Heartful Handmade Blog

high-tech nature jewelry

Jesse Louis-Rosenberg and Jessica Rosenkrantz, at Nervous System, are very unusual jewelry artists in that they take a technological approach to design.  They use computer simulations of, for example, leaf veins that they then manipulate before transferring them to stainless steel, nylon, or rubber and forming into necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.  This shop has a wonderful assortment of jewelry that provides a detailed view of nature as adornment.  This lovely and delicate necklace was designed to emulate the slow decay of fall leaves that allows the underlying structure of the leaf to show through.  In stainless steel and sterling silver, $85.00.

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Nervous System is also in Handmade Lookup.

spruce up your yard with handmade garden decor

As a transplanted Californian, the heat and humidity in Memphis this summer was like an exotic subtropical vacation that came to visit. It's cooling off now, but it was intense for several weeks.  My tomato plant was traumatized and the watermelon plants I tried for the first time couldn't muster enough energy to grow.  They didn't die, they just didn't do much of anything. That may say more, though, about my gardening than it does about the weather.  

But, I'm now hoping to enjoy evenings outside for a few weeks before the winter chill sets in. I like to sit out when there's a nice breeze and listen to the sounds of the locusts and crickets that fill the air here.  

And I've pulled together a nice collection of handmade garden decor that I think will make relaxing outdoors even better.  So come along and read the article and follow the links to my handpicked handmade garden decor.

keep dip chilled and pretty

This two-piece dip chiller bowl is so cool! (No pun intended). You put cold water and/or ice in the large base container. Then sit the bowl of dip or potato salad or whatever on top. I like the added height also because it creates an eye-pleasing additional level on the serving table. This handmade stoneware set is from rzdesign in Evanston, Illinois, and comes in a couple of other colors/glazes. $22.50.

stained glass flower bouquet

I love the way stained glass breaks up streaming light into patterns that play out on walls and ceilings.  Every show is an original.  There's never a rerun because the light is never the way it was yesterday or last week or last month.

This is just one of several fetchingly lovely stained glass panels by Kyle Schumacher. Some are clear glass, others are brightly colored.  He's got spiders and owls and fish and butterflies and peacocks and more.  They can sit prettily on a window sill, or they can be hung from the attached (but well hidden) hooks.  So hop on over to his shop and check 'em out.

8/22/2010 UPDATE:  THE PICTURED PANEL IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

masks from recycled garden shovels

John T. Unger has added Face of Spades masks to his line since I last checked out his shop.  These wonderful pieces of intricate metal art are created from 100% recycled materials, primarily discarded garden shovels. Each of the pieces in the current collection is $59, and there's a good assortment to choose from.  John T. Unger is also in Handmade Lookup.

11/14/2010 update:  These masks seem to be currently unavailable.

melissa joy manning jewelry

Melissa Joy Manning is a jewelry designer who works with a small team of trained metal smiths from her studio in Oakland, California.  Together, they create unique and limited edition pieces working with gold, silver, precious stones, crystals, and even found objects.

Click here for more info.

heidi louise boots and shoes

Heidi Louise is a shoemaker in Adelaide, Australia.  She makes a stylistically diverse assortment of custom fitted boots and sandals for men and women.  She also has a collection of ready-made belts, coin purses and other leather goods.  

Click here for more info. 

modern artisans

Modern Artisans carries handcrafted home and garden products, as well as jewelry and gift items.  The company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, but the artisans are spread all over.

Click here for more info. 

colorful enameled jewelry by natsuko

Natsuko creates colorful and thoroughly modern enamel on metal jewelry from her studio in Columbus, Ohio.   

Click here for more info. 

unusual leather purses by sakura urban

Theresa Goodwin, of Sakura Urban in Indianapolis, Indiana, makes colorful leather coin purses, wristlets, and brooches that have an unusual and stylish floral motif.  

Click here for more info.