Paraplu Studio

The little bit of magic that occurs between the seasons as sapwood transitions to heartwood is unparalleled. The colors found between the years are truly organic, mimicking them is nigh impossible. Incorporating sapwood’s mysterious grain and unapologetic presence into various components of a piece, to me, is not only enjoyable but provides an elegant harmony of color, texture, and characters. Often considered a disruption to the manicured aesthetics of clean lines and uniformity, sapwood is avoided in modern furniture designs. This bias predicates timber selection and milling decisions by most manufacturers, resulting in higher waste and a mountain of discarded ends often designated for burning. This particular carving reminds me of being a child. Big-hearted, small ego, little legs that took me everywhere, my head always spinning around in wonder. Full of love and hope. *this carved tray is still available if you'd like it. DM with interest.

Our latest creations via a local artist collaboration - Made from a unique blend of wood and clay by Eva Conrad. These versatile trays are ideal for breakfast in bed, hosting charcuterie nights, or simply adding a touch of style to your work or living space. Available now for local pick up in Pittsburgh at espresso a'mano (3623 Butler St, Pgh, PA 15201) or prompt shipping starting Sunday, February 9 via DepositUnknown.com DM for questions or to secure. #ArtisticCollaboration #ValentinesDayGifts

I saw incredible designs that directly create from and feed back into nature at Dutch Design Week. These stood out: ? Studio Roex created stunning spherical art. They embraced 3-D printing with a fully biodegradable material derived from corn starch.?(Nic Roex) ? Machiel Hopman designed a bench of our gardening + circular dreams. The upholstery was dyed with coreopsis that was harvested from an organic farm in 2023; the wood lived several lives before comprising the functional yet artistic bench.?(Machiel Hopman) ??Simone Van Es and Piet Hein Eek meaningfully collaborated to create furniture from the plant ‘Silphy’, or Silphium Perforliatum. The material was used to construct stackable stools. Simone was gracious to personally demystify the entire process for attendees cycling through the exhibit. In that same nook, I was entranced by Diana Scherer’s project that transforms root networks into textiles.?(Simone van Es?? ,?Piet Hein Eek,?Diana Scherer) ??Ben Van Kemenade leaned into ‘what’s past is prologue’. He used a fresh cut tree trunk to humidify + preserve a wood collection in a large triangular case. It honored a predecessor from the early 20th century in a rather genius way. #inspiredByNature?#Eindhoven Kazerne?#DDW24

>Creating with Nature<?? There were a number of artists that looked to nature and amplified it. These artists made Lisa and I take note! ???Space For Sustainability By Design leaned into bio art. This group offered up examples of bio staining with sustainable alternatives made from soil-based bacterium, rather than from petroleum based applications. They also created booklets for attendees to takeaway so that we could attempt to bring these practices to our studio. Our favorite was the ‘material recipe’ zine, which may prove useful in Pittsburgh since we are flush with Japanese knotweed! (@sbyd.space) ??Julie Heij harvested, made, and intricately wove grass paper into her work. It was expressive and beautifully documented in a video so that we could see the whole process from start to completion. Julie also took the time to talk with us about her work; she was such a calming presence in the hubbub that was Klokgebouw Hall 3.?(Julie Heij) ??Rene Siebum is a master of woodwork. We only took one photograph when we visited him at his studio because we jumped right into material sourcing and the importance of knowing your sawyer + your sawyer knowing you. He also expressed to us how every bit of wood counts. Rene regularly makes limited runs of small wares from the remaining bits of larger designs/builds. Thank you for your generosity of time and spirit. (Studio Rene Siebum) ??Tina Stieger and Mark Vrinzen employed the forest and captured the ever-changing colors of it. Their work, although separate, was a reminder that nature puts on a show that we should work with to our biophillic benefit.?(Tina Stieger , Mark Vrinzen) #DDW24?#Sustainability

Thank you, Carrie Nolan-Robson for the feature this week! https://lnkd.in/ea7yMBWS #ShopSmall #Pittsburgh

Hand-built ceramics ?? Handmade furniture. This year we jumped into a creative collaboration with a local ceramicist, Eva Conrad. Together we embarked on a project to design ceramic hardware, which adds to a custom kitchen bench and living room casework. We explored uncharted territory, brainstorming how to connect their beautifully tactile hardware with our builds. Standardization became key. We pondered how to create plus attach the unique handles + pulls, allowing for easy swaps in the future. Perhaps our favorite ticked box: Eva's hardware is for multiple generations under one roof, as our clients specified that one of the cabinet pulls must be approachable for their toddler. Keen to have a custom piece? To begin a project with us, navigate and book with us at the following link: https://lnkd.in/enWEBkhd

We are feeling pretty lucky to live + work in wood in this corner of the world. We recently visited #ThaddeusMosley and #TadaoArimoto at their studios on the North Side. These two wood artists are the most genuine, talented humans around. And then today, we rolled down from our studio in Troy Hill to see Thad’s amazing bronze renderings of a small selection of his woodwork in downtown Pittsburgh. Grateful, indeed. Contemporary Craft | Pittsburgh Cultural Trust | Brian Lang