designcincinnati

spaceship

About 8 years ago, when I was working for a small advertising agency based in Covington, we filmed a television commercial on top of the Terrace Plaza Hotel. We filmed it on the 20th floor, in the cantilevered Gourmet Room. At the time, I called it a spaceship because of its circular shape.

click to enlarge

The Joan Miro painting is one of my favorites at the Cincinnati Art Museum which once hung in the Gourmet Room.

Check out more about the Terrace Plaza Hotel in this week's edition of Soapbox. Also, visit CF3.org for more detailed images with blueprints.

city logo

Remember a few months ago when I wrote about Cincinnati unveiling a new logo? I just came across the new logo for Melbourne which is much more in line with a city that's innovative and thinking about its future.

click to enlarge

I also find it interesting that the Sydney office of Landor Associates designed the logo. For those of you that don't know, Landor also has an office in Cincinnati. Read more here about the identity system.

Also, check out the interesting video I posted about Melbourne.

via [paigeandmodern]

21c

Rumors are that über cool 21c Museum Hotel is looking to open a Cincinnati location. The first location was developed by Louisville investors and contemporary art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown.

images from www.21cmuseumhotel.com | click to enlarge

From the hotel's website: 21c Museum Hotel... is the first of its kind-a 90-room hotel dedicated to accessible luxuries... and contemporary art from living artists. The hotel features a 9,000 square foot contemporary art museum funded and managed by the International Contemporary Art Foundation. This stunning collection of cutting-edge art... inspired the naming of this property and influenced the creation of the museum and hotel.

An Austin location is opening soon that also includes condos. Hopefully, a location will open in Cincinnati as I think downtown needs a hotel like this. I guess time will tell.

cincinnati craig's list picks

Some fun things from Craig's list this week:

click to enlarge

- Mid Century china cabinet, $60, Anderson.
- Retro Cool Phone Too Hot, $15, West Chester. (I don't think this is actually vintage, but fun nonetheless.)
- Pair M. Breuer, Wassily Chairs by Gavina, $800, Oakley.

- Frigidaire Flair 1966 Retro Oven Range Combo, $500, Monfort Heights.
- Streamline Modern Heywood Wakefield Desk & Chair, $500, Eastgate.
- 1958 Magnavox Console Television, $100, Edgewood, KY.

architecturally minimal

I'm loving these minimal architectural paintings of Covington by Marcia Alscher, entitled Scenes from 20th Century Buildings in Covington, Kentucky.

click to enlarge

Thanks to Maya for the head's up.

vote no on issue 9

chairs

Part of the Industrial Design curriculum at DAAP requires each year of students to design chairs. Thanks to Blake, I came across the Flickr photostream of last summer's finished chairs. Here are some of my favorites:

Check out more on Flickr.

greetings from cincinnati

I love these fun old postcards that I found on "Greetings from Cincinnati".

images from cincinnativiews.net | click to enlarge

Check a ton of more photos on the site.

crafty supermarket

I'm so excited about the upcoming Crafty Supermarket at Northside Tavern on November 21. The organizer, Grace Dobush, answered some questions that I'd like to share with all of you:

- Can you tell designcincinnati readers what indie crafts are?

In the last decade or so, "indie craft" has become the main moniker for a breed of crafters who take inspiration from old-fashioned techniques and put a modern twist on the craft. A lot of indie crafters use recycled or repurposed materials, and some make only one-of-a-kind items. But the main common denominator is that the products are handmade.

- Why start an indie craft show in Cincinnati?

I moved to the city about two years ago from Pittsburgh, which has an amazing show called Handmade Arcade that's developed a huuuge following. Handmade Arcade is in its sixth year now and attracts thousands of shoppers over two days. I've also sold at shows in Cleveland and Brooklyn, and wanted an outlet like that in Cincy. I think once we get things rolling with Crafty Supermarket and get crafters in touch with each other, we could have a really rad craft scene here! I'm getting excited already from having been in touch with people in Northside and in the region who are all about coming to the show.

- What sort of crafts/vendors can the audience expect?

We're taking applications right now, and when we start judging them after the Sept. 30 deadline, we're going to be really conscious of having a wide variety of styles and objects. There will definitely be handmade books made by me, and handmade shoes made by my co-organizer, and there will likely also be vendors selling handmade clothing, stationery, plush toys, home decor, printed objects, fine art and other things! We're also hoping to get some local businesses in on the gig to provide coffee and snacks at the show.

- Any other events happening that day in conjunction with the show?

Yes! Crafty Supermarket is also a book release party for my craft business guide, Crafty Superstar! If all goes according to plan, I'll have copies of the book for sale at the show, and after we break down for the day, I plan to celebrate with all my crafty friends at the Tavern.

san marco

I love this old photo of the San Marco apartment building at the corner of Madison Road and Woodburn Avenue, AKA DeSales Corner in East Walnut Hills...

click to enlarge

Notice the streetcar.

via [Queen City Survey]

before and after

I am loving these before and after Over-the-Rhine photos from CityKin.

1985 and 2009 | click to enlarge

etsycincinnati: under the sun

The next seller in the the Cincinnati Etsy series is Sunny from Under the Sun.

The majority of the products in Sunny's shop are quirky vintage finds. She is a self described "thrift store and estate sale junkie." She loves curating her collection.

click to enlarge

Sunny also sells handmade items made from recycled, repurposed or scrap materials. Sunny says, "I am completely lost when faced with brand new materials, but if I have something with a story- I am inspired. I love to make old things into new and useful things or find a new life for objects who might otherwise end up in the trash."

After living in a few other states, Sunny says, "Cincinnati has a remarkable number of amazing thrift shops. I have never left one empty-handed!" I totally agree as I have also shopped thrift in other cities and states and am totally amazed at the stuff I find locally.

click to enlarge

Sunny exclaims, "there is an industrial beauty and historical richness [in Cincinnati] that really fuels my creative endeavors. and the architecture!"

Thanks, Sunny! Visit her shop on Etsy and support a Cincinnati Etsy seller! Also, check out Sunny's blog to get to know her a bit better.

And, as always, don't forget my Etsy shop, Kitsch Café. You can also find my products at Park + Vine

cincinnati flickr favorites: sandra freyler

I've always loved Sandra Freyler's Cincinnati photo set on her Flickr page. Here are some of my faves:

click to enlarge | click links below for original photos

1. Architreks South Tour 14, 2. Over The Rhine 5, 3. Architreks South Tour 9, 4. Over The Rhine 8, 5. Architreks South Tour 5, 6. Main Street, 7. Architreks South Tour 4, 8. The Shops in Downtown Cincy, 9. Fountain Square Labor Day 2008

For more from Sandra, Check out her Flickr Page.

blue wisp

I like this Soapboxmedia.com video about the Blue Wisp:

cardinal

Thanks to Becky for sharing her Charley Harper find she discovered while in town last week:

images from blog.designpublic.com | click to enlarge

cincinnati flickr favorites: chrislrmo

I recently came across the Flickr page of user chrislrmo. I was so impressed, I decided to make this edition of Cincinnati Flickr Faves just out of his photos. Enjoy.

click to enlarge | click links below for original photos

1. Carew Tower Reflection, 2. Waiting for the Next Call, 3. Cincinnati Observatory, 4. Colorful Sunrise, 5. Untitled, 6. Union Terminal 75th Anniversary Fireworks, 7. Fountain Square Panography Daytime, 8. WEBN Fireworks, 9. Cincinnati

For more from Chris, check out his Flickr page.

etsycincinnati: burkeheart baby

The next seller in the etsycincinnati series is Gillian from Burkeheart Baby.

Gillian designs and sews baby shoes. The idea was born from frustration. She says, "Baby stuff has a tendency to be bland, either it's pink or blue and that's the end of it. When I realized that keeping baby socks on baby feet is nearly impossible, I gave up and began making these little shoes to keep his feet warm and protected." She found some "great" fabric from her quilt stash, made a couple pairs of soft shoes, and things snowballed from there.

click to enlarge

Gillian comes from a long line of people who create with their hands. Her maternal grandfather was a jeweler and watchmaker, paternal grandfather a firefighter, carpenter and avid gardener, her grandmother a self-taught painter.

She learned to sew from her mom who learned it from her grandmother. Growing up in a house with no tv made it easy to be creative; there were always projects going on in her home. From her dad making stained glass pieces and wooden toys, to her mom quilting away our naptimes and making most of our clothes. She says, "It seems inevitable that I'd follow in this tradition of hand-work, and I thank them for setting a great example to follow."

click to enlarge

Gillian loves being an indie designer in Cincinnati. She says the best part of the city is the people. "Everyone is linked to everyone. It seems like each time I meet someone new, we end up realizing we have several folks in common, and this adds to the feeling of community." Locally, you can find her products at Park + Vine.

Thanks Gillian. Visit her shop on Etsy and support a Cincinnati artist!

And, as always, don't forget my Etsy shop, Kitsch Café Vintage, and my newly opened shop, Kitsch Café Handmade. You can also find my products at Park + Vine.

margaret wenstrup paintings

Local estate sale auctioneers, Everything But The House (EBTH), is currently selling the estate of Cincinnati artist and modernist pioneer Margaret Newland Wenstrup (1930-2008).

image from ebthauctions.org | click to enlarge

Margaret Wenstrup was a graduate of Art Academy of Cincinnati and was the first woman to win the Academy's prestigious Wilder Scholarship.

image from ebthauctions.org | click to enlarge

There are also paintings by other Cincinnati artists, such as Noel and Coletta Martin. Items other than art are being sold, like a cool Saarinen mirror and an original Eames lounger (albeit, in rough shape).

EBTH’s sales are performed online from their website. All items start at a $1 opening bid. This sale started on Monday July 20th and closes on Sunday, July 26th, at 4PM.

art classes

images from manifestgallery.org | click to enlarge

Looking for some art classes? Check out Manifest Gallery list of classes, including open figure drawing studios on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and a design drawing workshop in August.

images from manifestgallery.org | click to enlarge

They also hold free high school figure drawing sessions and object drawing classes. See more on their website.

weekend

I hope you are all having a great weekend so far. I've been to the movies, spent a lazy Friday night people watching and listening to indie bands on Fountain Square, walked through the wonderful Friendship Park, had a picnic with an amazing view...

click to enlarge

I hope you are getting outside and enjoying the amazingly chilly and NOT HUMID July weather!

What have all of you been up to so far this weekend?