• PLYtextiles - Modern design + salvaged materials.  Yard wrapped trees and felted pillows.
• Lilian Asterfield - Custom sewn scarves made of silk ties.
• Outside Oslo – Scandinavian Inspired Fabric
• Maker & Maker – Ceramics (note: Bison piggy bank)
• iamhome – Wood Art, Chalk Board Sculls, Tree Magnets
• Yellow Grey – Organic Designed Jewelery – unstructured / lovely
• Row Boat Press – flipp’n love this coffee poster – all their prints are just simple and fun
• Mok Duk, by Anne Benjamin – Illustrator / Poster & Printmaker

Twitter: @RenegadeCraft

Consider asking your designer to make a quick sketch… designers – be not afraid to take the extra time.  More clarity makes for good design decisions.

Holland is full of bright colors this spring – tulips, art, beach and people.

We visited Veldheer’s tulip farm, Second Chance Design, Grand Haven Beach and downtown Holland.  Tulip Time runs though May 14th.

• Veldheer’s Tulip Farm
• Second Chance Design – Mid Century furniture and housewares – Great find!

This past week, I helped out artists Victoria and Debra, construct the Whale sculpture for the Highlands school.  Victoria and Debra are crafting the new Whale in two parts as well as including sea creatures completed by the 5th grade art classes.  I was happy to clip wire and wrap mesh to construct the body and tail of the whale.

I learned a thing or two about how the concrete will adhere and how the Whale is a win for the local community and the school!

A happy and healthy 2011 to you!
Elizabeth Marusin
www.asparagusinteriors.com

2010_AsparagusHolidayCard

Some of my show favorites:

OneCanoeTwo – Custom letterpress, cards, coasters, calendars.  Artistic – funky – stylized creatures.  Crane paper with high quality printing, graphic design and detail. Check out the coasters, recipe cards and fabric calendars.  I typically get a Lotta Jansdotter calendar but this year going with the nautical theme from OneCanoeTwo.

Neogranny – flipp’n love-it!  Neo’s take on retro designs, brings back the June Cleaver in all of us but with a modern twist.  I picked up a cat-eye glasses necklace, but love the swimmer and the Jack and Jill cut-outs.  The combination of brightly painted wood mixed with metal, totally fun.

Tugboat Printshop – Really cool woodblock prints.  Very detailed and cool compositions. We picked up Star Ship, looking to put it in a funky frame.  Looking for vintage frames check out Foundre.

Jordain Elise – Picked up on the taxidermy buzz this year? Check out the “wonderful wonders” of Jordain Elise.  Felt “horrible adorables” give them a second look, you’ll fall for them.

Other Artists Worth Checking Out:

• The Harbinger Co. – Funky silver glasses rings, sustainable wood craft jewelry in geometric designs.
• The Candy Thief – Detailed felt work – check out their headbands.
• Up in the air somewhere – Picked up an industrial inspired ceramic piece, check out the painted bowls.
• Souldier – Vintage guitar and camera straps.

I need to go out and sit in a few styles, but I keep going back to this West Elm offering.  The Essex sofa, has that sofisticated sofa look that’s not blasted oversized and blocky.  I love the linen print and turned feet.  Less cushions to deal with is more streamlined and practical for our home.

Am I digging this sofa or is it the styling? I’ll need to get over to the store and try it out.

I worked with the Grier family of Naperville, to remodel their kitchen and living room. They are passionate about growing plants and we decided to reuse some of their existing cabinetry. We added glass shelves above for lighting the plants and making the space appear more open. Incorporating Ice Stone countertop surface, made of recycled glass, concrete and crushed mother of pear shell. A beautiful addition and use of recycled material.

Reusing existing cabinetry and repainting are easy ways to freshen up a space and save money.

Check out the article here: “Cheap Yet Chic Updates”.

I love Nakashima’s work and look to it as modern masterpiece in the essence of maintaining the natural form.

Thanks Art Van Furniture for the Tweet.

Last week we took in a sneak peak at, “Steelroots: Tobin at The Morton Arboretum.” The metal sculptures are peaceful, above ground and alive with energy.  The kids got a hands on appreciation for what tree roots are like.