If Walls Could Talk. Timothy Goodman's Mural for the Ace Hotel, New York.

San Francisco multidisciplinary designer Timothy Goodman was among a small group of artists asked to contribute to the mural project for the Ace Hotels.

The uber trendy hotel chain (whose rooms, I personally feel, look like college dorms) has locations in New York, Seattle, Portland and Palm Springs. Known for their appeal to the young and hip, the chain of hotels incorporates plenty of art, design, music and culture in their utilitarian-esque rooms and lobbies. They also have an association with the popular and fun Rudy Barbershops. 
 
Timothy joined the ranks of other artists when he covered the walls of one smallish room in the latest Ace Hotel NYC location with 99 hand-drawn picture frames. Created with black paint markers and paint, he then filled them with images of facts, love, tidbits, items of interest and shout-outs to other folks to represent, in his own words, "the spontaneity and grit of the city."












above photographs by Mark Dye.

Below are examples of various wall murals by other artists in the Ace Hotel, New York:






Timothy Goodman:


Timothy's website
Timothy's blog

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.





detail of above bracelet:



detail of above necklace:



detail of above necklace:




detail of above necklace:





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.

Killer Cosmetics. Ted Noten Creates Feminine Firearms As Makeup Kits.

Amsterdam-based Atelier Ted Noten (known for his unique jewelry designs) has designed the white 'Dior 001' gun and the black 'Chanel 001' gun as part of a larger series entitled '7 necessities for a woman to feel like a woman through the eyes of a man.'

Branded as Dior 001 and Chanel 001, the white and black pistols pack a feminine punch as they double as make-up bags. The two 3D printed nylon guns are vehicles of finding a new language between the 3D printing technique and traditional goldsmithing.

The feminine firearms are retrofitted with hand-tooled 18-karat gold details and loaded with cosmetic ammo. There’s a lip gloss and wand in the muzzle, the loading chamber doubles as a pill compartment (complete with pills, including Viagra), 100 grams of certified silver bullion in the Dior gun clip, 50 grams of 24-karat gold in the Chanel, a toothpick and, in some models, a hairpin and a small vial of perfume. The guns also conceal a 4-gigabyte jump drive.

Dior 001










CHANEL 001:





“Seven Necessities” debuted at Amsterdam's Gallery Rob Koudijs and was exhibited at Art Basel by the Ornamentum Gallery of Hudson, N.Y.



If you purchase one of the make-up kits, Noten’s Atelier can customize it and arrange refills. The white Dior gun costs 8,000 euros, (about $11,500 USD) and The black Chanel gun costs over $17,000. That's a pretty penny for any pistol packing mamma.


ATELIER TED NOTEN
Kanaalstraat 149a 1054
XD Amsterdam, NL +31(0)206895517