Uber Stylish Backgammon Set by Arik Ben Simhon and Ben Frankforter.

This lovely, easy-to-carry, modern backgammon set crafted of oak with wooden playing pieces comes in a self-contained case of either wood or a flocked finish.





Photos © Ori Ackerman

Price $440
Buy it here

WOODCHUCKcase. Real Locally Sourced Wood Adhesive Cases For Apple Products.

University of Minnesota students Kevin Groenjes and Benjamin VandenWymelenberg put their academic (and clearly, creative) heads together and came up with a way to add a bit of nature to high tech.



above: real Mahogany and Walnut add both protection and good looks to the Apple MacBook and Apple Air.

During an all nighter in the University of Minnesota Architecture studio, Ben came up with a prototype for the 'Woodchuck' and his friend Kevin became his partner. Eventually they found a third Minnesotan, Bob Feyereisen to make the products and WOODCHUCKcase was born.


above: Kevin Groenjes, Bob Feyereisen and Benjamin VandenWymelenberg work on the design of the Woodchuck products

The WOODCHUCKcases are really beautiful. The 100% real wood self-adhesive veneers come in mahogany, walnut and birch, sourced from local lumberyards and designed to perfectly fit Apple iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and the Mac Air.




Because they are made from 100% real wood each case varies slightly in color and texture so no two are exactly alike.

iPhone WOODCHUCKcases:
Birch:

Mahogany:

Walnut:

iPad WOODCHUCKcases:
Birch:

Mahogany:

Walnut:

MacBook and MacAir WOODCHUCKcases:



The cases can easily be removed without leaving a sticky residue, using a special 3M adhesive.

The Woodchuck Team is passionately and energetically changing the way people interact with technology and has partnered with local company Midwest Special Services, a facility giving life opportunities to adults with disabilities, to create the packaging.



They began by selling the products, which are 100% made in the United States, in the University of Minnesota bookstores and now the products can be bought through their online store at the Mall of America and four gift stores, including one in Milwaukee. And beginning today, 18th of July, the cases can be purchased at Best Buy.

SPECIAL FREE SHIPPING OFFER for If It's Hip, It's Here Readers. Use code IIHIH at check out.


Buy your WOODCHUCKcase

Marvelous Modern Wooden Pocket Watches. Introducing Memento Timepieces.

The concept of the pocket watch goes waaaay back. But bringing it a modern look and feel (and an affordable price) is Memento Watches of Hong Kong. Memento is a delicate timepiece housed into an elegant wooden shell of sandal wood or maple wood, giving each single watch a distinctive texture and pattern. Don't think you'd actually put a pocket watch in your pocket? Consider clipping it to your briefcase, handbag, backpack or keychain.








Product specifications:
• Crown and case: hairline finish 204 stainless steel and alloy
• Movement: Miyota co. Citizen quartz two hands movement (Japan)
• Wooden case: sandal wood (South Africa) / maple wood (China)
• Dimensions: 500 x 580mm
• Warranty: 1 year
• Designed in Hong Kong s.a.r
$125 USD


Buy them here

Limited Edition Typography Scrabble For Designers, Typophiles and Font Lovers.

A special edition of the classic Scrabble board game made of solid walnut wood tiles which each feature a variety of fonts has been created by Andrew Clifford Capener.





The game board is lined with slip free cork and made up of six panels which come in a walnut wood storage case with drawers.





Metal tile racks and a Birch wood box complete the set, which is signed and numbered.




all images courtesy of Andrew Capener

Only 2100 sets were made and there are very few left.

Key Features:
• Beautiful solid walnut storage case with drawer
• Six-panel solid walnut magnetized gameboard lined with slip free cork
• Beautiful solid birch cover
• Metal tile racks
• Solid walnut tiles featuring a variety of different and exciting fonts
• Each limited edition set will also be signed and numbered

Product Dimensions: 19.00” x 17.50” x 6.00”

Pre-Order Now Here
Price: $199
Available: August 2012

Thanks to Daily Design Joint for bringing this to my attention via Materialicious

Beautifully Crafted Wood Eyeglass Frames from a Carpenter and a Designer in Italy.

Italian carpenter Doriano Mattellone and designer Matteo Ragni have a love of wood and its properties, so together they began W-eye with Antonio Stella, which sells wooden eyeglass frames suitable for optical or sunglass lens.



Each lovingly crafted pair is constructed of seven sheets of wood interlaid with two sheets of aluminium to make them both structurally sound and flexible.




A digitally controlled cutting machine is used to create the contours and then each pair is sanded by hand. The frames are then branded and varnished and upon request, can be custom etched and numbered by a sophisticated laser system.





All W-eye models are available in nine types of wood. European wood species include Maple, Ash, Cherry and Walnut. African wood species include Wengè, Mahogany, Ebony, Zebra wood and Sapelli wood. Their most recent collection includes colorful wood stains.




Photo Credits: Still life by Luca Corvatta, portraits by Enrico Suà Ummarino.
Every pair of glasses can be full, or made from one type of wood, bifacial (two types of wood, inner and outer) or multicolour (mix of types of wood, inner/outer). The wood used comes from certified forests managed according to environmental sustainability criteria.

New for 2011:
Their newest collection, just released last month and not yet on their website, includes colored stained woods for a more vibrant and playful look:







Go here for the location of their shops or contact them via e-mail.

A special thanks to Elmanco for bringing these to my attention