Leather Issue

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

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

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

The Bamboo issue is out. Enjoy.

Interview with Stephanie Weber

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

Interview

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

Hey all, the aluminum issue is out! Enjoy!

Wolverine Latex Paint

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

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

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

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

Hey there, the clay issue is out! Enjoy!

Cool feather ring

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feathers Issue

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

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