Hirotoshi Ito Turns Stone Into Sculptures That Rock.

While running the family masonry business which crafts tombstones, memorials and religious statuary, Hirotoshi Ito has been creating and exhibiting his own stone art in Japan and abroad in hopes to promote the value of stones as an art medium. For his personal works, he use various kinds of stones ranging from granite and marble to ones he found at the Azusa riverbank near his home.




In some instances he carves marble with a deft hand, turning into fabric and garments. In other projects, he has 'opened' simple rocks turning them into precious containers. He enjoys mixing the stone with different materials such as zippers, dentures, and coins as you will see in the following images of his work.


above: Hirotoshi Ito's Laughing Stones are some of his most recent work

His ability to turn stone into the appearance of malleable substances such as food is both beautiful and compelling:





Adept at sculpting marble, he has given the following pieces the flowing appearance of garments, linen and paper:







Stone garments:






With the addition of zippers, Hirotoshi has turned rock into anything but a solid substance. Providing an opening, the rocks are 'unzipped' to hold coffee beans, marbles, coins, shells and more.












His most recent work are his "Laughing Stones":



You can purchase some of his zippered rocks at the online independent artists' store Iichi
Hirotoshi Ito website

Add A Steampunk Edge To Your Lighting With Nostalgic Bulbs Like These Artists Did.

For those who love Nixie Clocks, Steampunk and Vintage lighting, Bulbrite's Nostalgic collection of Edison-like light bubs with creative filament designs is a great creative resource for personal projects or simply some retro home decor.



The Bulbs
Meticulously crafted to preserve the look of early 20th-century lighting, Bulbrite’s Nostalgic collection is the most extensive in the industry and is perfect for any vintage or contemporary décor. Consisting of four series and nine bulbs, they give off a warm amber glow in various wattages.

Loop:

Thread:

Hairpin:

Spiral:


Included in the Nostalgic line of products are the Spiral T14, Thread T14, ST18 and G30, Hairpin T9, ST18, as well as the Loop A19, A21 and A23. Each lamp has an E26 base, a life of 3,000 hours and gives off a warm, amber glow. The T14, Thread ST18 and G30 lamps are offered in 40-watts, the Hairpin T9 lamp is offered in 20-watt and the Loop A19, A21 and A23 are offered in 25- and 40-watt styles.

Recognized for their antique finish, defined steeple and intricate filament design, these lamps are ideal for any transparent light fixture, both indoor and outdoor. They are compatible with a 120-volt system and are most commonly used in chandeliers, portables, ceiling fixtures, signage/displays and outdoor/security lighting.

ReTech and Wolf Art Glass
Artists like glassblower Dean Wolf of Wolf Art Glass and ReTech have used the bulbs beautifully in their own unique pieces. Take a look at their work below.

ReTech:






ReTech lighting and objects made with reclaimed materials

Wolf Art Glass:





Wolf Art Glass & Pottery

A vintage-inspired suitcase counter display is offered from Bulbrite to showcase any four Nostalgic lamps from this cool collection. I'd love it just for display in my home!




Bulbrite Nostalgic Collection

MISSONI Loves HAVAIANAS New 2012 Spring Capsule Collection Now Available

The second collaborative effort between Italian fashion and design house Missoni and Brazilian flip-flop brand Havaianas, Missoni Loves Havaianas 2012 features 3 new designs of the Brazilian sandals for women, men and children that just became available on June 8th.





The collection is made from leftover rubber obtained in the manufacturing process.



The packaging is eco-friendly as well, complete with a signature Missoni flame stitch drawstring bag.




Buy them here

Turning Chain Link Fencing Into Art. Lace Fences By Demakersvan.

Combining the ancient craft of lace making with the industrial chain link, Dutch design house Demakersvan has changed the idea of enclosing spaces with their Lace Fences.





Using a high-end metal fabric, they are able to craft various fencing, from antique lace floral to contemporary designs and custom art patterns.



Every fence they create is unique in its design by its craft and assembled patterns, which come in a variety of themes.

some available patterns:



Available for either indoors our outside, the Lace Fence illustrates how something which was meant to be purely functional can also be decorative.

Here are some examples of their beautiful work.











To purchase a custom Lace Fence or learn more visit lacefence.com
You can also choose from their pre-made Lace Fence designs at Droog.


About Demakersvan:


From fantasy to factory, from statement to product, Dutch design house Demakersvan combines the old and the new, the industrial and the crafted, the hostile and the kind. Founded in 2005 by Joep Verhoeven, Jeroen Verhoeven and Judith de Graauw, Dutch design house Demakersvan has reached remarkable success within a short time. They are the designers behind the famous Cinderella table, which has been acquired by Victoria & Albert Museum, MoMA New York and Centre Pompidou. Refusing a limitation to one category the trio works with museums, architecture, furniture and fashion companies on commercial work and self-initiated projects. The studio is based in the Netherlands, and its production unit is based in Bangalore, India.
Demakersvan