While researching parts for a lighting project I’ve been contemplating, I came across the work of Brooklyn-based Bec Brittain. She has several beautiful lines—the Axial light, A Shades, and mercurial Maxhedron are all worth looking at—but the SHY Light is really a showstopper. Each fixture, inspired by crystalline structures, is a series of component parts including hubs and thin LED tubes. The parts can be configured and reconfigured to create a light that suits any individual space. And as Brittain puts it: “Like crystals, each can be different while sharing the same structural foundation.” The bulbs and hubs have a utilitarian quality to them, but the compositions are so elegant and beautiful.
{Images from Bec Brittain}
For a number of years now, my calendar of choice has been Noa Bembibre’s annual creations. The 12 pages of the ”Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar” calendar each feature a phrase, with the name of the month included in the phrase. (I like buying the largest size available so that I can re-use the pages as wrapping paper later on.)
I admit, I was a bit giddy when I received an email earlier this week announcing that Bembibre has expanded the collection to now include prints (from the calendar archives), cards, and custom work for special events. I may have to purchase the February and July designs for that empty spot on my bedroom wall. Although the “Love” card is pretty sweet, too.
{ All images from Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar }
Pared down and sophisticated just like his apparel, Steven Alan’s home shop speaks to me. I appreciate carefully executed details, no matter how simple, and these pieces deliver. A faceted bottle opener is cast in bronze from hand carved wax molds, resulting in a raw, unfinished feel. Delicate white table linens are perked up with narrow stripes of cobalt to make your tablesetting feel fresh and slightly preppy. Wooden tops are edged in cork to provide an air-tight seal for tall, slender glass canisters. Every detail is considered, creating a calm and soothing aesthetic.
{images via Steven Alan}
{ “Flying Geese” by Sharon Montrose }
Meg and I were just reminiscing yesterday about Issue No. 1. One of the articles in our inaugural issue featured The Working Proof, and I realized that it had been far too long since I had checked in on the purveyor of art prints. A portion of all sales goes to a charity, and a new work is released every Tuesday.
Those looking for a specific type of piece will be pleased to know that the site allows browsing by color, size, medium, and category. These are some of the prints that I currently have my eye on. There’s such a great range of works, that it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few favorites!
{ “Dreaming About Shoes” by Sol Linero }
{ “Four Cups” by Anne Smith }
{ “Zebra Bandits” by Andrea Wan }
Spring blew into San Francisco yesterday with strong breezes and lots of sunshine. I’m inspired to freshen things up around my apartment and one project I’d love to try are Kokedama, or Japanese-inspired hanging plants. By shaping a ball of soil and wrapping it with moss or other organic matter, you can ditch the traditional containers and pots.
I wasn’t sure exactly how to tackle this project until I came across these beautiful specimens by Opus Studio. Green Renaissance, a film production agency whose mission is to promote green businesses and organizations, put together a film showing the simple steps of this project. If you’re looking for a way to bring some green into your home this spring, join me and give this a try!
{Images from Opus Studio}
