The Violet Hours

Time for a Portfolio: Helen Musselwhite

I'm always blown away by those able to turn the most 2-dimensional material (paper) into 3 dimensions. Take a peak at this gorgeous cut-paper work by Helen Musselwhite from the U.K. Found on Thoughtful Day.

Take a look at this and this for other cut paper phenomena...

Time for a Portfolio: James Hopkins

Styling shelves is a real talent, but James Hopkins takes it to a new level. By arranging and cutting into things, Hopkins creates his Vanitas installations from related groupings of everyday objects.

Hopkins says of these pieces in a Wallpaper article: "I see these shelves as tombstones to the current, ephemeral era in design because, while they look quite luxurious and modern now, next year they will already begin to look dated."

  

  

Each grouping is comprised of related objects, either by color or style. For example, in Shelf Life (top image), these are all items that would be found in a teenagers room, and point to the impermanence of objects and their persistence in memory. Other groupings include vintage objects or contemporary, design-forward items that Hopkins surrounds himself with.  

It's like making a painting on your bookcases (with a touch of social commentary). Baffling and amazing.

Time for a Portfolio: David Brownings

I've always been obsessed with the Real Simple paper constructionist, Matthew Sporzynski. David Brownings, an illustrator living in Bristol, has a similar talent with a little twist. Here's a sample of his work...

    

 

These are described on his site as boxes, but I'm not sure if they are usable or just amazingly cool.

Paper shoes...amazing. 

Pop-up books are totally under-appreciated. I love the sense of grandiosity in this illustration.

Time for a Portfolio: Lauren DiCioccio

Pink organza embroidered bags, shelf installation
2009

When fine art mixes with a craft technique, I'm always intrigued. Today I found the amazing work of Lauren DiCioccio (via Handmade Charlotte). DiCioccio tediously embroiders rather banal object replicas; the common "thread" in her work is the fast-approaching extinction of everyday manufactured media objects. About her pieces, DiCioccio says...

My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand?

Here are some examples of her work:

19MAR10 (Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton)
2010

Pair, 2010

Vanitas Objects

This World of Ours
2009
Hand-embroidery on organza, altered found objects
approx. 12" x 12"

Time for a Portfolio: Sweet Paul

Today I had the great pleasure of working with the uber-talented stylist/crafter/foodie Paul Lowe, the genius creative behind the blog Sweet Paul (and in case you are wondering, the adjective is very accurate).

Paul is originally from Norway and brings that very specific Scandinavian sensibility to his work: clean, romantic, delicate. Here are a few crafty highlights from his blog...

 

 

 

 

If you haven't bookmarked his blog, do it now. And also stay tuned for his new online magazine, due out this spring.

Time for a Portfolio: Christien Meindertsma

A new "column" for The Violet Hours. Occasionally I will feature one artist/maker/crafter/inventor...someone whose creations are comprehensively worth inspecting.

This is the work of Christien Meindertsma, from Utrecht, Netherlands. Her work mainly involves wool that she felts to make chunky, gorgeous, pillow-like yarn. She works the origin of the material into her pieces, which is very much a part of her concept. Unlike most "fine art" she wants her pieces used; it is a larger compliment to her when her work is purchased and put to work in a space. You can hear her thoughts on this here.

Her website doesn't offer much explanation, but it's quite jaw-dropping. Here are a few highlights...

 

 

Project: Idaho. A project for the Nature Conservancy made with wool from an organic flock of Panama sheep from Lava lake Ranch, Idaho.

Project: One Sheep Cardigan. These sweaters were made from one animal, and were designed based on the size of the sheep.

Project: Aran Rug. This piece is made from the wool of 18 merino sheep. 

Project: Texel Ottoman. These stools are essentially over-sized yarn skeins. 

Found via The Jealous Curator.