September 1, 2017
September Desktop Calendar Download
Fall is almost here! I’m so ready, and so is my desktop.
September 1, 2017
Salman Khoshroo
Creating with a palette knife is one of the most amazing things to me. In this case it’s Salman Khoshroo‘s expertise of musculature and the human body on full display with his mastery of wielding a full knife of paint that has me in awe. If you notice, Salman’s using multiple colors with each swipe which suggests that there’s nearly as much work going on before he touches the canvas as after. Oh, and they’re large scale.
August 31, 2017
August Favorites
1/ The Crafter’s Box
The Crafter’s Box brings together experienced makers who curate a unique box of tools and materials to build something beautiful. One box/project is released each month with delivery to your door and an online workshop to guide you. I’m working on this large-scale stenciled linen throw at the moment.
2/ Soo Ae Charcoal Clay Bubble Mask
Using activated binchotan charcoal, kaolin bentonite clay, and oxygen bubbles this mask puffs up and looks hilarious all while purifying, brightening, and refining your skin. It only takes up about five minutes of your time and will leave your face baby smooth.
3/ Poise Accessory Tray
I’d been looking for a way to organize my most worn earrings, bracelets, and pins when I came across this brass double-decker tray. It’s a great size and I love the minimal look.
4/ Giant Zinnias
My mom and stepdad planted these guys for the first time this year and ended up with a bumper crop! I pillaged what was left last weekend and made a note to add some to my own yard next spring.
5/ The Mac & Gold Truck
If you’re in Pittsburgh, you need to check these guys out – it’s all mac ‘n cheese all the time. I had some with BBQ brisket and fried onions that has me salivating at the memory.
6/ Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches
Leona’s is a Pittsburgh legend, small batch ice cream pints and sandwiches using local dairy and ingredients in the most interesting pairings. Oh, and it’s all lactose-free. This one was peanut butter cookie with strawberry ice cream.
7/ Caramel Wallet
I haven’t owned a proper wallet in at least five years, but when I saw Sseko Designs’ minimal caramel wallet in buttery leather I had to have it. It holds the few cards and cash I carry with my daily and helps end the cycle of poverty by educating and empowering women. Win-win.
August 31, 2017
Aylin Bilgiç / Fluid Porcelain Bowls
Aylin Bilgiç‘s fluid porcelain bowls look like a moment frozen in time, each one like a bowl full of cream that’s sloshing over the rim. A pretty dip in gold edges each piece, making them all the more elegant.
August 30, 2017
Sweeper and Funnel
I’m trying out this experiment – if my cleaning supplies are more pleasing aesthetically, will I in turn clean more often? Like would this very pretty and functional sweeper and funnel make me more likely to sweep up the furry tumbleweeds the dogs create or pick up the litter the cats scatter outside of the box? I say yes.
August 30, 2017
Hitomi Hosono
Hitomi Hosono‘s ceramics are rooted in both Japanese and European traditions, as she’s studied in Japan, the UK, and Denmark. (Whoa!) The super detailed foliage in Hosono’s current work sucks the viewer right in. And if you’re like me, at some point you’ll forget that what you’re examining isn’t the real thing.
“The subjects of my current porcelain work are shapes inspired by leaves and flowers. I study botanical forms in the garden. I find myself drawn to the intricacy of plants, examining the veins of a leaf, how its edges are shaped, the layering of a flower’s petals. I look, I touch, I draw.”
August 29, 2017
Tsumiki Stacking Blocks
Tsumiki Stacking Blocks are essentially Japan’s super sleek answer to Legos. Structurally a triangle is the strongest geometric shape, and architect Kengo Kuma has turned it into a playful and interactive building set. Each piece is crafted with Japanese cedar with notches cut into the tip of each block that allow them to be stacked. These blocks may be made for kids, but I’d happily use them too!
August 29, 2017
Rachel Goodyear
Rachel Goodyear‘s illustrations and animated drawings could be straight out of a book full of dark and obscure fairytales. Each beautifully thought out piece leaves me wondering about the story behind it all – did they come to her in dreams, an old family grimoire, or what??? Rachel’s mastery of form only adds to the enjoyment.
August 28, 2017
Dagne Dover
Even though I haven’t been traveling nearly as much, hunting down great pieces to make it easier is still basically a pastime. Dagne Dover creates some very thoughtfully designed pieces that do just that – even if your travel is only a commute. Their smart living pieces are constructed by combining the beauty of fashion with athlete caliber function for the best of both worlds.
