Zach Feltoon - Napkin Bling; Vote on Style Factory!

Zach Feltoon has his design, Napkin Bling, on Style Factory blog for votes for fabricaton and sales:
as quoted in the blog voting area: http://blog.stylefactory.com/new-products/stylefactory-vote-napkin-bling/

"Nothing is more satisfying than when something works double-duty; by adding contemporary glamour into the mix, the Napkin Bling guarantees to delight.

Designed by Zachary Feltoon to serve as “Interior Jewelry,” the Napkin Bling first presents itself as a gleaming stainless steel napkin ring. Once the textile is removed, place the ring back on the table and it transforms into a tiny tabletop sculpture, ready to serve as a meal-enhancing utensil rest.

Inspired by the concept of adornment, Zachary Feltoon uses the Napkin Bling to explore the notion of personal expression through self-decoration.

Finding inspiration in our use of clothing, jewelry and footwear as beautification tools, Feltoon looks to the objects that we place in our interiors to serve the same purpose: to speak to our personal expression of individuality.



Enhance the beauty of your surroundings by clicking on the Make It to bring the Napkin Bling to your table"

OKay - let's vote along!

Also - Zach's updated website: zacandco.com , check it out, very nice indeed!! Congrats Zach!

Natalie Mclaurin - Website & New call to artists!

Busier than ever, Natalie is pushing for new curatorial endeavours as well as preparing for Grad School opportunities, she is currently curating another show at the Antenna Gallery in New Orleans: See below!

“My Mom says my work has really improved” call to artists
Opening May 14 from 6-9 and closes June 5th at 5pm
At Antenna Gallery 3161 Burgundy St. New Orleans, LA

Children are interesting creatures that perceive the world in ways we forget as adults.
Looking for work that uses/recreates/interprets meaning, subject matter, and/or elements from personal childhood artwork or designs in all mediums. The childhood artwork or an image of it will be displayed with the current piece.


Images of completed work sent by April 20th sent to nataliemclaurin@gmail.com
It is a hard deadline this time because this show is going to have more like 10 people in it, not 36.
I am going to hold off on yes and no's because I want to pick work that fits with the other work. I am hoping to find people that already make work like this and have a few pieces that are made for the show specifically.
Please forward on to anyone you think might be interested.

Eli Simon; Dazzle Ships & going forward

Eli Simon, if you are following his blog, you have seen some of his lates fabulous ceramic works. Eli is currently planning his post-grad career after RISD, he notes:
"Also I'm teaching a lot and writing my thesis. I would love to send it to you when I have a good draft. The work I've been doing is essentially a lead in to the thesis body. I will send you info regarding the RISD thesis show, which is large to say the least, when it gets closer."

And regarding the Dazzle Ships works, as quoted from the show:
"Dazzle Ships is the collision of a primordial material in an industrial framework. Using basic geometric typology as a backdrop for fantasy, I use the notion of Genetic Engineering as the ultimate metaphor for the future fiction. It asks us to dispense with our essential nature/identity for something perceived as better. In an industrialized context better equates to uniform. Therefore, in the same way that Genetic Engineering invades and applies order at the point of human inception, my work invades industrial process at the point of form generation and leaves a human hand print, like graffiti on mechanized notions of 'progress'. Protracting the void between the hand and the machine allows me to exist and create in a space that is referential of industrial capability but free from the confines of uniformity and repetition.
- Show quoted text "

Eli is weighing his options, residency, design studio, design/artist employment - His family is well, and I wish him the best.

kimberly lewis - blog launch -

I am very proud to post Kimberly's next step in following her design passion! Please follow her new blog: http://kimberlylewis.net/blog/

Where she introduces herself and her past and recent activities: She notes,
"Kimberly Lewis jumped into the world of home furnishing and textile design with a series of internships for companies including Twenty2, Sunham Home Fashions, and Kim Seybert. She has worked with the Macy’s Merchandising Group, designing print and patterns for their private tableware and Frango candy lines for their Fall ‘08 season and Valentine’s Day ‘09. Since 2008 she has been working for Estée Lauder Companies at Clinique, creating packaging, patterned makeup bags, and custom compacts that are sold at Clinique counters worldwide.

In addition to the companies listed, Kimberly has sold her original line of handmade felt applique pillows at craft fairs around NYC, including Brooklyn Renagade and the Brooklyn Flea. Always thinking of what is next, Kimberly’s next endeavor is already in the works, this time in the form of her own print and patterns as wall coverings with a twist.

Kimberly graduated from Pratt Institute in 2008 with a B.I.D. in Industrial Design, and has studied textile design at The Danish Design School in Copenhagen. She currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y."

Very lovely blog! Please stay in touch with Kimberly, support her business w with your advice and assistance!

ana linares - Book Publications; 1000 Designs for the Garden

Ana Linares has some terrific news about her Conversation chair, a chair she designed (if I am no misaken) during her undergrad term at Pratt.

I want to share some news with you. One of my first designs the Conversation Chair, which was selected for exhibition by Tom Dixon for 100%Design London, has been included in a book coming out on Monday published in London called 1000 Designs for the Garden. I'm so happy!!

Ana is so busy, I cannot seem to keep up with her doings; in December she wrote a response to my request for an update, and I haven't had a chance to follow up, but here it is, in her own words:

Since we last spoke I was with Mark (Goetz), wow time flies! I actually worked with Mark for about 6 months till I finished the project I was doing for him, then I worked at Quirky for a short freelance, about two months and then Knoll needed help with a project, so I was there till the beginning of December...I've been busy working, thankfully...and my bookshelf is selling well too. Umbra is developing a new idea of the shelf, hopefully will be produced (crossing my fingers), and I just started last week a full time position at Material ConneXion, as a material specialist. I am doing research and design consultancy, really interesting.
Pratt contacted me for an article that they will be writing for the next Prattfolio issue related to materials, since I am working there I guess they want to take advantage of that.

Apartment Therapy will be posting something on the event with Jonathan Adler soon, I will fwd you the link once is up.

We are very proud of your success, vim and vigor!! I look forward to hearing about the Apartment Therapy link!

Jon Basile

Jon Basile, (grad 2006) one of the finest designers I have had the pleasure of knowing - a designer's designer and magician of transformative concept of as still undefined proportions - slightly elusive in space, time and being (hard to get a feature on) has been in touch recently living in Portland, and wrote, in part, as follows:

"Portland has treated me well the past few years. I moved out here for the lifestyle change, art/culture, awareness, locality, geography, and craftspeople.

I've been working and playing a ton! I try to be a weekend warrior and do at least a hike, climb, or ski in the winter. I live on a farm/vineyard with my girlfriend. We grow our own food and have some animals, I have a lot of space to build and create! It's a enchanting escape from the city.

I'v been working at, The Rebuilding Center(in N Portland), designing and building furniture, home decor, and custom work for locals and businesses. It's a non-profit organization driven by local used building materials. So some of the fine things i build are made from hand-reclaimed old-growth doug fir! As well as other reclaimed materials i find in the huge warehouse of reusable building materials. I also coordinate classes/workshops in my shop for the community. Like "how to" workshops.

Right now I'm working on designing and installing a display in the showroom space in the store. It's fun I have a lot of design and material freedom. I have a great shop/studio/tools to work with and in a great neighborhood downtown Portland.

I've also been drawing, painting, and building outside of work. Designing building stuff for the local wineries and restaurants .

From the Center's website:


"Contact ReFind Furniture
ReFind would love to answer your questions about our products, custom work, showroom, and more. Contact Jon Basile at refind@rebuildingcenter.org OR 503-445-1756.

The ReFind Furniture Showroom is located at 3625 N. Mississippi Ave., inside The ReBuilding Center. It is open Monday - Saturday, 9 am - 6pm and Sunday 10am - 5pm. Find directions here. The main phone number for The ReBuilding Center is 503-331-1877.

Our workshop is located at The ReBuilding Center and may be toured by appointment. Please contact our Communications Coordinator, communications@ourunitedvillages.org, for details.
.

Victor Monserrate - update; New website

It is my pleasure to update you on Victor Mosserrate's new website, filled with vivid new designs, incredible material exploration and a sense of joy that I have come to expect from this passionate designer!
http://vmdesign.org