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Modern Furniture Made From Volcanic Rock by Maffam Freeform of Latvia.






The Manu series of products from Maffam Freeform, a workshop of the Latvian interior designer Raimonds Cirulis, is made from Volcanic rock (basalt) fibers bonded with eco-resins. Each item is one-of-a-kind, practical, and 100% handmade.





The furniture collection is designed for the outdoors but can also be used in large indoor spaces. The seats, tables and other products in the collection are waterproof, sturdy, environmentally friendly, unbelievably light, and distinctly innovative due to the properties of basalt.









The company, Maffram Freeform, offers hand-made furniture for garden or terraces, as well as stylish design objects. "I wanted to find and think of something unique. Something new and I did it," says designer Raimonds Cirulis. He is the first person in the world to make furniture from basalt fibers.





The designer has managed to develop 17 types of design objects. The furniture is light, but stable, and has the unique basalt lace pattern. Two identical objects are impossible to make, because every piece of furniture is 100% hand made.




Uniqueness lies in two important aspects. Firstly, basalt absorbs all kinds of harmful rays - ultraviolet, radio, electromagnetic, mobile phone, even the earth gravitational radiation and X-rays, emphasizes the designer. So people are protected when they are relaxing in basalt furniture from many things which can negatively affect them. Secondly, basalt is unusually durable - even stronger than fiberglass. Therefore the furniture will last for generations.

"This furniture not only takes a practical, utilitarian function, but with that comes story of its unique design and mysterious volcanic origin. Every product have it’s personality," said SIA "Maffam Freeform" project manager Karlis Parsonoks. The company focuses on three main customer groups - hotel, leisure center, restaurant owners, people who are able to pay for a unique design, interior design showrooms.



Note: The Manu Nest suspended chair will soon be available in the two sizes shown above.

Maffam Freeform is a workshop of the Latvian interior designer Raimonds Cirulis, creating unique items from basalt fibers bonded with eco-resins – true synthesis of art and technology. Each item is one-of-a-kind, practical, and 100% handmade. More than 10 freeform pieces are included in the 2011 Maffam Freeform collection, with new items added monthly.


Maffam Freeform

Elegant Designer Travel Accessories for Scooters and Bicycles By JJ Scholl.





Stylist and blogger, JJ Scholl, has created a beautiful line of classic and vintage-looking accessories for scooters and bicycles inspired by the jet-set lifestyle of her great uncle, Dr. Scholl (yes, THAT Dr. Scholl - the foot care guru who was, himself, an adventure traveler).



Classic Americana heritage reinvented for the modern traveler, her designer scooter accessories are for wanderlust spirits and refined commuters. With two pieces in the collection thus far, she has captured the luxury of old world travel combined with the tasteful design of modern stylish accessories.

Rive Gauche case:

above and below: 14 x 10 x 10 inch 
interior, laptop and smartphone storage, universal fastening straps adheres to any scooter or electric bike, some cruisers $380 USD


Serengeti case:

above and below: 14 x 10 x 10 inch 
interior, laptop and smartphone storage, universal fastening straps adheres to any scooter or electric bike, some cruisers $380 USD


Shop for JJ Scholl Designer Scooter Accesories

Maddie the Coonhound. A Beautiful Dog On, In and Around Things Across America. 33 Photos!






Be prepared to be enchanted by Maddie The Coonhound, a super serious project about dogs and physics.





Commercial Photographer Theron Humphrey of Atlanta, GA is a visual storyteller with a wonderful portfolio that captures the spirit of America with his images and portraits.




One of his projects for This Wild Idea, a group of people who document their travels across America with daily photographic journals, features a loveable looking coonhound named Maddie on top of things, literally.







Wonderfully composed photos from all across the country with this beautiful dog, balancing, posing and punctuating places in America.























All images © Photographer Theron Humphrey
At the time of this article, 91 photos (11 pages of images on tumblr) have been posted, with new ones appearing almost every day. And I just can't get enough of them.

It's begging to become a book and I'm sure it will be. Until then, the beautiful images are available to purchase as prints.

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