Paris Metro Architecture

Paris Metro Architecture
Built like the Crystal Palace of interchangeable, prefabricated cast iron and glass parts, Guimard created the métro system in opposition to the ruling taste of French classical culture ... Guimard system is developed, appeared overnight like the manifestation of the organic strength, the winding green cast-iron tentacles erupting from the subterranean labyrinth to support a variety of barriers, pergolas, maps, hooded light fittings and glass canopy. dragonfly's this wings' surrealistic "-to quote a contemporary critic-received a mixture, not to say chauvinistic, press, color verdigris iron their support because it is considered as a German than French. attempt imaginatively to create a myth of magic in terms of modern it must be complemented later by forms technical substance of the elevated section of the métro, built to the design of the architect Jean-Camille and engineer of Louis Formigé Biette.

New Press - 944 Magazine April 2010 / Upward Bound house

Above are images from my recent press from 944 Magazine regarding the homeless shelter I completed in February called Upward Bound House. If you would like to view more photos of the project click here. Thank you Sarah for the great article!



We are also still accepting donations for the Upward Bound House project-gift cards and or store credits at discount retailers like Ross and TJMaxx would be helpful. Or small check donations ($20-$100) goes very far. We still need to provide the remaining three families with sheets, towels and housewares. For more information please email me directly at turquoise.la@gmail.com.

Save the date! Next DNG Event is at Filmore Clark!

Please save the date our next Designer Networking Event will be held at FILMORE CLARK on Thursday April 29th, 2010 from 7:00 - 9:30pm.
We ask that you please arrive on time to our event. We are having a Question & Answer portion with owner Lee Nicholson and we want to make sure we have plenty of time to have our introductions with the group.



About FILMORE CLARK:
Following the tradition of artisan tile studios, Filmore Clark will offer the best in American art tile. Founder, Lee Nicholson has been in the tile business for over 15 years of which 13 of those were spent at Country Floors Inc. Working in such a rich environment she began her love affair with handcrafted tiles and over the years had the realization that the American art tile maker is one of the best in world. This drove her to open her own showroom offering renowned collections such as Pratt Larson, Tempest Tileworks, Tile Guild and KJ Patterson.  Filmore Clark hopes to bring a new life to the custom tile selection process. Keeping it local will be the main focus of the business. By showcasing only domestically manufactured collections Filmore Clark will take to heart the true meaning of a smaller footprint and being green.



View the Filmore Clark website here.



FILMORE CLARK is located at:
607 N. West Knoll Drive
West Hollywood, CA 90069
PH: 310.652.6867



Street parking and lot parking available.



*An additional 20% off will be given to all DNG members on your first order (expires August,1, 2010).
So please print out the invite or show it on your mobile device to receive your discount.




The purpose of our DNG Events is to bring talented individuals who work in the design industry to meet and network their talents and products.



PLEASE make sure you bring your business cards, portfolios and/or images of your work so you can share your products and design
work with our members. If you would like to bring a product of your work - we encourage your to do so so we can see your designs.
It is important that you bring your materials so we can view your work and products!



Please forward this invite to other interior designers, store owners, showroom managers, artists and product designers that you might know.



And remember you need to be a member to join our events so if you would like you can bring your $25 membership fee (for the year) to this event.

Kitschy tutorial - Eyeglass brooch

from The Felt Mouse by Jennifer 
What do these two items have in common?

One is a clever re-purposed use for the other! I found this cute brooch at last year's church rummage sale. Admittedly I myself did not realize it was made from an eyeglass lens until the cashier pointed it out. I just liked the little bug.

Since that time, I have been meaning to make my own eyeglass brooches using my old glasses. Of course, I would prefer to donate my eyeglasses to the Lion's Club recycling program, which seems like a really great effort. However, since my lenses contain prisms (since my eyes are all jacked up), I have been told my glasses are not usable in the program.

Well, at least this way my funky lenses will not end up in the trash. If you have an extra pair of eyeglasses lying around, you could make a brooch as well. You will also need

~ An adhesive such as Diamond Glaze or E6000
~ Scissors or Exact-o blade
~ Wrapping paper or other ephemera
~ Paint and brush (optional)
~ Pin back
~ Adhesive to attach pin back (E6000 can be used for this step as well, or glue gun)

First, decide what image you would like to display in your brooch. I used vintage wrapping paper. You may want to test to make sure your image will not bleed when adhesive is applied (the purple flowers did end up bleeding, so had to choose another image)

Apply glue to the center of the back of your lens (the side that was towards your face when you were wearing them). You will work the glue towards the edge of the lens, like this

and blot it off. It is best to leave some extra room around the part of the image you want to capture to allow for centering and some slight folding as you work your image to fit the concave shape of the lens. It is best to do this step quickly and avoid pressing the paper more than necessary, as it may begin to weaken in areas (hence the different mermaid in the final set of brooches).

Once your image is attached and the glue has set, you can trim off the excess with scissors or an Exact-o blade. It is fairly easy to get a line flush with the edge of the lens.

Once dry, you can paint the back of the brooch if you would like. A pin back can be added with E6000 (or equivalent) or a glue gun.

and voila! A scrap item is once again made fashionable.

(If you go looking for glasses at the thrift store to use for this craft, I recommend getting the biggest lenses available. Also glass lenses seem to work better for this project. They have some heft, which is nice, and no protective coatings to react with the glue.)

Mike Hollingshead

from Black*Eiffel by Rachel

I am amazed at these shots and more by Mike Hollingshead. He is a storm chaser and photographer who travels around taking the most exquisite images. Talk about living on the edge! When you are in the mood to see more about the power of nature check out the rest of his photos here. (Thanks Dad)

New Book: Designers Here and There

Above are images from a new design book entitled Designers Here and There by Michele Kieth. Designers in the book include: Michael Berman, Barclay Butera, Renea Abbott, Martha Angus, Eric Cohler, Chris Coleman, Lee Bierly and Chris Drake, Larry Boeder, Sue Burgess, Pam Duncan, Andrew Fisher and Jeffry Weisman, John Marrs, Benjamin Noriega Ortiz, Molly Luetkemeyer, Alex Jordan, Beverly Jacomini, Vicente Wolf, Stephen Shubel and Eve Robinson.




I cant wait to get my hands on this new book, it looks fantastic!





Images above were taken by Grey Crawford and designers include: Andrew Fisher and Jeffry Weisman and Molly Luetkemeyer (Who I interviewed for AT-LA a few years ago.)

Timber Log Home in Spanish Mountains

Nordicasa Architecture & Construction are creators of this affluence log berth home. The home is amid in the Spanish mountains abutting to the Valdelinares ski resort and fabricated of 165mm laminated copse beams application copse from Finland. It’s fabricated in acceptable for the aggregation fashionable scandinavian appearance with a blow of minimalist design. It has an different avant-garde attending acknowledgment to all board capacity and appliance central and alfresco the building. Board capacity and avant-garde appliance and altar accomplish abundant consequence back they are accumulated calm like in this house.

Timber Log Home in Spanish Mountains