forest finds

enormous wooden bowls have been dotting the pages of the shelter magazines and design catalogs inundating my mailbox, so, despite the cold hard fact that my wee home is lacking in the space required to showcase one of these statement making bowls, here are a few made in hawaii in a range of sizes and shapes for your viewing pleasure.

1 - alas, stebbins studios' osage orange bowl, with its appealing organic curves, has already found a home, but the curly koa footed tray (4) from hawaiian artifacts seems like just the thing to display an artful fruitscape.

2 - the juxtaposition of light and dark wood in j. kelly dunn's hau salad bowl add a bit of character.

3 - two things come to mind when i look at molokai woodworker jack ewing's bark edge koa bowl - a cornucopia centerpiece filled with food for a big feast and, well, jaws (am i the only one?). either way it will certainly steal the spotlight.

a printmaker's perspective

i'e kuku

i just wanted to share the work of maui artist abigail romanchak who has a website filled with eye candy very deserving of a peek if you happen to adore the graphic style of prints. abigail dabbles in a variety of mediums (linocut, screenprint, etchings, collagraph) and last year had a thought provoking exhibit called mahele which explored the impact development has had on her island home. 

her artist's statement is just as eloquent as the images she has created:

"I see my prints as a way to empower and assert a Hawaiian sense of identity and to perpetuate Hawaiian culture through art. I believe that native cultures are jeopardized once they stop speaking to people in the present day. As an artist, I seek to perpetuate traditional culture not through traditional means, but contemporary ones, so that it may endure for generations to come."

ho'okupu

pu'olu II

abigail received an mfa in printmaking at uh and is one of the many talented hui press artist/instructors at the hui no'eau visual arts center in makawao where you are welcome to explore the world of printmaking in the visual arts program open to the public.

soha living

 

i became quite fond of these dermond peterson pillows when i spotted them at soha the last time i was home. you never know what you will find while browsing around soha which is packed with tropical accessories discovered during the proprietors' treks to southeast asia. lucky for local design junkies, soha opened up their little global bazaar a few years ago which has become the place to go to add some unexpected visual interest to island style surroundings. 

and here's good news for furniture hunters on the neighbor islands: complimentary shipping is yours for the taking if your decor order rings up to $3000 (offer available until may 31st). no need to pout if you live on oahu since you can score free furniture delivery on april orders with a $2000 tab. click here for more details.

fyi - online shopping is not available so if you spot something you like do give the shop a ring to place your order via phone.

map it!

{update | jan 2010: soha has relocated to kahala mall}

skip to my loo

marimekko samovaari + west elm waves

as i dart back & forth between the computer and bathroom while waiting for the plumber to arrive to fix a leaky toilet, this morning's mini catastrophe serves as a reminder to always keep a stash of old towels around for times like today when you most certainly do not want to use your good linens to soak up the questionable water covering the floor.

since i need a mental health break from the disaster that is currently my bathroom and nothing pleases me more than pretty linens, here are a few tropical finds like these lovely marimekko samovaari towels with a pattern that may have been designed in finland but reminds me of traditional hawaiian quilts. and, you can extend the style to your bedroom with crate & barrel's matching linens.

then there is west elm's waves bath mat which manages to be beachy without being too literal. the design also has a coordinating shower curtain and bedding, the latter which echoes the cool 70's yves saint laurent linens inherited from my mom.

time to dash back to the bath . . .

toasty goodness

one of the up & coming lines stocked at the candy shop is toast, the multi-talented team of michelle kaneko & jeremy shoda who ditched their architecture careers to launch an event planning biz and design studio.

toast's online shop recently opened and it is stocked with lots of fun stuff like cheeky paper goods and irreverent toys sure to delight your inner child. i am loving their . . . and counting note card which marks the big day (birthday/anniversary/ what have you) by its magic number.

toast has their own line of handmade stuff'd monkees and also carries string dolls, crafty curiosities created by architecture students in thailand made with just ONE piece of string! can't you just picture them hanging from the bag of a hipster visitor from japan? 

the next time you are stumped for a favor that will make a statement at that very important bash, remember these custom soda snacks filled with sweet & savory treats which are a playful alternative that will instantly tell your guests that this is no ordinary party.

and when you need an extra hand planning all the details, the toast team will put their architecture background to good use and tackle all the layers required to create a delightful wedding, baby shower, birthday, office party & anything else worth celebrating.

click here to learn more about what makes the toast team tick.