Gizmodo: handmade

Mutant Solar Powered Doohickey Monster Brings a Touch of Ugly to Any Room

Sean Fallon — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:40:00 EST

I think the term "handmade" just about covers this, this...whatever it is. For about $80 you to can own this freaky electronic Frankenstein that does nothing but consume sunlight and writhe around in agony.

I'll admit, "Nigel the Bugbut" is kind of cool in a Edward Scissorhands and Naked Lunch sort of way—but I'll bet that if it could talk it would be shouting "kill me" in a raspy voice. [Etsy via 7Gadgets via DVICE]

Straight-Up Wall Chess Makes Knocking-Over Your King More Dramatic

Kit Eaton — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:40:13 EST

Sure, these chess sets aren't quite as neat as the vertical Tri-D chess in Star Trek, but by turning the game through 90 degrees and hanging it on the wall they do turn it into a sort of art masterpiece. That'd be assuming you play well—with my playing style it'd be more like a kid's painting disaster. Still, toppling your king from the board in resignation does get an extra kind of fatal symbolism. The choice of wood is customizable, and they cost upwards of $100. [Straightupchess via Neatorama]

Junk Guitar Class, for Wannabe DIY Electric Guitar Makers

Kit Eaton — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:04:00 EDT

Ah the electric guitar... every time I eat at a Hard Rock Cafe, it's these fabulous bits of rock paraphernalia that grab my attention. Fascinating: design, art, creativity in one gizmo. And yet at heart they're very simple: a plain solid body, strings, and some pickups. So very simple in fact, that a guy called Ranjit is holding a DIY junk electric guitar class at Etsy Labs in Brooklyn tomorrow. Just don't take along half a wrecked coffee table and expect to craft it into a guitar that'll make you the next Clapton: these Etsy things have "wind your own"-style pickups and just a couple of strings. [Sign up page via Make]

Vintage View-Master Clock: A Reminder That You Are Getting Old

Sean Fallon — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:00:19 EST

View-Masters were a part of just about everyone's childhood. For those trying to relive those days, Minnesota artist Debra Dressler has come up with these handmade clocks made with genuine vintage View-Masters. As you might suspect, "handmade" and "vintage" are usually codewords for "expensive," and at $145, that is pretty much the case here. However, if that is a little more money than you want to spend on a clock, you could probably build one using a newer View-Master fairly easily. [Uncommon Goods]

Analogue Ring Doubles as a Microphone

Sean Fallon — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:50:43 EST

This handmade, sterling silver ring from Analogue Aesthetics features a built-in microphone and a standard 3.5mm plug. Surely you can imagine the sort of fun that can be had with a device like this—plus, if a verbal jousting match with a heckler turned ugly, you have the satisfaction of knowing that a punch to the face with this baby on would be devastating. Available for $105. [Product Page via Boing Boing Gadgets]

iPhone, Box and Dock Made From Clay

Jason Chen — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:50:47 EDT

Adding to the iPhone made out of various materials club, we submit this clay iPhone. Doesn't quite look as good as the other one we saw, but there's even a dock and a box in there too. [Flickr via BoingBoing]

Handmade Wooden-Skinned Car Is a Craftsman's Masterpiece

Charlie White — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:48:46 EDT

The Tryane II is an example of fine craftsmanship by a guy who is aptly named Friend Wood. He spent 2000 hours building the car; a key part of that process involved gluing and stapling together strips of mahogany veneer, and then buffing it to a mirror-like finish.

It's gorgeous, and weighs just 900 pounds. It actually has an internal combustion engine inside that's said to be capable of 70 to 90 miles per gallon. Wouldn't that be a fire hazard? And, we'd hate to see what would happen if this thing got into an accident, splintering up like so many pieces of balsa wood.

But those practical considerations are beside the point. The car will probably end up functioning as a really unusual, one-of-a-kind coffee table, or at least in a coffee table book. – Charlie White

How he did it [Friend Wood, via Born Rich]