{Vintage Inspiration} Elephant Love…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 21, 2012 in 60's, Eames elephant, elephants, thrifting, vintage finds, vintage inspiration, vintage toys | 20 Comments

Every once & awhile, I run into something at a thrift/antique shop that makes me goofy with excitement & Friday I had one of those moments. I stopped by an old favorite antique shop that I used to go to all of the time – it had been awhile & I was on the search for some vintage hooks for a project. After I passed an awesome coin operated elephant, something spotted & happy caught my eye. I had to dig through some stuff to get to it but I’m glad I did. I had a gut reaction to this thing. It was an elephant toy box from the ’60’s & it immediately conjured up memories of the Dumbo & Teacup rides at Disneyland. I have a thing for elephants so I was extra interested in this treasure. The man who owned the antique shop said his kid’s both had this elephant as a toy box but they weren’t interested in keeping it when they were adults. I probably stood in front of this thing for about 15minutes – hemming & hawing.

After some bartering, I found myself trying to cram this thing into my 2 door VW. It was pretty funny driving home with it. I smiled the whole way. Once I got home, I gave it a good wash down in the back yard then took it up to my studio with me. I was so excited to see Sayer’s reaction to it & hoped he was tickled with it as I was. I wasn’t exactly sure where it was going to go- I just knew it needed to be in our house. As I worked, I kept glancing at it – completely giggling. I loved having that thing watching me sew. I actually think it may inspire some new designs.

Sayer responded exactly like I thought he was going to- after all, he is my son. After a loud laugh, he opened the lip & hopped on in to hide from Chris. Then we took the elephant to his room.

He wanted me to read him his bedtime story while he was curled up in it. He didn’t stay there all night, although he wanted to. Instead he tucked in some of his favorite plush buddies with a pillow & a flashlight. When we put the lid on, the whole thing lit up like a giant nightlight. It was really cool. We have been moving that elephant around all weekend- filling it up & emptying it over & over. Sayer introduced it to my Eames Elephant– he said they got married. They look like long lost friends. Sort of cool that they were both designed around the same time. I think they complete each other.

So, how was your weekend?

{Inspiring Design} the Do Nothing Machine…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on June 26, 2011 in Dwell Magazine, Eames elephant, Eames Office, Ray and Charles Eames, The Nothing Machine | 2 Comments

It’s a sunny Sunday & if I had this cool contraption in our back yard, it would be movin’ like crazy! I was just able to sneak in a little break & picked up my new dwell magazine to find an article about the “Do Nothing Machine” (pgs 86 & 87) designed by the Eames Office in 1957. Ray & Charles Eames (my all time favorite designers) made this intricate toy due to a request to design something that would show off the potential of Aluminum Company of America’s lightweight metals. This awesome machine gets it’s energy from a sun-charged battery pack.

What a perfect day to learn about something that does nothing, creatively… by the power of the sun- which is what I hope to do a little of today. Thanks again Ray & Charles for inspiring me with your genius. Now, back to a little dwell reading & drooling (over the design of course) before I head up to the studio. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

{top images via here & here}

{Inspiring Design} the Do Nothing Machine…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on June 26, 2011 in Dwell Magazine, Eames elephant, Eames Office, Ray and Charles Eames, The Nothing Machine | No Comments

It’s a sunny Sunday & if I had this cool contraption in our back yard, it would be movin’ like crazy! I was just able to sneak in a little break & picked up my new dwell magazine to find an article about the “Do Nothing Machine” (pgs 86 & 87) designed by the Eames Office in 1957. Ray & Charles Eames (my all time favorite designers) made this intricate toy due to a request to design something that would show off the potential of Aluminum Company of America’s lightweight metals. This awesome machine gets it’s energy from a sun-charged battery pack.

What a perfect day to learn about something that does nothing, creatively… by the power of the sun- which is what I hope to do a little of today. Thanks again Ray & Charles for inspiring me with your genius. Now, back to a little dwell reading & drooling (over the design of course) before I head up to the studio. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

{top images via here & here}

{Store Feature} Babybot

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on August 03, 2010 in babybot, Eames elephant, store feature | No Comments

My path seems to continuously cross great visionaries who open wonderfully inspired stores. I am excited to tell you about a store that a few of those visionaries created called Babybot. Michael & Renee are the brains behind the Canadian (out of Calgary) store but there seem to be a lot of extremely talented people working to make it a real stand out. Michael contacted me in February 2009 about carrying my products in their store. Babybot was just in the planning stages, but I could tell that there was so much love and thought being put into every little detail. So of course I was overjoyed to have my work be included in their vision. Once they had opened, I was immediately taken with their website and the lovely klt:works designer page. I have to say, that when you talk with Michael and Renee about Babybot (for me it was via email) you can almost see them beaming with pride. But most importantly, they are extremely respectful, knowledgeable, and appreciative- which only adds to their stellar design aesthetic.

When a store supports me, it is really important to me to support them right back (which is why I wanted to do these reviews). I would love to buy things from all of my favorite people that I work with. However, interests and taste always exceed my wallet so I have to be patient, creative, and pick my items carefully- so that I can spread the love. The minute Babybot opened, I knew what I wanted to buy there. Now I really didn’t know it was going to work out like this, but Babybot does these great facebook discounts (if you aren’t a fan, I highly recommend it). As luck would have it, these discounts allowed me to splurge a bit and order the Eames Elephant that I have been drooling over every time I scan through their shop. I could tell you why that elephant is so special to me, but that is a whole different post. But as I have mentioned before, Ray & Charles Eames are my art/design idols. Ok, so I said it was for Sayer and don’t get me wrong, it is, and he really loves it. But it isn’t going to stay in his room, it’s going to be hanging out in the living room. After all, who am I kidding? I think the elephant is secretly mine. Renee is the woman that made it all happen and for that I am really grateful! After all, I believe she said it best when she mentioned that, “every designer needed an Eames Elephant”. Oh, she is good, isn’t she?

Now I can officially endorse Babybot as a truly special store. Not only is it great to work with Renee & Michael from a designer standpoint, but it is great to be a customer too. So pop by and give Babybot a visit- I guarantee you will have a really positive experience (not to mention, want to hum the little babybot tune). Thanks for the elephant Renee- don’t worry, it will be loved!

{Store Feature} Babybot

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on August 03, 2010 in babybot, Eames elephant, store feature, Uncategorized | No Comments

My path seems to continuously cross great visionaries who open wonderfully inspired stores. I am excited to tell you about a store that a few of those visionaries created called Babybot. Michael & Renee are the brains behind the Canadian (out of Calgary) store but there seem to be a lot of extremely talented people working to make it a real stand out. Michael contacted me in February 2009 about carrying my products in their store. Babybot was just in the planning stages, but I could tell that there was so much love and thought being put into every little detail. So of course I was overjoyed to have my work be included in their vision. Once they had opened, I was immediately taken with their website and the lovely klt:works designer page. I have to say, that when you talk with Michael and Renee about Babybot (for me it was via email) you can almost see them beaming with pride. But most importantly, they are extremely respectful, knowledgeable, and appreciative- which only adds to their stellar design aesthetic.

When a store supports me, it is really important to me to support them right back (which is why I wanted to do these reviews). I would love to buy things from all of my favorite people that I work with. However, interests and taste always exceed my wallet so I have to be patient, creative, and pick my items carefully- so that I can spread the love. The minute Babybot opened, I knew what I wanted to buy there. Now I really didn’t know it was going to work out like this, but Babybot does these great facebook discounts (if you aren’t a fan, I highly recommend it). As luck would have it, these discounts allowed me to splurge a bit and order the Eames Elephant that I have been drooling over every time I scan through their shop. I could tell you why that elephant is so special to me, but that is a whole different post. But as I have mentioned before, Ray & Charles Eames are my art/design idols. Ok, so I said it was for Sayer and don’t get me wrong, it is, and he really loves it. But it isn’t going to stay in his room, it’s going to be hanging out in the living room. After all, who am I kidding? I think the elephant is secretly mine. Renee is the woman that made it all happen and for that I am really grateful! After all, I believe she said it best when she mentioned that, “every designer needed an Eames Elephant”. Oh, she is good, isn’t she?

Now I can officially endorse Babybot as a truly special store. Not only is it great to work with Renee & Michael from a designer standpoint, but it is great to be a customer too. So pop by and give Babybot a visit- I guarantee you will have a really positive experience (not to mention, want to hum the little babybot tune). Thanks for the elephant Renee- don’t worry, it will be loved!

{Store Feature} Babybot

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on August 03, 2010 in babybot, Eames elephant, store feature | 4 Comments

My path seems to continuously cross great visionaries who open wonderfully inspired stores. I am excited to tell you about a store that a few of those visionaries created called Babybot. Michael & Renee are the brains behind the Canadian (out of Calgary) store but there seem to be a lot of extremely talented people working to make it a real stand out. Michael contacted me in February 2009 about carrying my products in their store. Babybot was just in the planning stages, but I could tell that there was so much love and thought being put into every little detail. So of course I was overjoyed to have my work be included in their vision. Once they had opened, I was immediately taken with their website and the lovely klt:works designer page. I have to say, that when you talk with Michael and Renee about Babybot (for me it was via email) you can almost see them beaming with pride. But most importantly, they are extremely respectful, knowledgeable, and appreciative- which only adds to their stellar design aesthetic.

When a store supports me, it is really important to me to support them right back (which is why I wanted to do these reviews). I would love to buy things from all of my favorite people that I work with. However, interests and taste always exceed my wallet so I have to be patient, creative, and pick my items carefully- so that I can spread the love. The minute Babybot opened, I knew what I wanted to buy there. Now I really didn’t know it was going to work out like this, but Babybot does these great facebook discounts (if you aren’t a fan, I highly recommend it). As luck would have it, these discounts allowed me to splurge a bit and order the Eames Elephant that I have been drooling over every time I scan through their shop. I could tell you why that elephant is so special to me, but that is a whole different post. But as I have mentioned before, Ray & Charles Eames are my art/design idols. Ok, so I said it was for Sayer and don’t get me wrong, it is, and he really loves it. But it isn’t going to stay in his room, it’s going to be hanging out in the living room. After all, who am I kidding? I think the elephant is secretly mine. Renee is the woman that made it all happen and for that I am really grateful! After all, I believe she said it best when she mentioned that, “every designer needed an Eames Elephant”. Oh, she is good, isn’t she?

Now I can officially endorse Babybot as a truly special store. Not only is it great to work with Renee & Michael from a designer standpoint, but it is great to be a customer too. So pop by and give Babybot a visit- I guarantee you will have a really positive experience (not to mention, want to hum the little babybot tune). Thanks for the elephant Renee- don’t worry, it will be loved!

{Vintage Inspiration} Elephant Love…

{Inspiring Design} the Do Nothing Machine…

{Inspiring Design} the Do Nothing Machine…

{Store Feature} Babybot

{Store Feature} Babybot

{Store Feature} Babybot

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{Vintage Inspiration} Elephant Love…

{Inspiring Design} the Do Nothing Machine…

{Inspiring Design} the Do Nothing Machine…

{Store Feature} Babybot

{Store Feature} Babybot

{Store Feature} Babybot

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