DIY Project: Basket Weaving By: Francesca Stone

The one (and only) big problem I have with being a DIY blogger is the fast accumulation of, for want of a better word, stuff. In every single thing I own I see an endless potential for a project. Crafts materials quickly stack up. It’s the life of a hoarder with a cause which goes directly against my ideas of a beautiful, clutter-free home.

So, as I gather up more and more materials, I need to find more and more attractive ways of hiding them and this is where I come into my element. Making my own storage is always the best option for me. In my small home office, creating bespoke solutions maximizes the small space and gives me more room to work (or just fill with more stuff), so it’s usually my first port of call.

Square woven baskets are easy to make, durable and look fantastic, so I made this trio of baskets in various sizes for my latest attempt at controlling the clutter. -Fran

Click through for the full how-to after the jump!

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via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1oMdtuV From Francesca Stone

My gerbilarium from KALLAX By: Galeia

I needed a very big space for a family of 7 gerbils that I rescued few days ago. So I bought an Ikea Kallax shelf and turned it into a large habitat.

- First we made the holes for ventilation.

- Then I added wire to cover the holes, made more holes to go from a stair to another and from the left to the right, I covered the boards with adhesive coating and assembled the shelf.

- I glued rails to maintain the glass plates

- I added the glass plates

- I laid the adhesive LED, fixed the windows (synthetic glass), and cover the communication holes with natural clay

Then we realized that a big open space on the first floor will be better to avoid partitioning which could generate conflicts between the gerbils (They are all males : the father, a son from a previous birth and 3 babies)

- I added the big door for the compartment assigned for bedding.

- We screwed a board at the back of the shelf

And here is my gerbilarium in use.

via IKEA Hackers http://ift.tt/1v3Gdlw From Galeia

We Want Your Job: Graphic Designer at Madewell By: Grace Bonney

If you looked into my closet right now, you’d find that one out of every three pieces is from Madewell. I don’t own a lot of clothes, so when I do buy something, I like it to be comfortable and classic, but with a little bit of edge. For that reason, Madewell has been my go-to for a long time and seems to be one of the companies I’m asked about the most these days. Namely, I get emails from people asking how to get a job there and if I know anyone who can help them find one. I don’t have any inside connections, so I decided to reach out to someone who knows what it’s like to work there and what sort of jobs exist on their team. I find that when a lot of people imagine working for one of their favorite companies, they forget to figure out how their skills could be best applied there. So today I’m excited to be talking to Alex Yeske, an in-house graphic designer at Madewell. While she had dreams of becoming a “waitress in a restaurant where you can roller-skate” as a little girl, Alex grew up and studied communications design in college. She’d long admired and identified with Madewell, and through running her own blog, she made contacts that showed her the types of design (in addition to clothing design) that existed at a fashion company. Then she used her networking skills (more on that after the jump) to secure a position designing all sorts of projects for the company, from contributing to window designs and posters to city guides that accompany new shop openings. I love seeing the wide range of design options at any company and I’m so excited to share another perspective on working in the creative community today. Thanks so much to Alex (you can follow her here on Instagram) for sharing her story and advice with us! xo, grace

“Every career looks great on the outside, but when you’re really in it you learn the behind-the-scenes hard work that comes along with them. You have to really love what you’re doing to get through the mundane parts.” -Alex Yaske

Click through for the full interview after the jump!

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via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1sE0lUN From Grace Bonney

Studio Tour: Blackcreek Mercantile By: Maxwell Tielman

On a drizzly November morning last week, I found myself standing in the Kingston, NY studio of Joshua Vogel, learning way more about bees than I ever thought humanly possible. Joshua, a wildly talented woodworker—and apparently quite the loquacious fellow—has just finished telling me about propolis, the bee-produced material that is a key ingredient in his company Blackcreek Mercantile’s cutting board oil. Did you know that this wondrous, naturally anti-bacterial varnish is the only thing aside from honey and wax that honeybees produce? Did you know that, in the winter, bees will form a massive huddle and vibrate in unison to keep warm? I certainly didn’t. Although I’m meant to be snapping photographs of the space, I can’t help but feel momentarily transfixed. Joshua’s obvious passion for everything he does is quite clear—and it’s infectious.

It’s this passion that led Vogel to create his two businesses—Blackcreek Mercantile and his fine art branch, Joshua Vogel . It’s also what led him to pen a do-it-yourself handbook on the art and history of hand-carved spoons, due out next fall from Chronicle Books. At his Midtown Kingston studio, housed in a former pajama factory, this passion is a guiding and energizing force. With a rambunctious and gung-ho team that includes woodworker Dan Votke, apprentice Max Friedman, and Josh’s partner, Kelly Zaneto, the atmosphere here is one of warmth, vitality, and conviviality. When I arrive, music is playing, coffee is brewing, wood is being turned, and Josh and Kelly’s daughter, Violet, is playing merrily in the office with studio assistant Rachel Silverbloom. If it was cold and dreary outside, one would never know.

This is to say nothing of Joshua’s actual work which is, simply put, absolutely stunning. Wonderful examples of lovingly handcrafted woodwork, Josh’s sculptures and design objects are beautiful both to look at and to hold. From elegantly carved spoons to luxurious black cutting boards, the boundary between art and functionality is practically non-existent. These are the sort of objects that one will want to use and display.

With the holidays just around the corner, Josh’s studio is producing at full-force, so we are thrilled that we were able to sneak in for a behind-the-scenes peek. We hope you enjoy the visit as much as we did! —Max

P.S.—For more of Josh’s work, check out our Sneak Peek of Josh & Kelly’s upstate home!

Photographs by Maxwell Tielman

Image above: The Blackcreek Mercantile Team. From left to right: Violet Vogel, Kelly Zaneto, Rachel Silverbloom, Joshua Vogel, Max Friedman, and Dan Votke.

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via Design*Sponge http://ift.tt/1ubI2Lo From Maxwell Tielman