Wow, what a pleasant surprise to see our home on the cover of Toronto Life! This magazine has always been good to us, and has surprised us many times. Maybe the most notable press we got when we first opened was being named number 5 of the 50 reasons to love Toronto.

Thanks again Toronto Life! Please pick up an issue and check out the other great interiors and some new images of our place!

 

So many people come to the store and always say that the shop is a lot bigger in person. That is usually because we rarely photograph the back half of our showroom.

There was some nice light earlier in the morning, so we decided to take a few images. Here is a little glimpse of what we have at the moment.

TMM floor lamp by Migel Mila
2209 leather sofa by Borge Mogensen
Spanish chair by Borge Mogensen
Spine coffee table and Lounge (right) by Space Copenhagen
Walnut side table by George / Mira Nakashima
Table lamp by George / Mira Nakashima

Shoji cabinet by Mjolk + Studio Junction
Hiroshima armchairs by Naoto Fukasawa
Roundish table by Naoto Fukasawa
Hunting chair by Borge Mogensen
Photograph by Peter Andrew

I know there were quite a few inquiries about when we would be putting Mr. Mitani’s work online, and I am pleased to say everything is finally available on our webshop:

Mjolk

Here is a sampling of what is available.

(above plum blossom dish with black and white Japanese urushi lacquer)

Cross plates.

A baby spoon, bowl, and plate gift set.

A specially made Chemex coffee sleeve in mountain cherry.

Black and white urushi coffee cups.

A set of nesting bowls.

Tea leaf box in mountain cherry.

A unique white lacquer bowl.

Mr Mitani’s beautiful signature.

The morning after the evening reception we hosted for Mr. Ryuji Mitani, we arranged for a special spoon carving workshop at our home above the shop/gallery.

Mr. Mitani has hosted these workshops in Japan and he came up with the idea in order to further connect people with hand crafted things, and give them an appreciation of the work that goes into making something as simple as a wood spoon. He does the workshop also to show how enjoyable it is to use craft products in one’s life, so that is why he also invited famous chef Ai Hosokawa to come along to cook lunch for all of the participants of the workshop. The idea was to carve a spoon, then use it during dessert.

Carving tools for the workshop.

Chef Ai Hosokawa went to the Duffering Grove farmer’s market to pick up some fresh and in season produce.

Chef Ai Hosokawa (left) and actress Hijiri Kojima (right).

Wooden cups and plates waiting under tea towels before being used for lunch.

We were lucky enough to have a beautiful day, so we decided to have the workshop outside.

Mr. Mitani showing how it’s done.

Cross-handed carving technique.

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Using every possible container in our kitchen to serve 14 people. Here is a Dansk loaf pan with strawberries.

Oven roasted peppers.

You can breathe easy, our home is littered with toys, despite our best efforts.

Serving dishes brought in just for the workshop.

Ai’s daughter making her own lunch with play food.

First dish: fresh Ontario strawberries with roasted red peppers.

Next a Rhubarb soup.

Couscous.

Pork ribs with peas, asparagus, cilantro, dill and parley.

This is making me hungry.

We had to move the table inside as the sun became too intense!

Just before dessert, Mr. Mitani instructs the students on how to oil finish their spoons.

While the spoons are drying, Ai gets her refreshing panna cotta ready.

The finished dessert with a freshly carved spoon to enjoy it with! Best panna cotta ever.

The whole group holding up their new spoons!

Last Thursday we had the pleasure to host the first North American exhibition of famous wood artist Ryuji Mitani. Thank you very much for everyone who came to visit the exhibition during the opening night, we were so happy to have the place packed, especially with summer holidays when many people flee the city to travel or head up north.

We even had a customer from New York come for a 1 day trip just to see our exhibition. What incredible feedback for one of our highest profile exhibitors yet!

Hand carved cups with black urushi lacquer-ware on the exterior, and white on the inside.

A stack of chestnut bread plates with clear urushi coating.

A unique white serving bowl with white urushi Japanese lacquer-ware.

A set of 4 turned cherry wood nesting bowls.

Hand carved lidded boxes made from chestnut.

Delicate hand carved bowls.

Chestnut Butter dishes witha cherry wood knife.

A HUGE hand carved chestnut platter.

Another incredible and larger piece, a hand-gouged walnut tray made from a single piece of wood.

A beautiful hand-turned chestnut salad bowl with lovely grain.

Special cross motif plates.

Dessert dishes inspired by plum blossoms.

Specially made cherry wood sleeves that fit the 3-cup Chemex coffee beakers.

Cross pot trivets.

 

Ryuji Mitani wood work sitting on our Tea Trolleys in the front window.

A hand carved cherry wood plate.

A Chemex coffee maker with the specially made cherry wood sleeve.

 

Ryuji Mitani talking to a guest.

Signing a copy of Mjolk Volume III which profiles Mr. Mitani.

Just getting a little busy in the early evening, by midway through the exhibition the store was packed and we had to put the camera away. The event lasted until 1:00am even through the official end of the night was 10:00pm.

 

LUCA NICHETTO
LERA MOISEEVA
+ MJOLK

TOTEMICA

Here are some photographs from the opening of Totemica at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, an exploration of the process of developing both Sucbaruca and Aureola from initial concept, to production to finished prototype.

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The new Aureola set in a black iron stain finish, walnut handles and tray.

Red iron stained Aureola tea pot with cherry wood handle.

The pure white porcelain Aureola set with maple handle and tray.

Originally the “Pop” or “Memphis” version of Sucabaruca had a carrara marble tray with ebony wood legs. Finally we had a chance to produce a few and make them available to see at the exhibition.

Adriana Frisenna, the director of the Cultural center next to John, Luca and Alissa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw colour pigments used in the colour staining of Sucabaruca.

Sucabaruca fresh out of the mold.

Luca Nichetto and Adrian going over the details of the slender wood handles of Aureola.

The whole production team.
From left: John, Adrian, Luca, Scott and Alissa