Museums, Museum Stores, and a Robot

The feeling of cabin fever grows here in Chiberia. Checking in at WeatherSpark, it looks like our last day above freezing was two weeks ago…it was a balmy 37 degrees. Practically shorts weather. Fortunately(?) long Chicago winters are normal and we have a host of indoor options to keep us from going stir crazy.

Chicago is rich in museums. You've probably heard of the large and prestigious ones like The Field Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Art Institute of Chicago, or the MCA. You could spend a whole day in any one of those. But we also have a host of lesser known, more specialized museums...boutique museums, you might say. Here's a few of my favorites:

The Pritzker Military Museum and Library: This museum features a deep and thorough reading library and a great place for interesting discussions, lectures and other events. Learn more about the military and soldiers and the concept of the "Citizen Soldier."

The Surgical Museum: See a recreation of a period pharmacy. Learn about surgical advances and see some truly terrifying historical tools of the trade (the tonsilectomy "scissors" are...vivid)

National Museum of Mexican Art: From historic artifacts to modern sculpture and painting, and fine to commercial art, and everything in between, this one is a colorful gem. 

Plus so many more covering a huge array of topics and missions. The one thing they all have in common...the Museum Store. 

We love museum stores...not just for the souvenirs, but also the decorative objects they sell. It should not surprise you that Gold Leaf is found in many museums across the country – our Charley Harper birds, for instance, can be found in his town of Cincinnati – and we keep an eye out to see what we might be seeing in the future.

Kristin Goldman in the trade publication Museums and More recently had an article about trends in museum stores. Among the three trends she called out were Retro / Back-to-Basic playthings. Toys that are classics or modern twists on retro toys of a parent's or grandparent's day. We call that Nostalgic Notions and we just introduced a line of them this year. 

Our Nostalgic Notions collectibles harken back to a time of non-digital fun. They are interactive...but old-school interactive. This collection moves through either wind-ups or have flywheel motion. From drumming robots to bouncing grasshoppers, all of them are wonderful mechanisms in motion. They ask to be played with, but do be careful the construction of them means there may be sharp points. They're not recommended for children but are ideal for appreciative adults.

Our 2015 Catalog

Our highly anticipated 2015 catalog has arrived and shipped. By now, we hope you've received yours in the mail. We are so very proud to offer you our newly curated collections of high style and unique artifacts, as well as perennial favorites.

In this digital age of NOW NOW, we still find the experience of a book to be very satisfying and natural. Which is why I found Ikea's Apple parody so funny. Mentally replace every instance of IKEA with GOLD LEAF and the soothing nordic accent with a slightly nasal Chicagoan twang and it's almost as though it's about our catalog.

THEMES

Like last year, we have organized our pieces into stylistic themes. Also like last year, however, there's a lot of cross over. After all, what is "Modern Farmhouse" but an appreciation of the "Rough" part of "Rough Luxe" So be sure to browse our entire book to create your own collection.

Let your Walls Play: Texture, color, space filling, art, focal – Vertical surfaces are a given because of the construction of our homes. Vertical art forms have become an important part of who we are as a society. Includes our very popular patent pending Wall Play™ line.

Modern Nomad: Natural materials and textures, earthy colors, graphic natural forms, origin stories, craftsmanship, sustainability – Modern nomad is a fusion of contemporary avant-garde free spirit and the keen savviness of the well-traveled.

Color Brite: Clear colors, transparency, pixelated and geometric forms, crystals, fractures, light, technology, colorful minimalism – Funky and fun, yet bold, serious, modern and hyper-connected.

Bohemian Chic: Indie, hippie, geometry, sophisticated vintage, free-spirited, DIY culture, romantic, sparks of metallics, unexpected combinations – Best known for a clothing fashion trend from the 1960’s, our bohemian chic is updated, stylish and elegant but avant-garde.

Glam Loft: Shiny metallics, bling, upscale, sexy, entertaining, pampered style, shapely, high gloss – It is exactly what you think it is. Pairings of mixed materials in a simplified, upscale setting delivers a punch.

Modern Farmhouse: Comfort, coming home, family, nature, simplicity, rustic chic, upcycling, shape-shifting wood, metal, stonecycling, glass, iron, textiles – The farm is no longer a farm as we remember or imagined.

Modern Social: Playful and sculptural luxuries, desk, home office, gifts that inspire, leisure, entertainment, amusement – We can communicate socially through objects.

Modern Earth: Line, form, texture, color, pattern, repetition – Designed by Nature,
our world is filled with so many wonderful things that bring us close
to our very existence.

Rough Luxe: Industrially chic, scientific artifacts, macabre, darkly elemental, patinated, weathered metals and textures – A charred piece of wood, the remains of a turtle shell or a deer skull may not seem like luxury objects; but, their unique unexpected ‘wow’ qualities attract the explorer in all of us.

AND MORE

We also show off our custom design capabilities for the hospitality / interior design industry, give some DIY tips, and show off a few unexpected combinations. It is a 228 page book of beauty and inspiration. Get yours today.

It has begun...

Under a cloak of secrecy and intrigue we have begun work on the 2014 catalog. Our Warehouse is stuffed to the gills with new product. Flashes of light can be seen under our loading doors. Mysterious sounds emanate from the aisles as space is created and built for photos and our showroom. Our graphic designers gird their loins and buy coffee by the drum to prepare for layout....

Well maybe not that extreme but our neighbors may well be wondering what we're building in there. We're very excited about our new offerings. Keep an eye on this space for some previews over the next few months.

New York

Thanks to everyone for visiting us in New York this week. We are really excited about the outlook for 2010! There was a definite "buzz" in the air at all the trade shows. We saw customers that hadn't attended the show in over 3 years, and we met many new customers. We appreciate your time and interest, and look forward to working together.

Please be on the lookout for our new catalog- we just approved the final proofs today. This year's catalog is quite a departure from our previous catalogs. The products are featured to provide display and design ideas; not just picture items. We think you will be rather inspired. If you can't wait to receive it in the mail, just log in, and view it online. Thanks.