INSIDE & OUT : Impressionable Art
Vibrant colors and expressive patterns are the mark of Manic Impressions, Jennifer Irani’s collection of home accessories and paintings.
Irani, 34, of Newport Beach, combines her interest in art with textile design by silk-screening designs from her original paintings onto place mats, napkins, pillows and slipcovers, among other items.
“I wanted to bring art out of the gallery and the museum,” said Irani, a UC Irvine graduate who draws inspiration from music and history. The name of her company, which she started in 1991, was derived from a Jimi Hendrix song.
Irani uses washable, nontoxic paints for her works, which have a jazzy, turn-of-the-century feel. Her pillows, which come in a variety of fabrics, are $18 to $30 for a 14-inch square and $38 to $80 for a 22-inch piece. A set of four place mats (canvas) and napkins (Pima cotton) sells for about $70. The slipcovers are custom-order items.
New to Irani’s line this summer are children’s pillows (about $20, and they’re washable, too), made of cotton in primary colors with ball fringe.
Manic Impressions accessories are available at the Laguna Art Museum in South Coast Plaza, Hilary’s and Marianna II in Laguna Beach and the Tapas Bar & Grill in Newport Beach. For more information, call (714) 650-0520.
Tile File
Piero Fornasetti’s “Mongolfiere” hot-air balloon designs have landed on ceramic tiles.
The designs, rendered by Bardelli of Hastings Tile in New York City, are set on a white, glazed background and are available in a full set of two dozen five-square-inch tiles. The set ($376) can be purchased at Eurobath & Tile in Costa Mesa and Bath Concept Studio in Corona del Mar.
Ceramic tiles from around the world are on display at the International Tile & Stone Exposition at the Anaheim Convention Center. The exposition is open to the public today from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Out of the Dark
Lights On!, an automatic standby fluorescent lamp offered by Brenda Moseid of Redondo Beach, is designed as an emergency light source.
The lamp has two fluorescent tubes that can operate together or independently. Once charged up, the lamp comes on automatically during a power failure. With one tube, the lamp runs for seven hours continuously; with both tubes on, it runs five hours.
The internal lead-acid battery recharges in 24 hours. The lamp has a built-in charger that plugs into a wall outlet for intermittent or continuous recharging. The on-off switch is covered with rubber, so it’s water-resistant. Lights On! ($59.95, plus shipping and handling) can be ordered by calling (800) 200-4545.
