CasaSugar

Cool Idea: Invest in Art and Save Desert Habitat

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:23 -0700

Artist, sculptor, and furniture maker Alma Allen, who I've featured in a designer spotlight post, has partnered with the Mojave Desert Land Trust to celebrate art and conservation. Allen has created two bronze sculptures in editions of 50, each exclusively for the Mojave Desert Land Trust. The sculptures, a tortoise and a rabbit, are two of the animals that depend on this land for their survival. Seventy percent of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Land Trust's campaign to support The Quail Mountain Project.

To find out about how you can help, and to see more photos, read more.

The Quail Mountain Project encompasses 955 acres of pristine wildlife habitat in Joshua Tree, CA, just adjacent to the northern boundary of Joshua Tree National Park. Saving this land would help support its diverse population of bighorn sheep, bobcat, desert tortoise, coyote, and dozens of bird species, to name just a few of the creatures that depend on this land for habitat.

This project is immensely personal to Allen, as he and his partner live on the edge of the park in a green home they built themselves. Order one of Allen's charming sculptures (priced at $150 each) to help support this project. Allen also has a show at Heath Ceramics in LA on Nov. 5, and you can check out more of his work here.

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Designer Spotlight: Alma Allen

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:53 -0700

Self-taught sculptor and designer Alma Allen takes cues from the natural world when designing his found wood, stone, and bone objects. While Allen's work is visually stunning, it's also infinitely touchable. Each piece of furniture or sculptural object is painstakingly sanded and polished until it's perfectly smooth.

Besides his amazing furniture and sculptural work, Alma is also a talented builder, who designed and built his green home, which I featured in a Coveted Crib slideshow. To find out more about this designer and his work, just read more.

Allen lives in Joshua Tree with his girlfriend Nancy and their dogs Fritz and Clara. His work has been included in publications like Dwell and the New York Times, and featured in galleries in New York City and Japan, among other places. Almost all of his furniture is crafted from salvaged wood, with claro walnut and ironwood two of his favored woods to work with. Definitely check out the gallery for more of his work, and if you're interested in finding out more about Alma's sculpture or furniture, contact him via his website.

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Coveted Crib: A Green Home In Joshua Tree

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:46:13 -0800

Sculptor/furniture designer Alma Allen, his main squeeze/business partner Nancy, and their unforgettably regal collie Fritz have just finished building a green house on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park. The house is definitely still a work in progress, and they have a lot more finishing to do. Still, the "almost done" results are pretty stunning. Check out the slideshow for some stunning photos of their new home, along with information on some of the green materials and technologies they used in the home.

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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:05:39 -0700

I gave you suggestions on greening your wedding.
Get inspired by this video that shows a parking lot turned into an urban farm.
I highlighted designer Alma Allen.
Get some tips for booking hotels for a wedding.
I'd love to know how you've made your home greener.
America Ferrera scores a gem in the rough.
Check out Tom Dixon's 2008 collection.
Take a trip down celeb-filled memory lane.

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