Custom Work on Shine

Custom Work: Fabric you design yourself, printed by pros

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What with the recent spate of print-it-yourself books, the explosion of Gocco fan clubs, and the resurgence of craftiness in general, it can seem like the perfect time to take on making your own printed fabrics. And it is—if you want to add a few one-color repeat patterns to a solid background. If, however, your aspirations are a little loftier, you might need some assistance. Finnish web site Bon Bon Kakku can take the manufacturing work off your hands, leaving you to focus on the purely creative part.

Party Favorites: custom-printed wooden ice cream spoons

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[Ed. note: Since these are a little splurge-y, I can almost see them more as something you'd get for a summer outdoor wedding, with the bride and groom's names stamped on them. What do you think? I wonder if you could also try buying blank wooden spoons and stamping messages on them yourself. I suppose the ink might come off on your fingers, but it could be cute while it lasts. Has anyone out there ever tried it?]

Paper+Cup's customizable Wooden Icescream Spoons are the perfect addition to your next pool party or birthday. Choose your own text or Paper+Cup's signature design (for an additional cost) that is hot-stamped into the wood.

Custom work: Modwalls

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Mosaic tile's popularity is still trucking along at full steam in both the kitchen and bath markets. However, most options in the markets offer standard, safe color palettes.

If your inner artist is aching for a tile back splash with a little personality, Modwall's Custom Blender offers 70 color options of Kaleidoscope 3/4-inch tiles and allows the user to control each color's percentage in the mix of her custom-made sheets of tile. The best part is that it features several grout color choices to distinguish your personal design...imagine a black grout that never shows dirt!

Design and calculate your order easily online. The only caveat: there's a 20 square foot minimum order for custom blends.
Check out my designs at left!

Custom Work: "carved"-initial tree plates

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Carving one's initials and those of one's beau/lady into a tree, a school desk top, or an ancient coliseum wall is a tradition that dates back to, well, the first iteration of gladiator sandals. Minneapolis-based Rust Designs' "Custom Birch Tree Platter," newly available at San Francisco design outpost Rare Device, is a modern, beautiful, and still charmingly romantic way to profess your love and dedication. (Side note: It would also make a great wedding gift.) The 11 1/2 x 15 1/2-inch platter runs $110, but if you're feeling a little tight on cash, there's also a four-piece mug set that's only $45, and each mug design varies slightly to represent one of the seasons. (No, I know it's not as cheap as a set of plain Ikea coffee cups, but neither is your heart.) One final argument: should the relationship go sour, no painful laser tattoo removal process will be required. Can't argue with that!