google ad sense 728 x 90

Modern & Ornate Hand-forged Iron Beds From Ciacci Of Italy




If you thought the art of metalworking and hand made wrought irons beds were a thing of the past (and even if you didn't), let me introduce you to Ciacci.



Begun as a crafts workshop in 1965 for the ancient art of metal forging by Piero Ciacci, the Ancona, Italy based company is still thriving today. Ciacci is distinguished mainly by their beautiful beds, available in traditional, ornate and modern models in various sizes and finishes.

Ciacci products are available in various finishes such as black, silver, metallic gold, antique, rust and ivory


Here are a few of their more unique bed designs, most available as double or single beds.

Brigitte:

Garden:

Georgette:

Lotus:

Nuvola:

Papillon:

Querida:

Sogno:

Tea:

Venice:


They also make many traditional wrought iron beds, such as the Kelly, shown below:


as well as matching lamps, end tables and chairs:


For more products and information, visit Ciacci.

Modernist Metal Birdhouses & Birdfeeders By Joe Papendick




Metal sculptor Joseph Papendick creates beautiful outdoor birdhouses and bird feeders. The collections I'm sharing with you here are his modernist and cubist designs. Made of steel and treated with primer and 2 coats of bright and beautiful enamel colors, they are available in the colors shown or any color combinations you'd like.

"Charm" Birdfeeders


These welded steel bird feeders are made entirely by hand and are 12" in diameter The stainless steel screen, which holds the seed, is welded to two stainless steel rods. These rods fit into grooves at the corners of the piece. The rods hold the seed screen in place much like a hammock, and also serve as perches for birds. The entire screen and rod section is removable for cleaning.

"Cheepie" Standing Birdfeeders


These hand crafted, welded steel birdfeeders stand approximately 6' tall. The upright support is welded to an "I-beam" shaped base which has been uniquely designed to allow the piece to stand securely upright when "planted" into the ground approximately 8 -10 inches deep. The 'feeder' portion contains of a stainless steel screen designed to hold bird seed a safe distance off the ground. Shielded to a degree from rain, wind, and sun - the stainless steel screen allows for rapid drainage of any water, and will never rust through. Once 'planted' into the soil, the design allows for the roots of surface vegetation to reach through and firmly anchor the piece into the ground.

"Cubist" Bird Feeders


This first series of "Cubist" bird feeders measure 11" tall X 8" wide. Two stainless steel rods, inserted through holes drilled into the sides of each piece, allow a perforated aluminum screen for bird seed to simply rests on the rods. This feeder screen sits between the boundaries created by two rectangular slats which are inserted through cuts made into both sides of the pieces. An additional stainless steel rod runs perpendicularly through these slats, serving to stabilize the rectangular elements, while also serving as an extended perch for birds. Keeping the various elements separate - without welding - allows for them to be painted separately, now in in the future. These pieces are each treated with spray primer and enamel. Although they are pictured here in only select colors - with white as the sole horizontal color - they can be easily finished in any combination of colors you'd prefer.

"Duo" Hanging Bird Feeders


The "Duo" series of hanging bird feeders measure 14" tall X 18" wide. They are made from hand bent welded steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Divided down the middle by the roof structure, each of the two separate sides holds a perforated aluminum screen for bird seed. The seed screens simply rest upon the two stainless steel rods which are inserted through the piece. Along with two other rods, of differing lengths, these rods also serve as perches for birds . The Longest is 22" wide. The pieces are designed to hang by twin ropes of galvanized steel wire, approximately 20" long. Each of these support ropes rests under the angle of the two bent roofs, coming together at the top in two loops. The pieces are treated with two coats each of spray primer and enamel. Although they are pictured here in only select colors, they can be easily finished in any color you'd prefer.

"Plus" Bird Feeders


The design of this 'Plus' series of bird feeders features two rectangular elements. The two main sections are not welded together. Instead they nest within each other, and a pair of stainless steel rods, running through the middle of both pieces, holds them perpendicular. Three perforated aluminum screens for bird seed rest on these rods. Since they are cut to fit within the three individual sections, the screens also serve to prevent movement of the horizontal piece from left to right. I particularly enjoy it when everything about a design just seems to work together! These pieces measure 12" high, 14" wide, and 5" deep. They have each been finished with two shades of spray enamel, one slightly darker than the other. Any of the pieces in this series can easily be finished in whatever color combination you'd like to see.

"Home" Hanging Bird Feeders


Inspired by the shape of old wooden birdhouses, these new "Home" series bird feeders measure 6" square and 18" tall. On each of the two levels a perforated aluminum screen, designed to hold bird seed, is supported by two stainless steel rods which are inserted through the piece. These rods also serve as perches for birds. The pieces are designed to hang by a rope of galvanized steel wire, 20" long, which has been looped permanently through the top section. They are treated with spray primer and enamel. As such they can be finished in a variety of colors.

Shop for the above here.

Witty Hand Screen-Printed Tights From Luna & Curious




Les Queues de Sardines are an original range of tights notable for their unconventional and unique graphic style. Add a pinch of narrative humor - the result is a selection of elegant and eye-catching tights that will dress up your legs. Screen-printed by hand in limited quantities on a farm in rural France by Olivier and Marion, these rare and exclusive fashion tights will never go unnoticed.

The Autumn/Winter 2010 collection
(shown below) are available in store and online from Luna & Curious, the only UK stockist of these amazing tights. The new collection features the golden winged ankles of Icare (that's Icarus for the Americans), graphic foliage trailing down or growing up the leg and the humorous Descente d’Organes, depicting an elegant and refined jumble of internal body parts dancing down the wearer’s leg.

Flizus Black:

Flizus White:

Icare (wings) - black:

Icare (wings) - white:

Organs - pink:

Organs - white:

Agnathe (Foliage) black:

Agnathe (Foliage) - white:


Added to this are old favourites, Bonny (gun slung in a garter), Pleurie (raindrops), Cumulonimbus (weather symbols) and the fabulous Fourmis which has a parade of ants crawling over the legs.

Cumulonimbus:

Bonny:

Fourmis (Ants):

Pleurie (Raindrops):


And some of their other wonderful designs:
Manon In Blue:

La Perlangra:



The new collection will be online from early September. Prices start at £34. Shop for them here.

Quiltsrÿche. Edgy Quilts By Boo Davis.



above: Cock Rock quilt from Quiltsrÿche

You gotta love a crafter who labels her textile designs with the sign-off "Made With Hate." At least I do. On her own site she describes herself as follows: "Boo Davis is a designer, illustrator and quiltmaker living in Seattle. She spent much of her youth cozied up under her grandmother's quilt listening to Ozzy. As a grown-up metalhead and design geek, the intersection of cute and evil is what she finds most compelling."





This is apparent in her hip quilts. No grandma patchwork for this gal, instead Quiltsrÿche blends rock n' roll imagery, attitude and a smart sense of color and design. Her graphic and edgy quilts are reminiscent of another modern quilter, Denyse Schmidt, only on acid.

Skullfucked1:

Skullfucked3:

Basketcase:

Does Not Compute:

Bangover:

Beastie:

Beastie Prototype:

Love It or Leaf it:

Quilt In the Headlights:

I'm A Wiener:

Damaged:

Primer:


Quiltsrÿche uses 100% cotton fabrics, though some of the vintage fabrics are blends. All fabrics are pre-washed. A Quiltsrÿche quilt is made with straightforward linear quilting that is durable and adds, in Boo's words, "that totally killer juxtaposition of handmade and industrial."

Your Quiltsrÿche quilt can live on your bed or on your wall. Request a rod pocket to be sewn on the back if you'd like it to hang. Quilt backs feature three stripes in coordinating or complementary colors. Let Boo know your color preferences for the binding and back of your quilt.

Order your Quiltsrÿche quilt directly from Boo here.

She also has a book available for purchase, Dare to Be Square Quilting: A Block-by-Block Guide to Making Patchwork and Quilts



•Check out her illustration and graphic design here.

•Here's a nice New York Times Q & A with the edgy quilter.


special thanks to Boo Davis and Stuart Isett for The New York Times for the above images.

Please donate

C'mon people, it's only a dollar.