Current music:

the hum of i-need-some-shweet-ear-phones.

Massive Bamboo Furniture Website update.
So if you have a few grand to burn and love designer bamboo furniture then go check out Tomita design.build. Ken is an old friend from college who has been a road trip buddy and art fiend (friend?) for several years. When he asked me to webmaster for his site promoting his work, how could I refuse? And just in case I came up with some reason he bribed me with his mom's gourmet Japanese cooking. Behind the cut is a detailed list as to the products he currently has available as well as a link to some of his art as well.

Ginkgo - Bamboo Ply Coffee Table
This table was inspired by the form of a gingko leaf and the product of a commissioned design, after which it was an accepted entrant into Show PDX 2006, an art opening put on every year by Design Within Reach to display local designers' work. It was one of two pieces accepted.

Kibako - Bamboo Ply Book Display
Another accepted entry into Show PDX 2006, this piece is really amazing to see in person. Personally I think it should have won best in show that year for its combination of organic, historic, and yet modern design. It really comes to life with a few favorite books strewn about it like oversized leaves. If I ever live in a place bigger than a van I'll likely purchase one of these.

Yama - Bamboo Ply Coffee Table
The Yama table is a good example of the traditional influence in Ken's work (he's also done commissioned pieces for Buddhist monasteries and such.) The over all shape is derived from the Japanese gate--torii--often seen in Japan.

Sumi - Bamboo Ply Coffee Table
The Sumi Table, like the Gingko, uses sumi ink to achieve the deep black stain on its legs. For the artists out there, try mixing sumi with acrylic black paint to create an amazing black paint that applies fluidly and often in one coat. Back to the table, this piece uses the cut offs from shaping the legs as the tabletops. Crafty.

Chabu - Bamboo Ply Bench / Table
This is another favorite of mine and priced pretty reasonably for designer furniture. If you're into sitting on the floor it makes a hand drawing table or workbench, and if you're not into floor sitting... viola it's a bench itself. If you have a kotatsu heating element, think blanket, and two of these, you can whip together a make-shift kotatsu.

Megu - Bamboo Ply End Table / Stool / Shelves
These versatile little guys were made as a wedding gift for some friends and are another great piece for getting into designer furniture. If you have multiple units you can arrange them into shelves, tables, stacked, paired, whatever.

Oyome - Bamboo Ply End Table / Stool
Another end table / stool, the shelf below the table top is handy for books, remotes, and other couch or bedside related accouterments.

Ama - Bamboo Ply Bar Stool
A nice feature of this bar stool is that it can be made to any height. This is a piece that I expect to change a bit in the coming months as it often gets that "hmm" look from Ken. I expect the joinery will be moved around to accommodate more diverse arrangements like the Megu and Chabu.

Oh yeah, and here's the gallery. Some of these things might be for sale, but you know how it is with the one-off art pieces... cha-ching!! Yeah, yeah. I know I haven't posted in ages, but hopefully you guys enjoy taking a look at this stuff. I've done quite a bit of work on his site, like photo arrangements, shopping cart, and general page formatting. Hopefully it will all pay off though as Ken's stuff is pretty sweet.