Furniture Design Blog | Maxine Snider | A portal to the design world » MATTER

Ice Ice Baby

Maxine — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:42:18 +0000

Here’s something that makes me feel a little better about winter. Apparently, several young builders in a preschool class moved out of the classroom and into the snow and ice, to build these gorgeous totems. This is something beautiful to try with your young (or old!) friends over the holiday, if it’s cold enough. [via ensuite]

SONIC FABRIC: ALYCE SANTORO

Maxine — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:41:25 +0000

Alyce Santoro gives the phrase “wearable art” new meaning–how about wearable music? Sonic Fabric–created by Alyce––is a textile made from audio cassette tape. For a fascinating story of origin, involving sailing and Tibetan flags, click here. Once woven, the tape can still be “played.”

In 2003 I was commissioned to make a dress for Jon Fishman, percussionist for the band
Phish, which he wore and played on stage during a concert in Las Vegas.

Sonic Fabric has been made into dresses, and now ties:

Sonic Fabric items can be purchased here.

I had the chance to visit Alyce in West Texas, on the top of a mountain, near Marfa. There, she works in her solar-powered studio, a retrofitted camper. She’s in the process of fundraising now–for more information, click here.

MATTER: THE PING PONG TABLE

Maxine — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:05:28 +0000

A few items appear so perfect in their simplicity that they cannot be improved or adorned. The ping pong table falls in this category. Though Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan had theirs custom-built, we like the tables right “off the shelf.”

[from Apartment Therapy: Custom Ping Pong Table in the Living Room: Made with two Saarinen table bases found on eBay, and a custom top covered with black & red paisley Cole & Son wallpaper]

We like the traditional colors–blue and green–but if you prefer something more unusual, a few modified forms, below:

MATTER: TRESTLE

Maxine — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:41:19 +0000

Continuing the search for perfect sawhorses and trestles, we found this trestle, called “the sinus trestle,” which comes in black, white, orange and chrome. [via bltd]

MATTER: COLLECTIONS

Maxine — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:29:22 +0000

Last year, we featured collection photographs by artist Lisa Congdon. Today, an edition of her prints is for sale at Jen Bekman’s project 20 x 200. Sign up fro Bekman’s mailing list, and you’ll receive announcements of weekly editions

If you’re looking for erasers, rather than photographs of erasers:

MATTER: DOORKNOBS

Maxine — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:42:14 +0000

With lots of Christmas and holiday markets around this month, it’s easy to feel disproportionately lustful about material objects. While trying to keep our priorities in check, these doorknobs may be our downfall. Designed by the talented Karin Stromberg, they will be sold at a market in Sweden. Please pick one or ten up for us! [via fine little day]

STICK IT UP

Maxine — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:16:37 +0000

We’re longtime fans of a product called homosote, but I’m often met with blank stares when requesting it at hardware and lumber stores. That’s slowly changing, partly because the material is green–made from 100% percent recycled waste paper–and partly because it’s been touted by trusted arbiters of good taste. Apartment Therapy paid homage to the material. So did Martha Stewart. The material, aside from providing the perfect space to tack up your newest project, or inspirations, or book pages, also makes for good sound proofing.

some like it raw [above]. other variations, below:

EASIER: Uten Silo

Maxine — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 01:21:29 +0000

To remind you, the “Easier” feature of this blog is intended to give you a few ideas to make your life easier. This tip will only improve your life if you’re willing to spend money on the classic Uten Silo Wall Tidy. Designed in the late 1960’s, the wall tidy has not lost its cool–or its function. If you’re feeling extremely nostalgic, look into the chrome “special edition.”

UTOPIA: POLAROID

Maxine — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:18:37 +0000

I’ll venture to call Polaroid film a utopian idea, at least when it was first proposed: the idea was shocking–shake your film in plain air and watch the image emerge. In February 2008, Polaroid ceased to make Polaroid film, opting to focus entirely on digital products.

Not satisfied to go quietly into the night, several polaroid fanatics joined what was coined The Impossible Project and last week, the project introduced a successor to the original instant polaroid film. Rejoice!

I am not sure yet whether I should hang onto a number of kits like this:

FELT: CITY OF FELT

Maxine — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:59:02 +0000

Maybe it’s the winter weather, but I’m gravitating toward felt. Joseph Beuys saw fit to make felt part of his survival story.

If a Joseph Beuys installation isn’t practical for you, Josh Jakus makes beautiful felt bags

and Ashley Helvey makes beautiful hand-felted rugs. I love this description of her process.