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People have asked for years why I haven’t launched any lines of furniture/textiles, and it’s always been an easy answer – I won’t design something new until I feel really compelled to. That’s how art and creativity generally work – you don’t just do it to do it. So when we moved to Portland, creating wasn’t a goal of mine until I met a tiny local maker who was doing really incredible Avante Garde things with local resources and materials. And today I’m so proud to show you the first two pieces in my new PNW line called ‘Local Gem TM’, and while we are just finishing the prototypes I’d love to tell you the beautiful story behind them and how they came to be.
This dresser is a collaboration with a maker known as ‘The Bird’. It’s a stunning piece of postmodern craftmanship. The wood was sourced from a sustainably sourced ancient Myrtlewood tree, outside Salem, fallen during the summer solstice (to ensure bright energy). The wood is then air-dried for 2 years, then kiln dried for one, then dipped in the pacific ocean to be finally blown dry by the wings of indigenous hummingbirds. Once ready to mill it’s handed off to our whittler who uses a 5th generation whittling technique that only 6 artisans still do in the pacific northwest, and takes 7 years to make each drawer. They join it together with dovetail details, and mortise and tenon edges, and it’s oiled with the sap from the deciduous manzanita trees from the coast. The craftsmanship is impeccable, and the piece is rich in soul.
The Hardware
While ‘bling’ typically isn’t my thing, these gemstones were too special and they add a rich history to the piece (not to mention a luxe feel). They were sustainably mined in the undersea tidepool caves along the coast outside Port Orford, found inside Kumamoto clams, transported in the mouths of seals to the docks. I’m not kidding. It’s incredible to watch. They are then tumbled by cooking them over a lava rock campfire whose energy lights the closest local town year-round. And what looks to be some sort of transparent string haphazardly on the front of the dresser is actually a strand of my own hair, plucked from my scalp behind my ears, meant to give it more of a personal feel.
The dresser has a 13 year lead time and will retail for $87,000 (with trade pricing or if you are a huge influencer or celebrity we are happy to gift in exchange for tagging/linking/crediting on all platforms in perpetuity). There are no finish options beyond this tone of pink which we feel is universal and can go with any style. To prove it, we’ve styled it in a few spaces for our catalog launch:
Jess used it in her makeover of her friend’s room and it adds such whimsy and energy.
I love how it really brings some energy to the mountain house bedroom. It will be featured in AD this month (on the cover!). I feel like I’m living the dream. THANK YOU!!!
My First Hand-Woven Rug
MY first rug design was intimidating but this piece came about pretty organically. ‘The Bird’ and I were together, and the inspiration just struck. The fibers are made from a mix of Alpaca and Miniature Norwegian goats, both of which are shorn in McMinnville, by an FSC certified livestock farmer (pasture-raised). The wool is then dyed from the Cylandria beets grown on a Wilsonville farm, planted with heritage seeds, and watered with the tears collected from rescued Islandic chinchillas. Their tears of joy are captured during December as they watch hours of Hallmark and Netflix holiday movies – they are SO CUTE) then used to water the beets. Once harvested the beets dye the wool to give that uncomparable hue. The fibers are then woven on a 17th-century loom via Sweden (only 2 remaining left in the world) and takes 62 months to weave (although lead time are running longer right now due to freight, port issues, and gas prices – please plan accordingly).
This rug only comes in the 6×17 size, which we find is the most common. It has an 8 year lead time and retails for $42,300 (again we will do trade pricing of course or gift for free to rich celebrities – Kim K call me!). While it’s certainly a statement, we feel strongly that it can go with any style of home. Here are a couple examples:
Here it is in my guest bedroom at the mountain house. See how the pinks pull the tones out of the bedding. I’m IN LOVE.
Here we styled it in Caitlin’s hallway and it works perfectly with her more playful wallpaper.
So those are just the first two pieces in what hopes to be a really large collection with this local artist/maker.
Thank you all for your support. The outpouring has been HUGE, with no small thanks to our maker/collaborator, ‘The Bird’ (Birdie Henderson). We’ve been working on this every Sunday and Monday night for a while and are both so proud of our work and hope to see it in your homes in 8-17 years. xx
P.S. Here’s a sneak peek of what is coming up next – our custom unicorn and donut wallpaper line (in collaboration with a local bakery, Vudoo Donuts). We are currently in search of a unicorn for our artist to capture their essence for the illustration/repeat. Both are perfect for your playful brutalist or victorian style home. Coming soon, in 2038. xx
The post The Launch Of My New Furniture And Rug Collection – BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, Folks appeared first on Emily Henderson.
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