In these tough financial times perhaps you should turn to french artist/designer ‘Julia‘ for all of your cardboard furniture needs. Economical, earth-friendly, and pretty darn cool lookin’. From what little french I speak (un petit peu) I believe Julia lives in Marseille. Her site is in french so if you’re looking for the above work, and there’s plenty more where this came from, click on mobilier > images and you’ll find it all.

I’m jealous of the way these look, and  I’m inspired by the idea.

These are cigarette packages filled with concrete. If smokers don’t realize what they’re putting into their lungs, Derek von Essen is trying to make it very clear. I saw 3 of his Be A Quitter pieces at ‘THE wee SHOW’ on the weekend. Derek, a reformed smoker himself, was offering smoker’s $10 off the price if they turned over any cigarettes they  had on them… no takers.

I wrote about Wendy Walgate a few months ago, and then this past weekend I turned a corner at the Toronto Outdoor Art Show and came face to face with her amazing work. I was so thrilled to actually see it in person, but the best part of it all was getting to meet her. Not only is her work lovely, but so is she. Sadly, that’s not always the case with super talented people!

I usually show the work and provide a link but in this case the artist, Heather Baker, has asked that her work not be shown online (trouble in the past with people using her images without her knowledge). So instead, this is a photo of her fabulous antique shop/gallery, A Baker’s Dozen. Her work can be seen there live and in person. She makes 3D collages from salvaged antiques – some fancy and some is just old stuff discarded by others, but not by Heather. She turns them into strange and magical sculptures that make me want to cry (due to the overwhelming inspiration & jealousy).  If you’re ever in Vancouver you have to stop in. Ask specifically to see them because they’re in the back gallery.

A Baker’s Dozen . 3520 Main Street . Vancouver BC . Canada

Here we are again, at the line between art and craft. This subject always hurts my head. What makes something art vs craft? Intent? Venue? Scale? Price? Marketing? Ouch, there’s that headache again. I met this artist, a.k.a etsy name “Poodlebreath“, at a craft show. When I saw her work I was so inspired & so jealous. As far as I’m concerned this beautiful ceramic wall hanging should be hanging on an art gallery wall for lots of money, instead of sitting on a craft table for NOT lots of money.

How’s this for a conversation piece over dinner… literally.

Adam Wallacavage is a photographer and obviously a sculptor. He had a solo show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York last year called Les Trésors de la Tanière de Neptune which consisted of many, many ocean inspired octopussy-like chandeliers. I don’t think this piece, “Happy Colored Marbles”, was from that show but it’s the one that made me the most jealous, so here it is.

That’s it, first thing Monday morning I’m signing up for a ceramics class.

I don’t know if I’m more jealous of Wendy Walgate’s beautiful 3D pieces or the fact that she’s got her own studio in Toronto’s historic/artsy Distillery District where she can focus on her work full time. She’s probably in there right now making another turquoise baby head…

[You can also see more of her work at the Ferrin Gallery]