10 Amazing Doll Houses

Frida Khalo Doll House

Cuban-American artist Elsa Mora created this lovely miniature doll house featuring artist Frida Kahlo.

$82,000 English Doll House

A dollhouse selling for a big sum of $82,000 is bound to create waves in the news world. We hear that the exquisiteness of this stunning toy is such that it will capture the heart of anyone who lays their eyes on it. Complete with the tiniest of detail been taken care of, the scale down version of a well-furnished home took 15 years of labour to be completed.

The doll house resembles a traditional English house complete with all the regular fixtures of a bath, bedroom, dining room, hallway and a living room. Little extravagances like the chandeliers also find their way in here. The maker of this small splendor has made more money than those selling several real homes in the UK.

Kaleidoscope Doll House

The Bozart Kaleidoscope Dollhouse designed by PMW Architects in 2001 was perhaps the coolest doll house ever. A 1:12 scale multi-level modernist dream, it featured colorful sliding transparent walls that changed cover when overlapped. In addition, modern furniture collections and action figures from well-known designers could be purchased. Now available only on auction sites, they sell quickly for upwards of a $1000. 

Dust Doll House

Dust bunnies yes, but dust houses? I don't know about you but this sure is too cool for me!

“Save those dust!” — Maria Adelaida Lopez, a Master's degree in art school, cleaned houses to support herself through the art school, intricately created this unique series of ‘Dust Houses' that are doll houses & are covered over in vacuum cleaner lint. At present she is an artist & educator in Miami, no longer cleans houses for others. Well, the dust sure helped!

Henry Colbert's Doll House

Henry Colbert is the designer of this 1930's Art Deco master piece. He makes a few houses a year and there's a way to get on a waiting list. I've heard that they cost about $6,000 but I'm not sure if that's true. All sold houses have been unique since the customers always wanted to make changes on his design. He's also making bathroom furniture in 1930's style in various colors.

Bosdyk Doll House

Let me introduce you to one of the latest objects to join the Powerhouse Museum collection, the Bosdyk Dolls House, a unique example of the art of the miniature. The house was built and decorated by Frans and Christina Bosdyk over a period from 1997 to 2006. They estimated that they spent 15,000 hours and many thousands of dollars of materials on the work. Frans is a skilled electrical instrument maker who can turn his hand to any material with great precision, in fact he made most of the furniture inside the doll's house. Christina was closely involved with all construction decisions, sourced miniature items, decided where everything went and chose interior decor, wallpaper and dolls.

The Bosdyk dolls house competes with the very best in the tradition of Dutch dolls' houses, renowned in the seventeenth century for their style and extraordinary attention to detail. That this should have been made in Australia is unusual and the Bosdyk's eight years' dedication to the project is an extraordinary achievement. The story is one of Dutch migrants bringing the very best of their traditional culture and skills to Australia.

Eco-friendly Doll House

Design company Brinca Dada has an amazing new dollhouse up their sleeve. Set to debut in Spring 2011, the Bennett House is so impressive you'll want to box up your belongings and move in — but, of course in order to do that you'd have to be a mini-you. This breathtaking townhouse-style miniature is influenced by the De Stijl movement of the early 20th century and features lines, squares and rectangles in asymmetrical patterns along with a minimal color scheme.

Bag End hobbit hole Doll House

Maddie Chambers went and built herself a super impressive looking Bag End hobbit hole dollhouse. It's amazing. It has so many details you won't believe it.

18th Century French Chateau Doll House

This 18th Century French Chateau is only 1:12 scale (your 6 foot tall liveried footman would be represented as 6 inches tall here). The chateau was the central display in the 2009 South Australian Miniatures Enthusiasts (SAME) Dollhouse and Miniatures Festival. Each room was made separately by club members and put together for the weekend. It represents a year's work. The chateau features servant's quarters, two chapels, bedrooms, music rooms, sitting rooms, dining rooms, a library, and more! A lot of effort went into this group project.

Hostel Doll House

The name of all this "Hostel" is U Ulitki. "Size 37 x 15 x 21 cm. It is a painstaking and accurate work! At the same time - the charm and magic of every detail.

 

http://www.oddee.com/item_97641.aspx

World's Most Amazing Contortionists

Lilia Stepanova, an attractive 21-year-old contortionist, shows off her skills by shooting a bow and arrow with her feet. Stepanova, who has gained a lot of popularity from her appearances on famous TV shows like the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Show' and ‘America's Got Talent', is known for her body bending and twisting techniques. She has also performed in front of NBA, NHL and NCAA arenas, while also becoming a regular feature on the ESPN Sports Center opening highlights.

(Link)


At the age of four Zlata discovered she had an amazing talent - and she has been bending over backwards ever since to make the most of it. The Russian-born former gymnast, 24, is one of the world's most extreme contortionists. At 5 ft 9 ins, Zlata spends most of her days working out and training for shows around the world.

Zlata has a rare condition that makes all her tendons extremely pliable, allowing her to adopt seemingly back-breaking positions. (Link)


Kirsty Nicholson bagged her dream job as a contortionist in the circus after she was cured of her claustrophobia by her mum, who placed her in bins to get her over her fear of small spaces. Nicholson's mother came up with the drastic solution to cure her daughter so she could join the circus as a singer and contortionist. (Link | Via)




Alexey I. Goloborodko is a contortionist who has been described by many as the most flexible human on the planet. He was born in Tula, Russia, in December 1994. As well as contortion and flexibility, he has been trained in classical and modern dance, and Chinese martial arts. This helps to add fluency, grace and elegance to his contortion performances. He has performed in a variety of arts festivals and competitions, television programs, circuses and shows. (Link)


Nokulunga Buthelezi, the contortion star of the show "Africa, Africa", went to a German TV show and kicked some butts with her snake-like choreography.




Daniel Browning Smith holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest time squeezing through both a tennis racquet and a toilet seat. He is known as the Rubberboy.

(Link)


Arevik and Tatevik Seyranyan perform 2 girls, 1 cu…be.




With the ability to press his soles to his cheeks, turn himself into a human dart board, and dislocate his shoulders to escape from a straitjacket, Matt Alaeddine's résumé reads more like a medical examiner's report. Couple that with his sizable mass — well over 400 pounds — and the city comic and contortionist has found a ticket around the world, securing him a place in the infamous Jim Rose Circus. Founded in the '90s, the circus features extreme, often masochistic onstage acts involving everything from sword swallowing to genital lifts.

Alaeddine, 30, is one of three Edmontonians in the American troupe of pain-loving freaks. He started doing contortion as a street performer at the Edmonton Fringe Festival about 10 years ago. When performing his contortions, Alaeddine stuffs his rolling hillsides into a gold nylon suit labelled “one size fits all” that he bought from the women's section of a hipster-friendly clothing store.” (Link)


Richard Rosson (stage name Rubber Ritchie) is a British contortionist who has come to some prominence in the British media in recent years. He has appeared on a variety of television shows, including Channel 4 News, The Richard and Judy Show, and the Saturday morning children's show Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow.

Rosson has appeared in adverts and trailers for various products. Notably, in early 2006, Rosson acted as stunt double in a Walker's Crisps advert for ex-England footballer and BBC presenter Gary Lineker. Rosson has also had an impact on the big screen, shooting scenes as Avery the Death Eater for the blockbuster movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (Link)


Another picture of 24 year old former Russian gymnast Zlata.


Just for fun: that's a hell of a cameltoe! http://www.oddee.com/item_97640.aspx

12 Coolest Practical Tattoos

This would be great for the ophthalmologists who work in the countryside, a portable eyesight checker.


This woodworker-graphic designer uses a tape measure or ruler almost every day. He decided to have one tattooed so he would have a ruler always within his arm's reach. He uses it for his work, but also for playing. He measured some trout for length with it on a fishing trip to Mount Hood, for example. 


Don't ever worry about being in jail again. This datestamp will assure you the girl isn't underage.
Subway map tattoo. Erik Burke got himself a very useful tattoo to write down his to-do lists. Medical alert tattoo.Although there are only temporary, these tattoos can be very handy. Especially for those crowded days at the mall. Avoid those moments of boredom with a “connect the dots” tattoo.(Link)A very good reminder, a Pi tattoo up to 80 digits.(Link)This tattoo also works as a ruler but with a much vainer purpose.If you can't afford a pair of glasses or always forget to use yours, this could be your solution. MatthewG15 decided to get a pair of glasses tattooed to his face.Get an instant moustache anytime you want to by tattooing one in your finger. http://www.oddee.com/item_97623.aspx  

Cool Underwater Hotel Suite

As cool hotel rooms go, this underwater room has to be one of the coolest in the world. If you ever wanted to sleep 20ft below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and encased in clear glass then this is the place for you. This suite is located at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and it’s normally a restaurant (Ithaa Undersea Restaurant). In honor of their 50th anniversary, the Conrad is allowing the restaurant to be converted into a suite but for a price. Depending on the day, it’ll cost you between $10,000 to $15,000 per night to stay in this awesome room. Not sure you would be able to sleep though. Would also be tempting to take in a water pistol and squirt the ceiling so it dripped water on your partner in the middle of the night. That would freak them out! Anyway...here is the amazing Conrad Maldives Rangali Island suite:

Below is how the room usually looks at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island - a very cool restaurant called Ithaa Undersea Restaurant! The only all-glass undersea restaurant in the world. Set five metres below sea level and surrounded by a vibrant coral reef, Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Resort and Spa Rangali Island (South Ari Atoll - Maldives) is possibly the most stunning and unusual restaurants in the world.

10 Restaurants with the best views in the world

http://www.travelphant.com/2011/03/10-restaurants-with-best-views-in-world.html

Showcasing 10 of the world's best restaurants with amazing views. Whether the food is good or bad, it doesn't really matter as there's always the view! 

10. Yamashiro Restaurant, LA
Located in the Hollywood Hills, this upscale Asian restaurant offers an unimaginable view of the brilliant Los Angeles skyline. Go on a clear night and you can see lights for miles. The center of the restaurant houses a Japanese garden teaming with gushing fountains and colorful fish. The ”CalAsian” cuisine is tasty but light and the cocktails are refreshing.

The restaurant itself looks like a authentic Japanese castle or home and the whole vibe in it itself is really entertaining. We would definitely recommend this place especially if you have a significant other and what to spice up your relationship with something new and romantic!

9. Grand Canyon Lodge Dining Room - Arizona, USA
The Grand Canyon attracts flocks of visitors to the spectacular South Rim, take lots of photographs, have a short walk admiring the awe inspiring views and then depart. But it's the guests of Grand Canyon Lodge who experience the Grand Canyon real character - wild, lonely, and unpredictable. Watch the day go by from the sun terrace and dine with the view of the world's greatest natural miracle.

 The timber-smelling, rustic restaurant may not be hitting the height of gastronomy, but who cares about food when there's such a spectacle going on outside. The menu features quite a lot of choices, including regional as well as 1930's themed foods. The dining room is very spacious, but compared to the grandness of the Canyon, it feels really warm and cozy.

8. 360 Restaurant - Toronto, Canada
At Toronto's 360 Restaurant, dining is brought to a whole different level. Firstly, because the restaurant sits 351 meters (1151 ft) above ground on top of the CN Tower. Secondly, because it slowly revolves to give you 360 degree views of the magnificent city.

After major remodeling in 1995, the restaurant is no longer just a tourist magnet but a truly sophisticated dining experience. Some say the menu has left them with taste buds unsatisfied and wallets emptied. But even if you're not satisfied with food, the bill pays for the ticket to the observation deck without queuing. Just pick a cloudless evening and take in the splendor of Toronto from up high, preferably having a glass of wine from the restaurant's award-winning "cellar in the sky".

7. Piz Gloria - Mürren, Switzerland
Perched on top of 2,970 m (9,744 ft) Schilthorn, in the Swiss Alps, Piz Gloria was a prominent location for the 1969 film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' of the famous James Bond series.

Since then, both the restaurant and the funicular have undergone a major facelift and draw countless visitors willing to get 360-degree views of the dramatic alpine spectacle over a bowl of steamy chicken soup. The dining area can accommodate 400 patrons and takes about an hour to completely rotate.

6. Ambrosia Restaurant - Oia Santorini, Greece
Santorini is by far one of the most romantic places in Europe, so it's not really difficult to set up a business that makes it to the 'World's Most Scenic Restaurants' list. Ambrosia is definitely one that deserves the title, and it's not only thanks to its cozy atmosphere, unique decor, and fantasy-like views of the volcanic sea caldera.

The food and service are said to be excellent, so you don't have to compromise on quality for the sake of beautiful surroundings. Candlelight, rose petals, stars above your head and food that's really tasty - can you really ask for more?

5. Floyd's Pelican Bar - Negril, Jamaica 
The only way to get there is to hire a boat and you can have a swim while waiting for your seafood to be served. Can you imagine a more unusual restaurant? Situated a mile from the shore, the bamboo construction rises out of the infinite blue and looks as if it was just about to be blown by the wind.

Floyd's is almost a legend and once you have a cold one here, you'll want to come back over and over again. A 6-hour trip for two, including private transportation, boat to Floyd's and lunch, is around $180.

4. Red Sea Star - Eilat, Israel
Red Sea Star is a place like no other on the planet. This first and only underwater restaurant looks like a beautiful coral garden itself, and there's still the better part outside. 5m (16 ft) below the surface of the Red Sea, you can enjoy you meal while watching unbelievably colorful creatures swim by right next to the window.

The food is said to be average, but the experience unbeatable. Soft light comes in to illuminate the unique décor, and you'll really find yourself in two minds whether to focus on the interior or gaze outside.

3. Sunset da Mona Lisa - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas is a dreamlike destination and the premises of Sunset da Mona Lisa expose its beauty in a way that's hard to forget. Multileveled terraces hang above crystal-clear pools, giving you a sense of floating on water.

The Italian chef makes sure the dishes are genuine and range from the simplest to most sophisticated specialties of Italian cuisine. Wash them down with the best of Italian wines and watch the sun disappear in the waters of Cabo San Lucas Bay. Pure magic.

2. Cova d'en Xoroi - Cala'n Porter, Spain
Carved in the cliff on the south coast of Menorca, with multileveled terraces spanning on rock shelves, the Cove d'en Xoroi is a bar, a restaurant, and a nightclub in one.

Enjoy a morning coffee with the heavenly beach and cove of Cala 'n Porter in front of your eyes, hide from the heat in the legendary grotto and dine watching the sun roll down beyond the horizon. And when the stars are up, there's no better place to get the taste of nightlife in Menorca.

1. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Ithaa Undersea restaurant sits 16 feet below sea level at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, a hotel resort in Hilton's luxury brand that occupies two islands. Maldives is a country of almost 1,200 islands about 300 miles from the southernmost points of India and Sri Lanka. This stunning restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, according to the resort's website.