Face Jewelry: 60 Minute Special on Luxottica

This is a well known fact in the optical world...

Stained Ceramics: Bethan Laura Wood

With the cup moving from the table to the shelf, the focus of ceramic production has shifted from utilitarian to decorative. The art market’s continual search for perfection has stripped bowls, cups, and plates of their personal history. 

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 British artist Bethan Laura Wood has designed her bone china cup series titled Stain to improve through use. Each cup is treated so that areas are susceptible to stain in a predetermined pattern. Through use, the pattern is revealed and the user’s individual drinking habits are built up over time.

~ excerpted from Perfection, Repair, and Use by Megan Fizell 

Made By Hand: Cut Brooklyn

I love some of the things that Joel Bukiewicz, a knife maker of Cut Brooklyn, says about the handmade; that entering a career as an artisan is not all magical and one of the most rewarding aspects is that of the handmade community; that our generation is more willing to invest more in things that have more meaning and will last longer (heirloom objects if you will); and that it took him a solid and dedicated year and half to come up with a viable product--it didn't just happen over night.

Iznik Tile Foundation

The Iznik Tile Foundation was begun with the goal of making Turkish tiles using methods that were implemented over 1000 years ago.  Super pretty.

 photo via The Spectacle Showcase

Rolf Eyewear

A unique eyewear family-run company situated in western Austria, Rolf Glasses, specializes in wooden frames that have specially designed screwless hinges.  Only natural materials and no metal for this crew.

 

 The folks at Rolf have recently created a new material for eyewear that combines rock and wood to make a killer--yet lightweight--frame, it's the Woodstone Collection.  Awesome.

Eating Austin: Chen Z

Conner and I have been making a point to try new restaurants around Austin since we have a tendency to go back to the same places over and over (Justine's, Maru Sushi, Alamo Drafthouse).  We read a review of a new noodle bar called Chen Z in the Chronicle.  Sooooo good.  It's been a couple weeks since we ate there and I can't recall exactly what we ordered but this shrimp, chicken, pork stir fry was awesome!  And the pork dumplings are phenomenal.  If you're ever in Austin for longer than a SXSW weekend, then make the trip up to Anderson Lane, it's worth it.

 

Mr Porter: Style For Men

I think there might be a new online store that is for stylish men what Anthropologie is for us ladies, Mr Porter.  They have an amazing selection of distinguished clothing and accessories, along with super short videos of people actually moving around in the clothes.  There's nothing like getting clothes in the mail and once you put them on they cling in unflattering ways when you move.  I love this idea of clothing videos.  Mr Porter also features small collections for What To Wear at say, a Creative Meeting or Beach Vacation.  I'm also a fan of their Journal which gives me insight into how to style my man.  Brilliant!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

There's just no way that you couldn't love these little birds of paradise.  So cool.

From one of my new favorite blogs, Visual News.

The Art Of Making: Alma Flamenca

The Art of Making, Alma Flamenca from Deep Green Sea on Vimeo.
I found this amazing video about making Flamenca guitars. Beautifully shot.

Drift Eyewear

I went to the Vision Expo West in Last Vegas several weeks ago and I'm just now going back through all the cards, notes, and catalogs I picked up while I was there.  One of the cool new lines I found was Drift Eyewear, handmade wooden eyeglasses made in Chicago.  Here are a couple photos from Vision Expo East in New York.