Teagan Tall

The Drawings of Winnie Truong

2010-10-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

I love that Winnie Truong's "About" section of her website declares only: "b. 1988 Toronto, Canada." So with that introduction, we know that Winnie is, in 2010, a mere 22 years old and might pronounce "about," "aboot." Oh, and she's an intensely talented artist whose massive line drawing portraits (4'x6', pencil and chalk) delve head first into discomforted notions of beauty via the exploration of hair and teeth. With names like "Lady Gymkata" (the skill of gymnastics, the kill of karate?) and "Virility and Grace," musings on Samson-like strength seem fortified. And yet my mind drifts to thoughts of teratomas, and vagina dentata. Truong is currently being shown at Katherine Mulherin in Toronto. [via Design Porn]

132 5. Issey Miyake: Origami Fashion

2010-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Japanese fashion innovator Issey Miyake and his R&D design group, the Reality Lab, have created a line of eco-conscious "origami clothing" made from recycled PET fabric. Each garment is made from a single piece of fabric, which is folded flat into one of ten basic collapsible patterns. The sharp creases in the fabric are made flexible but permanent, so that as you open the garment a multifaceted 3D form emerges. This shape is made customizable by the wearer with strategically placed snaps and darts, and the addition of tubes used to create sleeves or pant legs.

The title [132 5.] explains the notion: one piece of fabric, a three-dimensional shape reduced to two, and the fifth dimension, which Miyake describes as the moment the garment is worn and comes to life “through the communication among people.” (In physics, the fifth dimension is a hypothetical extra dimension after the three spatial ones and the fourth, which is time. Some astrophysicists argue that the fifth dimension may be the universe that we live in.) ...

“These clothes are very light, like air, and are season-less,” Miyake says. “I hope people will keep them a long time, and not replace them every two months. That, for me, is the essence of sustainability.”

This construction is made possible by a 3D computer modeling program (presumably ORIPA — an editor for designing crease patterns in Origami works — available free, here) designed by artist and computer scientist Jun Mitani. I highly recommend checking out Mitani's work in spherical origami. [via Dezeen, more at the Design Observer]

Design*Sponge's Wallpaper Resource List!

2010-10-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Maybe when I own my own home (dreaming!) I'll finally get to wallpaper a wall. Until then, I sooth myself by collecting images of other people's amazing spaces, all decked out in sensational patterns. But it's good to dream. And when I make that first purchase in yardage, I'll know where to turn thanks to Grace and her Top 50 Wallpaper Sources. (See also Wallpaper Under $100)

Ktichen Thoughts

2010-10-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful Saturday morning in San Francisco, sunny and warm with the arrival of our elusive Indian summer — a curious term with a curious etymology, but a time that nonetheless makes us natives break out the shorts and sandals for their twice-yearly airing. Sitting here in the loft after a wonderful breakfast of huevos rancheros, putting the plates back on the shelf and finishing my french press, I was reminded of a post I put up on CRAFT back in the spring (the other nostalgic season) on kitchen thoughts ... I hope you'll investigate, and share some of your favorite kitchen items.

Wilson A. Bentley: Snowflakes

2010-10-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

You might admonish me at the mention of winter, but with snow-thirsty friends wishing fall would hurry up already, I've already got one eye to the mountains. In any case, Pacha Design has this great post on "The Snowflake Man," Wilson A. Bentley, and the photos were too tasty to pass up.

"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind." —Bentley

Boats Recycled into Sheds

2010-10-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

The fishing community on the English tidal island of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, has found a wonderful channel of employment for their once seaworthy vessels. By simply turning them upside down and adding doors they are upcycled into sheds — too cool! [via Recyclart]

See You in October!

2010-09-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Dear TT readers, September is a wash!

Between putting two magazines to bed, helping with and attending two close-friend weddings, and Maker Faire New York, I'm out of commission. In the meantime, please check in with CRAFT for my postings there — most recently on Plumen's designer fluorescent bulbs, and embroidery artist Ayako Otsuka (respectively, above). See you in October! Or New York. Whichever comes first!

Georgia Russell

2010-09-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Scottish paper artist Georgia Russell falls within the notable ranks of Brian Dettmer and Su Blackwell — both artists who remodel the book into 3-dimensional narratives. Whereas Detter excavates his subjects like an archeological dig, and Blackwell erects select images into diorama-like scenes, Russell abandons depiction to focus on form. Her books shred out in sculpted waves that seem to at once defile and release the text, as if blown out from the spine in a sudden organic bloom. [via Silent Storyteller]

Baths: Lovely Bloodflow

2010-08-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Lovely Bloodflow from BATHS on Vimeo.

Yelena Bryksenkova: Sketchbook

2010-08-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

St. Petersburg-born, Midwest-raised Yelena Bryksenkova creates storybook-style illustrations full of a certain folklore nostalgia. Her sketchbooks reveal a lush inner landscape brimming with musings, portraits, meals, notable fashion, historic figures, and the view out the window. They remind me of Maira Kalman's illustrations, both in aesthetic and theme, as they remodel everyday subjects into curious delights. Thank you for letting us be a part of your world, Yelena.

Vintage Radios

2010-08-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Emil Dudek (South Wales) runs the online index Vintage Technology, a website dedicated to chronicling antiquated calculators, clocks, radios, advertisements, ephemera, and general bric-a-brac — gorgeous! Check out the fabulous vintage calculators on Makezine.

Lee Price

2010-08-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

There is something plainly private about the photorealistic figure paintings of American artist Lee Price. Her subjects are all women, in varying degrees of dress, often in closed spaces, surrounded by food. The aerial vantage suggests secrecy, as if we the viewer are getting a privileged look inside the darker parts these women's lives.

Lee graduated from the Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

LEGO MoMA

2010-08-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

I love when art imitates art.

As an excuse to spend a little time on a Friday afternoon playing with Legos, we decided to whip up some pieces in [New York's] MoMA’s collection in Lego form.

A Quick Look at the Morton's Salt Girl

2010-08-23T14:58:00.001-07:00

I love seeing how logos evolve over time, especially when they're as iconic and illustrative as the Morton's Umbrella Girl. On par with the bare-cheeked Coppertone girl (1953), this little lassie has been a favorite for Halloween costumes, tattoos, and craft projects for decades. She got her start in 1914, and proceeded to update her image every 10 years on average — "Whenever we start to show our age, we do a little face lifting. Isn't that just like a woman?" reads a line from a 1968 advertisement. Uh, right, Mr. Morton.

I will say that the company has done a great job of preserving its logo's history. You can see a wonderful collection of vintage advertisements and read more about the Umbrella Girl evolution on their website. And I simply must add my own personal bid to the Morton Salt company: start selling "collector" canisters with the older logos (above)! Mugs are cool, but the real deal is even better. More classic logo goodness at Neatorama. When it rains, it pours.

Shinya Kimura: Zero-Style Bikes

2010-08-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

I just posted this over at CRAFT. Witness: the vintage craftsman glory of a man and his machine. Japanese-born custom motorcycle builder, Shinya Kimura, made a name for himself as founder of the shop Zero Engineering, where his streamlined aesthetic turned vintage bikes into a "no frills minimalistic" functional artistry known as Zero-style.

A Zero-style bike is typically based around a rigid gooseneck, a pre-1984 Harley Davidson engine, springer front end, spoked wheels and often includes parts of the bike remaining in bare metal. The inspiration came from wabi sabi (austere refinement) and the beauty of the raw materials and incorporating the essence of wa (harmony) into his designs.

Today, Kimura runs his own workshop, Chabott Engineering, in the California desert town of Azusa. Watch more Kimura videos here, and follow him on his blog.

Bodkin: Autumn/Winter Collection 2010

2010-08-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's just barely summer here in San Francisco, so I am in no way ready to recognize fall. Though for you, Bodkin, I will relinquish my grasp on this city's false sense of sun and welcome back the requisite warm knits and wool leggings that already fill my closet. A girl simply can't have enough chic comfort, and if I had any money at all I would thin 90% of my closet and make this collection my uniform, shoes included.

The Brooklynn-based Bodkin was founded in 2008 by one Eviana Hartman. The business focus is on sustainable designs, incorporating new technologies — such as post-consumer recycled polyester — with recycled and salvaged textiles, creating "transparency and a conscious and curious approach" to the brand.

Bea Szenfeld: Sur la Plage

2010-08-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Swedish fashion designer Bea Szenfeld's latest, Sur la Plage, is an extension of her 2006 Paper Dolls collection. In this latest work we find a dozen handmade paper costumes inspired by seaside folklore and ambiance -- water spirits and sea nymphs, the nets of fishermen, crashing waves, seaweed tangles, glimmering shoals, deep sea pearls, and shellfish clusters.

The compact cardboard is cut and folded into tiny architectural concoctions, which are assembled together by hand into incredible creations that lead your mind to Jules Vernes fictitious sea demons.

Photos by Ulrich Lofgren. [via Beautiful Decay]

The House of Stone: A Casa do Penedo

2010-08-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

The coziness factor is questionable, but the epic coolness meter is off the charts. This two-story hobbity dwelling — A Casa do Penedo, or "the House of Stone" — is impossibly carved out between giant stones in the Fafe Mountains in Portugal, replete with glass windows, fireplace, swimming pool, and shingled roof.

The house was built in 1974 as a family's rural retreat, but in recent years it has attracted the attention of tourists and architecture enthusiasts alike for being so perfectly integrated into its natural surroundings. Interest in the stone house has grown to the point that the current owner, Vitor Rodrigues, has had to move to find solace from the curious visitors.

Sadly, recent popularity and media attention has warranted safety measures such as the addition of bullet-proof glass and a steel door. More at Tree Hugger, where you can see a video taking you inside the house! [via Black Eiffel] Thanks, Candice, for the link.

A Thing For ... Inspiration, Concept, Color

2010-08-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

If you don't already know about Maritza Teodoro's inspired eye candy blog, A Thing For ..., you're in for a treat. These expertly curated mood boards combine subject, texture, and color in endlessly exciting ways, creating little pictorial vignettes that each capture a unique ambiance. I feel like I've just stepped out of the book, through the museum, into the wood, onto the Paris streets, and beyond the shore. Be sure to also check out her fashion blog, [design relevant].

Shane Waltener: Lace Webs

2010-08-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Many moons ago I found the above image in a Tumblr feed without any luck of locating the artist. Finally, Lovely Textiles has the answer: London artist Shane Waltener! This piece, Auntie Peggy Has Departed, is a great example of his body of work, utilizing lace doilies and audio as part of an installation focused on memory, place, and craft. Apart from these knitted web installations, Waltener also takes photographs and makes sculpture.

Deth P. Sun: Sketchbook

2010-08-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

Berkeley, CA., artist Deth P. Sun is one of those kids that has no doubt been doodling since conception. He was probably the extra quiet guy in the corner of class, head down, meticulously filling in the margins with a continuous brain dump of characters, words, and random compilations. I covet this sketchbook. I also (not so) secretly wish Deth did children's books for adults.

Deth is part of a group show, Look Alive, at Double Punch right now if you want to see some of his work in person. I also encourage you check out his food journal zine, The Various Things I Eat, and all his illustrative goodies on Etsy. On a personal note, Deth and I worked together ever so briefly at Utrecht in downtown San Francisco back in the day. My favorite moments were when Deth answered the phone:

"Thank you for calling Utrecht, this is Deth."

Design Space Series on Craftzine

2010-08-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let y'all know about the Design Space series on Craftzine. In honor of last month's theme, Design & Photography, Nat and I put together some fun Q+A profiles on four creative studios based in San Francisco — MINE, Sony Ericsson, Chronicle Books, and Volume Inc. Shown here are a few highlights from our adventures. The project was so much fun that I'm sure we'll be extending it to new faces and places in the future. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Big thanks to Christopher Simmons, George Arriola, Suzanne LaGasa, and Eric Heiman and Adam Brodsly.

Zhou Fan

2010-07-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

Chinese artist Zhou Fan creates, quite literally, the stuff of dreams.

"A series of my paintings are based on dreams that I had as a child of many many jellyfish floating in the sky, some of which fell to the ground on parachutes and became mushrooms ... Somehow I feel that it is easier to focus on dreams than reality."

Perhaps, then, it is no wonder that I am reminded of the intense sequences from Paprika. [via Magpie & Whiskeyjack]

Forage Bow Ties

2010-07-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Let me just start by saying that I am so bummed I did not get it together to go to the Forage pop-up opening at the Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco [stupid, stupid, kicks self]. The exclusive bow tie line was created by Shauna Alterio and Stephen Loidolt of Something's Hiding In Here. Each tie is handmade by the artists (with love, of course) and appears in 3 limited-edition styles: Arrowhead, Cricket, or Thistle.

The line was inspired by "the personal style of our favorite mid-century artists, designers and architects ... We're in love with three different silhouettes inspired by Louis Kahn, Charles Eames and le Corbusier. We spent weeks searching for the right collection of fabrics in classic patterns and sorbet colors — just right for summer! We're obsessed with the details ... well crafted with simple hardware, vintage french woven labels and the perfect box." It's true, the box is almost worth the price of admission, as are the postcards!

You can see some set-up pics at the Smarts & Crafts Flickr. And if you want to be looking dapper, best peruse your options (and quickly before they're gone!) here. To everyone involved in this project, you get on with your bad selves and keep up the good work!

French Paper Pop Ink Soap Packaging

2010-07-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

You know you do it. You buy the beer with the Coney Island mermaid, and the bubble bath with the 50's looking Dirty Girl. Maybe you buy them because there are boobies involved, but really you buy them because you'll keep the packaging after you're done with the product. Good packaging is perennial, and I am a huge fan of French Paper's Pop Ink soap packaging designed by the Minneapolis creative CSA Design. [via Lovely Package]

Vintage Sewing Pattern Goodness

2010-07-30T13:01:00.001-07:00

Here's a little eye candy for your Friday. I neither know how to sew nor draw fashion illustrations, but I am completely enamored with the elegant designs of vintage sewing patterns. Most of these are from the 50s, with a few hits from the bookending decades. See? High-waisted skirts are where it's at!

Filip Dujardin

2010-07-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Before he was a photographer, Belgian artist Filip Dujardin was an art history major who specialized in architecture. His affection for structures led him to create his own fictional assemblages, composed from his "photographs of nondescript, often post-modern buildings" by reremixing them "using Photoshop to create strange hybrids. The results may be fantastical, but could never be described as whimsical."

Every montage, says Dujardin, is one project. It begins with an idea for a specific image. Often he starts off by building a model of the form he is trying to achieve – at first in cardboard, but he has recently discovered SketchUp. He then goes on a photo safari, often just around the corner, to find suitable buildings "with a lot of the same things," so that they can be cut and pasted and serve as building material. In fact most of the fictional structures are buildings in Ghent, just resampled. —Mark Magazine

You can read more at BLDG BLOG and I Love Belgium. Dujardin also has a book out, Beyond Architecture: Imaginative Buildings and Fictional Cities.

Sergey Loie

2010-07-14T22:10:00.001-07:00

Since I recently mined his images for my own pursuits, I thought it only fair to post on amazing Russian photographer Sergey Loie. I stumbled upon the above woman with milk jar shot while doing a random image search on Google [felinofelice]. I was immediately arrested, tunneling into the dubdubdub tronscape. Milk bears prominently in Loie's captures, as do children, bald heads, and anti-gravity. Some of the more overtly posed shots lean toward the occult, and not, in my mind, to great effect. But the simple poses, those that present almost as portraiture — caught between Andrew Wyeth's Helga Pictures and the Brothers Grimm — are nostalgic while still being contemporary, redolent of what Hemingway must have felt reading the Russians during a Paris winter. You can see more on his flickr.

And you can see my photoshop collage below, created for my latest sad cowgirl folk mix CD. The title is from a Dawn Landes lyric that appears on the album.

Alexis Anne Mackenzie

2010-07-13T16:18:00.001-07:00

San Francisco artist Alexis Anne Mackenzie aptly calls herself a "paper surgeon." All of her work is done by hand, painstakingly clipped from collected books and artfully assembled, customarily to spell visually enigmatic words or phrases. One can decipher these messages simply by reading the titles, though of course this spoils the fun — Youthless, This Isn't What It Looks Likes, Slow Dance, Never Be Sad, It Matters to Me.

Technically they are collages, but I've never enjoyed describing them in those terms ... I feel like there is a general concept out there of what collage is and tends to look like, which doesn't apply to what I do at all. My general intent, throughout all my work, is to portray the world as a flawed thing of beauty — a place that shines brightly, but has a dark side to match.

You can read an interview at Fecal Face, and learn more at The Beholder. For more collage(esque) goodness — and happily there is a lot of it! — check out her blog, Cocoon Balloon, and her flickr. I hope to meet you one day in SF, Alexis!

Maurizio Bongiovanni

2010-07-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

A few selects from a fantastic series by Spanish artist Maurizio Bongiovanni. Oil on canvas. [via Koi Koi Koi]

Be Cycle & Fashion: Custom Bikes for Charity

2010-07-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

Twelve fixed gears + twelve great names in fashion and design = art for a cause. Introducing, Be Cycle, a customization project whose proceeds will benefit ACT Responsible, a non profit dedicated to promoting environmental and social causes.

As a cult object and symbol of a responsible attitude, cycling made its comeback in many major cities. Very likely, it became the flagship of the new eco-committed generation. Meanwhile, fashion, luxury and design have established a real dialogue for several years with the creative and sustainable development, turning it more attractive.

The designers are as follows: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Ylan Anoufa, Antik Batik, Karim Bonnet, François Duris, Marithé et François Girbaud, Elieux by Kaori Ito, Jean-Claude Jitrois, Jérome L’huillier, Swarovski by On aura tout vu, Kenzo Takada. You can read more details at One Heart Channel, and if you speak French, check out the making of videos. See a complete photo gallery here. [Thanks, David!]

Steven Meisels: Patterns for Vogue Italia

2010-07-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Legendary fashion photographer Steven Meisel created these jaw-dropping eye orgasms for the 'Patterns' editorial in an '07 edition of Vogue Italia. More here and here. [via Look In Art]

AT-AT Day Afternoon

2010-07-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

AT-AT day afternoon from Patrick Boivin on Vimeo.

Happy start of summer!

Tilles Singer: Skateboardanimation

2010-06-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Skateboardanimation from Tilles Singer on Vimeo.

Lots of awesome videos this month. I am so pleased to share Tilles Singer's papercraft video, Skateboardanimation composed from "a ton of digital photos, a ton of real life magazines, [and] an hour of recording music". The sound is spot-on, and the imagined landscape of books and flora and paper scraps takes on life-size proportions with familiar wonder. [via Becky at Craftzine]

Shout Out to Charley Harper: One With the Birds

2010-06-29T12:29:00.001-07:00

I was drawing birds a couple weekends ago and thought I'd give a shout out to American illustrator Charley Harper (1922-2007). Harper is best known for his highly stylized nature drawings, full of elegant geometry and bold portions of color that capture the remarkable personalities of so many feathered friends. When asked to describe his visual style, Charley responded:

When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don't see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures.

The above images are from a series created for Ford Times between 1954 and 1956. You can see more here. And if you're in Cincinnati you can see the Ford Times covers in person until September 5, 2010!

Lissy Laricchia: Get Back In Your Book

2010-06-28T12:15:00.001-07:00

Canadian photographer Lissy Laricchia is making my Monday with these fantastical shots of various fictional characters getting sucked back into their literary origins. Can you guess who's who? Here's a hint, from the top down: she's getting back to her French origins; she's a Darling; she was born to Muggles; she just might speak Jabberwocky! [via Design Porn]

This is Japan!

2010-06-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

This is Japan! from Eric Testroete on Vimeo.

You might remember Eric Testroete from his 3D paper geosphere self portrait. Now witness: this glorious video made from photo stills taken during his 3-week trip to Japan in 2008. If you didn't already have a deep desire to travel East, this will make you wish the other side of the globe was a lot closer. [Thanks, David, for the link]

Keegan Meegan Press & Bindery

2010-06-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Keegan Meegan Press & Bindery from :::MAGNETIC ARCHIVES:: on Vimeo.

I have something magical for you today — business cards being printed on a 1920's press. Mesmerizing. It's been a long 2 weeks, full of new information and problem solving. We discovered our beautiful hound mutt, Townes, has epilepsy. Watching him suffer through a series of seizures creates pause on thoughts of motion — fluid vs. spasmodic, rhythmic vs. arrhythmic — and the level of consciousness involved in making deliberate vs. involuntary movements. I won't belabor a juxtaposition, but suffice it to say this stunning (and I use the word to its full effect) video is itself a meditation on harmonious motion. The music [Do Make Say Think] pairs perfectly to the synchronized workings between man and machine. Watching Wenkman's measured hand load paper in time to the press as the counter clicks onward and the gears orbit ... is trancelike.

KeeganMeegan Press & Bindery in Portland, Or. was co-founded by Katy Meegan and Keegan Wenkman in 2007, and is best known for its hand-illustrated letterpress work. They also do design, bookbinding, and silkscreening. Be sure to check out Wenkman's illustrations at One Foot In Front (below).

Natalie Purschwitz: Makeshift Project

2010-06-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

Almost 11 months ago, Natalie Purschwitz made her first pair of shoes out of leather and wood — "a rudimentary beginning" to a tremendous undertaking. Her self-made challenge, now 9 months underway, is a venture called Makeshift. Starting September 1, 2009, Purschwitz — an award-winning clothing designer and the founder of Vancouver-based Hunt & Gather — would only wear clothing she had made herself for one whole year.

"Initially this may seem like a reasonable task," she writes "but it will include all of my clothes, socks, shoes, underwear, coats, jackets, hats, bathing suits, accessories and anything else I might need to protect my body from the elements while trying to lead a fulfilling life."

As she set out, prototyping blouses and cutting out what would be sunglasses, Purschwitz was confronted with questions regarding the "rules" to her endeavor. Which materials were allowed? Did she have to make those too? What about accessories?

"As a simple starting point I will say that my wardrobe will consist of anything made by me from either new or used materials. Materials can be reused but just altering something doesn't count.

Rule 1. My entire wardrobe will be made by me out of new or used materials.
Rule 2. I don't have to make my materials, however, I will aspire to do so whenever possible."

Thankfully, she has allowed herself a few exceptions, including tools and eyeglass lens. Her success, and her challenges, have been recorded for 272 days and counting. Purschwitz is generous in her accounts, detailing techniques and materials that chronicle the rigorous practice of making. Though she is a fashion designer, it has taken an enormous concentration of energy, creativity, and determination to complete such a demanding and personal task. I'm hoping for some kind of catalog at the end of this, where we can see not only the daily shots but each and every piece she created for the project. Go Natalie!

Check out the "Makeshift Store," the Surprise! Surprise! Program. Read more on the Makeshift project here, and more on Purschwitz here and here.

Jennifer Cecere: Giant Doilies & Mandalas

2010-06-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

I found New York artist Jennifer Cecere through one of Abigail Doan's blogs, ECCO*ECO. Her giant Doilies are arresting and demand investigation. Made from ripstop nylon and acrylic, these delicate behemoths range in size from 4' to 20' and suggest a range of familiar images, from giant spiderwebs to dreamcatchers to snowflakes. In one artist's statement, Cecere says:

I see Doilies hanging between office buildings, off bridges, over construction sites transversing spaces indoors and out, growing from the ground-up, occupying urban spaces, parks, fields, mountains, museums, sports stadiums and anywhere you might not expect to see a giant Doily.  I was inspired about taking something intimate and handmade and making it into something large and public. Cities need Doilies!

[You can see the above right Doilie as part of The Ins and The Out s at Rockland Center for the Arts in New York, on view through June 13, 2010]

The Mandalas series, similar to the Doilies in form and composition, are created using fabric, watercolor, lace, and acrylic applied through modified pastry tubes.

"Mandalas" began with images recalled from childhood fables and fairy tales.They grew to occupy the space between art and craft, with references to traditional women's handicrafts, drawing attention to overlooked artisan work. They forge a connection between Western and non-Western art forms.

Having grown up deeply in love with my coloring book of Turkish Designs (which I still have, unmarred), I am mesmerized by Cecere's elaborate, sonorous layering. You can see more images on her Flickr.

Abigail Doan: Fiber Forms

2010-06-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

You've got to love the rabbit hole of the WWW. I was admiring Design Sponge's post on Yelena Bryksenkova and became increasingly enamored with her drawings of lace. (I've always loved methodical detail drawing.) This prompted a query: I wonder how many people are out there, quietly whiling the hours drawing lace? So I googled "Lace Drawing" and started poking around and found an image that led me to the blog of Abigail Doan. STUNNED. Though not drawings, Doan's work does have a 3D illustrative quality. Her Fiber Forms are simply exquisite, connoting underwater sea creatures and, at times, amoebic life. The New York artist also does installation, both in and out of doors (below). Sort of like a feminine Goldsworthy.

Fine Little Day: Wooden Spoons

2010-06-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

I love everything Elisabeth does, but these wonderfully fanciful wooden spoons caught my eye today. What a great idea for repurposing old kitchen wares, and easy to do with kids too! (The painting part, not the carving.) Made me think of heading to the thrift store tomorrow to see if they have any lying about.

Bee Abodes

2010-05-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

I'm confident this has made its way about the blog circuit by now; I meant to post it ages ago. Even so, the story fits nicely into a few previous posts — Hubert Duprat's Trichopteran Integuments, Decapod Domicile — and included an Aha! moment for me. These amazing photos are of tiny bee nests, made by a particular kind of solitary bee, Osmia avosetta, who builds a single cocoon for each of its eggs. The findings occurred almost simultaneously in both Turkey and Iran, and I have not been able to confirm that any other kind of bee makes a nest similar to this or in any other part of the world.

But while hiking in Northern California at the Marin Watershed 2 months ago I found these mysterious dwellings (above) under the trees alongside the lake. The photos aren't fantastic, but these thumb-sized nests were made from pine needles, moss, dirt, and some kind of binder, presumably from the insect architect. Once you started looking they were everywhere ... what had made them? There were no signs of life, so it appeared that whatever was living in them had already vacated. They were just large enough to stick a finger in, so I imagine the inhabitant(s) must have been about the same circumference. After reading this article I thought, Maybe a bee! as there are many ground-nesting bee species. I'd love to learn what made these cocoons. If you have any knowledge of this at all, I'd be super excited to hear about it. [Thanks, Ginny, for forwarded me the NPR link!]

Poppy(shop) June 4-6!

2010-05-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

It is my distinct pleasure to (help) announce the upcoming, up and coming, pop up shop, Poppyshop! which boasts "a mix of vintage and handmade finds, new and mid-century furniture, art and home accessories". The first run will be in Oakland CA in less than 10 days, and will include paintings from Alison Kendall, furniture from Thomas Wold, works by Marina Luz, and felted housewares from Papaver Vert, among many others. Hello lover!

Come check it out Friday through Sunday, June 4-6, from 11am-6pm @ 3217 Lakeshore Ave in Oakland. In the meantime you can find them on Facebook. I believe this store will be a nice segue to Indie Mart on Sunday.

Doors and Windows, by Ewa's Oceans

2010-05-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

Loving the boost of texture, adornment, and earthy color inspiration this Friday with Doors and Windows, by Warsaw photographer Ewa's Oceans. [Thanks, Candice, for the link!]

Arielle de Pinto: Crochet Jewelry

2010-05-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Canadian artist Arielle de Pinto treats metal like fiber and crochets fantastical sheaths and adornments, sui generis. A graduate of Concordia University, de Pinto developed her unique technique over the course of her studies in textiles. She launched a line in 2007, the same year she graduated, and has been a regular participant in New York and Paris fashion weeks. Her collection of hand-worked jewelry is presented by select specialty stores internationally.

Read the Cool Hunting interview here. [via Ambit]

Maker Faire Bay Area 2010: Ready, Set ...

2010-05-12T22:26:00.001-07:00

Every year my life gets colonized for one week in May, during which 80,000 people swarm out to partake in a single event comprised of several thousand happenings. There have been many phrases and comparisons used to describe Maker Faire — "equal parts science and art, with hints of Burning Man" (San Jose Mercury News, 5/30/09), and our own tagline, "The World's Largest DIY Festival" — but somehow none of them quite sum up the whole of the parts. My dad overheard this gem last year: "This taps into something primal — so much more than geek-appeal." It's true. While we may fly our geek flag high, this isn't about one social bracket, it's about catalysts. It's about bringing potentially disparate groups together and seeing what happens in the name of exploration, creative endeavor, science, and pleasure. That's right, pleasure. AKA fun! The joy of learning something new, or sharing what you already know. I could go on and on, but I think it's best if you see it for yourself.

Maker Faire Bay Area 2010 will be happening, as usual, at the San Mateo County Event Center, May 22 and 23rd. There will be 2 other Faires happening this year, one in Detroit on July 31 and August 1, 2010 at the Henry Ford. And World Maker Faire in Queens NY, September 25 and 26, at the New York Hall of Science.

I will be working Maker Check In 24/7, so don't be shy, please stop by and say hi! And feel free to bring with you life-giving fluids (aka beer and coffee).

You can read about a number of our featured Makers on both the blogs, makezine.com and craftzine.com. Here are a few links, compliments of Goli:
Flaming Lotus Girls SOMA
SolarPump Electric Charging Station
Interview with the Raygun Gothic Rocketship crew

All photos by Will Wilson, from the set How Will YOU Make the Future?

Susie Cowie Embroidery

2010-05-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

Not before today have I ever encountered the term "Freelance Embroidery Designer." But there it is, running out behind the name of one London-based Susie Cowie like so much colorful floss. Graduated with honors from the Glasgow School of Art in 2006, Cowie's body of work includes fashion and interior concepts, costume and prop pieces, plus illustrative embroidery. She has produced work for the likes of Margaret Howell, Anthropologie, Victorias Secret, and Calvin Klein ... and yet when I look at her pieces I can't imagine how a style so incredibly ethereal could ever be made mainstream. All I can think of is how to say the word Love in 20 different languages. Amour, kærlighed, liefde, kärlek, liebe ...

Tommy of This Is Naive has put together the most incredible artist profile on Cowie, replete with gorgeous photos, interesting tidbits, inspiration bulletins, even a DIY on how to make Cowie's favorite snack. All the photos seen here are from the post. [via All the Mountains]

Design Notebook: Nature Textures Library

2010-05-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hello all. I wanted to share with you my new column for CRAFT, Design Notebook. I (finally) wrote my first post this week, on creating your own textures library. I've included an excerpt here on TT, and you can check out the post in its entirety on the CRAFT blog. I've included some select shots from this project — please feel free to grab them for your own use, copyright free!

As a designer, I have a great love as well as a professional need for visual lexicons. Type faces, illustration, ephemera, old signage — you name it, I collect it. Textures are no different. It's not infrequent that a texture is needed for a design project, and what better way to amass a royalty-free collection than to generate it yourself!

In this post I will address some basic tips for finding and capturing textures with your digital camera, and share with you some selects from my nature texture library. All of these photos were taken while hiking in the beautiful regional parks of Northern California. They are free for you to grab and use however you want — have fun!

In the next post, I will go over how to zoom waaaaaay in on your photos to create a specific color pallet from individual pixels using imaging software. Stay tuned!

A special note of thanks. This project was inspired by Bay Area artist Matthew Jervis, who has been taking amazing texture shots and open sourcing them in a Facebook album. Super sweet idea! You can find more on Jervis at Kulture Hero.

Raoul Ollman: Daily Shot

2010-05-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

I've really been enjoying Bay Area artist Raoul Ollman's Daily Shot album on Facebook. With a gentle pinhole effect and moody pallet, Ollman captures a certain crepuscular character.

WE DREAM OF A RAIN that, in lieu of falling, moves parallel to the earth. Sheet after sheet of rain. Then an upward rain that originates a few feet off the ground. You can get under the rain and watch. With the disappearance of public space, we dream a rain that's moved indoors. A miniaturized rain restricted to one room, one wall, a box. Then we dream of snow.
—Ben Lerner, Angle of Yaw

Luren Jenison: Custom Decoration

2010-05-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Luren Jenison: Custom Decoration is what the website says, and sure enough, that's what you find. I'm completely in love with these installation works, especially the hand-dyed ropes for Free People, the muk-luk inspired stencil painted wall, and the wax paper flower garlands for a wedding at F.U.E.L. I also loved looking at her Earth From Space inspiration Tumblr — mucho eye candy. [via Bird and Banner]

The Cover Archives

2010-05-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

Even before I knew what graphic design was, I was entirely certain I wanted something to do with the creation of book covers. I remember reading my mom's old copies of the Oz series as a child, relishing the pressed red letters of "Ozma" over mustard yellow cloth binding, the enchanting illustrations of John R. Neil glued to front covers. L. Frank Baum's children's tales were published in the first and second decades of the 20th century by The Reilly & Lee Co. in Chicago. The illustrations were most likely created using multi-tone lithography and resonated with the Art Nouveau style that was so popular at the time.

Naturally, as times and printing methods changed so did cover designs. I have developed a deep fondness for book covers through the ages — from Tschichold's iconic Penguin paperbacks of the late 1940s (a revision of Edward Young's original three panel cover design) to the contemporary greats like Chip Kidd, Barbara deWilde, and Rodrigo Corral. I love them for their boldness, for their exquisite typography, their visual syntax, for their dreamy photos and tampered illos, cultural signifiers and historic revelry. Perhaps you, like I, go to book stores to browse only the covers, not the content ... or recognize a certain publication left out at a dinner party by the cover artist. For shame!

In any case, if you want to get your cover design on, here are 2 fabulous sites. Alexander S. Budnitz has an incredible cover archive, chronicled by date and searchable by designer. And Ben Pieratt of General Projects and Eric Jacobsen of Whisky Van Gogh Go edit and maintain the Book Cover Archive (For the Purpose of Appreciation and Categorization), which has a more versatile search capacity in addition to fabulous resources like designer portfolio sites and other book cover obsessed links. I'm quite sure there are more sites like this, and I'd love to know about them so don't be shy, do write in. In the meantime, I'm pretty happy poking around these two. I hope you enjoy them as well, and stay tuned for a future post on the Oz series just as soon as a get a chance to fire up the scanner.

You can see part of my own cover collection here on TT in a two-part series, Lovely Books I and Lovely Books II. Enjoy!

Rennes le Château

2010-05-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

Julie's "favorite materials" list begins with zakka and ends with leather. In poking around further I discovered that she is physically attracted to her sewing machine, and so nerdy she actually changed her name to Jaina (after her favorite Star Wars character) for most of her life. Oh, and she runs this little homespun project called Rennes out of her live-in studio in Boston. All her garments and bags are made by hand. Need I say more? Well, I will say that I am greatly reminded of Longchamp's Le Pliage series, and this is a high compliment. My second mom brought me back a Longchamp from Paris a few years back and we have been inseparable ever since.

You can read Julie's Featured Seller interview on Etsy, which I highly recommend, check out her shop profile here, and peruse her blog here.

Sweet Type from I Love Dust

2010-05-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

I Love Dust is an enviable design house out of the UK that tackles a multitude of disciplines, but it was their killer type that got me going. Yes, it's pretty corporate. And yes, it's hott. That 3D woodblock thing they have going on .... le sigh. [via Design Work Life]

Jack Ambridge: Little Lands

2010-05-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

Some tilt-shift love from UK photographer Jack Ambridge. David's new digital Olympus Pen E-PL1 has a "diorama" setting that effectively gives you a tilt-shift effect. I can't wait to start using it! [via Design Work Life]

Adam Wallacavage: Octopus Chandeliers

2010-04-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

I just posted this on CRAFT, my happy find of the week! While perusing the BellJar blog yesterday I came across these enchanting cephalopod chandeliers by Adam Wallacavage, a Philadelphia artist who made his start photographing for skate magazines like Thrasher. The chandeliers were born of a maritime infatuation, and sport awesome names such as Miss Fede, Dixie LaRue, and Fenicologia.

"Inspired by an obsession with the ocean and a fascination with extravagant interiors of old churches, Adam transformed the dining room of his South Philadelphia Victorian Brownstone into something from the pages of a Jules Verne novel. Teaching himself the ancient art of ornamental plastering, Adam evolved his new found skills into making plaster cast octopus shaped chandeliers as the final touch to his underwater themed room."

Adam also keeps a photo and finds blog, Monster Sized Monsters, and has a book out of the same name at Ginko Press. You can find more of his work at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. And, for what it's worth, I emailed Adam to get some pics and he wrote me right back and was very helpful. It's entirely exhilarating to encounter a professional in the true sense of the word. You rock, Adam!

Surprise Art Box: Strigiformes, Stage III

2010-04-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

So the show was a success! SABP took over SOM bar in the Mission for 3 hours last Saturday afternoon and we had a really great time. There were fewer than expected artists, a tribute to the fact that everyone is so busy these days. But even so, we filled out the space quite nicely. To date I only have 2 of my 20 pieces left. The rest have found happy homes and I am thrilled.

I wanted to follow up on the painting process. Last post I wrote, only the 6 original watercolors and 20 transfers had been completed. All my small panels had been embellished with black and white owls. While these looked fairly cool, they did not feel complete to me and so I began adding color, something I was hesitant to do. At first I merely painted solid colors around the transfers. But then I began to do light washes over the owls and saw their features change and differentiate into truly individual personas. This was rewarding, creating new characters out of the same basic prints. Upon advice I started pairing up the owl prints and doing doubles on a single canvas. The more things I tried the freer I felt, and by the end I wished I had another 20 panels to paint.

For me, the greatest part of this process, start to finish, was having to let go of the outcome. That probably sounds trite, but as anyone undergoing a creative venture knows, where you start and where you end never match, and it's the challenges you're obliged to adapt to that make it great. I had starting this project wanted to do a new kind of image-making, and I think I achieved that. But I had also wanted to leave my controlled brush and penchant for color behind, creating spectral images that played lower notes. I could not accomplish this, and I can't say why. I hope in the future to better abandon instinct and explore new visual territory. That to me seems the mark of a growing artist. The ability to leave all past work behind and tackle something truly unknown. Regardless, I achieved my primary goal: fun. This was a great deal of FUN. And I got the paints out for the first time in a long time, and it felt great, and I think the series turned out wonderfully.

Surprise Art Box 03 will happen in September 2010. I have already started my next series. There is something so wonderful about the size and the price point — a winning combination for sure! Give me a large blank canvas and I panic. Give me 20 tiny canvases and I swoon. Next up, bugs!

Behind the Scenes, Photographing Flowers

2010-04-29T11:05:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note of appreciation for the 'rents. There's nothing like blogging to bring the family together! I must have taken well over a hundred shots for Claire's How-To Flower post. And at the end of the day, when the light was fading and we were still experimenting with composition, my dad ran to the garage to get some natural spectrum track lights he just so happened to have. We were able to keep shooting and tweaking until the light was too far gone and the shadows were too prominent. You can see here (below) some of the issues we were dealing with — too top-lit, too many cast shadows, too blown out. All good lessons in image capture. Thanks guys, for all your hard work and dedication!

5 Tips For Getting the Most Out of Cut Flowers

2010-04-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm super excited to introduce Claire Lee, my fabulous second mom. She's been putting together some excellent projects for CRAFT, most recently for their gardening theme, Bloom. Claire shared her tips and tricks for how to choose the best blooms, prep and care for your flowers, and put together playful arrangements. Make cut flowers a part of your day! Here's how to extend the life of your blooms.

When flowers are fully open, they are already at peak. Consider purchasing them when they are still in tight buds or just beginning to show color. I went to the supermarket after work and did not have much luck finding ideal flowers. You can see here (above) that most of the blooms were already way too open and displayed outdoors, subject to sun and wind.

I went inside the store and above are two examples of the tightest flower heads I could find. I would have preferred even tighter buds, but sometimes you make do with what there is unless you have the time to try another market. As you select, check the condition of the flower buds, stems and leaves. Eventually I settled on some hydrangea, ranunculus, and oriental lilies. With lilies, especially white ones, carefully check the buds for signs of bruising (bottom left). And be wary of those that have already opened, as the petals are easier to damage as you get them home and the pollen may have stained the bloom inside (bottom right). Be sure to remove pollen as the lilies open.

You want to see good substance -- no parched or bruised buds, no yellow where there should be green, the leaves closest to the flower in good shape, and no squashed or slimy stems. Robust stems not only do a better job of conducting water to the bloom but also have enough strength to support the weight of the flower head once it opens. Just as with any other produce, fresh is best.

How blooms are transported to the market, stored and displayed impacts bloom life. You do not want to see water on the flower heads, or caught between the stems, or inside the plastic sleeve on your bunch of blooms. This causes rot. You may not see the rot until you get home and open the bunch or find that your roses develop brown spots a day or two after purchase.

Let your flowers open in the protected environment of your home where you can enjoy the daily transformation of blooming. Tulips, my personal favorites, actually grow another 4 to 6 inches in the vase, and you will see this happen if you buy them "green".

Once home, prepare your vase, cutting utensil, and water. Make sure they are clean. Bacteria are the enemy and you want to minimize build-up. I use a dedicated pair of sharp scissors that I run through the dishwasher after use.

Fill your vase with enough clean water to cover the bottom half of the stems. Room temperature is fine for most flowers. There are a variety of water cocktails touted as extenders of bloom life. Commercial flower food works because it contains a combination of sugars, acidifiers, and mild fungicide. I have not seen research evidence that pennies, aspirin, lemon and lime soda, or vodka are effective. I just use clean water and simply change the water each day, giving the vase and tips of the stems a good rinse.

Prepping flowers takes time but rewards you with vase life. As the Little Prince said, "It's the time you spend with your rose that makes it so important."

Remove any damaged parts, making the smallest and cleanest cuts. This will minimize the amount of energy the above-water stem will spend sealing off loss of moisture, and reduce the below-water stem's exposure to bacteria. Remove any dirt. Remove any flowers and leaves below the water line. If you like the look of foliage in water, you can let the leaves remain and remove them when they begin to deteriorate.

Using your sheers or scissors, make 2 cuts to the stem. First, cut the tips on a diagonal. Then make a second cut up through the center of the stem. For roses and hydrangeas, I often cut 2 or more inches up the center of the stem, cutting through the first or even second nodule. Think of this as maximizing the surface by which the stem uptakes water. Hydration is the key to extending flower life. Place the bloom in water right away. Some florists advise making cuts under water to avoid the "gasp" effect whereby the flower uptakes a little bubble of clogging air at incision. I haven't found this to be problematic.

I like to use odd numbers of flowers, and often mix contrasting colors. If you have a weaker stem (like with some ranunculus) consider using a billowy bloom as a base, such as hydrangea. You can even arrange in hand, passing the smaller flowers through your support bloom to create a balanced presentation. When you're finished, cut all the tips to the same length, making sure to make both diagonal and vertical cuts, and finish arranging in a vase.

See what pleases you. Combine bought flowers with garden finds. Make the most of just one bloom, or mass many blooms together. Have fresh herbs around? Try parsley, basil, or thyme as foliage. How about Thai basil as your purple? Experiment!

Next time you pass a garage sale or a thrift shop, look for containers. Hunt around in your kitchen or your office. An interesting can or paper cylinder will house a glass or plastic cup of flowers. Consider the simple beauty of jam jars. Think of flowers and container in combination -- whimsical, unexpected, or sophisticated.

Once you have settled on your arrangement, check the water level at least every other day and replenish or change the water as necessary. Remove any deteriorating foliage. Trim the stems if they get mushy. I just change the water daily, giving vase and stem tips a rinse while I am at it.

Flowers do not age as fast if displayed in a cool, draft-free place away from direct sunlight. A single bloom on your bathroom sink will start your day with cheer. A flower or two on your entry table will greet you when you step in the door. A vase of flowers in the room that you haven't had time to straighten up will provide a little oasis for your eyes.

Whether your arrangements are spots of color and joy, a way to bring nature indoors, or a meditation on the ephemeral, flowers are a gift to the self and others. They invite you to contemplate beauty and make it part of your day.

ROSES: With rose selection, gently pinch the buds looking for firmness. Rock hard, they may have been stored too cold and will not open. Too soft and they will open very quickly, the petals prone to drooping.

DAHLIAS: As with any hollow stemmed blooms, invert the flower and fill the stem with water, trying to keep the flower head from getting wet. Seal with your thumb and place into a vase of water before releasing your thumb so that the water pressure keeps the stem fully filled.

HYDRANGEAS: Keep the woody growth on the stem length. Water uptake is better through the older stem growth.

POPPIES: As with any blooms that exude a milky substance, char the stem over a candle flame or dip the tip of the stem in very hot water before placing in the arrangement.

BULB FLOWERS: If you can get these with the bulb still attached, they will last much longer. Just clean the bulb, cut away any damaged roots and change the water at least every two days.

About the Author

Claire Lee is an artist and crafter, a mother to five (now adult) children, and a university administrator. She shares a love of art, music and books with her husband in their home near San Francisco -- and Paris remains a state of soul after having lived there for half of her adult life.

Molly Hatch Ceramics

2010-04-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ceramicist Molly Hatch grew up in close connection with nature and the practice of making: "My childhood was spent on an organic dairy farm in southern VT and a Quaker community in central VT. My love of ceramics comes from a family history of using our hands to make objects for use and contemplation. In my ceramic work, I aim to keep the family tradition of making the things we need and things we desire. I aim to design new objects and redesign old objects in the hope that the folks using my work will begin to see art in the everyday."

Hatch's style is unified but seems to draws from a number of world sources — there's a little bit of Delft flair, and references to traditional Turkish pottery illustration. Her newer floral work screams everything I look for in the thrift store for my disparate ceramic plate collection. And I just love the frames she's created to display her pieces, as if the wall was an extension of the art. If you're in the Bay Area this Saturday, April 24th, swing by LOLA in Berkeley to catch a glimpse of her new show. Be sure to take a look at her blog, and her Etsy, which is due to reopen sometime this spring. Check back if you're interested in placing orders! [via Design Sponge]

Ana Kraš

2010-04-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

Serbian designer Ana Kraš has created a wonderful body of furnishings that includes lamps, chairs, side tables, and a clothing rack. Her designs contemplate how we use the functional objects in our home, and bring the handmade and well-crafted front and center. My personal favorites include the Ksilofon, a simple construction clothing rack of understated elegance that blatantly thumbs fellow contemporaries of the ersatz plastic variety, and the Bonbon lamp series comprised of colorful yarns manually knitted over steel wire frames. Kraš most recently showed at this year's Salone Satellite, part of the Milan furniture fair dedicated to new and emerging designers. [via Design Klub]

Eyjafjallajökull

2010-04-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

Social media has the rather wonderful role of global communion in instances of shared spectacle, atrocity, or natural disaster, be it ex-Guantanamo guards finding ex-prisoners on Facebook to apologize or, in this case, people posting amazing shots on Flickr of an Icelandic volcano stirring beneath a glacier. The world has been watching for days now as Eyjafjallajökull continues with the latest in a series of grumblings which began in December of 2009, this being the second eruption, this first to occur beneath glacial ice. This gallery was curated by Yahoo! Editors' Picks from various personal sets and satellite photos.

The Bicycle Safari

2010-04-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Lawrence Lund runs the Swedish blog The Bicycle Safari, where he archives interesting cycle and ephemera finds on the street — custom bells, creative reflectors, homemade hacks, decals, logos, even neglect. I am particularly in love with the old worn badges displayed on the front fork, made even more beautiful by rust and weather. [via Notcot]

Fly Arts Group: Interior Design Typography

2010-04-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

I found this on Design Work Life this morning and couldn't resist the repost. Witness: these incredible 3D letterforms in miniature, made by Russian design company Fly Arts. Unfortunately, the group's website seems to be down, and so it's been difficult tracking the making of this project, but you can see more photos here. The longer you look the more you find. Mind blowing!

David Tomb: Borderland Birds

2010-04-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

It's no secret, San Francisco artist and twitcher David Tomb has a thing for the winged, bipedal, endothermic, egg-laying, tetrapod vertebrate class, Aves. When asked, "Why birds?" Tomb replies "Well, birds are the bees’ knees! They can fly and they are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs. What else do you want?" and then goes on to describe a gothic memory from childhood involving vultures sunning their wings.

There is something about this image, and the nature of lore as engendered by memory, that faithfully describes Tomb's quality of painting. His watercolors are true to their ephemeral nature, the birds often poised in limbo, pending, the visible pencil sketch below urging gesture. Tomb is a studious form seeker, combing field research, live bird drawing (an admirable trait for such a kinetic subject), and sketching from real deal stills. His haunts outside the field include the California Academy of Sciences, UC Berkeley, and the Los Angeles Natural History Museum.

The show at Electric Works opens tomorrow, Friday April 16th, and will include both works on paper and installation inspired from birding trips to the Southwest and Mexico -- the "borderland". His winged subjects include the Montezuma Quail, Aztec Thrush, Aplomado Falcon and the racoon-like coati. Read the interview by Sona Avakian in its entirety at The Examiner. Take a tour of the artist's converted police station home and studio at Apartment Therapy (simply stunning). And I'll see you tomorrow!

Barbara Holmes: Lattice Works

2010-04-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

Every year, the San Francisco City Dump selects 2 local Bay Area career artists for its coveted Recology Artist in Residence program. If chosen, the artists are provided a stipend and work on site, combing 44 acres of recycling facilities and public disposal areas — aka the Transfer Station, aka the dump — searching for materials to make art from. At the end of the residency the dump holds a reception, and the results are almost always intriguing. From trash to treasures! To date, my favorite work has come from Barbara Holmes, a woodworker, sculptor, and teacher who used her time to make, among other things, these intricate geometric forms using reclaimed lattice. There is something magical that happens in the tonal gaps where the wood once crossed over itself. Be sure to check out her blog, re(f)use, where she documented her process and the show.

Julianna Swaney: Oh My Cavalier

2010-04-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

I first saw Portland artist Julianna Swaney's Foundling fox illustration on Shiny Squirrel in 2009. I couldn't stop staring at the upright beast, as if he had just walked out of a children's book. Swaney was trained a printmaker but works mostly in pencil and watercolor. You can find her work chronicled beautiful on her drawing blog, Oh My Cavalier, in addition to an online gallery and shop of the same name. She also logs her inspirations on Rare Bird, and shares an antique paper scrap collection on her ephemera blog (!!!), Ephemeratopia. Is there nothing this woman does not do, and do beautifully? Did I mention there are handmade brooches? *Swoon*

Rachel Sussman: The Oldest Living Things in the World

2010-04-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

For the past 5 years, Rachel Sussman's mission has been clear, if demanding: find and photograph The Oldest Living Things in the World — continuously living organisms 2,000 years old or older. The Brooklyn photographer calls this unique catalog "part art, part science, part philosophy," and is the first project in either the arts or sciences to index things according to longevity in this way. Her subjects include the Bristlecone Pine and Giant Sequoias, predatory fungus, ancient bacteria, ocean-dwelling corals, and a clonal colony of all-male, supposedly immortal Aspen trees.

As you might guess, this project is no small feat, requiring extensive travel, lots of gear, and the help of specialists. But right now, you too can lend a hand! To date, Sussman has found and documented 25 different species. To succeed in turning this project into a book, she'll need 10 more in the next 79 days. Watch the video, learn more, and donate at her Kickstarter site. Be sure to check out her blog as well. [Thanks, Ali, for the link!]

DIY Home Decor from Ruche

2010-04-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Throw open the shutters, sweep out the dust bunnies, and ready the tool set, it's spring again! Time to freshen up the nest with a little crafty resourcefulness. Mai of Ruche shares her tips and tricks for these fabulous DIY home decor projects using everyday materials. Learn how to make shelves out of books, create a floral wall out of butcher paper, and use milk paint to get that old-timey look. I especially love her tip for using cornstarch paste to apply fabric as wallpaper. When you're ready for a change, just peel off the fabric and throw it in the wash. It comes out like new! [via Creature Comforts]

William Wilson: Barn Burnt Down

2010-03-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

The gorgeous shots from Bay Area artist and photographer William Wilson are really inspiring my Sunday.

Barn's burnt down —
now
I can see the moon.
—Mizuta Masahide

Polly Morgan: Taxidermy

2010-03-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Having worked at a craft magazine for some time now, I have experienced the rather frenzied upset that can occur in response to taxidermy. There is no doubt, dead animals hit a chord with almost everyone, though not everyone understands this work as true craft. British artist Polly Morgan actually has a disclaimer on her website explaining where the animals have come from and the nature of their deaths, as well as a warning not to enter the site if disturbed by the site of dead animals. But it was Morgan's love for animals and a desire to preserve them that brought her to study under Scottish taxidermist George C Jamieson, eventually gaining artistic acclaim through her baroque still lives.

Morgan is very intentional in her compositions and materials; the animals (mostly birds) are "traditionally displayed, but [placed in] less than expected scenery. The scale and settings are often unnatural, but the animals are never anthropomorphised. Seeing them out of place encourages us to look at them as if for the first time." Admittedly, seeing many of these critters with their eyes closed and necks bent in sleep-like or even death-like poses strikes a different tone than the expected natural history museum diorama setting. This, coupled with a frequent juxtaposition to wunderkammer objects, leaves no doubt the animals are on display, but to what effect? Oftentimes the viewer finds them self witness to a 3D Renaissance painting. Other times, a still from a Hitchcock film. Even a scene from a life not unlike our own, where the magic of an animal in life is kept reverently close in death. [via the Unnaturalist]

Surprise Art Box: Strigiformes, Stages I & II

2010-03-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

April 24th marks the next Surprise Art Box group show, and heavens help me, I'm in it. Now, I'm not really an artist, I'm a designer. But I miss the brush and paints and the tangible satisfaction of the hand. Because my natural illustrative talents sort of dry up past verbatim rendering, I wanted to try solvent transfers (with a blender pen) to hopefully take my imagery to new and unforeseen levels using the transfer process as a buffer to explicit depiction.

Shown here are steps 1 and 2 of the complete process — the initial watercolor illustration (done from bird field guides) and the toner transfer on primed wood panel. To get the transfer I first scanned my watercolors in 8-bit grayscale, bumped up the contrast in Photoshop, flipped and printed them. I then photocopied the printouts with a toner photocopy machine. Note: you have to use toner, ink won't work; color photocopies are OK. Flipping the image is important (especially with type) because your print will come out backwards from what you see on the paper. I then held the photocopies face-down to the panels and used the blender pen to saturate the paper, transferring the toner to the wood. I should mention that I decided to do double transfers with multiple photocopy printouts, one atop the other, to darken the results, and I used a burnisher to help make the toner stick. Future steps are TBA, as I have no idea what I'll do next! Dare I introduce color? This is an organic if imprecise process. Stay tuned!

I should mention that I'm really into owls these days, and it was their spectral quality that led me to chose transfer printmaking as my image making method. I've been painting birds for a while, but when I found the owl illustrations in a 1961 second edition of Peterson's A Field Guide to Western Birds, I became enamored. They are no doubt agents of the spirit world — noiseless, mothlike, nocturnal, with almost tribal "facial disks" and feather tufts. My aspiration is that the imprecise nature of toner transfers will lend a ghostly character to these birds. So far I'm pretty happy with the results.

In case you're not already familiar, SABP was founded in 2009 by Bay Area artist Matthew Jervis. The basic idea was born of the mystery boxes available in specialty toy emporiums such as Kid Robot. An artist creates limited edition collections of 20 3"x3" pieces which are displayed in full but sold individually at random — the buyer doesn't know which one he'll get. "Its like a gumball machine full of cool art by awesome artists. Put yer money in, twist the knob and see which one you get." Be sure to check out Jervis' incredible 100 Faces project.

Studio Pepe Heykoop: Brick Series

2010-03-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

Speaking of forward chandelier shapes, check out the Brick Series by Dutch artist Pepe Heykoop, composed of wooden children's blocks. The series originated as a exploratory reaction to a chair drawing made by James Gulliver Hancock (above). FURNISM will soon produce and manufacture the chair, an exercise in "extreme seating" no doubt.

Studiomama: Branch Out

2010-03-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

Using a 3D scanner and 3D software, Nina Tolstrup of London-based Studiomama captured and digitally manipulated real branches into rapid prototypes, and finally cast branches. These cast pieces were then used as connectors between the fallen branches to make basic furniture like trestles, table frames, stools and coat stands. My personal recommendation: a branch chandelier. [via Design Klub]

Tina Kalivas: Polyrhythms

2010-03-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

It must be spring, because all I can think about is fashion. And that welling anticipation got kicked into high gear when I saw the latest collection from Tina Kalivas, Polyrhythms. Based in New South Wales, Kalivas "trained in London for 8 years by working under [the late] Alexander McQueen, Clements Ribeiro, Russell Sage and J. Maskrey has a very European influence in her designs. She studied period underwear and corsetry at the London College of Fashion and also worked on costumes in the film industry." Read more at Fashion Windows. [via Sycamore Street Press]

Advanced Style

2010-03-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

You know what totally makes my day? Catching sight of an individual of a certain age decked to the nines at say, 11:30am on a Monday at the post office. You know the sort. Silver haired, in a tailored outfit replete with matching accessories and spiffy footwear. I don't know if these folks are merely products of their time (when kid gloves were required in town) or just super stylie all on their own. Either way, I am simultaneously awed and chastened by this artistry as I cast a clandestine look at my dirty jeans and duck boots.

The watchful eye of New York's Ari Seth Cohen has compiled a fabulous blog capturing this very subject, Advanced Style — "Proof ... that personal style advances with age. Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest." Yes, sir! This is what fashion is all about. Personal pride, flair, flamboyance, character, and having fun. While so many keep a skittish eye on the style blogs and sweat over next season's colors, these folks have found what works for them, and they are not afraid. In an era when obnoxious emphasis is put on youth and prescribed glamour, I find Cohen's collection aspirational. Lead the way, silver set!

Geographer Steals the Stage

2010-03-12T11:28:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the substantial pleasure of attending Geographer's CD release party for their new EP, Animal Shapes, out now on iTunes and Tricycle Records. It's not just my involvement in the project that makes me love these guys. They're just really, decidedly, exceptionally good, and I feel very lucky to have been able to work with them and Tricycle. When they first went on, I was standing at the back of the Rickshaw chatting with friends. But as we pushed up toward the front, the full sound of the speakers hit and Mike Deni's voice just takes over.

Geographer may only have 3 members, but their sound is full-blooded, with lots of synth and polyrhythmic layering. In part, this is why I've decided to show a more intimate look at Mike making acoustic music while harmonizing with Kacey Johansing. He's one of the few musicians I've seen recently who understands his voice is an instrument. Though, don't get me wrong, GEO wouldn't be GEO without the swoon-worthy celloliciousness of Nathan Blaz and raging technical mastery of drummer Brian Ostreicher. Seriously, if you haven't already listened, do.

Cutting Boards, from Fine Little Shop

2010-03-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

As promised, more from Elisabeth Dunker and her Fine Little Shop. I am enamored with these cutting boards — what a wonderful idea! Hers are made from hard density fibreboard (HDF), a type of hardboard composed of wood fibers glued under heat and pressure. I never knew you could imprint something like this with your own imagery, and I'm curious where or how she had these made ... Hmmm, maybe I'll just ask her. In any case, Dunker offers her one-of-a-kind kitchen helpers at a very reasonable price — a happy addition to any home.

Nina Lindgren: Cardboard Heaven

2010-03-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

OK, there seems to be an upward trend in diminutive cardboard dwellings. First there was Benjamin Van Oost's Favela, and then Anna Serrano's Cartonlandia. Now there is Swedish illustrator Nina Lindgren's city of dreams — Cardboard Heaven. I am just blown away by that work-in-progress shot. You can read more on her blog, which does include a translation button, though to indeterminate effect.

Eleanor Grosch: Spring Tablecloth

2010-03-11T16:30:00.001-08:00

I try not to post too much from Design Sponge. (I mean, who among us doesn't look every day.) But when I saw this beautiful DIY spring table cloth made from IKEA towels by Eleanor Grosch of Push Me Pull You Design, I just had to share. The alternating blue line patterns give the tablecloth its French countryside aesthetic. And it only cost her $5 to make! Hmmm, I think it's time to finally get the sewing machine repaired. Check out her steps here.

Elisabeth Dunker: Fine Little Day

2010-03-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

I am perfectly, resolutely in love with Swedish stylist, photographer, illustrator, and prop designer Elisabeth Dunker. The woman has descended from the pearly palisades of design heaven to quietly bless everything she touches with her keenly poetic aesthetic. I will no doubt go on a posting rant over the next few weeks pulling from her design partnership, Lulu, collaboration with artist Camilla Engman, Studio Violet, and store, Fine Little Shop, which features a selection of vintage accessories, decorations, and clothes, all carefully selected or created by her. Today I will post, by way of introduction, a series of photographs from her blog, Fine Little Day. If I could select but one world to enter, this would be it. See more on her Flickr.

Les Queues de Sardines: Spring & Summer 2010

2010-03-04T20:59:00.001-08:00

My need for spring is drowning in all the rain we've been getting. GET HERE ALREADY, SUN! I go to the closet and stare at my dresses, my neat little parcels of feminine jubilation, and sigh ... soon, dear ones, soon. In the meantime we can scratch the itch with Les Queues de Sardines' line of new tights, replete with nautical goodness (a quirky play on "fish-nets") and stand-by classics (a derringer in the garter). Their hosiery is screen-printed by hand in limited quantities, making it all the more covetable. Woefully, there has yet to be a US retailer, though you can purchase online at Greenky, Suicidal Shop, and Up Factory. Happy hunting.

John Paananen: Suburban Tipi

2010-03-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

Half-Finnish, half-Italian designer John Paananen was living in a yurt when he started brainstorming ideas for building a livable hybrid nomadic dwelling on site at his campus, the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. He considered the question, “What would happen as a result of immobilizing the nomadic home with suburban values, materials and methods of construction?" Well, apparently, you get a yurt-igloo-tipi fusion. Paananen writes, "I imagined these holistically designed structures to blister or tumor in reaction to the disconnectedness, artificiality, environmental and social irresponsibility that suburbia is.”

That may be, but there is nothing unlovely about his creation. The structure measures 16 feet tall by 18 feet in diameter and yields 255 square feet of living space. Inside, Paananen decorated with modern furniture, wonderful nature reproductions, and held nighttime projections within the dome. And while it took 3 months to build, his home of 7 months was carefully deconstructed in just 3 hours by a three person crew. It was then transported by truck to be re-erected at a new location. It currently can be visited at AguaFina Gardens International in Sylvan Lake, Michigan.

Read more at Daily Tonic. You can see shots of his original yurt and the Suburban Tipi on his Flickr. [via Notcot]

Laurent Milon: Magnetic Rings

2010-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Remember those magnetic hair-do games you'd play with as a kid? There was Hair-Do Harriet, and the vaguely menacing Wooly Willy. Well now there's Laurent Milon, French industrial designer extraordinaire. His Magnetic Rings are made using frozen iron powder (cheap) in conjunction with ferromagnetic precious metals, like silver, copper, and nickel. The project was done as part of his diploma, which focused on "creating shapes that would evade the limits of nowadays' industrial process" thanks to the random forms created through (partially) natural means. The video is truly delightful and very helpful in visualizing his methodology. Plus, you get to see an animate clump of iron powder closely resemble a hedgehog devouring glitter. [via DesignBoom]

Now, I'm no science buff, but thinking back to kid stuff I couldn't help but be reminded of those crystal garden growing kits I used to fawn over — the forms are remarkably similar. So I tried to learn a little more online about the similarities between magnetic forms and the way crystals grow. It turns out that crystal architecture plays a deciding role in determining the magnetic properties of molecular materials (more here). Cool! If anyone has any more info or thoughts on this I'd be super stoked to learn more.

Geographer: Animal Shapes

2010-03-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of designing local San Franciscan 3-top Geographer's new EP, Animal Shapes, aka 6 tracks of total bliss, to be released March 9, 2010. This image, along with the one for their Kites LP, was created with the help of buddy Drew. Be sure to check him out at i am drew bennett. And don't miss the CD release party, Friday March 11 at the Rickshaw Stop! Yeehaw!

Rebecca Ridsdel: Art vs. Craft

2010-02-27T23:18:00.000-08:00

English ceramist Beccy Ridsdel quite literally dissects the layers of debate between craft verses art, with surgical instruments that delicately strip away altered bone china to reveal ... even more floral china. Ridsdel explains: "I chose to make a series of definitely craft objects — bone china plates, mugs, jugs — and 'dissect' them to see what was beneath. Turns out, they are craft through and through" ... " This work forms part of an exploration of the differences between art and craft, and ceramics’ relationship to them. After a lot of research I realized that despite the best efforts of many ceramicists, in most people’s minds working with mud is pretty much always seen as craft, and therefore somehow lower than art. This work is a wry look at this attitude."

Read the full article at FavCraftsBlog. More at BehanceNetwork.

William Chambers Millinery: Spring/Summer 2010

2010-02-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Just 3 short years ago, Scottish textile designer William Chambers took a hat-making class at Metropolitan University, creating a collection that was shown to great acclaim at Glasgow Fashion Week in April 2007. Fast forward to his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, shown here, and it is easy to see that Chambers is taking this fashionably antiquated craft to new elevations, posthaste. It is a happy marriage of old meets new, where traditional materials such as felt and synamay join forces with contemporary materials like latex, plastic and metallic leather to create these modern, often sculptural, always feminine creations. [Thanks, Candice, for the link!]

Best Made Co. Axes

2010-02-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

Best Made Co. was founded by designer and author Peter Buchanan-Smith, and outdoorsman and environmental entrepreneur Graeme Cameron. The two promote the merits of craftsmanship and self-reliance through their remarkable custom axes, a product of loaded symbolism — "indispensable and sublime, the epitome of fortitude and strength, a perfect design object, a timeless instrument." The heads are made of fine-grain steel, the handles of Tennessee Hickory, and each one is hand-painted, varnished, and polished in downtown Manhattan. All axes come securely packed in a hand-made wooden crate. [thanks, Rugg, for the link!]

Maum Tea Bags

2010-02-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

In Korean maum means the mind, soul, or spirit. There's definitely some spirit in these amazingly playful tea bags from the designers of the Korean company wdaru. Each themed box set comes with an assortment of quirky characters from which to choose. How could you refuse? [via Toxel]

Emily Miranda

2010-02-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

Barnacles, snails, shells, rhinestones, freshwater pearls, gilded alligator feet ... It is as if Neptune proposed to a Sea Witch on a full moon. New York artist Emily Miranda has a neoclassical flair for the decadent and macabre. She also makes incredible sculptural cakes. [via Shiny Squirrel]

Vintage Coke Cans

2010-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

Serious retro eye candy from Andrew at Inspiredology.

Matt Brown: RFID Laser Cut Radios

2010-02-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've been looking into laser cut creations to help brainstorm new projects for a friend. Thus I stumbled upon Matt Brown, Hello lover!

The basic idea is this — "you would have a speaker with an RFID reader, and laser-cut paper radios with RFID chips inside. The radios themselves are designed by musicians, charities, brands, and designers. When the paper radio is placed over the speaker it changes the radio station to what the artist has chosen ... This system tries to add a little bit of fun to internet radio, and give people a connection with the artists they choose."[via Design Milk]

Frank Buchwald: Machine Lights

2010-02-12T09:11:00.001-08:00

German designer and manufacturer Frank Buchwald creates sculptural, handcrafted lights which adhere neither to form nor function, though light and statements they do make. Using burnished steel, brushed brass, textile cables, and blown glass, Buchwald's forms anthropomorphise the inanimate, calling to life the evergreen romanticism of machines, à la steampunk (though I'm not sure that's an association he would make). The Machine Lights series comprises 12 different models produced in low volume production.   Each object is manually produced from up to 200 individual parts and requires a manufacture time of 4 weeks and more. Custom work available.

Matt Stuart: Happy Accidents

2010-02-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

London street photographer Matt Stuart kicks it old school with "a small Leica camera, patience and a lot of optimism," waiting for those opportune moments when things are not quite as they seem. Stuart has a show at KK Outlet in London 'till February 26, 2010. More at In-Public. [via Creative Review]

Harvey Faircloth: Spring/Summer 2010

2010-02-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a little French nautical revival to make a girl get excited about spring! Harvey Faircloth has got the goods, and the model to show it. HF is comprised of long-time friends Katie Hatch (style editor at Martha Stewart), Abby Clawson Low (former Senior Art Director at Kate Spade), and Mara Papa. I love everything about them, except the complete lack of NorCal representation. [via {frolic!}]

Christopher Fennell: Bus Stop Shelter

2010-02-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

Floridian sculptor Christopher Fennell is the man responsible for this fabulous Athens Georgia bus stop (West Broad and Alps). The Bus Shelter is made from 3 old school buses, years: '62, '72 and '77. The seat is from one of Atlanta's decommissioned city buses. It's a tad too literal to be meta, but I give it mad points for being cute, clever, and upcycled. Check out the build here. Videos here. [via Recyclart]

Flor Panichelli: Sweet Beastiary

2010-02-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

London artist Flor Panichelli is the woman behind Sweet Beastiary, home to woodland figures and vintage finger puppets. Panichelli hand-sculpts each character in paper mache and air-drying clay, then hand paints them with acrylic. Looking at these I am reminded of a cross-pollination of beloved childhood animations — The Wind In The Willows, and The Magic Pony. You can find more at her blog and Flickr. [via Decor8, via What Katie Finds]

Rymdreglage: 8-Bit Trip

2010-02-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

Last week blew. Hard. Don't get too excited. The only folks who got off were insurance agents, DMV employees, and possibly some impound yard dudes. Trust me, you don't want to know. I cannot qualify it any more than I can pretend to know exactly what's going on here. Other than the opposite of my week — squeaky, unmolested magic.

Enter, Rymdreglage, comprised of Swedish musicians Tomas and Daniel, and their amazing LEGO stop motion music video for the single, 8-Bit Trip, an homage to classic retro video games. Check out the build here; supposedly it took 1,500 hours. I don't know what these guys do all day, but I absolutely need to be a part of it. [Thanks, David, for cheering my day with this. Geek Dad, Laughing Squid, and all the usual suspects covered this last August, but I couldn't pass it up.]

Amy Earls, Wool & Water

2010-02-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

Amy Earls is Wool and Water, a magnificent Etsy shop brimming with exquisitely illustrated, articulated handmade paper dolls that stir up and capture every feeling of girlhood I could possibly describe. Earls has quite the history with making paper dolls, dating far back into childhood. Read more at her blog, and be sure to check our her new site, Pushed Under. Joyous.

Ford 021C by Marc Newsom

2010-01-28T14:37:00.000-08:00

As we move out of the Aughts and into what some financial analysts declare "recovery", Ford Motor Company is doing what they can to present a greener, unflappable front. It's not been a good decade for Ford. Despite the bailout, key product placement in The Dark Knight and Bond movies, and the introduction of a fusion hybrid, Ford still feels flat-footed. Too bad they aren't taking chances like they did ten years ago. In 1999, then-head of design, J. Mays, hired UK product and furniture designer Marc Newsom — who, by the way, had never before designed a land vehicle — to create a concept car for the brand.

Newsom came up with an affordable and simple design made from carbon fibre, replete with back-hinged rear doors, swivel seats, and a drawer-like boot. Dubbed 021C after Newsom's favorite Pantone color, the car was met with universal distaste, but somehow feels fresh and cheery today. I wonder what people would have thought of the Scion or Cube a decade ago? Maybe the world is ready now ... if only Ford was. Jalopnik has a nice futuristic vehicle round up here. [via Design Year Book. Thanks, Sam, for the link!]