One-of-a-kind watch necklace by Rewind (Photo: Carlos Montanaro)
I visit the San Francisco International Gift Fair twice a year, and even though it has shrunk tremendously I always find some interesting manufacturers and products. This Summer I reported on eco design I saw at the last show. And here are some of my favorite finds this weekend.
I always love beautiful stationary, and I am a big fan of letterpress. Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress out of Bellingham, WA not only provides custom printing services, creates handmade books and letterpress plates they also offer a line whimsical note cards, note books and pocket books.
Letterpress note cards and calendars at Bison Printing and Letterpress
Letterpress pocket books, note books and cards at Bison Printing and Letterpress
Roost, a local favorite, also showed a ton of great new items, from furniture and lighting to tabletop and accessories. They promoted their new beer garden table and benches by serving light and dark ale. So I am blaming any blurry photos on my consumption of the latter.
Mercury glass tea lights on “Agadir” aluminum coffee table
“Speakeasy” lamps
A friend suggested that I should use a Yoga ball for a desk chair to promote proper posture. But no designer I know, including yours truly, would allow a big brightly colored ball sitting in their office. I found a solution: Imber Design’s ”Velvet Equilibrium” covers with geometric patterns in three neutral colors hand-printed on washable upholstery velvet.
“Velvet Equilibrium” Yoga ball covers at Imber Design
On the eco front Cindy Ciskowski of House of Cindy showed her collection of pillows made from exotic vintage textiles including indigo batiks, kantha quilts, and block prints and lamps and shades created from burlap and rope.
Pillows and floor lamp at House of Cindy
Burlap light fixture and bag at House of Cindy
Those who know me well are aware of my absolutel distaste for paper plates and my favoring only the most minimal use of paper napkins. But I was intrigued by Cake Vintage’s kitchen papers, a selection of serving papers, placemats, coasters, table runners, notepads, and recipe books, all made from recycle paper.
Kitchen papers by Cake Vintage
Kitchen papers on display at Bee Cottage (Photo: courtesy of Bee Cottage)
When Denver-based stone fabricators Steve Chavez and Justin English got more and more frustrated with the huge amount of left-over soapstone scrap that ended up in a local landfill they wanted to find a better solution and turn the smaller pieces into usable and beautiful objects. They started SPARQ a company that fashions the stone remnants into griddles, pizza stones and “ice” cubes. Known for conducting and retaining temperature most effectively soapstone is the perfect material for both hot and cold uses. Justin, who loves Whiskey, can enjoy his favorite non-diluted spirite with “Soapstone Ice Rocks” straight from the freezer. Steve puts his “Coffee Stones” in the microwave for a couple of minutes and is able to keep his coffee hot for a long time. I love ideas that are born out of passion!
SPARQ soapstone griddle (Photo: courtesy of SPARQ)
Whiskey with SPARQ Stones (Photo: courtesy of SPARQ)
In the jewelry section my favorite by far was Carlos Montanaro out of Palm Springs whose Rewind jewelry collection drew a huge crowd. He takes old time pieces and turns them into amazing one-of-a-kind rings, necklaces, cufflinks and bracelets. He is also currently working with a sculptor on developing a collection of executioner’s watches with spherical clocks.
Pocketwatch necklaces
Front of “Executioner’s Watch
Back of “Executioner’s Watch
It is always great to find new resources at shows. I am loving my new watch ring, and I will put the soapstone rock to the test. Call me a Eurosnob, but I have never been a fan of ice diluting my drink.
Cheers,
