spin designs mobiles

please enjoy these gorrrrrrrgeous mobiles from portland’s spin designs. these pieces are made from laser cut museum mat board, taken from original illustrations.

hang one in a dark corner with one of those inexpensive floor uplights from the depot and i bet you’ll see some fabulous shadows.

you need to go look at their etsy shop and website to see more cool stuff, including their awesome jewelry. seriously.

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sian alexander raku ceramic animals

do you know this about me already? i’ve got a thing for birds. my friends called me the crow in high school, since i was (and still am) attracted to shiny things. i am a secret city birdwatcher now, everyday. and when i am in michigan the neighbors must think i’m nuts, because the bitchin’ binoculars that my husband gave me for my birthday last year seem to be permanently attached to my face on the weekends we are there. now, imagine my delight to find these beautiful hand built raku-fired ceramic birds from portland artist sian alexander’s platykoalabird shop!

i love the brilliant colors she has used against the rough textured, oxidized look of the raku. very cool.

yes, the last photo had turtles. but they call me the turtle on the tennis court, so they’re in like flynn.

purchase them all right here and be sure to see the multitalented sian’s blog too. it looks like she makes a mean pastry as well.

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catherine chandler jewelry

so i was minding my own business clicking through on a comment someone left here last week, and i made quite a serendipitous discovery - the beautiful world of portland artist catherine chandler! catherine makes the loveliest organic jewelry and objets from copper, sterling silver, titanium and semi precious stones. she engaged herself in many different types of artistry before she found her true medium, metal. since she is inspired by plant life, catherine created a series of rings that pay homage to a variety of endangered plants in a place where she studied her craft, australia. each piece’s vivid color represents the plant it is named after.

i love how her work is so elegant and spare, and how you can see the beautiful handmade quality throughout the whole well-designed collection.

look at her other creations at her etsy shop here, and be sure to see her blog too - it’s a great read!

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bear art round up

new york giants 21, chicago bears 16.

i’m not the biggest sports fan in the world, but my home team, which should have won today’s professional football game, bombed out in the 4th quarter. i think i like these other bears much more right now:

birthday print from milwaukee’s little friends of printmaking

polar bear on ski vacation blank greeting card from delray beach’s citrus tree designs

bear vs. robot wallet by chris bishop for portland’s tiny meat

handknit merino wool koala bear from houston’s barking dog designs

long time original acrylic painting from tampa’s christina lyon

happy bears tee shirt from brooklyn’s marilyn patrizio

the bear regretted his decision print from sydney’s yellow monday

handmade benedict bear from adelaide’s little red pear

roomscape polar bear collage from austin’s one creative girl

surprise! they’re all available on etsy!

i think we have enough players assembled here for the tee formation now…

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eleek recycled calliope chandelier

the folks at portland, oregon’s eleek have brought us this innovative calliope chandelier made from recycled aluminum. the exterior shell is made of art glass rectangles that are “clipped” onto the frame. it comes in an incandescent or fluorescent version, and buyers can customize the color of the art glass as well as the powdercoat on the frame if they wish.

i want very badly to say this is rustic/vintage looking even though it feels ultra contemporary. there’s something about those layers of glass that remind me of the old clay tile roofs on historic arts and crafts buildings here in chicago.

very unique indeed.

see their website for the complete home collection (the page about the company’s approach to sustainability is inspiring!) and for purchasing info.

via trendir

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s. tudyk artworks

i am becoming obsessed with this terrific artwork from oregon artist sam (aka shannon in certain circles) tudyk. she spends her days working hard at the wonderful egg press letterpress company, and her evenings in her studio at home. combine this drive with a mind’s eye that’s constantly fueled and filled with vintage papers, overheard conversation, found objects, numbers, letters and assorted other ephemera, and you’ll find the results below: a beautiful collection of pieces, crafted from thread, pencil, acrylic paint, and layers of paper.

shannon graduated from the savannah college of art and design with two bfa degrees in illustration and graphic design.

purchase these fabulous things on her etsy shop, and don’t forget to check her website to see her extraordinary portfolio!

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red bat letterpress

cute letterpress, original woodcuts and hand water colored stationery from oregon artist carye bye for her company, red bat press. chinese tradition says that bats are symbols of good fortune, and the color red provides protection from misfortune.

i am nuts about that bike haiku set. twenty sheets, in four colors, are pressed with four original haikus (taken from the bike parking area at peninsula park commons in portland) and come complete with ten envelopes.

very fun!

find lots more sweet things at the red bat website. haiku set also available at mixtgoods.

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