Hende

Hende of Traverse City MI
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I grew up Making things--both of my parents are artists and my father is a carpenter as well. I fell in love with the fine arts at the tenderest age and have always had my hands in all of them, though most of all, in poetry. My concerns as a writer (as also a designer) are to bring a little beauty into this world. I've also spent a lot of time as a community activist and organizer, and even more than making beautiful things, I want to defend and preserve what remains of beauty in the world around us--trees, clean water, justice, the dark night sky, quiet places, human dignity, topsoil.

Hende is one of the ways I spend my time and it is motivated by an insatiable desire to create. I believe in good design, quality craft and materials that tread lightly on this earth. I enjoy making one-of-a-kinds and small batches of thoughtfully brewed garments for those who are tired of mass-market, disposable fashion.





Hende
hende.etsy.com
hendeoriginals@gmail.com

Ivey Brassil

Minneapolis based jewelry maker Ivey Brassil of Enso
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My line came out of a desire to synthesize my interest in modernism and late modernism with beadwork and wearables. I studied fine art, and in school my work consisted of room-sized, ephemeral, and abstract constructions from everyday objects. My influences were minimalists and post-minimalist fine artists - from Agnes Martin through to Anish Kapoor and Bob Gober.

About twelve years later, obviously not making a living as a post-minimalist, and through a series of various life events, I found myself getting really gripped by glass beadweaving. I'd never really thought about the scale of craft and wearables much. I spent a lot of time making beadwork which looks nothing like what I do now, getting immersed in technique.

Eventually, inspired by the work of a number of bead artists whose work is modernist in look and feel (including the wonderful sandfibers.etsy.com) I asked myself the question "why can't you make metal, beads, and gems do what you were doing on a large scale in school?"

That was my proverbial aha moment for this line.

Another adaptation I made was using sterling beads and very fine sterling wire in lieu of glass and thread in many pieces, such as "ondine" or my rings. The result is an all-metal-and-stone piece of fine jewelry, with that kind of all-metal integrity, which I'm pleased with.




ENSO
enso.etsy.com
shop.ensojewelry.com
ensojewelry.blogspot.com
ENSO flickr

Lake Mendota, Madison WI

I love that I live on an isthmus.

Techno Textiles, St. Paul MN

Exhibit at the Goldstein Museum of Design

Techno Textiles: Inner Space to Outer Space examines many of these innovative materials and how they are being used by leading designers from around the globe. Some of the concepts will feature protective clothing, intelligent buildings that dynamically respond to the environment, luminous wall interiors and interactive digital displays that are part of the furniture upholstery, as well as fabric balloons used to ensure interplanetary probe vehicles land safely on the surface of Mars.

From ferroconcrete to plywood and plastics, new materials have always inspired designers to innovations in design. The past several years have seen a more far-reaching revolution in materials science and development than at any time in the past. Although many of these innovations involve the highest level of material science and manufacturing finesse, a recent surge in interest has favored so-called “naturals” or organic and sustainable sources, such as fabrics made from recycled plastics, corn-based cellulose, organic polymers and other sustainable chemistry.

Information and photo courtesy of The Goldstein Museum

The Goldstein Museum of Design at the University of Minnesota
241 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
612 624-7434
goldstein.cdes.umn.edu/index.html

The Old Fashioned, Madison WI

Celebrating the culinary traditions of Wisconsin. And doing it well. The Old Fashioned is all about good Wisconsin food. Not just brats, cheese and beer. Don't get me wrong, there's fried cheese curds on the menu (and they are amazing) but so are lots of other local specialties. Who knew that in Wisconsin a fried egg is a burger topping? And who knew it tasted so good???



It gets pretty crowded, especially on weekends. But it's worth the wait. Try one of their takes on the Old Fashioned cocktail. There are a few variations to choose from and it seems they're coming up with new ones all the time. For brunch, I'd highly recommend the Wisconsin Benedict, as seen below. It is offered with sauteed market veggies instead of the bratwurst patty for those of you who don't love sausage patties as much as I do.



The Old Fashioned
23 N. Pinckney St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-310-4545
www.theoldfashioned.com

Door County Confectionary, Fish Creek WI

A quaint little confectionary with so much delicious chocolate and candy. Seriously, they have an entire clawfoot bathtub full of salt water taffy. I wish my bathtub was full of taffy.





Door County Confectionary
Fish Creek, WI and other locations
www.doorcountyconfectionary.com