Glass is Liquid Video

by Ami Kealoha

A lyrical study of glassblowers Justin Parker and Andi Kovel's (aka Esque's) process, this video nicely compliments the 2007 mini-documentary Cool Hunting made on their studio. With a neat visual effect that makes the glass look hand-colored in an otherwise primarily black-and-white scene, filmmakers Mike Call and Boone Speed show the playfulness and intensity that goes into making their work. Credit for the score goes to Dave Madden of nonnon and our own contributor Russ Lowe stepped in to co-produce.

Eskayel Bespoke Wallpaper

by CH Contributor

by Ariston Anderson

When artist Shanan Campanaro redecorated her Brooklyn apartment last year, she couldn't find the exact designs she wanted to put on her walls. So, digitally manipulating sections of her own watercolor paintings to create original wallpaper, Eskayel Bespoke Wallpaper was born. The Central St. Martin's grad digitally prints the highly personal and chromatic designs to maintain the intense color variation most often seen in hand-printed wall paper. The work brings together her strong backgrounds in fine art and graphic design, creating the perfect mix of authentic handmade art with cleaner, more poised interior graphics.

Inspired by her recent travels to Indonesia and Iceland, her latest design capsule "The Island Collection" reflects both of the diverse landscapes and climates. She based several pieces on her drawings of polar bears, in fact. Subtle yet also pop, the intricate details and colors of such designs as "Madagascar" and "Bear in Mind" make it easy to get lost. Each work of art is an easy way to makeover any room, either in pieces or as entire wall coverings.

The bespoke wallpaper begins at $15 per square foot, but each design also comes two feet-wide with an 11 foot drop for $350. To order or for a quote, contact Eskayel.

Stockholm's Julmarknad

by CH Contributor

by Richard Prime

A holiday tradition in Sweden, Stockholm's top colleges and design institutions put on annual fairs known as Julmarknad. The events pack booths full of interesting gifts, pieces of artwork, design pieces, fashion, jewelery and trinkets, posing a more artisinal alternative than a last minute dash around the mall.

Of the three major fairs, Konstfack is perhaps the largest. Stockholm's most famous school of art and design, the Telefonplan-based fair is housed in a unique space once owned by Ericsson. Last year the fair attracted giant, but patient (this is Stockholm we're talking about) queues, eager to snap up pieces from the current crop of students. Due to its size, finding that special something can be tricky yet all the more rewarding—especially if the student behind the piece finds fame in future years.

Not to be outdone yet smaller in size, Beckmans College of Design is more centrally-located than Konstfack. In addition to the quality items found at the fair, such as cutting-edge jewelery, the school's architectural structure itself warrants a visit with its clean lines and modernist layout.

Each year Stockholm's Design Gallery, located in Odenplan, invites a guest from the design world to curate a selection of gifts. Last year saw Swedish architect Eero Koivisto put on his Santa beard to fill the proverbial sack. This year they've invited Daniel Charney, curator of London's Aram Gallery. Expect to see a wide range of design items for even the most discerning tastes, with a great mix of Swedish designer pieces and others from around the world.

See more images of prospective items after the jump

Rotorcaps Cuff Links

by CH Contributor

by Samantha Melamed

Philadelphia, PA-based "rogue silversmith" Jen Roder gathers up discarded bottle capsm, upcycling them into cufflinks, dubbed Rotorcaps.

Handmade with nickel silver and genuine Magic Hat, PBR, Blue Moon, Dogfish Head, Rolling Rock and—my personal favorite—Rogue bottle caps, the extremely well-crafted upshot adds irreverence without looking too kitschy. (Roder also makes pendant necklaces out of the caps, in case you’re not exactly the French cuffs type.)

Pricing starts at $40 for most sets of inks, though Roder also offers sterling silver bottle cap designs, including San Pellegrino stars, for $150 a pair. All sell on the Rotorcaps website.