Limited Edition Bent Wood Bracelets & Cuffs By Gustav Reyes

One of the standouts at this year's Smithsonian Craft Show (which ran from April 14-17) was the contemporary jewelry of Gustav Reyes. On the Craft Show website, they only show his rings, but it's his limited edition series of coiled, twisted and knotted wooden bracelets that really appeal to me.

The modern and elegant bracelets and cuffs by the Chicago based woodworker are formed by hand using a cold bend process and finished with natural bee's wax. The Cherry, Walnut, Maple and Rockelm woods can be rejuvenated by simply applying more natural bee's wax. Several of the styles are available in multiple wood options.

Walnut:




Cherry:



Rockelm:


Maple:




above photography by Lauren Bost

Prices range from $120 to $320. Available from Artful Home.

"My training and personal development have led me to believe that humans surpass biological processes by creating. The desire to create is the vehicle by which we, as humans, extend our minds and souls beyond the limits of our physical selves."-- Gustav Reyes

As a young man, Reyes attended the Art Institute of Chicago, where his understanding of art was greatly broadened. He also studied at the Chicago Bauhaus Academy, where he developed an understanding of the finer aspects of woodworking. His formal training and years of dedication to his craft have allowed him to find the point where nature breathes through the form.

New Wood Fireplaces, Radiators, Heated Poufs & Pet Beds From Italy's i-radium.

I've written about i•radium's beautiful radiators before, but they've added some new and noteworthy items to their collection since my last post.


above: some of the previous wood radiators and towel racks from i-radium


New Products
Heated poufs for people, heated beds for pets, radiators and towel warmers all swathed in beautiful woods like colored oaks (natural, white, grey and black), ebony and wenge.

The Joule bioethanol fireplace by Enzo Berti:

A revolutionary and innovative Bioethanol heating system. The only fireplace capable to generate heat profiting by the I-Radium technology of infrared applied to wood and by the ultrasound technology applied to Bioethanol combustion. It’s an invisible fireplace, mirrored glassed when turned off, it becomes source of heat with real fire when aflame. The whole process is microprocessor controlled and respects current safety world standards. Ignition, switch off, fan and flame modulation are operated by a special remote control or by keypad, directly on the device. The procedure can be interfaced with any type of home automation system and it’s already programmed for remote control via mobile phone.

Pause leather and wood heated poufs by Enzo Berti:

An innovative "heating pouf" made of wood and hide, characterized by sophisticated details and finish and strong aesthetic value. A new way to conceive a heater for a minimalist style

Dot heated pouf and MP3 player by Enzo Berti:

A new heating pouf of simple and sober lines. Leather upholstered seat, available in multiple colours, it can be used in any home environment. Dot is provided with an original option: a kinetic transducer, inserted within, allows you to listen to music. Easy to use, a simple connection to any MP3/audio source and power supply to be instantly wrapped in relaxing warmth and music.

The Meo Bau Heated Pet Bed by Enzo Berti:

It’s a warming bed for cats, dogs and puppies, designed to be placed next to chairs and sofas or to be carried easily around the house. Warm, elegant and comfortable, this new and re-interpreted version of the dog/cat crate-bed, embraces your pet with comfort and luxury.

Gigi radiator by Enzo Berti:

A whimsical radiator for the kids’ room and irresistible for older ones, Gigi, has an innovative style that embraces the environment in an atmosphere of fun and turns any niche or corner of your home into an original spot. In Fact, thanks to its extreme lightness, versatility and ease of use, you can take it with you in every room and enjoy hot moments of relaxation.

X-Red Towel Warmer by Michael Schmidt:

An innovative free-standing towel-warmer characterized by pure lines and a wide heating surface. The sinuous and elegant vertical shape of X-Red hides the towel hangers behind, thus maintaining the wall always tidy and well organized.

X-Red, naturally and easily adapts to any type of furniture and finds optimal positioning in both the private and public sectors.

Morphosis Radiator and Towel Warmer by Michael Schmidt:


Elegant style and neat design are the features of Morphosis, the new collection of these modular radiators: from elegant towel warmer to radiator easily works outside the bathroom boundaries. Positionable both horizontally and vertically allows maximum adaptability and possibility to be equipped with exclusive accessories, such as shelves and towel hangers, camouflaged behind the curved modules.



via cividale, 33040 Moimacco
Udine, Italia
phone +39 0432.733253
fax +39 0432.733417
www.i-radium.com
info@i-radium.com

Luxury Racing Bikes Exquisitely Crafted of Mahogany Wood By Sueshiro Sano.

Exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail make this wooden bike the finest about which I have written. While it's true I introduced you to Woody Bicycles and the first FSC- certified wooden bicycle, the elegance and proportions of Sanomagic's wooden bikes are in a class by themselves.



A ninth generation ship builder, Sueshiro Sano, shown above with his Mahogany Bike T2, has created a lightweight high performance luxury bike using layering techniques employed in shipbuilding to make the wood stronger and more durable.



above images courtesy of Adeyaka Magazine

Sano made his first Mahogany bicycle in January of 2008. Since then he has completed ten and is working on the eleventh in which he is introducing Mahogany deep polished rims.






Every element on the bike, other than the gears and brakes, is handcrafted of mahogany wood. A curved wooden frame, wooden spacers, wooden handlebars, a wooden saddle, wooden kickstand and wooden seat. Even the the wheels, the drink holder and the little cap on the tire valves is wood as well.










Sano claims the bike outperforms aluminum models and even some of the most cutting edge carbon fiber models. Like Carbon fiber, wood is a fiber which has holes inside for water which contain air. So, when the wood gets a shock, it expels the air much like a sneaker sole. This absorbs the majority of the shock and provides a seamlessly smooth ride.




Despite the fact that many people see his bikes as a 'design project', Sano considers safety and functionality first.


above: The Sanomagic workshop

Mahogany Bikes made by Sueshiro Sano.