Custom Bookshelves in Two Flavors

The last year has been a big one for Phoenix Handcraft. After years of dreaming and saving and looking, we finally found a home on property with enough space for our studios. We moved into the house late last summer and spent the winter and early spring building out our studios. We’ll have more on that later, but for now, let’s catch up on some of our projects!

First up are two sets of custom forged steel bookshelves in two distinct styles. The top set features fairly traditional steel brackets with walnut shelves made by our friend and frequent collaborator, Christina Boy.

{Click or tap images to enlarge.}

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The second set of custom bookshelves is created in a more minimal, modern style from textured steel with glass shelves.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Stay tuned as we add more projects in the next few weeks and months! We’re looking forward to spending the summer getting caught up.

Forged Steel and Mosaic Custom Garden Sculpture

If you know us at all, you maaay have noticed combining our skills to create mosaic and steel collaborations is one of our very favorite things to do. Can we tell you just how thrilled we were when this client approached us to create a custom garden sculpture in both forged steel and mosaic?

{Click smaller images to enlarge.}

We based the design for this sculpture around native Virginia plants such as arrowroot, cat tails, pickerelweed, and ferns. Kyle created an organic design incorporating simple geometric shapes to represent the leaves and flowers. In the first step to bring this sculpture to life, Kyle and his team forged the steel framing and organic forms. Next Johannah made the mosaics to fill in the geometric shapes. The mosaics were made on mesh then transferred into the sculpture, glued in place, and finally grouted.

You can see photos of the sculpture installed in the garden below, as well as a few close-up details of the mosaics and forged organic forms.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Forged Steel and Mosaic Fireplace Cover Collaborations

This client approached us in need of decorative fireplace covers. Not a fire screen, the steel-and-mesh screen set in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks and embers from getting out. No, this client wanted something decorative yet functional to completely cover the fireplace. They live in an older home with a total of seven, SEVEN! fireplaces. Though they use some of them, most are not in regular use. The benefit of movable decorative covers over something more permanent is they still have the option of easily using the fireplaces down the road.

In a startling coincidence, it turns out we had made a sign bracket for this home many years ago for the previous owners. In light of that coincidence we incorporated the cat tail design of the bracket in one of the fireplace covers. That cover went in a room with a large painting of a tree over the fireplace, so we used colors from the painting in the mosaic inlay surround.

For the second cover, the main design concern was to brighten up an otherwise rather dark room. For that fireplace we went with a similar design to the cat tails, this time in gold and bright white mosaic inlay. You can see a few photos of the works in progress below, as well as images of the final pieces installed in the client’s home.

{Click smaller images to enlarge.}

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize