Posts | | Page 29

Latest Posts

Oh My Clumsy Heart Jewelry

Published by designy things

Stella necklace made with rainbow quartz.

Sophie Davies is a designer living in the South East of Kent in England, where she makes minimal, modern jewelry for the wonderfully named Oh My Clumsy Heart. Her collections range from classic jewelry with a modern twist, to geometric designs, to her latest collection of geology-inspired pieces adorned with titanium quartz and pyrite. We asked Sophie a few questions about her work, and where she finds inspiration.

Sophie Davies. Photo by jackspiceradams.com

Quartz Necklaces

Designy Things: When did you start designing jewelry? Did you study jewelry design in school?

Sophie Davies: I started making jewelry around 18 months ago. I wanted to make  something I would buy and wear myself —minimal designs that are lovely to  look at. Mostly everything I have learned has been self-taught. When I want  to make something, and I don’t know how, I teach myself. I do, however, have  a degree in Media and Popular Culture with a heavy focus on advertising,  design, and branding — something that comes in very useful.

D.T. Where do you source the stones from the geology line?

S.D.: When I have decided on what type of stone or crystal I want to use for a new  piece, I scour online for sources. Often I import them from international  sellers of various sources.

Muriel necklace.

D.T.: Who is your favorite jewelry designer?

S.D. Most designer or High Street [Main Street] jewelry brands do not appeal to me, it’s more the little online boutiques that really make me giddy. Saying that, Christian Dior makes stunning jewelry.

Brass Triangle necklace

D.T. What inspires you?

S.D. I couldn’t honestly say. I think I take inspiration from the little things
I don’t notice so much. Good design and style is appealing to look at. I guess I take inspiration from noticing something that has been well-made. I try to incorporate the design styles and features I find appealing — but I think most ideas just … appear.

Fox plastic brooch.

D.T. What’s next?

S.D. Bigger, Bolder, and Brighter.

All photos courtesy Sophie Davies.

Nendo Designs a Library & “Books” for Starbucks Pop-up Shop in Toyko

Published by designy things

For a clever pop-up shop concept in Tokyo, the Japanese design firm Nendo designed a library-like space where visitors could review “books” in nine different colors that correspond to a different espresso drink. Once a visitor finds a drink that they want, they would “check-in” the book for an actual espresso drink, but keep the “book” cover with info on their beverage. The reverse side of the book cover can be punched out and used as an insert for tall or short size tumblers. The shop only lasted for a few weeks in Tokyo in September…but perhaps we will see one popping up in another city soon?

B.B. Billosaur Bank

Published by designy things

This half bank/half dinosaur from le mouton noir & co. isn’t interested in your pennies — in fact none of your change will fit into the B.B. Billosaur as it’s designed specifically for saving bills. For this redesign of the classic piggy bank, the traditional slot for coinage has been replaced with seven small holes to insert rolled-up bills. Don’t have enough cash to stash away at the moment? The bank comes with little cork plugs that give the bank a stegosaurus-like appearance. The 5”1/2 wide x 5 3/8” deep x 6 7/8” high bank is handmade in porcelain in matte black, gloss white, silver metallic, and matte pink.

Origami Hunter Wall Lights

Published by designy things

Hunting trophies may signify power and grandeur to some, but they are downright cruel to others. There is no denying however, that they become the focal point of a room. An animal-friendly alternative is the Origami Hunter lighting range by Chilean designer Veronica Posada. The fixtures are made of industrial-grade, heat-resistant paper that has been folded into the shape of a stag, rhino, or ram head. While tested for safety, the lights have not been UL-listed as of yet. The pieces range from 13.8 inches tall by 11.8 inches wide (rhino) to 28.3 inches tall by 15.7 inches wide (stag and ram). They are available exclusively through Pretty Dandy, an online interiors boutique based in Nottingham, England. £179 (single light), £495 (set of three).

Magical Magnetic Jewelry

Published by designy things

Since the first time i spotted Uno Magnetic jewelry at the New York Gift Show in New York City, i was intrigued. Created by Miami-based architect/interior designer Luis Pons, the jewelry is made of a brightly colored chain and a small magnetic ball that work together to form bracelets, anklets, necklaces, rings, and anything else you can imagine. When a sample arrived in the mail a week before this summer’s Gift Show, i was psyched to try it out for myself, and wore it to my day job at a design magazine. During the course of the day, my pink/green Uno got noticed by several colleagues (i was wearing it with a navy blue dress, and it stood out.) The hardest part is keeping your hands off of it once you have found a design you like – i found myself playing with my necklace all day (to the point of distraction). That being said, i think playing with these chains is a stylish, stress-busting replacement for other nasty habits, such as nail-biting or hair twirling. Uno Single (one color, one strand) retails for $19.99 U.S., Uno Multis (two colors, one strand) sells for $21.99 U.S., and Uno Doubles (two strands, each two colors) are $29.99 U.S.

Caveat Emptor: As a friendly warning, i suggest that you be careful with these pieces around small children – the small magnetic balls can be easily swallowed and cause internal damage (Bucky Balls, a popular magnetic toy, were recently recalled for this very reason). But you won’t want your kids playing with these anyway – you will never get them back!

Empty Memory USB Collection

Published by designy things

Structure

I met designer Yoo-Kyung Shin last May at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, where she was displaying a stunning collection of 4GB USB memory sticks that double as jewelry and objets d’art. Shin founded the London–based design studio Logical Art with Hanhsi Chen after their graduation from the Royal College of Art. The pair’s Empty Memory collection features two designs, Structure and Transparency, that contain “a physical emptiness in its sculptural form” that you can fill with your own “memory.” Structure’s geometric form can only be made with the lost-wax casting method that is normally used for industrial components. Transparency expresses its emptiness another way — it is 50% clear acrylic. After a long search for the right production partner, the designers located a manufacturer in Taiwan that is now producing pieces for the studio. Each piece is cast in high-quality, 316 stainless steel, then hand-polished by craftsmen, and finished in various colors.

The Structure version an extra benefit — you can thread a chain through it and wear it as a modern pendant, or even use it as a key ring. With prices ranging from £48-£60, these are most likely the most expensive, and most beautiful USBs you will ever own. What memories would you choose to put on yours?