This week's links. Enjoy.
Elsa Schiaparelli's Iconic Gowns and Couture Creations
Slide show of the work of the brilliant fashion designer who outfitted Ginger Rogers, brainstormed beside Salvador Dali and inspired a generation of unconventional couturiers.
The Magic of Sand
Via Intelligent Life: "Sand doesn't just stick between our toes — it also has a way of getting inside our heads. Rebecca Willis finds eternity, and more, in a grain of it."
The Most Beautiful Video of Soap You'll Ever See
Digital artist Ruslan Khasanov spent five hours mixing water, ink, oil and soap — the result is Pacific Light, a gorgeous and hypnotic short video.
Designers and Books
The fantastic Designers and Books site recently got a new look — check out this beautifully designed (of course) source featuring esteemed members of the international design community sharing books that have inspired, motivated and enlightened them. Via Swiss Miss.
Five Hundred New Fairy Tales Discovered in Germany
Great news for those who love a good story — a collection of fairy tales gathered by the historian Franz Xaver von Schönwerth have been discovered. Locked away in an archive in Regensburg for over 150 years, they're now in the process of being published (and an English translation is on the way, too).
A Street Photographer of Nineteenth Century London
Fascinating images by the photographer John Thomson (1837-1921), these documentary photographs of everyday people in the streets of 19th century London are extraordinary — especially when you remember the bulky and time intensive equipment he had to work with.
The Longest Words in Different Languages Are So Fun To Say
Fun video of people around the world saying the longest words in their language in Czech, Dutch, Danish, Slovenian, Turkish and more. And did you know — the longest word in the English language would take you three and a half hours to pronounce (it's the chemical name of Titin).
Stir Fried Noodles With Thai Peanut Sauce
A quick recipe featuring a simple Thai-inspired peanut sauce that'll definitely become a favourite — easy to make and perfect for adding to veggies, noodles and/or a combination of the two.
(photo by nikolas koenig via architectural digest)