Bespoke Design Studio

Pawling Print Studio = Simple, Fresh & Adorable

2010-11-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

Pawling Print Studio is the creation of sisters Trisha and Janet Snyder, who both have backgrounds in architecture, engineering, and graphic design respectively. Together they make handmade prints and patterns for the home, that are fresh, clean and ideal for any design style. Based in Washington, DC and New York, the studio focuses on environmentally responsible production as well as clean, understated design.

The name Pawling came from the sisters grandfather, who was a photographer and a painter. He spent a great deal of time, teaching the girls how to draw and paint when they were younger.

The decision to take the self-employment route is not always an easy one. In retrospect graduating in a down economy gave them the opportunity to try what they really wanted to do rather than what they were expected to do. Of course that doesn’t mean they knew it at the time.

As far too many people know...searching and applying for employment is a full time job in itself, so although they weren’t giving up a job in the traditional sense, the decision to start PAWLING as a full-time venture was no small leap of faith. The two had both been secretly toying with the idea while in school, but were too afraid to tell anyone. Once they sheepishly started talking about it with each other, the sisters found that they couldn’t stop. They were both so full of ideas and excitement that they knew we had to take the idea seriously. It certainly helped that they were in it together!

The pair makes calendars, tea towels, pillows, notebooks, cards, art prints, totes and onesie.

To find out more about Pawling Print Studio or to purchase a tote for me :) please visit www.etsy.com/shop/pawling

Matte Stephens Whimsical Art!

2010-10-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Matte Stephens is a 36 year old who lives in upstate New York. He loves modern design and is very truly inspired by anything by Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Gerorge Nelso and Irving Harper. He also loves artists Ben Shahn and Paul Kee.

He has been very busy and has had the wonderful opportunity to do work for: Herman Miller, American Express, IBM, Disney, Modern Twist and many, many others.

Matte has also had art shows all over creation and you can find original work by him at both Jonathan Adler and Velocity Art and Design.

Gouache is his medium of choice and those that have worked with it before, know that it's a great result, but not exactly the easiest to use.

In addition to his work at Jonathan Adler and Velocity, you can also purchase work of his on etsy.

While there are some original paintings and a few scupltures, most are prints, which are all printed on archival photo rag 300gsm matte paper. Each print is titled, numbered and signed and shipped in a protective sleeve and shipped priority mail.

To find out more about Matte or purchase his art, please visist

http://www.etsy.com/shop/matteart

Random Stuff...

2010-10-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

So, I'm back. Sorry I have been neglecting the blog as of late, but I've been extremely busy with life and it's entrapments, both good and bad. Over the past few weeks, I have found myself being inspired by odd shapes and curious proportions. It is October after all, which just so happens to be my favorite month of the year. For me, it's automatic, there's just something in the air. Anyhoo, found these pics interesting for the thoughts they provoke and imagery in general. Hope you enjoy!

Wren Willow (say that 3 times fast!)

2010-09-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

WrenWillow is a great little shop on Etsy, that produces 100% organic TShirts, that are silk screen printed with custom illustrations and then hand dyed for that one of a kind hand made t-shirt look.

Marla is the shop owner and creator. She hand dyes and screen prints her t shirts, using her own original artwork. She works in small limited batches and strives to work in as many earth and kid friendly ways as possible. She lives in the Hudson Valley in N.Y., in an apartment over a storage unit office with her daughter, husband and a lovable bedlington terrier. She's quick to point out that " I love our apartment though it is a bit odd to be surrounded with storage units as far as the eye can see. We like to call it zombie fortress zero because we are up high, surrounded by a gate and have no neighbors". Spooky huh?

The name Wren Willow comes from her 2 year old daughter, named Wren Willow. She is the driving force of creativity and is the never ending inspiration behind her work, as well as her daily life.

Besides the super cute t's for adults, kids and tots, Marla has also created a line of doggy t's. The doggy t's are a 100% ribbed cotton black sleeveless tank top and come in a variety of sizes, for small to large pups!

WrenWillow has been an Esty member since 2008. Aside from her Esty shop, Marla is a teacher and she works in New York City and commutes via a train. She claims it's hard to keep it all balanced and not get burnt out, so she sleeps on the train. Marla says she was a creative kid growing up and was considered the class artist. She loved drawing and says it is amazing to witness how artistic her daughter is. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

To find out more about WrenWillow or purchase something super cute, please visit www.etsy.com/shop/wrenwillow

A little something from ThisYearsGirl

2010-09-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Melissa Nucera is ThisYearsGirl. She is a graphic artist who lives and works in Pennsylvania. Nucera has a beautiful daughter, fiance' and 2 crazy cats. She has been sharing her artwork and selling prints on-line since early 2007.

All of Nucera's images are photo manipulations and collages, using mostly her own photography and or royalty free stock images generously provided for use by the photographers and models. Through her photo manipulations, Nucera likes to create her very own little dream worlds and secret places. She loves wahat she does and hopes that you enjoy stepping into them as well.

What exactly is Photo Manipulation? Well, photo manipulation is the application of image editing techniques to photographs in order to create an illusion or deception (in contrast to mere enhancement or correction), through analog or digital means. The resulting image may have little or no resemblance to the photo (or photos in the case of compositing) from which it originated. Today, photo manipulation is widely accepted as an art-form. (as defined by wikipedia.org)

Aside from her unique large and small photo prints, Nucera also produces rings, pocket mirrors, pendants, cards, and gift sets. To view more of her work or make a purchase, please visit

www.etsy.com/shop/ThisYearsGirl

Jonathan Capuano & elefint's super cute stuff!

2010-09-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Capuano is the founder and designer behind elefint clothing line. He is a graphic designer by trade and works in many different genres. The passion for art and design through his work is the avenue (ANVU) to his audience.

Fueled by coffee and a love for design, his artistic direction is a collision of the corporate and cultural design necessary to deliver every design solution. Design is something that is part of Capuano and he says, "it's always turned ON". No detail is too small for him and he loves that he can communicate through his designs.

Besides his clothing line on Etsy, Jonathan also works in Photo Illustration, Branding & Identity, Photography, Motion Graphics, Web Design and Print Layout.

All of Capuano's designs on Etsy are original and screen printed on American Apparel 100% cotton clothing. Everything is screen printed by hand, made custom for you.

To find out more about Jonathan Capuano or where to purchase his work, please visit www.etsy.com/shop/elefint or www.jonathancapuano.com

Design for a Sustainable Culture Kalon Studios

2010-09-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

Kalon Studios is based in Los Angeles, California and Berlin, Germany. They are a young design studio focused on contemporary form and innovative design. Kalon Studios is recognized as one of the most influential and innovative sustainable design companies in the world. They strive to produce products that hold a lasting, intrinsic beauty.

Kalon Studios design focus is as much on quality of design as it is on method and process. All of their products are non-toxic, fully sustainable, and domestically produced in the United States. Each piece is handcrafted to order by traditional furniture makers in New England.

Their name Kalon, is derived from the ancient Greek concept of ‘to Kalon.’ To be Kalon is more than being beautiful; it is having a beauty that both is and inspires excellence. For the Greeks, this meant a beauty linked with moral worth and usefulness. For Kalon, this means making products that aren’t only beautiful in form but beautiful in concept as well.

They believe that true beauty radiates from the whole but has its roots in the details and so from the hardware to their motifs, from the raw materials to their finishes, they laboriously handpick each element so that it too, alone, is Kalon. The Greeks believed that an object that was Kalon had a beauty powerful enough to inspire excellence in those who beheld it.

It is their sincerest hope that the products will do this as well – that the thoughtfulness and consideration put into each object they’ve made will pour back into the homes they grace and the world of which we are all a part.

At Kalon Studios, they make every effort to be as green and sustainable as can be. In their efforts to find sustainable solutions to manufacturing, they’ve engaged the newest and sometimes the oldest methods and materials.

They have used raw materials that are renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic and food safe. They finish their woods with oil which they have developed that is so green, so-non toxic that it’s practically food grade. :)

They've made use of the industries most local to us in our manufacturing.
For Kalon, sustainability is defined as having multiple intentions all of which center on the idea of balance, of giving as much as they take, be it through economics, the environment or on the everyday human level.

Simple, cool, and seductive. The first range of products was launched in 2007 and it set the tone for the brand: quietly suggestive, playful, functional and understated. These qualities stem from the ethos that the pieces should invite and never impose. Casual and effortlessly beautiful. The result is that each product stands out while seamlessly blending into its environment.

Using only the highest quality sustainable materials, each product is domestically made in the United States, sustainably produced and hand-crafted to order.

To find out more about Kalon Studios and purchase their products, please visit www.kalonstudios.com

Exciting & Fresh Paper - Tres Tintas Barcelona

2010-08-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

Tres Tintas of Barcelona, dates back to a family dinner in 2004, when the father of the founders Jaime, Mitos and Daniel Bermejo, came up with an idea that would be the key to all that happened since that time: to create something new. They decided to offer customers simpler and innovative products. One year later, Tres Tintas was created.

Tres Tintas believes that as designers, they must think differently in order to achieve something new. Tres Tintas gives traditional wallpaper a new dimension and transforms it into signature wallpaper, with concept-based collections with a common general idea. Since the beginning, Tres Tintas has been committed to working with well-known artists in their respective lines of work (illustration, fashion or graphic design) whom had never faced the white paper. Tres Tintas Barcelona continues to discover new and gifted people and also encourages designers to design painted paper and fabrics. They offer contemporary painted paper and design fabrics and accessories for the home.

But “something new” did not mean to break away from everything, as a result, they went back 30-years– to take a run-up – and they started from the first Spanish paint paper pop collection, created by their father. The boys restyled it aesthetically and technically in order to adapt it to modern times, and called it Revival.

For the second collection Déjà Vu, they bet on the talent of young designers, unconnected with the paint paper world: Enric Jardí, Sophie Leblanc, Izqui, Julieta Hernández and Marta Álvarez.

All City Papers was the third collection, by Tres Tintas, which was created by the studio Inocuo The Sign (Javi Gutiérrez, David Fernández and Txema Algualcil), that brought urban art closer to the painted paper world.

Mariscal came after that, and he was immediately up to his old tricks: the faces, chairs, letters and Californian palm trees of the 9 selvas de Mariscal designed Tres Tintas left no one indifferent.

And now comes the brand new collection Wall-à-porter. This collection transfers the women’s fashion world onto the painted paper. Renowned designers such as La Casita de Wendy and Txell Miras, amongst others, participated in creating this collection. But this time it goes beyond painted paper. Thanks to that experienced group of fashion designers, they dared to take their first steps into the textile design world. The result was some exquisite printed fabrics that marked the beginning of a new phase.

Their vision is a matter of principles. Their proposals are an expression medium which developing as a key aesthetic point. Thanks to the evolution of decorative arts and contemporary concepts such as design, the services they offer and products are also a way to communicate and understand the needs of the society, defining new environments and manners to understand people’s habits.

The intention of Tres Tintas Barcelona is to discover new gifted people but also to encourage designers to design painted paper and fabrics. Because they do not only offer painted paper; they are turning into a design production company and enter the world of home fabrics and accessories. And always with a contemporary vocation.

Tres Tintas feels an ethic responsibility as well. As a design-related company, they are responsible for preserving the creative culture. As far as their projects are concerned, they particularly support the development of designs created in Barcelona. Their cultural heritage is aimed at co-operating with regional educational institutions and associations. The business view is based on a sustainable development that creates values for the next generations. They feel that they must act with responsibility and respect, as far as environmental values are concerned. Moreover, they must be socially responsible, which implies to focus on the well-being of their employees, and demand such responsibility to both collaborators and suppliers.

Tres Tintas are innovative but not iconoclastic. As a result,they hire authentic and experienced artists that know how to interpret with a creative manner the basic ideas that are given to them. They make the most of the sensibility of the designers because they also encourage young, carefree and rather innovative spirits; and that’s why they give their collaborator complete freedom of expression.

Environmentally they are also responsible. Their painted paper has the Finland clean woods certificate which means that the raw material of their painted paper products comes from woods exploited for that purpose. Moreover, all of their painted papers are made with special inks, called water inks, which allow them to recycle the painted paper after removing it from walls. However... in order to achieve this, use recycle-friendly glues.

To find out more about Tres Tintas and where to purchase their product, please visit www.walnutwallpaper.com

House Industries - a clear message

2010-08-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Known throughout the world as a prolific type foundry, House Industries has made a considerable impact on the world of design. House Industries fonts scream from billboards, wish happy whatever from tens of thousands of greeting cards, serve as the basis for consumer product logos and add elements of style to a wide range of mainstream media. In their illustrious career, House artists have mastered a large cross-section of design disciplines. Their typography deftly melds cultural, musical and graphic elements. From early forays into distressed digital alphabets to sophisticated type and lettering systems, House Industries’ work transcends graphic conventions and reaches out to a broad audience. What ultimately shines in the House Industries oeuvre is what always conquers mediocrity: a genuine love for their subject matter. Be it hot rods, classically relevant lettering or Swiss Modernism, House continues to provide typographic optimism in this age of the lowest aesthetic common denominator

The House aesthetic has always been an unconscious one. Although a couple of us have fancy college art degrees, we’ve always considered ourselves blue-collar designers. The fact is, we were attracted to design before we knew what it really was. Exposure to graphic design came through assorted American sub-cultural phenomena from the past few decades, such as the hardcore music scene, skateboarding and video games. It also didn’t hurt to have pinstriping dads who built hot rods and older brothers who collected Mad magazine. Not surprisingly, mimicking Santa Cruz deck graphics was incredibly formative, as were the countless hours spent perfecting the interlocking letter forms of Priest and Maiden logos on notebook covers and jean jackets. We absorbed the lettering that surrounded us, even though it would be years until we were schooled enough to recognize that the Thrasher masthead was a stylized rendition of Banco.

As we became more formally educated about graphic design, our heroes appeared to be conspicuously absent from the history books. Where was Al Jaffee and Don Martin who illustrated serials for Mad or Norm Saunders who painstakingly painted many of the Wacky Packages stickers? Their work was not irrelevant or disposable; as far as we were concerned it represented real design. It wasn’t overly clever “design for designers;” it was honest commercial art accessible to everyday people, like us.

Naturally, House draws from areas of interest that introduced us to the world of unsophisticated graphic design. We prefer to create our own projects rather than to try to please art directors who insist that they want us to do our thing. More often than not, potential clients just want us to rehash our own stuff. Typefaces, textiles and other products allow us to produce the kind of design and illustration that work for hire really doesn’t give us the chance to do.

The font collections, in particular, provide an opportunity for House to draw attention to all of the under-appreciated art genres that made such an impact on us during our impressionable years. Beyond the vacuum of the latest inward-looking graphic design annuals are commercial art trades that are still insufficiently chronicled (if at all) by historians. Each House Industries project attempts to administer an art history lesson of sorts, and to share our appreciation for these influential design eras and practices. We also do our best to give credit where credit is due, often collaborating with the original artists who inspired us.

Invariably, “retro” is brought up when discussing our work. We’ve never been very fond of the “R” word; it’s thoughtlessly used to describe anything that references popular cultural imagery from the past few decades. Oddly, digital fonts based on early twentieth century metal type are appreciated as “typographic revival,” while fonts reminiscent of hand-lettered Fillmore concert posters are dismissed as “retro.” Go figure.

Truthfully, it is craft that is at the heart of everything we do. When a situation calls for an elaborately detailed painting or a quickly executed brush and ink illustration, that’s what we do. Sure, we could run a photo through a few computer filters or scan and auto-trace some found lettering, but it seems to us more direct and efficient to create artwork by traditional means. Not only is the hands-on approach more fulfilling for the artist, it generates loads of self-indulgent original artwork to hang around the office. (Besides, as we learned from Ed Roth, plastering our faces on everything does wonders for self-promotion.) Ultimately, we think that preserving characteristic production techniques while drawing from personal interests gives the unique flavor that makes the House Aesthetic one of a kind.

To find out more about House Industries or where to purchase their items, please visit http://www.houseind.com/

Danish artist Axel Salto

2010-08-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Axel Salto was a Danish artist born in 1889. He was quite possibly the most important designer of ceramic art in Denmark. Salto achieved a powerful expressiveness by exploiting form and surface. He interpreted motives from the plant world and created pieces with surface structures that rippled with dynamic energy and dramatic lines.

Salto worked in three main styles; budding, sprouting and living stone. He never abandoned his experiment with unusually rich glazes and evocative organic forms. Salto used Chinese and classic glazes such as the “solfatara” and “sung”, to clothe his organic creations.

For most of his career, Salto worked at Royal Copenhagen. This legendary manufacturer produced Salto’s designs from the 1930’s until after his death in 1961.

Salto’s artistic skills are also shown in graphic designs – he did illustrations for books, jewellery and textiles. He met Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse in Paris in 1916; a meeting that inspired him to launch an art paper called "Klingen" - together with e.g. Poul Henningsen - that made him one of the forerunners of Danish modernism. His breakthrough as a ceramist came after a successful contribution for the Paris World Exhibition in 1925 for which he designed a number of stoneware pieces for the Danish manufacturer Bing & Grondahl. He also won numerous awards throughout the years including the Grand Prix at the Milan Triennale 1951.

Salto is internationally esteemed for his organically shaped and ornamented stoneware. His surface textures seem to ripple or bubble with life... life that has been magnified for emphasis and glorious decorative effect.

His works can be purchased online at www.1stdibs.com/furniture_search.php?i_creator=Axel+Salto

A little bit of PuroPapel for your weekend!

2010-08-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Catalina Rojas is the founder and owner of PuroPapel. After studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, Catalina relocated to South Florida to be closer to her family. She now lives and works from her home studio in Key Biscayne. PuroPapel = ORIGIN Spanish Puro ’po-rõ, literally pure; absolute, complete. Papel pap-pel, a sheet of paper with something written or drawn on it.

PuroPapel is a young company born of the desire to help our customers bring together friends, family, loved ones and co-workers, with witty and appropriate messages. Their bespoken stationery products are created to fit the occasion and convey the sentiment of their customers. The aim of PuroPapel is to deliver your news, greetings, invitations and thank-you notes through the magic of handcrafted one-of-a-kind custom products. They firmly believe in detail and precision. This idea of this coupled with a daring design will create an exquisite and unique experience.

Owner Catalina, is known for her handcrafted one-of-a-kind custom paper collections. She is a designer with a unique balance of creative and technical expertise, coupled with a strong background in print. She has a stunning eye for color and form, and her contagious "joie de vivre" have made her a household name. She believes that it is "very important that my clients feel that they have input into the creative process" with her custom work. Achieving a good working relationship ensures a smooth design development and happy clients.

In today's society, our frantic, fast-paced lives, handwritten correspondence is often replaced with an e-mail, e-card or worse, text message. I for one, strongly believe that we should not forget the importance of taking the time to personalize a letter, invitation or announcement. Catalina agrees, it is her "mission is to preserve the art of handwritten correspondence".

To find out more about PuroPapel and where to purchase their product, please visit www.puropapel.bigcartel.com

Bladon Conner = Southern man, furniture maker, photographer :)

2010-08-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Bladon Conner is a Chicago furniture maker and designer, originally hailing from Southern Mississippi where he was educated in architecture. After a number of years in the corporate architecture setting, he took a chance on the hands-on world of furniture building.

Bladon got his start blending vintage furniture with photography – using his graphic images as veneers over discarded modern furniture. He continued his furniture education while remaking pieces for retail at Scout, Haus, and Post27. In the process he learned a variety of skills which allowed him to enter the world of custom furniture. The majority of his work these days is custom, often still using reclaimed materials but challenging them in unconventional ways.

Whether using photos or not, he creates pieces that explore the relationship between material and graphics, the boundary between 3-d and 2-d, form and surface. In this exploration he uses both conceptual and real tensions as spring boards for ideas. In his photography, it is the play between the crisp organization of architecture versus the chaos of graffiti art – which might wind up as cabinet doors or a lampshade. With materials it is, for example, the “interplay” of fire and wood, using a blowtorch to blacken and open the grain in some reclaimed floor boards – to then be used as a table top.

It’s the search for where these tensions and contradicting themes overlap, where they can exist in balance, that helps guide his process. The more contradicting, the harder the solution – but the more exciting the result.

He got his start with photography, and only began building furniture to explore the idea of using photographic veneers. Thus he has a large library of images available for purchase. These can be ordered as prints with sizes from 8x10 up to 30x40. Blandon also offers these drymounted, clearcoated, and framed with an aluminum edge. Additionally, these are images available for use in his furniture, such as the 'Frame' table, which is super cool!

As far as his photography, his most widely photographed cities are New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, London, and Rome, as well as a variety of other locations throughout Italy, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and the South of France.

To find out more about Bladon or where to purchase his amazing product, please visit http://www.bladonconner.com/

American Painter... Cy Twombly

2010-08-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Cy Twombly was born 1928 in Lexington, Virginia. From 1948 to 1951, he studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Washington and Lee University, Lexington; and the Art Students League, New York, where he met Robert Rauschenberg. At Rauschenberg’s encouragement, he attended Black Mountain College, near Asheville, North Carolina, in 1951 and 1952, where he studied under Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, and Ben Shahn. Building on the freedom afforded by the previous generation, the younger artists emphasised libidinal energy integrated through experience.

In 1962, he painted a work that illustrates many of the abiding engagements of his practice. "Untitled" is divided into two zones by a horizontal line about two thirds of the way up. Across the bottom edge of the canvas, Twombly has scribbled a textual fragment gleaned from the poet Sappho: “But their heart turned cold + they dropped their wings.” The phrase, suggesting a hovering between higher and lower realms, conjures up a distant classical realm, even as the grappling, awkward hand renders the words materially present.

In the upper third of the canvas, the artist provides a code for viewing: a white circle swirled with pink is labelled “blood”; an aggressive red “x” reads “flesh”; a glutinous dollop of brown paint, “earth” or possibly “youth”; a delicate disc of wispy white paint, “clouds”; and a shiny coin-shaped form in graphite pencil, “mirror”. Beneath this code, Twombly has rendered, within a drawn frame, an array of possibilities for mark-making per se, as though to set them apart from the more direct references of words.

Although his work resonates strongly with generations of younger artists, ranging from Brice Marden to Richard Prince to Tacita Dean to Patti Smith, it has a general propensity to polarise its audience between perplexity and unbridled admiration. Additionally, the critical and historical reception has seemed to describe two Twomblys – one about form, the other about content.

For eight months spanning 1952–1953 Twombly and Rauschenberg travelled through Europe and north Africa, joined for a while by the writer Paul Bowles. Upon returning to New York, Rauschenberg set up the Fulton Street studio that Twombly sometimes shared. Eleanor Ward invited the two artists to exhibit at her Stable Gallery.

In 1957, having built a bridge of connections with Italian artists showing frequently at the Stable Gallery, Twombly left again for Italy, where he would remain for the most part, though making frequent trips, including many to the States. He established a studio in Rome overlooking the Colosseum and wrote a short statement for the Italian art journal L’Esperienza moderna, which was to remain the sole published reflection on his own work until 2000, when he was interviewed by David Sylvester. In the statement, Twombly describes his process: “Each line is now the actual experience with its own innate history. It does not illustrate – it is the sensation of its own realisation.”

In 1959 Twombly executed some of the most spare works of his career, among them the 24 drawings that comprise Poems to the Sea, done on the coast of Italy at Sperlonga. What order of poems, punctuated with numerals and question marks, are these? The sea is reduced to horizon line and word, scribblings and veils of paint against the stark white of paper. A persistent compulsion is invoked in the viewer, the desire to read what is there, but not fully manifest in the artist’s scrawled script. Two words in these drawings emerge into legibility, “time”and “Sappho”, as if washed up on the beach alongside sudden, subtle gem-flashes of colour – blue, orange-yellow, pink – gleaming all the more because of their discretion.

In the autumn of 1960 Twombly had his first solo show at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York. Moving into the 1960s, thick and florid colour comes into his work, along with multiple classical references. During the prolific summer of 1961, he reached a fever pitch, a colouristic crescendo in the Ferragosto paintings. A thickly encrusted palette of brown, pink and red takes on a viscerality paired in the work with a body parcelled into pictograms: pendulous breasts, erupting penises, scatological posteriors. From 1961 to 1963 mythological motifs appear with increasing insistence: Leda and the Swan, Venus, Apollo, Achilles. This line of investigation culminated in 1963 with a series of works called Nine Discourses on Commodus, an obscure portrait of the megalomaniacal Roman emperor conceived while Twombly was reading the French novelist Alain Robbe-Grillet and looking at the paintings of Francis Bacon. These works were shown at Castelli in 1964, to a New York art world which had by then turned to Pop and Minimalism.

Following this exhibition, Twombly’s American enthusiasm ebbed for a number of years. The situation was quite different in Europe, where his work remained a critical success. Nevertheless, the Commodus exhibition represents a crucial moment of rupture in the artist’s career, for, as he commented, it made him “the happiest painter around for a couple of years: no one gave a damn what I did”.Approaching the end of the 1960s, Twombly employed a monochrome grey ground.

Beginning in 1975 and continuing into the present, Twombly has been working towards increasingly integrated combinations of text and image; of lines – both written and drawn – and colour. The repeated returns to the rich resources of classical mythology have remained the complications of his work. He employs myth as yet another form in conjunction with painting, drawing and writing. He sometimes suggests myth’s first seminal stirring, letting only hermetic fragments come to the surface as names from the past: Hero and Leander, Orpheus, Bacchus. At other times he offers a full-blown line or verse burdened with all of its cultural and poetic associations like a tree overripe with fruit. Roberto Calasso has written of the Greek myths: “All the powers of the cult of gods have migrated into a single, immobile and solitary act: that of reading.” Twombly’s caveat, however, would be that the gods’ powers lie not in a single act, but in the mobilisation of the space between reading and seeing.

To find out more about Cy Twombly or where to view more of his work, please visit http://www.cytwombly.info/

An eye for beauty in nature... Renee Treml

2010-08-12T08:05:00.000-07:00

Renee Treml has any eye for nature and it's beauty. She seeks to capture the subtle details of it in her paintings. Details like the delicate weave of a bird's nest, or the curious look of a fledgling bird. The type of things that might otherwise go unnoticed. Treml's paintings feature birds and animals that are local to her current environment and through her paintings she hopes to make the viewer more aware of the environment around them.

While living in North Carolina, Treml's inspiration came from time spent volunteering at the Piedmont Wildlife Center Hospital in Durham, as well as her visits to the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte. Observing birds in their natural setting.

Treml and her husband moved to Brisbane/Queensland,Australia at the end of 2007. She is currently working on new paintings and scratchboards that feature native Australian wildlife.

Primarily she works with three medias: scratchboard, acrylic mixed media and watercolor. For the scratchboard illustrations, she paints black ink on smooth clayboard and scratches away the ink to reveal the white background. For the mixed media paintings, Treml creates collaged backgrounds using pages from retired books and handmade papers. She then paints directly on top of the collage allowing some of the background to show through the paint. Like many artist, Treml also paints with watercolors. She often uses textured clayboard and watercolor canvas for these pieces.

To find out more about Renne Treml and where to purchase her work, please visit www.reneesartwork.com

Paper has never been so exciting... meet Andy Singleton!

2010-08-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Andy Singleton is a Brit with an amazingly creative mind. He's a paper artist and illustrator based in Wakefield, England. He studied Animation with Illustration at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating in 2006. His work is an exploration of both the natural and man-made world through intricate paper cuttings and hand drawn illustrations. Singleton currently works on commercial and personal projects from his studio at Westgate Studios, in West Yorkshire, England.

Through hyper detailed illustrations, Singleton conveys the push and pull between real and imaginary. His inspiration comes from popular culture such as: comics, films, books, interesting graphics, street art, eastern art, architecture and nature. Through conscious and unconscious observation of these subjects, he instinctively collects ideas and then communicates them, using hand drawn, paper cut and digital image creation.

His work is like none other that I have seen and the precision cuts, and intricate shapes are incredible. Besides his commissioned work for Roots Cafe, Lazerian Furniture, Smithfield Clothing, and the Ruben Wood Hair Salon, Singleton produces t-shirts, prints and books.

His t-shirts on etsy are hand screen printed T-shirts for the Ex Virtus clothing label. Each design is a limited edition hand screen print on quality American Apparel T-shirts. Love them :)

The book he created "Organic/Mechanics" is a retrospective compilation of early illustrations by Singleton. The images are all taken from a single sketch book from 2005.

To find out more about Andy Singleton and purchase his work, please visit

www.etsy.com/shop/andysingleton

Incredible little delights from the Yellow Owl Workshop

2010-08-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

Christine Schmidt and her hubby Evan Gross are the founders and owners of the Yellow Owl Workshop. Based in San Francisco, California, the Yellow Owl Workshop creates limited edition paper goods, note cards, postcard sets, ceramics, rubber stamp sets, prints, jewelry and other great items for your home.

Christine received her BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and has exhibited across the United States. She handles the designs and Evan handles just about everything else.

Ready for the gallery wall, but formatted for everyday enjoyment, each article is made by hand with expert craft. Yellow Owl Workshop endeavors to create the most eco-lovin' products by using use non-toxic water-based inks, 100% PCW recycled paper and our own mitts for screen printing.

Their designs are fresh and retro at the same time. Many of their images bring me back to my childhood with fond memories. There is a bit of humor in what they do and what they choose to use for imagery. I have to say, I also really like the European flair on some of their items, it's a nice twist. Yellow Owl Workshop items are not only functional and something to have a staples for day to day, but they make great gifts too!

To find out more about the Yellow Owl Workshop and purchase their designs, please visit www.yellowowlworkshop.com

A ceramic treat from down under! Toni Park

2010-08-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Toni Park is a ceramic artist based in Brisbane, Australia. She creates tactile, textured work that seek an aesthetic sympathy, using colour and texture to communicate stories, feelings and thoughts. Park focuses on two main areas of her craft, three dimensional wall art and wheel-thrown functional work. Park says she finds a "unique and happy balance" in her work and in herself by jumping back and forth between these areas.

Working mostly with porcelain in various forms, Park uses the clay as a canvas. "The bright white smooth surface suits me well, my work leaps off the simple canvas through the use of carvings, colours and textures". She continues, "I also like how much can be added to porcelain to change any number of characteristics". She alters the clean appearance of the porcelain, by adding stains, rough grog and other clays.

Park has traveled all over the world since she was little, she says her experiences inspired many of her choices and tastes. "You can absorb so much from other countries, cultures and people, not to mention how much it makes you open your eyes and really "SEE"". I think what she means by this is, realizing and recognizing others. I think we typically forget to keep looking around ourselves when we get comfortable in our own environment. Once you break down that wall, you begin to view things like a child full of wonder again.

Park says that she quickly learned, what she liked and disliked. She likes to "use those influences to inform my work". She continues, "hopefully it connects with other people and their tastes". I do too! After all, that's what life is all about, connection.

To find out more about Toni Park or where to purchase her work, please visit www.udessi.com.au

Placemats...a Modern-twist

2010-08-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

Kat Nouri is the owner & founder of Modern-twist, a San Franciso based design company. Kat has an eye for style and a passion for versatile contemporary design. Bringing art to the table via collaborations with independent artists and designers, Kat is a pioneer in the use of food-grade, hand-silkscreened, silicone. Offering a minimalist design aesthetic, Modern-twist home accessories exhibit unmatched elegance and innovation in the design and use of silicone.

With a background in U.S. manufacturing, Nouri strives to manufacture Modern-twist products responsibly. U.S. and overseas manufacturers that produce Modern-twist products share a common goal in respecting the environment, workers and consumers. With a steadfast commitment to making goods for a more sustainable world, Modern-twist donates a percentage of the proceeds of all products to environmentally & socially conscious organizations. That makes me smile :)

The items Modern-twist offers is limited to placemats, drink/glass markers, and doilies, but the patterns are both playful and plentyful.

With Modern-twists placemats, you can reveal the natural grain of a tabletop with this simple, clean design. The non-intrusive graphics are intended to enhance the beauty of the table while providing subtle visual interest that doesn't interfere with dishes or other tabletop items. Made from hand silk-screened, food-grade silicone, the Modern-twist placemat is available in botanical, nature-inspired and other beautiful patterns. With a minimalist aesthetic, this eco-chic placemat is designed for optimal functionality with an easy-to-clean, non-porous, germ-free surface.

The fun comes by collaborating with unique talents from the independent art scene, Modern-twist brings art to even the littlest table. Made from silky food-grade, hand silk-screened silicone, the mats won’t crease or rip. The mats are ideal for travel and mealtime activities. The kid’s placemats feature creative, playful designs that will amuse and inspire little tikes. For parents who live a design-inspired lifestyle, the simple, clean design provides optimal functionality with a minimalist aesthetic. Nurturing the inner artist in every child, the mats are doodle-friendly with the use of washable or dry erase markers—save paper/save trees, just clean off with a damp cloth or rinse. Color again and again.

Again, by collaborating with unique talents from the independent art scene, Modern-twist brings art to even the littlest table. Made from silky food-grade, hand silk-screened silicone, the mats won’t crease or rip. The mats are ideal for travel and mealtime activities. The kid’s placemats feature creative, playful designs that will amuse and inspire little tikes. For parents who live a design-inspired lifestyle, the simple, clean design provides optimal functionality with a minimalist aesthetic. Nurturing the inner artist in every child, the mats are doodle-friendly with the use of washable or dry erase markers—save paper/save trees, just clean off with a damp cloth or rinse. Color again and again.

to find out more about Modern-Twist and their super cute products, please visit www.modern-twist.com

The Mumbai surprise by architect firm Khanna Schultz

2010-08-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Vrinda Khanna and Robert Schultz both graduates of the Yale School of Architecture, are the husband and wife team that make up Khanna Schultz. Based in Brooklyn, New York, the firm works in a variety of cultures and settings. Khanna Schultz has completed projects ranging from private residences to multi-story office towers in locations as diverse as rural India and the New Jersey shore.

They have a special interest in shifting perceptions of scale, both within a building, and between a building and its surroundings. Construction and detailing are a source of inspiration, balanced by a playful sensibility toward form and color. They follow the philosophy, that inventive design must be grounded in a clear and realistic reading of client program, budget, schedule, and site.

Seeking to harmoniously integrate a modern aesthetic into the varied architectural vernaculars of Mumbai, India, the Brooklyn-based firm Khanna Schultz, conceptualized a stacked, seven-unit apartment building for a developer, one that incorporates traditional elements with contemporary approaches.

The perforated aluminum cladding surrounds the lower-level public area, which contains the pools and gym for the tenants. Khanna and Schultz played with the idea of using stainless steel, but found that aluminum had the appropriate strength for the building's needs. "With the lights glowing from inside, it turns the whole building into a big lantern at night," says Schultz.

The entrance leads to an open walkway, sitting area and mail area beneath the open-air public floor of the building.

Somewhat by chance, the apartment building's aluminum core references the perforations of the house next door; its interior breezeways also echo those of the neighboring structure.

The aluminum cladding was left its original silver color; Khanna and Schultz note that it reflects the surrounding colors and can read anywhere in the spectrum from blue to white.

A view from the street reveals the front and side elevations of the building, with somewhat of an architectural refrain of perforations running up the side of the apartments. The balconies, made from a recycled Indian railway hardwood, employ closely linked slats whose gaps widen as they go up, to allow breeze and light in.

Up until recently the neighborhood had been freestanding houses, but the general development in Mumbai means more and more are being replaced with apartment buildings, which keeps the scale of this project pretty small—coconut palm and banyan trees are still taller," says Schultz.

Looking back from the lobby area toward the street; the sidewalk is just beyond the wall at rear. At right is a bench for the residents; at left are the mailboxes, for which Khanna and Schultz chose a bright orange. The pair worked with Forethought Design Consultants on the landscaping, which will eventually grow more lush and provide additional privacy. "In this climate, within a year, it will be completely filled in," says Schultz.

A mirror near the mailboxes in the lobby gives the illusion of more space. A team from Lighting Planners Associates, based in Japan, added the uplights behind the bench for effect. The architectural firm left the ceilings raw concrete to make the space "more enigmatic," says Schultz.

The aluminum casing creates a play of light and shadows as the sun moves across the building. A lap pool, at right, spills over into the main pool

An interplay of geometries in what Khanna calls "the belly of the building." Uplights create new angles of light, raw concrete retains a rough edge and square pool tiles add texture and color while offsetting the perforated circles. The dropped ceiling at right is part of a small balcony overlooking the pools; beneath it is a sitting area.

The owner's apartment, which incorporates a double-height space in some areas, has teak floors, whereas the other units have more industrial concrete floors.

The side elevation of the building shows the seven 2,500-square-foot apartments, including the owner's two-level penthouse apartment, stacked above the common area downstairs.

To find out more about the Khanna Schultz firm and to view more of their projects, please visit

http://www.khanna-schultz.com/

Noah would have been proud - Modern Arks

2010-07-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

MODERN ARKS is mixes old and new aesthetics, in the design of contemporary furniture and artwork using re-claimed and recycled relics to create one of a kind pieces. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee and create original furniture, wall art, notebooks and postcards. Their work is a great way to discover unique re-purposed wood products, hand screened prints.

Their shipping crate side tables, is a favorite. By using beautiful vintage crates to create unique side tables with an authentically weathered patina, these are one-of-a-kind and perfectly worn in. These beautifully recycled antiques maintain the character of historic relics, while creating a new and useful product that is truly unique.

Their furniture and artwork will fit in a range of interior design decor, and are guaranteed to spark conversation. For instance, "The Shipping Crate Side Table," is just that. Made from an Early American shipping crate, this simple yet elegant table leg structure are combined to create truly unique pieces suitable for any home. The use of authentic antique crates ensures that no two are alike and re-purposing these historic crates ensures they are appreciated for years to come. Each leg assembly is made especially for the unique crate that it supports. Sized to fit snugly under the crate, gravity makes sure the table works, while making it possible to slide the crate off unharmed. Each piece is truly one-of-a-kind and limited to one. Hand stamped for quality, these tables are sturdy and beautiful.

Another favorite is the "Modern Arks Notebook." These beautiful, antique books are re-purposed into new and useful notebooks. This "untitled" but very elegant book is an authentic vintage books. Each book has been well used, but the beautiful and unique hard cloth book covers are re-purposed into a truly one-of-a-kind notebook. This notebook contains about 40 pages and is a mix of plain white and engineering grid paper. It is handmade and stamped and limited to one.They don't make beautiful book covers like this anymore. It's a conversation starter at school or work, and a rugged and reliable notebook for your everyday use!

To find out more about Modern Arks, or where to purchase their items, please visit www.modernarks.net

Essentials for living... 10 Grain

2010-07-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

10 Grain is a California based design company inspired by place and driven by a belief that great design should be part of everyday life. What a concept! They strive to create essential products that provide timeless solutions for sustainable, yet simple living. I think you'll find that their designs are relaxed, but obvious in regard to function and purpose offering flexible solutions for the evolving domestic landscape.

They design and produce furniture for kids, as well as grown ups. Their focused and dedicated team, has a cumulative 70 years of experience in the furniture industry. This extensive background enables 10 Grain to provide the best possible, quality product that weaves seamlessly into the home and translates effortlessly to all audiences.

10 Grain products are designed to create useful and elegant solutions for everyday living . They use reductive designs, which are expressed in timeless forms that recognize a product’s usefulness and necessity while exhibiting the beauty and honesty of its material. It is this design approach coupled with a deep understanding and passion for manufacturing that drives a collaborative process at 10 Grain, resulting in affordable products with total clarity of form + function. They view their products in terms of longevity, not fad in which great design and fun are mutually celebrated. 10 Grain products are designed and produced to last a lifetime and endure the rigors of use for years to come.

While 10 Grains furniture for adults is nice and eequally pleasing to the eye, I decided to focus on their line of kids stuff, including a line which incorporates designer Paul Frank. The first piece is the "Play Pad". Setting out to design a modern dollhouse, designer Eric Pfeiffer turned to his daughter’s mini play dwelling, which, after years of use, now served as an awkward table. With that in mind, the Play Pad took form as a groovy, diminutive domicile scaled and stout enough to serve as a side table for a light or books yet, still embracing its basic purpose. Move over Barbie, we’re moving in!

Next we have the "Lounge Desk," where you can sit, store, write. I love furniture that does the unexpected. The Lounge Desk could be a great chair for kids or even adults, but hidden in it’s form is a unique backrest surface ideal for little projects or for aspiring authors and an under seat shelf serves as a cubby for shoes and books. 10 Grain tried to capture the essence of this design in the name Lounge Desk, but it continues to surprise.

Equally as cool is the "Robo Stool." Here, fun + function is in a simple form. This stackable utility stool is a versatile hybrid and smarter that most robots. The detailed cutouts on each side create an animated face that makes you smile and serve as handles for kids to move the stool wherever they need a little lift or a place to rest.

The "Pop Stick Chair" is as cool as a Popsicle on a warm, sunny day. Serving as an inspiration for this durable chair, the Popsicle stick harkens feelings of tasty, well thought out design. This sweet chair is lightweight and has a convenient handle, making it a great seat for the tiniest of tikes to transport and chill out in their favorite spot.

The "Chalkboard Table" is a durable set, which includes one sturdy table and two stools. With a chalkboard surface to draw on, this table is bound to inspire the young artist in every family.

In their collaboration with designer Paul Frank, they accented his kids line "Small Paul" for this "Slice Step." Sometimes happiness is as simple as a step up to the counter! The Slice Step is an essential household item ready to empower kids with 12” of growing power and an easy to grab handle. A staple for every bathroom or kitchen, trips to the cookie jar have never been easier :)

Another item they did with Frank is the "Small Paul Spots." This simply put is a wall party! Each kit includes 80 movable and reusable spots featuring Julius and Friends in action. Application is a simple three-step process of peel, place then smooth with your hand. What a great way to transform any dull space! Small Paul Spots will adhere to any clean, smooth surface without pretreatment. To rearrange, carefully peel off each image and reposition, then smooth with your hand. Easy stuff and a great look!

To find out more about 10 Grain and where to purchase their

products for kids young and old,

please visit www.10grain.com

It's SWARM by Leslie Ocshmann

2010-07-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Leslie Oschmann is an American living in Amsterdam. Her passion for art began at 5, when she assisted her dad at his carpentry shop. She has since honed her skill and created Swam. Swarm is a company in Amsterdam, a natural progression for her, since her father was Dutch. Here Leslie uses reclaimed objects to make new ones. Found objects in dutch markets, a french home or a Belgian shop, create something rare and unexpected, not too mention beautiful. By preserving the natural charm of a piece, she reveals the new users to its beauty. She does this by re-inventive use and manipulation of juxtaposed materials ie; linen on wood, silk on oil painting and stitching on canvas.

One of her recent series was “oil paintings on chairs” – a collection of old chairs made new by covering them in vintage oil paintings. Her juxtapositions are stunning, the effect: spectacular, and her chairs have not only featured in magazines around the world but were bought by renown retailers Anthropologie. Leslie was also the Visual Director for the chain as well.

Besides the chairs, Leslie also makes tables, bags, embellished paintings, chests and various furniture pieces. The most accessible and amazing part of what she makes, is her bags! I’m smitten. I love every single one of these bags. The idea of using an old painting, no doubt with a story and making an incredible new bag is so much fun! I really think that it will make you look at vintage paintings a little differently, especially the ones that you find at flea markets that could use a little love.

To find out more about Leslie or where to purchase her items, please visit www.swarmhome.com

2010-07-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

Christen Maxwell is the daughter of merchants, who found her passion for home products while being raised in her parents' housewares store. She's a New Englander who recently found herself in the Big Apple. She received her BFA in Product Design from Parson's, the New School for Design. Maxwell has worked as a Product Design & Retail Development Consultant, as well as a Buyer and Visual Merchandiser. Christen recently (very recently) launched her first private collection this Summer, simply called Christen Maxwell. Christen Maxwell is a home collection for living. Her inspiration is taken from travel, art, history, and strangely enough for an artist, mathmetics. Maxwell's products depict modern abstractions of culture and nature.

Maxwell's Design Philosophy is to "design timeless, well-made objects that transform houses into homes." She finds that using only the purest materials, timeless designs and a sophisticated color palate- every product added to the collection builds upon the overall look and lifestyle brand. Thus creating liveable, modern, objects fit for almost any habitat.

At Christen Maxwell, they do not only design finished products, they also manufacture custom objects as well and all goods are created to their high standards. She is proud to note that all goods are made in the USA, with exception to the collection of baskets made in Senegal.

The collection of sweetgrass and recycked plastic baskets are handmade in Senegal (Western Africa) by working mothers. Maxwell works closely with a former native of Senegal, who is also new to NY. She travels between Senegal and the States monthly to ensure that the designs are consistant and mother's are well taken care of. Maxwell also co-designs with the local artisans of Senegal to create a collaborate, cultural, global product. The product itself is both an enonomic and eco-friendly revival for Senegal. Teaching business practices to the women, while keeping the craft alive with the younger generation. By removing plastic out of harms reach in the feilds and providing fabulous, vibrant colors and timeless patterns, true to their culture.

Besides the baskets from Senegal, Christen Maxwell produces pillows, lighting, fabric buy the yard and custom objects, such as bedding. She hopes to expand on her line as it grows and flourishes.To find out more about Christen Maxwell, please visist

www.christenmaxwell.com

2010-07-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

When it comes to cupcakes, Ming Thompson is a master. What makes her even more interesting is that Ming is a recent graduate with a Masters in Architecture, at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She currently works as an exhibition designer and curator in New Haven, Connecticut. But you can also find these delicious bites online (website listed below). I can't think of two more creative fields than architecture and baking.

Ming Makes Cupcakes is her company in which there are 31 different cupcake recipes. They range from classics like Red Velvet (a personal favorite) with Buttercream Frosting or Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting to more unique flavors like Flourless Beet Cupcakes with Whipped Cream or Port Wine and Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes with Marscapone Frosting.

Ming also makes little treats for the mouth that she calls "Savouries" - like the Corn Bread with Goat Cheese and Bacon cupcake or the Cheddar Scallion cupcakes with Whipped Cream Cheese. I just got hungry typing this!

If you're a baker, it will be incredibly inspiring to you. She uses unique ingredients at it seems that people have been premature in predicting the death of the cupcake fad. Personally speaking, there is something irresistible about those little bites of cake. For more mouth watering details, if the photos haven't done it for you...

you can visit Ming's website at

http://www.mingmakescupcakes.yolasite.com/

New York state of mind - Todd Bracher

2010-07-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

Todd Bracher is a native New Yorker who is a Designer and Educator currently based in New York City. When he was 27 years old, Bracher wanted to play for the New York Yankees. Only problem, Todd doesn't play baseball. He designs furniture, and in his world, the Yankees are an Italian furniture company called Zanotta. He is the principle and founder of Todd Bracher Studio and while he's "back home" in NY, Todd spent ten years working in Copenhagen, Milan, Paris and London. His works have been curated by some of the most prestigious brands around the world from furniture design and table top, to interiors and architecture. Todd's work has been included in major exhibitions around the world and has been pinned as “America’s next Great Designer’ by the NY Daily news among several nominations for Designer of the year in 2008 and 2009. His experience ranges from working independently, heading Tom Dixon’s design studio, acting as Professor of Design at L’ESAD in Reims France, to co-founding of the experimental collaboration ‘to22’, to most recently his appointment as Creative Director of the luxury brand Georg Jensen.

For Todd, it all started strangely enough a few days after Sept. 11th, "I was thinking, Why should I feel good about making a sofa?," says Bracher, (who was just crowned 2008 New Designer of the Year at New York's International Contemporary Furniture Fair). He continues, "They were all very serious and they asked if I ever designed anything before. I said, ‘No, not for production.' They just stared. Twenty minutes later, while I was waiting for the bus, they called, laughing. They wanted to make it. I was floored." The piece in question is the Freud sofa. It shot to notoriety and shortly after its introduction, knockoffs appeared at Ikea and West Elm. Bracher became the first American designer of a Zanotta product.

Object design is never this easy. It's one of the most cutthroat industries in existence, where designers don't get paid for their work unless it gets produced. Often, a designer's best work never gets manufactured.

Furniture companies will commission work from a designer and then ask other designers to make the same product in a design competition to see whose prototype looks best, selecting only the product they prefer. No one gets paid except the winner. Ten or more designers can compete for the same object. Designers don't ever know against whom they're competing. It's also rare for a piece of high-end furniture to make it to fabrication. Zanotta, for example, gets 300 proposals per week for furniture pieces. They produce only one chair, one table and one couch per year. Typically, designers get paid 3%-5% royalties on each product sold, with their estate enjoying payment for 50 years past a designer's death. "It's a crazy system," says Bracher, who is also the design director for Jaguar cars. "But that's the way it is. You find a way to be creative. You have to really want it."

Stick, derived from the beauty of a walking stick insect and the curiosity of a deep sea angler fish, STICK is in essence an insignificant tube and miniature LED disguised as a lamp.

The Dome lamp, inspired by the phases of the moon and its contrast between light and shadow.

As found in nature, the essential. A skeletal approach with a minimal amount of material, Darwinian. The design of the T-no1 is as follows; A surface for function, ribs to support the surface, a spine to hold the ribs and legs to bring the construction off the floor. Nothing more, nothing less.

Publishers invest in beautiful book cover artwork that become lost when the book is stored on the bookshelf. SLIM uses angled vertical elements that allow the storage of books in such a way to reveal a wonderful patchwork of book covers to the room. This unique approach allows for a very slim form that easily finds place in the home.

To find out more about Todd Bracher or where to purchase his products, please visit www.toddbrahcer.net