Looking for some sweet Mod House numbers? Then check out the selection of bent metal address numbers in a variety of colors and finishes designed by the Seattle, WA design firm of Object Creative. See them here.
Image via objectcreative.com
New Finds
The Zephyr: Speeding From The World Of Tomorrow
Continuing the trend this week of posting vintage photos I've found that feature cool and important design, here's a look at a real photo postcard from the 1930s showing "The Zephyr", built by the Budd Company in 1934 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Read more after the jump...
Continue reading "The Zephyr: Speeding From The World Of Tomorrow" »
An Icon Above The Clouds
When the Empire State Building opened on May 1, 1931 it was a dubbed one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World." Built during the depths of the Great Depression, it still stands as an example of the strength of the American Spirit to overcome adversity, come together and create something amazing.
I recently came across two fantastic vintage pieces of ephemera associated with the Empire State Building that I thought PrairieMod readers would enjoy as well. More after the jump...
Frank Find: Lake Geneva Hotel Vintage Photo
I must have been born under a lucky star! I came across a rare photo this weekend of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Lake Geneva Hotel (1911), once located in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Learn more about this find after the jump...
Continue reading "Frank Find: Lake Geneva Hotel Vintage Photo" »
These Shirts Are just Your Type
We came across an interesting find while cruising the ad papers yesterday: Target has teamed with the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, WI to create a line of apparel featuring type images from the museum’s Globe Printing Plate collection. Seems Target's designers were smitten with Hamilton after watching the Typeface documentary and that started the path towards this product partnership. Find out details here.
image via mediabistro.com/unbeige
Which Came First?
The DIY food movement has certainly gained momentum in recent years, from beekeeping to home brews. Here's a modern way to put fresh, homegrown eggs on your table: the nogg chicken coop. Its name and shape pay homage to the chicken egg and with all the recent coverage in several design blogs (design*sponge, new house design and contemporist, to name a few), it's only a matter of time before a US-based store carries this British beauty. Until then, internet orders only.
Image copyright nogg
Heath Has Your Number
Head's up! Heath Ceramics and House Industries have teamed-up to make a series of ceramic house numbers based on the Neutra and Eames typefaces. Coming in late spring, you can pre-pick your favorites in the gallery section here.
Image via heathceramics.com
iRetrofone
Get the ultimate iPhone accessory and go back to the future with the hand-sculpted iRetrofone Base By Artist Scott Freeland. Details after the jump...
Prairie School Pickers
If you love the History Channel show, American Pickers, then you'll appreciate this story. Over the holiday weekend, My wife and I went on an antiquing excursion and came across a box of turn-of-the-last-century photographic glass plate negatives. I had no idea that I would find something extra-ordinary. Read more after the jump...
Floating Garden
Via MocoLoco, here's a look at a beautiful floating garden planter inspired by Japanese Ukiyo-e art and ideas. It also makes use of vertisol. This special soil developed by Vertilab is a mixture of an organic and a non-organic component to enhance the plant's time span. See more here.
Image via MocoLoco
On The Lighter Side...
PrairieMod reader, Damon N., sent us a link to this humourous sign. Something tells me this was a bridge too far!
Image via beverlywoodworks.com
Well Hello, Dolly!
The Mad Men Barbie dolls would feel right at home in this modern doll house designed by architect Tim Boyle. It has solar panels that power LED lights throughout the building and
the construction uses non-toxic and lead-free stains and paints. A furniture kit will follow in fall 2010.
Check it out after the jump.
Via Unica Home.
LEGO Gamble House
Grant W. Scholbrock has done it again! Following-up on his masterful mini LEGO Robie House, Grant has recreated the ultimate bungalow—the Greene & Greene-designed Gamble House in Pasadena, CA. See more images of Grant's amazing work here.
Image copyright Grant W. Scholbrock
Suburban Explorations: Villa Park
I thought it would be fun to start exploring some of the nearby Chicago suburbs for some PrairieMod gems and share them with readers from time-to-time. Here's a quick tour of Villa Park, IL and some of the interesting sites to see. More after the jump...
Letterpress At Home
I recently came across the Epic Six personal letterpress printer from Lifestyle Crafts at the Paper Source in Chicago and was amazed. Finally, a way to experiment with the art of letterpress printing without shelling-out tons of money! Check it out here.
Image via Lifestyle Crafts
Limited Valentype Blocks By House Industries
House Industries is offering a very hip set of Maple Valentype Blocks for $50 until Feb. 14th, 2010.
Forget the amazing fonts, I love the "extras" that these guys always pull out!
Image copyright House Ind.
On the Hunt With Sit & Read Furniture
Sit & Read Furniture is a great site to hunt for super cool vintage and moderne treasures. Thanks to fellow PMod Contributor Jared Fanning for introducing me!
Image copyright Sit & Read
Fin Finds
MocoLoco reports on the "lighter" side of the recent Habitare Fair, which showcases the latest designs from Finland and abroad. I'm especially taken with the understated elegance of the "Casa" lamp designs by Olga Sjoroos. See more here.
Image via MocoLoco
How to Build Modern Furniture
Found this book by famous furniture designer Mario Dal Fabbro. I don't have a workshop, and my only woodworking experience was in shop class, but I would definitely get back into it if I had a book like this!
53 step-by-step plans for contemporary pieces, with simple construction details for building your own professional-quality modern furniture!
Building A Better Brick
PrairieMod reader Paul R. sent a link to the story of Don Blalock's idea for a new kind of brick. His Aeonian brick is a clay-based, interlocking brick that is waterproof, fireproof, termite and insect-proof,
soundproof, mold and mildew-proof, insulates the home, saves energy and
withstands winds up to 240 mph. Plus, its an extremely "Green" product, made with less energy than regular bricks and uses recycled waste materials. Read more about this amazing building block here.
Image via Aeonian Brick Homes
Usonian Spotting At Crate & Barrel
It's funny where Organic Architecture "pops-up" when you least expect it. Case in point: while perusing the pages of the new Crate & Barrel catalog, I came across one of their new "Modern Architecture" prints, one of which is an obvious take-off of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Pope-Leighey House in Virginia. See the print here.
Top image: copyright Crate & Barrel/Bottom image: copyright The National Trust for Historic Preservation
Wright LEGO Post is Lighting Up The Internet!
Wow! The new Frank Lloyd Wright Collection® LEGO sets that we broke the news on in a post has been spreading like wildfire across the Internet--even rapper Kanye West is a fan! Here's a very brief sample of some of the other blogs following the story:
• Wired Magazine
• Apartment Therapy
• Design Boom
• Archinect
Image via Kanye West blog
Print-A-Pot
This is one of the weirdest stories I've ever come across. Apparently, there now exists the capability to actually "print" a three-dimensional piece of pottery. You heard me right...print. If you're intrigued, then follow the link to read more.
Images copyright Ceramics Monthly/Via TreeHugger.com
Etsy Find: Greenware Design
Etsy.com recently featured the talents of greenware design, a two woman team that combines the talents of longtime friends, Irene McCollam and Leslie Geer. Their beautiful ceramic vessels are filled with arrangements of unique succulent plantings. These would make great easy-to-care-for gifts for anyone who is looking to "Bring The Outside In." See more here.
Image copyright greenware design
A New Angle On Baking
Scandinavian Superstore, IKEA has a slew of new products that would work great in any PrairieMod Kitchen (the Pope-Leighey one, included). I especially love their new Drömmar angled baking pan. Check it out here.
Via Apartment Therapy The Kitchen.
Image copyright IKEA
Weekend Treasure Hunt
It was bitterly cold this weekend in Chicago, but it didn't stop me from doing a little treasure hunting. What did I find? How about a really sweet 1909 real photo postcard of the Louis Sullivan-designed Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Building (originally known as the Schlesinger & Mayer Store). Check out the cornice which has only recently been restored. Got any cool treasures you've found? Let me know and I'll be happy to feature them.
Stumbling Upon The "Skyscraper" Vase
Teco Pottery has been called the art pottery of the Prairie School. Several progressive architects of the era (including Frank Lloyd Wright) designed some of the most compelling shapes originally offered by the Gates Potteries. I recently came across the existence of one of Wright's more famous Teco designs at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Designed in 1905 and refered to as the "Skyscraper Vase" this amazingly modern-looking vase could quite possibly be the only known example to still exist. Check it out by following the link.
Image copyright SFMoMA
There's Always Room For Jell-O
PrairieMod reader, Scott T sent me a link to San Francisco artist Liz Hickok's architectural creations made from--Jell-O! Check out these wiggly wonders by following the link.
Image copyright Roxanne Ardary
Vintage Goods Gone Digital
Urban Outfitters has a wide range of excellent vintage gear that has been made over for the 21st Century. Among my favorites are the Ion USB turntable that can be plugged into your laptop and the super cool Library AV Room turntable (which also plugs into your laptop).
Check out other vintage goods gone digital here.
Image copyright Urban Outfitters
Palmer House News
The housing crises is affecting even works of art. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Palmer House in Ann Arbor, MI is a little more affordable after a price reduction from $1.5 to $1.25 million dollars. Other news about Palmer has surfaced aside from the price reduction. A very rare Japanese teapot was discovered on a recent tour in the house, said to be brought over to the US by Wright from one of his trips to Japan and supposedly given to the Palmers as a gift. You can catch a glimpse of it in the photo. Read more about this amazing find by following the link.
Images copyright Bob Eckstein
A Lego Halloween
How cool is this Lego jack-o-lantern! I want to make one of these. Follow the link to step-by-step instructions on Lego's site.
Image copyright Lego
Treasure Hunting
I love hunting for treasures! Last weekend I lucked out and found a couple of gems while searching through old postcard boxes at some local shops. The first shot is of Unity Temple from the 1960s and has some Frank Lloyd Wright stamps on the back. It was also mailed on the first day of issue for the stamps from Spring Green, Wisconsin!
Continue reading after the jump...
Air, The New Gasoline
Check out this article on CNN about a new "Air Car" that can get 106 mpg.
The Wright Wedding Cake
Wow! Almost a shame to eat it. Check out this and more amazing cakes by following the link.
Photo copyright Edible Art, via Flickr.com
Custom Designed M&M's
Customization of consumer products has been increasing in popularity over the past couple of years, but now you can trick-out your own candy!
M&M's can have your own personal message, logo, photo, etc. Just go to www.mymms.com.
Image from mymms.com
Daily Thought Wallpaper from Real Simple
We know you love our free wallpapers, so you might like this find I stumbled across today. Real Simple has 19 download-able wallpapers for your computer with daily thoughts to ponder.
Image copyright Real Simple
Flickr Photo Set of Frank Lloyd Wright's Seth Peterson Cottage in Mirror Lake, WI
Also, you can check out several other photo sets with additional images from the cottage.
Image copyright danback
Horizon Wind Energy
A family member had passed this information to me about a rapidly growing wind energy company that is truly fascinating. Horizon Wind Energy has projects all across the US, both built and currently in progress. Additionally, they are one of the largest owners of wind generation assets in the world. If this kind of story tickles your fancy, continue reading on to get the full account.
Help Remedies: A Fresh Approach to Medicine
This new product line has been blowing up the blogosphere recently and is worth mentioning here at PrairieMod. Help Remedies is all about a new approach to medicine with well-designed, eco-packaging and a mission to do the exact opposite thing as the "competition".
Help Remedies bandages are made of a futuristic material called hydrocolloid. It's the same material they use in hospitals to help wounds heal faster and reduce scarring. Asprin doesn't include the coatings and dyes that many companies are so fond of using. Packaging is also an important difference that sets Help Remedies apart from the other in the crowd, in addition to their ethics.
Oh yeah, if you are bored and need some help for that....these guys have got your back.
Image copyright Help Remedies
Big Dipper Wax Works: These Are Beeswax Candles That Rock!
People who know me, know that I don't get too excited about much - but when I do get excited - watch out!
Today on a trip to Whole Foods, I freaked out when I came across some of the most amazing candles I've ever encountered - Seattle-based Big Dipper Wax Works' Lime & May Chang Natural Beeswax candle with a beehive shaped glass votive. They also have refills!
The Lime & May Chang scent is incredibly invigorating, but many of the others are amazing as well. I grabbed a couple, headed home to light 'em up and then learn more about Big Dipper Wax Works. This is what I found and wanted to share with you....
You can read their story, find out why you should burn beeswax and learn the details behind each scent/therapy.
Image Big Dipper Wax Works
LA Hotspot: Marvimon
A good buddy of mine from college recently got engaged and was sharing some of the wedding plans with me. As Los Angeles residents, they have chosen a fine spot to have the special event: Marvimon on Broadway, near Elysian Park.
Marvimon was originally built by an Italian race car driver in 1924 as one of LA's first automobile showrooms. It has been reinvented as a stand alone, super-loft open to events, exhibitions, productions, and fine living.
Over There: The Game of Global Awareness
72 hours, 104 countries, 2700 participants, over 1200 ideas, $15k in rewards - Over There - It's the game of global awareness.
The creative and innovative group Kluster had a mission at the 2008 TED conference: create a product in three days with the help of many people. The result is a board game called Over There that both tests and fosters global awareness. You can get a sneak-peek at what the game will be. It will also be interesting to see how this project fleshes out and how the Kluster approach will impact product design.
Via JoshSpear.com, but you can also read the NY Times story.
Image copyright Kluster
Where's Wright?
It's funny where you run into Frank Lloyd Wright. I was in the Container Store the other day, looking for bins to contain my design magazines. As I'm walking around, I turn to look at a floating wall shelf and notice the framed pictures resting on them.
It made me smile, so I snapped a few pics to share. Enjoy!
Photos copyright PrairieMod
Method's New Bag
Method has updated their website since the last time I was there (which has been awhile). I love the design, so clean and fresh! Another cool thing is that they are offering an attractive reusable shopping bag for just a few dollars. This is much better looking than some of the other reusable bags I've been seeing. Check it out, plus the "new" website!
Image copyright Method
Ted's Montana Grill: Eat Great and Do Good
The other night I found myself kicking around the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago with my wife and we ended up a restaurant called Ted's Montana Grill in Bolingbrook, IL (the Ted is for broadcast mogul Ted Turner). It was a first time visit for us and we were immediately surprised to find some wonderful things inside.
Continue reading "Ted's Montana Grill: Eat Great and Do Good" »
FLLW To-Go
Continuing with our theme today of unusual Frank Lloyd Wright-ish things...I found this post on LARitz.info from their August 8th, 2006 post:
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it both strange and cool that designers of take-out containers seem to be inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright?
My onion rings from Birds came packaged in a Styrofoam (boo) box that reminded me of the iconic Coonley Playhouse art glass window designs. I'm sure the great man would be, um, honored to see his influence manifested in such humble of places. Damn, I just met E.L. Wright; I should've asked him.
Wright gear is merchandised up the yin yang, but this I haven't seen in any gift shops yet.
Image and text copyright L.A. Ritz
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