Not a wind chime person per se, I am fond of bells at Christmas. Sleigh bells hung on the front door provide festive welcome, and I’ve always loved my Grandmother’s bell ornaments, made from antique glass.

This year I have a new seasonal favorite: cowbells. With their rustic dents, burnished patina, and deeper tone, they appear to me to be an earthier, more characterful twist on a classic. And so I was pleased to discover a new source for these kind of bells: Irona Works.

From his home in Utah, Grey Bentley indulges his “passion for working with metals” by hand-forging a vast collection of bells and chimes. Fashioned from recycled, antique metal – brass and silver – each bears the marks of its creation with pride.

(My favorite by a nose: the petite silver bells above. You can see more of my picks for rustic holiday bells at Remodelista today.)

selections from “Each Other” by Helen Carnac

Just added to the list of “things I covet”: enamel works by Helen Carnac. Carnac, a master crafter from London, is intently interested in exploring the inherent nature of her material: primarily metal. She is likewise fascinated with the “marks of craftsmanship,” and it is these two forces that inform the patterns and textures of Carnac’s work. The resulting chips and cracks and rusted edges add a wonderful vitality to these vessels – as if you are witnessing the aging process right before your eyes. Carnac recently learned that some of her maternal ancestors were metal engravers. The sense of history in her work then is perhaps not accidental, but rather, fundamental.

I’m not the first blogger to feature SlowWood. In fact the sleek forms of this Dutch company have caught so many an eye, that I almost shelved this post in favor of something more original. But SlowWood’s tables are so fresh and lovely that they kept popping back into mind. Plus the styling of the images is inspiration in and of itself. Last night I discovered that when paired with these upside down photos from the company’s own site, SlowWood tables were perfect for spring. So “Uncle, uncle,” I’m featuring them. Who knows, maybe for some of you this is the first time you’ve seen them!

Hand made in Fryslân, SlowWood tables are low impact on the environment, but high in style. Local craftsman use only solid wood and natural finishes to create these serenely elegant forms. Then for a little pop of color, the legs can be customized with a variety of richly hued mineral paints. Simple, playful, and contemporary, SlowWood tables have all the makings of a modern classic.

Kishu vase, sculpture made from oxidized copper and ethically sourced silver

This weekend I began a dialogue with Regina Connell, the founder and Editor in Chief of Handful of Salt. This site, dedicated to DesignCraft, is a trove of lovely and inspired finds featuring insightful articles and interviews with the artists.

One featured artist that I had to share with you is the extraordinary Maya Selway. Needless to say, when first I came across the work of this London native, I was entranced. Though Maya also makes beautiful jewelry and other extraordinary objects, her Kishu collection in particular is pure minimalism at its most striking.

These slight whips of sculpture have all the suggestive vitality and fluid grace of Chinese calligraphy, yet in 3-D. So reductive they are almost painful, as if all the flesh has been burnt away to reveal only the skeletal core. And yet what is left is utter beauty. Like ghosts, they are ethereal and transient, the mere whisper of a form. Look away and they might disappear altogether.

To render metal in a manner this delicate sets up a tension that is truly tantalizing. I am dying to further the dichotomy by placing a real, basic, utilitarian object in one of these vessels: a toothbrush in a cup, or a single green apple in a bowl. So much evocative power in so spare an object is truly breathtaking.

For a more complete profile on Maya Selway, see her interview on Handful of Salt.

Kishu bottles made from oxidized copper

editorial from January 2012, Elle Decor, featuring Maya’s work

Kishu bowls, oxidized copper

composition of three bowls, made of fine and sterling silver

Just in case you didn’t notice them yesterday, I wanted to highlight the breathtaking Wire Works of Masao Seki. Available at FIVE FROM THE GROUND, Seki’s pieces are a beguiling mix of quiet grace and expressive vitality. For, despite their delicate construction, their is much movement in Seki’s work.

Reminiscent of Dutch landscapes, the distance spires and towers of Seki’s 3-D towns seem to fad into the mist. His flowers, though dainty and lovely, seem almost animalian – ready to scamper away on their leaf/legs. Likewise, his plucky plane, only momentarily alight, possesses the spirit of a dragon fly. Seki’s hooks and hangers however, appear a bit more grounded, as if they are aware of their more important, practical applications.

Perhaps it is Seki’s gift for letting character dictate form that lends such personality and whimsy to his work. Though minimal in frame, his pieces are large in life.

All photos copyright FIVE FROM THE GROUND.

I’ve never been much of a skater, but that doesn’t mean I can’t spend hours in a skate shop. That’s because, designwise, I love the boards themselves. They are so sleek with lithe, aerodynamic forms. But on the other hand they are also quite masculine, heavy and hard and often sporting bold graphics and edgy illustrations. It’s a thrilling dichotomy, really.

Thus it is that I find myself continually drawn to the boards of Matthew Bietz of quartertwenty. I’ve mentioned them briefly before, but I decided that it’s time to give Matthew a larger feature, especially since skateboards aren’t the only thing he does well.

At 40″ long, Matthew’s custom skateboards are perfect for cruising. Their streamlined silhouettes are further enhanced by original details like the cutout finger grips (which also make them easier to carry). But it’s Matthew’s simple color block designs that really grab your attention. These sophisticated hues in subtle combinations are so frankly beautiful that they would be just as happy on the pages of Dwell than in any skate rag.

But that’s not all. With an MA in Architecture from the University of Washington and further hands-on experience at Gulassa & Co., among others, Matthew engages in projects big and small – from bottle openers to buildings, if you will. And like his boards, Matthew brings the same beguiling combination of masculine energy tempered by a balanced grace to all his work no matter what the scale.

custom skate decks (Click on this groovy video by Thrillist to see them in action and get a glimpse of Matthew’s newest board.)

Fully customizable the GiddyUp Stool is available in many different steel finishes as well as with seats in wood, leather, or fabric.

Knucklehead bottle opener as well as quartertwenty’s wall stirrups are fashioned from the side cut out of the GiddyUp Stool.

For more products visit quartertwenty’s website or Etsy shop.

CoMod’s Eames Inspired Eiffel based stool made with baltic birch plywood and original eiffel base

CoMod Classics, one of my favorite vintage vendors, has recently launched its own line of custom furnishings!

Founded just over a year ago by Josh Nunez, CoMod is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of all things mid-century modern. Their painstakingly restored Eames shell chairs and rockers have received much deserved attention. Now this fledgling company has launched its own line of classics – custom originals inspired by these mid-century icons. Stay tuned for more new items such as benches, end tables and more…

CoMod’s original Eames inspired coffee table made with Baltic birch plywood and raw steel hairpin legs

CoMod’s custom mid-century inspired bird clock made from walnut plywood

above and below: samples of CoMod’s restored Eames chairs

Michael Wolke’s ‘Beute’ lamp made of recycled cardboard

I have been keeping an eye on ShowRaum. Ever since they surfaced with a few items on Etsy this spring, I have been intrigued by the ingenuity, originality, and sense of humor of this Berlin-based design collective. But I wanted to see if they would be consistent as they expanded. So I added them to my favorites, and watched, and waited.

Indeed each new thing that came out of ShowRaum did seem to be dependably innovative. But the object that finally caused me to decide once and for all that these guys truly had something amazing going was the recycled cardboard “Beute” lamp.

I should mention that ShowRaum’s designers, including Sebastian Mall, Patrick Kerti, Regitze Kerti and Jaap Wijnants, have a range of backgrounds from architecture to furniture design and carpentry. But they all enjoy “giving new life and new functions to discarded, forgotten or thrown away goods.” Thus Beute is a lamp made of narrow strips of reclaimed cardboard arranged like an upside down coiled bowl. The effect is both industrial and primitive, cool and warm, mechanical and animal.

Whether lamp, tray, or pencil case, so far all of ShowRaum’s varied products exhibit a similar kind of creative tension and unexpected personality. Here are a few of the other original products that have caught my eye. To see the whole collection of limited run goods, go to ShowRaum.

Cuplys Lampshade made from 200 repurposed plastic cups

tomDK Pencil Case by Jaap Wijnants made from tractor inner tube

Slange lighting object by Patrick Kerti

weathered pine coat rack

It’s turning out to be “rustic week” here on designskool with my latest find: Frick and Frack Scraps. Founded by two buddies, Tommy and Bradley, the shop was inspired by “beer and their wives’ project lists,” as well as endless conversations about how things work. Besides the subtle sense of humor in their products (and personalities), I appreciate the eclectic nature of their work. Many of the recycled bits and pieces they use come from the 1900s feed mill where they make their unique creations (and which also inspires their designs). They both love functional pieces. Bradley is more influenced by the clean lines of craftsman style, while Tommy channels a more laid back, coastal vibe. An unusual formula perhaps, but it works. For despite the ad hoc nature of their approach, there is no denying that these two friends have an “eye” for what works together. Their pieces are at the same time quite rich in texture but minimal in form. They are funky and rusticly charming, original and full of character… perhaps just a little like their creators.

organizer

carryall tote

cider carrier with applewood handle

Also check out the six pack carrier, as well as many other fabulous thingamabobs at Frick and Frack Scraps.

I rather like this Concrete and Steel Coleman Stool, especially in green! It’s different, with all those wonderful contrasts I love: modern yet earthy, industrial but soft, graceful yet grounded. Designed by Greta de Parry, a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, this sleek stool is hand crafted using steel rods which are submerged right into a custom stone aggregate/concrete mixture during casting. Thus it is sturdy as well as sustainable. A self-described “Rosie the Riveter of sorts, with an admiration for the dainty, chameleon-like qualities of Blanche Dubois,” Greta notes that she appreciates in furniture the same qualities she does in friends: playfulness, resourcefulness, emotionally stability, and uniqueness of character. I can’t help but respond to descriptions like that and I think they’re perfectly captured in this stool.

Available in different heights, the Coleman stool is totally customizable.

Below are a few other great pieces from Greta’s collection.

Toad Stools

Synthesis Bench made from locally sourced hardwoods