recycled pop top handbags

when jimmy buffett blew out his flip flop and stepped on a pop top, i bet it never dawned on him to make a purse out of it.

look at these lacy modern handbags made of recycled aluminum soda can tabs. lined with nylon, they are painstakingly pieced together with crochet techniques by cia do lacre and as panteras do lacre, two brazilian craft cooperatives, which are located in economically depressed areas near brasilia. they are distributed by san francisco’s escama studio.

they remind me of those bendy pop top necklaces and bracelets i made a million years ago, back when the tabs came off the cans completely. except these are much more sophisticated.

the cooperatives help each female artist on staff build business knowledge, self esteem and craftmaking skills. each bag is signed by the artist.

see their website for more info and a nifty tutorial. belts and jewelry coming soon!

you can also purchase the bags at zanadia.

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whiting and davis mesh fabric

i don’t know about you, but whenever i’ve gone to a slightly-cold-but-modern-and-trendy hotel or restaurant, i frequently spot striking 15 foot tall curtains that divide the rooms and really set a sophisticated tone for the joint. they are too cool for school (school being my house in this example) but boy do i love looking at them! these huge swaths of fabric really are not fabric at all, but actually supremely chic metal mesh materials, just like these examples from the massachusetts company whiting and davis. they began making chain mail by hand back in the early 1900’s, and have since developed a machine technique to create large swaths of the stuff for residential, fashion and industrial purposes. the material comes in aluminum, brass, and stainless steel in a rich tones of silver, gold, platinum, and bronze. if your needs are more specific, three of the patterns can be enameled in a pantone color especially for you!

if you’re looking for a way to create drama and glamour in a room, i do believe this will help.

ed note: it’s been a dog’s age since i posted something luxe up in here. it feels pretty good!

via trendir

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red bull can art

look at some of the pieces that in the art of can exhibit sponsored by red bull. it’s coming to the river east arts center in chicago next week for just nine days, starting on november 9th. this traveling art show has attracted amateur and professional artists alike with a simple but challenging theme: create an original piece of art with primary material consisting of red bull cans.

very clever!

for more info about the show, past exhibitions and artist information, head over to the exhibition’s website.

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studio archirivolto charme chair

i don’t care that these are $795 each, i’m hatching a plan now to cook up a scheme to somehow see these in the flesh and maybe sit on them once… to me this is the perfect feminine/masculine chair. glamorous and curvy, but made from macho materials of aluminum and leather, from the brilliant minds at italy’s studio archirivolto for fasem.

LOVE.

see for yourself at fy2k or the conran shop.

via betterlivingthroughdesign

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boris bally recycled metal collection

look at this transit series accessory and furniture collection from rhode island-based artist boris bally. it’s bold, poppy and functional. boris carefully selects each salvaged sign from huge piles in scrap yards, and rivets them together to create his uniquely modern american work. for boris, this ironic collection makes a statement not only about recycling, but also represents our culture’s struggle for success, as well as bucking authority.

boris’ work is in the permanent collection at the smithsonian, the cooper hewitt and the victoria and albert museums.

you can purchase his industrially stylish works at guild.

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foscarini supernova pendant light

i love the perfect shade of lipstick pink (or is it nail polish purple?) on this supernova ceiling fixture by most excellent art director and designer ferruccio laviani (click to see the magnificence he created for dolce and gabbana!) for italy’s foscarini. this 22 1/2″ x 19 3/4″ hanging lamp is created from cut sheets of lacquered aluminum.

the lamp comes in that punchy fuschia color, matte aluminum or (for an upcharge) polished stainless steel.

to see more photos and to purchase, head over to y lighting.

via betterlivingthroughdesign

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eleek recycled calliope chandelier

the folks at portland, oregon’s eleek have brought us this innovative calliope chandelier made from recycled aluminum. the exterior shell is made of art glass rectangles that are “clipped” onto the frame. it comes in an incandescent or fluorescent version, and buyers can customize the color of the art glass as well as the powdercoat on the frame if they wish.

i want very badly to say this is rustic/vintage looking even though it feels ultra contemporary. there’s something about those layers of glass that remind me of the old clay tile roofs on historic arts and crafts buildings here in chicago.

very unique indeed.

see their website for the complete home collection (the page about the company’s approach to sustainability is inspiring!) and for purchasing info.

via trendir

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notneutral metal lantern

crazy about this mexi-moroccan inspired outdoor lantern from california’s notneutral, in a delectable color called persimmon.

they are designed to hold multiple candles for maximum light, and are a gorgeous way to light your table, backyard or pathway. i love those tiny, intricate light patterns they make.

purchase them in assorted colors at design public.

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