Builder's Delight

Work in progress in Bison Pialligo

Right now I'm mopping out water as it floods in to the studio from torrential storms. Our painters have had to stop as we have had two blackouts and I can't pack kilns unless I do it by candlelight! Anyhow...I always consider starting jobs close to Christmas to be the domain of the mentally unsound (I'm placing myself in this category) and this year has proven to be no exception. They say change is as good as a holiday but frankly I'll be needing medication after this is sorted! I guess a clean slate for a space is always a great way to start a busy period but at least I'll have fun setting it up. Come by and visit...we'll be operational again as of tomorrow (Thursday) in Pialligo. As an added bonus if you get high from the wafting odour of paint you'll be in heaven.

Full of Mirth (Hong Kong)

In a former stool factory in Hong Kong sits a great design store called Mirth. Kitted out with fantastic pieces from books to linen, toys to design accessories... and now Bison! Well actually we have been supplying Hong Kong with our vessels since early this year but a new shipment is about to land in-store next week. I've always loved the energy of this city. It has a strange hybrid nature which marries tiny twisting alleys to the hurly burly of a major financial capital. My Uncle had a home on the Peak and his children often spoke of the cable car which took them to the top. 

Mirth is one of those spaces which, miles apart from the generic mass-luxury stores, puts some individuality back in to the retail scene. To have a large amount of space in this town is a rare privilege... one I'm sure which is not lost on those who visit this 1960's warehouse-style venue. And their selection of colours from us is exquisite! 

Where to find it:

MIRTH
The Mezzanine Floor, Yip Kan Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
www.mirthhome.com
Open Monday - Friday (10am-6pm) and Saturday (11am-6pm)

Parking available at the Wilson Car Park next door.

Feeling Good. George Michael with Dita Von Teese

Warning: This video contains images of semi-nudity which some viewers may find offensive. I don't! 

Last year I was fortunate enough to go with one of my closest friends to see George Michael. Yes, the 80's were very good to me! It's a great experience to see a musician live who has developed in tandem with the rest of his generation. What amazed me was that there was such a massive cross-section in the audience. You had baby boomers, the pre Mardi Gras crowd, and a huge number of newbies (18-28 year olds). 

While some people find Dita to be ultimate Vargas pin-up I think she has an incredible 40's glamour fused with serious control of her own image. I have always admired performers who are multi-disciplined and she is no exception to this. While George has morphed from the 'writ large' t-shirt days of Wham to an outspoken advocate for social issues, Dita straddles the world of burlesque and couture with aplomb. Power to them I say although I don't think strapping yourself into a tiny corset would be good for your health!

Thonet #18 Chair

Many people ask me how I manage to find so many 'scoops' on Ebay and Etsy. I must be honest and simply say that being a night owl means you spot items that everyone else misses. (This is owing to them having a normal sleep pattern!) With kilns to check and our busiest time of year rapidly approaching it's pivotal for me to be organised. Some of the best relaxation I find is trawling through the recesses of 'vintage' and 'industrial' furniture on auction websites. 

Dining chairs can be a real dilemma. If you have a rustic-style table as I do (with planks on the top) it's very easy to be fussy with modern chairs or try to be too clever and go heavy industrial. Sometimes the best solution can also be the simplest. That is definitely the case with the Thonet #18 chair. This classic design (over 150 years young and counting) ticks all the boxes in terms of visual and physical appeal. Sweeping uncomplicated lines make it look fluid and organic. The firm seat gives it great utility and the model comes in a plethora of colours. Back to Ebay... I spent an evening 3 years ago tracking down Bentwood chairs. I found a cafe that was closing and purchased 25 of them. I'm planning a dinner party in the near future so who knows... I may even give you a chance to appraise my styling efforts.

Ho No! It's that time of year again...

Just when you think you've seen that last bedraggled Christmas wreath come off a neighbour's house it's time for the cycle to start up again. In a strange version of Groundhog Day we seemingly repeat the exact same pattern year after year. The only thing that changes is the guest list at the random parties which populate the 'silly season'. While this puts me in the dangerous territory of sounding like a grinch I actually love the whole build up to Christmas. I think it comes from seeing your nieces and nephews react with such excitement counting down the days till they can maul a pile of shiny toys and dresses. 

Bison Decorations.  Image: David Plummer

Growing up in the country we had the 'Carols by Candlelight'. This ritual was the equivalent of giving a pack of matches to a pyromaniac (or several hundred children under 7!) Small wonder the local CFA Brigade stood by with a tanker. Apart from the annual butchered pine tree and it's sticky, yet sweet aroma, what stood out for me was decorating the house. Possibly I should have seen the warning bells at a younger  age but doing the tree was always my responsibility. I also remember being concerned that people could see up the angel's dress. What brings me to this point is that we are now making our decorations... including several new ones... as we have done at Bison for the past ten years. What started out as gift tags for nephews has morphed to become a annual event for all of my staff. If you drop by our Canberra store and peep in the studio window you may even see our elves making some!

Ho...Ho...Ho!!!!

The last one standing

Pillar Candles by Illuminate

Just as restaurants open and close with frightening frequency, so to do the workshops of designers. I was reflecting a with a close friend on my first trade fair in Sydney in 1998. Apart from the fact that there were only about 5% of the companies with Australian made product, I was struggling to find any that were still operating. Sure people can build up companies and sell them on. They may even get a divorce, have a mid-life crisis and move to Byron, or just get tired of the ridiculous stresses of modern business. I haven't succumbed to any of the above (but who knows what the future holds!) but the people I admired are obvious by their absence. 

One such company was Illuminate. Originally established in Balmain, Tiffany and Amanda were the precursors of the whole emphasis on interior soft lighting 'mood' . They made amazing pillar candles in a palette of shades which worked in with the whole 'minimalism' and 'zen' aesthetic. The squads of imitators may have hastened their demise but to me they were inspirational. I don't know if any of my readers recall their candles but I have just located a website listing them as available again. The saying 'everything old is new again' springs to mind. Have a look... you may spot an old favourite! www.illuminateonline.com.au

Scented Mosquito Candles

The Colour Field

Image: Anders Gramer

Once upon a time a fledgling designer (and former ancient historian and archaeologist!) was tentatively showing his wares at the Kingston markets in Canberra. A lovely young woman expressed an interest in the designs and the colours we were using. Turns out she was the style editor for Vogue Living and a month or so later my first bowls appeared in the magazine. The Museum of Contemporary Art Store took our range to use with the Yves Klein show and the rest... as they say... is now history! 

Several things about this story stick in my mind. Firstly, she could see past the fact that my pieces were fighting a duel to the death with a tragic green gingham fabric I was merchandising with.  Secondly,  that my style was in it's infancy and that someone recognised a kernel of potential in me. While I'm not intending to sound self-deprecating it's important to acknowledge the role of mentors with emerging designers. It's also significant for us to see the evolution of the interpretation of colour and scale as a tool which is often difficult to translate.

Some fourteen years after we first met I take great pride in introducing my readers to Melinda Ashton-Turner's blog... The Colour Field. The images she analyses are beautiful and inspired. Her approach to the proportion of colour in a room is insightful and a good read to boot. In the words of Molly Meldrum 'do yourself a favour' and click on the link for a colour and texture pantone treat! http://thecolourfield.net