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.

It's a Small Big World

Nothing gets me more than seeing tiny miniature things....like this video filmed in real life but they made it like a living diorama!

By Bold Creative Studio

This totally reminds me of the time when Dylan & I went to the Victoria Island's Miniature World museum after Chika totally raved about it. We were probably the only people there but it was probably one of the the most unexpectedly enchanting place I've been. I think I spent more time in there than in the Louvre! Hard to believe... but true...

Here's a little clip to see what the Miniature museum is all about!

Just the music tickles my heart! :)

Demolition Derby

Ahhhhh!!!  We're officially in the kitchen remodel funnel!  Well, technically we're kitchen-less at the moment and I guess technically we could make a decision:  spend every free moment  we have in the next two months laboring over as close to the kitchen of our dreams as our architecture and budget will allow or just live indefinitely without a kitchen...washing dishes in the basement utility sink and learning the fine art of microwave and toaster oven cooking.... 

Sorry, I know everyone and their mother is using instagram photo filters these days, but it's really the only way to make this whole mess of a project look semi-romantic and exciting...

Anyways, last Saturday Jean's brother-in-law and I grabbed our sledge hammers and obliterated the kitchen down to the studs and subfloor.  The space feels so cool now...so open...so raw.  Makes us just want to leave it as is except for the no sink, oven, cooktop, or countertop part. 

The diagonally-laid solid wood subfloor is particularly cool... 

Even our (leaky) temporary sink has some tempting rustic charm...

Wouldn't it be a shame to seal up that hidden neitherland area above the ceiling of our stairs?  It's like a whole other entirely useless room in there!

We're hoping that all this roughing it will be worth it when we finally complete the project.  To keep our spirits and motivation up, we have to continually refer to the sketchup model of the final space.

We're so excited to have an open kitchen that we can actually hang out in!  The center island is going to awesome for prep, eating, and talking.  The low seating area at the back will allow us to utilize our over abundance of dining chairs (ridiculous considering we don't have a dining room).

Framing the island is a steel structure our friend Nick at Piano Nobile is making for us to support the span.  It will be powdercoated steel profiles with an incorporated rail for hanging pots and pans, plants, utensils, etc.

The kitchen will also get all new electrical and a reclaimed oak hardwood floor, new appliances, etc.  So, yeah, it's going to be a long journey, but at this point we don't really have any choice.  ONWARD WITH THE KITCHEN!!

Procesessing Max Lamb's Process

I'd like to do go to the beach and do something fun like what Max Lamb did....making this pewter stool right on the beach!

This one makes me nervous just watching it...the gigantic blade cutting a piece of lime stone and them running around it...



Summer Rides

I've been meaning to put together a road bike that I have...

I took it apart 3 years ago wanting to re-coat the frame, get color tires, leather handles & seats along with some vintage Cinelli & Campagnolo parts..and what do you know?...the frame is still there with all the parts are still in a box! Wah-wuh...

I was especially a bit discourage when I saw that I can get a custom single speed or track bike from Republic Bike for $399! You can customize the color from the frame, to the seat, the wheel, the tires, down to the chain and gears!! And it would take them less time to build a bike from scratch than me putting it back together and have it be not even rideable...what in the what was I thinking?

Just so convenient that they have a feature on their website where you can custom build a bike to see what you like...and of f course I HAD to start playing around with it!! 

Started our with something like this...

... classic/unisex feel with yellow, black, and white.

....then something soft and bold at the same time...

or it could be any of these....

..Too many options...I can't decide!!!

But then again...I hate to give up on my poor torn apart bike project...it's SO tempting to want to just get something shiny and new!! But instead of surrendering to my irresponsible desire for compulsive consumption...I'm making a commitment to work on my bike!!

Because nothing can replace the sense of accomplishment of doing something from start to finish...even if it means that it'll take me 4+ years to complete it...right? God...I sure hope so....

Fold & Crease

 

Beautiful prints then beautifully creased by John Houck.

Via But Does It Float

Oh The FABulous Life...

There are so many great things about being our own bosses....yes...we get to design what we want, yes...we get to make our own decisions, yes...we have totally flexible work & vacation days, and yes...we get to have slow mornings with our Chemex coffee pot that takes infinite time to make a cup of coffee...

But... even with all those perks, there's still nothing that beats the awesomeness of packing & shipping orders! Heck Yeah!

I seriously can't wait to wake up in the morning JUST to do this!!

I don't even know why we design anything really...

I should just pack & ship people empty packages just for the fun of it!

Ahh...Life is....goooooooood....for now... 

Just please please tell me that we won't be doing this for the rest of our lives!!



Worst Day Ever...

I had to work last Saturday to finish the VERY last item for FAB.

But it was seriously ROUGH....probably the roughest day I ever experienced.

I had to sit outside under the blinding sun...

Then had get my picnic sheet out to sit and hand crochet the Mega-Doily Rug for the day...like some sort of farm peasant! 

 And to make matter worse....

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...I had to make some honey whiskey with ginger ale & mint to stay cool & hydrated,  and eat these fresh tayberries from the local farmer's market instead of a real meal.

...this work environment is just plain absurd.

I think at some point I even fainted....but no one believed me and just said I looked like I was sun tanning...or got drunk and fell asleep!! They've never had to work in the sun, crocheting a rug while being intoxicated on a Saturday! What do they know!!

ok...MAYBE I doze off a bit...but not the whole time!

Summer Drink Recpie for D*S Behind the Bar

We love Ryan & Alissa from one of our favorite online shop, Horne, who also carries our Superior Servers on their shop!

We couldn't be more thrilled, when Ryan asked me to write something for their Behind The Bar column for Design* Sponge.

I've always loved having picnics (especially an impromptu picnic that I did for this post!). And lately I've been really into using cucumbers...even just in water! So I came up with the this Summer Cucumber Lemon Vodka drink!  You can read the entire post HERE.

The best part of doing all this was that after taking the photos, Dylan & I got to enjoy the drinks with some friends for a real picnic! 

Yah....work is rough.....

Have a great weekend!!



Recap of Remodelista Portland Market

photos above provided by Remodelista Setting up... Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Table R&L goods Table Had a little fun and took these at the Ace with some fun Portland peeps: Chelsea from plainMADE, Simon & Jorie from School House Electric, and Kara from Egg Press.



Some International L&G Features!

We're so excited that we're getting some International press attention!

Our Superior Server Spoon in Annebelle : A Swiss Women's magazine with a great mix of fashion, design, art, current events and politics?...WHAT?  I thoughts its women only likes to read about fashion, , shopping & celebrities' tips on success, their favorite food, and their most embarrassing moments! I just love reading those insignificant stories that makes them seem more human...

Our Mega-Doily rug in  Mollie Makes : An UK Craft Magazine recently launched earlier this Summer.  The magazine is filled with everything that makes me smile. With bunch of how-to super adorable DIY projects and features of artist/crafters from all around the world.


Servers on Apartment Therapy

Weee~We're on a recent post on AP!! So colorful & cheerful!!

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Seattle Magazine / July / 2011

Featured work: Chalk Piggy Bank.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Fireworks Studies

This amazing book by Pierre Le Hors' 'Firework Studies' has pages after pages of beautiful black & white photos of varying moments of fireworks in the sky.

It's just amazing to look at even in a book.

I can never get sick of watching fireworks....which means that I can see myself never getting sick of looking at this book.
I suppose that's why people are willing to spend millions just for 30 minutes of entertainment....that's freedom for ya!

Happy America Weekend!!

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Sailing Away

I lived in Seattle for 11 years and Dylan has been here for 20 years... and for the first time in both our lives, we got to go sailing on lake union!

We got to go with Charlie and Andrew on their classy Wino Country Safari sailboat.

What a way to start the summer!

Love the classy interior of Wino Country Safari.

Gearing up for a little patriotism before the Fourth.

Looking at Gasworks park from the water.

Moments like this reminds me why Seattle is so amazing....

Then summer in Seattle ended after the clouds came back... :P

It was fun while it lasted!! 



FABulous Ending To Our Sale!

We've been so excited about being on FAB!!

We got ourselves geared up for our 3-day flash sale, and now our sale ended we couldn't be happier with the result and seeing the wonderful write up they did about L&G on FAB blog...(blush)

We put out a new item... Terracotta Piggies!...I love how the peachy-orangy terracotta color that makes it look more like a pig! Looks very nice for the summer, yah?

They sold out on fab for now, but they will be available soon on our site!

We really didn't know what to expect in terms of how people will respond to our work and how the sale will go...but turns out it was more than great and we actually sold out quite a few things!!

 

 

I know lot of the stuff aren't even in our shop right now, but we're in the works to put up more! Such as the new Terracotta piggies, one-off Daily Affirmation vintage mirrors, Alphabrass tables with vintage lamp parts and more!! We're planning to have our shop updated soon totally amp up our shop!!

But....

SHOP NOW and get 10% OFF all L&G originals!

Just Enter "GIMMIE10" at checkout!

Sale end of the day on July 4th at 11:59pm PST!!

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Coffee Break...

Can't seem to live without coffee still...especially when its nice to have a little moment to break from the work day and enjoy a little ritual like this....

I love my ChemChem!

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Fab-tastic

Happy Monday!

L&G's is so excited to be featured on fab.com today for an epic 3 day flash sale!

They're providing our products at ridiculously pleasant prices and also featuring some fab.com-only special products...

Like $65 (normally $95) for our "Daily Affirmation" mirrors. Each one is a unique vintage guilded mirror frame etched with a message of hope:

Or our special limited run of terracotta piggy banks for $55 ($85 retail):

Two Cane & Able Stools (the first two ever made!):

Or opt for discounted L&G classics: 30% off megadoiley, 40% off superior servers, 35% off alphabrass, 40% off gem necklaces:

  

  

The sale runs through Wednesday, so go to fab.com and get while the gettin's good!

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Paper Cut

Cutouts of layer & upon layers of colorful paper by artist, Jen Stark

via But Does It Float

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L&G in 3 Magazines in June!

We're totally stoked that we made it in to 3 magazines for June! Not sure how the month went by so fast already..but hey...that seems to be always the case now these days. :P

Sunset Magazine:

Thanks to lovely Jess Chamberlain from Sunset, she wrote story on JOIN Design Seattle and got us a whole group feature!!

Jami & Brian who started JOIN got a great full page shot of them in their studio...perhaps a centerfold next time? ...Jamie I know you love it... :)

The spread of things from designers who are part of JOIN: Design Seattle..with I&M frame lights, L&G servers, Grain rings, Blk Pine backpack, Erich's vase, & Chelsea's bow tie!

 Anthology Magazine: This was a pleasant surprise when I got this issue in the mail and saw that our servers are in there since they featured the product through one of our stores, Michele Varian based in NY.

Seattle Homes Magazine: Featuring the Mega-Doily rug in Meg's "Crafting A Meaningful Home" book.

Happy weekend!

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