Limited Edition Bent Wood Bracelets & Cuffs By Gustav Reyes

One of the standouts at this year's Smithsonian Craft Show (which ran from April 14-17) was the contemporary jewelry of Gustav Reyes. On the Craft Show website, they only show his rings, but it's his limited edition series of coiled, twisted and knotted wooden bracelets that really appeal to me.

The modern and elegant bracelets and cuffs by the Chicago based woodworker are formed by hand using a cold bend process and finished with natural bee's wax. The Cherry, Walnut, Maple and Rockelm woods can be rejuvenated by simply applying more natural bee's wax. Several of the styles are available in multiple wood options.

Walnut:




Cherry:



Rockelm:


Maple:




above photography by Lauren Bost

Prices range from $120 to $320. Available from Artful Home.

"My training and personal development have led me to believe that humans surpass biological processes by creating. The desire to create is the vehicle by which we, as humans, extend our minds and souls beyond the limits of our physical selves."-- Gustav Reyes

As a young man, Reyes attended the Art Institute of Chicago, where his understanding of art was greatly broadened. He also studied at the Chicago Bauhaus Academy, where he developed an understanding of the finer aspects of woodworking. His formal training and years of dedication to his craft have allowed him to find the point where nature breathes through the form.

Spruce Up Your Home With Real Wood

In intentional contrast to my previous posts about "faux bois" and "wood-like" flooring, how about the real thing?

About ten years ago blonde woods were all the rage. Maple, beech, birch, white ash.

Then about five years ago, it was dark woods; cherry, mahoghany.. or, as you probably know them; java, espresso and chocolate wood, since most of the dark woods were stains.

But now, anything goes.

And there are a million beautiful things made of wood these days. In any shade. And any style.

Veneer, lasercut, bent, combined with electronics, light, glass and more.

Above, clockwise from top left; Reclaimed timber vases with glass inserts, intricately lasercut wood bench by Studiobility, wood-framed wall mirror with little bird and twig detail , wood and acrylic bed tray by Asli Bohane, The reveur cube clock with feather secondhand, wood framed HDTV LCD screen, Seneca pendant flourescent lamp, modern wood planter box by Wud, the Creep pendant lamp by Susan Bradley and Arik levy's Wengé wood rocks.

From wood clocks and benches to wood vases and decorative items, here are ten new items made of real wood that will "spruce" up your home. Pardon the pun..

Click on any of the images above for purchase information.