Arielle de Pinto: Crochet Jewelry

Canadian artist Arielle de Pinto treats metal like fiber and crochets fantastical sheaths and adornments, sui generis. A graduate of Concordia University, de Pinto developed her unique technique over the course of her studies in textiles. She launched a line in 2007, the same year she graduated, and has been a regular participant in New York and Paris fashion weeks. Her collection of hand-worked jewelry is presented by select specialty stores internationally.

Read the Cool Hunting interview here. [via Ambit]

Laurent Milon: Magnetic Rings

Remember those magnetic hair-do games you'd play with as a kid? There was Hair-Do Harriet, and the vaguely menacing Wooly Willy. Well now there's Laurent Milon, French industrial designer extraordinaire. His Magnetic Rings are made using frozen iron powder (cheap) in conjunction with ferromagnetic precious metals, like silver, copper, and nickel. The project was done as part of his diploma, which focused on "creating shapes that would evade the limits of nowadays' industrial process" thanks to the random forms created through (partially) natural means. The video is truly delightful and very helpful in visualizing his methodology. Plus, you get to see an animate clump of iron powder closely resemble a hedgehog devouring glitter. [via DesignBoom]

Now, I'm no science buff, but thinking back to kid stuff I couldn't help but be reminded of those crystal garden growing kits I used to fawn over — the forms are remarkably similar. So I tried to learn a little more online about the similarities between magnetic forms and the way crystals grow. It turns out that crystal architecture plays a deciding role in determining the magnetic properties of molecular materials (more here). Cool! If anyone has any more info or thoughts on this I'd be super stoked to learn more.

Emily Miranda

Barnacles, snails, shells, rhinestones, freshwater pearls, gilded alligator feet ... It is as if Neptune proposed to a Sea Witch on a full moon. New York artist Emily Miranda has a neoclassical flair for the decadent and macabre. She also makes incredible sculptural cakes. [via Shiny Squirrel]

Brothers Dressler

Canadian twin woodworkers Jason and Lars Dressler are the Brothers Dressler, a custom furniture company dedicated to using salvaged and upcycled materials with an heirloom design objective. The craftsman pieces are truly beautiful, and no scrap from their creation goes unused. "Wasting material is taboo to us and we believe that with a little creative thinking much of our potential waste can be repurposed into useful and beautiful objects." The brothers turn the left over off-cut material from their furniture series into handcrafted jewelry and children's toys. Simply fabulous. [via Reuben Miller]

For a great interview with Saul Griffith — the man who coined the term heirloom design — check out the winter 2010 issue of GOOD, Slow Down.

The Lesters Store Wrap-Up

Congratulations to Ali, Megan, Morgana, Clare, Jessica, Amber, and Ray! Be sure to keep up with The Lesters Store folks in the new year.

The Lesters Store

I am super excited and pleased to announce the first in a series of ephemeral pop-up store openings: come meet The Lesters. "THE LESTERS STORE is a project from friends Alison Kendall and Megan Mansell Williams, based on their scientific expeditions to San Miguel Island in the early 2000s and the stories of the Lester family ... The project embraces design, decor, branding, marketing, and more ... with items we admire that harken back to another time and remind us, if not solely of the Lesters and of San Miguel Island, of Herbie's love for collecting and his love for the landscape around him."

Rugged, vintage, survivalist decor & accessories! Artworks from Alison Kendall, Clare Judith Bowers, and Jessica Martin. Jewelry trunk show by M.E.Moore. Clothing designs from Amber McInnis. Select "rustica" from Ray Degischer, Country Industrial.

December 18-20, 2009, at 110 North Street Street (upstairs), aka "The Loft" in downtown Healdsburg, CA. Showroom open 10am–4pm. Evening film screenings, refreshments & music — 6pm 'til closing. See you there!

Plastique: Type Nerd Jewelry

I know. Everyone's seen Helvetica and Veer is making kerning sweatshirts and the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog is now on video. Lets face it, type nerds went mainstream. But it's not all bad. Because now graphic designers with hand skillz are opening Etsy shops ... lets hear it for Plastique! Pssst, it's not all type, either.
[via Fubiz via FFFFOUND]