Since my last blog post, I’ve gotten a lot done, though not as much as I’d hoped. At the moment, I’ve nearly completed the assembly. I just need to glue and wedge the knobs in place, do some sanding, and apply finish to the piece. The first thing I worked on was the drawer fronts.…

I’m already a fair way into my project, but during planning and as I’ve been working I’ve developed a range of specifications and constraints for my project. I review the top 5 of each below. My project is an ornamented mortise and tenon nightstand with drawers. My progress up to this point Specifications Size: The…

For my project, I’m making an ornamented nightstand using traditional joinery. I find myself in an interesting position because I’m already a good way into my project. I’ve designed my nightstand, cut out most of the pieces, and am now midway through assembly. All of that is to say it’s a bit late to make…

Growing up, I was surrounded by many influences. As they pertain to my personal aesthetic, I place them into 5 categories: dedication to craft, resourcefulness, regard for tradition, openness to outside influence, and love of nature. When I was little, both my parents worked and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. They…

Štefan Leonard Kostelničak was a Slovak artist from the first half of the twentieth century. He traveled all around the Czechoslovak Republic (Modern day Czechia, Slovakia, and part of Ukraine) studying folk ornamentation. He created much of his own ornamentation work, both on paper and ceramics, and published several booklets about ornamentation as well. Some…

The inspiration for my upcycling project came from Central European folk ornamentation, and in particular, the work of Slovak artist Štefan L. Kostelničák. Central European folk ornamentation is incredibly varied across different regions, time periods, and even among individual artists. It champions the creativity and imagination of each individual who engages with it. At the…

I drew inspiration from Central European folk ornamentation for my upcycle project. The reason, oddly enough, was loneliness. My family is from Slovakia. Growing up, we ate Slovak foods and celebrated Vilija the night before Christmas. I’m third generation and never went to Slovak school like my mother and grandmother. I only know a few…

Young Bohémienne: Natalie Clifford Barney (1875–1972) at the Age of 10 The word “bohémien(ne)” was first associated with artistic, countercultural people in 1800s France. The association is confusing because the word “bohémien(ne)” or “bohemian” actually refers to three (fairly) distinct groups of people. Firstly, the word refers to Bohemia, an actual region that sat within…

I found this web text from 1912 about lettering and thought it was kind of cool! These days most of our “lettering” is done by a computer, but I’ve found this resource invaluable both for understanding the role of existing fonts in design, and for designing my own! I’d highly suggest giving it a virtual…