It's shocking to think how much more voyeurism is normal these days now that we all spend so much more time on the internets. I mean, how much of your knitblog addiction is fueled at least a little bit by voyeurism? You want to see other people's projects, but it's also interesting to learn something about the writer - what she looks like, where she lives, how she takes photographs (although probably fewer people are interested in our pets than we think... guilty as charged!). Thinking back to my pre-blog years, I didn't know nearly so much about the lives and habits of strangers as I know now. Did I *want* to know? Good question.
But lately I've been rapt by a few new voyeuristic addictions (in addition to Last.fm).
First, the Smallest, Coolest Apartments Contest 2006 at Apartment Therapy.
AT itself is pretty bad (by which I mean good) - but all those glimpses into the homes of other (usually) urban dwellers trying to cram their lives into teensy spaces is totally fascinating and inspiring.
I love:
Hakarl and Jili's Bold Bright Moves (my favorite, possibly)
James & Margaret's Iconic Studio (those bedroom walls!)
EW's LA Bungalow
Lucy's Love Shack (love the floating shelves - if only our walls weren't so crumbly!)
Of course, most of the people who renovate their places "on a budget" do so with at least $1,000 but no matter how hard you try it's hard to do much good with a budget of "$0" or "negative $100,000." What you can do with zero money, however, is pare down. After looking at all the uncluttered tiny apartments in the Smallest, Coolest contest and reading the first excerpt of the AT book coming out this month, I went on a bit of a tossing rampage this morning. There are now four garbage bags full of stuff awaiting trash pickup. That's right, I even threw away my yarn leftovers.
Now I just have to figure out how to get the cats to leave our furniture alone without de-clawing them (not an option). And what on earth to do with our 1,000 books. And get a real sofa. And a real bed with a real mattress. [Cue "Someday" from West Side Story!]
The other voyeuristic project I've been tracking recently is the Wardrobe Remix Photo Pool on Flickr.
Each participant is supposed to photograph him or herself every day for at least two weeks in order to track his or her style habits. I would never participate - you would see just how often my clothes are recycled and die with shock at how many wears I am capable of getting out of a pair of jeans before washing. And that would not do. But I think it's kinda interesting to see how others do it, and in particular how well real people can pull off certain things.
Posted by jess at March 21, 2006 1:55 PM | TrackBackthe wardrobe remix has been pretty fascinating for me to watch (look at). if i participated, I would see just how plainly I have been dressing. those whose outfits i most admire know how to put on the accessories. something i need to learn!
Posted by: lori z at March 21, 2006 2:51 PMgod, i'm such a voyeur. i love all this stuff, seeing people's houses, seeing people's clothes. this probably fully explains my addiction to HGTV and interior design magazines (especially real life ones). i've also been enjoying the "corners of my home" posts around blogland. i really dig seeing all these little niches and spots that no one really thinks about on a regular basis. one day i will have a house cool enough to show off, too.
Posted by: anne at March 21, 2006 2:56 PMI'm with you on the jeans wearing thing. The only thing photographing my outfit each day would do is prove that I have no sense of style, and make people wonder if I own an iron.
Maybe it has to do with being a student, add in that I am a mom of two and I think you can understand. :)
Posted by: Wanett at March 21, 2006 3:11 PMSister, if you knew how many times I wear my green corduroy wrap-around skirt (that was recently handed down to me from a friend who found it in her bedroom when she was cleaning out her parents' house!!!), you wouldn't think twice about spending another day in your jeans!
Posted by: Gina at March 21, 2006 3:25 PMi am voting for james & margaret. that place is simply beautiful! i love apartment therapy.
i have to say that i am always overwhelmed by the information available on the net these days. i get so frazzled just trying to keep track of it all.
Posted by: amy at March 21, 2006 3:34 PMoh no!!! bad BAD jess for introducing me to apartment therapy! i'm seriously drooling over here.. that little apartment with all the dark wood walls is killer. my dream abode.
Posted by: gleek at March 21, 2006 3:35 PMThanks for the link to Apartment Therapy. My tiny condo could definitely use help...
Posted by: Chris at March 21, 2006 3:36 PMi blame new york. the first time i found myself compelled to visit an open house for an apartment i didn't need just to see what it looked like inside i knew i was lost. you always hear tell of people crashing the expensive open houses, but i like the ones in normal young-people price range better. it's like watching someone else take all the same resources you have and seeing what they can do with them...
Posted by: heather at March 21, 2006 3:53 PMwardrobe remix is one of my favorite groups over on Flickr. I have thought about participating a few times but that would require me putting on makeup on a regular basis. And yes, it's frightening how many times i'll wear the same pair of jeans before i stick 'em in the washer. It's bonchilling, actually. Glad to know I'm not the only one. :D
Posted by: Sandra at March 21, 2006 5:09 PMI love the link...those apartments are inspiring!
Posted by: Vickery at March 21, 2006 8:50 PMThe whole wardrobe thing would make me feel like a fuddy-duddy.
The apartment thing: cool. If only they would come to MY place :-).
Posted by: colleen at March 21, 2006 10:08 PM"That's right, I even threw away my yarn leftovers."
Whoa...really? I like AT. I think the guy who developed the whole concept used to appear as a guest organizer on Mission Organization and Small Spaces, Big Style on HGTV. I used to love Mission when it featured more singles with great ideas for storage in small dwellings.
apartment therapy gives me hope, even though my apartment is still miniscule in comparison. i definitely need to do some reorganzing and cleaning and retooling.
i wear the same thing -- corduroy blazer, jeans, boots -- as often as Charlie Brown wore that yellow zigzag shirt.
Posted by: carrie m at March 22, 2006 1:06 AMYou know what I read? You aren't supposed to wash jeans. Not until they get really really filthy. Hold on to that thought.
Posted by: Jane at March 22, 2006 3:26 AMI too am a blog voyeur! I love the knitting, but I like the glimpses into people's lives maybe even MORE! :o)
Love the top bar on your blog. I'm blog stupid and don't know how to do a thing to customize mine...
Posted by: mia at March 22, 2006 7:10 AMI have a couple of furniture clawing cats myself. We ended up using Soft Claws (www.softclaws.com). While the application process can be a bit dicey (at least two of my fingers usually end up glued together), they stay on for ages and the cats don't seem to mind a bit. And how cute are cats with pretty, pretty pink nails?
Posted by: Denise at March 22, 2006 9:53 AMHa! My wardrobe thing would be:
Monday: black suit
Tuesday: grey suit
Wednesday: black skirt suit
Thursday: brown suit
Friday: separates!
Saturday: jeans
Sunday: jeans
NO WAY I'd post pictures!
Posted by: sarahdotcom at March 22, 2006 2:01 PMYou find the BEST links! I love the new haircut too :) Almost makes me feel safe enough to go to a hairdresser after my last disaster cut... almost...
Posted by: Kristen at March 22, 2006 2:53 PMAh yes wardrobe remix. I've posted a few photos but only of my weekend wardrobe - it's kinda scary. I doubt many of the participants have corporate jobs and posting photos of my work wardrobe would be boring. gonna go and check out the apartment link now....our apartment could definitely compete for the smallest prize but I'm not sure about the coolest :)
Posted by: kat at March 22, 2006 8:13 PMI'm with you on the wardrobe photo remix. I wear mostly the same tees and jeans all the time. :)
So I'm now knitting more tops furiously to add them to the closet for variety. (If I can only knit fast enough! LOL)
Posted by: Emy at March 23, 2006 9:08 PMCool. Thanks for posting the Aparment Therapy links. Have you tried Soft Paws on your cats? They're plastic covers for the nails that you put on with super glue (less complicated then it sounds). They have saved my couch!
Posted by: Cristina (CrissyPo) at March 23, 2006 9:39 PMooh, good thing i'm super determined to spin this weekend, or i would spend WAY too much time checking out people's wardrobes....great link! it makes me remember what i was like in high school...a closet full of vintage and i could go almost a month before wearing the same thing twice. now i'm lucky if i have the forethought to bother wearing earrings with my jeans and sweater :)
Posted by: tatjana at March 24, 2006 8:55 AM