Archive for April, 2011
Yaarit Mechany | Lucid Dream, a Floral Fantacy

A sneak peek of Yaarit Mechany’s first solo exhibition! Happening tonight at the Periscope – Contemporary Design Gallery in Tel Aviv. Yaarit’s childhood memories, nostalgia and fantasies come to life by techniques that are long gone these days.
I’m dying to see Yaarit’s magical touch and her use of floral fabrics. It makes me want to go on a Liberty fabric spry with her.
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On a side note, I’m on a mission to get these sneakers. I will get them, so help me god!
I’ll do anything! Just thought you would like to know ;)
www.yaaritmechany.com

LIRICA | Liron Cohen | Denim and Some Imagination, That’s All!

Straight from the sawing machine I introduse you to Liron Cohen, a recent graduate of the Fashion Design Department at Wizo Haifa.
Liron is all about the connecting with the materials, in this case the denim. “As soon as I touched the material something began to flow on its own, it’s funny but it’s like having a fellow creator.” I almost imagine Liron playing in her studio, with piles of denim all over, like a kid who plays with his favorites toys. And to think it all began with her playing and rolling spiral forms out of fabric!
{Photos by Hadas Carmiel}
You can get in touch with Liron here: lironco {at} hotmail {dot} com

Shani Bar | Dancing Alice

When I come across a shoe it only takes a second or so for me to fall in love with it or not.
If I’m falling hard, the image of the shoe will follow me wherever I go till I’ll have it in my arms. You know what I mean, right?
When it comes to Shani Bar’s shoes, I might as well sleep in her store ;)
Shani’s 2011 Summer Collection is inspired by the youngster Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts and her Card Soldiers.
You can see just the right amount of hearts and crown-like shapes here and there… As you all know, everything Shani touches turns into happy feet creation.
www.shanibar.com

One On One Break | Michal Farago | Ceramic Mind

  • Handy Nut
  • Handy Nut | Why crack two pecans when you're only interested in one?
  • Golden Nylon
  • Onion
  • Naïve Lampshade
I’ve been looking for a way to get in touch with the ceramist behind the Handy Nut for quite some time with no luck, but then… I got an email from Michal Farago… the lady herself (I’m sure you guessed it by now) and I couldn’t be happier! Immediately I seized the moment and made her take part in my One On One Break ;)
Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
BTW, you get a sneak peek at Michal’s graduation project!
You will also get to see the final creation this summer. Stay tuned.
You can get in touch with Michal here: kiltbanana {at} gmail {dot} com
I’d love to hear about you, your journey, how it all began.
My relationship with the art\design world had never begun, it was always there. There wasn’t any certain point where I said to myself ‘this is it’, it was always clear to me that that is what I will do, It didn’t feel like I had any choice. I think that one of my major decisions had to be going to study at the ceramic design department. I was actually really into fashion and while making my portfolio for Bezalel I came across this material and I just felt for it.
I feel my journey is still at it’s beginning. I’m at my final year at the Bezalel academy, and my final project feels to me like the first big step of this journey.
MichalFarago
Can you describe your work process for me?
My process is pretty hectic, after deciding on the main concept of the project, I usually go through a number of sleepless nights in which I start researching, develop my idea and usually doing more writing and less sketching. I start model making in an early stage, I prefer doing mock ups over sketching; it gives me more information and gets the process going.MichalFarago
Which materials do you work with?
As you can guess, I’m really into ceramics. Ceramics is one word for many materials, it gives you endless possibilities and being the technology freak that I am, I really have lots of fun with it. I do work with other materials like wood, plastic, metals and so on.MichalFarago
What is the most unusual piece you have ever designed?
Well, the most unusual piece I did is definitely what I’m working on now, my final project. I’m working on sponge structured porcelain bodies. The sponge modeling gives me a chance to create a new esthetic for porcelain and it gives me so much freedom, shape wise.MichalFarago
Can you share a glimpse into your graduation project?
I wish I could ;)
My graduation project is in the making. All I can say is that it’s going to be very innovative by it’s tactility and it will be very surprising in its form, especially for porcelain objects. You are invited to come and see it on the next Bezalel graduate exhibition.
MichalFarago

  • Sneak Peek | Photo by Mel Bergman
  • Sneak Peek | Photo by Mel Bergman
  • Sneak Peek | Photo by Mel Bergman
  • Sneak Peek | Photo by Mel Bergman
  • Sneak Peek | Photo by Mel Bergman

What’s next? What is your dream?
my dream is to find a cooperative multidisciplinary studio with a team of designers that will fertilize, teach and inspire each other but will work separately.
Other than that I’d like to go on studying and get a master’s degree.
MichalFarago
I’m curious to know where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from many sources. Sometimes I get my inspiration from the workshop process or the material itself, I’m trying to stretch the limits of it and still make it work. Other times I get it from my wonderful homeboys at studio blitzkrieg.MichalFarago
Can you tell me which designers inspire you?
At the moment I’m taken by Jaime Hayon’s work, his works for Lladró are stunning. Also I’m a big fan of dutch designer Marije Vogelzang. I find her work fun, exciting, experimental and bold. Another one of my favorites is Maarten Baas, his smoke collection is great and his clay furniture collection is just fun. Another one is Hella Jongerius which needs no introduction. I could go on and on, but I guess I’ll finish with a couple local studios, Reddish – Design Studio which I love, it looks like they are having fun and I guess that’s what it’s all about. And another one is fashion designer Elinor Zilberman who’s better known as Evil I, her street wear collection is pretty sweet.MichalFarago
What about some web sites and blogs that you visit regularly?
I check in regularly to Designboom, Dezeen, Core77, MoCo Loco and Slipcast, which is a blog about ceramics.MichalFarago
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever got was “Anything’s possible”. I know it’s kind of cliché but if someone like Mr. Yehuda Koren says it toe me then it’s a whole different story. Yehuda was teaching the ceramic technology class at Bezalel, he is the most dedicated teacher I had ever had, always willing to help and always smiling.MichalFarago
If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
Wax my legs, seriously.MichalFarago
And finally, please do share something random or quirky about yourself!
Well, as the small girl that I am, I have quite the muscles. I won an arm wrestling match against one of my adult male friends, whose name will be kept classified ;) I beat him 2 out of 3 times!MichalFarago

World Break | Baku Maeda | Twists and Bends as He Goes

  • Frosty Night Fox
  • Patient Dog
  • Patient Dog | A Look From Behind
  • Golden Crest
  • The Ribbonesia Gang
I first came across the cutest ribbon animals by Baku Maeda a while back at the lushlee blog. Since then I kept coming back hoping to find a lot more ribbonicious creations and finally the time has come. Baku has made ribbonesia adornments and all I can say is thank god this guy is obsessed with animals!
You can have one of your own right here, well you only have to overcome the language barrier…
BTW, Baku is a gifted illustrator by day. I just had to mention it.
{This is a Japanese World Break}

www.bakumaeda.com

Winter vs London

It’s April right?! I’m not wrong about that simple fact. So how come it feels like winter all over again?!
I hope that tomorrow the sun will come out and everything will be just like it supposed to be.
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Till then, my sweetest readers, do you have British tips for me? I’d love to hear!
In two weeks I’ll be on my way to a fun vacation at my bestie’s home town, London!
{Photo by me}

Keren Asaf | A Mustache That I Actually Like

I think I’m having a food overdose!
Two days, one holiday and lots of delicious food can drag you down ;)
Oh… and there is a re-run next week.
Well, I need an accessory moment to ease the pain.
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About a week ago I spotted one of Keren Asaf’s silhouette pendants and since then I see her necklaces everywhere I go. I adore her mustache pendant. Just what the doctor ordered.
BTW, Keren’s magic hands produces a lot of stunning illustrations along the way.
{This is a DesignBreak by Maya Levi}

www.kerenasaf.com

Giveaway Break | And The Winner Is…

There was a small set back but…
Here it is…
Congrats Carolyn!
Soon enough you’ll be the lucky owner of this plastic creation.
I’ll be in touch real soon.

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | Sharon Shalita and Meital Brokas | Nature Blues

I’m gonna wrap things up with the creations of Sharon and Meital, two recent graduates from the Textile Design Department at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. The two were inspired by 18th century Toile de Jouy, French designs. These ladies didn’t take the easy path. Meital wove the fabrics by hand while combining silver and gold threads and textile yarns, then Sharon engraved each and every image and finally printed with silkscreen using blue ink. It’s so amazing to think about all the hard and delicate work the duo have done!
You can see a lot more right here.
You can get in touch with Sharon here: sharonshalita {at} gmail {dot} com

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | d-Vision | Design with Unseen Waves

Last year it was the On-Off exhibition but this year it’s all about Ultra Gamma.
d-Vision teamed up with the Bezalel’s M.Des program for a bigger, brighter and colorful installation, which Ezri Tarazi and the young designers put together. The concept behind it all is that “fifty years from now, waves will be discovered at a frequency currently unknown to mankind.”
The lucky ones can still experience the deep dark blue feeling creation at the 50+50 exhibition Salone De Mobile.
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BTW, Thank you David Keller for the live update ;)

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | Shir Atar | Animated Stools

Shir Atar’s Elevation Stools are being exhibited simultaneously at the Post Fossil exhibition in the Design Museum Holon and at the Promise Design 2001 during Milan Design Week.
I’m pretty sure he is a happy man at the moment.
“Elevation, is a family of stools made from recycled, non-woven yarns. Inspired by country landscapes, hills and mountains; this project explores new uses for traditional technology and raw materials.”
When I first laid my eyes on Shir’s fluffy stools it looked like some kind of hairy animal of some kind. I must admit that I’m loving her muted color pallet!
www.shiratar.com

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | Mika Barr | Dying Hard

Patience, I guess is the word for me, defines Mika Barr’s origami-like fabrics. I don’t know a lot of people who can dye, print, fold and breath all at the same time!
Well, if I were to study at the Textile Design Department at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, I guess I’d see it all over.
I remember gazing at these bigger then life fabrics for a very long time, while visiting the graduation exhibition of the class of 2009.
I forgot to mention that all this beauty is called folding A-part. You can read and see a lot more at designboom.

www.mikabarr.com

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | Jaim Telias | Playing With Leaves

When you take a close look at Jaim Telias’s Alè, you can get lost in all the lights and shadows. It feels like staring at a bright maze.
“Alè is a lamp composed of bi-dimensional modules inspired by the tree leaves. Bending creates 3D petals which generates an infinity of different forms while being joined into one. Thus, every lamp is different.”
If you want to see the lamp in a larger scale click right here.
BTW, Alè means leaf in Hebrew.

www.jaimtelias.com

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | Amiram Biton | A Drop Of Water

I first stumbled upon Amiram Biton’s drop dead gorgeous vase a while back during one of my regular visits to DesignMilk. I’m thrilled to have the chance to announce it as one of my favorite vases e-v-e-r!
Such a brilliant idea and straight to the point execution. Drops of water have never been so appreciated!
You can get in touch with Amiram here: amirambiton {at} gmail {dot} com

Israelis@MilanDesignWeek | Hagit Pincovici | Folding Chairs

I have a feeling that Hagit and I studied at the same high school back in the day… but let’s leave it for another post;)
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“Hagit Pincovici’s Alma Chair explores the relation between transparency and opacity and the harmony between Satin Ice Plexiglas and wood.”
I must admit that I love the rounded lines and the mix of bold and straight lined colors. It looks like she had a lot of paper folding parties at her studio.

www.hagitp.com

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