Creativity: Collaborative Consumption - What's Mine is Yours

For a quick video on Collaborative Consumption click on the image above or here.

Design: Jewelry Box Redux

Redux:  It is a Latin word that means "brought back", "revisited".

I'm busy in my studio re-dux-ing old wooden boxes into historic architecture boxes.

Last year's stock was purchased for Christmas (that time of the year is quickly approaching again) and birthday gifts as well as self-gifts by lovers of architecture. 

Each box is unique.  Some are perfect for jewelry and others may be used for other purposes, such as storing postage stamps, cell phones, i-pods, reading glasses, remote controls, spare change, business cards, pencils, clips, matches, lighters, anything you want to tuck away out of sight and always know where to find it.

Above:  Small jewelry box with a mirror and accommodations for for rings and bracelets, etc.

See more historic architecture boxes here.

Design & Creativity: Furniture Revision Heroines

I ran across this video in design blogland and wanted to share.  These gals are my vintage furniture transformation heroines!  Click on the link below...

Meet the Sprucettes!

 They are amazing!

Naughty & Nice: Rainy Weekend Goodies

Above:  Poster designs by Neil Passey

Being held captive indoors, by blustery wet weather, helped force me to finally finish a little sewing project---a coupler for the dog leash so I can walk three dogs at a time with one lead (after breaking the last sewing machine needle mid-project and having to go out into the wet weather after all to buy replacement needles) when the weather improves, of course.  And I'm catching up on cool poster art from the 1960's at Salt Lake Concert Posters.   Now's also a good time to peruse the winter reading list and check the online library catalog for availability.  Maybe add another book or two about sunny Tuscany.

play clothes

Have a great weekend!

Design: "Toga" sofa wrap

After researching the cost of re-covering this lovely antique Regency-style sofa, I had a mixed blessing kind of wake-up call occur.  When a housemate moved out in June, I discovered blue ink stains on the upholstered desk chair seat and down comforter cover in her room.   These are two items that belong to me.  It woke me up as to how very upset I would be if ink stains appeared on my newly recovered antique sofa. 

 So I decided to create a sofa wrap that could be easily removed and laundered and would not be a major investment of funds---at least while I welcome others to sharing my house.

The wood details of the sofa are features that I wanted to expose.  So instead of dropping a cover over and blanketing the entire sofa, I developed ways of draping the fabric (cotton painter's drop cloth) over the sofa that would still allow some of these distinctive features of the sofa to be revealed.

 I cut a linear opening across the center back, and bound it somewhat like a giant button hole, so that the wood across the back of the sofa can display its character. 

To hold the "button hole" closed and prevent it from pulling downward when someone sits on the sofa, I fashioned and attached straps (of the same fabric) to the front and back sides of the opening and tied the straps together.

It's a casual, comfortable and somewhat serene solution that I believe will work for us.

Above image from:  www.theweebsite.com/earlygarb/toga.html

Design: HOT stoop LOVE and construction progress photos

Above: And now for my latest favorite new thing---the new back steps! They were completed yesterday (remember the old cracked leaning concrete steps?)

Above: The new stoop and steps!

Above: The corrugated metal panels (besides being pretty snappy and part of our overall plan for the scheme of exterior finish materials) cover what remained of the old concrete steps, after hammering out portions of concrete to make room for construction of the new stoop and steps.

Above: Closer view of panel details. My builder, Mark, who was also trained as an architect, came up with the design for the new stoop and steps. The corrugated metal will also be the material used for awnings to be built over the south-facing and east-facing windows. Similar to the awning shown in the photo below. . .

And now I will be busy staining and painting to beat winter's arrival.

Artwork: October Gallery Stroll - Friday October 15th

Randi Lile's unparalleled ceramic sculpture---Well worth the visit on Gallery Stroll evening and through November 15 at Charley Hafen Jewelers - Gallery. Visit Randi's website at http://www.randilile.com/

Above: Randi Lile sculpture- from the ceramic Guitar Woman series

Patrick Moore Gallery is hosting the Fall Utah Watercolor Society exhibit:
2233 S 700 E
Salt Lake City, UT
84106-1835
(801) 484-6641
Reception for artists (I have a painting in this show!) and friends and award presentations, Thursday, Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m.
The gallery will also be open for Gallery Stroll on Oct.15, 6-9 p.m.
The show runs from Oct. 13 - Nov. 12.
October Gallery Stroll - Friday October 15th, 6-9 p.m. For a printable (PDF) version of this list, click here.
6th Avenue Gallery and Frame Shop on 6th Ave and L Street – 752 E 6th Avenue; 801-359-4604Presenting Michael Rusnack's luscious oils and water colors. Michael studied in England and Italy and uses a painterly approach in his works of interpretive realism.
15th Street Gallery – 1519 S 1500 E; 801-468-1515Currently showing contemporary still life, abstracts, land and cityscapes by Gia Whitlock, Aaron Bushnell, Andrjez Skorut, Lloyd Platt and Aaron Lifferth.
A Gallery – 1321 S 2100 E; 801-583-2100Please join us for new oil paintings by Donald Yatomi.
Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques – 401 E 200 S; 801-328-2231A collection of ten paintings by J. T. Harwood including Boats of St. Tropez, Black Rock Beach, Jordan River, Millcreek, City Creek, Utah Lake and others.
Art Access – 230 S 500 W; 801-328-0703 Art Access Gallery is pleased to host a Few of my Favorite Things, by painter Erin Berrett, and the Value of Function, by ceramicist Elizabeth Crowe. Art Access II Gallery is featuring Illuminated Paintings, aka Adult Nightlights, by Vance Mellen.
Art at the Main – Ground floor of the Main City Library, 210 E 400 S; 801-363-4088 Kristine Groll has mastered watercolor, “a medium with a mind of its own." Her new collection of floral and landscape paintings are on display at Art at the Main Gallery. She will be on hand during Gallery Stroll, along with music by the Avenues Duo.
Artistic Framing and Sugarhouse Gallery – 2160 Highland; 801-486-4893Presenting Still-Son Wrench, a show by artist K.F.Simons. Featuring sculptures, welded pieces, collages, paintings and drawings, this show is a virtual multi-media tour-de-force.
Blonde Grizzly – 15 E 400 S; 801-355-9075Presenting a group show with over 25 local and national artists. In celebration of the best holiday (besides Christmas), Halloween, the theme is CLASSIC MONSTERS. Featuring the likes of Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolfman, Cookie Monster, and many, many more.
Caffe Niche – 779 E 300 S; 801-433-3380Caffe Niche presents Lex Carrol and Gabriel. Come in and enjoy the fun pop and comic pieces.
Charley Hafen Jewelers – 1409 S 900 E; 801-521-7711Featuring recent works by Randi Lile. Randi’s passion is creating ceramic sculptures using a variety of clays, finishing surfaces and firing techniques.
Evergreen Framing Co. & Gallery – 3295 S 2000 E; 801-467-8770Evergreen Framing Co. & Gallery brings in Boston artist, Bren Bataclan to participate in his international Smile Project. Look for details on our website to find clues to free paintings around Salt Lake City...if you promise to smile more often.
Every Blooming Thing – 444 S 700 E; 801-521-4773Featuring the work of Aaron Stills, Christina Pellegrina, Steve Lawrence Peterson, Carol Evans and Renon Huletmore.
Finch Lane and Park Galleries / Art Barn – 1340 E 100 S (in Reservoir Park); 801-596-5000Featuring Kathleen Carricaburu’s metal works, Regina D. Stenberg’s graphite on paper and Sam Wilson’s mixed media.
Gray Wall Gallery– 351 W Pierpont #2B; 801-635-7417Presenting a group show that includes the Utah debut of Erica Harney, a recent MFA graduate (Penn State). Also in the gallery this month are Daren Young, Jason Wells, Jacob Shirley, Guadalupe Rodriguez, Tamara Fox, Sarah Cuvelier and Matthew Hall
Hope Gallery and Museum of Fine Art – 151 S Main; 801-532-1336Featuring a distinct collection of European masters from the 16th to 21st centuries, including the largest collection of original Danish works (outside the Danish national museums) by notable artists such as Bloch, Kroyer, Henningsen, Wegmann and Molsted.
HORNE Fine Art – 142 E 800 S; 801-533-4200Enjoy the noted Utah artist Phyllis Horne's latest crop of paintings celebrating the Intermountain West. Linger in local restaurant patios including Tuscany, Trio and Market Street in paintings by Karen Horne.
the Hotel – 155 W 200 S (upstairs); 801-660-5857Presenting Gallery Stroll after party beginning at 9pm. Evenings Live, upstairs in the ballroom + mercury lounge, is a one-of-a kind experience integrating live art, live music and new collections from featured artists every month in a highenergy nightclub environment.
Local Colors of Utah – 535 S 700 E; 801-363-3922Join us for Halloween refreshments as we present Angels and Saints, a group show featuring Catherine Darling Hostetter, Troy Nuttal and Shanna Brady. There will also be a special featured show of plein air art celebrating Gilgal's 10th anniversary.
Mestizo Gallery – 631 W North Temple #700; 801-596-0500Presenting Will Thompson’s I'm Changing So Fast, I Can't Keep Up With Myself, a demonstration of what happened when the artist questioned the labels he imposed on himself, and the categorizations and stereotypes he accepted from others.
Michael Berry Gallery and Custom Framing – 163 E 300 S; 801-521-0243 Presenting paintings by Jane Meyers. Meet the artist and enjoy music by Quintetto Noire.
Phillips Gallery – 444 E 200 S; 801-364-8284 Featuring Ga, Na, Da, Ra: Native Mumblings, new paintings by Hyunmee Lee.
Red Kiln – 339 E 1700 S; 801-484-4016By the Numbers, new work by Wendy Wood.
Rio Gallery – 300 S Rio Grande; 801-533-3582Come to our opening of the Statewide Annual Exhibition Mixed Media & Works on Paper. A tradition since 1899, this juried competition features work from artists across the entire state of Utah. Jurors: Elizabeth Dove of Montana and Micahel Sarich of Nevada.
SLC Ink – 1150 S Main; 801-596-2061Presenting Illuminations, by David Normal. “Illuminations” are an application of a commercial signage technique to a fine art purpose that creates an alternate world of mythic satire. Like glowing stained glass windows, they invoke a sacred atmosphere.
Tanner Frames – 230 S 500 W #105; 801-483-2501Featuring new works by Namon Bills and Justin Wheatley.
UT Artist Hands – 61 W 100 S; 801-355-0206Presenting Terra Firma, the latest collection of abstract paintings from Utah artist David Maestas and Dia de los Muertos art by Romy B.
Williams Fine Art – 200 E South Temple Ste 100; 801-534-0331Williams Fine Art will be displaying their First Annual Student Invitational Exhibition. Students were selected from the Art and Art History Department of the University of Utah.
Above Gallery Stroll information is take directly from Salt Lake Gallery Stroll website:
www.gallerystroll.org/

Creativity & Good Food: A little winemaking...

Photo by Doug Sloan

Above: 2010 bumper crop of grapes at Hound's Roo Estate Vineyards

Photo by Toni Youngblood

I acquired a nice little group of grape vines growing on the south side of the property when I purchased the house four years ago. A friend was very interested in the hearty grape crop of 2008, and asked if he could experiment with making wine from the beautiful tasty grapes. I agreed that it was an intriguing idea and thus Hound's Roo Estate Vineyards - In the heart of downtown Salt Lake City was born.

Photo by Toni Youngblood

Above: Our first bottle of vintage 2008 - a prolific year for our little vineyard.

Photo by Toni Youngblood

Above: I am working out final adjustments to the label design.

Photo by Toni Youngblood

Above: a visiting pinot noir hound, seems to have the idea that the nice hole I dug for transplanting a shrub was made specifically for him and his lazy dog-days nap taking.

Photo by  Toni Youngblood

Design: Turquoise and Orange in Nature and Design

While visiting the stunning desert in Monument Valley, I couldn't help being struck by the colors, the beautiful contrasting colors. It was wonderful waking up each morning to that perfect color "scheme". I wouldn't really return home and replace my entire landscape with red dirt and rocks, though we do live in a desert (altered in major ways) in Salt Lake City. But I was thinking about the colors of the desert for use inside the home. Turquoise and orange are opposite each other on the color wheel, therefore complementary. Mother nature uses them together without reticence. And the gray greens of growing tumble weed with the red earth---just gorgeous. I've collected examples of interiors using these colors over the last couple of years and include several below. (My huge apologies for not having the credits for all of the photographs.)