last week. It debuted at #4 on the chart list...nice job guys!
..and they will be featured tonight on the Late Show with David Letterman!

..and if you live in the Des Moines area, they will be performing at People's on Court October 1st.

Another new release, just this week, NeedToBreathe released their album, The Outsiders.

...check 'um out!

*camper bike

2009-08-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

mix one part camper + one part bike = solo holiday get-a-way on pedal power
I ran across this sweet camper bike that artist Kevin Cyr built. Using a modified bike frame, he mounted a mini-camper onto his bike.
This project of his is a stand alone sculpture...

...as well as the subject of a series of his painting.

Now that is what I call an R.V.!

*door makeover

2009-08-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this big kitchen remodel (post to come soon) and in the process the front entryway got a face lift. I wanted the front door to be a different color, so after some thought and discussion I got out my paintbrush and made some changes...it's just paint, right? Here is a before picture prior to the kitchen project.
Another before picture, all taped up and ready to go...

...and the finished product. Yeah, a black front door, what do you think? I think it makes the door pop out from the wall.

Another shot of the door. I think we may put some lettering on the door or dress it up a little more, but for now...there it is.

*wild things

2009-08-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite books growing up is being turned into a movie...Where The Wild Things Are. Take a peek at the trailer.

It will be in theaters October 16th...I can't wait! If you haven't read the book, let me know and you can borrow it, it is on my book shelf.

*music: weezer in 8-bit

2009-08-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

I've always referred to Weezer as the rock n' roll for geeks and nerds, with me being classified in that category. But the thought of Rivers Cuomo in 8-bit.... wow! ultra nerd rock. This is a fun free download of music that will get your imagination going through levels of Nintendo games with Rivers' and the whole Weezer crew.

"The songs on this compilation have mostly been created using original video game hardware running home-brew software," explains the label, "and vary radically in style, from minimal 'one man and his Game Boy' compositions to 8-bit-inspired full-band performances." The degree of variety might be lost on those of us who haven't battled a Koopa Troopa in nearly two decades, but you can check it out anyway on the Pterodactyl Squad site.

*typography love poster

2009-08-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

I put my skillz to work this weekend to create a poster for my living room. I use the terms skillz loosely here because it really was quite simple. I was inspired by a poster I saw at Urban Outfitters (which was the wrong colors) I decided to create my own typography poster. It compliments our living room perfectly. I was wanting a picture that was a little more graphical to contrast with the organic vibe of the chair and sticks it was to be placed next too. This accomplished it quite nicely. I can say I am very happy with the results.

However, I think I need to think of a new way to photograph things. Low-light with the iPhone gives really crappy results.

Download a pdf of the poster for free and print your own.

*fmf: a nicely aged hanging basket

2009-07-31T13:09:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple weeks since we've made a purchase at our Flea Market Friday (FMF) outing. Seems the well had run dry for a short season. That was until this week when se*th found a hanging basket for $1. One question I have is... how's it going to hold any dirt? Guess we'll have to see.

By the way, if you are wondering, Flea Market Friday is. Every Friday... or close to we head to either local flea markets or garage sales and see what we kind find on a thrift budget. Good way to end a work week.

*rock star chair

2009-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Every Friday, Derek and I hit the garage sales over our lunch break. I stumbled upon this little blue chair. I thought it is the perfect size to fit with our small IKEA table. It would also be great for when nephews/nieces/friends stop over and kids need a place to color, the only problem was the color...
...so with a little painters tape and some spray paint, the little blue chair turned into a rock star chair!

...complete with star and racing stripes!

*art + cancer awareness = stages

2009-07-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Lance Armstrong and Nike unite to launch STAGES, a global art exhibition to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer.Over twenty renowned artists have donated their time and creativity to express the LIVESTRONG message and raise funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is committed to inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer. STAGES is more than an event. It is a unique celebration of human potential inspired by Lance and dedicated to the fight against cancer. It unites the world of art, philanthropy, and sport by bringing together some of the most renowned figures in art to produce work inspired by Lance and his fight against cancer. All work is available for purchase with proceeds directly benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Join the fight. LIVESTRONG.

Here are some bikes and some artwork that was created for this project:

Artist: Kenny Scharf

Artist: Marc Newson

Artist: Yoshitomo Nara

Artist: Shepard Fairey

Artists: on the wall Cai Guo-Qiang, on the floor Geoff McFetridge
Artist: on the wall Aaron Young
Artist: Ed Ruscha
Artist: Dzine

*music: blind pilot

2009-07-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

I ran across this band, Blind Pilot, in an episode of "Chuck" and have enjoyed them ever since. This is their latest video "Go On Say It":

From NPR's Morning Edition - http://www.npr.org
"The band Blind Pilot literally rode a pair of bicycles to success. The folk-pop outfit, formed by singer-guitarist Israel Nebeker and drummer Ryan Dobrowski, has taken two bike tours, playing its music all along the West Coast. The first of these two tours was supposed to run from Vancouver all the way down to the Mexican border. Unfortunately, the trip was cut short when the band’s bikes were stolen outside San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art.
They recently finished a second bike tour with a couple of additional bandmates, hugging Highway 1 down the coastline. One of their most memorable scenes occurred at a tiny grocery store in Leggett, Calif. As the group played, a crowd began to gather around it, including a handful of unexpected onlookers.
Blind Pilot is on another tour now, with six members, and this time they’re all traveling by van. It’s a far cry from those first bike trips, where they didn’t even have a support vehicle to haul gear."

This is the song that first drew me in: "3 Rounds and a Sound":

Enjoy!

*quiz: what's your interior style?

2009-07-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

The International School of Colour & Design has created this quiz to help you determine your interior style. Not sure I find it too accurate based on my results, but it's still fun to take.

My results:

Courtesy of How About Orange

*build your own chuck's

2009-07-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

I have long been infatuated with Converse All Star's. It started with my first pair when I was around 10 years old. They were teal on the outside and yellow on the inside. They went perfect with my first skateboard.

While taking in some new web design's I came across Converse's site where you can build your own Chuck Taylor's. Oh my... time to relive the glory days. I was able to almost reincarnate my 20-year-old shoes. They are AWESOME! Not to mention the web site is a well done flash site also, but I wouldn't expect anything less from the greatest shoe creators around.

*my blue, flea market table

2009-07-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

When my wife and I remodeled our living room furniture was part of the mix. And we had some good luck finding furniture here and there and various stores on sale and helping us keep costs down. However we also new that some of the details could very easily be done cheaply with some good finds from garage sales or flea markets. This included end tables.

I went to one of the local flea markets and found this gem of a table for $20. Came from an estate sale. It was a lovely yellow color with brown flecks. Not sure if the flecks were deliberate or splatters of mud/paint. Overall the construction was in good condition. It has a nice marble top with a crack on one of the corners that could be patched. I looked at the yellow table and saw great potential. Especially when I thought of it being blue. We've got some killer fabric my wife incorporated into some parts of our living room that I knew the blue would match. In the before picture you can see the blue fabric I am referring too.

In the end I was pleasantly surprised. It's definitely a conversation piece with its color. Which is what I wanted. It gets a commented on every time someone new comes over and its a mixed bag on whether or not they like it. But I dig it for sure!

*help africa typography poster

2009-07-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

A while back I created a poster just for something to hang in my office. It was a simple typography poster that ended up looking pretty cool when printed out and hung on my wall. I have done nothing with it since. But now I offer it free to you to download, print and distribute if you like. Just tell them where you got it from.

*chalk one up for the team

2009-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I took on the adventure of painting with chalkboard paint. I got some old lockers from my parents, I was so excited to get this project started that I forgot to take before pictures but I did find this one that shows what the original lockers looked like.
I mixed up my own chalkboard paint and it is easy to do. 1 cup paint (any color) and 2 tablespoons of non-sanded white grout. Mix together really well and you are ready to go.

You might be asking, "Why mix your own when you can buy chalkboard paint?" Good question, the answer is...custom colors. This time I went with black, but my round will be a coordinating color to match our paint in the basement. I used a sponge brush to apply.

It took two coats but I am very pleased with the results.

Here is a close up view, I wrote and erased on locker number 7, so it looks a little more broken in.

Another idea I have is in the garage. I kept some of our old kitchen cabinets and I plan on chalkboard painting the door fronts and then I can label what tools are held inside.

about revibe

2009-07-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

This is a journal of two dudes quest for things cool. Cool in our world at least. Whether that be interior design ideas, finds from Flea Market Friday's, graphic design, art, music, web apps/design, cool people... you know... cool stuff.

about the authors

de*rek
I am a professional graphic designer / web designer. I work at an agency named Flynn Wright. I am also an avid music lover, drummer, Christ follower, family man and dreamer. I tend to use "lingo" with just about everything I say and write, it's my style, so if you ever wonder what the heck I mean by something, just ask. My goal with re*vibe is to catalog the musings of coolness that I see around me... the "WOW" things.

se*th
I am a financial analyst (math nerd) at Principal Financial Group who loves the Lord, my wife, my family and friends. I also love to run, bike and play guitar. I am an avid "Do-it yourself'er" and work under the assumption with enough paint, anything can look good. My goal for re*vibe is to document the big changes that can be made on a small budget!