Moss Archives | Moss and Fog

Animals

Bringing the Outdoors Inside with These Incredible Furniture Pieces that Replicate Nature

December 14, 2020 Animals

There is furniture that is ‘inspired by nature’, and then there’s the new Design by Nature Collection, which looks like the real thing.

Created by Swedish studio Front and Italian brand Moroso, the collection was created using precise 3D scanning of natural objects. Pattered and textured to mimic mossy rocks, amorphous seaside rock formations, and the like.

The result is pretty remarkable, pieces of furniture that camouflage themselves in a natural setting, but bring a bit of natural realism into your home. The texture and color of the Kvadrat textiles mimic nature’s complexity and patterns, further creating the illusion, while also creating a soft and relaxing place to relax.

To be shown at Milan Design Week 2021, these showstoppers are extremely unique.

See more on Dezeen:

The new pieces of furniture are recreations of fragments of wilderness, using 3D-scanning, milling and weaving The pieces appear like moss-covered rocks and mounds, three-dimensional forms found in nature that suggest places for the human body to occupy.

-Front

Art

Litli Ulfur’s Organic, Mossy Embroidery Mimics the Natural World

July 31, 2020 Art

Like stepping onto a soft, mossy covering of a forest floor, these beautifully crafted embroidery pieces take us out of our normal lives, and into a beautifully natural one.

They’re the work of artist Litli Ulfur, who uses incredible detail and color to bring ordinary materials to life. Her work doesn’t just reference the hue of natural moss, but it captures the very essence of it, from subtle, shifting textures to the formations of growth and natural patterning. Quite impressive indeed.

True to our namesake, we love all things moss related, and find her work especially entrancing. Be sure to check out her Instagram for more beautiful work.

Images used with artist’s permission.

That moment when I pulled the thread for the last time and looked at the finished handwork… The satisfaction was twice as big for a large part of this embroidery consisted of French knot (a simple embroidery stitch that creates a nubby, little three-dimensional dot) made of ONE thread. I have to admit that it was an extremely crazy idea. I felt this ‘craziness’ only after struggling for a long time, when I`d experienced moments of doubt and frustration – the progress was very slow. However, today I am pleased to present you the fruit of my recent labors – ‘The Inside’.
Litli Ulfur

Nature

Moss That Drinks Directly From the Fog and Mist

July 22, 2020 Nature

For those of you that say “why don’t you write about actual moss or fog more often?”, this post is for you!

Most plants get their moisture out of their underground roots, depending on rainfall or groundwater to sustain them. But this particular desert moss (Syntrichia caninervis) pulls its moisture directly out of the air, using tiny hairs called awns.

Able to drink directly from the morning fog or mist, the clever plant uses nano-scale tubes to bring water into the moss.

Another example of nature’s ability to evolve and adapt to just about any condition the world throws at it.

Via Science Magazine:

Art

Iceland and Greenland’s Natural Beauty Textures

August 1, 2019 Art

Photographer Ben Simon Rehn shares a gorgeous collection of images from Iceland and Greenland. We’ve posted about Iceland countless times, yet it never ceases to amaze us, from the verdant green hills covered in moss and lichen, to the eery, lifeless plains, looking like they are from an alien planet. Rehn has a great eye for composition, and frames the natural patterns and textures beautifully, turning landscapes into something more abstract. Excellent captures, via Behance:

Art

Finnish Moss People

June 12, 2018 Art

Walk into the woods, and you might find a life-size, bright green child peacefully standing in a creek. Finnish artist Kim Simonsson stumbled upon the creation of these ‘mossy’ sculptures by accident, a result of nylon flocking, which leaves the sculptures covered in a verdant green exterior resembling moss.

Simonsson’s work is visually arresting, especially when placed in a forest, adding a sense of supernatural to the physical world. Her sculptures are life-size, made from stoneware clay. See more of her work and interview on My Modern Met:

Animals

Fairytale Woods in Romania

May 10, 2017 Animals

The lighting, the mystery, the somewhat spooky feel of this photo gallery by Monica Raduta has us excited. Entitled Garden Trip, it’s evocative of a fairytale, the way the dramatic light foreshadows events either scary or wonderful. The subject matter is also full of wonder, the old, knobby bits of lichen, the fungus in strange and interesting shapes, and of course the moss, bright and full of life. We’re unsure where exactly this series of photos were taken, but if it’s anywhere near the photographer’s home in Bucharest, we’d like to take a visit, and maybe even have a mysterious picnic in these woods. There are many more beautiful images on her Behance page.

Architecture

The Moss Hotel

April 15, 2017 Architecture

This was too fitting not to share. The Moss Hotel is a beautifully designed getaway in where else? Iceland. Located on Iceland’s famed geothermal Blue Lagoon, the rooms look out onto amazingly blue waters and mossy surroundings. Floor to ceiling windows, and a floating design give an amazing feel to this luxury hotel. With only five rooms, this special little gem books up very quickly, plan accordingly. Via Uncrate:

Colors

Iceland, Oh, Iceland

December 2, 2016 Colors

Iceland, oh Iceland. You’re so beautiful it hurts. We could post about your vast otherworldly landscapes for months, and not get tired of it. The contrasts, the forms, the rawness. Iceland is so full of picturesque vistas it boggles the mind. Lukas Furlan has a gorgeous glimpse of Iceland, in 4k. Next, we need to get ourselves some plane tickets to visit this place in person.

Art

Iceland Desolation

March 18, 2013 Art

Tom Kondrat has some beautifully barren images from Iceland, taken during the coldest times of the year. His view takes on an almost haunting emptiness. Via FastCo Design:

Art

Name Changing

December 5, 2011 Art

Hello!

So, in the last few months I’ve been blogging a lot. Inspired by artists, designers, technology, and nature, I have a lot that I want to share with you. But since much of the content that I share comes from other people’s work, it’s only fair that I change the name of my blog. For a number of years, Benvanderveen.wordpress.com was the blog. And that URL will still send you here.

But starting today, the name of the site is changing to Moss & Fog. A little ethereal, a little abstract, it’s a name that I think represents me, my tastes, and my setting. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we live in a verdant rainforest that is green all year round. A walk in the Columbia Gorge will bring you into a veritable temple of moss, with waterfalls cascading down sharp peaks,and fog drifting silently overhead.

So in that spirit, Moss & Fog is born. You can visit mossandfog.com and it will bring you here. And I will continue to post a range of stories, from quirky art to inspirational design to stories of science and discovery. Indeed, there will be other site changes and improvements in the months to come.

If you’re seeking examples of my personal work and portfolio, please head to www.BenVanderVeen.com. Thank you very much for your support!

-Ben

Design

Moss Ring

September 24, 2010 Design

Ever wanted a living plant on your hand? Check out this Bubinga Moss Ring by Cometman x Kokeya.
Maybe you didn’t know you wanted it. Pretty unusual, and cool.