Wednesday, December 13, 2006

cbijoux Jewelry















This morning I went to the cbijoux jewelry website to check out this amazing plant ring I'd seen on the wonderul swissmiss blog. And it is quite an amazing ring, though I must say the post where swissmiss found it struck me as rather nasty and misogynistic. But that's neither here nor there, reflecting not a whit on either cbijoux jewelry nor the swissmiss blog.

But the reason I'm posting about this is that, while on the cbijoux site i discovered this absolutely delightful other ring that I had to share:





















The designer is Fransiska Venrath, who has also done a duck head ring and a frog ring in the same style. Do check it out.

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Monday, December 11, 2006

Rosma Gutierrez Furniture



I really like this piece designed by Rosma Gutierrez, titled "bezel." The clean lines, the contrasting color, and especially the way it separates to form two pieces. Great for small spaces--I can picture it in a studio apartment.

Unexpectedly, I also like this designer's website, despite it being done in the despised, unnavigable, tediously slowly-loading Flash. Maybe it's not the site itself I like, as much as how Gutierrez shows her inspiration for each piece. Worth checking out.

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Metro Ticket Origami

















Hubert de Lartigue shows how to make an x-wing fighter from a Metro ticket. In case you were wondering.

via NOTCOT

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Dry Bones




















Hilarious salt and pepper shakers by Chris Stiles over at the A+R Store.

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Sunday, December 10, 2006

Tord Boontje: TABLEstories























Ok, today my Most Coveted Object is this "deer in forest" plate from Tord Boontje's TABLEstories I collection. Sure, I'd like to own a place setting or six from each of the collections, but of all the individual items I've seen, I like this one best.

Since it's available in the USA for under $100 (unicahome), it's possible that I may own it some day.

Though, let's be frank, my first Tord will probably come from Target.

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Saturday, December 09, 2006

Thomas Mann Jewelry






















Thomas Mann's "Confetti" bracelet is currently my most coveted object.

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Way Cool Stocking Stuffers

Useful, tasteful, stylish gifts for $10.00 or less. You don't have to break the bank to give exquisite presents.

See more of my Way Cool Stocking Stuffers list at ThisNext.

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Lisa Niven Kelly














This extraordinary and delightful jewelry is made by Lisa Niven Kelly, a bead and silver artist and teacher in San Carlos, California.

















I'm inspired and delighted by it. I work with beads, and if one day I were able to make something as lovely as these, it would fill me with joy.

(Delightful, delighted. . . if I had an editor, they wouldn't let me use both in this short a post. But I don't. And it's really the word I want to use. Both times.)

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Friday, December 08, 2006

Clever!






















Wall decals are all the rage as an inexpensive alternative to plain paint or wallpaper. This one by Domestic made me laugh out loud. The coat rack, hat, umbrella, and one shoe are of course decals, while a hook is included so you can add your own frock to the mix.

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Speaking of Lamps . . .



















Speaking of lamps, and recently of corsets, I am of course delighted with this "CORSETT Schnürleuchte," which translates to "Corset Tying Light" according to Google.

Designed by Domus, available at Design3000 .

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Thursday, December 07, 2006

bERT & dENNIS
















Two cool lamp ideas from bERT & dENNIS. Above, the "deaf lamp," which has the words "and there was light" spelled out in sign language.

Below, the "saint lamp," which has pictures of various consumer items wearing halos "because people these days worship these things."

















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studiobility
















Today I'm totally digging the work of studiobility, especially this storage unit they call "Framed Spaces." I'd like to have a whole wall of them. (Just as my favorite category is "miscellaneous," my favorite piece of furniture is the storage unit.)

I also like their "Visual Inner Structure" chair, which reminds me of openwork embroidery:


















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Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Design "Musts" - A Very Short List

There is not much that I insist upon. It is, as I said, a very short list.

1. Typeface must be readable.
2. Websites must be navigable.
3. Objects to be worn, including jewelry and women's shoes, must be comfortable.
4. Good design must not be valued less because it is affordable.
5. Scarcity of a well-designed object must not be intentional.

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Friday, December 01, 2006

Double Take













Above, the "Corseted Heart" necklace at Hellkats L.A.

Below, the "Stitched Heart" bracelet by artist Thomas Mann for uncommon goods.














Finally, a variation on the theme: the "sweetheart necklace," part of the "savory treats line" at sweet tooth designs.












Could corsets be the new skulls?

Probably not. But if they are, you heard it here first.

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Tuesday, November 28, 2006

handheadman
















These "Swiss Mouse" earrings are the work of independent jewelry artist handheadman, from his "Animals" series. Are they not darling?

And if darling isn't your style, how about funky? His "Blender" pin and "Toaster" earring are from handheadman's "Machines" series, and "funky" is their middle name.


The pieces are unique, the prices are affordable, and the craftsmanship appears skillful based on the photos.

Christmas shopping, anyone?

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Monday, November 27, 2006

Saturday, November 25, 2006

So Beautiful























Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Okay, okay . . . I'm a bead freak.

From the Artecnica "Beads and Pieces" line, available at de de ce +.

I should probably say something more than "ooooooooooh, pretty!"

Nah.

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Addenda

In recent posts, a couple of items slipped by that are simply too good to miss.

A recent Double Take post on "boot bags" was clearly incomplete without the Marilyn Monroe Shoe Purse, available at Betty's Attic.



















I think the lacing up the side is a nice touch, don't you? I mean, if you're this far over the top to begin with . . .

Okay.

Next there was a Hello Kitty roundup that was hardly even worth posting, considering I left out the best of the best:











That's right, a Hello Kitty Stratocaster. I find I must say it again. A Hello Kitty Stratocaster.

Together with the rockin' Kitty charm from that post, our feline friend begins to show a wild side we hardly knew was there. What next, Hello Kitty skulls?

Yes, that's right.













Hello Kitty skulls.

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Who Knew?



















I'm so embarrassed. Nobody told me!

Great tee from Hot Topic.

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Thursday, November 23, 2006

Presentation Matters

















What a cool ring. I love this piece, the "wing ring," from Burcu Buyukunal's "wingy" series. Don't you?

But what was the first thing you noticed in the photo? For me, it was the little piece of putty holding the ring up. I was able to get past it, but I'm not sure I should have to.

Now, I'm not a photographer and I'm not a graphic artist. I'm someone who plays around with Photoshop Elements because it's fun to. Over time I've acquired a few rudimentary skills, and that was all it took to make the problem go away:





















It took about five minutes.

Now check out this piece, the "Small Milagro Heart Ring" from Tere Hernández-Bonét of My Precious Studio:















It's a nice ring too, right? Maybe not a great ring, and not my favorite from this artist, whose work I like a lot. Why post it then? The reason is simple: the first time I saw it, I liked it very very much. I wanted to own it. I thought it was grand.

Over time it dawned on me that I was responding to the quality of the photo, perhaps even more than the quality of the ring itself. The reflection is lovely.

Well done.

Presentation matters. In marketing our work, the image must be at least as high-quality as the piece itself. It wouldn't hurt if it was even better.

Commercial photography is an art in its own right. It can be expensive, and artists are often living on a shoestring. They have to cut corners sometimes, even when they'd rather not.

Here's my advice: eat Ramen noodles. And pay for the very best commercial photographer your money can buy.

Or at least the best photo editor.

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