Maker Stories

Busy Signals

January 31, 2011

Congratulations to our winner, Lucy, who said:

I hate being tied to a phone, so will gladly turn it off for myself. I will also tell all those who regularly call me that I will have it off and they should call me the day before or after Valentine’s Day. I want to devote and focus the entire day on my family, not my phone. One I love (family); one I merely tolerate (phone).

Every Valentine’s Day, we try to make time for the people we care about in our lives.

And our new Phonekerchief is a great way to signal your date that you’re not busy– your attention is all on them.

It’s not always easy to do. We’ve all got texts, apps, emails, and to-do lists. But this Valentine’s Day, we’re all trying to send the message, “My phone is off for you.”

Who will you turn your phone off for? Let us know for a chance to win a sweet Valentine’s Day gift.

Winner announced on Friday.

Maker Stories

Behind the Scenes

January 27, 2011

Ever wondered what the story was behind our stump ring? Or who came up with the idea for Einspine’s Drying Line? (Bet you wouldn’t have guessed a chiropractor living in Malta!)

We just talked to Ingrid Zweifel, designer of the Phonekerchief, about the inspiration behind her conversational piece.

We’re going behind the scenes to bring you the true stories behind our most popular products. Want to know more about the designers or artists who created your favorite gifts? Let us know!

Maker Stories

Friday Giveaway: Rainy Showers Bring Fall Flowers

October 1, 2010

Congrats to our winner Keri Butler. Hope you all had relaxing weekends! Be sure to subscribe to the Goods via RSS, to get the heads up about our next giveaways and contests!

It’s been raining here in Brooklyn all week. I don’t know about you, but I sure need a pick-me-up!

Luckily this week we’re giving away one of artist Jenn Bell’s Pansy or Echinacea Wall Hangings— made of copper, glass, and enamel, and a sure to keep the flowers blooming year round.

I talked to Jenn for a few minutes this week about how she creates creates her handmade pieces.

“There are daily accidents that turn out to be gorgeous,” says Jenn of her creative process.

What does she mean by that?

“… As I’ve grown up I’ve realized that you have no idea where each day is going to take you and rolling with the punches makes everything better. I’m incredibly hard on myself, so I have pieces all over my shop that I have deemed unacceptable. Friends come over and just randomly point and say, “I like that one.” So I take it to a show and someone else likes it. Sometimes making art seems to be this balance of listening to your gut and ignoring it all at the same time.”

Here’s Jenn at work in her studio.

And the lesson this week is that it’s quite alright to give yourself a break every now and then.

Leave a comment below to win one of Jenn’s beautiful handmade wall hangings, and let us know what you’re doing this weekend to give yourself a break.

As always, you can leave a comment on our Facebook wall, or tweet @uncommongoods to triple your chances to win.

Maker Stories

Friday Giveaway: Wax Seal Necklace

September 17, 2010

Thanks to everyone who shared your stories about the loved ones in your lives. And congrats to Sarah Solducky, who will be sending her holiday cards with a special seal this year.

Stay tuned for more giveaways by subscribing to theGoods.

This week we’re honored to give away one of Tania Condon’s elegant sterling silver wax seal necklaces, that she will custom engrave for one lucky winner.

And this week, you have the chance to win one, custom made. Your sterling silver wax seal necklace comes with a tiny tag that you can have engraved with the initials of a loved one and a date to mark a special day in your heart. Your pendant also comes with your choice of initial and a block of wax, so you seal your letters with a personal touch.

Tania Condon’s son Julian is the main inspiration for her pieces, including the sterling silver wax seal necklace, available custom-made for $95. After the birth of her son, Tania took up metalsmithing in order to make a bracelet for her newborn baby. She learned first at classes at a college in San Diego and then with the help of other masters in the trade. Using the design of a wax fob she saw in a British Museum, she came up with the idea of the pendant.

Tania says, “I love writing letters and sending them via snail mail and I seal them with a wax seal of the letter T. Sometimes I get carried away and even use the wax seal for my bills!”

Want to win? You know what to do! Leave a comment below telling us what special event or person you might commemorate with a sterling silver wax seal necklace. Then leave a comment on our Facebook wall, and tweet @uncommongoods on Twitter to triple your chances. We’ll announce the random winner on Monday.

Maker Stories

Friday Giveaway: Hand-Forged Kitchen Tools

September 10, 2010

ETA 10:26 AM, Sept. 13: Hope everyone had a great weekend! Congratulations to Jennifer, our latest Friday giveaway winner. Her favorite pizza topping is the garlic dipping sauce– which is a great answer for almost every slice.

Stay tuned for future giveaways by subscribing to The Goods via RSS.

This week’s giveaway comes with a really awesome story.

After 20 years of working in a high-production industry, Al Stephens decided to become a blacksmith. He visited Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Illinois, and soon became a volunteer in the 19th century blacksmith shop where they had bellows, a coal forge, anvil, and vise. For the next few years, Al developed his skills by working with other blacksmiths who taught him the trade.

And by 2000, he and his wife Sylvia had started their own blacksmith shop. Today Al makes items like the pizza cutter and cheese slicer by hand, in his shop in rural northern Alabama.

Impressed? We certainly are!

This week we’re giving away two hand-forged kitchen tools available on our site– a cheese slicer and a pizza cutter— to one lucky reader.

Want to win? You know what to do! Leave a comment below telling us about your favorite pizza topping or type of cheese. Then leave a comment on our Facebook wall, and tweet @uncommongoods on Twitter to triple your chances. We’ll announce the random winner on Monday.

Want to learn more about the art of forging metal? Al Stephens suggests you go out there and try it! The Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America has local affiliates all over the country. Find a group near you and attend the regular meetings. Al says, “One-on-one teaching is an excellent way to learn, hands-on style.”

And it certainly paid off for him! Happy Friday, everybody!

Maker Stories

Inventors Month: The Alyce Santoro Story

August 18, 2010

When I first saw the sonic fabric tie, I knew which uncommon artisan I wanted to talk to for National Inventors Month. Alyce Santoro makes each sonic tie from prerecorded audio-cassette tapes– and if you’ve got a tape deck handy, you can actually listen to your tie sing. The sonic fabric tie is available for $120 in platinum or onyx black.

Read my interview with Alyce Santoro below

Maker Stories

Dog Blueprint Giveaway

August 16, 2010

Congrats to Amy S. who loves Jack Russel Terriers and shared this sweet story: “Jack Russels are the best. Mine Sargent Pepper, usually called Sargent, Stinky or Bubba, is the greatest dog in thee world. When Sargent met my fiance a little over 3 years ago, it did not go well. Sargent was my protector. And Adam was very allergic. It was a tough start, but I wasn’t going to give u. Then a year later, Adam was in a horrible car accident and Sargent would not leave his side. I cant’ separate these two now for anything. The bedroom used to be a ‘dog free zone’ but now Sargent sneaks in to share his pillow.”

Amy is now the proud owner of a Jack Russel Dog Blueprint!

Thanks to everyone else who left a comment! We loved hearing your stories. Remember you can subscribe to the Goods via RSS and get a heads up for all our future contests and giveaways.

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We’ve loved all the emails you’ve sent us about your favorite dogs this week. We’re working to add many more breeds to our dog blueprint collection. And in the meanwhile we want to say thanks with a Friday giveaway!

Leave a comment below, telling us about your favorite breed of dog, to win a free Dog Blueprint.

And triple your chances to win by tweeting about your favorite dog breed to @uncommongoods, or leaving a comment on our Facebook wall. Don’t forget to leave your Twitter name in the comments, so we know to count you!

Be sure to leave your comment by Saturday at midnight ET. And we’ll pick a random winner to announce early next week.

Happy Friday!

Remember, for a heads up on all the latest contests and giveaways, you can subscribe to our RSS.

Maker Stories

Joseph & Joseph Giveaway

August 6, 2010

Congrats to Lindsay, who said, “My favorite thing to make is hearty fall and winter soups. Potato, vegetable, french onion and cauliflower soup. Warm, filling soup … yummy!” She’s winning a set of Elevate kitchen utensils.

And congrats to Amanda, who won the nesting prep bowls. Her favorite meal is, “kabobs! Yum! So simple! So tasty! So easy!”

Thanks to everyone who left a comment! Remember you can subscribe to the Goods via RSS and get a heads up for all our future contests and giveaways.

Happy Friday everyone! In lieu of our usual Friday Scavenger Hunt and in honor of National Inventors month, we’re giving away a set of elevate kitchen utensils and a set of nesting prep bowls from innovative designers Joseph & Joseph!

To enter is easy. All you have to do is leave a comment telling us what your favorite dish to make is. Make sure to leave your email address and name when you submit a comment (Don’t worry, your email address won’t be public – It’s just so that we can contact you.) Also, leave your twitter name if you have one!

Wait there’s more! If you want to triple your chances, tweet your comment to @uncommongoods and leave a comment under the post on our Facebook wall for up to two additional entries. Everything must be posted before 12 noon ET on Sunday. We’ll announce the lucky winners on Monday.

Happy Friday!

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