Neon Ring Of Fire

 Art, colour, decorative, exhibitions, fun things, inspirational, interiors, lighting, London, nice things, product design, things to do  No Responses »
Apr 182013
 

Chris Bracey Neon Ring Of Fire

Having discovered Chris Bracey’s neon lights (with thanks to Conran Shop) and gone on to use one in a shoot last year, I was rather excited to see a gallery of bright colours emitting glow over the hard concrete streets in the west end of London. I have to say, I do like a bit of neon lighting, especially done with a nod to many aspects of iconic American popular culture which will always retain a element of cool; 1950s, rock’n'roll, bikers, tattoo parlours and street retail advertising. But Bracey doesn’t just regurgitate old lights, he adapts and adds to, recycling old lights to make new pieces, that are more relevant to us today, whilst referencing the land so far from these shores. And no further away than from Walthamstow, where Bracey works in his delightfully named workshop, God’s Own Junkyard. His workshop is now open to the public on specific days, so after you visit Scream to see his exhibition, I advise you to check out his website, then go and indulge yourself with more neon goodness.

1.) Lady Luck (detail), 2.) Hot Burning Love/ Hotel Love, 3.) Love and Hate, 4.) Hands of God (and detail),  5.) Find Love Upstairs (shown in three light variations)

Chris Bracey at Scream Gallery. 12 April until 01 June 2013.
27 – 28 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DH Tel: +44 (0)20 7268 9857
Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm

Very Pleased To Meet

 colour, decorative, fun things, illustrators, nice things, paper, product design, shops, stationery  1 Response »
Apr 172013
 

PleasedToMeet Very Pleased To Meet

I spotted this company’s products in various hotspots around New York and liked their style instantly. Pleased To Meet is the lovechild of two German designers, Daniela Könn and Marcel Hornung, who met and fell in love whilst working in New York. Founded in 2004, they now have a lovely range of simple and charming designs spread over a variety of paper-based goods, contemporary eco ethics with a hint of mid-century style illustrations. Good colour choices too. They do have stockists worldwide but they also do international delivery so no need to panic. Here are my top-picks.

1.) I Love You wrapping paper, €2.60, 2.) New York wrapping paper, €2.60, 3.) Fawns wrapping paper, €2.60, 4.) A Good Catch wrapping paper, €2.60, 5.) Flying Birds notebook, €5, 6.) Lovebirds notebook, €5, 7.) Travel Journal, €19, 8.) Paris notebook, €7, all available from their website.

Monochrome Stripes Ain’t Just For Zebras

 Art, collaborations, colour, decorative, events, exhibitions, fun things, illustrators, inspirational, interiors  No Responses »
Apr 112013
 

Patternity Monochrome Stripes Aint Just For Zebras

This show is a visual feast, both close up and as a collective whole. The power of monocrome stripes will never be denied again. The two pattern-lovers behind the blog, Patternity, Anna Murray and Grace Winteringham, have curated a powerhouse of all that falls under the category of stripe- be it fashion, art, craft, science, architecture, design or environment. The three rooms of the gallery space on Redchurch Street, have been divided into separate entities looking at research, collaborative efforts in design and finally a interactive learning and events space, dedicated to film and the philosophy behind pattern and the stripes of everyday life. No gallery would be complete without a cafe, and this cafe has Guinness, Pomp de Franc cakes and they’re serving (black) tea in Richard Brendon‘s tea cups. There’s even a gift shop, needless to say it’s a specially-curated black and white Darkroom concession gift shop. With lots of events running until the end of the show, from yoga and crafts to discussing pattern with neuroscientists and psychologists, entertainment and learning is guaranteed. Everyday’s a (glamourous) school day.

1.) a screen shot from the wall-sized projection area especially commissioned films, 2.) the flooring of the event area in Room Three ‘It’s Everywhere We Go’, 3.) the dazzling play of perpective and pattern on the gallery wall, graphics by BAF graphics, 4.) The strength that is Room One ‘Seeing Pattern Everywhere’, 5.) black coil pot by artist, Glen Wild, 6.) Plumen bulbs and Richard Brendon’s ‘Warp’ and ‘Reason’ teacups complete a sriking table made by Patternity

Ode To The Moon

 Art, colour, craft, decorative, Designer-Maker, exhibitions, fun things, homewares, inspirational, interiors, nice things, pattern, product design, shopping, surfaces  No Responses »
Apr 102013
 

Moonish 1977 Ode To The Moon

sunspots Ode To The Moon

Moonish music Ode To The Moon

One of my highlights of New York’s Architectural Digest Home Design Show, which I attended as part of Modenus’ BlogTourNYC, was this stand showing the work of Brooklyn-based designer-maker company, Moonish. Marine-grade plywood is dyed, silk-screen printed and cut down into 6″sq tiles with magnetic backing. The wood grain is visible through the dye, allowing for the natural qualities to show, giving the decorative tiles a warmth not usually associated with their ceramic cousins. Their application also differs, no messy grouting required here, this wall treatment is purely magnetic. Allowing design flexibility and a freedom from the usual constraints of surface decorations, you can chop and change as often as you rotate your footwear, should you wish. This also makes them reusable, a detail that is rapidly becoming the most attractive USP a product can have, in an age of economic and environmental uncertainty. All of these positive pointers and we haven’t even got on to how good looking these little wooden squares are. Well, I don’t really need to say anything, they do all that’s necessary for themselves. Just look at them! And if you tire of diamonds, change it to chevrons, …if you bore of chevrons, …change to diamonds. So much to love, so little time (such good colours too). Go get them.

From top to bottom: ’1977′, ‘Sunspots’ and ‘Music’ designs.

Kielitiettyni

 animals, animation, Art, colour, fun things, nice things, random  No Responses »
Apr 082013
 

The Tongueling from Elli Vuorinen on Vimeo.

This little animation is by Elli Vuorinen, a recent graduate of the Turken Arts Academy in Finland, has been making waves. Elli has been selected to be a resident animation artist in Tokyo 2012-2013, her animation ‘The Tongueling’ will be part of the KROK international animation festival, was entered into the main competition of Hiroshima International Animation Festival. The Tongueling is a wondruous wintery colour palette, full of high contrasts, this is totally apt seeing as despite it being April and BST, it’s still winter here in the UK. I watched it complete with scarf and blanket over my lap, cradling my coffee as I giggled, gasped, winced and exclaimed by way through this short story. Both funny ha-ha and funny peculiar, this tells the tale of a man looking for love and finding it in a most unexpected place. Full of wet mouth noises, so if you’re a little sensitive, this may not be for you.

Kielitiettyni (The Tongueling)
Wooden knocks are echoing in a frozen landscape when a lonesome man is searching for a tongueling of his own.
Hand-drawn animation- Direction/ Animation/ Script/ Editing: Elli Vuorinen
Sound design: Elli Vuorinen, Jani Lehto
Music: Jani Lehto
Production: Turku Arts Academy / Eija Saarinen/ 2010

BlogTourNYC: No.4

 Art, ceramics, collaborations, colour, decorative, Designer-Maker, fun things, homewares, interiors, product design, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Apr 042013
 

No4 BlogTourNYC: No.4

1.) Bespoke Global: bringing artists and craftfolk’s work to the fore. Facilitating communication and encouraging non-high street retail. 2.) the fantastically cheerful carpet in the reception of the Fab headquarters, 3.) Du Verre‘s ‘Rise’ cabinet handle by Christopher Smith of East Main Design (available in three finishes and 4 sizes), 4.) a selection of Prehistoric stone bracelets on stands, just a few of the many treasures on sale at interior designer, Vicente Wolf‘s showroom, 5.) Pomegranate cabinet handle, in satin brass, by metalsmith designer, Heinz Pfleger, sold by Du Verre (available in different finishes and sizes), 6.) a detail in the corner of the Fab photographic studio. Lovely colours.

With many thanks to all the Modenus‘ BlogtourNYC sponsors: Miele, Mr Steam, Silestone by Cosentino, Blanco, Poggenpohl, Du Verre, Barber Wilsons, NKBA, Jenn Air, Victoria + Albert Baths

The Reds, Whites and Blues

 colour, decorating, fun things, inspirational, interiors, shopping  No Responses »
Mar 132013
 

The Reds Whites and Blues The Reds, Whites and Blues

It just so patriotic on here today. Next, they’ll be offering me residency. I’m doing a little American week, as we’re now just under a week away until I fly stateside for BlogTourNYC. The nerves are mounting, the mind has turned to mentally packing and repacking, I’m checking the weather and making sure I know the language. Kidding. I think I may need to turn down the Cockney sparra’, otherwise I may well be repeating myself. Anyway, It’s been a while since I did a paint post, so it was ripe for the picking. The American dream is red, white and blue, and if you’re brave enough, here are a mix of UK paint sellers offering up some of my favourite of the well-known hues. If we could all be standing, let’s hear it for the land of the free, home of the brave.

1.) No Moral Value, £36, Colour Makes People Happy, 2.) Sarong by B&Q Colours, £14.98, B&Q, 3.) Zoffany’s Architect’s White, £35, Designer Paint, 4.) Gauze (106), £32.50, Little Greene, 5.) Isle of White, £19.50, Graham & Brown, 6.) Burn after Painting, £36, Colour Makes People Happy, 7.) Drawing Room Blue No. 253, £34.50, Farrow & Ball, 8.) Cinnabar Red, £31.50, Fired Earth, 9.) Very Well Read, £POA, Paint Library

All prices for 2.5lts tin of matt emulsion

Adventures In Areaware

 Art, collaborations, decorative, fun things, homewares, nice things, organisational, product design, shopping  3 Responses »
Mar 122013
 

Areaware Adventures In Areaware

Kicking off the rapidly-approaching New York season which sees me jetting off to join this year’s BlogTourNYC, is a blog post on Areaware. It seems serendipitous that I came across a very satisfying tape dispenser in the Barbican’s shop (as part of the The Bride and the Bachelors exhibition) which happens to have made its way across the seas from the city I’m going to next Tuesday, to find a new home on our little island. With a polished grey concrete base and a wooden reel to hold the tape, this nice piece of office desk-ware really puts its cousins to shame, in all of their plastic-nastiness. Its charm led me to venture a gandering at Areaware’s other products, and disappointed I wasn’t. A nicely curated website with lots of collaborations with excellent product designers. Here are my top 7 products.

1. Concrete Desk Set, Designer: Magnus Pettersen, $60, 2.) C’Mere Hand Hook, Designer Harry Allen, material: Resin and Marble, $65, 3.) Cargo Container, Designer: Daniel Ballou, material: Ceramic, $30, 4.) Brush Vase, Designer: Harry Allen, material: Resin and Marble, $110, 5.) Little Distortion #2, Designer: Paul Loebach, material: Resin and Marble, $18, 6.) Dinner Plates Set of 4, Designer: Jason Miller, material: Porcelain, $130, 7.) Star Spangled Spatula, Designer: Jacob Riley-Wasserman, material: Nylon Resin, $12

Alley-Oop

 Art, collaborations, colour, decorative, events, fun things, homewares, inspirational, interiors, nice things, shopping, shops  No Responses »
Mar 082013
 

Alley Oop Alley Oop

I saw this on It’s Nice That and liked it so much that I thought I’d feature it here too. It’s a collaboration between furniture maker, Eric Trine, and designer and illustrator, Will Bryant. Now, I’d not heard of either (sorry) so I’m rather delighted to have two new people’s work to investigate, especially looking at how super these photos are. Cracking chalky-pastel coloured geometric furniture in 80s album sleeve style set ups. Beeeouuuutiful. Alley Oop is actually a curated exhibition set up of items (which are all for sale), in downtown LA shop, Poketo, possibly a little bit too far to visit during one’s lunchbreak unless you’re in sun-drenched California, so you’ll just have to get your fix from these photos.

Pop Goes The Furstenberg

 colour, fun things, homewares, nice things, product design, shops  No Responses »
Feb 142013
 

Alexandra Von Furstenberg Pop Goes The Furstenberg

Strictly speaking, I’m not a neon fan. As far as I’m concerned I’d be happy if it got stuck where it last poked its head up, back in the 80s. But these I could go to town for, though as they’re totally out of my budget so I’m not worried that I may throw neon-caution to the wind and go wild in the aisles. Alexandra Von Furstenberg (yes, another prodigy child of a celeb) first dabbled with neon interior products back in 2008, and these trays and bowls are her latest range. Available at the supercool, always bang-on-trend Conran shop, they will set you back a pretty penny, but homemade cocktails will never have looked so good.

From the top, down: Soiree tray, £350. Chiclet bowl, £165; Lotus bowl, £900, Cocktail tray: £295, all made from acrylic, and then, at the bottom, Cocktail and Soiree trays stacked. Available from Conran, in a range of neon colours.

pixel Pop Goes The Furstenberg
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