deco

If you're a slow knitter, like me, you may want to begin on a cold-weather item right now, while it's still summer. Yes. It's good to be realistic.

There are many things that tickle me about these squirrel-and-robot mittens that Beth on Six Orange Carrots knit. Each mitten announces in no uncertain terms the year of its creation. Seeing 2010 knitted like this, I imagine someone in the future, looking at these gloves and imagining what 2010 was. I like it when, occasionally, the date is tastefully incorporated into a craft.

@StudioBrinson oooh, really? i've never considered the city at all. but out of curiosity, is it a space like yours?

@effedparkslope yeah, considering something near the water. we used to live there ;)

@STFUParents thanks! i think we're actually going to look into a new building though- i'm ready to try something totally different ;)

Well, communing with nature is a bit of a stretch. There was much talk of 'glamping' if I remember correctly, but what do you want? We're design folk. 

If you happened to miss any of our Camping and Cottaging posts from the the late month of August, then have yourself a trip down recently memory lane with the blow links. There are some good ones in there, including Michelle Carrangi's (of Holley & Gill fame) Top 5 Friday on modern cottages. 

• Scandi-Style Cottage: Can You Have Too Much of a Good Thing?

• Question of the Week: Is It Really Camping if You Stay in an RV?

• Twitter and Facebook: Thoughts on Camping, Glamping and Cottaging

• Top 5 Glamping Accessories

• Kim Vallee: Modern Style at the Cottage

• Question of the Week: Would You Go Glamping?

• Bargain Saturday: Cottage Furniture, the Wicker Edition

• Question of the Week: What's Your Cottage/Camping/Cabin Must-Have?

• Top 5 Friday: Cottage Envy

• Question of the Week: Lakefront Cottage or Farmhouse?
  
  

Next, look to special Trends posts all through the month of September!
Related:

• July Wrap-Up: Outdoor Entertaining

ps: does anyone in williamburg and/or park slope have a rental agent they LOVE? rentals, not buying. i'm finally fed up w/ our apt ;)

@muddybuddy9 thanks- I really loved that :)

so happy after a delicious pork- filed meal at ssam be with barb from @knackstudio - it's so nice to finally meet after ages of emailing :)

This week inside the studio, these guys are waiting to be packed off to their new home...

and I am working on more new guys to take to Teddies 2010, the London Bear Show, next week.  Tick, tock :o

and outside the little ones have been making the most of the weather (which has been glorious since we arrived back from the camping disaster) and lapping up the beach and the sunshine before they head back to school next week.

where did those six weeks go?

Surely it can't be September, that means that Christmas is sneaking up to the back door :o

Have a great weekend everyone (and try to forget I even mentioned the 'C' word) :)  xxx

Plastic bags are banned in some places; Josh Blackwell turns them into art. While reuse is better than recycling, this is much more creative than taking them back to the grocery store or saving them for the dog run. I love the colors and textures he uses; they really do look like woven baskets. It looks like he got an artist's book funded through Kickstarter, so stay tuned! (Via Dude Craft.)

I featured today Avril Loreti, who is living in  Toronto, for my Etsy Finds column. She designed modern home decor and accessories with a playful “wink”. Avril makes cute kitchen theme shopping totes. It probably cut my eyes because it depicts the Empire red Kitchenaid mixer that is on my wish list. She printed her I heart Mixers illustration on a Bull Denim Woven Cotton Tote from American Apparel. If you do not like the red, you can specify which of the 7 other colors you want for the mixer.

Avril also makes white fabric napkins. It could be fun to play name the designer or the chair at cocktail parties. Or you can go with her Many Mixers Cocktail napkins.

SOURCING: + I heart Mixers Tote – Red by Avril Loreti $29 USD on etsy + Designer Chairs Cocktail Napkins by Avril Loreti $52 for a set of 8 + Many Mixers Cocktail Napkins $26 for 4, $52 for 8 at goodEGG Industries + Avril Loreti

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Dave Spiers, our installer, of Designer Deck Inc.

Earlier this summer I did a post on outdoor flooring. In it, I derided a colleague for having a most repelling AstroTurf disaster cladding her ample condo balcony, which essentially precluded her from ever using it.

I set out to transform this balcony, and we're well on our way.  Unfortunately, her shame lit a fire under her butt to get rid of that awful carpet, so I wasn't able to capture it on camera.   I did however make the following record of the first step in the transformation: my colleague's very smart choice of floating balcony tiles made of recycled plastic, made to look like wood.

Though summer is drawing to a close, I feel it's not a waste to post this video of what a balcony floor could look like. End of season means sales, as well as lots of openings for installation -- why follow the herd in high season when you can calmly outfit your balcony now, so that it's ready for the dawn of next summer?

Also, it's good to know what to expect from this stuff come Canadian winter, and looks like these recycle plastic tiles are the best choice for longevity. I did a fair amount of research when I took up this balcony cause, and though initially I was dead set on wood, was swayed by a local and well-established company, Designer Deck Inc., toward plastic (at $9.65/sq ft including installation, they are more expensive than pressure-treated wood -- $5.95/sq ft -- but less than Western Red Cedar, at $11.00/sq ft.)

NOTE: Installer Dave Spiers is not hard on the eyes...

My colleague, Christine, and I, visited the Designer Deck's showroom in Vaughan, Ontario, and there, in front of the wood samples, owner Barry Spiers convinced us that for a downtown balcony installation such as Christine's, the plastic tiles were they way to go.
Bottom line is, they looked pretty darn good. Normally, anything that masquerades as something it is not I am categorically against, but I take my hat off to this stuff. The colours are many and appealing (see here) and the faux-wood grain is quite convincing.  The plastic is what they call "no-memory" plastic, which conforms to whatever surface it's placed on, and doesn't resume its original shape. PLUS -- a majour plus -- they're made of recycled material and are virtually indestructible. 

In Ontario, you'll be happy to know that this product complies with condo codes as it is not affixed to the surface in any way.  Unlike much of what is available on the market, these tiles do not leech chemicals and/or colour onto the concrete beneath, often the cause of regulatory disputes with condo boards. And FYI, Designer Deck Inc. is offering a 10% discount until Sept. 30th. 
Anyone else try these?

Related:

• Apartment Style
• Last Chance to Throw that Summer Party!
• An HGTV.ca Producer Makes Over her Balcony 

For those of you who are dabbling with the notion of starting your own craft or design business this new book, Creative, Inc. The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho is the book for you. These ladies know what they are doing and I've been following their illustrious careers in the craft and design world for many years now. Joy runs her line of beautiful paper goods and the Oh Joy! design blog. Meg is the author of Craft Inc and the Craft Inc. Business Planner and also has her own line of paper goods as well. Illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, web designers, animators, and stylists - anyone in the creative field will love the various profiles of people working in the field and all their tips. I especially love the chapter on "Getting Paid" which goes into detail on how to make sure that you aren't giving away your talents for free. You'll learn how to figure out exactly how much you are worth based on your monthly expenses as well as how to estimate and invoice a project. The book also covers how to work with clients, how to market and publicize your work, and how to avoid creative burnout. Having your own business is not an easy task, but with the lessons and tips in Creative, Inc. you'll be better prepared as you make your path.

Book Giveaway Time!
Three lucky CRAFT readers will win a copy of Creative, Inc.. Just tell us why you would like this book in the comments. All comments will be closed by 5pm PST on Friday, September 3, 2010. The lucky winners will be chosen randomly and announced later on the site. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by today for Creative, Inc.'s blog tour. Here are the rest of dates: Sept 3: Decor8 Sept 4: Kris Atomic Sept 5: Grain Edit

Creative, Inc. Book Party If you are in the San Francisco/Bay Area, don't miss the Creative, Inc. Book Party at Candy Store Collective in the Mission next Thursday, Sept 9th. Details below!

I want this for my next birthday