Test Drive
April 27, 2014
So I’ve created yards upon yards of my newsprint yarn. Next? An appropriate needle for its super bulky size. A quick trip to Amazon, a few bucks and a couple of days later, and I have this great birch circular… in a chubby size 36. They seem to be made for each other this yarn and these sticks. One skein in and the resulting fabric is showing great promise with both its color and texture. I’m not sure where this is going , but I think it’s going to be an interesting ride.
I must be channeling…
April 24, 2014
my inner Jackson Pollock. Liberty of London spatter fabric Vans. They somehow seem appropriate for kick-starting Spring. When it’s close to the end of April and it’s still cold and gray…well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
It’s no wonder…
April 20, 2014
that they were once more valuable than property or gold. What man could even come close to producing anything near the tulip? Some simple…some exquisitely complex, each holds a special delicate beauty that is unrivaled. While white is typically my first choice, after months of gray all Winter long I am opting for a bit of color this Easter. And, lucky me…this bunch of parrots just seemed to evoke the very feeling I was looking for. The eggs? How about let’s leave ’em white?
Better like this…or
April 17, 2014
better like this? They’re everywhere… used pallets by the untold number. And, we’ve seen every conceivable re-use…from the expected platform bed ( yawn ) to elevated or vertical gardens (zzzzzzzzzzzzzz). Disassemble, kiln dry and turn the design of Studio Mama over to skilled cabinet makers and the lowly shipping pallet takes on a new level of simplequietmodern sophistication. The “Waste Not Want Not” conference table by Studio Mama. Brilliant.
pallet photo via http://irvinewoodrecovery.com/services/pallet-services/pallet-disposal-cincinnati/
Waste Not Want Not Conference table photo via http://www.studiomama.com/waste-not-want-not
Just in time…
April 10, 2014
to celebrate. As I was trying to make up my mind on the glaze for my order of a modern cup from Heath, they introduce their new seasonal collection. What perfect timing for not one, but two…in a larger capacity…12 ounces…and the perfect finish…Basalt. The tall modern cup. One for my coffee and the other for a handful of white hyacinths. And, as long as this Spring here has taken a decidedly black and white turn…and I have some simplequietmodern basics covered…some tacky birthday cupcakes with a little neon frosting couldn’t hurt.
tall modern cup photo via http://www.heathceramics.com/catalog/product/view/id/1656/s/tall-modern-cup-pair-basalt/category/3/
Heads it’s black…
April 6, 2014
tails it’s white. You might have to flip a coin to make this decision. After fifty plus years as an icon of modern interior furnishings, the Saarinen table is now available for outdoor use. As the white top/white base configuration of the 1957 original has been my all time favorite, I can’t see changing things up now…or can I ?
photos via http://hivemodern.com/pages/product7267/eero-saarinen-outdoor-dining-table-knoll
Black Fences
March 31, 2014
If “good fences make good neighbors” * what would Robert Frost have written about black fences? Chic neighbors? There is no denying the sophisticated good looks of these black fences or how they elevate the green elements around them to a new level entirely. Picture them running down a property with their long horzontal lines… can you see the forced perspective? Even the simple picket has more appeal when given a modern facelift of a beefier profile and black finish. With an injection of a little drama like this you might even be able to skip using color at all in your garden this year. Just a thought.
photos via http://www.gardenista.com/posts/trend-alert-black-fences
* “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost
It’s been said that no news…
March 19, 2014
is good news. Which, in fact , should leave us with a surplus of blank newsprint. Combine a few sheets of that with a couple of “snow” days, a McGuyver rigged spindle and some scissors and you have got yourself a great way to ” get away”…get out of your own head for a bit. The result? Newsprint yarn, a relaxed constitution and perhaps a solution to some problem that’s been needing attention. Is “spinning” like yoga? Could be. At the very least it provides some peace and quiet, gentle rhythm and some time to think.
Look Ma, One Hand
March 9, 2014
As we reset our watches to daylight savings time today it might be a great opportunity to reset our thinking about time altogether. Let’s start with the Slow Jo watch. The folks at Slow may not have left us much choice but to slow down, take a bit of a breath, enjoy life and observe a little more. By removing a hand they force us to bring our awareness to an approximation of what time of day we are occupying rather than the exact time…down to seconds… that we are now used to in our fast paced world. I’m all for anything that will help us find the time to pause , look around just a bit…perhaps focus on something new…something inspiring… rather than the time stamp on the last text. The simple, perfectly symmetrical case is available in a variety of metals and face finishes as well as bands in metal, leather, canvas and nylon. I’m hoping the brown vintage leather band on the stainless case with the cream dial will cause me to slow it down and enjoy every extra hour of daylight this coming Spring and Summer.
photos via https://www.slow-watches.com/
Taking Full Advantage
March 6, 2014
Marcel Breuer favored maximizing both the view and the available natural light. As illustrated in this living room he designed around the middle of the last century, even the fireplace wall has been punctuated to take full advantage of both. There is so much to be learned from the work of the mid-century modern masters…details like this, extensive use of floor to ceiling glass, the wood ceilings and even the soffits to house the casements. simplequietmodern details. When it’s clear that these ideas could easily be implemented now, it makes me wonder why so many McMansions still continue to pop up at every turn.
photo via http://www.improvisedlife.com/2009/01/21/marcel-breuer-sun-and-shadow-the-philosophy-of-an-archtect/
simplequietmodern 