June – a mixed bag

Normally, I try to be professional and not mix my private life with my business life. Much. But in this case ….. my son inspires me … still.

My son died on the 27th June 2002. 19 years ago – hard to believe when it all seems so fresh in my memory.

Cover of the CD he worked on right up til he passed.

Every year when June rolls around I start out being really sad. But many things happen in this month of weddings, and graduations, and fathers day, etc.

Lots of trees are flowering and doing their thing – lovely smells as I am cycling around in my work. Rose bushes in all their splendor also providing beautiful visions crawling up the sides of buildings, fences, AND mmmm the scents.

Then my favorite roses – peonies – are also out!

Then there is SKt Hans (celebrated here in DK), Sommerdans in Fælledparken, five weeks of outdoor dancing starting in June,

the noise of graduates through the streets

In Østerbro, Copenhagen

. https://youtu.be/TP0Cq8kNSvw

This year, the football fans going crazy.

Saw this on my riding through the city for work.

https://youtu.be/ypQjRpNYh3o

Not that I watch it much, but there’s cycling through France on TV (Tour de France).

But all this to give the connection to Shaka, my beautiful, talented son that I am especially reminded of in June to my concrete mini pots that I started doing over 4 years ago.

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  My Zenplanting handmade concrete pots with plants.

It started out with me wanting to recycle milk cartons that we throw out daily, and other single use items/packaging. I started using them as molds for the pots. But then came getting plants to put in them, and the taking care of them them til they sold – hence the name – Zenplanting. I can almost feel my blood pressure dropping as I water them and watch them grow every morning. The taking care of them brings me to Shaka. Reminds me of him. He had such a green thumb.

So, as I get closer to the 27th June, my spirits are lifted.

Pimp your Chandelier – Christmas up yourself!

Claire de Lune® Chandeliers designed almost 10 years ago, were designed to be a fancy alternative to the Chinese ball lampshade.  Reminiscent of glorious, grand chandeliers. How could they possibly be more fancy? Well to be honest, this very simple three-armed version, did get a bit more fancy, in that I designed it also to have five arms.This is Claire de Lune® Chandelier (PP)  made in polypropelene (a relatively eco-friendly plastic).  This started it all back in 2005. So now to get back to pimping…. I had some Mardi Gras beads, and thought that Christmas was the perfect time to make a bit more out of the one I have hanging in my dining room.   Voila! How GRAND is that? There you have it folks – a pimped up Chandelier. If you want one (or three) of these, and you are not in Denmark,  not a problem to ship – as with 99 percent of my products – they come flat pack, through our Etsy shop.  And you support our initiative on reducing the CO2 levels by agreeing to assemble them.  (Instructions are included of course)  And if you get stuck, you are ALWAYS welcome to contact my by mail, Skype, phone. VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS Claire

Baubles for Christmas – DIY glittter bulb

Here’s how I made a glitter bulb that looks like a bauble.

   

A bit of white glue, a brush, and a bit of glitter.  Paint the glue on your bulb (don’t recommend using more than a 40 watt bulb).  Right after, shake the glitter all over the bulb where there is glue, and voila!

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But if you don’t get to make your own glitter bauble, try one of our other Christmas products from our Etsy shop (accentcph).

We have a line of Christmas products – called CHRISTMAS TIME.  They include baubles made of upcycled acrylic – made from the leftover of our production of Claire de Lune Chandelier.

We added two new products this year – Merry Christmas in three languages (Danish, English, and the middle language French, Spanish and Russian), and Three Wise Men. In clear transparent and transparent grey.

Merry Christmas!!!

The IT factor

Nike says    JUST DO IT

Folks have sung    Let’s DO IT

As a self-taught designer, it’s always been a longer and difficult process to name  (and market) my products when I get ready to go market.  The designs usually come very easily and quickly.  They are usually the result of an “AHA” moment.  Then there are the mockups, testing of the idea, the prototyping,  tweaking,  testing, the pre-production,  re-tweaking.   But then, when I am NEARLY ready to put it out, then what?

What do I call it? How do I package it so it’s attractive, appealling?  How will the retailers display it, and store it?  Will the consumers like the product as much as I do?  The packaging,  will they be as excited as I am about it?

The latest new products from Accent have that IT factor.  Their name suggests exactly what you do.   And much like what I think the Nike spirit is about, what comes along with the name is a sense of individuality, empowerment in YOUR choice, your choice on where to hang your lighting.

One of my other products – LOLLIPOPS – my version of the colored cord pendant lighting, which I thought answered a need to have an easy, (plug and play) solution to a simple lighting idea.
I added a plug at the end, so it was ready to use.  And on the models I give thumbs-up for, I have added a switch (allowing the user to easily turn it off and on without yanking it from the electric socket every time).

LOLLIPOP

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So here I am – “Just doing it”  –  I am hereby launching my two new products:

WALL:IT
There are five models: Basic (shown above), Mickee, Trio, Torch and Chand
Shown above with Lollipop with a switch.

WALLIT

WALL:IT received runner-up award status in the prestigious A’Design Awards, Italy.

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Then, here is  TABLE:IT

Shown above with decorative bulb.  But can also be used with a lamp shade.

Table:IT  like WALL:IT has a support function.   It complements any cordset with shade holder,  (like our Lollipops, above).   The Lollipop is connected to the TABLE:IT, with a decorative naked bulb,  or as show above, you can add a simple lamp shade (like our Barrels).

The third  product  lined up and  coming in the IT collection – is  – Floor:it
Coming up …….

In the meantime,  have a good summer,

Claire

 

 

 

Collection CSR

Here I go again, mixing materials with something unexpected – (recycled) pieces of acrylic with leather, rope, cord! This CLAIRELY upcycled jewellery collection is called CSR – so named because of the materials used to create this collection with UPCYCLED ACRYLIC. The pieces of acrylic are upcycled through careful and meticulous planning, from the waste of the production of my Claire de Lune Chandeliers.
This collection is inspired by the unexpected invitation to participate as a member of the designer delegation chosen to represent Jamaica at LONDON FASHION WEEK Feb 2014. The collection represents a tapestry threaded together with colorful Cords, Strings and Ropes, it will be shown at the International Fashon Showcase, Thread Bare, a fashion show taking place at a reception at the Jamaica High Commission.
Leather string wrap bracelets with upcycled acrylic tell stories – You and Me, Hearts, and other stories – these bracelets are called Stories Strung.
Colorful ropes lend themselves to all kinds of combinations, the upcycled acrylic, they complete a striking neck piece.
Cotton cords, finger crocheted make the basis for wonderful choker pieces adorned with upcycled acrylic, ready to adorn and dress up any T-shirt.
My work swings between semi-mass-produced and one-of-a-kind, trendy, timeless, and fashionable items. The jewelry and practical products I make are FUNKTIONAL (fun, funky and functional). (See www.accent.dk)  A key consideration in my work is that I am very conscientious about the quality of materials I use and the attentions to detail. I am also very insistent on responsible disposal of whatever waste I cannot use in production.
I create contemporary acrylic jewellery that reflects my influences, inspiration and identity. Through this collection CSR, I am inspired by the qualities that rope, cord, and string bring to my collections.
CLAIRELY upcycled jewellery has been featured in ELLE, Alt for Damerne magazine, (DK), several design blogs, and several times in the Observer (JA).
“Value things not for what they are worth, but for what they represent and thus worth to you” – unknown

You wanna come, don’t you? You are invited!

LONDON FASHION WEEK is next week, from 13-18 February 2014.

Our award-winning upcycled jewellery line – CLAIRELY – is off to London, with Accent products in tow.

The IFS 2014 is an initiative of the British council and the British Fashion Council in parallel with London Fashion Week.

The Thread BareShowcase where CLAIRELY UPCYCLED JEWELLERY will be part of a fashion show at a reception featuring Jamaican designers, is sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Tourism Enhancement Fund with support from British Airways. The Jamaican High Commission is the host for the opening reception and fashion show. Organized by JBDC.

You are invited to visit us at The Gallery, 32 Dover Street, London W1S 4NE, where we will be from 10Am til 6PM , 13 February through 18 February, this showcase will be open to the public.

See you there.

Castles and homes, our third time. See you there?

(Did you happen to notice that our mirror Chandelier is featured on the posters for the event?)

Wednesday 5 June – Sunday 9 June, 2013.  All days from 10-18.

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Bente Bitton and I have been preparing for this show for a long time, it seems, and now we are ready for you!

Bente Bitton is from Denmark. Her modular rings have been nominated “Brand new Copenhagen” in 2010 at an international jewellery and watch trade fair.

I met Bente through one of my friends that had met Bente’s boyfriend, and who both thought we two should meet. Yes, I know, it WAS meant to be. And it was!
We met, and ever since, have been great sparring partners.

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We both work in laser-cut acrylic, and that is our (starting) common denominator. The more we meet, the more we find other things that we have in common.Bente makes these fantastic modular rings that has parts in silver and colored acrylic that you can change as you like.
If you don’t already have a ring, come and try one, and see how easy it is to assemble and change to suit your wardrobe or your mood.

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We will have the full range of award-winning DECOR and JEWLLERY, so come and see our new collection, and signature chandeliers as well as our other products.

We look forward to seeing you here – at Stand E-145

Claire

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How many shades of grey?

GREY CHANDELIER, GREY CORD,
GREY SOCKET, GREY CEILING CANOPY

OK, so the cord is really transparent (but it looks grey).  And the socket is really chrome (that’s a kind of grey, isn’t it?).

And here you have it…… five-arm chandelier in lovely shades of grey

(45 x 55 cm,   2 mtrs cord,   E27, 220volt,   7.5 x 11 cm transparent ceiling  canopy)

Retail price:
1875 DKK
360 USD
250 EURO

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Win a Barrel, win two Barrels! competition

Finderskeepers is now – Saturday and Sunday.
Award-winning Claire de Lune Chandeliers, and Barrels will be there.  As will we  🙂

Here is how you can win a Barrel,  maybe TWO Barrels.

(Two Barrels together, matching or not, are great over a dining table, in a window sill, as bedside lighting, or separate.  As you like).

To be eligible for a drawing – there will be 2 drawings over Saturday and Sunday –

1. join our mailing list –

and

2.  ‘like’ our FaceBook page.

If you do this via the internet (not in person at Finderskeepers), your name/email address will be added to the pool of entrants old-school style (on a piece of paper).  Then at 6pm each day, we will draw 1 name from the pool, and the winners, if not present, will be contacted through their email address.  Winners can collect their barrel at our stand on Saturday/Sunday, or Barrels will be sent by mail.

Now to win TWO BARRELS – As a winner, if you send a photo of your Barrel that we can use in our marketing , we will send you another Barrel of your choice.

See you later this weekend.

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My home is my castle

1-5 June in Frederiksberg’s beautiful gardens with entrance on Falkoner Alle, we will be there, exhibiting at Mit Slot Mit Hjem (My castle, my home).  Along with many other exhibitors with products for your home and garden, we will be there with our new products, which we will keep secret for now, and then there will be the ones you remember.

We will be in the same booth with Salamat Interiors with her lovely products from India.
We love!

Launching our  mirror lamp in a smaller version.  Now you can have all the glamour and luxury that is in the BIG chandelier in a smaller version, just right for your bedroom, bathroom, living room, or boudoir.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

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