JANUARY at WALRUS!!

Happy New Year from WALRUS

 

The New Year is here and there are so many exciting things happening at Walrus! This month will be our 1 year anniversary of opening our brick & mortar location in Temescal Alley and we couldn’t have done it with out the support of our amazing customers and clients!! This Friday, January 3rd, we’ll be having a special anniversary party to celebrate this milestone! Join us for wine and refreshments. In addition, we’ll be giving everyone 15% off as a big THANK YOU for helping us make it to this milestone!!

 

This Sunday, January 5th, we’ll be setting up fantastic antique furniture and vintage finds at the Alameda Point Antique Faire, where you can find us in booth G 02. For early-birds, the event begins at 6 am and ends at 3 pm. For more information about admission, directions, parking or whatever visit the event’s website here! Be sure to dress warm, we can’t wait to share all of our fabulous finds with you!!

 

2014 has brought some very talented new artists and items into the fold at Walrus. We’re extremely excited about our new line of knit baskets from Mary Marie Knits. These soft, cotton rope baskets make wonderful storage for the odds and ends around your office, living room or even to help round up toys in the kid’s room. In addition to the items we have in our shop, you can find more pieces by Mary Marie Knits on their etsy,here!

 

We’ve also fallen head-over-heels for the clean and delicate aromas of WanderingEye Candles. These beautiful candles are made entirely from salvaged and repurposed materials and come in two calming fragrances inspired by the subtle smells of nature. 

 

Thanks again for helping us make 2013 an amazing year! Here’s to a happy, healthy and creative 2014 for everyone! 

 

Check out our blog, instagram, twitter, etsy and more for new items and Walrus news!!

 

Cheers and Have a Happy New Year!!

December Artist of the Month: Jennifer Holmes

This month our featured artist will be Jennifer Holmes! Her photography boldly explores the colors and spaces that inhabit both urban landscapes and the natural form. More of her work can be found on her site Green Dragon Photo. 

Here is a statement from Jennifer about her work and process:

So much of what I attempt to explore in my work is the search for beauty. The photographs you see are a reflection of that desire; the beauty of the human form, the exploration of the abstract, the microcosm of natural detail that otherwise might go unnoticed, the gritty urban reality. 

I attempt to play with the negative and positive space that is created by the juxtaposition of shapes, or color or focal points; like puzzle pieces that fit together - or do not.  

I believe the viewer should see what they want to see in art - to stimulate their senses. I love when people see something differently than what I necessarily intended to create.... I have presented something provocative, creating a conversation and having them involved with my art.   

Originally hailing from the East Coast, I have lived in Oakland my entire 24 years of residence in California. I have exhibited in a variety of locations throughout the East Bay and California, including the Esteban Sabar Gallery, the Studio One Arts Center, the North Valley Art League Carter House Gallery, the Joyce Gordon Gallery, the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, the Lightroom Gallery, the Back to the Picture/SOMA Gallery, the CK Gallery, and Art on the Balcony Gallery, and the Walrus Shop at Temescal Alley.

Join us this Friday, December 6th, for an opening reception at Walrus from 6 to 9. Friday is also the Temescal Winter Art Hop, so there is sure to be a wealth of amazing local artists, artisans, and craftspeople throughout the neighborhood! Be sure not to miss it!! More details can be found here or through our facebook page!

Alternative Kitchen Innovations: An Upcycled Island for Your Cooking Space

We are so pleased to share a pictorial of our latest home innovation project!

Recently, one of our clients reached out to us in need of an alternative counter space in his new, yet surface-less kitchen. For a family that spends a large majority of their time cooking & feasting together, he expressed that a large and simultaneously centralized space was of utmost necessity. With only a basic idea of a fixture and it's use, he reached out to our team for concept, design and carpentry support.

Needless to say, we are so proud of the upcycled kitchen island we designed & built for our client and his family! After visiting our warehouse inventory, we decided to create an island with an antique dresser base, which provides not only ideal height, but loads of tucked away storage space. Additionally, we've resourcefully decorated the side areas of the dresser foundation with beautifully crafted branch & rebar hooks by local artisans Willa Mamet & Joe Karr of Bohemian Blacksmith. For the counter top, we upcycled the top of a old oak school desk, which we sanded, refinished and fine tuned in our offsite studio workshop. Project by Wendy and Coal from WALRUS with help from Asa Bartholomew.

Interested in the final product? We'll, voíla!

And finally, even their baby loved it! 

 Happy Holidays! We are supremely grateful to all our wonderful customers at WALRUS!

Walrus Treasures at Ruby's Garden!!

The Temescal District is full of so many great shops and restaurants, but one of our favorites is Ruby's Garden, a hip children's clothing store located at 5026 Telegraph. We recently got to partner with them sharing some of our kid-perfect upcycles and reinventions inside their shop! Here's a few pictures of the adorable pieces we have there but check out Ruby's Garden in person for great children's clothing sized from infant to eight years and a fun, playful dose of Walrus design!

 Two kids trays ($40 each): These adorable trays were painted in bright pink and have sturdy handles on both sides, making them perfect for setting up tea parties or effortlessly carrying the whole gang of toys around. One of these charming trays is painted with chalk paint so it can be used to share messages or draw!

grey and orange shelf unit with rounded side ($145): A fantastic piece for the corner of a room, it can house books, toys, stuffed animals or craft supplies. The orange offers an energetic burst of color that is ideal for an active kid's room!

(available through our etsy) 

glossy red windsor child's chair ($75): this fantastic glossy red chair was revived with a shiny coat of paint and sweet black circle accents to make it look like a ladybug. this piece would make a wonderful desk chair, seat for the dinner table or fun addition to the playroom!

 

vintage nightstand ($125): there is nothing more perfect and practical for your special kid than this upcycled nightstand with an antique handles. it can store and display your little one's favorite nighttime stories and before bed essentials in a chic and stylish way that would fit any room.

red display ladder ($70): a fantastic display ladder painted in a rich red that's perfect for the holidays. it can display blankets and textiles or simply add a beautiful wash of color to your space.

 small blue-green shelf with raw wood ($40): A sweet little display shelf that would be ideal for kids to show off their tiny toys or organize stickers and art supplies.

 olive toy shelf ($95): A dainty olive shelf that is perfect for displaying dolls and other toys. the piece of hemp rope on the top display adds an earthy and rustic touch. 

NOVEMBER at WALRUS!

We’ve got an incredibly busy November here at Walrus! Here’s what’s new and ongoing!

Thursday! Come Trick or Treat with the Temescal & Telegraph District. A fun, family-friendly event for kids and parents with treats, face paining, live music and more. The parade will start at 4 pm at La Calaca Loca on 51st and end around 6 pm at Ancient Ways on 41st. A costume contest will be held at Ruby’s Garden and participating shops along the way will be giving out all sorts of ghoulish goodies!

Friday! Join us for another fantastic First Friday Evening celebrating local art and talent! Our artist of the month is Suzanne Forrester who’s work is delicate and persistent. The artist describes herself: "Suzanne Forrester is a visual artist living on the border between here and there. Her work is mostly figural in nature and is concerned with matters of the heart. The paintings are women centered, intuitive and introspective. Pattern and repetition, likelihood and probability, are currently playing at the corners of her mind and inform this body of work.” You can check out some of her work here on our blog!

Sunday! We will be at the Alameda Antique Faire! Come join Wendy and Erin to explore some fantastic antiques and beautiful vintage clothes. The event will last from 6 am to 3 pm. Come visit us in booth I-9!

New at Walrus!

We’re so lucky to have such an amazing rotation of beautiful things and talented people in our world. New this month is Olivia Carter’s beautifully delicate paper crafts. This creative CCA graduate has a refined attention to detail and can create anything with paper. Come check out her hand embroidered notebooks in our shop or custom order one of her beautiful registries for a baby shower, wedding or new home!

Pendleton Pillows by Walrus! Pendleton Mills Fabrics are an American classic and their thick, warm wool is perfect as the cold season gets closer and closer! Here at walrus we upcycled these throw pillows from old Pendleton blankets. Their bold patterns and soft wool will add the perfect amount of warmth and character to any cozy living room.

Upcoming Event: Chair Upholstery with Wendy Renz! Join us on Sunday, November 17th from 3:00-5:30pm in the Temescal Alley for the first in a series of new product-focused workshops presented by Walrus. Chair Upholstery with Wendy Renz is the premiere onsite comprehensive course that supersedes our previous furniture painting workshops and will dive into the basics of chair upholstery in all it's glory. The event costs $40 and you can register here!

And Don't Forget! We now offer interior design services by Jenny Lane. 

November Artist of the Month: Suzanne Forrester

Our November artist of the month is Suzanne Forrester who’s work is delicate and persistent. The artist describes herself: "Suzanne Forrester is a visual artist living on the border between here and there. Her work is mostly figural in nature and is concerned with matters of the heart. The paintings are women centered, intuitive and introspective. Pattern and repetition, likelihood and probability, are currently playing at the corners of her mind and inform this body of work.”

Join us for another fantastic First Friday evening celebrating local art and talent! This Friday, November 1st from 6-9 pm!

Craft Fair at the Chabot Carnival

Join Wendy and other local craftspeople this Sunday, October 27th, at the Chabot Carnival Craft Fair.  Get a head start on your holiday shopping with an assortment of locally made and handcrafted gems. The Craft Fair will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room from 11 am to 3 pm and a portion of the proceeds will go to Chabot Elementary. See you there!