Archive for category Novelty Items
Universe Marbles
Posted by Danielle in Novelty Items on April 15, 2009
I found Universe Marbles in an Astronomy Magazine ad, and can’t believe the amazing things Gateson Recko does with glass! From the artist:
The Universe encompasses everything that we know and much more that we are just beginning to learn. Since the age of consciousness, man has looked to the skies with wonderment. It has only been in the last few decades that true images of space have been gathered. The Hubble space telescope has brought us priceless information about what the universe looks like beyond our solar system, from the formation of fledgling galaxies to the final days of stars like our sun.
In my most recent body of work, Universe Marbles, I use the sphere to contain a small piece of distant universe. Each sphere is small enough to hold in your hand, yet has the feeling of a great expanse of space. My goal is to create realistic, three dimensional, panoramic views of space. Included in these scenes are nebula made from fine silver and 24k gold, galactic vortexes with opal moons, comets, exploding planets and an endless supply of planet variations.
Since 2001, I have worked almost exclusively on this body of work, honing my skills and developing a language that is a unique vision of our universe.
NASA Tribute Chopper
Posted by Danielle in Entertainment, Novelty Items on August 26, 2008
Let me just state up front that I found the “stars” of American Chopper completely and utterly OBNOXIOUS… but they did happen to do a really spectacular tribute bike themed around Space Shuttle Discovery’s Return to Flight mission in 2005, STS-114.
Orange County Choppers‘ site is all Flash-based, so I can’t give a direct link to the photo album of this bike, but it’s on the third page of “On-Air Theme Bikes”, under the Choppers section on the main page. I’ve taken screencaps to show here.
The bike’s episodes are #58 & #59, which aired October 3 & 10, 2005. Minus the stars’ antics, fights and general… drama… the bike is a thing of beauty, and if these guys have one thing right, it’s an eye for minute detail. The gas tank is shuttle-shaped, the exhaust pipes (shown below, my favorite detail) are tipped with a replica of the Space Shuttle Main Engines, and the airbrush work and detailed painting throughout is just… spectacular. I particularly like the miniature orbiting shuttle “spinners” on the wheels, front and back. The gallery is definitely worth a look!
Tabletop copper rocket
Posted by Danielle in Home & Office, Novelty Items on May 19, 2008
Another Etsy find, this mini tabletop copper rocket launches playfully from a golden sun. Affordable, inspiring whimsy for your desk!
Naturally-occurring shuttle?
Posted by Danielle in Novelty Items on May 16, 2008
This is a bit of a stretch, I admit. If my readership drops over this post, I will consider myself duly punished….
A rather strange Etsy find, this crystal really does (to me) look a bit like a space shuttle. Even in nature, spacey things can be found?
Alien Abduction Lamp™
Posted by Danielle in Home & Office, Novelty Items on April 25, 2008
The Alien Abduction Lamp™ is about the best thing I’ve seen all year. Personally, I prefer the Lamp with Bovine Abductee. It’s only in concept stage, and was all over the blogosphere last year; here’s hoping someone produces it!
Abduction is a lamp for Sci-Fi fans of all ages.
A light bulb inside the metal UFO lights up the beam and the windows. The glass of the beam is frosted to distribute light in all directions.
World Space Museum spaceflight miniatures
Posted by Danielle in Novelty Items on April 5, 2007
I have to preface this by saying that, by and large, all toys, miniatures and models of Japanese origin are awesome. Even “cheap” things (capsule toys, etc) are detailed and quality. I found this set of World Space Museum miniatures on The Space Store/Countdown Creations, but I’d bought one of them in a Japanese supermarket years before, and wished there were more boxes than one! (Now I have a chance to get the rest, at least, the rest of the moon-related ones. I’m particular.)
World Space Museum™ presents a series of incredibly detailed, snap-together model replicas of historical rockets, satellites, landers, and explorers first released in Japan in 2003 now available for the first time in English.
Each model comes with an explanation of the mission and trading cards. (And candy! Maybe they’re leaving the candy out of the description on purpose.) Collect them all!
Space Duck Luxury Bath Toy
Posted by Danielle in Children's Items, Novelty Items on March 20, 2007
While taking a walk this afternoon, I stopped in my favorite of Mt. Shasta’s boutiques, Pomodoro, and found Space Duck. Being a space-themed novelty item, it was naturally attracted to me, and subsequently followed me home. Space Duck is part of the Luxury Ducks line.
“one small waddle for duck…
one giant waddle for duckind!”
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