Building by making

The work of young Brooklyn designer Mary Chan is developing slowly, steadily and elegantly. She recently sent me images of these beautiful floor mats she has made by hand. She mentioned the a runner she is working on is taking some time-awesome! Let's support a generation of designers that are "making their own way"....literally.

Boat building............

I am pleased that I was exposed to the artist Yayoi Kusama via seeing one of her works rather than on the web. Kusama's body of work is epic and a purple row boat enveloped in soft sculpture tendrils is a powerful object in the very well done Matter of Abstraction show at MOMA.

Building business community

While really wandering around town (NYC) yesterday-I found this very interesting place,not just a shop, a place. The very funny idea of a yarn shop/boutique/community center-Wool and the Gang is a great addition to NYC's trend toward less retail more idea..think Andy Spade's place.
Knitting also seems to be the medium of choice for community activist-I just heard about artist friend Frida Gylfadottir's project knitting a giant scarf to celebrate the joining of her small town and the neighboring town. More on that later this year.....

floor making

My other inspiration treat was a new monograph about Patricia Urquiola, Spanish born-Milanese designer. Her book is very different from Hella Jongerius whose book is all process and Urquiola's is all glorious form! I really was taken with this rug project for Paola Lenti in 2005. I am really excited about both books and how I much I can learn from just looking at their work...happy holidays ME!

Gift Building 3

One gift giving mantra I have is Local Handmade,local handmade...... For me luckily that means the very chic work of Natalie Chanin and her company Alabama Chanin. I am giving beautiful handmade t-shirts to all my buddies who have helped me so much with my crazy work this year.

Gift Building 2

"Purchase with a Purpose" is the mantra of designer Tori Higa and the work she does with I Sanctuary. One Saturday at Little Building we will have a trunk show with work buy Tori as well as the I Sanctuary items. These are items made by young girls who have been helped through the I Sanctuary organization. Please come-very fine holiday gifts to be had......

Building energy

I am sure she was not the first but Louise Bourgeois taught us all to be provocotive via cross-stitch.

The meaning of furniture

There is an article on Tracey Emin in the New York Times and not really being a followers of Contemporary art I did not know that one media that she uses is stitching. Most of the the work, I am not hip enough to handle-my inner southern mom kicks in-but this piece was really of interest. Entitled
There's Alot of Money in Chairs, it is embellished with applique letters, words, hints of conversations with Emin's grandmother. I am working on the Faulkner chair in such a way.....chair as memory jar.

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

I am very excited about this movie coming out this weekend. Madeline said she would go with me but she will not sit with me because she knows I will cry.......

Building hutong

I am really intrigued by these carpets by Instant Hutong the architecture practice of Marcella Campa and Stefano Avesani. These are more than carpets, made by the same technique that communist propaganda signage was made of,they are studies in the intricate density of the Beijing Hutong.

Web building

Both of these chairs remind me of weaving pot holders when you were a ten year old girl...Only Giant! The sofa is from Imaginary Office and the chairs are available at Karkula.

Knitting space

A number of years ago I got to see Petra Blaisse speak at Parsons about her work and one of the best moments was her telling the story of knitting the giant sock that hides the audio equipment at the glamorous Prada store in Soho. With giant knitting needles she and an assistant made the beautiful piece in their room at the Grammercy Hotel. So now we see the first in a trend toward the epic handmade.......

Knitting chairs

Expert craftperson Ruth Cross knitted this seat cover. For some reason, the knowledge of the craft involved in the piece makes it destined to be an heirloom rather than just a chair......

Building floors

I have been thinking a lot about the depth of the DYI movement and what it means to the design world. There are a number of designers that are using the vocabulary of DYI and sustainability and working within the realm of commerce. One such designer is Christien Meindertsma. I have written about this work before and even coveted it... But the project Idaho seen on his web site explores the "farm to table" culture of decorative arts. The process of getting to know your sheep and then on to the product seems more and more evident in our culture...The other interesting thing that I have seen quiet a bit is the bump up in scale of the knitting to accommodate the epic task of knitting a rug.....More to come