this used to be . . .

mix it up during tonight's edition of first friday and stop by tadpole studio which will be opening the doors of its chinatown studio for an interactive art event.

simply bring in un/loved clothing to be transformed by some cheeky in-house screen printing which will mark offerings with a bold "this used to be" proclamation. the inky commentary challenges the world-at-large's disposable p.o.v. to rethink castoffs and breathe new life into something old that can be reworn and appreciated in a fresh way.

• when: tonight, nov 7th - 6p to 10p
• where: 1160 smith street
• fee: $9 (covers screenprinting materials)

election day edition

election day is finally here and, since we vote by mail around here, my ballot is already waiting to be counted at the registrar of voters. wherever you call home, consider this one of the many, many reminders to do your part and vote today!

essential election clicks include google to find your polling place and project vote smart if you need to brush up on the issues before heading to the polls.

the past two elections have proven there are no guarantees and i could not let this historic day pass without posting one more (but hopefully not last) roundup of obama gear for your enjoyment:

1 - freddy & ma, purveyor of semi-custom handbags, debuts a limited edition collection of vote totes made of recycled cotton.

2 - toy collectors can add a custom painted obama mini munny to their kid robot collection.

3 - the evidence that artists heart obama continues to grow with yet another poster of hope.

4 - the obama 'ohana tee gets a green update with an organic cotton edition.

and, after you rock the vote, enjoy foodie freebies from starbucks to ben & jerry's by flashing your i voted sticker!

design footprint

jacob armchair

this past summer, readers were introduced to up & coming furniture designer brandon large who recently sent along peeks of a few of his latest creations. the jacob arm chair seems to be the perfect solution for small spaces by combining seating, storage, and a side table in one multifunctional piece. if you're really tight on space, the table folds out of the way for those times when you need a bit of extra wiggle room to get your wii on.

in eco news, brandon is taking one more step towards sustainability by incorporating recycled lumber deconstructed by re-use hawaii into his designs (upholstered pieces already featured repurposed cushion castoffs). the reclaimed wood may have a few imperfections but it's a small sacrifice to help divert construction waste from local landfills while holding on to a piece of hawaii's past - be it a bygone bungalow or a remnant of the punahou gym.

and, if you have been searching for a way to modernize your entryway, look no further than these handcrafted platform door mats made of recycled wood and old tire rubber reborn as a slip-free backing. mats are finished with eco-friendly stains and waterproofed to protect from the elements.

the price tag on the jacob armchair is $800 and the mats go for $40. most pieces are made to order - email brandon123brandon123 [at] yahoo [dot] com for more details.

modern hale

 chin timer * mr. honolulu wine opener * orientales

kona may not be on the radar as the place to go for decorating your space with the latest accessories filling the pages of design glossies and blogs, but it just happens to be the home of modern hale - the source on the big island where those in-the-know stock up on crush-worthy & eco-friendly goods.

proprietor zoe ryan decided to mix her retail background with her love of design to create modern hale which
opened its doors two years ago. lines stocked in the shop include witty accessories from italy's alessi (shown above), stylish reusable shopping totes from envirosax and pretty green bag (my new favorite carryall), art from indie darling amy ruppel, plus design goodness from chilewich, iittala, inhabit living, and the big island's own organik threads.

be sure to bookmark the online gallery which is updated with peeks of the newest additions to arrive in the shop, and special orders are welcome if you heart something from one of the lines carried by modern hale but not stocked in store (call for details).

fyi - orders over $200 score complimentary shipping!

• where: 74-5533 luhia street, kailua-kona (kona international market)
• shop hours: tue - sun, 9a to 5p

lava flow

 

during one of my frequent marathon etsy sessions, i was happy to discover that boston artist jennifer hill of jhill design had recently stocked her shop with limited editions of her kilauea print. the design is part of jennifer's places i have never been series which reminds me of a modern take on vintage souvenir posters in a delightfully abstract point-of-view.

the kilauea design was inspired by the annual hawaiian holiday of friends who returned to the mainland to share tales of pele and that exotic local delight - spam musubi. each destination starts out with daydreams and doodles eventually leading to a little research to sum up the highlights that entice visitors to leave the comfort of home for a faraway land.

the collection adds a gorgeous graphic punch to bare walls so click over to the etsy shop and create your own series to remember your (soon-to-be) travels . . . be it to tahiti or portland!