the week's best

Julia Rothman has long been a favorite of mine - her sketchy playful patterns can now be seen on a ton of stuff including wallpaper, i-phone cases, tea towels, all sorts of home goods. A major part of her appeal is how transparent she is with regards to her process, her pricing and her career growth. Who knows how many creatives her advice has helped out and in return, allowed others to reach out with their insight. I'm a huge fan of collaboration and shared creative knowledge! With that - I share with you this week's best... 

1. Learning so much about how to channel personal fear into positive career moves on the Braid Creative blog

2. "Don't pause, stay on the bus!" What? Learn more at & Kathleen

3. You need a pop of art, right? This will hit the spot! Don't forget to check out the t-shirts and hoodies, completely one of a kind.

4. Designer Vaca, A Vacation for Pretty Pixel Pushers? Why do web and graphic designers get all the fun, this would be the perfect format to create more community between architects/designers. 

5. Speaking of community, I encourage you to support my amazingly creative friend Joni Kabana in her goal to create makeshift photography studios in rural Africa, where many families have no photographs of their elders and loved ones. The volunteer organization that she created to progress this goal is called Prints for Prints and relies on donations of prints from photographers all around the world that are then sold to finance this mission. The group leaves for Ethiopia mid-month, but there's still incredible prints for purchase to benefit their cause.  

I blame the impending Dia de los Muertos or All Hallow's Eve, but I think it seems an appropriate time to focus on this stunning building and perhaps some old souls.... Seriously, though, what caught my eye initially about this contemporary Minneapolis mausoleum was the beautiful way the entries and the windows swoop inwardly thanks to intricately laid mosaic tile of Carrera marble and Mexican glass tile. Further research led me to understand that the installation of the tile took nearly two years to complete because of the freeze-thaw cycles of Minneapolis winters!

The curved and geometric patterns play on the interior as well, as finishes such as charcoal granite corridors, mahogany walls, Venetian plaster ceilings all glow under peaceful filtered sunlight. What I love about this project is how the building meshes into this landscape so seamlessly, and how the interior emulates the terrain with chamfered ceilings and meticulous details as precise as the gardens surrounding. The Lakewood Cemetery Board chose the firm of HGA by way of a design competition, instead of pursuing a cost-effective storage structure, they were seeking a timeless structure that epitomizes what this group of trustees sees as a beautiful building worthy of its serene program. 

 

lakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of flickrlakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of archiscenelakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of morgan sheff photographylakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of amizonaws

lakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of architect magazine
lakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of flickr

lakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of architizer
lakewood garden mausoleum, courtesy of architecture art design 

 

 

etsy eye candy :: Matte Stephens

Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Thought I would share these whimsical illustrations by Matte Stephens, check out his Etsy shop - he has a zillion others there, each one better than the last.


Summer Vacation. Matte Stephens via Etsy

On Sundays... Matte Stephens via Etsy

Food Carts. Matte Stephens via Etsy

the week's best.

This week was a good week, the weather stayed amazing and made our annual pumpkin patch visit a lot less muddy than usual, I met my weekly workout goals (sadly this is rare) and the best thing - the ArtHouse project received recognition in the annual Portland AIA Design Awards with a Citation Award. With that, I give you my top five links of the week for you to give the once over while you sip your TGIF cocktail....

1. Speaking of the 2013 Portland AIA Design Awards, check out these spectacular projects for yourself.

2. Want to see some more winning projects? The only US project to win an award in the 2013 World Architecture Festival is this Los Angeles project by Koning Eizenberg Architecture based in a historic YMCA. The 28th Street Apartments is a project for a local not-for-profit organization that provides housing to the homeless, individuals transitioning from foster care and adults with mental illness. A wonderful example of a building creating social transformation.

3. Speaking of social, we turn our eye towards social media. Via Design*Sponge, this article about what Pinterest and your pins say about you is very thought provoking...

4. I'm joining other design bloggers in spreading the word about large companies stealing independent artists' work for profit, here's Lisa Congdon's story.

5. Finally, do you need some fun stuff to do this weekend as you enjoy this stellar fall weather? I have two full days of leaves in my yard, I mean a full 48 hours of raking - my biceps will be huge!! So, these ideas are for you, dear readers - have fun crafting it up as you sip your spiked maple apple cider! Save some for me....