{Cool Things} Grain Design…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on June 02, 2011 in design, eco-friendly, electric love, Grain design, ideal shop, Uncategorized | No Comments

I had a chance to visit one of my favorite design shops this last weekend (IDEAL) & discovered Grain Design. I was intrigued with Grain’s eco-friendly designs & wanted to learn more.

Grain was founded in 2007 at the Rhode Island School of Design & is a collaborative of design thinkers with the shared vision of a more sustainable future.

I was happy to read that they were founded at RISD- I have a soft spot for RISD designers because that is where my husband went to school & later taught (his mom & dad both went there as well). When cruisin’ Grain’s online shop, I stumbled on Spool – a build it yourself modular system . The possibilities are endless as to what you could create with it & I have been dreaming ever since.

I love their “electric love” jewelry made out of reclaimed electrical wire too. I bought myself a green bangle at IDEAL & may just have to go back to get myself a ring (or another bangle) because I’m hooked. It’s always so great to discover such innovative & eco-friendly designers- even more fun to learn that they are local (they now live in WA). So, Grain is my {cool things} pick of the week! Thanks for the introduction awesome IDEAL ladies!

{all images via here}

{Music Monday} Ukulele Songs…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 30, 2011 in Eddie Vedder, music monday, Ukulele, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

I really don’t think it’s because I’m from the Seattle area, that I’m looking forward to the new Eddie Vedder release tomorrow. I’ve been a Pearl Jam fan since the days of grunge (not to mention I liked his role in Singles). I love his concept of using the ukulele & have been really enjoying the first listen: Eddie Vedder, “Ukulele Songs” here. It’s a perfect long weekend soundtrack, don’t you think? Happy Music Monday! {via here & here}

{Studio Update} New Drawings in Thread…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 26, 2011 in klt:tees, letterpress, plush, thread drawing, Uncategorized | No Comments

I’ve been busy playing around with making some more drawings with thread lately. After many attempts, here are my newest three – a rabbit, fox, & hedgehog. Do you have a favorite? I think I do, but I’m curious about yours. I will be printing some more tees with one of these right away, & have plans to make more letterpress prints & plush as well. I would love your input. For those that don’t know what I mean by drawing with thread, here is a little video demo of my process. There isn’t a drawing underneath, or a computer program that does this for me. It is all chance & a regular sewing machine with a quilter’s foot. Sometimes the drawing juju is with me… & sometimes it isn’t. Needless to say, many end up in the garbage. One of the things that I find interesting about this process is that it uses both parts of my brain. The right side is creating the drawing & the left side is making sure I don’t run over my fingers with the needle.

Thread Drawing from elSage on Vimeo.

Now there are 13 klt:thread characters/images (sandpiper, raven, nest, owl, owl bride, owl groom, bulldog, german pointer, kitty, squirrel, hedgehog, fox, & rabbit) & so many projects & stories ahead….

{Everyday Inspiration} I heart Milton Glaser…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 26, 2011 in drawing, Milton Glaser, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

MILTON GLASER DRAWS & LECTURES from SEECOY on Vimeo.

I’ve been on a bit of a Milton Glaser kick again lately because I recently watched Milton Glaser: Inform & Delight & loved it. I’ve been thinking about drawing a lot in the last few weeks as I’m trying to come up with a few more thread drawing characters. In a search for inspiration (some call it stalling) I found this video. I’ve been thinking about Milton’s words today – I’ve even said some of them in my days of teaching drawing. But it’s always nice for me to get a little reminder. Is drawing a part of your life? If so, how?

* just a little side note:
I’ve been experiencing some blogger issues & haven’t been able to upload photos in the last few days. But, thanks to Heather & Sandi– I posted a different way this time. Thanks to my late night twitter buddies!

{Real Life} just being still…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 22, 2011 in real life, Uncategorized | No Comments

The clouds rolled in today after two days of sunshine. It’s time to be still and regroup… Hope you are all having a relaxing weekend!

{Everyday Inspiration} Busy day at hutch studio…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 17, 2011 in Chris Theiss, clay, demos, hutch studio, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A few weekends ago, I had a chance to spend a little time at hutch studio. Chris was giving a demo in clay & hung around a bit to shoot some photos of the event.

Here are a few glimpses of how he displays some klt:works items. It’s always a treat to be able to see my work in that space.

Chris set out to do something that he had never done before…to throw a bunny on a wheel. Sounds cool doesn’t it? It was really quite an interesting thing to view. It’s the type of thing that only someone with his experience, could pull off with a crowd of people watching. Not to mention, the shop was actually open. So in between working on the rabbit, he was helping customers!

The atmosphere at hutch studio is really wonderful. It’s calm & creative with a sense of wonder in the air of what cool discovery might be around the corner. Chris has created playlists by subjects that are always playing – songs about water, hands, boats, birds… etc which just adds to the “hutch” experience.

So this is the final product! He (or she) was just unloaded from the kiln yesterday. Chris literally pulled a bunny out of his sleeve that day. Amazing! What I love the most about it, is the process & that he had absolutely no idea what was going to happen. I admire that…it is my favorite way to work. Chris has demos & workshops set up all of the time at hutch & if you are in the area, I highly recommend attending- they are quite inspirational. Stop by the hutch studio blog or FB page to keep an eye on what fun new project is being worked on.

Hope everyone is having a great week! It’s finally sunny & spring like here. Boy does that make a difference!

{Music Monday} Tell Me Something I Don’t Know…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 16, 2011 in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

{via here}

Herman Dune – Tell Me Something I Don’t Know from City Slang on Vimeo.

I’m grateful that a few friends posted this Herman Dune video on Facebook last week because I just love it. I’m really lucking out when it comes to new musical discoveries lately. Happy Music Monday!

{Music Monday} Tell Me Something I Don’t Know…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 16, 2011 in Uncategorized | No Comments

{via here}

Herman Dune – Tell Me Something I Don’t Know from City Slang on Vimeo.

I’m grateful that a few friends posted this Herman Dune video on Facebook last week because I just love it. I’m really lucking out when it comes to new musical discoveries lately. Happy Music Monday!

{Everyday Inspiration} more paper love…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 11, 2011 in Everyday Inspiration, paper animation, paper art, papercraft, papercut, Uncategorized, video animation | 3 Comments

Here is a little inspiration for your Wednesday. I just ran across the work of paper artist, Mandy Smith via Roadside Projects & I was immediately smitten. Not to mention the book her work is included in, Paper Craft 2 looks incredible! Given that I’m married to “cardboard man” who makes art often dealing with interior & exterior spaces, I felt the need to share this.

The Move, Paper Animation from Mandy Smith on Vimeo.

Isn’t her work amazing! I just love this paper animation. Awesome! (Chris this is for you) Hope everyone is having a great week!
{photos via here}

{Music Monday} The Head and the Heart…

Posted by kristinloffertheiss on May 09, 2011 in music monday, Seattle band, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

The Head and the Heart – Sounds Like Hallelujah from Whitney Moreno on Vimeo.

I alway enjoy making a new musical discovery & this weekend, I discovered the Seattle band, The Head and the Heart, for the first time. Both of these songs sort of stuck with me so I thought I would share. Happy Music Monday! Hope everyone had a nice weekend! {image via}

{Cool Things} Grain Design…

{Music Monday} Ukulele Songs…

{Studio Update} New Drawings in Thread…

{Everyday Inspiration} I heart Milton Glaser…

{Real Life} just being still…

{Everyday Inspiration} Busy day at hutch studio…

{Music Monday} Tell Me Something I Don’t Know…

{Music Monday} Tell Me Something I Don’t Know…

{Everyday Inspiration} more paper love…

{Music Monday} The Head and the Heart…

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