March 27, 2009
Profiles // Tihomir Tomic
Posted By: Thea
It’s not everyday you meet someone whom others refer to, in all seriousness, as “the master.” It kind of makes you think of the Jedi Council or a Bruce Lee movie.
The nonchalance dissipates almost as fast as the time zones when the journey to meet a master glassmaker involves flying from New York to Vienna to Zagreb, then driving through Croatia into Slovenia, past the vineyards and medieval churches until finally arriving in front of Rogaska Glassworks, where they’ve been making some of the world’s finest crystal for over 340 years. When you finally stand in front of Tihomir Tomic and he says “all I care about is the glass,” somehow it all makes sense.
Tomic (pronounced tohm-eech) has been developing his craft for nearly 40 years, first as a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb and then as an apprentice to Raoul Goldoni, one of the 20th century’s finest glass masters and the former Art Director at Rogaska. In 1969 Goldoni selected Tomic as his protege, and over the next two decades, they worked together on an array of projects across Europe.
Given the years of training and dedication, you’d expect Tomic to ascribe his achievements to rigor and discipline. The truth is at once reassuring and unnerving: “The technical, you learn in school. You must use your technique to bring out what is inside…and that is unfair. Your technique may be perfect but either there’s something inside or there is not.”
In the small studio behind his house, containing a furnace that he built himself out of spare parts and discarded machines, he still experiments with new design ideas and new ways of working glass. It isn’t fancy, but there he is surrounded by the things that matter most- the pictures of his family above his drafting desk, a few sails, booms and surfboards stretched out across rafters in the ceiling and, of course, his glass.
[Teroforma has worked with Tomic and Rogaska Glassworks to produce its Issi decanters, cruets and candlesticks as well as its collection of single-pull wine stems. They are each made entirely by hand...under the careful direction of a master.]
March 23, 2009
Profiles // Louisa Taylor
Posted By: Andrew
One in a series of Teroforma Profiles. The questions are always the same. The answers, though, are as unique as the people who gave them.Name: Louisa Taylor
Hometown: London, England
Occupation: Ceramist and designer (www.louisataylorceramics.com)
Hobbies: Motor biking, sketching, photography, collecting ceramics
Design philosophy: Simplicity and honesty to form.
Childhood ambition: To be an actress.
Biggest challenge: After completing my first degree in ceramics, I took on a small pottery business in a remote part of the country. It was very hard work, no money, long hours but it was extremely rewarding and the experience was invaluable.
Favorite place: My bed.
Prized possession: My Potters Wheel. It was the first piece of 
equipment I brought for my studio.
Words worth remembering: Multi-functional
Working with Teroforma: I had met Thea - Teroforma’s creative director - through a mutual friend. We’d been kicking around a lot of ideas, but the stoneware colour palette for the Ullu Line Series actually came from a cold January day I spent in Cardiff Bay, Wales. I documented my visit with photographs and focused on details such as man-made and natural contrasts. Colours were inspired by many elements such as the gentle purple haze of welsh slate and rusty fishing boats moored in the harbour.
March 19, 2009
Profiles // Roman Vrtiska
Posted By: Thea
One in a series of Teroforma Profiles. The questions are always the same. The answers, though, are as unique as the people who gave them.
Name: Roman Vrtiska
Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Occupation: Architect and designer
Hobbies: Art, music, mountain biking
Design philosophy: Design is not revolution but evolution
Childhood ambition: More time for playing
Biggest challenge: Making people happy
Favorite place: 45°56′14.825″N, 10°48′56.692″E
[Editor's note - Laggo di Tenno, Italy]
Prized possession: My friends
Words worth remembering: I can’t get no satisfaction
Working with Teroforma: As designers, I think we are inspired by everyday life. Obviously, sometimes inspiration comes from totally unexpected places - objects, shapes, shadows, people, weather…you can be inspired 24hrs a day in every place on earth. What I can clearly say is that my design for the Ekke Carafe & Tumbler mirrors my approach to design and aesthetics quite well: two parts integrated into one piece, working in concert; compact functionality; respect for the visual aspect of the shape as a function itself. I also like the idea of trying to avoid plastic bottles in the household by replacing them with a pure material of the highest quality - glass.
March 16, 2009
Life at the Table // Dinner in Malacca
Posted By: Andrew
This image was taken by Trey Ratcliff in the Chinese area of Malacca along the southern coast of Malaysia using HDR - a photography technique which, as he mentions, is a method by which an image or a series of images are manipulated in post-processing to do things that are virtually impossible with a single aperture and shutter speed. The image highlights a wonderful contrast between the simplicity of the family gathering together to eat dinner and the vivid color and apparent motion of the surroundings. To see the rest of Trey’s fantastic HDR work and to learn a bit more about the technique itself, we highly recommend visiting his website - stuckincustoms.com
March 12, 2009
Updates // Preview of New SS09 Series
Posted By: Andrew
After a few years of trotting around the world in search of artisans and designers in far-flung locales with whom to work on our projects, we felt it was time to look a little bit closer to home for our new introductions for Spring/Summer 2009. Each and every new item we have developed this season is made right here in the US. All the products will be available for sale on the website in the end of April - but feel free to order in advance on the website starting next week. Let us know what you think.
Loft Table Tools
Made from Fallen Pennsylvania Hardwoods
The Loft Series represents traditional craftsmanship presented in a modern idiom, using local materials and local expertise. Each piece was designed by Norwegian designer Thea Mehl and hand-carved from fallen hard woods using traditional methods by master woodworker Bill Baumgartel at Blueberry Hill Treenware in Pennsylvania. The series comprises two sets: a Condiment Set - jam spoon, chutney fork, spreader; and an Hors d’Oeuvres Set - pâté paddle, cheese knife. The specific hardwood type can vary from set to set depending on local availability.
Avva Serving Boards
Made from Conscientiously-sourced New England Beech
The Avva serving boards continue the core theme of complementary angles consistent with our entire Avva range. For this project, we did the design work in-house - it had been something Anna, Thea and I have been discussing for a long time and we knew just how we wanted it to look. Working together with Klaas Armster of Armster Lumber and Ken Fields of Breakfast Woodworks - both right here in Connecticut. All of the wood is taken from either CT or MA and has not been cut down for our purposes, but rather salvaged or otherwise reclaimed. Seemed kind of like common sense to us.
Tarn Coasters, Trivets & Mats
Made from Merino Wool Felt
Having recently returned home to Oslo from a seven year stint in London, Tarn designer Thea Mehl likes being close to friends and family but admits that the weather in Norway could be better. Turning negative into positive, Thea drew inspiration for the irregular shape of the Tarn series from a small cluster of puddles that collected outside her Oslo studio after an autumn rainstorm. Made from 100% Merino wool felt by Aetna Felt in Allentown, PA, each item is offered in a choice of 3 colors: light gray, dark green or deep blue.
March 11, 2009
Updates // h(y)r collective interview
Posted By: Andrew
If Teroforma were a highly sophisticated yet wonderfully accessible on-line fashion/design publisher, we like to think we might look a bit like Vancouver-based h(y)r collective. What started as conversation about our whisky stones turned into a discussion with Owen Parrot - one of h(y)r’s editors - and a recently published interview with Anna and me about Teroforma and it’s mission. We thought you might enjoy the read. And we know you’ll enjoy their fantastic site!
March 10, 2009
Updates // Teroforma’s Counter-Ad Campaign
Posted By: Anna
Some clown bought Teroforma as a key word and is selling, or not as the case may be, our Whisky Stones. We offer up to the gods of SEO the thought that defensive advertising can be amusing. We’ll keep you posted on how the interloper responds. In the meantime, let us hear your suggestions on new and inventive invectives for our counter-ad campaign. We’ll post the best contribution each week in our counter-ad and give credit to the crafty winner here on our blog. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
February 28, 2009
Perspectives // Just about perfect design
Posted By: Thea
Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985) designed the Bolle series of vases for renowned art glass studio Venini & C. Glass in Murano, Italy in 1967. In his own words, Wirkkala believed that “all materials have their own unwritten laws…the designer should aim at being in harmony with his material.” The incalmo technique is employed to join two “cups,” separately blown, and, as seen here, is used to create a band of color. At least as important as the color in these pieces is the effortless interaction between the shapes - resonant without being repetitive, each offering a context for the scale and presence of the others. In working on Teroforma, we see a lot of design concepts, but it is always useful to have something you can refer to which embodies in one place all the most essential and inspirational elements of your craft. For us, Bolle is the work of a true master at his finest moment and comes as close to perfect design as we have ever seen.