More Ways to Waste Time

Monday, March 30, 2009

Cool Stuff: John Kostick's Bronze Stars

John Kostick's mesmerizing Six Axis Bronze Star is a beautiful physical expression of a complex geometrical concept: The handcrafted "symmetrical non-Cartesian multiple-axis joining of beams" was inspired by a speech given by synergetic visionary Buckminster Fuller at Brandeis University.

The math, no doubt, is light years beyond my feeble abilities in that area. The beauty, however, is easy to grasp. And over time, the metal wire that forms the gracefully intersecting axes of this collapsible star will develop a rich brown patina with a subtle green undertone.

Kostick's six-point star is $60 at Canoe, or $20 for the smaller Tetraxis Bronze Star, above.

(Via Portland Spaces.)

Become a More Ways to Waste Time Sponsor!

I'm so thrilled to have welcomed several wonderful new sponsors this past month -- including Hello Victory, Modernica, Sue Augustyn Interior Design, Janus Home, Digs Inside & Out, 3 Fish Studios, and Verre New York.

The women and men behind these great small businesses help make it possible for me to spend my time looking for incredible things to show you here. So please be sure to return the favor by checking out their sites, as well as those of my fabulous longer-term sponsors at right. You're likely to find some incredible things there yourself.

And with March rapidly drawing to a close, I wanted to let any independent artisans, designers, Etsy sellers, and other retailers who may be out there reading know that I still have a few advertising spots available for April. Large (180-by-180-pixel) ads start at only $20, and are seen by nearly 50,000 visitors a month.

Interested? Click here for more details.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

SAID ad

Friday, March 27, 2009

Over and Out

Photo by Antony Chammond

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Mark Your Calendar: Whitney Smith Sample Sale

If you're in the Bay Area this weekend, be sure to stop by ceramic artist Whitney Smith's Spring Sample Sale on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Smith is making space in her studio by clearing out not-quite-perfect items -- which are 10 to 70 percent off regular retail -- prototypes, older pieces, and even some brand-new designs (her organic-modern Lichen Collection, for instance, is a particular fave of mine). The studio is located at 539 Athol Ave. at Cleveland in Oakland.

And if you're not in the area, don't despair -- Smith will be filling the "Sale" section of her Etsy shop with bargains starting on Sunday, March 29.

See more of Smith's gorgeous handmade ceramics right here.

More eBay Finds

Mexican Otomi Embroidered Queen Bedspreads in Purple, Yellow, Pink, Green, and Aqua

Red Channel Letter "L"

Original Bertoia Chair Frame

Vintage Task Work Light

Midcentury Modern Danish-Style Lounge Chairs

Letterpress "Collage of Letters and Cuts"

Original Charley Harper Serigraph

Vintage Architectural Metal Sign Letter

1950s Woman Oil Painting

Gustavberg "Eva" Cups and Saucers

Vintage Arteluce-Style Floor Lamp

Six Retro Demitasse Cups & Saucers

Wooden Boot Forms

Set of Four Eames Herman Miller Shell Chairs

Except for the "Buy It Now" Otomi bedspreads, these auctions all end between now and Sunday evening, March 29. Happy bidding!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Etsy Find of the Day: Genevieve Dionne Ceramics

More fox love from Vancouver, British Columbia ceramist and Etsy seller Genevieve Dionne. Each piece is hand-thrown and ornamented with Dionne's hand-cut stencil designs. Above: Smoking Fox Mug, $25

Tall Fox Mug, $25

Fox Mug, $25

And in non-fox-related news, I also really like this Ghost Cup, $25, and Ghost Vase, $30.

See all of Dionne's Etsy offerings right here -- and while you're at it, be sure to check out her very cool wood burn, illustration, and collage work here.

That's Random: Feline-on-Fox Lovin'

I want one.

P.S. More on my all-consuming obsession with foxes here.

(Via Dlisted.)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Cool Stuff: New Kaui Rug at Urban Outfitters

Oooh -- I like this. (It's surface-dyed, flatweave cotton, which means it'll probably look like crap after about two months of being stepped on. But hey -- what do you want for $68?)

Etsy Find of the Day: Gillian Bates

I fell hard for British "designer/maker" Gillian Bates's embroidered art pieces after I saw them on the UK-based Not Mass Produced recently. Happily, I just discovered that Bates also has an Etsy shop where she sells postcard-sized reproductions of her charming and intricate stitchery-on-canvas art. Above: Marine Court With Lady

Brighton Pier

Marine Court

Eastbourne Pier

Four 99s Please!

I Love Ice Cream

Each 4-by-6-inch postcard is printed onto tactile cotton canvas and costs just $5. Generously matted, framed, and hung in a grouping of three or more, these would have a lot of impact for very little expense. (Who says you can't fill your home with interesting art when you're on a tight budget?)

Check out all of Bates's Etsy offerings right here -- and see more of her work here.

Cool Stuff: New Glass Lighting From Jonathan Adler

Luminous new lighting from Jonathan Adler: The designer's Capri Collection is crafted from richly colored glass in a range of irresistible summery shades.

I'm especially taken with the Genie and Bottle Pendants, $195 each.

The Teardrop and Bottle Lamps are 26 to nearly 34 inches tall and cost $275 apiece. (Don't ask me why I'll drop hundreds on a hardwired light fixture without batting an eye, but tend to balk at anything over $75 for a table lamp. Still, if you've got the cash, these are pretty drool-worthy.)

Check out the entire collection right here.