YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Joan Didion

I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means, what I want and what I fear.

HANDMADE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA #65 // H.S. Chocolate Co. Goes for Decadence and Nostalgia

Like we'd mentioned earlier, the Handmade Holiday Craft Fair is around the corner, and there's no shortage of unique, must-buy-or-else gifts. Here's one we predict will go fast...

We caught up with chocolatier MaryAnne Hoekstra Shekar of H.S. Chocolate Co. By way of introduction, let us say that we know it's hackneyed to drivel on about how decadent and sinful chocolate is, but some of her concoctions (the Figgy Blue candy bar, made with Bailey Hazen Blue cheese and fig Ganache, the Chinese Five Spice Chocomels) actually made us gasp. Pearls were clutched and monocles were shattered. These are some fancy chocolates. 

So yes, H.S. chocolates, candy bars, and Chocomels (chocolate covered caramels) sound lovely and indulgent. But would you believe they look nice too? Because of course they do. Gold foil, playful paper wrappers, and a retro logo bring a sense of fun and nostalgia to the whole endeavor. For Hoekstra Shekar, that feeling of reminscence is an important piece of the puzzle. "Our chocolates and confections make the best gift because they invoke nostalgia by putting a unique, modern twist on classic treats like candy bars, filled chocolates and chocolate-covered caramels," she says. "We use fresh, local ingredients to create exciting flavor profiles." 

--Layla Schlack

HANDMADE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA #44 // For The Absolute Worst Days, Bummer Baskets to the Rescue

One of Bummer Baskets' dutifully bummed-out gifts.

We're making our lists, and Siri's checking them twice--because the 5th annual 3rd Ward Handmade Holiday Craft Fair is happening on December 10. In anticipation of this awesome event, we're giving you a sneak preview of who will be selling what.

The folks at Bummer Baskets know that what you really want on a bad day (a lost-your-job-and-got-dumped kind of day, or just a cowlick-and-shouty-boss day) is not a Hallmark card. You want a stiff drink, something sugary and a few tokens of the laughter and comfort of days gone by, before everything went to hell. That's why they've brilliantly put together care packages with things like "Here's to Happy Endings" wine glasses, fresh-baked brownies, temporary tattoos, and flower-planting kits.

Better still, the kindly basketmakers source their products as locally as possible. "Final selections for baskets are based on team input as well as asking friends and loved ones what they would want to receive in a bummer situation," cofounder Kerry Kirk says. "We are tirelessly baking new things in pursuit of the perfect recipes for bummer times-which is really at the core of our baskets."

While we certainly don't wish you or your loved ones to have bummer holidays, it may be helpful to have one of these adorable kits on hand--if only for yourself in case your drunk uncle decides to talk bad politics, and your grandmother starts hounding you about wanting to live to meet her great-grandchildren.

--Layla Schlack

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Friedrich Nietzche

And so onwards, along a path of wisdom with a hearty tread, a hearty confidence. However you may be, be your own source of experience, throw off your discontent about your nature, forgive yourself your own self. You have it in your power to merge through everything you have lived through; fore-starts, errors, delusions, passions, your loves and your hopes into your goal with nothing left over.

INFOGRAPHIC // The Future of Money In The New Economy

We're always excited to come across some good chart porn, but we particularly love this infographic, as it addresses many of the innovative ideas and emerging systems that we champion here at 3rd Ward. 

Put together by the Emergence Collective, a collaborative platform started by Berlin-based creative studio KS12, The Future of Money aggregates "research on emerging marketplaces, platforms, tools, initiatives and opportunities for the new economy," including coworking, resource and knowledge sharing, exchange platforms, open innovation and more.

Click image to enlarge or click here for a PDF.

After the jump we've highlighted examples of a few of the different initiatives featured in the infographic so you can explore them on your own.

Barter Networks: Swap.com - A global swap marketplace.

Co-Production: Open Design City - A collaboration space that "encourages the sharing of tools, knowledge, ideas and skills."

Crowdfunding: Cofundit.com - A website that connects people looking to finance projects with potential investors.

Crowdsourcing: Mechanical Turk - An Amazon.com company that lets businesses and developers utilize a workforce of any size while at the same time letting workers earn money by working on HITs (human intelligence tasks) anywhere, anytime.

Digital Currencies: Bitcoin - An open source currency system that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments.

Group Buying: 1bog.org - A website that helps users to reduce the cost of green home improvements by purchasing products as a group.

Open Innovation: One Billion Minds - A website that allows you to launch a challenge that others can help solve or lend your knowledge and skill to solve someone else's challenge.

-- John Ruscher

CONTEST ALERT // Scoutmob Gives You A Chance To Win A 52-Show Pass To The Bell House

Deal websites are a dime a dozen these days, but amidst the madness of half-price nail salon visits and deep dining discounts, Scoutmob is one startup that we can really get on board with.

Rather than just throwing together a hodge-podge of deals and hoping that bargain hunters will bite, Scoutmob features local content tailored to 20 different cities across the country and offers deals for places that we'd want to hit up anyway. It's a real community rather than a sterile digital clearinghouse.

Case in point: right now you can enter Scoutmob's "Live Like A Groupie" contest, which will give one lucky winner a chance to rock out (along with a guest) at 52 shows of their choosing at The Bell House, the excellent home-grown concert hall in Gowanus. That's one concert each week for an entire year. Sign us up.

We've been huge fans of The Bell House since they opened their doors back in 2008, and they continue to host tons of amazing live shows. Currently on the horizon are appearances by Philly indie folkers Good Old War, Atlas Sound (Bradford Cox from Deerhunter), acclaimed folk songstress Dar Williams, awesome rocker Ted Leo and funk and soul master Lee Fields. Something for everyone, really. Or all just for you, if you're lucky enough to win Scoutmob's contest. Enter now, because the December 6 deadline is fast approaching.

-- John Ruscher

WATCH THIS NOW // 3rd Warder Ignacio Quiles Puts It All on the Line During Morgan Spurlock's "Failure Club"

We're not big on generalizations, but there's a decent chance that if you're here reading this, you either dream about leaving behind your day job and pursuing an entreprenurial creative endeavor, or you've already done it. Ignacio Quiles, along with six other members of "Failure Club," a Morgan Spurlock documentary showing on Yahoo! Screen, is in the middle of doing just that.

A successful chef, "I closed the Tavern on the Green and have been working as a restaurant consultant since then," Quiles is also the resident sartorialist of QP & Monty, a vintage clothing and lifestyle brand. "We're really trying to become a full-scale men's haberdashery," he says. Along with partner Pamela Moore, QP & Monty's ultimate goal is to make tailored men's clothes, hats, and jewelry and to provide styling services and advice for the natty gentleman.

After a long day selling his wares at a market, Quiles struck up a conversation at a bar with a woman who happened to be a producer for Spurlock's newest project, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

"Failure Club" follows seven people who are embracing their fear of failure and going for broke to pursue a dream (any dream!) The first episode features one woman trying to start a handyman service and another hoping to create a world-famous Christmas carol. This week's episode--going live this afternoon at 1pm--will feature Quiles, and maybe even our own Morgan Avenue digs.

Of his experience so far, Quiles tells us "I think a failure club is something everyone should try to emulate, even 3rd Ward," going on to say that the exchange of expertise, services, and even just encouragement has made the experience worthwhile. As humble watchers, we say watching these folks go after their dreams and talk earnestly about their fear of failure, is inspiring in its own right.

--Layla Schlack

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Albert Einstein

I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiousity, obsession and dogged endurance combined with self-criticism, have brought me my ideas.

Member Group Show Pics are Up!

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Member Group Show the other week. Take a look at some of the selects below and see the 3rd Ward Facebook page for the full album!

Interested in participating in our next Group Show? All Members are invited to show their work. Visit our Membership page to learn more.

All photos by Liz Clayman

GO HERE NOW // Typeverything.com Makes Exploring Typography As Easy As ABC

Type monogram by Andrei D. Robu

Whether you're looking for inspiration for your next design project, searching for that killer new typeset or just trying to pass some time perusing some visually amazing examples of contemporary typography, there's one site we've become enamored with that we demand you head towards: Typeverything.

As self-professed typography nerds, we're fond of the fact the Tumblog's got a seemingly bottomless collection of typography designers, allowing us to scroll and scroll to our heart's content. The site also features a "shop" where you can browse designs that are available for purchase.

And if you grow tired of the alphabet, check out Typeverything's sister sites Designers Go To Heaven, which features many examples of excellent graphic design, along with They, which offers up daily inspiration for architectural and industrial design.

Meanwhile, hit the jump as we've compiled a few of our favorite designs from Typeverything.

Variation of letter “a” by Michal Sycz

Cover for the 2009 issue of Solutions by Pidgeon

Helvetica Lace by Anna Farkas

&,&,&: Part 1 - Art Print by Teagan White

LET’S MAKE ART by Marco

‘Heavy Metal’ by Tom Davie

-- John Ruscher