A Treehouse Fantasy

I am extremely excited about this exhibition, Treelife, put on by The Cool Hunter.  It's celebrating eco-architecture and design in a ton of different ways.  When I was a kid I used to design tree houses for the plum tree and giant cactus in my backyard.  Needless to say, they were not very structurally sound.   
Anyways, I hope this event is somewhere close to New York and that I can go oggle.  It's next year some time.  Looking forward to the actual tree house designs the most,  though I am very intrigued by the LED light shows.

If I had my way, we'd build tree house-like rooms floating up in our loft.  Here's a quick sketch of one petite idea, paper lantern-esque.  Operable windows that you flip up maybe, facing the large loft window only. Oh, to dream!



Update [10/11]: Looks like treehouses are in.  Build LLC designed one for the launch of a new Microsoft product.  I really dig how it kind of feels like the ribs of a whale. 

Home for lunch.

+ I'm designing a line of tables and home accessories for work... that will be MADE!
- My dog got into the trash.

More on the former, to come. Hopefully less of the latter.

September, you minx!

I blink for one second and the month is nearly gone.
Alas, lots to discuss. I went to the New Island Festival on Governor's Island earlier in the month. For being only an 8-minute ferry from Manhattan, its got a whole different feel. Kind of like historic suburban Philadelphia. The main action was in (eight?) historic houses that surrounded a central grassy area. In each house was a different design or cultural group, and in the middle were sculptures or installations (left). All in celebration of Dutch design. The organization and design of the event was very cohesive and intriguing from day one, including the humorously disorienting signs during the event. And another point- each group of people coming off the boat was required to witness a nonchalant ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with full Dutch fanfare. Make what you wish of that.
I'm getting increasingly interested in honing my graphic design skills. At work I've been learning tips and tricks, though I am looking for some means of lessons to get a solid education. Maybe a podcast? I want to explore typography first.
Speaking of podcasts, I've devoured almost every episode of NYC History by the Bowery Boys. The intro is enough to get you hooked. Coney Island part I and II are my favorites.
And lastly, progress on the loft-front. Long-set concrete columns and beams have posed a problem in several areas. By means of crafty C-clamps and spare bamboo, we were able to devise a way to hang our curtains off the mullions of our 18' x 10' window. Since our housewarming, we've been edging the house into better shape. It is difficult with three different tastes- minimalist, eclectic, and functional- and opposing schedules. But we're making it work, and I'm getting increasingly proud of my new domesticity. Here's to Red Hook.

Crafty Day Off

This Labor Day, I went down to the docks in the morning before it got too hot. The smell of the water always reminds me of home, honestly, so that's one reason why I enjoy it down there. Also the giant cranes. I came home and crafted all day. Three friends and I are starting an Etsy account soon, and I'm beginning with mainly hand-drawn things. I think it will be a fun side project. Here's a preview:

After four years in a school of architecture, I finally bought some yellow trace. I'm experimenting with fonts as well. This particular one was inspired by a recent haiku regarding Piedmont, North Dakota and rice pilaf. Alphabet City.

Work-Type Observation

Also working in home furnishing retail, I've been learning a lot about the inner goings-on of a large corporation. How about these vocab words: order points, back flow, goods dominance? Alright, I still don't understand the last one, but I'll pick it up eventually. Contrasting this is what I'm learning -both taught and observational- from my internship about running a small business. The differences are interesting, though I suppose anyone who has worked for a national or international brand/store can attest that its rigid structure may at times be stifling. Also interesting are the similarities, which tend to stem from the basic concepts of the companies, i.e. wanting to enhance the home life of the consumer. At this point in my career, I'm prepared to be sponge-like and disregard my (collegiate-based) aversion to Business.
Though to balance, I've been doing more creative things on the side. Working on the loft brings me great pleasure, as always. I built a desk for myself out of some sanded plywood (street find) after getting frustrated about the hunchback situation I created for myself. New issues to tackle are leaky pipe, curtains, and oven. (Yes, oven. Spare the joke.. it's hot out!)
Housewarming party is coming up, and it is the goal for getting the house into working order. I'll take some glamour shots of the finished product. I can't wait to see it myself, actually.
*One more note. Next week is Fashion Week. Does New York have a design week? Where designers open their studios and shmooze each other? When and where!