Up-cycled cushions from vintage embroidery

These cushions are made using vintage Danish needlepoint and embroidery. Re-crafted to honour the love and effort put into the embroideries, and to give them a stylish new lease of life.

Cushions often come in sets of two or more with a common theme.

Each cushion is unique.

Discarded treasures found in Copenhagenʼs junk shops and flea markets are carefully unpicked and separated from their original setting.

Each embroidery design is sewn onto a backing before being bordered by cloth in complementary colours.

Matching colours and contrasting trim are selected.

The finished product.

All photos courtesy of Christina Stentoft.

LDF 2013: The Endless Stair

American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) will be exhibiting the Endless Stair outside the Tate Modern during the London Design Festival (LDF). The European Director of the AHEC stated why he chose LDF to promote the performance and value of hardwood as a sustainable material.

“Without doubt, the London Design Festival…[is] a truly dynamic and creative event that is both good fun and a serious platform to reach global design communities.”

Update – Event Cancelled – Design for Good at the Living Furniture Project

Sadly I have just been informed that the event below has been cancelled, however see the links below to find out about Wasteland the inspiring documentary by Vik Muniz and the Living Furniture Project in their new showroom/cafe in 22-26 Farringdon Lane. Please see our feed on the right hand column of the blog for more info on upcoming events. I will also be posting more on the London Design Festival for the next two weeks.

VIK MUNIZ LOOKS DOWN AT MAGNA’S PHOTO AND PORTRAIT
(SCREEN GRAB) Artwork courtesy of Vik Muniz Studio

Next Monday, 16 September, there will be a screening of the award winning documentary Wasteland, as part of London Design Week. The film surrounds a landfill in Rio, Brazil and the lives of those that live and work on the site, while artist Vik Muniz creates art using discarded objects he finds among the rubbish.

LFP’s workshop and showroom in Clerkenwell

The event will be hosted by the Living Furniture Project at their fantastic new space in 22-26 Farringdon Lane in London and will feature talks and discussions as part of the evening. The speakers include representatives from Friends of the Earth, The Living Furniture Project’s very own Donna Walker, the renowned furniture designer Paul Kelley and product designer Erin Deighton. There will also be video art by Tom Sachs, which will be screened throughout.

To register click here.

The Found Series by Michael Aaron: making art from discarded materials

Michael Aaron Williams, a young American artist from Knoxville, Tennessee, has created art from discarded materials.

Found series 1 by Michael Aaron – on old railroad ties.

He uses the materials he has found as a canvas to create intense and almost disturbing portraits. The organic and decomposing state of the pieces adds to the raw visual effect while also showing the beautiful transformation the artist has achieved.

Found series 2 by Michael Aaron – on old rusty sheet metal

Michael Aaron seeks to save materials from their fate and repurpose them, making them into something that is valued and appreciated.

 “These pieces are done on things that have been found on the side of the road, railroad tracks and in old barns. Basically it is about using something that would have deteriorated over time if left where it was and taking them into the studio and making something beautiful out of them.”

Found series 3 by Michael Aaron – sheet metal

He does not only experiment with different materials, but also different techniques in composing his work. The piece below has been created using a process of burning the wood rather than painting it.

Found series 4 by Michael Aaron – burnt onto old barn wood

Each portrait is simple yet captivating and very real, showing the artists ability to capture human emotion.

Found series 5 by Michael Aaron – this one is on an old wrecked up carhood

Gearing up for the London Design Festival

It’s almost time for the London Design Festival and some designers are already holding events to start off the spirit. Hendzel + Hunt will be holding a workshop this weekend surrounding their 100 hour challenge to build a number of benches along a stretch of the Regent’s Canal in Hackney, East London. The challenge appears to be inspired by a distinct lack of benches along this section of the waterway:

“Regent’s Canal is appreciated by commuters, families and tourists. On one of its busiest stretches, from Broadway Market to Victoria Park, not a single bench can be found to rest or contemplate. That is why we’ll create a 100h challenge to build 10 iconic benches which we will place during LDF.”

There will be countless fantastic events and exhibitions all over London to coincide with the festival, and while there are the obvious hot spots such as 100% Design and Tent London, a number of smaller venues will also be hosting some very noteworthy events. Our calendar feed on the right hand column of this blog will keep you updated on the hottest goings on surrounding designers specialising in sustainable and reclaimed materials. For more information about the Design Festival watch this video.

More metal and our very own Instagram feed

In the spirit of corrugated iron here is a bus I spotted at Notting Hill carnival. To see more pictures you can look at our brand new and very own Instagram feed.

 

A corrugated iron bus at Notting Hill carnival