Maps are usually made of paper. Then there was something else. How could anyone carve out something so detailed from a wood? Yes, that's right... everything is possible. You might want to check out these topographic maps dubbed as Below the Boat, which literally means that they reveal the world below the boat, primarily prominent locations such as Nantucket, Long Island Sound, the San Francisco Bay. What the artists have to say:Starting with a bathymetric chart (the underwater equivalent of a topographic map), the contours are laser-cut into sheets of Baltic birch and glued together to create a powerful visual depth. Select layers are hand-colored blue so it's easy to discern land from water, major byways are etched into the land, the whole thing's framed in a custom, solid-wood frame and protected seamlessly with a sheet of durable, ultra-transparent Plexiglas.[via gessato]See More

Let us all welcome the new year with an extreme dare! Ready? Set? Go? Oh, you might want to think a million times before trying out what Russian artists Vitaly Raskalov and Alexander Remnov actually did. With their collection dubbed as Skywalking Photography, these buddies were fully recharged with overflowing fearlessness as they captured images from construction cranes, church steeples, radio towers, and skyscrapers among other locations wherein they bravely included themselves in the picture. If you would ever think of following their lead, kindly do it with utmost caution and with much-needed professional help. Dare yourself. Forget about fear of heights but don't forget to be always safe. Have a happy new year everyone! ♥ [via thecoolist]See More

I guess every child grew up enjoying the sight of bubbles while playing inside the bathroom. Take it from me huh! I really loved making bubbles out of soap rubbed through my hands. I also adored those ready-made liquid combination where you can blow off on a device then automatically several bubbles would come out. Fantastic! And probably photographer Jason Tozer also had a great childhood memory with bubbles, hence, he came out with a really gorgeous series. Check out his photos that appear to form like the planets that revolve around the solar system. They are absolutely stunning! ♥[via sneakhype]See More

I wouldn't have thought that a very fragile and brittle pencil lead could be used as an art material. I remember the time when I would refill my mechanical pencil and I would be so careful not break the lead as I put it inside. This is why I was amazed that New-Zealand based artist Peter Trevelyan was able to come up with such a brilliant idea and created large-scale geometric sculptures made of pencil lead sticks. [via designtaxi]See More

You might be wondering how could this be possible – having a classroom without walls. Well, here's a treat for you. When you come to visit the Swedish Free School Organization Vittra, you would definitely be amazed by its philosophy that there are no classes or classrooms. Interestingly, the students are organized into groups wherein they are taught according to level based on the school’s pedagogical principles of the wateringhole, the show-off, the cave, the campfire and the laboratory. For the goal of the school to become operational, the services of the architects at Rosan Bosch Ltd were tapped and the results were fantastic. The design broke away with the traditional desks, chairs and blackboards. Flexible laboratories were set up that provide the kids with opportunities to focus on special themes and projects. [via knstrct]See More