Rhombins

 
The Utility Collective's new Rhombins are so damn cute. For your desk, or the kitchen, or perhaps even your jewels by the bed. My only complaint is I want to attach them to my walls after watching this video they put together. That and I kind of want them in fluorescent colors and shades of gray. What do you say guys?

This talented gal...

I'm really enjoying my dear friend Silvia's new furniture adventures. We went to architecture school together and she came back and helped me with my thesis project. Only really good friends do such things! And as you know I have a love affair with furniture so you can see why I'm so enthused to watch her portfolio grow.


photography and furniture: Silvia Song

I know how to cook

 
I kept seeing this book at certain design stores for a couple years now. But, I hadn't heard about it from anyone yet. No one had blogged about it, nor reviewed it. At least none that I knew of but, I kept finding myself being pulled to it. Of course A LOT of that had something to do with it's aesthetics. It has everything you would want in a well done book. Elegant and readable graphics and type, beautiful illustrations, and clean well styled photographs. But, were the recipes any good?I finally gave in and picked up a copy from an old gift card I had.

Well so far so good and I love that there is an entire section on eggs. I think I'll work my way through that section first. I've already made oeufs cocotte and when you are busy busy cooking can be a great get away from work. We all have to eat right! 


Anyone else tried out this beast of a book? 


What are you all doing this weekend?

Ay yai yai yai, Ay yai yai

Forgive this little fashion interruption but I'm positively drooling over Heidi Merrick's Spring 2012 collection. And since it's our San Francisco Summer it makes perfect sense to want to acquire each and every piece right now! Not to mention that I have a little soft spot for Heidi's work since it was one of her dresses I chose to get married in. But really WOW, this season is positively vibrating and am I wrong to feel a little bit of that Isabel Marant sexy vibe thing going on here too? 

Of course her model Abigail Spencer is a boon and perfect ambassador for the brand. Does she look familiar to you.... think Hot Teacher and Mad Men. Does that jog your mind? Go Heidi GO!

La Tulipe Noire

I realized lately that Buddy bears a resemblance to a few illustrated cuties like that little guy in the Mon Oncle poster. And Peperone of Caperino and Peperone fame below.  Which made me want to draw up a little illustrated version (when I ever find the time) of my little Tulipe Noire* (aka Buddy) So, perhaps you are wondering why I'm calling him the Black Tulip? Well, we think he might be possibly a Dutch Tulip Hound otherwise known as a Markiesje. The names supposedly stems from the Marquise de Pompadour (chief mistress to Louis the XV and the namesake of that famous hairdo) who supposedly never went anywhere without her little black pooch. 

 
A. Looks out the window hoping I'll let him out, Check.
B. Peering into the Monocle shop.... well if peeing on a stack of them counts, Check again. 
   
Buddy's new spot is under the Nelson Bench. I saw him lying there and started to shoot some photos. I then told him they really weren't cute enough could he turn up the cute quotient to which he did his best by stretching his sleepy self closer and lying on his back with his head on the legs of the bench and his bat ears out to full effect. This of course makes him such a good hearing dog candidate.
   
C. Sitting on the expensive furniture every chance he gets. Check 
D. If I let him out of the crate while driving. (Only on very short distances) He'll most certainly try to drive. Final Check. 

*The name La Tulipe Noire is what Julia and Paul Child Christened their new black sedan bought in the States and shipped to France.  

Bhering Chocolate Factory: Guest Post Jorge Soares

It's been awhile since we've had a guest post from the ever talented Jorge Soares. And one that's close to my heart in that I do love to see a building have many many lives. There is also something a little bit creepy a la Charlie and the Chocolate Factory about it's well worn exterior... 
   
There is a new exciting neighborhood happening in Rio. The abandonned area surrounding the docks at the Port of Rio de Janeiro is being revamped into a mix of arts, work and residencial spaces. Empty warehouses are getting a new life, small buildings from the turn of the 19th C. to the 20th C. are being restored. It will take some time, but by the Olympic Games the place will already be the coolest in town. The old chocolate and candy Bhering factory is already booming. Inside the wide spaces made of german iron and around big pieces of left over machinery a diverse group of artists have made themselves comfortable. We are visiting now the studio shared by the art couple Denise Terra and Jorge Vasconcelos. Here Denise creates her pvc tubes sculptures, transforms old books using textiles, hardware and lots of etceteras. Jorge also has a photography studio next door, and here we can see some of his photographs next to his suspended bathtubs. It is a magical place, even their little kitchen is a jewell. Lots to see, and I'll be back.

all photos and content by Jorge Soares

Jim Darling

 
I came across Jim Darling's work who knows where but I fell for it immediately. What a smart idea. How many of us have taken that token shot out the plane. Or daydreamed while staring out that little oval window? Not to mention that since my Dad is a pilot I immediately thought of him. Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. xo Portfolio: Jim Darling Photography: Over & Under

Reka One

 
My Sis was in town and we thought it would be fun to take her to 941 Gallery since the entire show was by Aussies and her step-mum (not mine;) is Australian. Did you follow that? Yea we have a complicated family what can I say. 

It was a nutty crowd and a fun time and we even found a sweet little piece the Mister and I both fell for. So it was such a treat to find the process photos and back story on the artist's blog. Check out James Reka's work here. And read about the cans here and here. 

photography by James Reka

Alex Palecko

 
I met Alex through a friend of a friend (as these things often go) who told me I had to meet him and see his work. It took us awhile but we finally made the connection last week. And can I tell you how great it is to come across another super talented guy who again is NICE with absolutely no ego. It really is so refreshing. Keen to see his works in person, they did not disappoint. Perhaps you've seen them already? If you've been to Fourbarrel on Valencia in San Francisco you have. The record shelf behind the counter, that's Alex. I asked Alex how they came to be or if there was a story behind them...


"With all of the projects I do at Fourbarrel the process begins with a need to resolve a spatial issue - in this case, too much vinyl.  The music played in the cafe is what sets the day's tempo and overall jest.  Jeremy Tooker, the owner of Fourbarrel Coffee, asked me to elevate this audial element to a visual and spatial one.  The design intent was to make a shrine-like monument where the density of vinyl is dramatized by setting back the mitered vg fir top and side from the cabinet grid."
   
Alright the first photo admittedly is a gratuitous 'I heart those light fixtures' photo. They really couldn't be more perfect. And if you know me, you know I think everyone gets the lighting/light fixtures wrong. Alex informed me they were designed by Seth Quest.


A detail shot of the Fourbarrel Record Shelves. 

Fourbarrel Roastery shelving: How do they function?

"This 7 x 5 grid of cubbies organizes the outgoing wholesale orders for each day. it is an important step of the process linking the production of orders to the daily delivery. "

 
The Fourbarrel Roasters Desk which I could easily see in nearly any entryway with all it's useful shelving cubbies. I would never lose my keys again. Okay, that's not true. But I would lose them less. 
 
   
I even got a little peek into his covetable workshop. Which had me wondering why I don't know more wood workers in the city. I know it's a bit difficult with space and rents but surely there is a larger community I don't know about. Right?
 
Alex graduated from CCA's architecture program and began apprenticing under "DK" Hodges, master builder.  He has been taking on small scale architectural design / build projects for two years now.

Thanks again Alex, it was such a pleasure to meet you. 

Alex Palecko's portfolio

Ryan Ward

I was talking with a friend about his botched framing job the other day. He had to return the piece I think at least three times and have them redo it. This of course brought me to a previous conclusion. I am always underwhelmed when I take a piece to be framed. I'm never impressed and nearly always shocked by the price tag. Not that the price probably doesn't add up to the labor involved but I never feel it justifies the job done. 

That is until I came across Ryan Ward of United Measures on the design files. Incredible! I've never seen framing this lovely. The choice of wood. The incredible stains. The detailed (and sometimes flourescent) joinery. No wonder he has a wait list! Too bad he lives so very far away in the land of Australia. I'll give you one guess as to which city.... uh huh that's right, Melbourne.

She does it again..

 
Ashley was in town a few weeks ago to teach at CCA's Young Artist Studio. She called to have coffee but unfortunately I was on my way out of town. So wish I could have seen this in person. Gorgeous! The scale and the fact that 10 to 13 year olds created these pieces from her instruction sends it right over the top.

YHBHS + LAMA

I cannot wait to see this exhibit! Congratulations David, what an honor to be working with such a fantastical collection. I'd love to know more about the guy behind the collection. 

If you are in Los Angeles it is a must see. Here are some details from YHBHS... 

"Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) and You Have Been Here Sometime (YHBHS) will partner together to produce a special interior showcase for LAMA’s Pacific Standard Time exhibit Collecting in Los Angeles 1945 – 1980. This 3 week exhibit explores the collecting practices of Richard Dorso, a native Californian, who at age 101 left behind a unique art collection spanning much of the 20th century. The exhibit will conclude with an auction of the entire collection on October 9, 2011." 

Auction: October 9, 2011; 12pm Noon (PST) Pacific Standard Time Exhibition 
Preview: September 19 – October 8, 2011. Open daily 10am – 6pm Auction, Exhibit. 
Preview Location: 16145 Hart St. Van Nuys, CA 91406

Trials and Tribulations

 
So we've had Buddy now for a month and I would say out of that month 3 weeks were pretty difficult. The Mister was not handling it well. He still isn't but he's getting better at it. The thing is I do understand most of the Mister's complaints. Our house has been upended. For two designers having to remove all rugs, cover furniture with blankets and put in a BABY GATE is not easy. The Mister is also a bit of a neat freak so the hair everywhere is a little disconcerting. So you can see I do see his point of view.

I was doing fine with Buddy. He was a lot of work which was challenging but I was doing okay when he made a mistake and took a pee on the office floor or the bathroom floor or back on the office floor. Then I lost it. Yes, my patience snapped when he lifted his leg to pee on some design books one night and then a whole stack of Monocle magazines the next night. How  did I end up with a dog with no respect for books or design! I know, I know, he's a dog. I was taking him out every 2 hours on the regular so how did this little shit have to pee so much and why did he save it for my design tomes?! Not to mention losing my patience probably set us back training wise as he was not listening to me days afterward just making me more frustrated. 

But for the past week or so I think we have turned a corner as he seems to relieve himself outside. Thank God! And he's learning quickly. Hopefully soon we can go for walks without him pulling and accidents in the house are a long forgotten memory. There have been a couple hiccups such as he learned to shake his crate enough to rattle him self out of it (locks will be installed) but all he did was climb up to sleep on my side of the bed with all that freedom he had while we were gone. It could have been a chewed up shoe and garbage everywhere disaster. Oh and he's developed a fear of the mail slot and the mail that comes through it so running to the front door to alert me that someone is there is not working out so well. This by the way is one of the things he needs to learn to become a hearing dog. But mostly now he just makes me coo at how cute he is. He is the best snuggler and I'm tuning into his needs a little better. After a few quick panics as to "where is Buddy" I kept finding him under the Eames chair in between the legs and the wall. I put a towel down and he's made it his second little bed. Looks incredibly uncomfortable to me (and hopelessly cute) but he chose it.