News
Concrete Can't Lie
July 13, 2010
Concrete wears it’s heart on it’s sleeve. It can’t hide it’s feelings or it’s past. One of the reasons I love concrete is this history. I know where every little mark or colouration came from in a project. I think it’s interesting that a project carries the artifacts of the form and polishing process. That’s what makes concrete hand made and unique.
A common artifact you will see in exterior architectural concrete is wood grain. This is a side effect of being formed with rough grade wood and I think it looks beautiful. I have done a few projects that have incorporated wood grain.
As a teaser I will show you a tiny piece of a project (not my own) which is kind of an Edmonton landmark (or at least very close to a landmark). I am currently writing a full article just on this piece but here is a pictorial taste. Anyone know where in Edmonton Alberta this concrete art is from?
Seiko's "Golden Tuna" 7549-7009
July 5, 2010
I have been trying to hold off talking about this newest addition to my watch family but can’t hold back any longer. I recently received a Seiko 7549–7009 diver watch back from a great company that did a refurbish for me. Jack from IWW (http://internationalwatchworks.com/) did a fantastic job on my watch, he replaced the crystal, cleaned up the movement and changed the battery and seals, pressure tested the watch, sourced new titanium screws for the shroud, replaced the bezel seal and spring to get it clicking again, and cleaned and relumed the hands and face of the watch. I found Jack on a watch blog a frequent, but something else interesting I found out on the blog is that there is a decent watch collecting community here in Edmonton and Calgary as well.
The watch was originally produced in the late seventies to the early eighties, mine can be dated from the serial number to 1980 which is kind of neat because I was also born in 1980. I was originally drawn to the design of the watch because I wanted something in black and gold but I also really liked the rugged appearance of the watch. Some might scoff that this watch has a quartz movement but at the time the quartz movement used in this watch was much more expensive and difficult to design and produce than an automatic movement.
The 7549–7009 was also the first all titanium dive watch. This is contrary to what many believe was the first titanium dive watch designed by Porsche Design for IWC the Ocean 2000 which began production in 1982 the Seiko Golden Tuna predates the Ocean by 5 years. The Golden Tuna also made an appearance in the Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” so if it’s good enough for James freakin’ Bond it’s good enough for me.
Pelican Case 1120
January 26, 2010
I have a Pelican case. I love my Pelican case. What more can I say? Well a few things. The plastic is rigid on these larger Pelican cases but also impact resistant, it is an extremely robust case designed to keep your gear dry and safe. I bought this case in red I think red looks awesome and is very “search and rescue”, why wouldn’t I get a red one? Also inside the case are little foam cubes you can pinch out in any shape you want, so if you need to fit any size of gear and it’s little accessories you can design your case to fit your exact needs. The case also has a great waterproof seal, two extremely rugged latches and an escape valve that will release air pressure during altitude changes.
So what do I do with mine? Hiking? Sky diving? kayaking? The answer is none of these things. It houses my fledgling watch collection. Basically I have a big red plastic jewelry box… but it’s tough looking.
I Have Two Blue Pencils
November 2, 2009
The title rings true, I have two blue pencils and I am quite fond of both of them. I suppose writing in pencil reminds me of my childhood plus I like being able to shade and erase in my drawings. For most of my projects I roughly draw them out in pencil multiple times just to get a feel for what the project will look like. This usually involves a lot of erasing. I could use google sketch up for most of my layout (and I do) but I really like the feel of a pencil drawing and having a sketch book that I work from.
One of pencils is the classic Staedler which I think I purchased from Staples. The second “shorty” pencil is a lead holder from Worther Germany. I purchased this lead holder from Stylus right here in Edmonton which is a great store to get fine writing utensils, I try not to go in there because if I do I will be coming out with something. That being said you should go and check it out and also buy a pen or pencil and a notebook while you are there. I love that both pencils are the same colour it makes them feel a bit like they are a matching set. Also the type of blue that the pencils are is quite interesting and a colour that you do not commonly see.
To briefly conclude these pencils are awesome because:
1. They are both blue.
2. I could use them to write in the rain or in out space.
3. I can use them to erase and to do shading.
4. I can use them to write on lots of things, paper, wood, plastic, cupboards the wall etc…
5. Did I mention that I really like the colour of these?
I encourage you to try using a pencil more, carry one with you they are super handy and especially useful if you work in a shop.
Beauty from Czechoslovakia
September 28, 2009
Leather is a beautiful thing. It ages well and develops a nice patina much like concrete does. It also can be finished with very natural products like beeswax and oil, just like concrete. This medicine ball that I have is one of my favorite leather pieces.
I don’t know how old it is and I inherited from a friend about 5–6 years ago while they were moving. I have always just had it sitting around in our living room. I use it for doing ab exercises but mostly I just look at it. I find the shape to be quite interesting as well as the heavy stitching it uses.I also love the warm caramel colour the leather has taken on.
Beautiful Objects - Stowa Prodiver 1000m
August 14, 2009
I love dive watches! They are rugged and elegant and ooze with machismo. The biggest issue I have with diver’s watches is that some can be grotesquely over the top. The Stowa Prodiver, for me, is the epitome of class and rugged elegance in a diver with out crossing the line from handsomely strong to hideous brute. What I love the most about this watch, besides it being a gift from my wife, are the clean lines and minimalist face with just a splash of orange. While it is only a 42mm face this watch has quite a bit of heft and wears “big” so it is not for the feint of heart.
When I look at this watch it really reminds me of a gauge or caliper or some other sort of drafting or measuring tool, because of the line of work I am in this really speaks to me and this watch really captures what my style is all about.
Last but not least Stowa http://www.stowa.com is a great little company that does limited runs of their watches and has ridiculous quality control and customer services. When you send them an e-mail you will usually be getting a response back from Jörg Schauer himself or possibly Regina. It does not getting any better than that!
