finnish light carving

sculpting shadows in milano last month was multifaceted, nordic designer Mari Isopahkala and her de stijl inspired batons of waxed birch wood.  in possession of a skill set spanning product, furniture, textile, jewellery, light, exhibition and interior design, it would appear versatility is key for this prolific creator.  it's a sentiment reflected in her Sculpted Light collection which features primary hued, rotating rods with the cunning 'ability to direct light where most needed'.  needless to say, Mari's website houses a generous trove of inspiration - cast your eyes thisaway…

portrait sitting

merely one of the many brilliant creations to emerge from last months Salone Internazionale del Mobile (aka Milan Furniture Fair) was this ingenious range of baroque chairs by japanese design studio, YOY.  sure to tick boxes for both apartment dwellers and those with a penchant for Heston-esque dinner parties, YOY's 'Canvas' collection is actually just some cleverly inked elastic bound to a wood and aluminium frame.  now, whilst the comfort factor is questionable, you are most definitely assured of a good conversations starter.

inflight hype

way up high, in the blue above brunei, a sweet pair of cotton pendants are proudly brandishing the 'global trends' tag alongside a handful of worldly treasures. actually, there's quite a number of trips and treats to tempt in this months Muhibah - Royal Brunei Airlines' inflight mag. so here, my land bound friends…  go ahead and sneak a peek…

launch love

2:15 to spare?  encapsulated in this two minute reel are the sensory highlights of Design Tasmania's Autumn Launch Party.  of course, you can skip to 1:17 for a gander at the luminous pod luxe pendants, but we highly recommend a full viewing so as to appreciate the splendid sampling of local artistry, and rather awe-inspiring craftsmanship of wood turner, Brad Moss.  better yet… pop over to The Design Tasmania Centre and soak up this superb showcase in person.

green inside (and) out

hot pops of cool colour adorn the vibrant pages of aprils Inside Out.  flip to page twenty for the leaders of the pack, featuring one, rather fetching, electric blue baroque. with vivid hues all the rage, these beauties are 'flat-out' proving that carbon neutral doesn't also have to mean pigment neutral.

whimsical science

fresh flowers, food colouring, chocolate… not this weekends shopping list, but the possible contents of the Maria S.C. Lamp.  okay, so perhaps a pendulous, incandescent fondue set still delves a little more into the fantastical, but it also demonstrates that imagination is the only limiting factor when it comes to this charming little chandelier. looking to fellow Pole (think pierogis not posts) and nobel prize winning chemist, Marie Curie as her inspiration, Magda Jurek crafts her pendants by suspending ninety six test tubes from two plywood hoops…  the rest is up to you! 

the talented Mr Smith

the devastation that this impromptu ice-cream installation must have left in its wake is palpable…  though for many a passerby, the polychromatic sludge is beauty…  it tells a story.  such is the creative ethos of 2012 UTAS furniture design graduate Matty C Smith.  'inspired by waste' and aspiring to give longevity to his versatile pieces by forming a connection between owner and object - this designer, philosopher, ex-architectural joiner and motorcycle demon is (hopefully) just moments away from his podium placing as DIA's GOYTA in furniture design! aka - the Design Institute of Australia's Graduate of The Year Award for very fine furniture.  Go team tas!

pod luxe

long enamoured by natures ingenious design and the 'slow' crafts of our forefathers, we've literally returned to our roots to draw inspiration for our new range.  INDUSTRY OF NATURE is the irresistible convergence of the natural world and ancient crafts.  POD LUXE, the radiant debut from the collection, borrows its form from the reticulated tunic of the corm (not horticulturally versed? ...the bulbous encasing of irises, gladiolus, et al), and has been sculpted through the time honoured tradition of cuir bouilli (non parlez-vous français? ...the boiling and taming of leather).

our tactile little beauty beckons for a closer inspection, doesn't it?  be amongst the first at tonights Autumn Design Launch Party in launceston (though, p'haps enjoy the gourmet snags after fondling the hide).  or catch Objects in Place by the water in hobart 'til the twentieth…

ten days of cuir bouilli

with all the fuss made over tassies gourmet nosh, we thought we'd step into the kitchen and see if we could infuse our pendants with some of that culinary magic. intrigued? on the boil since 2012, our new lumières are set for their big reveal next month, at australias only state-wide international arts fest, Ten Days on the Island...

first, circle march 14 - 20.  DOTs interactive Objects in Place, at hobarts waterside pavilion, explores the design of public spaces and features new works from a shortlist of fifteen very fine jewellers, ceramicists, furniture makers, lighting designers (ahem!) and more.

next, head north to launcestons Design Centre Tasmania, for a behind-the-scenes peek at how technology shapes the process and informs the final product of some of tassies top designers.  Think.Make.Change.  runs from march 8 to may 26, but if you like your design with a side of food, wine and music (err… anyone who didn't put their hand up?), then make sure you're there on march 15 for their autumn launch party.

of course, our bitty selection's not all that's on offer (we're just a little biased) - so grab your festival planner here and go exploring!

flock

being a small isle brimming with creative spirit, tasmania embraces its community and the arts in an enviable fashion. indulging our benevolent soul, we commenced the year by momentarily setting aside the grandeliers to pull together our 'Flock' - a public art commission for Ravenswood Child and Family Centre under the Tasmanian Government Art Site Scheme.  

our sixty two winged creations playfully soar across the walls of the Centre toward a kaleidoscopic, illuminated birdhouse - a buoyant and nurturing sanctuary much like the Centre… minus the neon lights.  our flock are inspired by the close knit and resilient residents of Ravenswood and, of course, the essence of what birds represent - freedom, fresh beginnings and the safe haven of a community… a flock.

vivid memories

globophobes aside, there cannot be a soul that's not up uplifted by these cheerful balloon lights.  resplendent recollections of childhood celebrations and high school soirees are made tangible by czech designer Boris Klimek, in his 'Memory' wall and ceiling lights.  each lumière is flawlessly formed from opal glass and operated via it's own 'string' pull cord.  three sizes and a multitude of colours mean thematic possibilities are limited only by imagination. you can snag yourself a bunch here and enhance your shopping experience here.

up we pop shop

we love a good pop up.  a bite sized burst of unexpected innovation.  materialising overnight.  gone in a blink. leaving nothing in its wake but an unquenchable thirst for more spontaneous creativity.  well guess what adelaide? we've been informed that twenty ebenezer place is the temporary trove of 'special pieces sourced from lots of 'sources', chosen for their quality, uniqueness, style and soul'.  head to the one small room website for dates and times.  out of town?  fear not...  one small rooms beautiful and eclectic range of furniture, homewares and clothing also launched into their (permanent) refurbed digs in croydon today.  pop along!

creative resolve

so. seventeen days in. how is this new, luminous year treating you, friends?  according to interweb stats (which, of course, are always very accurate), 29% of you have already 'un-resolved'.  oops.  well in an effort to rediscover that vigor and drive you possessed two weeks ago, this year we have resolved to bring you a stimulating series of inspirational creatives from across the land.  we're tracking down the masterful minds and makers that have had us brandishing our facebook thumb like a desperate hitchhiker and we're shining a grandelier into their creative life… and possibly their shoe collection.  hop to it - join our mailing list here to join the fun.  your first shiny instalment will be delivered shortly...
Photo: Patrick Pleul

merry, bright and green

arranged with a discerning touch, there is something undeniably magical about the lighting at this time of year.  next year, however, I think we'll shuck the house of it's glittery fairy lights and swathe it in Stephen Johnsons striking, oversized gift bows.  crafted from semi-transparent PET, these surreal lumières tick all the festive boxes - merry, bright and 'green'.  "light can be used to create an array of wonderful emotions to experience, beyond just enabling us to see"...  we concur Stephen.  so here's wishing all of our friends, fans and loved ones a bright festive and luminescent twenty thirteen.

the homebody gift guide

as the flurry of festive shopping reaches fever pitch, we've discovered some last minute 'giftspiration', curated by the very gifted (no pun) Jess, owner of the ethically and aesthetically sound sydney store, shelf / life.  apparently, a long time admirer of Jess' good taste is none other than photographer, stylist and blogger extraordinaire, Pia Jane Bijkerk...  so pour yourself an egg nog and take a peek at Pia's self titled blog for an enticing compilation of beautiful wares.  oh, and should anything take your fancy, such as the luminous cotton, you can also purchase each item on the shelf / life cyber store just in time for santa to slip them under the tree.  merry shopping!

monument 112

this month, the esteemed architecture and design mag, Monument dimmed the grandeliers and turned the spotlight on their creator (eep!).  procure or peep at a copy for some insight into the passion, the vision and divine afflatus (also known as a good bottle of red) that gives light to a grandelier.  we also spilled the beans on what WDT adventures will be dominating your facebook feed in 2013… oh you know, world dom and the like...

blooming in burke's backyard

"just one beautifully chosen piece can give any interior its own personality"… heed the sage advice of Don Burke when you're making your yuletide purchases this year.  he (or at least his tasteful staff) have selected a small bloom (of the luminous oak variety, that is) to feature in the latest issue of Burke's Backyard Magazine.  sharing print space with a few goodies I wouldn't mind finding in my own stocking next month.  check it out…

for the 'wish I were there' files...

just in time for soirée season… Preston Zly shoe maker, Johanna Preston, is sailing from the mainland to do a trunk show (no elephants) this friday night and saturday at hobarts salamanca arts centre. then on sunday (allowing very little time for the plastic to cool), Oyster + Pearl frock designer, Lou Whiting, flings open her boutique doors on liverpool st to present her summer range... with a side of french bubbles and petit fours.  très chic.  send me a postcard! (silk and shoes also accepted).

why, hello there!

while we do tend to abstain from blowing the horn for the competition… Jonas Wagell had us at hello.  and as we hum to the same ideological tune ("...it is important that design has a connection to local traditions and heritage on some level, without being outdated with time"), we felt it only fair to share the spotlight… or, err, floor lamp, as it is, for a moment.  created to stand amongst the stylish treasures of the Normann Copenhagen brand, this sleek and charming little fella, aka 'hello', is the perfect embodiment of Mr Wagells flair for "expressive minimalism" (as he so splendidly coins it).  look rather fetching with a hoop, don't you think?

as seen on...

if you're looking for an excuse to unwind in front of the small screen on thursdays, tune in to channel seven at eight o'clock for dazzling performances by six of our fine, large baroques.  adorning the Beauty and the Geek mansion with curves to rival the shows female contestants and more dramatic poses than an episode of days of our lives, I think it's safe to say we're now one step closer to adding a gold logie to our recent haul of accolades.