Toasterariums

As some of you know, I like to garden. I have a few containers (like the one above) that fall into the category of unusual. When my office decided to get together a team to create terrariums for the IIDA (International Interior Design Association), Northern CA chapter auction this year, I agreed to help out.

This year’s IIDA Northern California Chapter Philanthropic theme is 
‘Design for Future’ which supports organizations whose focus is on our youngest generations, and whose efforts positively shape the minds and experiences of the people who will be our educators, influencers, and leaders. By impacting the way that people learn and collaborate, they have the power to lay the groundwork for more informed, more compassionate future generations.

The IIDA East Bay City Center has chosen Girls Garage as our 2019 Design in Motion recipient. This organization serves to inspire girls to bring their audacious ideas to life and thrive, now and in the future. Girls Garage aligns perfectly with this year’s theme, integrating design, engineering, serious skills, and social justice, by offering programs that equip girls with the confidence and tools to build anything they can imagine.

Eight design-oriented folks from my office came together to create two Toasterariums that will go on auction this coming Thursday night.

Update 5/24/2019

The first toaster pictured above, a1957 GE Toast-R-Oven was converted into a tiny park with a pool. One attendee to the IIDA event likened the toaster to an airstream trailer. It was our entry for the Off-the-Grid category. We took first place. 😃

The second photo shows how we transformed a 1940s Landers Frary Clark side-loading toaster into an airplane (or giant bird, depending on how you look at it). This was entered into the Hang-It category. We took first place.😃

Many thanks to my workmates for helping me turn a couple of my old toasters into art that could be auctioned off for such a great cause!