I really like these little anthropomorphic candle holders. Made from fired and glazed clay, they are little blobs of personality that contain the tiny flames of a tea light within their gaping maws.
Created by Lynn Forrest and offered on Etsy, I really like the style of these little guys. Its like having friends scattered throughout your house.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_14&listing_id=7630639
Sets of 4 acrylic coasters, formed in the shape of a big jumble of letters. I guess they are a bit strange, and artsy, but utterly worthless as far as function. Water is going to splash right down through the holes in the alphabet. Ah well, if you want a bit of crazy décor, here you go…
http://supermarkethq.com/product/acrylic-type-coasters
Contrasting blue and white squares of shimmering alabaster, polished to a glistening hone, glow in the face of these elegant and sophisticated chess sets. Imported from Italy, these sets represent the highest level of quality and perfection in the PebbleArt line of stone home accessories.
The natural features of the alabaster materials display tiny hints of pattern, which give the individual pieces their own distinct personalities, and makes the board itself a sea of one of a kind squares.
The concept of novelty coasters with a clever saying or a little message on them is familiar to the point of banality. However these take the concept to the next level raising the level of elegance by printing the message on high quality crystal clear glass.
Not terribly functional, a sweaty glass will slip and slide across the surface of these coasters. But they are mildly clever, and they might start a conversation, so as a decorative piece they aren’t terrible.
http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-2801-30-drunk-coasters-set.aspx
This is a pretty stark, cool looking wall clock, made from recycled bike chain rings. I like the severe chrome colors, and the fierce lines that make up the surface of the outer ring.
The whole thing is set against a brown textile rectangle, which is nice, but I think it would have been cooler if the two pieces of the clock hung separately on the wall.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_21&listing_id=15466051
These drink coasters are made from old wallpaper which was purchased from the Scrap Exchange, a re-use store in Durham N.C.
A layer of heavy duty laminate has sealed the surface and the back of each piece, making them durable and stain resistant.
Available from the talented crafters at Etsy
These beverage coasters combine the sublime beauty of simplicity, with the infinite creativity of human arrangement. Consisting of clear glass cups, each coaster holds a tiny sheet of Chiyogami, hovering within its translucent belly.
Chiyogami is a traditional Japanese art form which was developed during the Edo period. It consists of woodblock prints pressed onto paper, and then often framed and used for decorative purposes. The pattern can also be cut up and applied to small tin boxes or sauces.
Here the patterns have been encased in glass to serve as the colorful centerpiece of each coaster. The design itself matches seamless form with graceful function, as the lip of each coaster rises up to hold the beverage, cupping any moisture in its arms.
http://www.asianicandystore.com/icandystore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=259
I kind of like the concept of these coasters. The overall design is pretty simple, just a picture printed on some pieces of cork. However it is the concept of the set, each being a puzzle piece of a greater picture that I found most intriguing.
You could put these in bars, scattered about, and it would be sort of like a game. In a way it’s an interactive piece that encourages people to talk to one another, and gives them an excuse to start a conversation.
Of course I don’t particularly like the picture of the bike, but the overall picture could be anything, from lewd, to proactive, to mildly amusing.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_12&listing_id=15774884
I like this clock. I don’t think I would ever hang it anywhere. Maybe in my crazy décor house, but nowhere normal. It’s just a bit too…off. Of course, that’s probably what I like about it.
The colors are nice, and it does have an antiqued feeling to it. It might fit into a quirky study, with old maps hanging on the walls and an aged globe getting dusty in the corner.
Anyways here it is. The artist Karen Miller, calls this gears, and it is being offered on etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_21&listing_id=15773193
I guess that corduroy is a pretty good material for a drink coaster. It would probably sop up the moisture, and would be pretty resilient, and easy enough to throw in the wash.
The only problem is that it is so ugly. I’ve always thought that corduroy was just a dark, nasty material, with a rough and unpleasant texture.
The design is kind of clever, but overall, these are not my favorite.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_16&listing_id=13573529
