BBBlog
DOVETUSAI is back
I've written about my Italian dealer Dovetusai in past blogs. Translate: 'You know where we are'. But I didn't know where they were or went.
First, they joined SKITSCH - an upscale Ikea look brand- with many other famous designers. Then they opened Pianoprimo in 2007. And now they've gone full circle and its back to 'you know where we are' I am very excited to be working with Fabio and Luigi again. http://www.dovetusai.it
They have a beautiful line of glassware that they design and produce - simple elegant vases and carafes.
And then these breadboards with handles; I thought they were brave brown bags! Amazing what an asymmetrical shape can do for an otherwise mundane rectangle that we are so used to for a cutting board. How fun.
Welcome back, Fabio and Luigi. Hope you know where your BBB is!
BBB VALENTINE'S NOTES
The Year of the Flying Turtle
What a way to start the year.....Do not usually dream in colour, first if I am lucky enough to recall dreaming at all. The last time presaged a major turning point in my life; I dreamt of flying pink pigs and purple sheep. A curious combination as sheep are reknown followers and I've heard pigs are highly intelligent. I concluded this meant I was about to become a very smart follower. Some 24 years ago - wow time flies, at 42 I decided to get on board the teetotaller boat. I should note my 'success' in doing so was due to some special family and friends and the wisdom of AA. I discovered the boat was a pretty big one!
And now, my New Year technicolour dream is of a brightly painted flying turtle! Cannot remember the plot but image of turtle remains vivid. It's back was pattered with a distinctly Imari English china glaze in the deep blues and burnt orange.
Dream interpretation 101: for the Chinese it may be the year of the dog, pour moi its this flying turtle that I think symbolizes thoughtful execution and out with all procrastination......Hmm. Here are a few of the many projects that I have on the back burner to be realized this year at BBB studio.
*Flora and fauna fabric patterns, designs from my own backyard that celebrate the Carolinian forests from where I grew up.... start drawing!
* learn to play the damn ukelele
* is that enough....other than huge gratitude to continue the Brave Brown Bag journey
Get on with it flying turtle!!!
Always room for one more....
Always room for one more chair, that is. This is my ode to dear friend Sandra, consummate collector of interesting furniture and fabrics, often discarded as not of interest by others. I visited Sandra last New Years Eve in Perth Ontario. She was in the midst of divesting herself of some her great finds as she was selling her 'urban farmhouse' - more on that later. I left with these 4 metal patio chairs complete with upholstered vinyl (ugh) seats probably from the forties stuffed in my Volvo wagon. Driving back to the lake, ruminating on the chairs , I calculated that I would now have an assortment of 34 chairs in various stages of use and disrepair. Why on earth was I getting more? From her shed into my garage collecting more dust and moss. Oh, but I love moss!
PROVINCETOWN'S LISA VENTRE HATS
Have not met Lisa Ventre personally except by bag, so to speak. Lisa got in touch at the beginning of the summer to say that her Brave Brown Bag , otherwise her 'go to bag' was still holding up after, I hate to say 15 years or so!!!! Lisa is a hat designer based at the tip of Cape Cod in the artsy community of Provincetown. Toyo is the material and weaving technique she uses to construct her hats http://www.lisaventrehats.com/ in her studio boutique where customers - tourists and locals alike- love to don her hats to add character and charm as well as give sun protection..... but who cares when they are so terrific looking. Here's a great article describing her artistry http://www.american-crush.co/lisa-ventre-hats/
Lisa decided to try a few BBB for her shop and we're certainly honored to be in such fine hat company. And apparently Lisa said once she received her order that someone came into shop, bought a bag and had one with her, again purchased many years ago and it still looked great. So the BBB has fans in ole Provincetown. I have put my order in with the suggestion that it has the same colour scheme as the pic below of me hamming it up in one of my lost and found hats...... something a bit Dr. Zeusssish will suit me just fine. Always lean to the side of amusing....
I recounted an amusing story to Lisa about my parent's and their sailing enthusiast caravan from Ontario bound for the Americas Cup. Ever since I can remember starting in the 60s they travelled from Canada to watch the racing yachts battle it out amidst the cocktail banter and often seasick spectators. One cup summer the plan was to rendezvous in Providence - as in Rhode Island. Some were driving, others flying into local airport, then they would all head down to Newport harbor together. One couple was rather late.......no cells back then and it wasn't until a day later that they called from Provincetown - as in Massachusetts. Ha they overshot the mark read the sign wrong and took the scenic route about 6 hours out of there way.... and I think they wanted to stay there!
Recently I heard that a new trove of drawings and letters has been discovered belonging to the artist Edward Hopper and his wife Josephine. These are now being exhibited at the Provincetown Art Museum. So worth a drive - intended or not - to Provincetown.
Thank you Lisa for carrying our BBB.
