It's Aloha Friday...

 

Wishing you a wonderful friday and a fantastic weekend!!

  

{MADE}:: Wooden Table

I've been delinquent in posting this week. I have been preparing for many new things that are coming up. I am both excited and sad about them but it will no doubt be a test of my time management skills.

Since these posts are dedicated to my creations, I am excited to reveal my latest woodworking project. This is just the mock-up but thank goodness for it because I learned that it is too short to be used as a side table (even though it is the height of my coffee table) . I also learned that the weight is not balanced so I need to add more supports.

... so here is my table in the form of stylized tree branches.

... and another view. I would add a piece of glass to the top for the table surface.

However, in the shop I placed it upside down because it is better supported that way. I think I like this orientation too. I still need to add supports but I can see it working as a side table or even a stool.

For now the piece is sans glue, it is a series of biscuit joints and a lap joint.


I'd love to see some of your creations so if you'd like just comment below and link to them!

 

Hunted:: Gathered: 07/09/11

Multi-Cultural finds

I don't know if you are all familiar with the show American Pickers, but my finds this week reminded me how much I love name of their shop, Antique Archaeology. It is dead-on. Thrifting (picking) allows us to explore and learn about the history of many cultures through the objects (artifacts) that we find (excavate).

This piece is by Mexican artisan Sigfredo Sigi Pineda. He is better known for his modern jewelry but his wall plaques are also quite stunning. I believe this is a piece from his "Zoomorphic" series and is made of different metals (brass and bronze) as well lapis lazuli (some sources also mention turquoise).

I also found a wee little pot from the Mexican potters of Mata Ortiz. Don't let the picture fool you. It is only 2" tall by 2" wide. Black on black, so subtle yet so captivating. I love it.

Remember studying the classics? ... This piece is of the goddess Athena on a horse and chariot also featuring an owl (the protector of Greek armies). These are often referred to as being in the style of Frederick Weinberg.

I wanted to feature a piece that I am not so sure about because sometimes you just have to take a gamble. Upon first sight it reminded me of the Iittala flora series by Oiva Toikka. I have not been able to find the shape and for all I know this may be a modern vase. It was still too sweet to leave behind.

**UPDATE: I believe it is a Handmade Boda vase for Kosta Boda of Sweden.**

However, this piece is most certainly Finnish and I recognized the shape because of this one I found previously. It is a design by Aimo Okkolin for Riihimaen Lasi Oy and still has the sticker as well as the stamp on the bottom.

Lastly, this piece is a special one and I dedicate it to my Aussie readers. It is a piece of Yarrabah pottery by Edwin Demeera from North Queensland. I particularly enjoyed this because I learned that the pottery provided jobs and training to Aboriginals. They also used aboriginal imagery for their pottery.

Well, that's it for me. What did you find this week?

Be sure to check out the rest of the goodies at Sophie's and Selena's.

It's Aloha Friday...

Lava flow on the Big Island

Here's hoping that it doesn't get THIS hot!

Have a fabulous friday and weekend!

{MADE}:: Wooden Spoon

This little project is still in the works but I wanted to give you a sneak peek at the lastest thing I've been working on. I mentioned in my last MADE post that a friend and I were going to make 5 things last week. Well that didn't happen and here's why... we jumped the gun and enrolled in a woodworking course. It is a really short community education class (6 weeks/ 1 day a week) but we are ambitious and hope to make a spectacular final product. During our first class we introduced ourselves and had to take a safety test regarding all of the equipment. We were also given small chunks of wood to re-orient ourselves with some of the machinery. Here is what I started to make...

The instructor had some examples of pieces he made in the past and I really enjoyed the ergonomics of one of his pieces. Here is a close-up view of the handle grooves.

... and another view...

Now I still have a lot of sanding and shaping to do but you can get the general gist of it.

Hunted:: Gathered: 07/02/11

It's that time again! The time when I get to share my treasures of the week. I hope you had a great week and for the americans reading this, I hope you're enjoying the long weekend in celebration of our independence!

In my part of town, summer has definitely arrived! Temperatures reaching the 100 degree mark. Though I don't particularly enjoy the extreme heat, I was inspired by the thought of pleasant and moderate summer outings. I thought a sweet little set of teak snack bowls would be great with a vintage set of Vera Neumann napkins. You can't leave out the pyrex pitcher to be filled with iced tea along with some Dorothy Thorpe style glasses!

How sweet it would be to have this Arabia jam jar filled with something homemade...

If you're into refreshing with something a bit more boozy you can use this little teak guy with a built in bottle opener and corkscrew.

Antonio Vitali- Creative Playforms, Zoo-line? Monkey, Hans Bolling Optimist

If you're in a cooler part of the world, how about you snuggle up with a fun pillow and play some games with family.  Remember... the glass is probably half full!

Blenko Heart Vase

Express your love...

Nambe Heart

... and you'll likely be loved in return.

Jacaranda Hippo made in Zimbabwe

... and well... do some things just because you love to...

See you at Sophie's and Selena's!

XOXO

It's Aloha Friday...

Bringing you your weekly dose of aloha...

One of my favorite spots on Oahu... look at what the ocean can do to the earth!

Have a Great Weekend!