Posts tagged ‘design’

TED-Technology, Entertainment, and Design-is a yearly conference where the world’s leading thinkers & doers speak on ideas that are shaping our future.  I’ve seen many of the talks online (most are absolutely insightful & amazing!), and just learned about the independently run TED event in Cleveland.  I already ordered my ticket.  But if you’re not in the Ohio area, here’s a list of TEDx events around the world.

Here are the TEDxCLE details:

Who:
Creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers.

What:
At TEDxCLE, TEDTalks video and live speakers spanning topics such as health care, urban revitalization, art, and product development will combine to spark deep discussion and connection amongst speakers and attendees alike.

Where:
The Capitol Theatre
1390 West 65th Street
Cleveland, OH 44102

When:
Friday, February 26, 2010 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Why:
Share Cleveland innovation, development and positive change with the world.

How:
Tickets for TEDxCLE can be purchased for $20 at The Capitol Theatre ticket booth or online.

If you care about good design in what you create and what you purchase, you must see the film Objectified.  It’s part of the design trilogy that began with Helvetica, and is specifically about manufactured items and the processes of making good design decisions.  It teaches us to think about the objects we use each day.  Why do we use them?  Do they add value to our lives?  What were the designers thinking when they created them?  Do they care only about money or will they think long & hard about the users’ needs?  And, are they thinking sustainably?

No only does this film push me think critically about the design, value, and sustainability of what I buy, but also about the items I create.  I don’t want my life cluttered with wasteful junk and short-lived objects destined for the landfills.  I think it’s great to spend our time, money, and resources on things that are of greatest value.

Here’s the jewelry display I put together for the Craft Akron Open House this past Saturday.  I used this metal tree candle holder and put business cards in the candle spots.  Then I made the earring tags from cereal boxes and cut a hole in the top of each so it slides over the metal leaves.

I bought these earrings almost a year ago and have never worn them.  I like looking at them, but I think the bulkiness of the bottom circle clashes with my face shape or hair length.  Anyways, I’ve finally altered them and love the new look.  Plus, I have 4 extra metal circles for another project!  Perhaps a coordinating necklace?

Fall 2009 Edition of Lonny Magazine

I never subscribed to Domino Magazine (sorry if I’m one of the reasons it failed) but I still check back issues out from the library when I need some inspiration. I just love looking at the inside of other people’s homes and the furniture they select.

Well, some of the staff from Domino Magazine have started a new endeavor call Lonny Magazine. The first issue is available online by following the link. I’ve been scanning the pages and I’m enjoying the layout, the design tips and the features on upcycling your own furniture in order to achieve the sense of style you are looking for.

Another fun thing about reading the magazine online is the live links you can follow by mousing over the pages. I saw the book The Self Sufficient-ish Bible on page 26, and clicked on it’s cover which brought me here in case I wanted to make it my own. Very cool!

I bought a black strapless dress with red ribbon & thread trim from Goodwill last week.  When I first get new clothing, I explore all the ways I can wear it.  I mix and match different shoes, jewelry, scarves, and other accessories and think about items to make or purchase to complete the look.  This way, I feel prepared when the occasion comes to wear the clothing; there’s no scrambling to find matching jewelry or last minute shopping trips for shoes.

For this dress I want to be bold with my jewelry & subtle with shoes & the purse (I’ll wear black shoes and carry a black purse.)  For the necklace I visualize something mostly red with some black accents, and maybe I can use a black ribbon and black findings as well.  If the weather’s nippy, I’d also like a scarf or shawl in black with a thin, loose knit (and maybe it has a yarn rose pin on it!)

So, I explored my bead and yarn stash.  The only things I came up with are black satin ribbon and some red beads.  I’d love to use these beads because they’re a broken strand I inherited from my grandma, and I’m a little sentimental.

The next thing I need to do is go shopping and look for more beads, findings, and yarn to begin these projects.  I’ll keep you updated!

Potato Stamped Curtains by Diber

We had some new photos added to our stream by readers this past week. They are so Fall Wonderful I had to share them with you. This first photo is from a long-time cyber friend of mine who goes by Diber. She says that these curtains were one of those OMG-I-Have-To-Make-This-Right-Now projects. She made the potato stamps and went to town. She suggests using a roller for the ink in order to get a more even application. I like the uneven handmade look of how it turned out.

I want to switch my kitchen colors to more warm tones for fall/winter and I think I might use these curtains as inspiration. I might take the pattern over to some custom made hand towels as well.

Earrings by Katie Earley

This second photo is of two pairs of earrings made by reader Katie Earley for her Mom’s birthday. I love the earrings, which look very similar in construction to Colleen’s Beginner Earring Tutorial, and I LOVE the packaging. The fall tones in the earrings are picked up and accented with the photo of wellies in the cardstock holder. The paper came from an advertising brochure and the composition is just wonderful. I would be thrilled to receive a gift like this.

While I was shopping for some bookcases at Target last week I noticed that the back to school section had a bunch of color coordinating office organizing supplies. If you bought a whole set it would cost an arm and a leg. You would have a very nice looking office though.

When I came home I opened my bookcase boxes to discover a bunch of cardboard packing material that would be easily transformed into an in box/out box tray if you just cut it in half. The problem is brown cardboard with tape scars is not nearly as attractive as the beautiful ones I saw on the shelves in Target. But if you cover them with fabric, then you have instant custom office supplies, with just a half hour of work. Here’s how I made mine: Read more »

When we did our bathroom update last year my Mother-in-Law handed down a very sturdy wall mirror to replace our tiny medicine cabinet. I planned on just using the glass and discarding the faux gold frame, but as time passed it just never got done.

This weekend the girls and I needed a little project to do in the afternoon together so I pulled the mirror off the wall. With a little baking soda and a tooth brush I scrubbed out all of the crevices and washed out the dirt and dust. Then the girls and I painted it with simple acrylic craft glue. I wanted it to be completely red, but the kids’ less carful hand had a better outcome leaving some of the black accents to show through. In the end I ended up copying their technique, which we used to cover the mirror in two coats.

I need to give it a schelac finish before it is truly done, but I didn’t have anything around. For now it is on the wall, standing out and making a statement. And the girls are really proud to have helped make something important.

I just watched the documentary Garbage Warrior from Netflix.  I was expecting to learn about a modern trash collector, but it’s actually about an architect, Michael Reynolds, who’s frustrated with the status quo of how we build homes.  His buildings are sustainable, but beyond that he uses typical trash items in construction…items such as tires, beer cans, and wine bottles.  Plus he integrates energy & water systems that require little or no utility bills.  The problem is, he has to fight legal battles for permission to build these experimental homes.  My favorite part is how Reynolds & his team go to tsunami & hurricane devastated areas to help with rebuilding.  Overall, it encouraged me to continue looking for smart ways to reuse things and also, it taught me more about building homes smartly so they don’t require outside energy use.