I instantly fell in love with the miniature ceramic sculptures by Pearson & Maron. Especially their latest work which we feature below, has a dreamy and playful touch and would beautifully complement any space. I find these creations quite appealing in a simple yet engaging and charming manner.

As I read from their online bio: “Adam Maron and Quincy Pearson are full time artists and kitsch peddlers. They make work individually and together under the name Pearson-Maron.

Adam creates ceramic and mixed media dioramas depicting his child hood memories in the run down fruit tree laden San Fernando Valley. Many of his sculptures feature images of apocalyptic nightmares that are scattered with cryptids and seasonal holiday characters warning of impending doom.

Quincy is a painter and sculptor who is interested in the suburban pastoral and the broken heart. Her work explores the problematic point where nature and the suburbs collide with narratives that include anthropomorphic animals as eco-revenge warriors.”

You can view the entire collection of Pearson & Maron in their online shop and also check out their blog and facebook.

Karras Leather is a craftwork studio situated in Psiri – the area in Athens that used to be the industrial heart of leather goods.It’splaced just a few steps from Monastiraki Square in the centre of Athens. I discovered Karras studio one year ago during a hunt for leather gloves. When I noticed the studio window with the real vintage styled bags, exposed with their original shapes and unique colours, I simply couldn’t resist and entered. Nice atmosphere, a traditional approach and marvellous items –was my first impression.

I re-visited Antonis, the continuator of a familybusiness based on tradition and creativity in his studio in Psiri.

The same nice atmosphere was this time enriched with delicious Italian espresso and an interesting talk about tradition and craftsmanship. We spoke about the history that started from the passion for leather design in Italy. The father of Antonis before founding Karras Leather, trained his skills and gained professional experience at Italian leather studios with a long heritage and tradition. He got acquainted with techniques and methods based on handcraftsmanship production.

The main aim of the studio is to design leather goods with the best quality that will be long lasting and recognized even after years of use. This is the result of deep knowledge and experience in the leather industry.

The signature of Karras Leather is a design based on shapes and a mixture of subtle colours – giving an elegant and classic look with a touch of uniqueness and comfort in use. Some of the designs come from the 1970’s styles (one of the most influential times for the leather products industry) as well as brand-new designs based on traditional patterns. 

The paints used for colouring the leather are made in the studio. All the colours are produced by the craftsman himself, who mixes the compositions of shades. The metal parts like locks, clutches etc. are imported from Florence in Italy and complete the elegant and smart look of the bags.

The studio offers numerous leather products ranging from bags in all sizes to belts and accessories like cases, key-holders, wallets and many more accessories.

All the items are made from the highest quality calf leather. Such kind of leather can be firmly fixed with the possibility of forming shapes. The use of different leather thickness allows designing steady and comfortable products at the same time.

The items are mainly handcrafted with little help of the machinery. The final result is the most important as it reflects the craftwork: design, shapes, leather colouring, vanishing and wrapping – tasks that are taken care of professionally and with great precision. The effect of craftsmanship is always rewarding and unique.

For more information you can also check the online boutique of Karras Leather Studio where you can browse through the whole unique leather collection or maybe visit their unique place in Athens, Greece.

Images: Courtesy of Karras Leather Studio

[Please do not copy or distribute images without the written permission of Karras Leather Studio]

The creations of Lyn Swan quickly gained my attention. Minimal and playful – her items are very original and whimsical and this collection in particular inspired by nature.

As Lyn notes in her online shop: “I was born to work in clay, ever since I remember I have been addicted to clay and been producing for over thirty five years .... yikes ..... that seems a long time, but time flies when you are having fun!” And it surely shows that the artist puts her heart in her pieces.

Concerning the creation procedure, Lyn says:

“What you are seeing are hand built porcelain pieces, each piece is one of a kind, I build each piece, one at a time ...... I use a lot of sulfates with this mid range porcelain - I fire to cone 6 .... oxidation.”

Custom commissions are also welcomed – just contact the artist with your special requests.

Make sure to check out Lyn’s other etsy shop where she presents a different collection – more colorful and pop.

Margaux and Walter Kent, a photographer and a painter, is the creative couple behind Peg and Awl, a gorgeous collection of repurposed and reclaimed wooden objects that combine a natural and vintage touch.

From beautiful candle blocks to bookends made of oak reclaimed from old shipping crates, all of Peg and Awl’s objects are crafted into treasures for the home.

I instantly fell in love with the original ‘Wannabes’ project by artist Deborah Brackenbury! Here plates play the role of canvas where imaginative compositions of taxidermy animal images are originally combined with traditional patterns, creating very stimulating and interesting pieces of art.

As the artist notes: “Sometimes I scan doll clothes into the computer, Barbie clothes being my favorite, and I dress the taxidermy animals in these outfits. The title Wannabes addresses our urge to create lives and stories for animals that represent our own desires. I have chosen to apply the images to vintage plates to reference the traditional commemorative plate. Each image is printed on a waterslide decal that is archival, smudge proof, waterproof, and fade resistant, and sealed onto the plate.”

And as if this is not enough, talented Deborah also has another stunning project where she designs concrete bowls and plates. Check out her “Impure Vessels” here.

Happy New Year everybody! During 2010 I discovered and featured the inspiring creations of 135 talented crafters from around the world! Items that vary but have a thing in common: inspiring creativity! In this roundup you’ll get the chance to discover a variety of items ranging from jewelry to decoration objects, fashion and accessories, handmade or assembled in a wide variety of materials, techniques and styles! I can almost guarantee you’ll find something you’ll adore!

All images are linked to a post where you can read more about a designer and most importantly, browse through more images and get the links to their online portfolios or shops.

Please promote and share this post – especially if you enjoy it – as a sign of support to the creative community :)

“Beauty is a weapon” is the motto of Roman, the designer of “Harem Royal”, a gorgeous collection of goth – Victorian and steampunk inspired jewelry. I am particularly impressed by the amount of detail and craftsmanship of these pieces! It really shows that they were made with true passion and this – in my opinion, is very important!

As Roman notes: “Balancing between the Oriental need for seduction and Western hunger for power, Harem Royal aims at satisfying the clashing demands of women's secret desires”.

Check out Harem Royal on facebook and twitter too!