Designer Virginie Manichon steps up to her first Process 376 design challenge and gives us this. The lowly plastic cutlery organizer has never looked so elegant (actually, it's probably never looked elegant at all). It's the attention to detail that cinches it, with metal posts to secure the pieces in place, and a scrap of salvaged window screen serving as a cover. You can't see it, but she's added a magnet to hold the screen in the open and closed positions.
The entire project cost only a few pennies for the hardware, and most of the elements were salvaged or free:- Cutlery organizer from a yard sale
- Salvaged window screen
- Pins (holding rings and cross) recovered from a paper lantern
- Scrap metal
- Magnet salvaged from an electric toothbrush head
- Rivets and fasteners (new)
Nice work, Virginie. Can't wait to see what you make next time!
Images from Virginie Manichon.
It's phone book season again, which means that the yellow and black bricks are landing on doorsteps all over the Bay Area. Even if you're one of those Luddites (guilty) who still likes to have the phone book around, that still means that last year's model is destined for the recycling bin.
Our most recent Process 376 challenge was to create a jewelry box completely from free materials. We were encouraged to mine curb finds, throwaways, and the CraigsList free section. Oliver was inspired by the lowly phone book to create his box from the yellow pages and a scrap of aluminum plate. I would have gone at this with an X-acto blade and given up by the time I got to the B's, but Oliver epoxied and clamped the whole thing, then hollowed out the insides with power tools.
He capped off the box with an aluminum plate, finished with a right-angle grinder and straight edge. Soo's bangles and baubles have a stylish new home.
More jewelry boxes coming in the next couple of weeks as everyone sends in their photos.
Images from Oliver DiCicco.
There are a lot of cheesy book safes out there for squirreling away your valuables, but few with a sense of humor. Kristen Pumphrey's work is a clever twist on this paranoid craft project. Where else would you store your jewels than in a gem-shaped cutout version of Danielle Steele's classic? And I don't know what herbal remedies you might keep inside All About House Plants, but I'm sure you'll think of something. My personal favorite is the flask hidden in a copy of Inside Russia Today (sold, but she has several other flask safes in stock).
Images from pommesfrites
There are a lot of people out there making recycled circuit board coasters and clipboards, which are usually just boards cut to shape. Then there's Debby Arem, who brings an artist's eye and discipline to the design of housewares, office supplies, and jewelry. Her work is in museum shops and galleries all over the world, but she's not too fancy to have an Etsy storefront, too. Some of the pieces are so well thought out that you hardly notice the circuit boards. I especially love her lamps and switchplate covers.
But by far, my favorite piece in her shop is this ornate recycled cigar box. Just lovely.
Images from Debby Arem Designs. 
