Branching out!

We're very excited to report that some of the groovy things in our store that Becky and I make ourselves can now be found at Co-op 28 in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.  Becky created some amazing gardens in a great selection of her neat containers.

As I was hanging my lamps up in Marci's store, a friend of hers came by and said my fixtures should be hanging in the wine bar down the block.  She said she'd mention me to the owner and suggest that he pay a visit to the display at Co-op 28.  Super cool!

I'm kind of partial to the clear glass.  

Then, we did another class this morning with a family of three.  Mom's daughter was visiting from the east coast during Spring break.  They had a great time learning the craft. 

Our first "First Friday Artwalk" in Claremont was a huge success.  Carrie Todd had a fabulous turn out.  

I think this may rank as one of my all time favorite lamps.  I made it this morning.  

So many projects!

We're rolling up our sleeves here and gettin' 'er done.  We've got "The Heirloom Workshops" at Co-op 28 in Los Feliz on April 21st, and from there, it's all about new workshops.  We're adding Journal Making this month and we're also currently designing a tabletop fountain project that we'll be bringing to the class schedule very soon.  Oh, and check out the most excellent railroad lanterns that we'll be fashioning into a couple of pendant lamps.

Check this out!

Super excited about this new journal concept.  We took a thin piece of birch and actually cut it with our paper cutter!  After that, the binding machine cut the holes and I just stained it and added the button.  How cool is that?  Come to the store and make one of these awesome journals!  We're going to start, tomorrow.

Spring's in the air.

The blossoming of the trees outside our store always seems to lend itself to a blossoming of ideas inside the store.  We've got a huge pile of projects to get through, and our workshop date at the Co-Op in Los Feliz is quickly approaching.  Here are  few things we've had up our sleeves, as of late.

We just finished our first Mason Jar Pendant Lamp for the store.  You can also find it online at our 

Etsy Shop.

We've been approached by the Claremont Heritage Society to find a way to make twenty centerpieces for their May fundraiser. They suggested that it would be nice if our centerpiece could also serve as a light source for people to see the list of items that will be auctioned off.  The event will take place in a garden on the campus of Pomona College, so lighting will be an issue.  

This is one idea we have.

I hope they go for it.  Their budget is tight, as is the case with non-profits.  We'll see.  

We have water pumps on the way for cool desk top fountains.  Stay tuned!

Just finished it!

Totally dig it!  That's a birch plywood base with a nice rich walnut finish.  And, I didn't even cut the ruler.  It's simply folded to proper specs and mounted at the base.  

New Projects

No sooner did I place those pictures of the inkjet transfers to wood did our facebook page blow up with people wanting to get ahold of one of them.  Just this morning, a board member from the Claremont Historical Society came into the shop and saw the artwork.  She thought the board and the hurricane lamps would be great as centerpieces for their fundraiser in May.  They want 20 of them!  Whew!

And, although the Zoetrope is dead, the lamp from that project is alive and well.  I'll be making a proper base for it and turn it into its own freestanding desk lamp.  I'm really excited about that one. 

And, did a wood transfer from one of Charlie's drawings.  These are going to be big hits! 

Then, we're gearing up to do something creative with mason jars.  

Stay tuned!

Claremont Things

Lots of people come into the store and ask if we sell shirts or cards with "Claremont" on them.  Of course, we got to thinking, and came up with some ideas.  Very soon, the Claremont machine will be in full swing. We just purchased a letterpress machine and have started with some really neat graphics.  Check them out!

and...

A really cool guy named Charlie has been popping in and out of store like a breeze, since we opened.  He'll buy a card for someone and then sit out in the courtyard and draw something special on it.  He likes to personalize things.  So, we asked him if he would do something special for us, and he came back a few days later.

We'll show you what he came up with...

very soon.