A Sneak Peek At The Collector's Edition of Never Before Seen Star Wars Blueprints.

Die hard Star Wars fans will be thrilled to learn about this soon to be released limited collector's edition from Epic Ink. The oversized volume, Star Wars: The Blueprints, features tons of the never before seen meticulously designed blueprints, drawings and photographs from George Lucas' Star Wars series by J. W. Rinzler, executive editor at Lucasfilm Ltd.








Discover how an entire galaxy was designed in Star Wars: The Blueprints. Each of the 200 seminal images included in the book was selected by Rinzler in collaboration with an expert panel of Academy Award®-winning visual effects artists (each of whom is described at the end of the post).




the following text is taken directly from Epic Ink:
Star Wars: The Blueprints brings together, for the first time, the original blueprints created for the filming of the Star Wars Saga. Drawn from deep within the Lucasfilm Archives and combined with exhaustive and insightful commentary from best-selling author J. W. Rinzler, the collection maps in precise, vivid, and intricate detail the very genesis of the most enduring and beloved story ever to appear onscreen.




Star Wars: The Blueprints gives voice to the groundbreaking and brilliant engineers, designers, and artists that have, in film after film, created the most imaginative and iconic locales in the history of cinema. Melding science and art, these drawings giving birth to fantastic new worlds, ships, and creatures.




Most importantly, Blueprints shows how in bringing this extraordinary epic to life, the world of special effects as we know it was born. For the first time, here you will see the initial concepts behind such iconic Star Wars scenes as the Rebel blockade runner hallways, the bridge of General Grievous’s flagship, the interior of the fastest “hunk of junk” in the Galaxy, and Jabba the Hutt’s palace. Never before seen craftsmanship and artistry is evident whether floating on the Death Star, escaping on a speeder bike, or exploring the Tatooine Homestead.

Star Wars: The Blueprints is a limited edition. Only 5,000 hand-numbered English language copies will be available, 1000 of which will be signed.

Highlights from the collection include the following blueprints (which have been cropped here for better visibility) of:

R2D2 (Artoo)

Cantina

Power Trench
TIE Fighter

Battle of Hoth
Millennium Falcon

Yoda's House

Carbon Freezing Chamber
Jabba's Throne Room

Jabba's Barge
Speeder Bike

Ewok Village

Theed Plaza
Anakin's Podracer

Jedi Starfighter

Rehabilitation Chamber

When Lucasfilm author and executive editor Jonathan Rinzler explored the long-hidden cache of blueprints hidden in the dark archives it was like discovering a Jedi Holocron, an extraordinary key to cinematic history mislaid for decades. Unrolling each extraordinary document, one after another, it became clear that a central part of the very genesis of Star Wars lay in these technical drawings, 95 percent of which had never before been seen by the legions of devoted fans. The origins of the streets of Mos Eisley, the X-wing fighter, even the legendary Battle of Hoth, the cantina, the Carbon Freezing Chamber, and many other iconic sets were guided to the silver screen through these critical documents, and could have otherwise been lost to time.

The author:
J. W. Rinzler, executive editor at Lucasfilm Ltd., is the author of The New York Times best seller The Making of Star Wars, as well as the London Times best seller The Complete Making of Indiana Jones. His most recent book is The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Rinzler lives in Petaluma, California.

other contributors:
The weight of history was on author and Lucasfilm executive editor J.W. Rinzler’s shoulders throughout the making of Blueprints. As he culled from hundreds of blueprints those that would most accurately and thrillingly speak to fans and devotees worldwide, there were difficult decisions to make. To make the final cut for the publication of Star Wars: The Blueprints, each of the 200 seminal images included here was selected by Rinzler in collaboration with an expert panel of Academy Award®-winning visual effects artists.

The Panelists:

Dennis Muren
Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren is an eight-time Oscar-winning special effects artist who helped pioneer and propel visual effects technology through his work on the first five Star Wars films, in addition to other classic films with jaw-dropping special effects including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park and E.T. The visual effects supervisor for the original trilogy, Muren is a revolutionary, and the only special effects artist with his own Hollywood “star” on the Walk of Fame.

John Knoll
Award-winner John Knoll is a visual effects supervisor and author of Creating the Worlds of Star Wars: 365 Days. Knoll served as Visual Effects Supervisor on the Star Wars prequels and on the 1997 special editions of the original trilogy.

Lorne Peterson
Model-maker Lorne Peterson is an Industrial Light & Magic visual effects artist who worked on all six Star Wars films. In addition, he is the author of the 2006 book, Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop, in which he details his experience making classic ships and locations like the Star Destroyer, the T-65 X-wing starfighter, and the Jedi Temple come to life.

Star Wars: The Blueprints By J.W. Rinzler


samples of page layouts:

Includes Star Wars: The Blueprints book, custom-made cloth case, and certificate of authenticity.

Star Wars: The Blueprints
is limited to 5,000 hand-numbered English language copies, with the first 125 copies signed by the three surviving Academy-Award® winners for Best Art Direction (Star Wars, 1978): art director Norman Reynolds; art director Les Dilley; and set dresser Roger Christian. ISBN: 978-160380-1911

Pricing structure for each number range:
Level One: Signed and hand-numbered copies #1-125 @ $1,000
Level Two: Hand-numbered copies #126-5,000 @ $500



all images shown are courtesy of Epic Ink and may not appear exactly as they do in the book. Some have been cropped and/or enlarged in order to show detail.

$100,000 Iridium Razor with Sapphire Blades & Platinum Screws By Zafirro.

A $100,000 razor? Damn, that had better be one close shave.


above photo by Leah Verwey

The Zafirro Iridium razor is custom made from the strongest, purest, and most durable materials available anywhere. The handle centerpiece is crafted of Iridium, a rare metal - ten times rarer than platinum - and the most corrosion-resistant metal known. Iridium is frequently used in rocket components because it can withstand temperatures as high as 2000 degrees celsius and is one of the most durable substances found on earth.



The sapphire blades are hypoallergenic, oxidization and corrosion resistant and Zafirro claims that due to their sharpening process using ionized particles, are five thousand times thinner than a human hair.



The pure platinum screws, engraved serial numbers and the option for a personal monogram add to the exclusivity of the razor, of which only 99 will be produced.

The following text is from the manufacturer:

Introducing Zafirro Iridium


How do you inaugurate a new era of technology – not an incremental step forward, but a quantum leap: from vacuum tubes to transistors, CB radios to the iPhone? The introduction of the first razor with sapphire blades poses that challenge. The Zafirro Iridium is our answer. Utilizing expertise in fields as varied as rocket engine manufacturing, nanotechnology, and particle physics, the Zafirro Iridium combines some of the rarest, strongest, and most technically advanced materials in existence. The resulting combination of exotic materials pushes the boundaries of technology while creating an aesthetic that could be the centerpiece of a gallery collection.

Due to the rarity of the materials, and the expense associated with manufacturing, production of the Iridium line is extremely limited.


Pure Sapphire Blades


The result of years of R&D, utilizing experts from around the world, our solid white sapphire blades launch a new era of shaving. Hypoallergenic, impervious to oxidation and corrosion, and an order of magnitude more durable than any other shaving blade.

Atomically Sharp


Zafirro sapphire blades are sharpened using high-energy, ionized particles creating a blade edge less than 100 atoms across, or 5000 times thinner than a human hair.

10 Year Blade Life Guarantee

Zafirro provides complementary servicing and professional cleaning for Iridium customers, as well as resharpening if necessary, to make sure your razor remains one of the most advanced and finely tuned consumer products. Ten years of servicing is included.

Pure Iridium Centerpiece


The razor handle centerpiece is 99.95% pure iridium, the strongest and densest functional metal on the planet, mainly derived from meteorites, and 10 times more rare than platinum. One of the primary uses of iridium has been rocket engine components because of its extreme durability.

Pure Platinum Screws


The platinum hexagonal screws on the Zafirro Iridium are custom machined to extremely tight tolerances on CNC Swiss screw micromachines designed for advanced biotech applications. The screws are 99.95% pure platinum, a far higher purity than most expensive jewelry.

Due to the limited global supply of iridium and the expense associated with manufacturing, only 99 of the Iridium line will be made. Each razor is engraved with a serial number to ensure authenticity, and can be monogrammed to your specifications.

Limited Edition of 99, price $100,000.00 (£62,631)
To order you must contact them by e-mail

UPDATE: Zafirro Gold is now also available. The same razor only crafted of titanium and 18k gold in limited quantities. $18,000.00





Zafirro is a Bright Light Ventures company. The Bright Light team has dedicated the majority of the last three and a half years to the research and development required to bring this new technology to market. Expertise in fields as varied as rocket engine manufacturing, nanotechnology, and particle physics were required as well as manufacturing and technology expertise from around the world. Zafirro is now an independent company but will continue to draw on the Bright Light team’s expertise and resources as it grows and expands its product line.

all images courtesy of Zafirro

Lucian Freud Remembered. Images of (and links to) his Astounding Work.

above: Lucian Freud self-portrait (one of many), Reflection, 2005

British realist, figurative and portrait painter Lucian Freud, who was one of the greatest artists of our time, passed away at the age of 88 on July 20th.

Noble Handcrafted Tonics. Syrups And Vinegars That Taste As Good As They Look.

I was seduced by the packaging of these beautiful maple syrups and vinegar tonics distributed by Seattle-based Mikuni Wild Harvest when I spotted them on GiltTaste.com so I researched them a little further.



According to an article by Janet McCracken for Bon Appetit, the Vancouver based tonics, have been popping up on the menus of chic restaurants and are favored by chefs like Thomas Keller and Mario Batali for their specialty produce.




The Noble Handcrafted Tonics, of which there are five thus far (rumor has it they will be introducing a molasses) are beautifully packaged in attractive glass bottles with cork stoppers, melted wax and labels reminiscent of Knob Creek Whisky.




The elegant package design was created by Graphic Designer and Wedding photographer Heather Nguyen of Vancouver.


Noble Tonic 01 -Tuthilltown Bourbon Barrel Matured Maple Syrup


NOBLE didn't choose just any bourbon to create the subtly spiked edge of Tonic 01. Tuthilltown Spirits is New York's first whiskey distillery since prohibition, distilling some of America's most prized spirits. Their handmade bourbons, produced with locally sourced grain and fruit farmed less than 10 miles away, contain no added flavor or color and are not chill or carbon filtered. Tonic 01, originally sourced from heritage sugar shacks in the ancient maple orchards of Quebec, has a hint of raw bourbon flavor thanks to 6 to 9 months spent in New York State's Tuthilltown Distillery's charred American oak barrels.

Bon Appetit says "Like we said, this is made for candied bacon. I would not say no to some corn johnny cakes with this, either." $20


Noble Tonic 02 - Tahitian Vanilla Bean & Egyptian Chamomile Blossom Matured Maple Syrup


To harness the unmistakable flavor of Tahitian Vanilla and the buttery, apple aroma of Egyptian Chamomile Blossom, the artisans behind NOBLE's Tonic No. 02 infuse maple syrup with the blossoms and vanilla beans. We absolutely love the floral aromas in this maple syrup with toasty corn bread, or as a substitute for brown sugar in cinnamon buns.

Bon Appetit says "This syrup is more delicate, and in order to taste the chamomile and vanilla, I would eat this on some plain greek yogurt or a simple waffle." $20


Noble Tonic 03 - Maple Matured Sherry Bourbon Oak Vinegar


This vinegar's truly unique flavor is developed while aging in bourbon oak barrels at Tuthilltown Distillery in New York State. For 6 to 9 months, NOBLE ages genuine Spanish sherry vinegar in bourbon barrels, received only one day after the bourbon has been drained.

Bon Appetit says "If you mix this with a terrific olive oil, it becomes a dressing for a Spanish salad of greens, marcona almonds, and manchego." $18


Noble Tonic 04 -Pharaoh's Heirloom Lemon Matured White Wine Vinegar


Tonic 04 is a 5-year barrel aged, white wine vinegar infused with organic, heirloom Egyptian lemon peel. The bright, sweet and citrusy flavors are balanced by woody, spicy flavors from NOBLE's barrel aging process at Tuthilltown Distillery in New York State.

Bon Appetit says "I really like the idea of vinegary beverages, like kombucha or Pok Pok's new drinking vinegar, Som, and this is so good that I would mix it with soda water and drink it like that. The lemon flavor is complex and spicy, and brings a unique brightness to the flavor." $20


Noble Tonic 05 - XO Aged Balsamic Vinegar


"XO" signifies refinement and age in the world of Cognac. This extraordinary vinegar is no different. Tonic 05 is a sweet, syrupy refined finishing vinegar. After aging for 3-4 months in New York State's Tuthilltown Distillery's Single Grain Bourbon barrels, the lids are removed and replaced with cheesecloth to allow for evaporation. This unique air aging process concentrates and enhances flavors of bourbon and vanilla.

Bon Appetit says "This splurge is on par with any good balsamic. We like to keep it simple, drizzled over asparagus or vanilla ice cream." $95

Buy them here or at GiltTaste.com if you are a member. If you are not, feel free to use my personal invite link.

photos courtesy of Gilt.com, Mikuni and Heather Nguyen