JUJUMADE

Defying the usual cacophony of sound, visitors & domestic detritus typical of our weekends, I managed to squirrel away some time for the blog yesterday. H U R R A H ! 

To update you briefly, I've been following the work of a few inspirational artists & makers whose unfussy approach to design has helped to liberate our tiny closet space & reaffirm my 'built to last' philosophy when contemplating new purchases. 

The organic textures & neutral palettes of Jesse Kamm, Jujumade, Black Crane, Bandelier & Tracy Wilkinson have all been on my radar. Ironically, they are all based in California...where I'm campaigning we move to - so it's a sign, right!? 

Working with ceramics & leather, Juliana Hung of Jujumade crafts a range of beautiful, playful wearables including bangles, necklaces & bags. 

You N E E D to see her latest SS | 14 collection! Looky here!

Image: Jujumade

FOG LINEN WORK // JAPAN

In a time where many of us are looking to realign & reassess our money choices, the search to find & support makers who create meaningful, sustainable, functional pieces has never felt more important (for me anyway). 

Over the past decade, Fog Linen Work owner & creator Yumiko Sekine has steadily expanded her empire of simple (& affordable) linen products to accommodate our growing desire for durable 'natural-living' staples with a timeless design aesthetic.

Durable. Simple. Classic...three words I'll be considering next time I reach for my wallet.

Image: Parker Fitzgerald // Kinfolk Magazine Vol 8. 

LOCAL INSPIRATION // GEMMA PATFORD

Whether you're in the market for a set of giant hamburger scatter cushions or an intricately hand stitched rope vessel, Melbourne based craft dynamo Gemma Patford has you covered!

Since first discovering Gemma via Instagram, I have steadily followed her prolific output of playful, quirky handmade designs & wondered...how DOES she do it?!? When she's not busy weaving her highly coveted rope vessels or food sculptures, Gemma can also be found sharing DIY tutorials on her blog, baking yummy recipes & collaborating with other local artists. SUPER mad-skills!   

I recently secured an incredibly sweet indigo-dipped rope vessel from Gemma, a product of her latest collaboration with local Shibori artist Victoria Pemberton. TOTAL SWOON! 

To view Gemma's current collection of crafty amazingness...looky HERE. 

Image: Gemma Patford

ANA KRAŠ // BON BON LOVE

Now based in New York, Serbian-born industrial artist & multidisciplinary phenomenon, Ana Kraš continues to enchant us with her auspicious eye & minimalist production techniques. 

Following her move from LA to Manhattan, Ana's feverishly coveted Bon Bon lamp shades continue to morph & expand into new multi-coloured configurations. 

See above. I'm in love. 

Image: Ana Kraš

GIVEAWAY // THE BRAINERY STORE - SIBLING LECTURE

Following the recent success of The Brainery Store's opening lecture with Rohan Anderson, I was suitably hyped to see Melbourne based design collective SIBLING next in line to present...

A network of 8 talented folk trained in architecture, the SIBLING group 'work at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, cultural analysis & graphic communication to produce new & unexpected spatial outcomes...' Focused on delivering innovative, adaptable designs while fostering a socially engaged agenda, SIBLING are set to get ideas flowing at their lecture next Monday 12th August at BOOM Gallery. 

Secure your place in the discussion via The Brainery Store website asap - seats are filling quickly. 

I also have 2 tickets (valued at $18 each) to GIVEAWAY! You can enter to win by leaving a comment on this post or the OTIS & OTTO Instagram 'SIBLING Giveaway' post. 

Note that this lecture will take place at BOOM Gallery Geelong (Victoria) so please consider the location before entering. The winner will be notified via e-mail or Instagram by Saturday 10th August. Good luck! X

Image: SIBLING

DOUG JOHNSTON // WOVEN SHAPES

Since 2010, New Yorker Doug Johnston has been busy coiling rope & meticulously weaving shapes into baskets. And although the process of rope weaving has become very popular among the masses, Doug's minimalist style & earthly forms remain effortlessly cool & distinct. I dig.

Peep Doug's current collection here

Image: Michael Popp via Doug Johnston 

THE BRAINERY STORE // VISITS REGIONAL VICTORIA

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah Cooper, the innovative virtuoso behind Australia's latest conceptual phenomenon The Brainery Store.  

Launching at the end of this month, The Brainery Store will take it's pop-up style roadshow to Geelong, Victoria...the first regional outpost in a series of personalised, traveling forums intended to reach audiences with limited access to city based happenings. 'It is a simple idea about sharing the things we know...& introducing people who inspire us in word & deed' says Sarah. 

The Winter / Spring term launches next Wednesday 31st July with modern day hunter-gatherer Rohan Anderson kicking off the first discussion at contemporary art space BOOM Gallery. Over the coming months, the Geelong region can also look forward to discussions with...

+ Melbourne design collective Sibling 
+ Designer & Instagram sensation Stephanie Somebody
+ Melbourne City Rooftop Honey  
+ Nick Ray from Ethical Consumer Group. 

Each forum will also be accompanied by a curated pop-up shop of goodies. 

Enrol now via the The Brainery Store online! 

Image: Stephanie Somebody

FORT STANDARD // OBJET D'ART

Hola Amigos! I am officially back & into the swing of things. What a honeymoon! BEST. TRIP. EVER.

We met so many interesting people, ate so much tasty food & visited so many AMAZING places. I have much greatness to share with you!

Our stay at El Cosmico in Marfa was...transcendental. One of the many cool trinkets I spotted in their lobby was a Fort Standard bottle opener.

Cast in brass, each individual opener bares the raw markings & hand made filings necessary to make these functional devices seem more like a contemporary art collectable than an ordinary house hold tool.

Simple. Beautiful.

Image: Fort Standard

TRACY WILKINSON // TW WORKSHOP

After spotting Tracy Wilkinson's pottery on Laure Joilet's website, I've been deliberating over how many TW planters I can squeeze into our suitcases on the way home from LA...it's no easy choice - they are all SO good. 

Tracy, who lives in the LA hillside suburb of Mount Washington so perfectly captures the essence of California cool...rustic, bohemian, organic. 

With a background in fashion & textile design, Tracy also has a range of similarly cool, super relaxed wearables as well as an incredible eye for interior decoration & design (see her amazing home / work space on international interview mag Freunde Von Freunden). 

Visit Tracy's TW Workshop for more info pronto!

Image: Tracy Wilkinson

KINGS COUNTY DISTILLERY // NEW YORK

In a century old Navy Yard building in Brooklyn, Kings County Distillery are busy crafting moonshine & bourbon whiskey. Upon opening in 2010 as the first legal distillery in NY since prohibition, they have been busy winning awards & impressing design nerds with their minimalist "no frills" style packaged flasks. 

Sounds tasty. Looks tasty. Slurrrrrrrrrp.

Image: Pulplab

OBJECT + TOTEM // MAINTAINING NOVELTY, CRAFT & MEMORY

Thanks to Pinterest & Instagram I'm invariably ranting on about something I've found online...today it's all about Object & Totem.

Based in Philadelphia, this little studio embraces a simple design aesthetic & locally sourced materials to create a completely unique range of objects intended to 'maintain novelty, craft and memory'. 

How GOOD.

Images: Object & Totem

THE COPENHAGEN COFFEE CUP

Simple. Modern. Perfection. by Paper & Clay Studio. 

A nod to Scandinavian design, The Copenhagen Coffee Cup looks pretty & is intended for everyday use (unlike some pretty ceramics), suitable for dishwashers (not that we have one) & will make a nice addition to my chock-full mug collection (obsession). 

Love a good Etsy find! 

Images: Paper & Clay Studio

AT SWIM-TWO-BIRDS TEXTILES

At Swim-Two-Birds textiles & mobiles made by Belgian artist Renilde de Peuter are the bees knees...dreamy, versatile, spectacular.

I discovered Renilde following another late night Pinterest frenzy & shortly after spotted a few of her goodies at Mr. Kitly. Major score!

These goodies include kooky cushions & pot holders which double as wall hangings & a collection of highly covetable mobiles. 

Need & want ¡por favor!

Images: At Swim-Two-Birds

LAURA BLYTHMAN 'FEATHERED FOX' GIVEAWAY

Laura Blythman has got it going on! Independent designer, illustrator & creative director, Laura is also one half of the talented duo behind the popular online city guide 'Oh! Hello Geelong'. 

For those unfamiliar with the Oh!HG phenomenon, Laura & Penny Phipps share their retail discoveries & happy adventures on their cute blog, keeping us informed of emerging talents & cool happenings in the Geelong area as it grows. An absolute must read for locals & visitors! 

Blogging aside, Laura is also an incredibly talented graphic designer & illustrator. Her whimsy, sweet illustrations have fashioned stationary packaging & clothing as well as the lovely layout of Oh!HG blog. Most recently, Laura showcased her work in the 'Love, Lyrics, Neon' exhibition at Kaleidoscope Gallery in Geelong & has just released a collection of hand drawn & hand stitched prints through her online studio. Amazing!

This week we are giving away one of Laura's beautiful artworks...'Feathered Fox' pictured above. An original hand drawn illustration & paper collaged A3 giclee print signed by the artist! WOOP!

Simply leave a comment on this post before 5pm on Friday 1st February (Melbourne time) & one LUCKY reader will be drawn at random & notified by email. Good luck! 

ECO-FRIENDLY GOODNESS FROM UIMI

It was on a recent trip to Barwon Heads & a quick drop into Bambolotta that we discovered uimi. What a FIND! 

uimi is a fantastic Melbourne based lifestyle brand specialising in eco-friendly knitwear products. Their products are also designed & manufactured locally (in Melbourne) which is super impressive!

Made exclusively from natural fibres with an eclectic range of colourful, geometric design combinations, it wasn't easy to pick a favourite...Eventually, M settled on the organic cotton Indiana Blanket in Tang (as above). Über cute choice!

Tick! Tick! Tick!

Images: uimi online

NATURAL + SLOW DESIGN / CAROLINE GOMEZ

It won't surprise you to see more of Caroline Gomez' work featured here...she is one of my favourite artists!

Drawn to her simplistic & functional art pieces, her craftsmanship exudes a natural elegance, full of colour & light. Caroline's photography is also a constant source of inspiration & contentment not to be missed.  

Check her blog pronto! 

Images via Caroline Gomez

THE ALCHEMIST DESIGN

Page Thirty Three Essential Oil Burners. Made in Australia.

Wow. If you haven't already found that perfect Christmas gift, then look no further! 

Dark, scientific lines & metal components compliment the beautiful Tasmanian Oak hardwood used to form the bases of these oil burners. A perfect curio for those looking to reference science in their homes. 

Each piece comes with a 5ml tester of Australian grown lavender oil & beeswax candle. Perfect.

Images via Pinterest

THE DESIGN FILES - OPEN HOUSE

The TDF Open House is back! WOOP WOOP!

Melbourne's most popular (& my favourite) design blog, The Design Files, will again transform a spunky Melbourne home into a retail POP UP space from Thursday 29th November - Sunday 2nd December.

With a list of contributors including Dawn Vachon, Beci Orpin, Greg Hatton, Kirra Jamison & more...this is one event not to be missed! 

Hop over to the TDF Open House website for more visitor & supplier info. 

I love this town!

Images via The Design Files - Open House 

CHEMEX FOR COFFEE HEADS

Chemex | Products for the Chemists Kitchen

This elegantly crafted coffee maker brews coffee without imparting any flavours of it's own. Not only does it serve up a superior brew, it sits (permanently) on display at MOMA / NY as a 'work of art'. Super fancy!

Images: Above via Pinterest / Below via Chemex

MASANORI OJI X FUTAGAMI HOMEWARES

Masanori Oji | Brass Tools & Objects

Designed by Masanori & crafted by Japanese Brass makers Futagami, these simple & functional 'living objects' are a picture of minimalist beauty. 

Their amazing range of homewares include kitchen trivets, bottle openers, paperweights, stationary trays & more.

You can purchase Masanori design gems in-store or online from one of my favoutire Brunswickian retail space / galleries, MR KITLY.