a look back at summer 2014

Where to begin. Summer has come and gone and fall is well underway…we’ve even experienced a brief (yet powerful) snowstorm…though, let’s get back to what summer brought us…

We exhibited in two shows. Both were juried, both went very well. The first was The Maine Craft Guild Show, on Mount Desert Island, and the second, was a fund raiser for the Laudholm Nature Preserve in Wells Maine.

Mount Desert is an incredibly beautiful area and while I don’t get much time to sightsee, Jenn (my partner) and Finn (our son) do their best to get out and about in between helping me set-up, mind the booth and break down…here’s Finn at the top of Mt. Cadillac. He LOVES when we go away for shows…

This show brought me an amazing commission for a couple who own a large family compound on MDI. The land and the small cottages on it have been in their family since the 20’s and I am honored to create a piece for them. It will consist of driftwood and mussel shells collected from their property and will be complete in the summer of 2015. Stay tuned! Here’s a peek at their incredibly magical place…

This pic was taken while I was collecting…do you see all those mussel shells?

What a spot! Truly incredible. Thank you to the family for inviting me to design and build a piece for them…

Now for the second show, The Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival. This was our first year exhibiting in this juried show and it was equally rewarding. Lots of incredibly helpful people, visitors, leads and wind! It was a hot and windy weekend, though that didn’t stop people from coming out and contributing to a fantastic nature preserve. Just after set-up (shows are a lot of work for a busy four year old), Finn decided to enjoy the daybed before everyone arrived – he was so excited for the ‘opening’, can you tell?

A new gallery owner happened to walk by our booth and fell in love with Points to Sea (the large circular assemblage above), so much so that they requested it to be exhibited in their new gallery, Port Gallery, Kennebunk, Maine, and that’s where it now hangs…Check it out.

New works were commissioned and pieces were sold. All in all two great shows and one fabulous summer…

I couldn’t do any of this if it wasn’t for the support and help from my partner, Jennifer; she is  the business side of Designs Adrift, my organizer and photographer. And my son, Finn;  he keeps me smiling and is always willing to help. Thank you both.

A few more pics from our summer of 2014. What a summer it was!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wharf and channel

Winter is here, the holidays are over and 2014 is well underway…

Life sure has been busy (as I’m sure it has been for you too!) and I have a few new works completed as well as underway…here is one of the completed ones , which is titled, ‘Wharf and Channel’.

Driftwood and found lobster warp are what make this piece.

The warp represents the water and its’ ever changing colors…and the wood, well, is the wharf.

There are lots of wharves here in Maine, though unfortunately, many are becoming privatized…thankfully though, our town still has a few piers which are for its’ residents and the general public.

They are assets not only for the lobsterman and fisherman who use them daily, but also for those of us who enjoy being ‘on the water’ and everything surrounding it…sunsets, the hum of lobster boats coming in or going out, seagulls chattering, the lapping of the waves against the rocky coast or simply to watch the sun dip below the horizon…water access is important…for everyone…

Wharf and Channel.

The process;

Available now.

Enjoy.

2013 Maine Art Scene Magazine virtual gallery

Maine Art Scene Magazine is an online magazine and virtual meeting place for artists and buyers alike. Its also a fabulous resource for galleries looking for talented new artists as well as established artists…the last few years, Maine Art Scene has put together an online, virtual gallery.

It is a brilliant idea.

It is a juried show and Designs Adrift was one of the chosen artists to include – the piece titled Zephyr, was chosen not only as part of the exhibit, but also as the ‘cover’ page for the gallery ‘showcase’…I am honored – to say the least!

Do be sure to check out all the other incredibly talented Maine artists as well as the incredible job Maine Art Scene has done creating this online virtual gallery…well done!

Go here to view the entire exhibit.

What do you think?

Spring Tide III

Spring Tide III complete

 

 

Spring Tide III

So while I’ve been busy working on the dining table base, I’ve also started another new project Spring Tide III. This piece will be smaller than the prior two Spring Tides, though still impressive.

It is being made for a local shop in Portland Maine, K*Colette. It’s a fabulous home goods store and the perfect fit for my work…

We’ve been looking into retailers to sell through, though it’s not always easy…so when Karen, the owner of K*Colette contacted us, we were thrilled. We will be selling a few pieces through her shop, but for now, Spring Tide III will be the first addition.

While it may look like a simple project, it’s not as simple as it looks…it’s a puzzle of sorts – a mesmerizing puzzle – a puzzle with many pieces, though only a ‘few’ fit.

Dark will be contrasting light in a specific pattern –  specific to each individual piece, as well as the whole…

Spring Tide III underway;

driftwood dining table

The weather seems to be turning, well, sort of…enough so that I am now able to work outside  (and not  be in a fully insulated suit), while listening to the crashing surf in the distance…at least while the chainsaw is off!

Time to get back out there and start collecting again, but until then I’ve started working on this piece which I think may become a base for a dining table…we’ll see what transpires…also hoping for some surf – my other passion!

What would you like to see made from driftwood?

 

Like this idea? Check out Designs Adrift for more driftwood table ideas…

driftwood and stainless

Things have been busy, yet calm…new stumps were sanded and delivered to Summer House in New Canaan Ct. They’ve sold the others which werer delivered last fall (thank you!)… And now I’m about to begin designing a new coffee table. This one will be different than the glass top ones I’ve built prior. Our client wants a wood topped table.

I have an interesting slab of driftwood that just might work (with a little help from me of course) – and the base is to be organic in form – no traditional legs for this one. I’m excited to begin the design process for this piece.

The challenging yet fun part of working on commissions (custom pieces) is that it allows me opportunity to create works that I may not have thought of. It also allows me into others lives and homes. I design with not only the specs in mind, but the person and the space in which the piece is intended for…

But for now, enjoy the pics of the latest side stump tables. I’ve been experimenting with inlaying metal into driftwood. What do you think? Also started playing around with epoxy inlays…there is so much which can be done with driftwood!

this photo looks a bit too pink (the lighting was not quite right) – in person its a beautiful white washed tone – perfect for the sleekness of the stainless…

And here’s the all the latest side tables – Interested in one? Contact us or the Summer House for details!

 

Down East Magazine April Issue

We are so honored to be included in this months Down East Magazine as one of their ‘favorite pics’. We’ve been listed among some of Maine’s finest…be sure to pick up a copy.
http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2013/april/maine-accessories
Thank you Down East Magazine, what an honor.

march is nearing its’ end

While I’ve been absent these past few weeks (from here), my mind has been consumed with new projects, new places and the wondering of where does the time go? March is nearing its’ end and while that means warmer weather is all the more closer, it also means the business of summer is only a short time away…shows, wood collecting, busy beaches and summer visitors! So much to look forward to and so much to do.

A new shop, K * collette, in Portland Maine, has inquired about carrying a piece or two – this is a very exciting prospect as we do not (yet, that is) have a retail connection in Maine and this shop seems to be a very good match…we’ll see what comes of it…

Down East Magazine has included our coffee tables in their April issue, under the title of ‘Things you must have for your beach house’ – while it’s not on newsstands yet, subscribers have already received their issue and inquiries are coming in – always a good sign!

And last week we attended the Architectural Digest Show in NYC – we wanted to check it out and see if it would be a good show to participate in – and it most certainly would be! The exhibitors (artists) we spoke with were not only talented, they were friendly, helpful and very encouraging…because when you are planning on investing not only a lot of money, but a lot of time into a show, you want to be surrounded by like-minded others as well as surrounded by interested and serious buyers – both of which we experienced while visiting the show. This show is now on our ‘goals’ list for next year.

This year we are exhibiting in the Maine Craft Guild on Mount Desert Island in late July – last year was a great success and many fabulous connections (and friendships) were made so we submitted to the jury earlier this year and we were accepted!

Time is fleeting and good planning is necessary when working for oneself in an art based business…so while I may have been absent from this space, I’ve not stopped thinking or planning for the future of Designs Adrift…

What would you like to see made from driftwood?

Maine in February

I’ve finished my commissions, though still have one more on order…and have been out searching for new finds – tomorrow actually I need to enlist the help of some friends to help me heave ho a new (enormous) piece which will make for a spectacular coffee table…though while out looking Jenn took a few photos – enjoy…there is still snow on the ground and the water is frigid, but spring is on its way…and then summer!!