HOUSEBOATSTUDIO NEWSLETTER
April 2009
In this issue:
- Serious Business
- SeaLectric Marine
- Plyboo
- Critters
- Paper Houses
- Tool Tips
- Mustache Contest!
- Friday Links
Serious Business
Happy Friday! We've been very busy and have some absolutely terrific new stuff to share with you. We almost feel guilty we're having so much fun working on these projects. But we always take time out from having fun to put together these very serious HOUSEBOATSTUDIO newsletters. Here you go...
Integrated Multidisciplinary Design:
Hybrid Boats, Brand Identity and Website for SeaLectric Marine
Somewhere down on the Suwannee River - A true multidisciplinary bonanza for the Johnson brothers has come in the form of SeaLectric Marine, LLC. This new company is led by sustainable technology guru Douglas A. Cobb, and he has wisely turned to HOUSEBOATSTUDIO for multiple creative services. Ben has already provided graphic design services to help establish a brand idenitity (logo, business cards, letterhead, etc), and website (www.sealeactricmarine.com).
The real excitement, however, is just getting started. Nate is helping design a prototype hybrid-electric river boat (early stages pictured above right) in Old Town, Florida. This multifaceted project is just in the beginning stages, so stay tuned for more.
Sneak Preview:
New "Plyboo" Furniture by HOUSEBOATSTUDIO
Plyboo™ is just what it sounds like: bamboo plywood. Because bamboo is extremely fast growing and the manufacturers use an environmentally friendly glue to laminate it, Plyboo is one of the most exciting new sustainable materials on the market. HOUSEBOATSTUDIO now offers several pieces of furniture using plyboo without the use of screws or glue.
We'll be updating the HOUSEBOATSTUDIO website with new photos and info on our Plyboo furniture. Meanwhile, we've posted some more photos of Nate's recent Plyboo furniture here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/houseboatstudio/sets/72157617052658605/show/
New Illustration Project:
Florida Critters Gone Wild
Berkeley, CA - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has enlisted Ben S. Johnson to illustrate 40 Florida "Critter" Sheets to be used in state parks across Florida. Selected critters include notoriously wild species such as the manatee, alligator, Florida panther, gopher tortoise, barred owl and many more (maybe even the mysterious Florida Skunk Ape).
Currently wrapping up the first batch of preliminary sketches, Ben has now sequestered himself in a room stacked with natural science books and filled with stuffed animals. Raw and un-edited images of these wild Critter sketches can be seen here.
Look for more on these critters in next month's newsletter.
Architectural Secrets Revealed:
Paper Houses & Cardboard Tubes
This week, celebrity architect Shigeru Ban is unveiling a new chair design at the Milan furniture fair. One of Ban’s many innovations is the use of cardboard tubes as structural building components. Nate built one of his own Ban-inspired designs by creating structural brackets for a canopy from cardboard tubes once used as print paper rolls.
Cardboard is surprisingly strong, and if coated with the proper finish, these tubes are considered a permanent building material. Ban is well known for creating stadiums and large warehouses from these tubes, but in rural Florida, a canopy out of recycled cardboard is something to behold.
Nate’s Tool Tips
By Nate W. Johnson: Furniture Builder, Genius
These sure are stressful times. I don’t think I’d be able to cope with the pressure if not for my .45 caliber semi-automatic nail gun with laser scope. That’s because if you’re like me, you like to use your harmless woodworking hobby to blow off steam.
Here are just a few great ways to unload some of that stress and get something accomplished all in one go:
- Shooting a nail out of a high-powered sniper rifle is much more effective than using a hammer. Shooting a handful of nails out of a shotgun is a good way to make sure that birdhouse you’re building stays together for good.
- Refinishing an old door can be rewarding, but really frustrating when the paint doesn’t want to come off. Chlorine and baking soda are highly explosive when mixed together, but you didn’t hear that from me. Get creative.
- Sweeping up sawdust doesn’t do much for stress, but using a blowtorch instead adds the necessary edge and gets the job done twice as fast.
- Chainsaws and jackhammers are awesome. Try tethering them together with barbed wire and ride the jackhammer like a pogo stick while sculpting an eagle out of a tree stump. You will quickly forget about the credit card debt that’s been stacking up. (I’m the house on the corner with 6 or 7 eagles in my yard.)
Next month: The beauty and science of measuring instruments.
Special Announcement:
Inaugural HOUSEBOATSTUDIO (Photoshop) Mustache Challenge!
Part manliness, part photography, this contest is meant to inspire all Tom Selleck wannabes to seize their moment in the spotlight. We are issuing a challenge to match or exceed our very own mustache greatness, be it with actual facial hair or Photoshop prowess.
To be perfectly honest, we thought of this idea just a few hours ago, but we've already gone ahead and created an official 2009 HBS Mustache Challenge page. There we'll post all the contest details, and you can peruse ALL THE GREAT MUSTACHES. Your input is very welcome.
So here's your chance, man (or woman)! This is it. The mustache moment you've been waiting for...
To help your greatness grow, here is some mustacherrific inspiration:
Email photo submissions to: mustaches@houseboatstudio.com
Friday Fun-Time Links
As always, we have collected the finest (somewhat relevant) links from around the world for your clicking pleasure:
- Treehouse Workshop - They have a cool name, but they're no HOUSEBOATSTUDIO. Thanks for the link Carrie!
- Your Business Card is Crap! - Yeah, we posted this on our Facebook page already, but we need to enlighten those of you who have not been assimilated. Good tips here.
- Dork Yearbook - We laugh because we relate all too well. Thanks Dad!
- Shigeru Ban Module Furniture - Just look at this guy. He's a bad ass. Pretty smart, too.
- Hunter Gatherer - Great illustration, amazing animation from this talented design studio. Too much fun.
Interested in contributing to next month's random links? Have a comment or complaint?
Contact us
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