‘Your face, your wall. If you don’t like the way it looks, take it up with God (or your parents).’ So runs the feisty marketing pitch of Four Eyes Furniture who make these great portraits from furniture grade plywood with a hand rubbed oil finish. California-based Four Eyes is the project of C Sevin Salomone who, as well as the ‘It’s You’ series, makes gorgeous wooden tables which are completely customisable.
Taking her inspiration from British culture and a selection of good old basic biscuits, Dundee based Nikki McWilliams has produced a delicious range of cushions you won’t know whether to snuggle or bite into. All of Nikki’s products are handmade in Scotland using locally sourced materials. Prices start at £28.
There has to be an easier way to make a lampshade. Looks beautiful athough, after all his hard work, the poor man just got loads of comments about the wood he wasted. In fact he uses all the wood. Rikki Berger, a woodturner/inventor/teacher with 35 years at the lathe says ‘I hope you enjoy a small glimpse into making one of my shades.’ ‘Please before you write a negative comment
Lately at Avocado Sweet we’ve been thinking it’s time we were a little more groomed and sophisticated so we’ve been working on our appearance. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be typing with immaculately lacquered nails and big bouffant hair (although we might). But it does mean the site will have a new design: all the usual features will be in place plus new ones and we hope it will be
A stitch in time saves on the vet’s bills with Knit Your Own Dog, created by expert knitters and dog-lovers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne. First there was a book Best in Show: Knit Your Own Dog with knitting patterns for 25 different breed of dogs then followed the website selling individual patterns and a best in show competition featuring customers’ best efforts. You can also mix and match, knitting your
One of Switzerland’s most celebrated product and furniture designers has his first solo show in London. The work of Nicolas Le Moigne, which has been described as ‘artisanal yet industrial, sophisticated yet without guile’ can be seen at The Libby Sellers Gallery from today. One of Le Moigne’s most noted pieces is a public clock which spells out the time in words. It was made for the city of Geneva
A relatively unsung female designer was a significant influence on the breezy, mid century style for which California is known. Greta Magnusson Grossman emigrated to America from her native Sweden (where she was already a prolific industrial designer and architect) in 1940. She arrived claiming that all she needed in her new LA home was a ‘a car and a pair of shorts’. The unique approach she brought with her
Mid-century design laced with sunshine and optimism plus Modernism and rat-pack glamour. Where else but southern California? A new exhibition, California Design: 1930-1965, is at LACMA and includes a full recreation of Charles and Ray Eames Pacific Pallisades Interior (below) and the ever popular Airstream caravan. It has been praised by the LA Times for its detail and inclusion of lesser known artists as well as the usual suspects. A
Coasters have always been aggressive little items to my mind. There’s nothing like a beady hostess thrusting one between your coffee cup and her highly polished surfaces to put you off your social stride. There are lots of great ones about these days though and, now that we’re all about preserving our possessions properly, I guess it’s time to embrace the coaster. These brilliant polaroid ones from London based Just
Eve Arnold and Eva Zeisel had more than a name in common. Pioneering achievements by both artists spanned much of the 20th century and both women achieved firsts in their respective fields. Eve Arnold, who died aged 99 on the 4 of January 2012, was one of the first female photographers to join the Magnum photographic agency in 1957. Eva Zeisel, ceramics designer, who died on 30 December 2011 aged