Using mosaics in tile patterns is a little bit tricky. In this pattern the Concreate black 1×1 mosaics on a
12×12 sheet was cut and five 1×1 tiles by twelve 1×1 tiles were used with the Concreate black 18×18’s and 18×24’s. When using mosaics in tile patterns watch the mosaic tile thickness. Often times the mosaics or field tiles do not always match up.
Concreate Black
Just what was Ryan up to while he was gone for a couple weeks in June-and why did he go in the first place? We asked him these questions and others to get the scoop for Ciao readers.
Ciao: Why did you go to China?
Ryan: I really had two goals in mind: to open the door a little into Chinese culture and business and to get to know the other distributors on the trip. My ulterior motive was just to travel-it’s one of my favorite pastimes and this trip was a particularly enticing opportunity.
Ciao: What did you learn when you were there?
Ryan: I learned that some of my preconceptions were inaccurate. I was concerned that the differences between Chinese and American culture would overcome our similarities. In fact, I was surprised (again) by how similar we all are in the fundamentals. In fact, the kinship our group developed with our hosts was one of my favorite aspects of the trip. I also learned that spending two weeks in China is really just cracking the surface. I hope to spend much more time there.
Ciao: Did you bring back any ideas to improve Statements?
Ryan: I did! We don’t want to give up all our secrets, but let me elaborate a bit. The 21st century will be the breakout century for the Pacific Rim. From a geopolitical perspective, the Atlantic has dominated for centuries, but the power is shifting, or at least rebalancing, with China and Southeast Asia taking on an ever more important role in the global economy. Seattle’s role in the expanding influence of the pacific rim is yet to be fully cemented, but we obviously have started out well with a handful of global companies. We are also attracting great talent from the interior of the US and from outside the US. For Statements, our vision is to Inspire Westcoast Design, and our ability to incorporate China’s competitive advantages will help us to further that vision. …When Jill introduces lines to Callison Architects, who then use it for inspiration in a Shanghai skyscraper, we are fulfilling our vision of Inspiring West Coast Design.
Ciao: Is this going to be an annual trip for you?
Ryan: We’ll try to make it back in the next year, and if something develops out of that, we’ll definitely continue to return.
Tuesdays and Fridays are the best days to come into Statements. Those are the days when the smell of fresh baked scones and cookies wafts in the air, thanks to the artistry of our hospitality coordinator, Susan Feiker. 
Who is Susan Feiker (or SuFi) you may ask? She is the mama of Statements. If it weren’t for her kind smile, comforting spirit, listening ear, amazing baked goods, warm hugs and continuous generosity the Statements crew would not be who they are today.
SuFi came to Statements four years ago wanting a change in her life. She has made Seattle her home for the past 8 years after living in LA off and on for 9 years. It was here in Seattle at Mars Hill Graduate School (no relation to the local church) where she earned her masters of Christian Studies, which she specifies is a mix of psychology and theology studies.
It is probably her degree and her overall caring personality that makes people flock to her kitchen for conversation. “I love people and their hearts. I want people to feel comfortable,” says SuFi about her impromptu counseling sessions that go far beyond the employees and into Statements customers, “…I feel good about it, I love it. I love that they can share their life with me. All are welcome.”
Along with her amazing cooking ability there is a lot you may not know about SuFi. She is an artist who works mainly in the encaustic medium–wax or oil on wood. She also likes to sing, dog sits a cake eating Dalmatian and is also very interested in historic preservation. She is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation which is probably why when asked if you could be anything she said an archeologist “…like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft.”
Ok back to baking. SuFi has not always liked to bake. In fact she tried to avoid it as a child when her Mom wanted her to help but it just caught up with her. Her scones and cookies are one of the reasons Statements is known throughout Seattle. SuFi’s favorite goody to bake is the cinnamon schemer scone, “….I like getting my hands in the flour and cinnamon and people love them.”
Overall, Statements could not survive without SuFi as she is one of the many who make up Statements family feel. Tuesdays and Fridays would just be another day without her.
It is not common for the words couture, tile and lampshades to be in the same sentence, but when you are talking about LIT www.litshades.com , the couture lampshade boutique that has joined Statements’ new space in Pioneer Square, the three words are inseparable.
LIT is a couture lampshade boutique, starring its creators Dawn and Shawn (yes they think it’s funny their names rhyme) and the Papillion shop dog (with the most personality ever). LIT specializes in custom, contemporary lampshades, made the old fashion way, by hand. Dawn and Shawn use traditional methods as well as new techniques and work in vintage, high-end, and modern materials. The two of them agree, “…making something by hand and knowing that we will be taking the credit for the quality is one of the best things about being a self-employed designer.”
LIT may be relatively new to the design scene, but Dawn and Shawn have been in it for years on both the west and east coasts. Dawn worked on contract for a couple of different architectural firms in Manhattan and Shawn sewed lampshades for about 6 years with a company in the Seattle Design Center. But when Dawn realized she wasn’t compatible with the modern architectural world, “… I have a turntable, rotary phone, film projector and two typewriters.” She walked into the store Shawn was working at one day and said, “Wow, this would be fun,” Shawn realized he had found someone who shared his passion for lampshades and his desire to own his own company became a reality. “Shawn and I are both very quick learners with an eye for detail. If we hadn’t found lampshades, lampshades would have eventually found us.”
In addition to their design experience the pair has had design running through their veins since childhood. Dawn has been reading French Vogue and emulating Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and Elizabeth Taylor since the age of six and Shawn is an accomplished painter whose paintings can be seen exhibited at various venues in Seattle. They also love, “…anything old, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne, Shanghai Garden’s hand shaved noodles, old glass doorknobs, you-tubing videos of Galliano’s lines for Dior, staying in and drinkin’, talkin’ and laughing far too much.” Design certainly seems to be a major influence on their lives which is also a major influence for their lampshades. Dawn says they get inspiration everywhere. “We are always looking through fashion magazines, going to galleries, and observing what is going on around us. We love birds, thistles, black and white, lettering, and great linens.” This love of design could also be why when asked if they could see their pieces anywhere they do not give the obvious answers; hotels, movie stars homes, etc yet they simply state: “Elle Décor. Keep looking, it’s going to happen.” And why not Elle Décor? LIT shades are the perfect balance of fashion and interior design, everything Elle Décor represents.
Although LIT is still in the newborn phase of its life, its parents have certainly seen a change in the design industry. Dawn and Shawn have definitely noticed a color transformation from the black and pink color craze finally being over, allowing for more refined color palettes like grays, lavenders and mustard yellows to emerge. Shabby chic has given way to the rejuvenation of mid-century modern. It is their great fashion and design sense, attention to detail, and always looking for the “It factor” which will keep people looking to LIT for what lamps will be wearing on the runway next season.
Metropol, the Spanish company who brought us the porcelain/ceramic line, India, recently came out with a new line in a similar price range. Statements will be stocking Kazan the first part of August. The rectified 10”x20” ceramic wall tiles will be available in Beige, Marron and Blanco with a matching 3”x10” bullnose. And just in case a little extra special touch is needed, there is a 2½”x20” Listelo Volga, a great little decorative piece of tile jewelry in the same color body as the Marron. This deco piece looks as though hints of copper and tin dripped into the glaze, giving the metallic drops a ripple effect. The Kazan line will be a great addition to Statement’s amazing medium priced products, and the hope is that it will be as popular as India. 
Today I received a phone call from a customer who wanted to know two things: how to clean metal tile and how to keep it from changing color over time. Great questions! We get these often and, as a result, I’m writing this article. Here’s the scoop on caring for our metal tile.
Here at Statements, we have two metal tile lines that are 100 percent metal: Alumillenium and Anticati. Alumillenium comes in a variety of metal types and finishes. The color that tends to patina most obviously is the Alumillenium antique bronze which ranges in color from a warm bronzy-brown to a deep green after years of oxidation. If you like the warm tones of the “pre-patinaed” antique bronze there are ways to encourage it to remain true to it’s original color. Adding a layer of paste wax or lacquer to a well cleaned metal tile will protect and seal it from oxidation and discoloration.
Paste wax is a natural product that is most often used to protect and add luster to hardwoods. It is a less permanent, malleable protectant that adds a subtle sheen to the metals surface. The protective quality of paste wax can be compromised by heat, acidic liquids and/or sharp objects that might scratch the waxes surface. Paste wax can easily be reapplied when necessary.
Lacquer is a resin-based varnish that will seal surfaces in a more permanent way. The solvents in the liquid lacquer evaporate leaving a hard sealant that is available in a variety of finishes from matte to high gloss. One thing to be aware of when considering the use of a lacquer sealant for your metal tile: it’s VOC (volatile organic compound) content. If you’re concerned with potential off-gassing in your home or workplace, check the manufacturer’s label and try to buy a VOC free lacquer! For more general information on VOC off-gassing, click here.
In either case, before you apply a protectant to your tile, clean it up. You can use any non-abrasive household cleaner for your metal tile. I recommend using a neutral-pH cleaner with a lot of hot water. If you have trouble removing years of oxidation, you can use a soft metal scouring pad to uncover some of the metals natural brilliance. Always use a test tile with your cleaner and/or scotch pad to see if you get the desired results before moving onto the rest of your tile. Once it’s cleaned up, apply your paste wax or lacquer depending on the level of permanence and/or look you’re wanting to achieve.
Tile News
