L&G Moving Out East...

(Photo Credit: Milton Glaser, JCP Photography, Patient Advocates )

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After spending most our lives in Washington surrounded by apples aplenty, we've decided to set our sights on one apple in particular... 

We're beyond excited to announce that L&G Studio will officially be moving to THE Big Apple in May 2015!  This move will usher in a new bi-coastal era for our studio: a chance to grow, create new work, expand creatively, and explore a whole new environment and lifestyle.   

Best of Both

We will always be west coasters at heart...it's part of who we are, what we believe in, and how we operate.   This move isn't about leaving that behind.  It's about taking on new challenges while being true to who we are.  It's about making new friends and keeping the old.  It's in that spirit that we will embrace both coasts with respecting arms as a bi-coastal studio.  We will be operating primarily out of this new Brooklyn studio, which will serve as our office, creative center, and assembly shop.  Meanwhile in Seattle, we will continue to work with our valued vendors, friends, and customers alike. While we will always consider the Northwest home, we are looking forward to new perspectives and inspiration on the East coast merging with our West vibes.   

Thinking back to when Dylan & I  first started, we never imagined that we could do what we're doing now....together, running a design studio full time and working side by side (without killing each other)....meeting other talented & inspiring creatives, and getting to do what we love!

I still remember the day that jumpstarted Dylan & I started thinking about working together.... It was  in 2008 when we were invited us to be part of a local design show and new design collective called JOIN Design Seattle. It was during the recession when everyone had nothing to risk besides taking matters into their own hand and start from scratch. It was during those times where people had to be resourceful and work collaboratively to form something with a collective common goal of creating a design community.  We thought we'd give it try and designed our first L&G pieces (Alpha Brass & Mega Doily Rug). Ever since then, we were hooked on creating & designing as a team. Little did we know that L&G Studio would become our full time endeavor and that we would form ever-lasting friendships with so many great studios in Seattle and beyond. 

We feel incredibly lucky and indebted to our Seattle friends and the design community who supported us, inspired us, and helped us in so many countless ways. We're committed to embrace who we are and take what we have cultivated in Seattle while applying our experiences in a whole new environment.  It's a grand experiment, but it's comforting to know we have a strong backbone of support in Seattle and it's only a plane ride away. 

So really,  this isn't at all a goodbye to our past, but hello to new beginnings!!   We can't wait to see what excitement unfolds!

Americans Unite!

We've been lucky to know the awesome people behind the American Design Club since we started showing at the NYIGF back in 2010. We all seem like such babies back then....and boy have we all came a long way!!

Especially for AmDC, they've now established themselves as one of the main portal for many of the talented up & coming American desginers to be part of the greater design community.

Besides organizing & curating various design shows, they've just recently launched their online shop just to kick things up a notch!  

And already...they got this great mention on the NYT online....with our servers in there, too!!! 

....AND printed in the real deal!

L&G at NYIGF Aug 19-Aug 22

L&G and JOIN returns to the New York International Gift Fair 2012 with home goods and personal accessories from ten independent West Coast based studios.

Among the new work featured will be porcelain axes and fortune cookies from Aleksandra Pollner, marbled ceramic vessels from Fleet Objects, picnic blankets and stackable snowmen from fruitsuper design, hemp wrapped hand mirrors from Grain, copper necklaces from Iacoli & McAllister, color stained stoneware bowls from Ladies &Gentlemen Studio, art pouches and camera straps from Little Paper Planes, totes and straps from Meet Me Here, hand-printed tea towels and trays from Piano Nobile, and key holders and wallets from Studio Gorm.

Find us in the JOIN booth next to the American Design Club at the Jacob K. Javits Center, Lobby Level 2, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm August 19 - 21; 2:00 - 6:00 pm on August 22.

Bloc Necklaces Spotted

Jill from Sight Unseen recently spotted our necklace on Creatures of Comfort where they used it for styling! We're crossing our fingers that they'll start carrying our necklaces soon! 

Getting ready for NY Design Week!

We've been feeling like Super Mario Brothers for the past week and a half trying to pass every level of finishing our products, taking photos of our work, editing the photos, sending out a newsletter & press releases,  pack & shipping our furniture & lights so it'll get to NY in time, remembering to pack our clothes (and underwear), making sure our water bottle doesn't have any water in them when going through security,  and remembering to put our shampoo, contact solution, utility knife, hammers, drill bits & screws in the checked luggage and NOT in our carry on.... 

It's usually stressful leading up to catching the flight, but once we're on the plane we feel we can at least relax a little being so far away from work...and instead be able to enjoy a view like this....the high altitude sunset and little itty bitty frost crystals that forms on the window...so neat.

Then we land in NY....and then it's back to frantic town all over again!! So now we're on to the next challenging level of dealing with all the logistics in New York to set up our work up in time for Noho Design District!! And this level is all about doing errands in middle of Manhattan....WITH A MINI VAN! And boy did we let loose on the horn.

It's only been our first full day in NY and we're already exhausted from all the rush and trying to get everything set up!!! Luckily there was enough adrenalin going through both of us that kept us from just passing out....

Anyway....here's what we did and some photos of our first day

11am-1pm Arrived at Zero + Maria Cornejo to scope out the space and figure out a plan of attack on how we can set up our lights, hanging chair, floor chair, side tables and plant hangers.

Lovely window display of paper cranes in Z+MC

And me (Jean) getting distracted/tempted by all the amazing beautiful Z+MC shoes & clothes.....

1pm-2pm: Went over to Heller Gallery in Meatpacking district to deliver our Nyth bowls  for RAW+UNFILTERED show by AmDC.  We got a little sneak preview and is totally psyched to have our works be shown amongst some amazing works there. Here's our bowls next to our table buddies, Fort Standard, who made these cast bronze candelabras!

2-4pm  did some major driving around where we borrowed a 10ft ladder that we somehow fit in the mini van, then  got a bunch of light bulbs at a hardware store, and went to this awesome plant called Plantworks for plants for our plant hangers.... I got to look at some AMAZING giant plants and cacti I wish I needed. I love NY for all their little mom & pop shops with the best things.  

430pm We set up a mobile work station in our friend's classy mini van and illegally parked for an hour and a half just to claim a street parking spot by 6pm...yah....parking in Noho, that's the kind of fun logistics we love. I know I should be ashamed to even admit doing something as desperate as camping out in a van just to claim a parking spot...but it was TOTALLY worth it for the spot right outside the shop and that we didn't have to pay $12/hr. Wow...I'm totally starting to sound like a cheap old lady!  yay!

6pm-8pm: Then for 2hrs all we were able to do is hang some Aura lights before everyone at the shop had to leave!! Despite the little progress we had, I was really happy with how the lights look in front of the amazing large scale photo of Maria's clothes by Mark Borthwick,  an artist/photographer and also Maria Cornejo's husband.  Talk about a super couple....seeesh!

So now....we gotta get up in butt crack of dawn to head over there and do the rest of the set up. woo hoo!!

more & more for later!

Red Hot Pigs!

We did a custom batch of red piggies upon Bradford's (founder of FAB.com) request for their upcoming popup shop during NY Design Week starting MAY 17th!

We're so thrilled to be part of all this as well other awesome events like AmDC's Raw + Unfiltered show, and Noho Design District.

Metropolis magazine mentioned both Raw + Unfiltered and FAB's popup shop as one of the destinations to check out during NY Design Week! How exciting!

We've only made a limited quantity of these babies just for the popup so get 'em while they last!

We're ON for NY Design Week May 18-22!!

We we're incredibility excited that on top of us being able to FINALLY go check out ICFF for the first time EVER, we'll get to be in NY during the best time of the year, AAAAAAAND we'll also be part of few extremely exciting satellite events happening during design week!!

Neither Dylan & I have gone and we've only been talking about it for like....8 years...and FINALLY this year we decided that we would go for realz!!! We were just hoping to go for fun and then few opportunities came along where places was doing open calls for shows....so we figured...why not?! We might as well make a worth while trip, right??

Well, lucky for us, we're able to be part of 3 awesome events!!

1. We're extra stoked (and still can't believe) that we'll be part of NOHO Design District!! NDD is organized by the talented ladies of Sight Unseen where they coordinate & curate shows to be shown all around shops and galleries in Noho.

When we got the email from Monica and Jill that our submissions got accepted and that they'll paired us with this amazing clothing brand, Zero+Maria Cornejo, I think I might have even screamed outloud for a long time....then absolute silent with me staring at my computer screen for like another hour....just in total shock.

We  just can't believe that we'll be part an all-star group and be featured along all our design crushes like Tom Dixon, Bec Brittain, Lindsey Adelmen, Jonah Takagi, Brenden Ravenhill, Tanya Aguiniga, Fort Standards, Chen Chen & Kai Williams, and companies like Roll & Hill, Areaware, The Future Perfect ...and whole a whole lot more!! I'm feeling high just thinking about all this....

So needless to say, we're MORE than ecstatic to be able to show our work at Zero+Maria Cornejo. Her work is absolutely stunning and I'm already eying up some pieces...SO TEMPTING!!!

The show will begin on MAY 18th at Zero+Maria Cornejo. More event info HERE.

2. Is another awesome show,  Raw+Unfiltered, organized by Kiel Mead and head of AmDC. Last year our Cane & Able was shown at the "USE ME" show, but we weren't able to party with all the amazing talents there.  So this year...we're definitely NOT going to miss out again!

Here's a sneak peak of what we're showing!

The show will open on SUNDAY MAY 21st at HELLER GALLERY. More event info HERE and to RSVP.

3. We'll be part of FAB's popup shop which will start on MAY 14th.  They requested a limited batch of custom red piggy banks! Aren't they cute?!

They FAB sale will beging online. More info TBA.

We're so excited for all this!!!!!EXCLAMATION MARKS FOREVER!!!!

Bloc Party at Sight Unseen

Oh..it's ON.

 ...our Bloc necklaces on Sight Unseen Shop that is!!!

Seriously...Shape Shop

We're SO excited to see photos of the Shape Shop popup on Sight Unseen they just posted!  Everything looks amazing and the range of works there is all pretty insane. They've selected works from bunch of great designers and artists, and we're just super happy to be included!

There's so much excitement that I wish I can integrate bunch of  explosive graphics like "AWESOME!" "WOW!" "AMAZING!" "NO WAY!" or "I REALLY LIKE THAT AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT PLEASE!"

Anyway....here are some photos of the popup:

Here's our BLOC necklaces!! yay~~

It was a total coincidence that our necklaces happened to be totally inline with the Shape Shop theme...using simple shapes and block, and even colors....it freaked me out a bit...but in the best way possible!! We hope to have these up on our site next month!

There are bunch of great things from some friendly AmDC folks ( Fort Standard, Patrick Kim, Brian Persico) and other awesome designers we've admired like, Shabd, Fredericks and Mae, Tanya Aguiniga, Fort Makers and tons MORE! See more HERE.

ON TOP of al this, Sight Unseen also released their new book!

Also, the popup will be up at Creatures of Comfort in NY until May 6th!

L&G at Sight Unseen's Shape Shop Popup

We're excited to have some special new necklaces for Sight Unseen's (one of our fav design blogs) upcoming popup shop at Creatures of Comfort!

 These are times when I wished we lived closer than the total opposite side of the states. :(

But if you're in NY, go check it out!  The shop will be up from from April 9th to May 6th.

See more event info and RSVP HERE.

Defenders of America

Go check out THREAT (opening March 9th) by AmDC  that's all about weapon of defense in every shape & form.

Damn right this is a show about weapns! This is America we're talking about here!

All this is more about encouraging designers from all over America to all come together and have fun designing & create cool shiz.

Here's what we made....

Hit & Strangle Stick

Yup! You guessed it! You hit, then strangle! It's EASY!

This defense object is a sleek hitting stick made with the use aluminum and copper tubing and fishing rope inspired by dog catchers.

The simple telescoping action allows the defender to tighten the rope by pushing the aluminum tube forward and therefore can capture (and strangle) the invader from afar.

 

Now here's some REAL action!

TAKE THAT!! 

That'll show you to never walk in the house with your shoes on!

More sneak peak of other works below:

(Photos of Kiel Mead, and other projects provided by NYTimes)

The show opens this FRIDAY, MARCH 9th (runs from March 9 to 15) At Present Company, 29 Wythe Street (North 13th Street), Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

 Also read this great interview on NYTimes with Kiel Mead  about the concept of the show....and other intense topics of discussions like, jail beating weapons, squirt guns with hydrochloric acid, and our dark sides.

Oh trust me...this is gonna be goooooood.

L&G at NYIGF Jan 29-Feb 2

We can't believe it's that time again! 2011 year ended and now L&G is TOTALLY pumped for 2012 and ready to share some brand new works!

L&G will be showing an exciting brand new line of table top items & jewelry along with JOIN and eight other Northwest based studios.

So come visit us at Accent of Design at the Jacob K. Javits Center, Level 3. We'll also be right next to other talented young designers from American Design Club and A+ Young Designers.

It's gonna be a par-tay! woot woot!

Aug 2011 NYIGF Wrap up!

Here's a recap of the JOIN at the NYIGF for the 3rd time!

This time with us being in the lobby outside of the Accent on Design area turned out to be a MUCH more pleasant of a space to be in...especially when the sun is out! Just look at how everything shines on the table!

Above: New server colors and cake servers from L&G, and colorful big Silicone ring by fruitsuper....and NO they're NOT eraser rings!

Here we got Chelsea H. from plainMADE getting a little sun tanning sesh at the Javits....

Photos above by Grain

New frame light colors from Iacoli & McAllister.

Also this time being next to AmDC made it 100 times more fun, too!

photo by Steph Mantis

Here are some highlights from AmDC's booth:

Bracelets made with mix marble cuts celebrating the colors & patterns of the various types of stone. By Chen Chen & Kai Tsien Williams.

Chika & I got to trade with Patrick Kim for one of his clever wooden tons and these lovely cutting boards with a simple rubber band at the end to keep it from slipping around.  Clever AND thoughtful...

Beautiful & sleek glass vessels from Felicia Ferrone based out of Chicago. 

Playful two-headed animal necklaces in various metals by Steph Mantis! (and yes... exclamation mark is required when referring to Steph!)

 ...and of course, we wouldn't feel complete at the NYIGF until we have some sort of birthday celebration! and this year is no exception...

Here's Chika with her doughnut birthday cake composed by me and Christa (of blkPINE bags). This is second time celebrating Chika's bday at the Javits and we went all out and made a doughnut tower with yummy doughnuts from Doughnut Plant....surrounded with coconut macaroons, strawberry Pocky sticks, and flower pom pom with napkins provided by the Javits.

Yes...I know...only a master mind & a true artist can create such master piece such as this. Christa and I took MAD pride in carefully piling the doughnuts up and sprucing it all up...and all the  grease spots on the box only shows how much thought went into this...

A Perfect day in NY

After 5 long grueling days of smiling, staring, smirking, standing, and more smiling at the NYIGF, I finally got some personal downtime right after the show ended.

and totally had myself the most perfect day....

First, I stopped at the closest Dean & Deluca and paid for an over priced iced latte and one of this amazing carrot cake doughnuts from  doughnut planet and "wrote" a card to Dylan with one of these Utility Cards by Grain. Each card is filled with words all of sorts for every occasion possible. It's more than brilliant!

It took me a while but composed my own phrase "WAHZZ....UP....MY....BOY....FRIEND....I....MISS....YOU....WAY....TOO....MUCH....YEA..."

Then I walked through Highline checking out the new addition, which is even more amazing than before!

I sat one of the the lounge benches and ate one of these deliciously handmade peach elderberry popsicle.

Then I actually got to soak up some sun for at least couple of hours... and as shameful as this sounds (but I'm not longer ashamed) I starting hearing Sheryl Crow's "soak up the sun" in my head out of nowhere!

Normally I'd freak out if that song were to pop in my head at any other moments, but instead I kept my cool...and just embraced it. 

I got to read a bit, stared at the clouds, did some people watching, and all the while still humming the song....it was so refreshing.

Then what made it EVEN more perfect is that I met up with Chika & Jesse and got to enjoy THE most perfect dish at Joseph Leonard with all the simple ingredients I love the most....

Just look at that perfect egg sitting perfectly on top of a cute little piece of brioche..next to a perfectly healthy bed of frisee salad topped with perfectly crisped bacon bits....

Can't say that I get to expereince a lot of days like this anymore, but whenever it happens...I just totally love every moment of it...even if Sheryl Crow comes into the picture.Can't say that I get to expereince a lot of days like this anymore, but whenever it happens...I just totally love every moment of it...even if Sheryl Crow comes into the picture.

L&G and JOIN friends at NYIGF Aug13-Aug18

We can't believe it's already been a WHOLE year since we debut our work at the NYIGF last year...the year went by super fast and we don't really remember what really happened...but all I can say is that this whole experience of having our own studio so far has been more than amazing, and it's been reassuring for us that we can actually make it work!  

...and in finding the need to give ourselves a little pat on our backs, we decided to celebrate a little by getting a cake!

Man...how I love that I can write off things like this as an business expense!

We even used the cake to shoot along with our new items that we'll be bring to the NYIGF this August: New pastel Superior server colors, Vintage Superior cake servers, ceramic Salt & Pepper Pawz, and Terracotta Piggy banks!

So yeah...It's been a crazy year where it felt like so much has happened yet I can barely remember it all.  Does that make sense?....and is that normal?

I think perhaps it's the fact that we're still learning the art of juggling everything and learning how to be our own bosses...and do everything else...to be a designer, product developer, maker, project manager, blogger, photographer, sales rep,  accountant, PR, creative director, packer, shipper, and the person to wash dishes, etc.

Less assure you that i'm NOT trying to brag....seriously...

Nonetheless, we're still totally psyched for this August NYIGF where 8 of us design studios under JOIN will  be next to other talented peeps from American Design Club and “A+: The Young Designers’ Platform.” We'll all going to join forces and showcase our work outside the entrance to Accent on Design in the lobby area. 

Yes...nothing like partying in the lobby at the Javits Convention Center!! Woot woot!

Check out what everyone gots to bring!

New print from  R&L goods.

Hex Opener by Iacoli & McAllister 

 

Hung by Grain 

 

Canoe Canvas Pack by Blk Pine Workshop. 

  Bows Scarf by PlainMADE

2012 Naturalist Almanac by Free Time Industries 

SBiR Rings by friutsuper designSBiR Rings by friutsuper design

More info:

The New York International Gift Fair (www.nyigf.com) is located at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W 34th Street in New York, and will be open 9:00 am - 6:00 pm August 14 - August 17, 2011 and Noon - 6:00 pm August 18, 2011.

Setting High Standards

I met these guys from Fort Standards for the first time at the Feburary NYIGF in the AmDC booth, and was totally psyched that I got to trade for one of their charming merit badge necklaces.

...and since then...only being about 5 months later, they've designed & launched a BUNCH of new amazing products at this year's ICFF.

I was totally psyched to see these AMAZING Elevate tables made with crazy marble tops & white oak!! Mostly love the detail of the center notch and the clean construction of the triangle legs.
and of course me being a total sucker for terrariums...I have to love this: Terra-terrarium stand...that spins!
These classy Foundation tables are made with teak & stacked marble at the base. Clean, simple and cleverly constructed as well.
MAD Aluminum stool....just handsome.
I'm just so amazed by the scope of their work...and admire their sense for great details & general sensibility.
....Way to raise the bar on that one...and make all of us look bad!


L&G Chalk Piggies at Crewcuts!!

So....we had to keep this hush hush until recently...and we can't wait to share this exciting news!! Our Chalk Piggies are available on Crewcuts online HERE for all the stylish & adorable kids! Like this lil' adorable girl!We've been excited about this ever since one of the buyer from J.Crew first contacted us after purchasing a piggy after the holidays!This is our first time working with a big company such as J.Crew and we were more than happy that everything went as planned and now they're actually in one of the Crewcut store in NY and online! This is totally what I envisioned where the piggies would end up... to be with stylish kids & parents and be part of both of their worlds!

I think I'll be visiting our piggies at the Crewcut store when I head to NY this coming August!
Can't wait!

L&G presents: Cane & Able

We're debuting Cane & Able at a satellite exhibit, USE ME, in conjunction with ICFF.
A simple whitened pine stool truncated by a vintage cane. A multi-purpose supportive, mobile, and hangable stool. While they typically act as a person's 3rd leg, its now acting as the 4th leg...or even 6th leg if you decide to use to take it out for a walk.

Two of em hanging out...
Detail of dowel leg construction:
Visit Cane & Able in person during ICFF week at the American Design Club's USE ME show.

USE ME show: OPENS TODAY!

We got our pieces in the show!! Woo Hoo!
This will be our first time participating in a design show in NY!! We're stoked!!  But sad that we won't be able to be part of the excitement in person.. bum bums....

Some JOIN peeps like Iacoli & McAllister, Grain, and FTI will also have stuff there!It's gonna be a pretty amazing group of designers and I'm 101% sure there will be pretty amazing stuff, there, too!
...but here's our crazy shipping mess & packaged items before shipping them out to NY...which took me all night to makeshift a custom sized box from scratch.....who does that??
I think I ended up using every types of packing material possible for this box.
It was seriously a total piece of work in itself. :P
...but i think the people at AmDC will probably forever hate me because it's probably going to be a total hassle to unwrap it.....saaaaawweeeee~!!

We'll reveal the pieces under all those mysterious foam, bubble wraps, and cardboard pieces soon!!


Some ideas brewing...

....for AmDC's upcoming "USE ME" show for ICFF.

Made our submissions and is crossing our fingers...hope we make it in!