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| Our Earth-Loving Tables Are Getting Some Attention |
1/20/2012 8:01:00 PM
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Our tables have been noticed lately by a few noteworthy earth-loving sources. The Russian Olive Stump Table is featured in the latest edition of Standard Magazine, an online publication, created by interior designer (and writer and style maven) Kelly LaPlante, who taught the design industry that "green is a standard, not a style." Not be to outdone, our Rio Grande Table is featured in this month’s edition of Su Casa Magazine, an monthly print and online source dedicated to Southwestern building styles.-  -  -Our Russian Olive Stump Table in Standard Magazine
Raw with burls and an eco-friendly non-toxic topcoat finish, each Russian Olive Stump Table is completely unique from the other and full of character. Russian Olive trees, non-native species introduced to New Mexico in the early 20th Century as an ornamental, are being removed in an effort to help restore the eco-system of the bosque (woodlands) along the banks of the Rio Grande River.
The Russian Olive has been crowding out native trees along with other non-native species like Salt Cedars and Siberian Elms, so upon their removal we have been snatching them up to make really cool, organic side tables.
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Locally harvested, eco-friendly and full of personality, the Rio Grande Side Table in sculpted Cottonwood is created from standing trees cleared from burn areas. Part of a rehabilitation effort, the trees were rescued and turned into ever-so-clever shaped side tables finished with a non-toxic topcoat finish.
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| New Arrivals for January 2012 |
1/16/2012 5:05:00 PM
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We have once again added some great new vintage and one-of-a-find pieces from our showroom to our website for all to see. Have a look below and let us know if you have any questions about these featured pieces.  Hand carving wood has a long tradition in Morocco and is most often found on screens and tables. Geometrics are also a common motif and emerge on this table ($349 + Free Delivery) not only on the patterns, but the octagonal shape. Learn more about this one-of-a-kind table here. - -
Our one-of-a-kind Bozo Tribe Masks ($325 - $349 + Free Delivery) are handmade in Mali. They are probably about 20 years old and were originally attached to a pole and carried by a dancer in a regatta, much like a large marionette. Find them here and here.
The Bozo are primarily fishermen and have a wonderful creation story. Neighbors of the Dogon who reside on the shores of the Niger River, the Bozo are the 'first twins' according the tradition and worship Faro the spirit of water. The ram, valued throughout this region, was sacrificed for the first time by God to redeem the errors committed by Mousso Koroni, the 'ancient little woman.' An era of disorder, violence and sterility was followed by a period of prosperity, order and peace.
-  Our Bamileke Tribe Masks ($235 each + Free Delivery) are handmade in Cameroon. They are carved from a solid piece of wood and depict a Monkey, which represents intelligence. The Bamileke believe that their kings possess supernatural powers allowing them to change into animals, most often elephants, lizards or buffalos. This crossing of the boundaries, which happens during special rituals, allows them to create a link between the human and spirit realm. Find them here and here. - - 
Our Fair Trade Wolof Prayer Mat baskets ($75 + Free Delivery) are incredibly useful for storage and also look striking when hung on the wall. Wolof women in rural Senegal have been crafting coil style baskets for generations. While traditional baskets were crafted using a local grass called njodax bound with strips of reed, modern baskets are bound with strips of plastic recycled from old prayer mats. Choose from White or Turquoise. |
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| Happy New Year! Recent Custom Projects At Pfeifer Studio |
1/2/2012 1:07:00 PM
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The end of the year is always a rushed time at Pfeifer Studio. We have been busy with holiday shoppers in our retail studio and also turning out custom designs left and right. This is the best excuse we can come up with as to why we have not posted on our blog in 6 weeks (Yikes!)
We love our custom projects and are always happy when new requests for a one-of-a-kind-this-or-that come in. Below are a few of our favorite projects from the past few months. We hope that you like them as much as we do and we look forward to many more in 2012!
Packed and ready to ship! Our popular Abaidoo Stool Tables were recently created at a custom height (24") and in a custom wood (Pine) for a popular restaurant in Miami.
Our Leather Waste Bin with a leather whip stitch was commissioned by a luxury hotel in London. Ordered at 2 custom sizes, we created a metal liner for the interior which could be easily removed when it is time to empty the rubbish ;).-
And last but not least is our beautiful Eco-Friendly Stool Table (and a bad image which does not do it justice) at a custom size (22" diameter x 24" H) in a pure white finish for a client on the Upper West Side.
Custom is what we do best. Click here to see more of our work and to learn more about what it is like to do custom with us.
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| Join Us To Celebrate! |
11/15/2011 6:41:00 PM
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It's our shop's Third Anniversary in the North Valley and we invite you to celebrate with us this Thursday, Nov 17th from 5 - 8 pm during the Flying Star Plaza's annual ELEGANT AUTUMN EVENING! Enjoy Hot Tamales, Mexican Hot Chocolate and a bit of Birthday Cake. Listen to Live Music and have a festive time at the most elegant of evenings on Rio Grande.
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| Product Preview: Warm Throws For Chilly Nights |
11/8/2011 2:54:00 PM
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We have been feeling a chill in the air here in New Mexico for the past week and our thoughts have turned to warm nights by the fire wrapped tight in a cuddly throw. So it is perfect timing to add four new styles to our website that will fit the bill. Order them online or stop by our showroom soon to see them in person.
Our handsome Ox Wool Throw and Himachal Wool Throw, are handwoven in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The technique of combining a twill-weave base with a border of tapestry woven vegetable dyed wool is unique to the region. They are produced by local people working out of their homes using small handlooms. The purchase of these designs helps to support artisans working in traditional crafts in the place where they originated.
Available in shades of pale gray and light blue, this unique, contemporary throw is super-soft and cuddly.
And last, but not least is this delightful throw in elegant shades of black and pale blue-gray linen woven with hand spun silk in warm-golden beige. This beautiful combination of fibers and colors combine to create an striking pattern of geometric shapes.
All are in stock in limited quantities come see us soon or give us a call (1-866-804-1909) if you have any questions.
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| Our Shop: A New Look For Fall |
10/27/2011 4:38:00 PM
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A little paint, some heavy lifting, a whole lot of new stuff, and the shop has a new look for fall! Swing by soon to check it out. Vintage Hand Carved Wood Block Prints from India  A Beautiful New Selection of Silk Kantha Stoles |
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| Win A $150 Shopping Spree! |
10/15/2011 1:13:00 PM
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Want to win a $150 shopping spree at Pfeifer Studio? Become a Pfeifer Pfan on Pfacebook! One winner will be chosen from our facebook fans in Oct, Nov and Dec. Stay tuned for the first winner to be announced on Halloween and don't forget to spread the word to your other facebook friends.
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| New In Store: Handmade Moroccan Fashion Accessories |
10/11/2011 4:59:00 PM
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 New in store today is a beautiful collection of handmade, fair trade fashion accessories designed by two sisters who wanted to make a difference in the developing world. One joined Peace Corps Morocco to help rural women develop business skills and the other traveled to Mali to research traditional weaving and metal-smithing techniques. Six years later their collection, Mushmina, was born.
We are delighted to have their designs at our shop. Swing by soon to check the out. |
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| Pfeifer Studio on Vintage Indie |
9/26/2011 10:59:00 PM
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We had a nice surprise today when we discovered that Pfeifer Studio was featured on Vintage Indie. For those of you who have not heard of it, Vintage Indie is a blog started out as a love for all things vintage, vintage inspired and antique related. Being a mother and an entrepreneur herself, founding editor Gabreial Wyatt has a passion to support independent small businesses owners, artists and designers.
It is her goal to give life to older things once disregarded and blend them with the world that we live in today. Pfeifer Studio couldn't agree more!
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| New In Store: Maasai Beaded Dog Collars |
9/8/2011 10:44:00 AM
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New in Store are these beautiful, fun, colorful and 100% handmade dog collars ($45 - $79) created by Maasai people in Kenya. Saba loved them so much that she asked for one of her own. And she never asks for anything!
Not only are they beautiful, they are also fair trade…and that goes a long way. The beading of these collars (and coordinating bracelets - $25) generates income for over 200 Kenyans who otherwise might earn as little as $1,500 a year. Other than the operating costs of the people in the US who are helping to bring their craft to market (one part time employee, marketing and air freight), all of the money goes back to Kenya. Good in so many ways. So swing by Pfeifer Studio, get your pooch some style and feel good about it.
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| Je suis d'Afrique |
9/4/2011 11:08:00 AM
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It’s no secret that I’m a total fanatic of African objects. Their handmade masks and stools are my favorites, and I love sitting in a space surrounded by them pretending I am somewhere deep inside the Dark Continent. I’m so excited that we have discovered a few wonderful new African pieces to add to our collection. Most are vintage one-of-a-finds and our Hand Carved Ashanti Stool is a contemporary style, which is surely to become a favorite on the site for some time to come.
Our contemporary Ashanti Stool ($375.00 + Free Delivery) is hand carved by artisans from a single block of wood from the Cedrela tree. Like traditional stools, it has a crescent-shaped seat and flat base, but a simple central circle replaces the more typical Adinkra symbol in the middle.
Stools are spiritual and practical objects in the Ashanti culture of West Africa. They are understood to be the seat of the owner's soul and when not in use are leaned against a wall so that other souls passing by will not settle on it. Click here to learn more.
Our two new vintage Nupe Stools (above) are $279.00 + Free Delivery and $175.00 + Free Delivery, respectively. Most Nupe are Muslim and their art is therefore abstract, with only some stylized animals in relief on their doors and some pots. Their stools come in many forms yet are all carved from single blocks of wood. Amazingly, the grain of the wood runs horizontally, even across the legs. All share a richly carved top surface. This vintage Punu mask ($175.00 + Free Delivery) from Gabon features many of the common characteristics from the region, including protruding lips. It is also painted in the traditional white with kaolin clay to represent the spirit of a dead ancestor. Click here to learn more about this One-Of-A-Kind piece now.
The Fang people used masks in their secret societies. Members of this male society wore the Ngil masks during the initiation of new members and the persecution of wrongdoers. Masqueraders, clad in raffia costumes and attended by helpers, would materialize in the village after dark, illuminated by flickering torchlight. Our vintage Fang mask ($279.00 + Free Delivery) is enormous at 50 inches long and is a one-of-a-kind piece. Click here to learn more about it.
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| Custom Project: Ginormous Leather Pillow |
8/27/2011 9:12:00 AM
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Custom Crocodile Embossed Leather Pillow - 18 x 31 inches 
We get a lot of requests for our leather pillows at custom sizes, but as far as ambitious dimensions go, this one takes the cake. Most often ordered at a mear 9 x 18 inches, we recently produced our Embossed Crocodile Leather Pillow at a whopping 18 x 31 inches for a client in California. They were the perfect size for his space and the result could not have been more biting. Have a custom idea of your own? Drop us a note and we will be happy to collaborate.
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8/14/2011 3:38:00 PM
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pineapple flowers cut-out dress - $45.00
men's nine flies tee - $35.00
New in store is a collection of groovy tees and dresses from North Carolina designers Jody Cedzidlo and Eric Haugen. They are soup-making, vegetable-growing, dog-walking nerds around 30 years of age. Jody is the designer, printer, and photographer behind the collection. Eric is the shirt-folding, box-carrying, moral-support-giving, car-driving, coffee-making, behind-the-scenes psychotherapist that keeps the gears turning every day. The unsung hero also teaches lots and lots of people to play guitar 5 days a week.
We are delighted to have their designs in our shop. Swing by soon to check them out!
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| Pfeifer Studio in Better Homes & Gardens Do It Yourself! |
8/6/2011 5:26:00 PM
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Check out our Eco-Friendly Stool Tables in the Fall 2011 issue of Better Homes & Gardens Do It Yourself. We created the tables in a custom colors for them and we can do the same for you. Do it yourself, or better yet, let us do it for you.
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7/15/2011 1:38:00 PM
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Our in-store-only Summer Sale begins tomorrow with a Sidewalk Sale Event in front of our shop in Albuquerque's North Valley. There will be some Great, Big, Wonderful DEALS to be had. Doors open at 10 AM. Get there early or regret it later.
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