G’day everyone!  How ’bout ya’ll raise your hands if you remember that monster Olympic-sized post I wrote on Tuesday?  Remember how it was the longest blog post ever in the history of mankind?  So, keeping that in mind, how do you feel about a slightly significantly shorter post today?  No go?  Hmmmm… what if I promise lots of pretty pictures?  Deal?  Deal.  Let’s go.

I have come to learn something recently which will undoubtedly shake you all to your core:  Ligne Roset carries several pieces of furniture.  True!  I know we all love to swoon over the Togo (I’m looking at you, Raina) but believe it or not, they actually have a very extensive line of lovely pieces.  And behind every line of great furniture stands a great designer.  Ok, they have several designers they work with but today we’re focusing on one: Inga Sempe.

Ligne Roset unveiled it’s newest piece, the Ruche, by designer Igna Sempe this week at the imm cologne

A simple, upholstered quilt is draped over a basic frame to create the newest piece.  And, since we’re channeling Raina today, I will ask your thoughts please.

The Ruche is not Sempe’s first piece for Ligne Roset, she has designed several including the Moel sofa and chair (shown above) as well as the Lampyre, the Long Pot, and Lunatique: a telescoping table.

Sempe’s portfolio also contains this gem, designed for quirky Italian furniture makers, Edra

Edra let Sempe get away with these shelves as well, which, btw, I find delightful.

One of my favorite pieces by Sempe is this pleated hanging lamp for Cappelinni.  Designed in 2003 and still stunning as can be 7 years later.

I’m also enchanted with her high pleated lamp, also for Cappellini

And you know what, dudes?  That’s all I’ve got for today.

It’s the Monday before Thanksgiving and I know what’s on your collective mind: turkey and giblets. You were daydreaming about giblets, right? Because I really sense a giblet zeitgeist sweeping the nation… no? Well, I have been known to be wrong. Occasionally. Anyway, I should be preparing for the annual Thanksgiving trek, which will be made exponentially more interesting this year by the presence of a certain 4 month old someone during the six hour drive to Texarkana, but instead I have Black Friday on the brain. It’s not that I believe sales are more important than family, it’s just that I’m still on a decorating kick and I stumbled onto something I want, and damned if I’m paying full price for it (because I’m broke). Also, if you were trying to decide what to buy me for Christmas, here you go:

I know! It’s so… normal. So reasonable at $68. So very much not a bedazzled reindeer skull. But this colorblock rug from Urban Outfitters represents a little slice of inspiration for me. I think I want to redo my bedroom. You know — the bedroom I’ve never showed you because it’s so two years ago. I could keep most of my furniture in my fantasy redo, but I’m going to need a new headboard and linens. And a new rug. Me likey this one. It feels kinda Bauhaus to me. But I need it to go on sale because that other stuff ain’t gonna be free, and you know I just redid the dining room, and when The Hunny reads this he is going to KILLKILLKILL.

I digress. Sort of. You see, after I found this rug, I started looking at UO’s other offerings, and you know — they have some good stuff.

Like these pillows. I’ll take the top one, and maybe if Karly is nice, she’ll get the bottom one for a Christmas present. I’m a very giving person.

I would also like to give myself this origami quilt. I’m a bit concerned about the flowery underside, but I think overall it would do a swell job covering the futon in my office.

I could give this bench to Ike for his room, because I’m sure it tops every four month old’s Christmas list.

I tell you, The Hunny has just been slavering over this cotton Rorschach rug a la Andy Warhol, and who am I to deny his dreams? Of course, I wouldn’t put it on the floor. It would make a much better wall hanging or upholstery material.

I’m sure there’s someone out there who really needs this Rya style shag rug, but no one’s going to buy a 4×6 rug for $198, Urban Outfitters. Put that baby on sale!

I am really digging the arty prints and finishes on lots of UO’s home goods. I wouldn’t be mad if someone gave me this paint splatter vase.

However, I am wondering what you dudes think about this Painter’s Chair, so called because it’s covered in… paint. It’s $298. Thoughts?

And, ok, I know it’s not related to interiors, but I had to show you UO’s Booty Buddy Blanket. THAT IS A SNUGGIE. And yet I find it repulsively compelling…. This confirms my suspicion that Snuggies might actually be awesome if they came in nicer prints.

While I’m busy twiddling my thumbs waiting for some of this stuff to go on sale, you might want to head over and check out the home goods UO already has on sale, like Alexander Girard quilts for DIRT CHEAP (if you like that sort of thing),  good deals on kilim rugs, and cute lamps. It’s never to early to start Christmas shopping. For yourself. I mean for others.

Ah – the weekend. For some, a break from the nine to five bore and snore. Families are pumpkin picking, men are losing bets over football, and classes take a backseat as college students booze. Wait, I’m in college, so where’s my vodka bramble? Oh ya, that’s right.. I’m in grad school – different kind of college. My weekend gets sucked into a big vacuum made by Hoover, model name ”all work and no sleep”, and the remains? Well there are none. The lack of weekend begins Friday evening after leaving my assistantship to go straight to an artist’s lecture. I return to my pad around 9:30, work on half drop repeats until the early morn, and then go back to my assistantship for the Saturday gallery hours of 11-4.

I admit, I make it sound grueling, but every second is worth it when I realize how surreal it is. The home of my assistantship is a 7,000 square foot sprawling ranch called The Design Center. Think Case Study Houses, or the Singleton Residence, now you’ve got the idea. This gem of a house was inhabited by Goldie Paley, the founder of CBS’ mother (a.k.a mom-in-law to style icon Babe Paley), before being donated to my university. TDC contains a huuuuge textile archive, as well as textile-manufacturing relics, apparel, and three lovely ladies behind the scenes. As if this isn’t enough to overwhelm the midwest doe-eyed girl in me, the Design Center also has gallery space where the lace-inspired work of three international artists resides: Demakersvan, Tord Boontje, and Cal Lane.

Ok ok, I’ll stop gushing and show you the damn pictures. First we have Tord. As you can imagine, hours and hours went into making this raffia curtain:

Tord’s Design Studio was well-known for their beautiful light fixtures for artecnica prior to this exhibition.

Above: Midsummer Light, www.unicahome.com

Above: Come Rain Come Shine Light, www.unicahome.com

Below: Garland Light  (Give me this, now, in black please):

Good stuff, huh?

But check these one of a kind bad boys out:

Tord’s maquettes of raffia designs, based on Quaker Lace sample(in top of photo):

Tord didn’t stop at the raffia curtain and light fixtures.

How would you feel about this being front and center in your living room?

Yes.  This is a couch.  Yes, I’ve sat in it.  Yes, It’s super comfy.

above photos: courtesy of The Design Center

With his lace-making approach to the couch, Tord has created a (very) modern
rendition of a Victorian love seat, IMHO:

Furniture I found outside of Tord’s Lace in Translation work includes the Shadowly Armchair / Chaise Lounge:

www.unicahome.com

Which brings me back to one of Erin’s finds, a hooded wicker chair from her Round Top Round Up.

Enough with Tord, onward to Cal.  Cal Lane that is.  She’s Canadian, and pretty much amazing.  She’s the artist whose lecture I mentioned above.  I had seen her work in these next three photos before I saw her Lace in Translation work, which you may be familiar with also:

That’s some durrrrty lace

Seeing her work in person, not to mention at the place I work at, is ten times better than any photograph:

Cal used a Quaker Lace Sample from the Design Center’s collection as the inspiration for her burnout pattern in the grass (which as a result of mulching, I was able to give my classmates a whole new way to experience her work: through the smell of cow.)

The same design was used for her massive oil drum sculpture atop the pool.

above photos:  courtesy of The Design Center

Like I said, amazing, right??  Well, that’s my rant.  Back to my unweekend plans of relaxing print work.  Ciao.

The Lace in Translation Exhibition runs September 24th through April 3^rd. Visit www.laceintranslation.com for details.

Friends, I’m feeling a bit like a Harlem Globetrotter juggling basketballs in a Scooby Doo special celebrity episode, except that I am not special, nor am I a celebrity. I’m just a sleep deprived wreck of a new mom that hasn’t showered in days, but at least the baby’s diaper is clean and there is food in his mouth. Don’t think too carefully about that last bit. Anyhoodle, I’m not getting as much work done as I’d like, but my fancy new laptop arrives next week, which will hopefully write my posts for me. More importantly, I’m planning to spend some time catching up on all your awesome blogs and showering you with my witty comments. Until then, I’ll be stalking your blog one handed on my phone. You may not see my presence, but it will be there…

Yes, much like the subtly creepy face embedded in Jason Miller’s bison fur Wooly Chair, I’ll be watching you.

Hi, I’m Gracie O. You may remember me from such blogs as Woolgathering & Miscellany and Tiger Butter. Allow me to take you on a magical tour of my hometown, the desert destination that is Phoenix.

Upon landing in Terminal 2 of Sky Harbor, you’ll be welcomed by artist Paul Coze’s best-known work. He created this amazing three panel mixed media mural in 1962 out of what is speculated to be 52 forms of different media, including dirt from Native reservations. Then, once we snap up your bags from baggage claim, we’ll make a stop at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, where you can check-in and grab a margarita.

The original Valley Ho opened in December 1956 and was designed by the office of Edward Varney, it was recently renovated a few years ago. Hungry? Let us go to the Souper Salad in Phoenix for lunch!

The Phoenix Financial Center, also built by Sarmiento, was designed to look like an old computer punch card. The building was also featured in the 1993 film Suture. The lucky SOB lived in one of the round buildings!! Alright! We’re ready to head to the Christown Mall!

Built in 1960, Christown Mall was the first indoor air conditioned shopping center in Arizona. Check out all those bubble lamps & bird cages! Too much shopping? Feel a sin coming on?

Good thing the Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix isn’t too far away. This gorgeous amorphous buidling was designed by Bertrand Goldberg, most known for the Marina Towers Apartments on the Chicago River, the concrete corn cob buildings. 

Phew! It’s been a long day. Time to have a night cap and tuck in. Hope you enjoyed your brief tour of Phoenix. If you’re ever back again, please take a peek at the other mid-century marvels our lovely little city has to offer.

Your dutiful hostess & tour guide,
Gracie

As most of you regular kids know, one of my most active (and favorite) clients is Birds Barbershop.  Lately I’ve been (happily) up to my ears in work due to their latest endeavor:  Birds on East 6th.  The third shop in 3 years just opened last Wednesday, our own Mrs. Erin photographed the new digs:

For those of you in Austin, the new shop is located just east of I-35, a stones throw from my new favorite bars, Shangri La, Rio Rita, and The Good Knight.

The interior design was a collaboration between co-owner, Michael Portman; local design fave, Joel Mozersky; and graphic designer, Bryan Keplesky.  PSST… Erin and I scored that blue bench while thrifting a couple of weeks ago, so I guess I got to play dress up as well.  And, yes, that is a Joust machine you see lurking in the corner.  

The red Eames shell chairs were a craigslist score, as were most of the shop’s accessories.

Bryan Keplesky used images from around Austin’s east side to piece together his awesome mural.  Austin Style Watch has a great write up (with photos!) about the mural creation.  Here’s the short version:  The mural was printed in black and white on long strips of 36″ wide paper and applied like wallpaper.  A second version of the mural was printed on long strips of 36″ wide yellow paper that was then torn to pieces and wheat pasted in little bits over the first layer.

Bryan also created the mural at the first Birds Barbershop:

The boys then used a cherry picker and screen printed the mural directly onto the shop’s wall:

et, voila:

Erin didn’t take these pictures… but raise your hand if you think we should get her in there.

Just to prove my point that Bryan is a graphics genius, I’m going to veer off topic for a minute

Selected works from his portfolio, top row: Posters for author events at local book shop, Bookpeople; Bottom left: Allen Demling campaign fundraiser poster; bottom right: Gang of Four poster (I own this one but haven’t found a home for it yet)

Bryan also did these early Birds promo posters:

Luckily for me, Bryan has a day job at local ad agency, Door Number 3, so I do all the graphics for Birds now.

Above is the space-invaders inspired second Birds location on Burnet Road.  Sorry, I don’t have a good mural shot of this store, but it’s real real pretty.

Incase you weren’t inspired by the badass interiors, you may be interested to know that Birds throws down several times a year.  Above is my boyfriend Dizzee Rascal playing at Birds on Lamar during SXSW last year.  Here’s what our lineup is looking like this year:

This year’s show will take place at the new shop, you can see a larger version of the poster here.

If I still haven’t won you over, what if I told you that every customer over 21 gets a free beer? 

photo by Cory Ryan

yes, they cut ladies hair, too, and do a mighty fine job.  Guys and gals can download a coupon for the new shop here.  (Did I mention that I do their marketing, too)

So, there you have it, now you dudes know where I’m spending my days, and nights, and weekends.  Not too shabby, huh?

Well, well, well, what will they think of next?  Certainly not butterflies, Mrs. Russell.  Sometimes it seems like just about anything could be a new trend, think of something you haven’t seen in awhile:  telephone books for example, when was the last time you saw them?  An item needs to be absent before it can be reborn with to a new perspective and adored.  Let’s explore this phonebook thing for a while, I’ll apply my scientifically formulated trend-worthy questions: Are they hovering on the verge of being nostalgic? check.  Easily recognized with bold colors?  check.  Firmly planted in the depths of the universal subconscious?  And Check.  hmmm, in my babbling I think I may be on to something:  phone books will be next season’s new black.  For now, I’m feeling something equally arbitrary:  cross sections and topography.  Totally random, right?  But still, somehow, it’s everywhere.

I caught my first glimpse of some trend-worthy cross sections when I purchased this Josh Keyes print from Tiny Showcase (ps, if you happen to know where the hell I put it, I will totally give you a dollar).  I instantly fell in love with the small sections of land Keyes meticulously slices off for his animals to live on.  His work speaks to the ever-growing human population and their encroachment upon natures little creatures, so it’s a bit sad, but man if it isn’t pretty.  Let’s see more:

I’ve been drooling over Keyes’s work for ages and skipping the starbucks in hopes to one day save enough dough for a real painting, not just a print.  I had never seen anything like it.  So imagine my surprise when I saw this ad campaign for a Ukrainian Travel Agency:

So similar to Keyes’s work, just without all that we’re stealing the sweet cute baby animal land stuff.  I have to admit, while these works are lovely,  Keyes is still my fave.  

If I wanted a real-honest-to-god cross section hanging around my house, I’d most certainly hunt down the work of Rainbow Monkey:

let’s play archeologist and get a closer look at this bit of earth we’ve discovered

I have blue rocks in my backyard, too, what a coincidence!  

With 3 confirmed artists creating cross section art, I started to keep my eyes peeled.  I began to notice cross sections popping up everywhere, from realistic shots of actual earth, to meticulous topographical paper carvings: 

Silver Lake Operations #1, Lake Lefroy, Western Australia, 2008 3/10

Isn’t it funny that, after looking at several fake cross sections, this real one seems like a bit of a bummer?  If you pull Edward Burtynsky’s Australian Minescape out of the context of this post, however the photographs become epic, and even mirror the work of Keyes:  documenting human destruction of the land.  Ok, on to something less depressing:  Birthday Cards, yay! 

Etsy Artist, Crafterall carves topographic wading pools and ravines into her notecards, combining enough color and texture to make the blank cards speak for themselves.  This is perfect for me because I never really know what to write in those anyway.  Thank you for the gift……you’re awesome?  (But don’t worry, I’m from the south and therefore have manners and, yes, I always send thank you notes, just not very interesting ones)

Noriko Ambe takes the whole paper-carving thing to a whole new level, carving entire landscapes into her works

Crazy-insane?  Right?  But so amazingly beautiful

Incase you designophiles were worried that I was missing the decor section of today’s post:  fear not!  I managed to find two home goods companies that are buckled in tight on the cross section-trend-bandwagon:

Forsberg has created a line of silver topographic plates.  I, of course, am waiting for them to come out in gold.  

And Gore Design Co. has a line of STUNNING concrete topographical sinks:

I usually lean towards the very simple when it comes to things like basins and tubs, shying away from anything as outrageous as, say, a pedestal sink but these topographic sinks really get my heart racing.  I strongly urge you to stop by their site to check out more of their lovely works.

So, next time you’re cruising along a ravine and see a big piece of exposed earth, remember who told you about it first.

Peace Out Homies!

Ok kids, I have exactly one hour to write a blog post, make dinner for 6, and update some graphics files for a client that need to go to print tomorrow.  With that in mind, you dudes are getting (very) pretty pictures and not much else.  Since my husband is in the garage putting the finishing touches on our brand new bed that he’s made for our room (note:  not cooking dinner or updating graphics files), and now I’m moving on to picking out artwork, I thought I would pull images from my “random art” inspiration folder to share with you.  I’m hoping to find, for $20 or less*, a large, bright piece of artwork to hang over our bed that resembles the following

*a girl can dream, right?

I’m sorry that I did not include any sources, I honestly don’t have time to hunt them down.  If you would like to know the origin of anything shown in today’s post, please leave a note in the comments and I’ll be more than happy to share the artist / source info

KISSES!

This weekend Erin & I cruised the City Wide Garage Sale with Jen Perkins.  The find of the day wasn’t a life-sized hot pink horse sculpture (I wish!) but rather, it came in the form of a hot travel tip from madam Perkins herself:  The Madonna Inn.  Easily the tackiest hotel west of the Mississippi (fact, South of The Border wins the East-Coast title) the Madonna Inn is not named after the Material Girl, but it certainly is, ahem, la Isla Bonita:

Room 206, Old Mill

110 Unique rooms make up this Shangri La in San Louis Obispo.  Most of the rooms are constructed using rocks mined from local quaries, which results in such breathtaking spreads as these:

Room 204, American Home

Room 191, Misty Rock

Room 130 Yosemite Rock

Room 153, Swiss Rock

Room 143, Rock Bottom

Room 157, Traveler’s Suite

Room 141, Madonna Suite

Incase you don’t want to mix spelunking with your slumbering, or you’re still having nightmares from watching The descent (like me!) there are plenty of light rock rooms for your vacationing pleasure:

Room 134 Lucky Rock

Room 136, Villa Rock

Room 180, Traveler’s Yacht

Room 183 Love Nest (Eat your heart out, Jaime Hayon)

And don’t worry, when your tummy starts growling, you don’t have to leave the dream behind, the dining room looks like this:

Now, don’t let the fake plants, dark wood and horrid 70s photography get you down, this tack-a-licious delight is totally slumber worthy.  Given the choice between The Madonna Inn and a La Quinta, I’d pick this joint faster than you could say Touched For the Very First Time.

So, what do you say?  When we go on our blog-wide vacation, which room will you stay in?