Since our last Plywerk show in February, we’ve had fans ask when our next show would be. The show was such a hit, Korinne and I have decided to make it a continuous event. We’re calling it the Plywerk Artist Series, and the next online show is just around the corner!
Our next show features works from photographer Anthony Georgis and artist Jill Bliss. All artwork is limited edition, so be sure to snag your favorite ones early. Show goes live Friday, September 18.
Photo by Anthony Georgis
When Korinne and I met in 2006 , I was teaching high school art and Korinne was making handprinted wedding invitations. Neither of us had a business degree or significant work experience in the retail industry. We were two artsy moms in Portland, Oregon who happened to like the same quaint independent lines and found a shared mission of seeking out the best handcrafted, socially responsible products.
What we’re about is defined by our name, Olio United. Olio means a miscellaneous collection, which represents the large group of designers we have worked with (over 150 in the last two years!). United stands for our vision to partner with designers and to share their stories with you.
It hasn’t been an easy road the last few years following our “calling,” but more than ever we are committed to this idea of sustainable living and figuring out just what that looks like. We’ll be the first to say that we don’t have all the answers. Is bamboo really sustainable if it has to be shipped from China? Should we only buy made in U.S.A. products? What we do know is that we need to continue dialoguing about this so that we can make the best choices for ourselves and those impacted by our decisions.
In the words of Robert Frost, we are taking the road less traveled, and we are inviting you to join us. Through our blog, we plan to feature local designers and businesses, show you studio visits and home makeovers, and bring you the lastest product finds. We also look forward to hearing from you, our readers! We love inspiring stories about living responsibly, favorite indie designers, and green home renovation projects.
If you haven’t already done so, you can sign up here to get our latest blog posts via email.
Thanks for participating in our giveaway everyone! The trunk show was a great event for us and hosting the giveaway added a little extra fun. We have selected our winner (via random.org) and Kirin Reinehart was selected!
Kirin resides in Northern California and is a blogger, BBC lover, and vintage shop troller. Fashion, art, design, and traveling the world are her true passions as shown through her blog Rakish Beaute. Kirin will be hanging her planter and succulent in her office above her bamboo desk, I’ll post a pic to our flickr page asap.
For those of you that did enter our giveaway and didn’t win, don’t fret! We have something special coming your way in just a bit.
New additions: Cast Kerr Planter and Votive, plus Marsupial Pot
We’re getting such a great response to Pigeon Toe Ceramics’ new garden and patio collection, we decided to add three more styles to the Home Trunk Show. Two of the new products are vintage-inspired renditions of Kerr mason jars. The third addition- my personal favorite- is a unique double pot design appropriately called the Marsupial Pot.
When I visited Lisa’s home studio a couple of weeks ago, I actually couldn’t help but notice the Kerr Votive Lanterns first. There was a stockpile of them in a big box. Came to find out that they were for Lisa’s Sauvie Island wedding! How perfect!
Like many brides’ homes, Lisa’s place has been converted into a creative wedding production center. Take a look at the terrariums Lisa recently put together for centerpieces:
How beautiful, simple, and practical! They ‘ll be given to family and friends as thank-you gifts. Maybe I’ll have to crash the party after all!
Lisa’s new garden and patio collection is currently available only at Olio United. The Home Trunk Show ends Sept. 6, so don’t miss out on getting a lovely handmade piece for your home.
Laurie Freivogel taught herself how to fuse glass in 2005 by buying a few how-to books and some supplies. Soon after, she began her own fused glass business called Kiku. See Laurie make a ring and a buckle here.
We started carrying Kiku belt buckles in our shop a couple of years ago. Since then, Laurie has expanded her handmade collection to include home accessory products. My favorite Kiku items are the coaster sets depicting a collection of vintage bicycles, cameras, or chairs. Perfect for the collector in the family!
Starting tonight at midnight, you can shop Kiku’s collection and five other home product lines in our six day Home Trunk Show. And if you subscribe to our email updates, you’ll get an additional promo code to use this week only!
Coral Reef, new design from Hammocks and High Tea
Anyone with an oxymoronic name must be cool (hello, Olio United). So when we first stumbled upon Hammocks and High Tea, it was no surprise we were taken with the handmade home goods collection out of Brooklyn. The hand printed textile and stationary products are all designed by Karen Young, who established the home accessories line in 2007.
Inspired by her culturally rich childhood in Guyana, South America, Young’s patterns and graphics are a modern take of popular tropical images. I love the look of the clean, bold designs against a minimal background- a smart combination that adds texture and interest to any style of room. Some of my favorite pieces include the graphic ikat and chevron prints.
And if the designs weren’t cool enough, all of the Hammocks and High Tea products are made with eco-friendly fabrics, papers, and inks. Don’t miss out on picking up your favorite, handmade pieces during the the Home Trunk Show, Sept. 1 – 6. Olio will be showcasing Hammocks and High Tea’s recently released Fall collection at an additional 10% off!
Rose Garden Drawer Liner
With all this talk of the Home Show Giveaway, I thought I’d give you a hint of what we’re giving away next month. It rhymes with “sly” + “perk.” (Clever me.) For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, click on the photo.
(film made by Douglas Hollingworth, a Furni + Big Chief collaboration)
Cathy and I have always been a big fan of Furni Creations. This film takes you behind the scenes into Furni’s woodshop in Montreal, Quebec. Mike Giles and Devin Barrette are the creators of this Montreal-based company, creating original hand-crafted and limited edition furnishings. Mike and Devin are grass roots guys, starting their business with the desire to fight against the dullness of Ikea and spice things up with their original creations. They do everything themselves, from designing to sourcing their lumber to cutting, sanding, painting, packaging and shipping. Furni’s clocks and watches have sold out in record time in our shop. We’re very excited to feature Furni’s collection in our Home Trunk Show this Tuesday as we’ll finally have their full collection available (+ discounted!) – a first for our shop!
This is Jill’s home studio, and that’s Jill at top. Her studio is like a candystore for Korinne and I. With exposed shelves and a generous chair rail perfect for trinkets, we can’t help but point and grab. Originally the dining room of her classic Portland home, the light-filled and spacious room has become the ideal studio space for Jill to design, draw, and sew.
Whenever I think of Jill Bliss’ work, it makes me happy- the bright colors, fun patterns, and delicate organic shapes. So, it’s only fitting that Jill’s last name is Bliss! As a child, Jill spent her days in the fields and orchards near her family’s northern Californian home. Although she lives in the city now, Jill’s work and passions are still centered around her love and respect of the natural environment. Her stationary and prints, normally spotlighting a native plant, are printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks, and her fabric goods are reused, vintage materials.
I love what she has to say about this, “the underlaying hope in everything that i do is to inspire others, and to encourage a more thoughtful art and design industry that focuses on local economies, fair practices, reusable or sustainable materials, and less consumption tied to ever-changing trends.”
It always such a joy to collaborate with Jill on a project. We’re excited to work with her on our next two big events- the Home Trunk Show and the launch of the Plywerk art series in September. For the Home Trunk Show, we will be featuring Jill’s affordable poster collection plus some limited edition prints. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the poster designs:
The Home Trunk Show Giveaway runs through September 6. We’re giving away a handmade ceramic hanging planter + succulent! Read the details and enter to win.
