Pieces

Leather Issue

2009-11-23T22:11:00.002-05:00

Hey all, the leather issue is up! Enjoy! Please note that we are going on a hiatus for awhile so the issue won't be updated, however, the news blog will be updated weekly on the last several materials so don't forget to check back!

News

2009-11-04T14:12:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been awhile since an update, I personally have been busy with finding new roommates, finding new jobs and looking for a new website designer and programmer. If you know of anyone, please forward them along, there's going to be some changes to the site that I hope you enjoy! Leather issue will be coming out shortly...after the leather issue, we'll be on a bit of a hiatus due to the redesign, but don't worry, we'll update you on the latest news for all of our previous issues weekly, so stay tuned!

-Jasmine

Interview with Carole Meckes

2009-10-11T22:56:00.002-04:00

Hey there, the interview with Carole Meckes is posted! Hope you enjoy reading and learning about what others are doing to increase awareness on bamboo!

Click here for interview

Bamboo

2009-09-30T02:13:00.001-04:00

The Bamboo issue is out. Enjoy.

Interview with Stephanie Weber

2009-09-14T16:47:00.001-04:00

Hey all, the interview with Stephanie Weber is up! Check it out and leave some comments!

Interview

2009-09-10T16:37:00.002-04:00

Hey all,
Just received an interview from Stephanie Weber for the aluminum issue. Should be posted either tomorrow or the day after! Thank you all for your support!

Aluminum Issue

2009-08-29T04:22:00.001-04:00

Hey all, the aluminum issue is out! Enjoy!

Wolverine Latex Paint

2009-08-21T16:47:00.003-04:00

Who would have thought that rubber and clay could get along so well, but recent studies suggest that by incorporating clay nanoparticles in latex paint, the paint will then become much more fire resistant and overall much hardier. The professors over at Warwick, UK have discovered that when they add in laponite clay with latex, the resulting effect allows the paint to be much more scratch resistant and eventually may even heal itself it it does scratch (kinda like Wolverine). Healing paint? What will they come up with next? [Story Via Materials World]

New Designer

2009-08-19T12:10:00.003-04:00

For all of you that don't know, Teddy has left Pieces to pursue his clothing line. He has been with us since the very first issue and his talent and skills will be greatly missed.

We have brought on Andrea, whose bio you can read on the about section. We are very excited to have her on board an believe that her talent will bring Pieces to a new level. Check out her portfolio.

Potters for Peace

2009-08-11T13:03:00.002-04:00

Remember that article about clay filters? The organization Potters for Peace assist in the production of ceramic water purifiers around the world. The organization is part of the World Health Organization and teaches people in developing worlds how to create these simple clay water purifiers. Like the old saying goes, give a man a fish and he'll eat for one day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime...by spreading the knowledge of these water purifiers, we are one step closer to having clean, drinkable water worldwide.

We need a new cover designer

2009-08-10T20:29:00.002-04:00

Hey there,
First of all, I would like to thank Teddy Soegiarto for working with Pieces for over a year. His wonderful skills have given us at Pieces beautiful cover designs. We hope that he is successful with his clothing line business.

We are now searching for graphic designers...you have a lot of flexibility, creative input and you'll be working for a great upstart 'zine. If interested, please contact me at jasmine at pieces-zine.com

Thanks!

Clay issue

2009-08-05T14:49:00.002-04:00

Hey there, the clay issue is out! Enjoy!

Cool feather ring

2009-07-18T21:47:00.002-04:00

If you're looking to stand out in the crowd with a bit of elegance, then this feather ring is for you. Handmade with sterling silver and a guinea hen feather, this ring will surely stun the crowd and even make these socialites jealous of your style. With this ring you won't need any other accessories, just wear it and enjoy having all eyes on you. You can pick it up at etsy

Sonia Wentser, Master Painter with Feathers

2009-07-09T15:50:00.004-04:00

Painters are always looking to create the ultimate masterpiece. Many experiment with oil paint or water-color, but very few use organic materials to imitate paint strokes. Sonia Wentser, however, took a cue from the Chinese and Pre-Columbian civilizations and used feathers, in lieu of paint, to create her background. Born in 1920s in Russia, Sonia grew up during the rough times of WWII, though her and her husband were able to avoid much entanglement by moving to Brussels and eventually emigrating to Canada. While Sonia had always been an artist she didn't create her first feather painting until 1960, entitled "The Fire Bird". From that first painting til now, she has created over 200 works of art, three of of which are kept at the Musée d'Art Contemporain of Montreal.

This technique is much more than just gluing feathers to the background. As canvas the artist uses a thin wooden board covered with fabric. Not only does the artist have to precisely place feathers on the canvas to create the background, they also have to understand the structure of the feather. Because of their tri-dimensional structure, feathers have their own way of reflecting light and of course the various shapes and sizes adds to the complexity of the painting. Without oil paint or water-color, the artists have to create the effect of paintbrush strokes with feathers. Sonia Wentser still resides in Canada and has a book scheduled for release on these feather paintings.

images copyright Sonia Wentser

Using a Feather Duster to Paint

2009-07-06T21:54:00.002-04:00

While feather dusters are generally used to make your house spick and span, this common household item can also make for a great paintbrush. If you're tired of plain old painted walls, why not add some cool texture to really wow your friends. Just follow the directions below. [How-to Source: eHow]

Materials:
Feather Duster
3 different colors of paint (light, mid, dark)
Roller and Paint Tray
Tarp

Directions
1. Prep your room as you would for any painting. Paint your entire wall surface with the middle tone color. This will become your base color and it should be the tone you prefer. The other two paint colors will add depth and highlights.

2. Keep in mind that feather dusters can throw paint during your application, so cover any surface that may get splattered. Mix and pour one of your paints into a paint tray or onto a plastic plate. Keep your paper bags handy.

3. Wet the tips of the feather duster with paint, but make sure it is not dripping. As you work your feather duster, it will become too wet and the marks it will make will not be as nice. Pounce off excess paint on your paper bags each time you put paint on your feather duster.

4. When painting, try for consistent inconsistency. Work one color around the room using several feather dusters as needed. Do not try to cover the base paint; you are simply adding to the color or enhancing it. You want the base color to come through.

5. When you have completed the first feather dusted color, clean up and do the second feather dusted color. You can work the walls wet or dry. You will have different effects if you allow paint to dry between coats. Again, now you are trying to allow two colors to show through, so this round of painting may require a lighter touch. You will quickly discover a certain pattern or look that will emerge that you favor. Reserve two clean feather dusters for later use.

6. After your complete second round of feather duster painting, pour two more plates--one in your base color and one in your first color. Go over your walls slowly to adjust any areas that are too heavy or too light in any of the three shades. Again, if you have worked the room wet, then do this wet; if you have allowed each coat to dry, do this final pass after the second feather duster painted coat has dried. Your finished look should appear monotone or tonal, but not three obvious colors.

This will give your room depth and a vibrant appearance. And the best part is that you made the room look great with a little ingenuity and creativity. Try it sometime!

Ian Davie, Feather Painter Extraordinaire

2009-07-03T13:54:00.000-04:00

We've all marveled about the beauty of feathers and have used them as part of our fashion, but very few people have decided to take it upon themselves to make feathers even more beautiful. Ian Davies is one such person. While the idea of painting on feathers is not new, the level of detail and intricacy in Ian Davie's feather paintings are what make them amazing. Inspired by the Maori feather drawings, Ian Davie took his outdoor and taxidermy experience and combined it into his art. Surprisingly, Davie had never picked up a paintbrush before he was 40, guess that means he must be one talented individual! Hopefully, we can get an interview with him in the next couple weeks! You can see some of his pictures after the break. You can view his site at featherart.net

[Story Via Mail Online]

All images copyright Ian Davie

Feather Artist Club Razor

2009-07-02T15:56:00.003-04:00

Sure, it's not actually made of feathers (who can shave with a real feather anyway), but for all you guys out there looking for a close shave, this little baby definitely does the trick. The Feather Artist Club Razor is great for barbershops, salons or even at home. While it doesn't come with the blades, you can purchase them in a 20 pack. And hey, ladies dig guys that shave with a straight-edge, makes you seem more like Crocodile Dundee. You can then show your male friends your razor and tell them, "That's not a razor, this is a razor..."

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-28T13:50:00.001-04:00

It's a sad week when the King of Pop dies...RIP MJ, we loved you in Thriller.

Feathers Issue

2009-06-20T00:42:00.002-04:00

Hey there, feathers issue is up! Any comments, questions? Hope you enjoy! Also check out my gallery to see the full cover image.

Winner of Magnet Photo Contest

2009-06-11T12:44:00.004-04:00

The winner of the magnetic photo contest is Megan Michelle. We here at Pieces had a difficult time choosing between the various entrants, but decided on Megan's piece because of the interesting angle of the photo as well as the varied texture of the magnets against the fridge. Congratulations! You can view her picture after the break. Our next contest will be for the cotton issue. Any ideas on what it would be?

image copyright Megan Michelle

Feather Issue

2009-06-10T12:44:00.001-04:00

Hey there! Feathers issue will be out by the end of this week. Things are a little backed up after this weekend. My sister got married after 10 years of dating her boyfriend. The ceremony and reception were really beautiful...Anyway, next issue should be a really good one. Thanks for checking it out.

Possible Pieces Merchandise

2009-05-28T20:29:00.003-04:00

Hey there guys, I was thinking of a good way to increase attention and also to have some products that people can buy from me. I was thinking of
1. Calendar with all the cover images for each month
2. T-shirt with a pieces design on it
3. Actual small printed 'zine for people who actually want a hard copy of the 'zine to have and cherish forever.

What are your thoughts? If there is enough interest I can totally start a store. How many of you would be interested in one or all of these offered on the site?

Official Photo Contest - May 2009

2009-05-11T18:03:00.010-04:00

Starting today is the official photo contest for Pieces. Rules are listed below. The theme of the first contest is Magnets.

Rules

1. All photos must be original and not copyright materials
2. All photos must deal with the theme in some manner (whether actual pictures of magnets, or the idea of magnetism)
3. All photos must not contain any illegal activities (judges will decide on a per photo basis)
4. Any photos containing nudity must be done tastefully (judges will decide on a per photo basis)
5. Entrants can submit up to three photos
6. Winning pictures will be announced 6/7 via pieces-zine.com news section
7. Contest ends 5/31 at 11:59pm

To send in photos please:
1. Do not send anything larger than 1 MB
2. email photos to jasmine@pieces-zine.com
3. In the subject of the email enter: May Photo Contest.

Prizes

The winner of the contest will receive:

1. magnetic poetry kit via Magnetic Poetry
2. six unique magnets from Joy Abella
3. $50 prize money

Cotton Issue

2009-05-07T18:37:00.002-04:00

Hey there,
For all who aren't aware, the cotton issue is out!

Hemp V. Cotton

2009-05-06T02:42:00.000-04:00

Nice little teaser for the cotton issue, a PSA from the 1940s promoting farmers and members of the 4-H club to grow hemp. Original article can be found at BoingBoing.

Daily Show and Large Hadron Collider

2009-05-02T23:23:00.003-04:00

Hey, remember when we wrote about the Large Hadron Collider in our magnet issue? Well the Daily Show covered the project not too long ago. You can watch it after the break. [Article via Gizmodo]

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Large Hadron Collider

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

First 100 Days

Cotton Issue

2009-03-21T15:30:00.002-04:00

There's going to be a delay in the cotton issue as my writers are slowly diminishing. If you know anyone who would like to write for the 'zine please contact me: jasmine@pieces-zine.com

2 articles minimum a month arond 300-500 words.

I will give you the topic a month prior and you have the entire month to write 2 articles.

I also need some one who can redesign my site.

Annnnd some one who can update my blog.

Interview with Janet Goldner

2009-03-09T19:11:00.006-04:00

image copyright Janet Goldner 2002

Sorry for the delay, but Pieces was able to interview Janet Goldner and get a more in-depth look at her artwork via an interview.

Janet had originally started as a weaver and used wire mesh for the base of the image. She created several 3-D images, however she moved to steel due to the fluidity of the material as well as its forgiving nature.

Janet was involved in various social movements such as the civil rights movement in the 50s and the 60s anti-war movement. However, it wasn't until she arrived at Antioch College that she found her true home in Mali. She has been going back ever since and in 1994 received a Fulbright Scholarship for her art. Much of her artwork focuses on the culture of Mali and showing Africa from a different perspective. One of hope, beauty and humanity in Africa. Her inspiration include: David Hare, Eva Hesse, David Smith, Lee Bontecou, Louise Bourgeois.

If you would like to see a permanent exhibit, it is located at The Islip Museum on Long Island in East Islip. The featured work was originally public artwork located in the Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan. Currently, Janet has a studio located in Brooklyn, NY where she creates her art.

David Kappel's reaction to Twitter Magnetic Poetry

2009-02-27T18:30:00.000-05:00

You may remember that we interviewed David Kapell for our magnetic issue. Well after our last post, we wanted to know how he feels about the Twitter magnetic poetry. He states:

"I sometimes feel like a dimwitted parent who gave birth to a kid who spontaneously started speaking French and doing calculus at age three. I love my kid and I'm proud of her, but really can't take a lot of credit for how cool she turned out. She was just born that way."

David Kappel has also been kind enough to send a magnetic poetry kit for our upcoming photo contest.

Twitter Magnetic Poetry

2009-02-26T20:43:00.000-05:00

Something for all you poetry and twitter lovers out there. The company +Good launched Twitter Magnets, which allow users to create a 140 word poem from an assortment of words for their twitter status. You can submit your poems to Tweetmagnets channel, or you can post it on your own account. Looks like David Kapell's song-making invention has truly become a cultural phenomenon.

[Source via The Inspiration Room]

Interview with Joy Abella

2009-02-25T00:54:00.000-05:00

We were very fortunate to get an interview with Joy Abella, owner of Joy Magnetism. She has also has been kind enough to offer some of her magnets for the upcoming magnet photography contest to be held this month. The winner will receive Joy's magnets, a set of magnetic poetry and a Pieces T-shirt.*

Now onto the interview!

What interested you in magnets in general?
Not really sure. I just started buying them wherever I traveled - they're inexpensive and pack well. Friends started to bring back magnets for me. Then one day, I looked up and realized that after living in my apartment for 3 years, my refrigerator was the only thing actually decorated.

What's your favorite magnet piece you have? And how many do you have?
That's like asking a parent to choose between their children. I can't do it. Though, I'll be honest, when I get a shiny new and supertotally cute magnet, that's my favorite...until the next shiny new and supertotally cute magnet comes along.

As for how many I have, that's part of why I started joy magnetism in the first place. I was trying to avoid something dorky like a wicked cool spreadsheet, tagged and sortable by type, color and origin. So, I figured jm was the easiest way to catalogue them. A few years ago I counted, but stopped counting in the 400s or so. So, I thought I'd get about a year and a half to two years out of the blog. But what I didn't count on was that even more people started giving/sending. Or, that'd I'd start giving people money to pick up magnets on their travels. Oh! And there's a possible M&A deal in the works - if my sister's new fridge won't hold her magnets. :-) So, who knows how many I'll have at the end. (I remember seeing some clip about a woman who owned like 35,000 magnets, so I know I'm nowhere near that and I don't really want to be. But one thing I don't do is trade them - which is apparently big in some places.)

What do you look for when you choose a magnet to be featured on your site?
And finally, the question for what I'm looking for in a magnet is two-fold. What I pick for my collection, and what I pick for a specific day all depends on my mood.

When I'm in a gift shop, I look for magnets with my name on it. Barring that, I go for either the heights of cheesiness, or just a really well designed/produced piece. Sometimes, I splurge and get both. But I always leave with something. Or fifteen.

When I'm picking a day's magnet, if I don't have an occasion, or fun story, or a rant ready to go, I see what a "this day in history" search yields, and away I go. If I have nothing in particular to say, I have a steady backup of standard fridge magnets from all sorts of local eateries and businesses to get me through the day.

*Prizes are subject to change

Cool magnet site

2009-02-24T18:51:00.000-05:00

Hey since the site isn't updating at the moment, here's a cool site for all your magnet needs.

Everything Magnetic - great source

Purchase Strange Attractor

2009-02-23T21:42:00.000-05:00

For all of you looking for a place to get that strange attractor from our did you know section, check it out...You can purchase it at Crazy Aaron's Putty world. Check out the video of how it works.

Magnet issue is up

2009-02-22T03:53:00.002-05:00

Hi all, the magnet issue is up! It'll stay up until March 21 so read it while it's on the front page. There's some pretty interesting stuff including an interview with David Kappell, the guy who invented magnetic poetry. Not only that but there's a cool article on wireless electricity.

www.pieces-zine.com

Enjoy!

Baku Skyscraper in Azerbaijan

2009-02-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Plans for the skyscraper are going through and the skyscraper is to be located on Zira Island. The building will mirror the landscape of the island and each of the peaks creates a residential zone derived from the geography of its corresponding mountain. The buildings will be constructed from steel and each "mountain" will contain facilities for private and public functions. These homes are run off of renewable energy ranging from photovoltaic panels located on the roof as well as wind power harvested from offshore wind farms. Waste and rainwater will be collected, treated and recycled for irrigation. Solid waste will be used as fertilizer. All of this is to make sure that the buildings and inhabitants make the most minimal ecological footprint. More information on the project can be found at skyscrapernews.com
Architecture Firm - Big Architects

Tattooed Steel

2009-02-10T12:00:00.001-05:00

Tattooed Steel is a jewelry and accessory store that specializes in creating laser-etched products. All of the designs on the accessories are created by a variety of artists, all of which are extremely intricate and unique. Consumers can purchase bracelets, dogtags and even rings from the company (although these items can be quite pricey). Artists can submit their work to the company by emailing them or posting their artwork on the Tattooed Steel myspace page. The designs are very cool, some of them are reminiscent of graffiti designs while others really maintain the tattoo quality. Perhaps one of the coolest pieces of jewelry you may ever have.

Photo via Racket Magazine

Janet Goldner: Steel Sculpturist in NYC

2009-02-09T23:01:00.003-05:00

Janet Goldner is an African-influenced artist that concentrates on metal sculptures. She has had her work at PS122, Islip Museum Permanent Exhibit and at the Arsenal Gallery. Her work weaves art and poetry into one seamless presentation and evokes emotion via the fluidity of her steel and words. She has traveled around West Africa since 1973, most notably as a Fulbright scholar in 1995 working with artisans and contemporary artists. Janet lives in Tribeca and often acts as a lecturer and panel member for the arts. More of her work can be found at: www.janetgoldner.com.

Photo via Biddington's

Steel issue, Finally!

2009-01-24T16:34:00.001-05:00

After much confusion and hard work, I've finally put up the steel issue (without the help of the web designer)! Woo! Enjoy yourselves!

Diamonds in the Rough

2009-01-20T00:59:00.007-05:00

For most of us, when we hear diamond, we think of something clear and shiny, however diamonds do not naturally have the kind of shine and perfection as the Tiffany's jewels. The company Diamond in the Rough however creates jewelry from the unpolished gem. The rough diamonds give the different pieces of jewelry uniqueness as well as more of an organic feel. For those that have disliked diamonds because of their cold sheen, the rough diamonds may be more suitable for your tastes. That is, of course, if you can afford it. With the cheapest starting at $5,000, these diamonds seem to have already passed the "in the rough" phase.

New Year's

2009-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy new year's everyone! Hope everyone is still having a blast partying it up.
Some news:
1. I'm holding off on the pdf version of the 'zine currently as I'm going to try concentrating on advertising the site and spending money on that route. Hopefully I'll have everything in order to be able to start the pdf versions again.
2. There's going to be some small redesigns in the future, hopefully with the navigation and design. The news page will be on the front page so you can always stay updated.
3. I'm putting a myspace and facebook page for pieces, widget to add as a friend coming up shortly.
4. Other additions to come!

Ho Ho HO

2008-12-25T13:30:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and have gotten all the presents that they were hoping for.

The January issue will be out Jan. 15th, it'll be an awesome issue. We'll be updating the blog more frequently so check it out for some cool news on the various materials we go over. We'll also be making a couple changes to the site so look out for that as well.

We need people to help!

2008-10-11T15:41:00.001-04:00

Our web designer can no longer work with us and we need some help updating the site, especially creating the puzzle image as well as laying out the pages. If you know of anyone, please forward them to jasmine.m.greene@gmail.com

thanks!

Wood PDF

2008-09-26T21:12:00.002-04:00

If any of you are subscribers, the new issue is sent to your email!

Enjoy!

Magazine Delay

2008-09-18T16:17:00.001-04:00

Hi All,
Unfortunately there will be a delay in the pdf magazine due to our designer going through some personal problems. Please wish her all the best in finding a new job! We hope things work out!

update

2008-09-14T15:09:00.003-04:00

Hello there, the wood issue is currently up, looks like the schedule will be changing from the 1st of every month to the 15th to give the designers and writers more time to write and perfect their craft. For the subscribers, you will be receiving a pdf version in your inbox hopefully the 15th. Working out some kinks and seeing what works for everyone. Anyway, enjoy!

New Issue

2008-08-17T13:04:00.002-04:00

The glass issue is out! Thanks everyone who is reading. The next issue will be about wood.

Delays

2008-08-07T21:42:00.002-04:00

Hey all, as you may have noticed there's a slight delay on the newest glass issue as we're still working out some kinks, but all the other issues will be out by the first of every month. Thanks for being patient!

A cute rubber ducky comic

2008-06-24T20:21:00.000-04:00

I found this while perusing my daily comics. A cute comic featuring a rubber ducky going to therapy because he enjoys swimming i coffee. You can read it after the break or at The Wisdom of Moo.

Welcome to Pieces

2008-06-23T09:26:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the first issue of Pieces! We hope that you enjoy reading our research as much as we enjoyed doing it. Come here for any upcoming news about the material in question for that month, updates to the site, contests, as well as news in our regular lives. We hope to keep you as updated as possible. If you have any questions or comments on how to make the site better, please email us!

Hoping to see you for the future issues.

Pieces Team