by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

One of my favorite finds of the Maker Faire last weekend was Wood Thumb, a duo of brothers making ties from reclaimed wood in San Francisco. We've seen tables from reclaimed wood, chairs from reclaimed wood, and even bracelets from reclaimed wood, but ties?! Wow.

Crafted from reclaimed redwood that formerly held up a Northern California barn, these beauties are light weight and flexible, held together by an elastic cord that loops around the shirt collar. David and Christopher Steinrueck, the guys behind Wood Thumb, take pride in upcycling materials into these fashion-forward accessories.

Get your own here.

We can't wait to see what they'll do next!

by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

Three of my favorite Seattle-based designers debuted new goods ICFF events this week. I adore this trio (Urbancase, Iacoli & McAllister, and Grain) for many reasons, but especially for sending great product images our way since we aren't there in person.

URBANCASE (and TEROFORMA)

The Sidebar project

Urbancase's Darin Montgomery and Tre Jones teamed up with Teroforma to collaborate on this gorgeous liquor cabinet and tumblers & cocktail glasses to compliment each other. Notice the diamond motif in the walnut interior that's echoed in the cuts of the crystal. Love.

Read more about the "Crafted" collaboration here.

Don't miss the pomegranite margarita recipe here.

IACOLI & MCALLISTER

Designers Jamie Iacoli and Brian McAllister specialize in products of beautiful utility. I appreciate the pairing of bold color and modern lines with the grain of natural materials.

Frame Cluster Chandeliers (small and medium shown)

The Iacolli & McAllister single frame lights congregate for impact.

Step

Inspired by a 1920s step ladder from Iacoli's grandfather's workshop, the pale pink paint wash allows the grain of the oak treads to show through.

Canvas

Utilitarian lines meet bright colors in these tables, again with colorwash over the oak top. Custom colors available upon request.

Hex weights and openers

"Jewelry for the not-quite-paperless desk." Beautiful.

GRAIN

Designers Chelsea Green and James Minola—exceptional for their creativity with upcycled and renewable materials—introduced three new eco-friendly home accessories.

Hung

Inspired by James's rope-work techniques picked up while studying boat building, this waterjet cut mirror  is threaded and hung with manila rope. No glue or facteners required.


Bound

Backed in laser-cut bamboo and felt and hand-wrapped in hemp twine, these mirrors (16" and 24") are second generation to Grain's hand mirrors of the same name.

Spool

Made from upcycled paper thread spools from the Los Angeles apparel industry, this build-it-yourself modular system can be assembled into freestanding structures (room dividers, screens, and table bases).

 
Seattle readers: Look forward to a story about these designers
in Sunset's June issue! (Inside Seattle section, page 38A)

by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor

    If DODOcases weren't cool enough already*, they have just paired with San Francisco artist Rex Ray for their first artist designed iPad case. And it's a beaut.

Get yours for $89.98 at dodocase.com

*They are like Moleskins for your iPad and are made using the endangered art of traditional book binding.

by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

We've blogged about Greg Beauchamp's work before. There's something about his art that is so sweet and so simple, and yet immediately powerful at the same time. Knowing this, I shouldn't have been surprised that the beauty of this little film about his inspired creativity almost brought me to tears. That same sweet simplicity that provides power to this work is the foundation of how he lives his life.

Handmade Portraits: Greg Beauchamp a.k.a. Beauchamping from Etsy on Vimeo.

My favorite moments:

"My art is a reminder to myself of the things I need to work on in myself. All about positive and love and equality and how we're all the same. But life is hard and sometimes like a light bulb it gets dusty and you lose the light."

"Regardless how simplistic it may seem, or idealistic it may seem, if I strive to be a better person, then the world becomes a better place. Because by bettering yourself everyone you come in contact with takes some of that and they become better. And they may not know it but I guarantee you if you walked down the street and everyone was smiling, there'd be a lot less sadness in the world. You know?"

Each of Greg's prints are created by hand using a xyleen transfer process: It’s like a screenprint, but without the screen, and the artwork is hand-transferred inch by inch over a long hour. Each xylene print is an original, slightly different from the last, all signed and numbered.

I adore seeing this process—and even him hand-addressing the mailing label—in the video. That handmade quality of good products made by good people is what we so love about Etsy. Check out more of their Handmade Portrait videos here.

by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

One of the first stories I wrote for Sunset profiled shop owner Melina Rasnia and her felt rug store Peace Industry, which had just openned its doors in San Francisco's Hayes Valley in 2005.

Yesterday I toured her collection (at the now larger shop around the corner) which is as enchanting as ever. The soft piles of rugs beg for you to take your shoes off—and if I hadn't had my camera in tow, I might have tried somersaults.

Formerly produced in Iran, and now in Turkey, each design is Melina's creation which is then hand-crafted from of 100% lambs wool and natural dyes. It's my favorite aesthetic: organic texture with modern style. More information on the eco-friendly fair-trade manufacturing process here.

Some snaps from my visit!

Peace Industry
597 Hayes Street, San Francisco
415/255-9940

Kitchen (nook pictured here) by Tish Key Interior Design, Inc.

by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

Last week Miranda and I got a sneak peak of the 2011 San Francisco Decorator Showcase house, just before it opened to the public. There's nothing quite like touring a mansion all by yourself. It's hard not to wonder if anyone would notice if you cozied up with a book and took a little nap in the Library. Or the Rumpus Room. Or the Nanny's Suite.

Now through May 30th, you can see it all for yourself. With four floors of rooms by more than two dozen interior and landscape designers—and breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge views—you'll want to make an afternoon of it.

Address, hours, and ticket info here. All proceeds benefit the financial aid program at San Francisco University High School.

Rumpus room by Philpotts Interiors.

Dining room by Grant K. Gibson Interior Design, Inc.

"Going to the Chapel" room by Josephine Fisher Interior Design.

Studio Craft Room by Lotus Bleu Design.

Penthouse Bedroom by Gouveia Design.

 
View by San Francisco.

by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

If you're near Seattle tomorrow, DO NOT MISS Remodelista's Local Market 11-4 at Henrybuilt in Georgetown. Some of our favorite northwest—and some Bay Area!—artisans will be there: Iacoli & McAllister, Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, Urbancase, Glassybaby, Studio Patro, Heidi Swanson, Gallant & Jones, Bitters Co.... Click here for further details and the full vendor list!

by Jess Chamberlain, Sunset market editor

Like you, we're fascinated by small space. How it forces you to be clever, how it breeds creativity. That's why we love Apartment Therapy's annual Smallest Coolest Home Contest. And this year, the 520 square foot studio apartment of our own Rebecca Hecht (assistant art director here at Sunset) is in the game! 

Check out the rest of her gorgeous (and tiny!) space right here. (And vote!)

by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor

Have you seen all the great Marimekko stuff that is now available at Crate & Barrel? It is soooo gooood. As in, I want to order no fewer than 10 items. Check it.

 

 

And that is just the tip of the iceberg!  It is all available online at the Marimekko shop on crateandbarrel.com. Go there now, before I buy it all.

by Miranda Jones, Sunset style editor

Lately I have been thinking that I need more mobiles in my life (as opposed to none). I think I will start with this one.

by Artecnica, $27, aplusrstore.com