Welcome To Shprixieland! Please Leave Your Wand At The Door...

Sometimes an artisan comes to my attention that makes me weak in the knees before I have moved past even the first piece. The way of marketing means that we put our best foot forward, and generally if you are scouting through websites or even shops, then you only get to see the best few of many... but when you find an artisan who is fabulous on multiple fronts, that is when it gets REALLY exciting! I think I have discovered my new favourite artist, and living in the Koots, that is saying an awful lot. I am surrounded by talented people and spoiled by the offerings of my small town. So it was a great pleasure to stumble upon ShprixieLand this morning!

Green or yellow... green or yellow... hmmm...

I am going to be needing some of these!

I'm pretty sure that's Pixie right there with her flower wand...

Such gloriously varied and whimsical designs! I love all of it and will be fetching myself up the beginning of a collection as soon as is possible... They don't have an online shop yet, they are working on it though. If you are local they will be selling at DogPatch, Touchstones and The Gallery 378.

A Shprixie-Chicken

 The pair that make up Shprixieland Studios are nicknamed Shpriken and Pixie and it sounds like their lives as artists and rural homesteaders are intertwined in the same formula as their studio name. Days that begin with gathering eggs (from fabulous looking designer chickens... I'm serious, look at that plumage!) are interrupted by inspiration to hone their craft and the wares that are the result are most definitely inspired! A flurry of facebook messaging confirms for me that Pixie is indeed fabulous beyond most and as proof, she has a parrot! You know what they say about a girl with a parrot :)

Want

The minute they have a website you can purchase on, I will post. If you simply must contact them right away though (as I did) you can find them on their facebook page or here.More from this brilliant pair as soon as I can find my way to ShprixieLand proper! And so my quest ensues...

Felted Gorgeousness From Dana Barnes

Last night I was catching up on some blog perusal and one of my mainstays, Fiona at Cafe Cartolina, had posted these rather brilliant stools from Claire-Anne O'Brien.

 I love huge chunky knit things, and it reminded me of these rugs I found awhile ago, probably via a post on Facebook, I can't remember now. Either way, thought I would dig up that bookmark and post 'em.

The rugs in Dana's SoHo loft.

These photos are a few of the rugs that were conceived by Dana Barnes in her SoHo loft as a way to lessen the noise that having such a wide open space can create. With her two young girls living in the loft with her and her husband, she needed some underfoot padding, and with a background in textile design, the obvious choice was ginormous granny squares crocheted out of merino roving. Her collection is called Souled Objects and features felted contemporary versions of traditional crafting styles such as crochet and macrame. I am completely enamored with both the round crocheted bubble type ones and the flat felted one that has small dome shapes (below, in her bed/bathroom).

Dana is on to her fourth front loading washer, as she uses the machines' hot cycle to felt the large squares after they have been crocheted by hand and they seem to be less than thrilled to be her workhorses... a bag of wet wool roving is pretty hefty. It would seem that Dana is infatuated with felting. Indeed, her home is filled with her work, and she uses a wide variety of techniques to create a number of different styles and functions. Her technical skill is evident, an obvious trait from years working with designers such as Elie Tahari in the New York fashion mecca.

What is perhaps less evident, but more relevant, is her connection to indigenous craft. She has spent a great deal of time in developing countries to be close to the hands that felt, weave and manipulate textiles in a quest to fully relate utilitarian function with the beauty of the handmade. She also credits her upbringing, in the Southeastern US watching a community of crafters and artisans that relied on local sources.

She has help, in the form of a group of young artists and crafters, one of whom is Megan Novak. Megan enjoys the time she spends at the loft, out on the terrace crocheting huge squares with a dowel and her hands in the sun.

Ms. Novak wears an organdy apron to keep the fibers where they belong. Not only do I love the image of giant crochet stitches, but her hair is darling!

Dana has shown at the International Furniture Fair, and her pieces (ranging from $95 to $200 per square foot) are sold at BDDW in New York.

Designer Dana Barnes

Photos from Souled Objects site, and from this wonderful NYTimes article.

Self Preservation...

OK, so this is kind of strange :)

 I was looking for a post on here about some of the things I have created in the past to send a link to somebody who wanted to see photos. I must have posted photos of what I make someplace here, right? NO??? Really? Wow...

 In the world of instant media gratification, and with so many places to put "you" on the internet, I seem to have lost track completely of where I have posted which photos, tutorials and self promotion! How odd. I think I am going to start having to use one of those things that people use for their kids where you get a gold star in the box when you have successfully completed your list of chores. I need a To Do list specifically for which email accounts have been checked, which sites photos have been uploaded to, and which posts and statuses have been updated. Sheesh! I am starting to understand why people who blog have "Such and such Tuesdays" and "Whatnot Wednesdays"! Helps you remember what you are supposed to be doing :)

I think it will take a bit for me to organize my things into specific posts, but since I have to write and upload an email anyway, I may as well start here and just send a link, yes? Well then, without further ado, I introduce some of my embroidered pillows. Just some things I threw together :) (Translation: these are my favourite ones...)

I always use sustainable and organic fabrics and fills when possible... and my etsy shop is here :)

Served Up In Style

A few months after I first moved to Nelson, I was invited to an "alter-ego" party where you were meant to dress up the part. Not knowing anyone in town yet and knowing these people to be theatrical, I figured that I should dress as a German dominatrix. I ended up getting quite friendly with a German. He was dressed as a woman. Where am I going with this? Well, pottery of course! This nice fellow invited me to his place a few days later to "cook a big fish." He didn't strike me as the domestic type, (he was over six feet tall and wearing a rather bright orange dress that was a few sizes too small when we met so forgive me for not getting a clear picture,) so imagine my delight when presented with the most stunning salmon dish served with organic greens and roasted walnuts over some sort of divine cheese concoction. My favorite part of the meal however was what he served it on. His roomate was a potter and the entire meal was served in the most unbelievable pottery. Each dish was completely different and even the salt and pepper shakers were beautiful works of art. The food would have been delicious regardless, but there was something about eating off of handmade, one of a kind earthenware that made the dinner an experience.

I have a penchant for sets of dishes, but it is my goal to collect dishes that go far beyond normal plates and bowls. I have completed my trove of pink depression glass and I would like to compile a collection that is more artistic now. These fit the bill. Organic, textured, a beautiful balance of colour and sophisticated greys. A natural but artistic look of high quality. All from the beautiful etsy studio of Lois Aronow from Brooklyn, New York. (I love that her influences include Antoni Gaudi.) Lovely.

Not that I am in the market for more stuff to fill my apartment with, (I am still working on the editing concept, I am not winning) but I was browsing Etsy and came across these little jewels from fine furniture crafter Michael Arras. 

I love the unique yet simple play of circles in the tables and the lovely curves of the chair frames. Beautiful pieces like this are as much about style and display of personal taste as any painting or other work of art. We sometimes think that to add a sense of individuality we are limited to framing pieces for the wall or perhaps stretching as far as an interesting vase. 

If you think of your room as a way to showcase one or two really unique pieces of furniture however, then your statement flows throughout the room adding layers of interest, not just pushing the conversation pieces to the perimeter of the space. The intimacy of a space comes from allowing the personality to shine through in details such as the ones here. Next to the simple lines of a linen upholstered tuxedo sofa, the table would act as an accessory the way a scarf or hat completes that sassy and sophisticated Chanel suit. A touch of whimsy to make a classic your own. 

Cute, cute, cute!

I know there has been some major cuteness on the market for the last couple of years, and to be quite honest, cute is rarely my thing. I can appreciate the appeal, but I just haven't really found my place in the cute scene. However, this morning I found some definite CUTE that I just have to share, on (where else?) Etsy.

I think Jamtart Baby is really on to something here. She has a wonderful sense of whimsy and a flair that almost tells a whole story with just one simple illustration.

I love her use of colour and white space and the way you can get a piece of art for your wall to go with a pillow. Genius. Her tagline reads "Sweet things for the modern baby..." which is definitely true, but I can see her pillows and prints in any fun space. Or any "too modern" space needing a hit of fun for that matter! There are definitely a few too many "serious" modern living and bedrooms out there. Let's throw some happy at them people!

Spark Tart

On to metal...

One of our local design divas wields a mean blowtorch, taking the current popularity of metalics to a whole new level! Maintenance welder turned furniture fabricator, Kate Tupper sheds a new light (a really freakin' hot one) on the design industry with her indoor/outdoor one of a kind pieces. From a chaise to a wingback, she uses both new and found bits and bolts to create a modern take on classic shapes for a signature piece that is as sculptural as it is functional (although you might look into a lovely cushion or two as well).

Look here at Spark Tart for more...

And Just Around the Corner...

This might be cheezy, but has to be done...

While browsing quite some time ago, I discovered Cafe Cartolina through a blog I have become rather attached to as it is based out of the city where I grew up. Vancouver's Poppytalk was having Cartolina guest blog, and lo and behold, there were all sorts of wonderful shots of the lovely and teeny town in which I now reside, Nelson B.C. That is waaaay up in Canada for those of you who are desperately trying to find it on the map. (It's worth a look-see by the way.) So now I have attached myself to Fiona's very fun blog also, partly because she regularly posts yummy pictures of New York which is on my hit list, but alas, I have not managed to visit as of yet.

Anyhoo, part of Fiona's Nelson story covered my most favoritest tiny shoppe in the entire world. Wait... that is pretty hefty... Nope. I can't think of another favoritest tiny shoppe. I think this place is genius and while I really try not to copy other peoples stories, I simply have to write about them myself. I hope that is blog kosher, I am still unsure of the rules. I keep coming across these photos I had taken and every time somebody comes to visit I usher them down there to take a peek, so why wouldn't I post a bitty blurb, right? (Do head over to Cafe Cartolina to see her beautiful words and pics of Nelson though.)

If you know anything about Nelson, you know that we are filled to the gills with talented artists and crafters. Very Hush Hush is the brainchild of a duo whose prior ventures have already established them as creators of unique ceramics and textiles that have sophisticated personality.

Joining forces, Tracy Fillion and Cathy Terepocki have pulled together an imaginative and perfectly selected group of wares in the most stylin' shiny silver walls of an upcycled '64 Airstream tucked away in a back alley downtown. There is nothing more appealing to me than unearthing the ultimate find in a random place and the Very Hush Hush gallery is just that.

These lovely ladies have a keen eye for local talent and use it! In addition to their own pieces, they carry wares from designers such as Flight Path and Doha Chebib from the Loyal Loot Collective, whose colourful lathed log bowls are being seen in various esthetically astute places as of late. Very Hush Hush is definitely small town goes big style. In a teeny weeny space!