Jewelry That Grows On You. The Incredible Landscape Jewelry of Sarah Hood.

Artist and silversmith Sarah Hood combines miniature scale railroad materials like plastic trees, grasses, bushes and pebbles with sterling silver to culminate is one of a kind pieces that are nothing short of wearable art.



Her expert metal work and unique whimsical style is why several of the pieces from her Landscape Series reside in the Tacoma Art Museum's permanent collection.

Below are examples of one-of-a-kind sterling silver rings, necklaces and bracelets made with miniature plastic trees - some spray painted black-, tiny phony bushes, greenery and in some cases, gemstones. Beautiful detailing in the cast silver twigs and touches like bird toggles accentuate the craftsmanship in these unique pieces.

Many of the following fabulous pieces are available for purchase.





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Her 2001 Living Rings actually used live plants and succulents in tiny terracotta pots upon silver ring shanks:


She also crafts beautiful cherry wood bases to display her rings:



Silversmith and artist Sarah Hood at work:

Sarah's studio and furry friend:

all images ©Sarah Hood Jewelry

In the artist's own words:

"For years I’ve been working within the intersection of archetypal form and the natural world, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces from organic materials. In Landscape, I’ve taken a break from the real natural materials--leaves, pods, seeds--which have compelled my work for many years to create miniature, artificial worlds within the context of jewelry. Working with model railroad landscape materials lets me create tiny snapshots of the natural world, scenes that can trick the eyes into believing they are seeing something much larger. In several pieces, this deceit is challenged by the combination of these small constructed natural forms with full scale, cast sterling branches, buds and leaves which, in material, are equally unreal and illusionary." -- Sarah Hood, Jewelry Artist

In addition to her inventive landscape jewelry/art, she creates what one might consider 'more wearable' pieces in gold, silver and enamel. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are available in her etsy store.

Alexander Girard Prints on Plywood. Classic Graphic Art Goes Green With PLYprints.

For the first time since 1972 Alexander Girard's iconic graphics are now available as wall art, screened onto 14"x14" panels of Columbia's formaldehyde-free maple faced hardwood plywood.



The PLYprints program draws on Girard's history of printing directly on wood in such places as the Compound restaurant in Santa Fe.




Eight of Alexander Girard's classic designs are available on 14" x 14" plywood panels, including two NEW designs: Old Sun and New Sun. Each graphic panel features an iconic Alexander Girard image hand screenprinted with water-based inks on a US-made sustainably-harvested maple plywood panel.




All PLYprints include hanging hardware and have a spacer on the back that allows the panel to float off the wall. The vibrant artworks mix bold colors with the natural graining of the real wood veneers. The wood panels are responsibly made with Columbia Forest Products' soy-based, formaldehyde free PureBond® technology to create a safe and green wood based product for your home.



Three more of Girard's classic designs are available on larger 16" x 20" plywood panels, with wall hanging hardware included. This new size makes a bigger design statement with the same sustainable properties as the smaller wall hangings.



A "Give Love" gift set of six 3" x 3" blocks is also available, all with Girard's iconic "LOVE" design screened in red. Break up the set and "give love" to everyone you love. Alexander Girard (1907 - 1993) created iconic mid-century modern designs for such companies as Herman Miller and Braniff International Airways. His work married the timeless lines of the modern with the playfulness and bold color of Latin American folk art.

The estate chose to work with Columbia Forest Products because PureBond is the only widely available cost-neutral formaldehyde-free plywood panel. Girard had a long history of environmental concerns, especially about pollution, and PureBond technology offers a way to mitigate indoor air problems by eliminating the risk of toxic and carcinogenic VOC's that can be released by composite wood panels made with urea formaldehyde resins.

About Columbia Forest Products:
Founded in 1957, Columbia Forest Products is North America's largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer, a leader in sustainable forestry, and innovator of formaldehyde-free PureBond technology.

Columbia's decorative interior veneers and panels are used in cabinetry, furniture, architectural millwork and commercial fixtures. Employee-owned and based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Columbia employs more than 2,000 and operates facilities throughout the United States and Canada, and an operational network which spans the globe.

PLYprints Concept:
The PLYprints concept was developed in cooperation with Eric Pfeiffer of PfeifferLab, a San Francisco-based design and branding studio. PfeifferLab relies on Eric's penchant for simplicity of form to create useful and elegant solutions for everyday living. It's this pure design ethos, coupled with a casual sensibility that results in timeless objects rooted in a deep understanding of materials and message.

Learn more here.

A Supersized Solar-Powered Catamaran, The Turanor PlanetSolar.

M/S TÛRANOR PlanetSolar is a multihull vessel topped by a large array of photovoltaic solar panels, constructed by Knierim Yacht Club, in Kiel, Germany. Built in 14 months, the biggest ever solar boat has impressive dimensions but is both silent and clean.




The multihull will be home to six sailors during the round-the-world attempt, and can accommodate up to forty people during the promotional trips planned at each port of call.





On its round-the-globe expedition, the TÛRANOR* PlanetSolar will pioneer the use of sustainable energy technology on water. It is different from anything that has happened in the field of mobility to date. This solar catamaran uses the very latest cutting-edge technology available on the market. The intention is to demonstrate that high-performance solar mobility can be realized today by making innovative use of existing materials and technology.





The ideal shape and size of the boat for the chosen route was determined by in-depth research. The PlanetSolar engineers have to factor in a host of parameters – propulsion, solar panel design, energy storage, materials and the external environment.



A whole range of studies will need to be conducted in areas such as the boat’s hydro and aerodynamics, the materials used, the management and storage of energy and, finally, the power plant and optimal routing. It is a concentration of futuristic technology.

* The name TÛRANOR is derived from the “Lord of the Rings” saga by J.R.R. Tolkien and translates as “the power of the sun” and "victory".

Technology



PlanetSolar is a catamaran that runs solely on the energy found in light. Additional removable parts allow it to expose a total of 537 m2 of photovoltaic modules (solar panels) to the sun. This impressive data makes it the biggest solar-powered ship in the world.

Legnth: 31 m
Width: 15 m
Length with flaps: 35 m
Width with flaps: 23 m
Height: 6.1 m
Draft: 1.55 m
Weight: 95 t
Surface area of solar modules: 537 m2
PV panel efficiency: 18.8%
Installed PV power: 93.5 kW (127.0 hp)
Average engine consumption: 20 kW (26.8 hp)
Crew: 6 people
Number of people that can go on board: 40
Autonomy: never-ending solar navigation



Information and images courtesy of PlanetSolar