Stripes on rice!

VIT lamp base in taupe with striped shade from Insatiable Studios

Jil Smith of Insatiable Studios surprised me last week with one of her creations,  an amazing rice paper shade, custom striped, to partner with a tall VIT lamp base. Each shade has been built up with layers of rice paper. Each stripe is cut by hand with a razor. Jil’s shades are surprisingly durable and not prone to fading. I like how she has taken the stripes and applied them horizontally to the shade. The result of pairing this shade with the vertical stripes on the VIT base creates a lamp with a completely different character than the same lamp with a white shade. I look forward to seeing the stripes in other colors next.

It is a pleasure to be collaborating with someone like Jil who has a similar commitment to enduring style and quality.

If you would like to have your own custom made lamp shade, contact Jil Smith through her web site; www.insatiablestudios.com

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Bubble lamp

Danish blue blue bubble lamp

Getting a finished lamp this week from a form that I built over a month a go has been so much fun! It takes some patience, but happily, the processes has been speedier than it might have been due to the warm summer weather we are having here in Seattle. Finally I am able to fuss with the different lamp parts I have been assembling, choosing the nickle plated, chrome colored ones to go with the Danish blue base, and happy with how the antique brass parts go with the yellow/red and gray/red bases. The white lamp shade that I bought ages ago in anticipation of this moment clips on to the bulb and is quite an appropriate for this chubby little lamp. I visualize it on a nightstand or small table. It is perfect for small dwellings that crave precious, not pretentious furnishings. Not machine perfect, high quality artisan craftsmanship, handmade with care. See more variations of this lamp at http://vitceramics.com/lampsvitceramics-com.shtml

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VIT vases in Terra Bella Window

Sing along with gary outside Terra Bella Flowers at the Art Walk

Terra Bella Flowers shop window with VIT vases at night

Bubbles blew as the purple bearded Bubble Man entranced a wreath of children encircling him. After his departure, it was trumpets and trombones blowing while I chatted with the passers by at the Greenwood Art Walk on Friday evening. It couldn’t have been a more perfect night! Mellissa Feveyear, owner of Terra Bella Flowers invited me to display my vases outside the shop. She took a break to come outside and enjoy a bit of sing along with Gary and a few others too. Balmy air and warm light created a relaxed, friendly mood and a strong sense of community!

Art Walk

VIT ceramic vase with bouquet from Terra Bella Flowers

Last week I finally met my new neighbor, Melissa Feveyear. Her shop, Terra Bella Flowers, recently re-located to the corner of Greenwood and N 74th. Street. With a background in environmental studies, Melissa is a founding member of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, so one can be assured that all flowers in her stunning arrangements are locally, sustainably grown.
One thing led to another. Now, my line of VIT ceramic vases will be featured at the Art Walk this coming Friday, August 9th.
From 6:00 until 10:00PM, Greenwood Ave. will be closed to car traffic. If the weather is obliging, one can be assured that the streets will be buzzing with people checking out the displays of local artists in many of the local establishments and just having a good time being out and about on a summer evening on Phinney Ridge.
Friday evening I will have a table in front of Terra Bella Flowers selling new vases from VIT ceramics.
Outside Terra Bella Flowers, the planters are over flowing with juicy orange begonias and fat, silvery succulents. This past week there have been bundles of wispy birches gracing the entry. It hard to miss this alluring venue as I pass it daily on my way to Kri Kri Studio. Inside, the inviting shade of peach and the woodsy scent of flowers and foliage filling the air creates a calm and creative environment. Vases, pots and unique vessels for displaying flowers also inspire the customer to enrich their environment with plants.
After Friday, you can find my new VIT vase collection inside the shop. Please come by to say “Hi” and to welcome Terra Bella Flowers to the neighborhood.