michelle “milo” white paintings

i’m in a michelle mood today. with two els. i think i may be doing focused posts based on people’s names again in the future, because it’s fun! anyway, let’s circle back to the brilliant talents of san francisco artist michelle “milo” white for a moment. i am wild about milo’s unique illustration style and at the time i wrote about her i don’t think she was selling her work, so i am so glad to see that she’s sharing some of her wonderful paintings with all of us now!

i am really stoked to know that i can buy one of these 3 x 5″ originals, framed, for just $100. viva milo!

purchase these pieces and see much more at her website, and be sure to check out her blog too.

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otto von quast design

i’m enchanted by this quirky sterling and 24k gold plated vegetable jewelry from berlin’s britta knüppel and verena kern for their otto von quast design company. these pieces were all made from real veggies, so each one is unique. choose from broccoli, cauliflower or a variety of peas.

hold on - jewelry is not the only offbeat thing they design! check out their clever porcelain pieces (made with cardboard forms that burn away during the firing process) and funny little tags that can be sewn into your clothes:

to purchase and see the rest of britta’s and verena’s collection, hop onto their website.

via moco loco

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recycled bottle cap beads

oh what charming beads minnesota artist cathy collison makes! she solders recycled bottle caps together to create these handmade one of a kind pieces.

aren’t the vintage ones fun?

check out cathy’s website for more beautiful things!

via craft

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frank baumgartner art

look at this gorgeous work from swiss ceramist frank baumgartner. he fuses paper and porcelain together to make a type of lightweight paste that can be molded into lovely bowls and vessels. the pieces are finished with interior or exterior color (engobe or slip), and then fired them at 1255°C. frank currently teaches ceramics at the pegmatite pottery school in lausanne. his work is inspired by the mystery and transformation of his medium. experimentation fuels his passion for his craft, and instead of the execution of a formed idea, he lets the piece guide him to the finish instead, fully revealing all its secrets.

i love how ragged and elegant it all is. and i love the juxtaposition of paper, a material that so delicate and easily torn against porcelain, one of the strongest materials around. so delicate and restrained and light like a feather too.

just delicious i tell you!

see the school and find frank’s portfolio here, and purchase these beautiful works in his dawanda shop.

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astonishing azalea wood chair

feast your eyes on this stunning azalea wood chair!

some varieties of azalea plants have beautiful contoured branches, and are frequently used to keep orchids upright in their pots. their flowers and leaves (really the plants in general) are typically smaller than their rhododendron cousins, so by looking at the thickness of the branches, you can only imagine how large these shrubs must have been.

sculptural, commanding and truly extraordinary. 

they’re already sold out at wisteria, but hopefully they’ll be able to procure just a few more… 

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recycled sailcloth totes from red flag

avast ye, mateys, and be chic and earth-friendly while you’re at it.

these durable aum (alternative use material) totes are made from reclaimed sails, from canadian designers stuart sproule and barnaby killam for red flag design. the totes may have marks from previous journeys asea, so no two are alike.

cut from cruising sailcloth that would otherwise be discarded, each bag features a beautiful sennet-knotted nylon handle, enameled metal grommets and reinforcements made from marine-grade rubber. each tote also contains a zippered pouch for additional storage of your flotsam and jetsam.

these pieces are handmade and in limited edition. duffels and wristlets are also available.

more abut red flag here.

purchase their line at branch.

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laura walker’s handmade buttons

what a spanking button!

laura walker is a professional textile artist who specializes in embroidery. she also makes these amazing ceramic buttons, which rose from a need to complete her own textile projects with something special.

laura’s daughter is autistic and her work is inspired in part by her experiences with the disability.

the buttons are fired once, glazed, then fired a second time. some have tiny glass detail.

laura has hundreds of fun and quirky designs. her studio is located in sheffield, england.

see more work and purchase here.

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