You don’t need to be at the Kentucky Derby or a Sunday picnic to sport a well-made hat. A hat can be the solution to a bad hair day, a wardrobe mainstay or a protector from the elements. Hats are used more practically in frigid, windy cities such as Chicago and New York, said designer ElizaBeth Rohloff. But Portlanders tend to wear hats as statement pieces. “You don’t wear a hat so people will more...
Tis the season to begin bundling up. At least thinking about it. Fall is (almost) here. And when the needles do drop on thermometers across Portland this year, an entirely different type of needle will spring up around town. Knitting isn’t anything new in our city; knitters have been calling Portland home for decades, bringing their crafts and needles into pubs, coffee shops and staff meetings. The trend this more...
We all know her. That woman with no money who looks effortlessly chic every time she steps out of her cheap apartment. Rather than $200 tank tops or a 90-minute beauty routine, these days her secret might lie in versatile garments accented by bold cocktail rings and layered metal bands. “They’re a really easy way to punch up an outfit without worrying about necklines and shirts,”said Irina more...
Ever noticed how many bumpers around town shout out “I HEART Wood”? Portlanders love wood and working with it. My own love affair with woodworking was short-lived. I still have the squirrel bookends and oversized key-shaped key holder I sawed and sanded (and sanded) for shop class in sixth grade. These days, I’ve retired the drill press, table saw and sandpaper in favor of the local talent’s more...
Last month you planted the seeds and starts. Like Mother Nature, maybe you were a bit behind kicking off the sunny season, but all those extra showers will soon (if not already) yield plenty of the late summer flowers we suggested for your last-minute cutting garden. And what better way to show off those blooms than in a beautiful locally-made vase? We’ve found six unique lines crafted, like your flowers, more...
Update: Be sure to check out our latest terrarium article featuring classes, kits, exquisite vessels, materials galore and, of course, plenty of pre-made selections. A couple (or so) decades ago, I had a terrarium. It sat beside my red Magic 8-Ball radio, providing shelter for a few ferns and my favorite plastic frogs. Occasionally, I’d remove the top to pinch a frond or introduce a new frog to my sweaty, more...
Moh-buhl. Moh-beel. However you say it, the effect is the same. Mobiles add a dash of kinetic intrigue to any space they grace. And these days, those spaces aren’t limited to above the baby’s crib. Taking a cue from the form’s creator, Alexander Calder, three Portland artists are enlivening homes, offices, hospitals, schools, nurseries—even faraway palaces—with their creations. Your more...
When you think of innovative architecture, you may think of the Netherlands, Barcelona or even Dubai, but those places can’t hold a candle to Portland, Oregon. At least not when it comes to innovative chicken coop design. It's no secret that animal husbandry is hot right now, but leave it to Portlanders to take chicken keeping to a new level. A bold group of Portland designers—many architects by more...