Felt! {Friday Finds}

Felt is New Zealands Art and Craft Online Market.
I've mentioned it in one of my first posts but I've never properly talked about it! So here we go...
Felt was created by the talented Lucy Arnold who co-owns a graphic design company called Board of Design.  I have nothing but admiration for those who take opportunities to help artists and crafts people shine -  and sites like Felt, Etsy and Australia's Made It do this while allowing others to do it too!! So we can all feel a little warmer and fuzzier about our shopping habits!

 Blue Swan Retro by Swanwear.  Birdie Tags - Red Tui by Songbird.    New York Neck-piece by the-funk. Two Cheeky Fantails, by Lastik

Take a look some time, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find something that you'll want to keep, and you too can support some of our very amazing local talent!

Have a great Weekend

*K* 

Workroom

Angle Lamp, and Bespoke Cabinet, from Sustainably Farmed Oak

Have you come across Workroom yet.  This kiwi father and daughter team focus on creating furniture from sustainable sources.  They offer a beautiful original range as well as bespoke creations.

DS Stool - made of sustainable timber offcuts 

They have there own store but also stock at various haunts across NZ and in Sydney - YAY I'm off to Sydney next month - wonder if I can get a DS stool on the plane... hmmm...

Sawhorse Table

But what I really really would love is one of the amazing sawhorse tables - we don't have the space but they fold and their gorgeous - that wood - ohhh I dunno why but there is such a beauty in real, solid wood - and its all ecological and sustainable and everything! 'Sigh'... if I really really wine to hubby I might just persuade him!

Turned Table Lamp                              and Zed Table Lamp

Now for the finer details -
Rebecca's blog with all the pretty things they stock and a bit of inspiration thrown in too...
And the website, complete with list of stockists and map to their shop in Clevedon (40 min from Auckland)

David Trubridge

Body Raft, David Trubridge Designs

I have been captivated by David Trubridge since I first discovered his work in a 'theory of design' course I did as part of my BA, oh 8 or so years ago, (gosh I feel old!). And his aesthetic sings to me still - the flow of line, the honesty of the wood - it is beautiful in its simplicity.

Nananu (side and front view) David Trubridge Designs

I cant quite place what it is that draws me in - there is a rhythm, a grace, an almost spiritual element - the body raft and the sling with their bowed form are hammock like, boat like - a shape that speaks of quiet moments, of rest and relaxation. I love that curved line, in sculpture, paintings and design it appeals to me, perhaps because we are all descendants of sea travellers and that shape with its association to the waka, ship or raft is apart of our cultural psyche, or maybe it is more that that - perhaps for some reason it speaks to humanity itself - the moon, the turning of the world, the flow of distant hills, nature and the elements...

                  Sling, David Trubridge Designs

His work is informed by his strong belief that design owes it to itself to be sustainable while still retaining a cultural and social aesthetic. 

Taniko Lights narrow, and wide

To see more of this powerful and beautiful work, to read about the beliefs that inform his creative drive, and to find out where you can see the work for yourself  (he has stockists in Australasia, Europe and America) visit his website. 

Have an inspired week!

*K*

All images from David Trubridge Designs

Bison Ceramics - Friday Finds

Have you discovered Bison Ceramics yet? Beautiful, durable and handcrafted in Australia - Whats not to love?!?

I already own a few pieces of Bison - my favorite at the moment is a duck-egg blue tulip bowl. It makes my morning breakfast of raspberry porridge  look so pretty (cook rolled oats till done, throw in a handful of frozen raspberries in, serve drizzled with maple syrup! Yum!), and is the perfect size to cup in your hands while eating curled up on the sofa (a habit I only do at times when I'm on my own - but it is a lovely indulgent habit to have).  I sort of subscribe to the Mireille Guiliano (author of French Women Dont Get Fat) attitude that food needs to be enjoyed as an aesthetic as well as sensory experience, the bowl should look nice, feel nice, be comfortable to hold, and I swear this makes breakfast taste better, feel better, you appreciate it more, feel better nourished than you do scoffing toast while running out the door (another habit I am not immune too unfortunately).  Bison fits the bill perfectly - their ceramics feel solid without being heavy, look elegant while still being usable and are available in the most fantastic colours - a nice change from the white, white, and white platters that dominate my cupboards!

Anyways Bison opens its online store next month and I will be able to shop without hazarding the train to the city! YAY!

I'm coveting one of  the Cucina Plates.  I think they would make fabulous cake platters - imagine one in purple holding a cake dripping with chocolate icing and dusted with silver sprinkles... yumm!

Have a great weekend - rain or shine!

*K*

P.S. All these lovely pics are from Bison's Website, and taken by the talented David Plummer.