Holga Snaps

My trip Up North last weekend through the lens of a Holga.  It was my first go at a toy camera and I love the medium format film, the unpredictable details and the spooky moodiness.  What I don't love are the super obvious light leaks in the second shot (the red splashes at the top).  Next time I'm going to tape the camera to help avoid this.  The third shot has some nice shadowing and blurriness that I'm not quite sure how happened.  That's part of the fun, though.  I'm sold and already looking for a 35mm toy camera to stash in my everyday tote.  I'm sold on film; digital is great but film is worth the wait.  - l.o.d.

Day of the Dead Celebration in Color

The Day of the Dead

What I like about The Little Orange Desk is that it really inspires me to think about color, design and the aesthetics that surround me. It’s a terrific opportunity to take stock of how much creativity and art play a role in my life; and since today is the Latin celebration of the Day of the Dead, it seems like the l.o.d is a perfect place to share some Latin creativity.

One of the best parts of Latin culture in my opinion is the expressiveness of their celebration of life and relationships. Its easy to see when you look around a Latin neighborhood like Mexican Village or if you are in Mexico surrounded by brightly painted buildings and the crowds all wear festive, colorful fabrics but my favorite way to see this creativity is in the folk art that is so distinctly Mexican.  For me it is the playfulness and the colors of Day of the Dead art that really excites me.

Many people think of Day of the Dead artwork as being about devils and skeletons and so naturally they don’t see the playfulness of it. For example, the devil in this style of art is really meant to portray the fool rather than something sinister. Look at some of these playful examples, aren’t the colors vibrant? See the playfulness in the simplicity of shape?

 

The Day of the Dead is a celebration for loved ones lost so in such a vibrant culture the best way to celebrate is with color and a sense of playfulness. I never tire of the color and passion that’s a part of Mexican folk art. In Mexico today, family and friends will gather in cemeteries throughout the country for a time of celebration of the lives that once were; for the memories and stories that they have left behind. Most certainly there will be tears of longing but there will also be song, dance and laughter, there will be food and celebration of lives well lived and yes, there will also be art, this fantastic creative spirit of celebration of the dead and the memories they leave for us. I don’t know about you, but this seems like a much better way to be remembered! - Paul

Pay it Forward

This weekend we were consumed with the installation of 15 brand-new sparkling clean windows.  It was very exciting for us to watch and it was even more exciting for the two cranky black cats that were condemned to the basement for the duration of Saturday.  Part of the charm of owning a 140-year old house is the knowledge that it has a past and a future beyond my ownership.  I really feel like I'm just passing through and I'm certain that I'll feel this way even if we live there for another 20 years.  Putting in new windows makes me feel that I've done my part to pass it forward with the care and attention it deserves.  When finished, the bathroom remodel is going to feel even better.

I find a lot of inspiration from others who've taken on a challenging home renovation.  This Old House has some great before/after stories to read.  What's been your best home remodel/renovation? - l.o.d.

Sunset Blvd

Taking my Holga along on a trip last weekend for experimentation stirred my interest in learning photography.  Truly I'm not a photographer; my snaps are usually purely for documentation rather than the art of it. I've really enjoyed the easy access to some surprisingly great pictures from my phone. But I'm learning to take my time and see it as a composition aid for my painting and design work.  Using film has forced me to slow down and take a meaningful shot.  The suspense of film development is killing me!  I'll post the results next week.  Meanwhile, let's talk sunsets.

I'm drawn to sunset photos like a moth to a flame.  I try hard but rarely get good results.  These are two of my best attempts recently.  Budget Travel published this article about how to take better sunset photos.  Give it a shot (ha) this weekend and let me know how it goes for you. - l.o.d.

Apple a Day

Today's post is inspired by one of my all-time favorite blogs Design*Sponge.  I've been meaning to post about the delicious design of the midwest's favorite fruit.  Although technically Washington state is the top producer of apples, it's hard to find anyone more passionate and creative with their apples than folks in Michigan.  Personally I have always favored the Ida Red for its versatility, size, and crispness.  Honeycrisps have sprung into fashion lately because the name is so mouthwatering and they definitely live up to the hype.  Food aside, these small globes of shiny redness are a designers dream.  The primary color is fun and playful, the sphere is easy to recreate in both 2D and 3D designs and people love 'em.  Use the shape in product design for anything from casserole dishes to pencil sharpeners and use the fruit itself in countless still life drawings and paintings (remember Eve?).  What's your favorite apple? -l.o.d.
 

Design*Sponge

Room 137c

Travel is one of my life passions and I'm always on the hunt for small, hip hotels around the globe.  Even if I never get there, I enjoy being an armchair traveler.  The latest issue of Budget Travel magazine has some wanderlust inspiring gems from all over the globe.  One caught my eye: the Pantone Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.  I admit that most of the time a corporate-themed hotel doesn't work for me (Hard Rock hotel, no thanks.)  But this one seems to work.  They did the design right - cool crisp modern white to highlight the Pantone colors.  The hotel is a small boutique not a theme park.  And Brussels is quite possibly the quirkiest, weirdest city I have ever explored.  The city is a perfect fit for a hyper-designed hotel because it balances the city's 17th century architecture and Magritte sensibilities.  So after a long day of walking the cobblestone streets, watching marionette shows, munching on mussles with fries with a Jupiler lager, coming back to your cozy 137c (orange) or 298c (teal) room simply means that the sensory adventure continues. - l.o.d.

Pantone Hotel: Brussels, Belgium

Are we in Kansas?

Today's surreal windstorm has already unleashed itself upon Chicago and is heading to my fair city, Ann Arbor, shortly.  The unusual weather has us all running a little worried today.  To distract myself from thoughts of global climate change and my poor cats at home, I'm remembering the midwestern storm in the Wizard of Oz.  Can you believe that this classic is over 70 years old?  Look at the art deco scenery, a technicolor marvel in its own right.  Imagine what it would've been like to experience color in the movie theater and seeing those bright red ruby slippers for the first time after a world in only black and white.  Or the shimmering green glass of Oz itself.  We've come a long way on the big screen since 1939, wonderment now in 3-D form, but Oz endures like no other. - l.o.d.

Art & Design

This past weekend I traveled up North with my new Holga camera, found some great fall coastal scenes to capture on film.  I'm looking forward to developing the film and posting the results on this blog in the near future.  Meanwhile, to conclude texture week, I'd like to introduce you to an artist who turned the definition of tactile art on its head for me.  Back in 2003, desperate and yet curious for a creative outlet, I registered for a Design class with Washtenaw Community College's art department.  My instructor was Beili Liu, a successful and progressive artist in her own right.  A U-M Art & Design Masters student, on the first day she had us transform a piece of paper into sculpture.  Sounds simple and yet the creative juices immediately flowed.  We followed her gentle study through twine, wire, foam, cardboard, vellum, and basically any other materials we wanted.  To this day, I appreciate the lens through which she trained me to approach materials.  I've never looked at a scrap of paper the same way since.

To my delight, Beili Liu has done well since those days years ago.  She recently won third place in Grand Rapid's publicly-juried ArtPrize contest for her work titled "Lure/Wave, Grand Rapids".  From the picture I immediately I knew it was her artistry.  Look at the intricate hand-woven poppies, the strings, the play on depth and the cast shadows.  Beautiful.  What an honor to have worked with her. - l.o.d.

Artist Beili Liu at Artprize

Cozy

I've got a bad case of the cozies!  You know, the feeling of that first day of fall when you wake up and it's actually cold, there's a hint of frost on the ground and all you want is a sweater and a cup of tea with a book.  That happened to me this morning.  Until now, I've been living in a quasi-dream state that the 60-degree temps were here to stay and that the trees were going to remain full for the duration.  Thanks to last night's storm, a lot of leaves are on the ground and the cold weather is a bit shocking.

There are some great textures that come with heading into winter.  So bring out your favorite fleecy blanket and fuzzy slippers.  And those knit sweaters that range from fashion to function.  And finally there's an excuse to wear hats.  I found these lovely items for an illustration of the beauty of coziness. Doesn't the bathroom want to make you curl up in a warm bath?  Winter's not gonna be so bad after all.  - l.o.d.

Anthropologie

KnitStorm on Etsy

Shanineal on Etsy

Natural light

I've got a guilty pleasure; lamps.  I love the soft warm glow of an incandescent light in the evening twilight.  I know that I should use CFLs but I have yet to find a suitable replacement to the color of old school bulbs.  (Please share if anyone knows of a nice warm CFL.)  I'm willing to compromise; I would gladly put any type of light in one of these charming and stylish lamps.  These DIY designs come from FreshHome magazine, whose blog is one of my new favorite links on the right.  Unfortunately these designs are only available (for now) in the magazine, so go check it out.  I've found my winter project.

And since it's day 3 of "texture week", a few words on the materials. I love the stitched tree with its smooth, earthy wooden base.  It makes me want to reach out and trace my fingers along the lines of the tree leaves.  The bamboo wrap is a perfect Asian-inspired complement to the adorable monkey base, and who can resist a monkey.  The twiggy lamp would be surprisingly terrific in a modern euro style room.  I'm off to buy a 3-pack of CFLs.  - l.o.d.

Hard vs. Soft

Visual clues about objects carry so much meaning; the tactile senses of fibers, visual patterns on flat planes and dimensional depth of multi-media sculpture. But it comes down to one basic decision; hard versus soft.  This decision helped our ancient ancestors know what materials to use in different situations; like rock for pounding and furs for clothing.  Luckily we are cavemen no longer, most of what we need to know is stamped and labeled or culturally normalized.  (Except that Lady Gaga will surely make a costume of rocks at some point, I'm sure.)  There is a beauty in what we instinctively know about a surface.  For instance, this silk scarf ripples and folds, casting shadows on itself and shimmering in the light.  How do you know that it's soft?  I see the patterns of light as the first clue telling me that there's no grid, no rhythm to its structure, then the curve of the fold indicating there's volume without an edge.  Compare this to the metal frame which also shines, but whose base is flat and whose edge is thin and crisp.  No ripples here.  Nor in the blue tile, whose precisely-lined pattern sets into relief and implies depth with an interesting matte surface that absorbs color.  Three simple objects, one decision; hard or soft.  Take a look around today and really question; how do you know that it's hard or soft? - l.o.d.

Daily Texture

Do you find it hard to see texture in the everyday? I confess, I do. Although there is a lot around to enjoy, it seems so common, so normal, as to not be explored further.  After all, it's just a shoe on a part of industrial carpet after all. But today, I saw more. I saw shimmer, bubbles like champagne, and actual pink fiber in my office's carpet. Pink! No more is texture a undersung element of style. Get ready for texture week! - l.o.d.