Hasta La Ideas

Tonight! Core77’s Hand-Eye Supply Curiosity Club enthusiastically welcomes Frank Novak of Modernica, Inc.!

Tonight’s talk starts at 6pm at Core77’s Hand-Eye Supply store in Portland, OR. Come early and check out our space or check in with us online for the live broadcast!

Frank Novak (Modernica, Inc.)
How to Make an Eames Fiberglass Chair? The History & Revival of an American Icon
Hand-Eye Supply
23 NW 4th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
Tuesday, May 14th, 6pm PST

Frank Novak is the co-founder of Modernica, Inc. Modernica owns the original presses and the original preform machine that were used by Zenith Plastics for Charles Eames production of Herman Miller chairs. Their preform machine is the only such machine in existence. Both the presses and the preform machine are the very same pieces of equipment used to create thousands and thousands of chairs since their very first run in 1950 and now sixty years later, these seminal pieces of equipment are located at Modernica’s new Los Angeles factory.

From the Modernica Archives

From the Modernica Archives

From the Modernica Archives

Frank Novak grew up in Omaha Nebraska where his family owned car dealerships from the 30’s to the 70’s, and an antique store from 75 to 2001. He went to Goddard College, Evergreen College and New College of California. Frank moved to California in 1986 and worked as a set builder and production designer for Roger Corman. He was the Art Director for Woody Harrelson’s first film, Cool Blue. In 2000 his directorial debut Good Housekeeping was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. While working on films he began building furniture and in 1989 founded Modernica with his brother Jay. Together they were one of the first American companies to reproduce out of production mid century furniture. Modernica products, including the George Nelson Bubble Lamp and the Eames Fiberglass chair are sold worldwide. Modernica employs over 100 people in the Los Angeles area at their factory and film prop rental house.

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One of the great joys of running a store is getting to meet and get to know people who are really in love with making things. Red Clouds Collective, who manufacture leather and canvas goods, have the spirit and industriousness that attracts both the eye and heart of us designers. We carry a range of their products and took the time last week to shoot some of them in context to help convey the vibe that their enterprise puts off first-hand.

Check out their products on their website and at the Hand-Eye Supply store!

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This year Germany’s Kaweco (Koch, Weber & Co.) brand celebrates its 130th year of producing fine writing implements. Since their beginnings in Heidelberg in 1883, the brand has survived two World Wars, bankruptcy, a factory fire and a 14 year closure.

1912 saw the origins of Kaweco’s Sport fountain pen, first advertised as a “safety pen for ladies, officers and sports guys.” The following year, the short pocket pen was officially released as the Sport Series with the claim of having the “safest closure in every situation.”

In 1929, Kaweco was purchased by Aurumia, a fountain pen manufacturer with factories based in Baden. Five years later, Aurumia developed the Sport and it took on an appearance very similar to the one we sell today. Due to their convenient size, they became a bestseller, although they faded in popularity in the mid-70s.

Kaweco closed in 1980, and thus the Sport pen disappeared from the marketplace. In 1994 Kaweco was revived by H & M Gutberlet who specialize in both writing instruments and cosmetic products, particularly eye and lip liners.

Gutberlet released a slightly updated take on the Kaweco Sport—the same style we sell today, nearly 20 years later. We carry them in both CNC machined solid aluminum and injection molded plastic bodies.

Here’s our handy pocket guide to the Kaweco Sport:

Click to enlarge; detailed instructions after the jump…

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Last Thursday we debuted our Spring Quarterly 2013 Catalog for Hand-Eye Supply, featuring tools and workwear we’ve selected for their fine use in Spring landscaping and gardening excursions. Starring Lauren Hall-Behrens, the landscape designer at Lilyvilla Gardens and a series of video gifs, we’re excited to get started grooming our greenery. Here are a few highlights from the catalog that are new to us in the store, we thought we’d share them with you.

Using only the best quality stainless and high-carbon steel blanks hot forged by hand, each component of Sheffield made Ernest Wright & Son scissors is individually tempered, hardened and oil quenched. This gives the blade its needed hardness and prepares it for grinding, while the loop or “bow” is left softer for later fine adjustment. The blades are hand-ground and polished, before being assembled by official “putter-togetherers”—a position highly respected within the company for the level of skill and experience required. While Lauren likes to use them for shaping up her shrubbery, they make a brilliant pair of all around scissors, and properly cared for could last a lifetime.

Ernest Wright & Son “General Cutting Out Scissors”
Available at Core77’s Hand-Eye Supply – $45.00

Give it a chance and this cool and calculating object could put half of your garden tools out of work. The ultimate dirt-fighter, Hori Hori knives have been employed by savvy gardeners and gatherers for generations. Japanese in origin, Hori Hori is an onomonopia meaning “dig dig”, calling on the sound of dirty work getting done.

Nisaku Stainless Steel Hori Hori Knife
Available at Core77’s Hand-Eye Supply – $35.00

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Core77’s Hand-Eye Supply Curiosity Club is excited to present Trevin Miller of Mr. Green Beans, Portland’s D.I.Y. coffee roasting guru!

Tonight’s talk starts at 6 at the Hand-Eye Supply store in Portland, OR. Come early and check out our space or check in with us online for the live broadcast!

Trevin Miller:
Mr. Green Beans “Home Coffee Roasting – It’s That Easy!”
Hand-Eye Supply
23 NW 4th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
Tuesday, March 19th, 6PM PST

Home Coffee Roasting is fun and easy. For a modest price and very little to no investment in specialized equipment, you can turn raw green coffee beans into a spectacular cup of coffee. It only takes a little practice and you can easily create freshly roasted coffee that will rival even the best commercially produced coffees.

Why roast your own coffee? Everyone seems to answer this in a slightly different manner, but the main ideas are the same. The biggest reason for most people is that fresh roasted coffee just tastes better. It’s smooth and rich and doesn’t have the acrid acidic bite that many associate with store bought coffee. Unfortunately, roasted coffee has a very short shelf life and is only fresh for about 7–10 days. Raw coffee on the other hand is shelf stable and can be easily stored until you are ready to roast it. This allows you to roast only what you will consume within a reasonable amount of time, allowing you to always have fresh roasted coffee. Another reason people choose to roast their own coffee is the price. For as much as 1/2 the price of store bought coffee and as little as six minutes of your time, you can create delicious craft roasted coffee. One big benefit of roasting at home is control. By roasting your own coffee, you gain control of the process and you can dial it in to your own personal preferences. Great coffee roasted just the way you like it, and for half the cost! Why not roast your own coffee?

As co-owner(the male half) of Mr. Green Beans, Trevin has unintentionally become Mr. Green Beans. From helping coffee shop owners who are just starting down the coffee roasting path to helping homeroasters trouble shoot their latest batch, Trevin is always willing to share ideas and pass on the insights he has gained from the many pounds of coffee he has roasted. Even though he has access to some of the best professional equipment, Trevin is quick to fire up his old popcorn popper to show a visitor just how easy it is to roast coffee.

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