Numbers game

Yesterday, walking on Table Mountain, I was told by one of our readers of all the hassles I'd caused him and his wife after they spotted this Karlsson Mixed Numbers clock on this blog in March.

A determined, but convoluted intercontinental shopping trajectory was drawn, which is now approaching its final leg, and the clock will soon be on their wall.



I'm pretty certain that there'll be no regrets (that clock's amazing), but when I spotted this laser-cut Number Scarf this morning, I knew without a doubt that they made the right decision!




(Numbers Scarf via Ladies and Gentlemen Home)

Groundwork

In her Etsy profile, artist Danna Ray says that she was "raised in a log cabin in the woods", and looking at her beautiful work in her online shop Groundwork, this makes absolutely perfect sense.

Ferns - digital print of an ink drawing

In the Air - a print of an acrylic and gouache painting.

Leaf Collection - print of acrylic and gouache painting on a woodburned panel.

Seed for Sun - digital print of an acrylic and gouache painting.

I'm not the first person to notice this artist - she's a prolific Etsy seller, and has been on Apartment Therapy, Chicago, and had the Storque spotlight on her over at Etsy too.

Visit Groundwork to see more of Danna Ray's lovely work.

Diana Fayt at Heath Ceramics

Diana Fayt is a ceramics artist and designer who does the most beautiful drawings on clay, based on inspiration she gathers from nature and everyday life.

Based in the USA, Diana exhibits her work in galleries and fine boutiques throughout the US, Japan, Australia and Europe, and her work will soon also be available in the Heath Ceramics Factory Store.



I know that it's rather late notice, but just to let you know that over this weekend, Diana will be participating in the Heath Ceramics workshop series, where she'll be exploring printmaking techniques on bisqued tiles.

If you miss out on this workshop, take a look at the rest of the programme, and if you live near to Heath Ceramics, maybe you can join in on one of their other workshops.

New at Volksfaden

We're thrilled to have the wonderful Hamburg-based Volksfaden advertising on our blog. I'm a bit of a fabric freak, so I'm a regular visitor to Volksfaden's online showroom and shop, and I thought perhaps you'd like to see what's new in the store too.

The Flora Water print from Joelle Hoverson is just like sunprints I used to make when I was a kid.

Despite the winter weather here in South Africa, it's easy to imagine a summer day tablecloth made of Citrus Slices from Moda.

Daisies by Australian outfit Pippijoe is so sweet, and would be perfect for a little girl's summer dress.

Primary Zoo from Alexandra Henry is a classic right from the word go.

Leaf Chocolate by Robert Kaufman is nothing less than yummy.

Visit Volksfaden and see what else they have on offer, including a new and growing organic range.

Collections

However ordinary an object, putting a artful collection of them together can be a very effective visual statement. Lost Found Art is a design company with specialisation in collections, using antique and vintage pieces to create sculptural installations and assemblages.


After looking at Lost Found Art's collections, which range from antique callipers to stovetop grates, I'm sure you'll never look at a junk shop in the same way again. Here are some of my favourites (but there are lots more to check out).

via Fine Little Day

Thomas Wold

Going through our sitemeter can sometimes throw up some interesting finds. Today, thanks to The Constant Gatherer I was thrilled to discover the amazing work of Thomas Wold.

This versatile artist and furniture maker has a special mix of whimsy, style and practical know-how that enables him to put things together in a rather spectacular way.

Case in point: this Fractured Fairytales cabinet, made from lots of (previously) unrelated vintage furniture.

Detail below, and more pics (by Markham Johnson) on Thomas Wold's Flickr page here:

Still pretty eclectic, but nowhere near as eclectic as the Fairytales, is the styling Block Party cabinet below. I'm thinking of just the spot in my sitting room for this one!

The Variety Beam seat, made by Thomas for ReadyMade magazine (and explained in step-by-step detail on his blog), was inspired by laundromat seating. Imagine the mix of characters you might meet up with on those seats while waiting for the rinse cycle!

And demonstrating with elegance and poise that Thomas Wold doesn't only make furniture that's all about eclectic can-doism, here is his Cliff Diver Dresser .

For lots more about Thomas Wold, look at more of his work on his website and Flickr page, read about how his projects happen on his blog, and take a look at his design collective, GrandObject too.

Ecojot

I'm always a sucker for beautiful stationery, and when it's beautiful and eco-friendly to boot, what's not to like?



I've been eyeing the Ecojot collection in my local Exclusive Books lately, and was thrilled to discover yesterday that although the books are made in Canada, they're designed by super-talented South African, Carolyn Gavin!




Carolyn is originally from Joburg, now living in Toronto, where she creates her "green and delicious" Ecojot stationery line, all produced on 100% recycled, post-consumer waste paper.


Ecojot stationery is available all over the world, and while South Africans can find them at branches of Exclusive Books, shoppers from other countries can find out where to get them by visiting the Ecojot website.



You can keep up with what other lovely things Carolyn is doing by visiting her blog, Designer Jots. I'm sure we're going to be showing lots of them right here.

Giveaway - African Party

In celebration of their 15th birthday, Putumayo World Music has released a brand new collection of tracks called African Party.

We've got one of these vibey albums to give to the first Deco reader who emails us with the name of one of the artists on this album.

Remember to include your name and postal address in your email.

Yoola

I'm enchanted by these ethereally beautiful wire objects handmade by Israeli Etsy seller Yoola .

Sex and the City and the Curtains

I haven't seen the Sex and the City movie yet, but thanks to a hot tip on the Marimekko blog, I've been tipped off on one of the key details! Well, it's key for Marimekko fans, perhaps.

Here it is - so keep your eyes peeled:

When Carrie moves back into her apartment, she has redecorated it, and there are new black and white curtains in Marimekko's lovely Aarre design.

So there you go, fabric geeks. I'd love to hear from any of you who managed to spot this yourself!

Birthday shopping

It's a little niece Anna's third birthday party this weekend, and so I'm racking my brain for a top-notch auntie gift. Of course it's too late to order any of these online, but I certainly am inspired (although I may have set the bar a bit high...).

It's probably too young for Anna, but I fell in love with this adorable vintage wooden roller toy from ThreePotatoFour.

Also from ThreePotatoFour, I reckon this Animals in the Zoo poster by Shinzi Katoh might not make it into the birthday package, and could end up on my own wall instead!

What the...? It's a Critter d'Ignatius, don't you know, and it's available from French online shop, Pop-Line.

Love this Mandy Dress from Kit + Lili at Nonchalant Mom too. But perhaps I'm not quite hitting the right note for the three year old market yet...

Dollies should do it, and maybe these Evi Dolls, made by a Brazilian women's co-op and available at The Wooden Wagon will do the trick.

But if it were me and I was turning three, it would be the adorable sock monkey all the way!

Malin Lundmark

I found myself quite charmed by the work of Swedish designer, Malin Lundmark, who makes poetically functional design.

This is the glass Vira lamp, that has its cord wound around its middle, to be used in whatever length necessary.

I love the lamp made of stacked mugs, and she's also made one from wonkily piled up plates.

The Pot-lamp has a green cord that climbs the wall like a creeper, ending in terracotta pots with lights inside. Charming.

Mr Hide is a functional space saver that contains all the bits and pieces needed for breakfast.

And Coffee-Cup-Lamp is exactly what it says it is. Love the way the cup ears create a graceful decoration.

Found via Designshimmer.

Heath Nash

Rummaging around the web recently, I happened to stumble upon local boy Heath Nash's brand new lights, which Artecnica had on show at ICCF in NYC recently, keeping illustrious company alongside new pieces by Inga Sempe and Tord Boontje.

It's really fantastic to see Heath doing so very, very well.

Animal Farm furniture

Rooms on View has just closed in Joburg, and I've heard that there was some fantastic stuff there. I hope to have some pics to share soon, but in the meantime, DesignBoom has pipped us to the post, reporting yesterday on some interesting furniture launched at Rooms on View.

A collaboration between Porky Hefer of design consultancy Animal Farm and designer Warren Lewis, this furniture manages to combine interesting design with social commentary on uniquely African ways.

The Ndebele Stool is based on the shape and look of stitched dolls made as curios by Ndebele women. This technique has been expanded so that these curios are shifted into contemporary furniture design.

The supawood High Hopes, Big Dreams stools are based on the milk crates used as makeshift seating in every African entrepreneur's roadside barbershop, fruit shop or sheepshead stall.

The Tokoloshe bench and bed refers to the African superstition of raising a bed on bricks or paint cans in order to keep the mischievous tokoloshe spirit at bay while you sleep.

Read more about each of these designs at DesignBoom's weblog and see more of the interesting work done by Animal Farm by visiting their very cute website.