These sleek, geometric audio speakers strike a great balance: the concrete comes off as both modern and rustic, and the wood adds a needed warmth to the mathematical shape. They look amazing: and they were completely made by hand.   Tulsa-based collective The Makerage whipped up this pair, and wrote up a tutorial detailing the whole process. 

They say, 

It takes a lot of science and a lot of magic to make a good pair of speakers. From hard calculations with Thiele/Small parameters to ideas like 'transparency' and 'presence,' a lot of decisions make up a good speaker design.

One important factor is the material that you use for your enclosures; concrete has some distinct advantages structurally, acoustically, and aesthetically. It is very stiff and heavy--great for supporting the speaker drivers without changing their vibrational dynamics. It also damps out vibrations well, so it doesn't contribute unwanted rings and unpredictable tones to your sound reproduction. Equally important for something that sits in plain view all the time, it has a unique and interesting visual appeal. 

The trick to achieving the looks lies in finding the right molds (the Makerage used a faceted plastic bowl set from a department store) and the right concrete mix, such as the glass-reinforced recipe used here for that extra smooth surface. 

Check out the tutorial at Instructables: Conspeakuous: Concrete Speakers  

With beer being sold in cans since the mid 1930s, and with countless thousands of breweries producing since, you better believe there have been some pretty amazing designs over the years. 

Cool Material has rounded up a solid collection of some of their favorites from the decades, and we agree - they're pretty fantastic. 

I especially like that the photos offer more than just straight on profiles of the faces of the cans, so you can also see the design of the back, the shape of the can, its tab, etc. 

What are some of your favorite designs? Please share them in the comments below. And check out the rest of the collection on CoolMaterial: THE BEST-LOOKING BEER CANS EVER

An easy way to add some extra shelving space to your studio or bedroom!

We all are fans of quick and easy DIYs that give you extra room to either store or display your stuff. This shelving unit DIY project by Scandi-Home is perfect for the latter. Since you don't have to paint it, this is going to save you lots of time and money, plus it looks super modern and trendy (plywood is a hot!).

To make this shelving unit, you basically need a few pieces of wood (look for paint-grade pine), some glue, and some screws. Use a tabletop or large shelf-sized piece for the base, then attach shorter 1x4s as shelves, and then all you need to do is attach and glue the shelves at the desired height.

As you can see you just lean the shelf towards the wall and you're done! You could add something on the bottom (like those anti-slip stickers) to keep it from moving. Oh and this is awesome for renters! No need to drill on your wall.

Feel inspired already? Then take a peek at Scandi-Home for more project ideas!

A perfect example to the ancient proverb "go big or go home" - or in this case "go big and illegally build an mountain on top of a skyscraper."

So, turns out some people think having penthouses is kinda boring, so instead they go ahead and build gigantic concrete mountains on top of their apartment complex without asking permission to anyone. And by some people I mean this former Chinese government advisor who didn't listen to any of the complains from his neighbors who had to endure six years of noise, water leaks, pounding, and whatnot. All while this fella was having fun making his own urban retreat.

The mountain is all fake, but it does have real trees and grass. Um, awesome? At least it's not some cheap astroturf. Now THAT would've been offensive.

After the neighbours did enough "noise" with the government, they have finally put an end to it and the dude has to get his crap together in 15 days or he'll be evicted. They might as well make it a BBQ/common area for all to enjoy, no?

Now, I don't know what that huge Chinese character at the top of the mountain means, but I'm gonna guess is something along the lines of "haters gonna hate..."

Read the full article: Powerful Beijing doctor's illegal structure tops them all 

Eric Singer of Schwood snagged a worn out, leaking fiberglass canoe for $50, and managed to salvage it to become a fully functional (and leak free) vessel with just a few basic supplies from the hardware store. 

After an initial smoothing of the problematic areas, the team was able to patch the cracks with resin:

Then, all it took was a round of serious sanding to refresh the whole surface (wearing a respirator, of course, since fiberglass is dangerous stuff), and a new coat of paint. Oh, and some DIY oars whipped up from some scrap wood lying around the Schwood shop. 

Check out the full transformation at Experiment with Nature: Salvaged Canoe 

There are two basic principles to the ManMade approach to style and dress: fit is everything, and buy high-quality, universal items that will last. In order to help you hold on to those investment items, and make sure they suit you as best they can, ManMade is happy to present our latest series: The DIY Tailor. This summer and fall, professional tailor and alteration specialist Danni Trester will teach us some basic sewing principles and easy DIY repairs that every guy should know. 

It happens. To to all of us.  Suddenly your favorite pair of jeans, that you've worn in just perfectly, gets a blow out and you're absolutely gutted. But Have no fear!  You can give new life to old friends with this pictorial guide on how to repair holes! 

This technique can be applied to any garment, fabric, or hole size.  It's no magic bullet - the stitching will be visible and it won't look like new.  But if you match your thread and fabric correctly, you can camouflage and reinforce the damaged area to give the garment longevity.  

1) Gather your supplies.  For this task you'll need:

• matching thread
• scrap fabric
• lightweight fusible 
• scissors (or a pinking shears if you have one)
• sewing machine that can also sew in reverse (some really old machines can't),
• Iron and ironing board. 

If you're not sure what fusible is, it's a lightweight non-woven webbing that when ironed between fabric, holds two pieces together.  This will be used to hold your scrap fabric to the back of your hole so you can stitch it. 

2) To make things a little easier, and to be sure you don’t cut into any other part of the garment, put the item of clothing around an ironing board.

3) Cut off the frayed edges of the fabric so you have a clean edge.  This will make it easier for the scrap fabric you’re stitching on to blend in to the rest of the garment. 

All cleaned up:

4) Turn the garment inside out and lay back onto the board.  Cut your scrap fabric large enough to cover the damaged area and a little extra to extend into an unworn part.  You may find you’ve got a pretty large piece if the fabric around the hole is also worn.  You should reinforce any weakened areas too because if you don’t, they’ll be the next to get a hole. 

5) Tear off little bits of your fusible to make a ring around the hole.  Be careful not to get any over the edge, or you’ll see it on the outside.

6) Center your scrap over the hole, careful not to get too much on one side or the other.

7) Once your fabric is centered, iron the backside of the scrap.  Use the steam setting, and hold it for a few seconds to make sure the fusible adheres.

8) Once you’re fused, it should look something like this:

Now let’s sew!

9) Set up your machine with a matching thread.  A lot of times with jeans, or worn fabric, you may need a lighter color for the more worn areas, and a darker color for the less worn.  If you have a limited selection of thread, or you’re not very particular, the same color for all is fine.  But if you’re really trying to make it blend in, you can change the color part of the way through. For this demo, I am starting with a lighter color and switching to a darker.

10) Change your stitch length to a shorter length.  Not too short that you’re sewing in one spot, but not so large that it can easily be worn loose.  Turn your garment inside out.  Starting on the outside of the hole, sew forward until you’re on the inside of the hole, on the scrap fabric.  Hold your reverse button and stitch back to the point where you started.  Repeat this action, going back and forth.  As you’re sewing slightly pull the fabric to the side so that as you are sewing forward and backward, it’ll start to form a zig zag (NOTE: I don’t mean to use the zig zag stitch on your machine.  You’ll be using the regular straight stitch, but the back and forth motion will create a zig zag shape).  Go around the entirety of the hole, pivoting at the corners.

11) Once you’ve gone all the way around, stitch around the perimeter of the hole to tack down any loose fibers.  You can do little back and forth sewing here too, just don’t pull the fabric to make the zig zag.

12) Now that I’ve stitched the lighter color, I’m switching to the dark to stitch the less worn areas.

Pivoting at the corner:

13) Once you’ve stitched everything, turn your garment over and snip the extra threads off the front and back.  Note the stitching pattern: zig zag around the perimeter, tighter stitching around the edge of the hole.

14) If the scrap fabric didn’t get totally stitched down, trim off the excess fabric so that it doesn’t curl up as the garment is washed and worn.  A good way to keep the fabric from unraveling is cutting the scrap with a pinking shears.  If you don’t have one of these, a scissors will work fine, you just will have more fraying of the scrap fabric on the inside.

A pinking shears:

23) While your garment is inside out, press the fabric to smooth out the stitching. 

24) Turn the garment right side out and press the outside of the area. 

Clip any extra threads that may have come loose as you were working.

Close up of the stitching:

You did it!

Danni Trester is a textile designer that's been daylighting as a tailor for the last seven years.  In addition to alterations, she designs and produces accessories which she sells at indie craft shows across the Midwest. 
Etsy shop: www.innad.etsy.com 

Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web.

So, "baguetting." Wherein one takes a photograph, substituting baguettes....oh, you get it. 

See more images of the phenomenon at YellowTrace.

This is a Pyura chilensis, a member of the "Ascidiacea class of non-moving, sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders that are otherwise known as sea squirts." It's not quite a living rock, but its the closet thing possible. (And, apparently, totally edible and delicious.) Learn more at Scientific American. 

Musician James Hill transforms his ukulele into making some serious otherworldly sounds....

Somewhat similiary, Diego Stocco uses custom-built waterproof microphones to make "Huge Coffee" 

A quick and easy intro to naturally fermented, lactic acid pickling (no vinegar or acid required) from Emily at the Kitchn. Make some this week!

As a final project for his master's degree in architecture, Hank Butitta bought an old school bus on Craigslist for $3000. Spending about twice that, he converted it into a functioning live/work space complete with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and seating/office. 

Hank chose the project because of it's practicality. He says, "I also thought it was important to demonstrate the value of full scale iteration in architectural education. There are too many architecture students who don’t understand basic physical limitations of materials or how they can be joined. This project was a way to show how building a small structure with simple detailing can be more valuable than drawing a complex project that is theoretical and poorly understood. I think we need more making in architecture!"

In order to keep everything open, none of the built-ins extend above the window line. Hank remarks, "This allows the space to remain continuous, and maintains clear sight-lines from one end of the space to the other, even while seated. In order to accomplish this I developed a thin wall system integrating structure, insulation, electrical, lighting, and facing, leaving the interior open for occupation. The ceiling is covered in plywood flexed by compression, and the floor is reclaimed gym flooring, complete with 3-point line."

At night, the bus is lit by dimmable LED strips.

Hank and company are currently driving the bus around the western United States. See pics from their adventures, more photos of the bus, and additional details at HankBoughtABus.com.

This week, I've come across some seriously amazing items featuring awesome design, each stylish and useful in your daily life. 

1. Dustpan + Brush Set: Cleaning crumbs from your table has never been this stylish. This set acts as both, a modern addition to your kitchen/dining room area and a handy tool to tame your mess.

2. Herb Drying Rack: If you spent the whole summer pampering your garden, it's very possible that you'll be looking for a way to preserve your harvest for weeks to come. This drying rack is the perfect solution to have a few herbs ready to cook and it also looks awesome. You can even leave them in there as decoration.

3. Smoke House Incense Burner: Don't worry, this isn't a bad flashback from the 90's (remember those clay dragons that puffed incense? No? Err...yeah, me either). This sleek burner will keep your home smelling fresh - especially after you abuse the BBQ to squeeze the last drops of summer weather. Best of all, it looks quite sleek/Scandinavian, so you can't go wrong with that.

4. Copenhagen TV Tray: Speaking of Scandinavian design, what about this cool tv tray? I think it's time to update that informercial-looking tray of yours that has dried up cheerios from when you were 10 (it's ok, your among friends). It may not be the most affordable one, but it sure looks fit for an adult - even if you don't end up buying, use it as inspiration for your next project!

5. Sodastream Source: Make your own fizzy water at home! How Mad Men of you. Instead of buying all of those italian soda bottles, save a few bucks buy investing in your own sodastream system. Sure, it's not a cheap gadget, but you can have the freedom of creating your own soda mixes. Plus, it's fun to pump that thing.

6. Tape Gun: Do we really need to sell you on this one? Like, come on. Bring it to the office and be the badass coworker that tapes boxes and documents like the lone ranger. Add a few martial arts moves and you'll be THIS close to feeling like Chuck Norris.

So, are you getting any of these random finds? Yes? Awesome. See, we told ya, you totally needed them!

When Swiss designer Till Könneker moved into his new apartment, he loved the clean, minimalist design...but not the fact that it had zero built-in storage place. So, he came up with this clever storage cube to house his bed, book and record collection, and shoes and clothing. Oh, and this is the best part:    

Boom! Hidden storage for all that stuff nobody has any business looking at. Till drew up his design and shares the plans at Behance. Though the plans are sparse, they definitely give insight into the process. Of course, to create a unit that you can walk into, you'd have to have pretty tall ceilings, but those tend to be the norm in places like this. (These look to be around 10') You could pull off a similar idea in a standard 8' space, turning the hidden storage into more of a crawl space.

See more at Till's Behance page: The Living Cube 

A food dehydrator is on my list of kitchen appliances I should never buy myself. Like its brother, the deep fat fryer, I know I'd just get carried away, dehydratin' and frying stuff left and right.

But, that doesn't mean I don't wanna create my own tasty and natural dried foods every once in a while...particularly: jerky.  Of all kinds. So, I figured out a way to make some without any specialized tools.

Making jerky at home can seem quite complicated, and it can be if you don't follow the right steps. But, here's the ManMade guide, complete with everything you need to know. Grab pen and paper and meet us in the kitchen.

How To Make The Perfect Homemade Jerky

1. Choose THE BEST ingredients: that might sound quite obvious, but seriously, using high quality ingredients will make a huge difference. You'll be concentrating all the flavors, so they have to be delicious to start with. If you're using some sort of meat, choose one that's nice and clean and free of hormones (some places label their meat with this info). If you're going for fish, get a wild, fresh catch. For this guide we'll be using wild sockeye salmon.

2. Select your seasonings: figure out if you want it sweet or salty, spicy or mild and choose your seasonings accordingly. Remember that the flavours get enhanced as the jerky dries up, so keep that in mind and don't use something extremely strong or it'll be too overpowering. For this guide we are doing a spicy marinade.

3. Clean your meat / fish well: you can ask the clerk at the store to clean it for you or you can do it at home. Make sure your protein is free of any bones, cartilage, and chunks of fat.

4. Plan ahead: making jerky takes a bit of time as you need at least 12 hours to marinate the protein, plus cooking time.

5. Make a big batch: make more than enough! Remember that the protein will shrink as it dehydrates and you don't want to invest all this time to end up with 4 pieces of jerky.

RECIPE AND STEPS:

Ingredients

• A couple fillets of wild salmon (about 15oz each)
• Pinch of sea salt
• Couple dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• Couple dashes of Tabasco Sauce
• 1 tablespoon of Paprika
• 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon of honey

Steps

1. Clean the fish and make sure there are no bones hidden in the skin. Also, remove the silvery flesh on top of the fillet as this will become tough when cooked, BUT leave the skin on, this one will get crunchy! Use a very sharp knife to slice the fillets as shown above (1/2 an inch max). Set aside.
2. Mix rest of ingredients in a non-reactive bowl.
3. Dunk the salmon in the marinade and coat all pieces. Leave marinating for at least 12 hours.
   
4. After 12 hours or more have gone by, remove the salmon from the marinade, pat dry with a paper towel and lay flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicon pad - as an extra precaution, rub some oil on the paper or pad 'cause it'll get sticky.
5. Place in the oven at 200F and dehydrate for about 2-3 hours or until nice and crisp. Make sure to flip them half way through. 

And that is all! Wasn't it easy? Dudes I'm serious, once you make your first batch you'll be addicted and you'll one to experiment with tons of seasonings. Jerky also happens to be the perfect drinking snack.

Remember, whether you use salmon or beef, the steps are the same!

Enjoy!

Earlier this week, some 20,000 people gathered in the small town of Bunol near Valencia, Spain, to engage in "La Tomatina." The festival is reportedly the world's largest food fight, in which participants throw, smash, and otherwise engage with 130 tons of tomatoes. By the end of the event, the streets are filled with a serious coating of tomato puree, which actually looks pretty tasty, despite the fact that it's filled with gravel, dirt, and the sweat and germs of 20,000 Spainards. 

I would totally participate. Totally. Learn more and see additional photos at The Kitchn: This is What the World's Biggest Food Fight Looks Like

This is a cool, rustic way to store your magazine racks without taking too much space, and it doubles as a side table too. Score!

Making the project is relatively simple, pleanty stylish, and REALLY affordable . All you need is a wooden crate from the craft store and a few casters. Or, snag a vintage wine or soda crate from a secondhand shop. Attach the caster to the crate and boom. Table.

You could even try using a wire basket and use some bendable wire to secure the casters (the magazines will cover any wires sticking out). Try looking forr a crate at your local farmers market, on Craigslist or the liquor store (they usually have tons left over from wine).

If you're into the whole Scandinavian cabin look, then you should definitely check out Sofia Landin's blog where she has more of these nifty ideas.

New Zealand-based artist Mike Hewson has taken the task of transforming these buildings into something more than a bunch of historical ruins.Originally the home of the Christchurch school built in the 1800s, these edifices were severely damaged by an earthquake in Feb 2012.  The city has set them for demolition, but Mike Hewson thought of a way to see them go with more dignity: by adding some art.

I love how these giant prints look almost like a scene from an old tv, as if the building crumbled and opened a door to another reality. 

To see more of Mike Hewson's work, including several other crazy-good installations, hop over to his site.

There are two basic principles to the ManMade approach to style and dress: fit is everything, and buy high-quality, universal items that will last. In order to help you hold on to those investment items, and make sure they suit you as best they can, ManMade is happy to present our latest series: The DIY Tailor. This summer and fall, professional tailor and alteration specialist Danni Trester will teach us some basic sewing principles and easy DIY repairs that every guy should know. 

One of the simplest things you can do to look a little more dapper is by hemming your dress pants when they're too long. As someone who does this for a living, it's the first thing I notice about people, especially in a professional setting.  You can always tell when pants are too long, either they're dragging on the floor, or the break (the fabric that pools on top of the foot on the pant front) is too big.  Here's a photo guide to making those pants look sharp. You might need a sewing machine, but this is likely a project that can be accomplished with just a needle and thread.

1) Gather your supplies.  Depending on the method you choose, you'll need a needle, matching thread, scissors, tailor's chalk (as discussed in last week's demo), ruler, iron/board, and possibly a sewing machine that has a zig zag stitch. 

2) Follow steps 2-6 from the jean hem lesson to mark up your pants.  Once you have the marks, lay the legs together on the table so the chalk marks are together. 

3) Like the jean hems, run your chalk along the edge of the rule to mark and line across the pant legs.  Flip over the top leg to mark the inseams, and then the bottom leg to mark the back of the bottom leg. 

In the jean demo, we marked for a 1/2" hem.  In dress pants, the typical hem depth (the amount turned under) is an 1 1/2".  Measure this on the top leg and mark your lines. 

4) There are a couple of ways to sew up your hems.  One way requires a serger (the stitching on the insides of clothing that secures raw edges), or a zig zag stitch.  If you don't have any sewing machines, you can secure the cut ends of the fabric by rolling it over, sort of like a large rolled hem.  If you'd like to do the rolled way, you'll need to mark an extra 1/2" on your pants so that it can be pressed and turned under, leaving a clean edge to sew.

Extra 1/2" marked for a rolled edge:

5) Once you've marked the proper lines, cut off the excess.  If you're doing a serged/zigzagged edge, you should have this:

If you want to do the rolled version, your legs should look like this:

6) Now you need to prepare your edges for sewing.  If you're rolling, you'll need to press that extra 1/2" so it lays flat as you're trying to sew it.  Roll the raw edge to the inside of the pant along your chalk line. 

7) Press along this line all the way around both legs.  Be careful not to go too far up the leg as you don't want to press out the line you marked at 1 1/2" where the hem will be.  If you do accidentally press the hem line out (waxy tailor's chalk can easily do that, the chalky kind won't), you can go back once you're done pressing and mark your line back on. 

8) If you're zigzagging, set up your machine with matching thread.  Use your scraps to get the stitch length and width right.  You want a zig zag that's about a 1/4" wide, and a little less than 1/8" in between the stitches.  If you get it too big, the stitching won't do it's job, which is to encase the raw edges.  If you do it too small, you'll end up stretching the fabric which will just make more difficult when you're sewing up your hem. 

Sew all the way around both legs, overlapping the stitching when you get back to where you started.  Once you're done, lightly press the fabric to flatten out any stretching that may have happened.  (Careful not to press out your hem line!)

9) Now that your edges are prepared, you're ready to sew up your hem!  At this point, the process is the same for both the zigzag edge, and the rolled edge.  For ease of demonstration, I'm using the rolled method so it's easier to see the handsewing. 

Cut a piece of thread that's double the length to go around one leg.  Thread your needle and tie the cut ends together so that you're sewing with two strands (like in the button lesson).

10) Start at the inseam and fold up the leg to the chalked hem line.

11) Insert your needle into the seam allowance of the inside leg to start your thread.

Pull through:

12) Insert the needle in the back of the rolled edge and bring the needle out about 1/8" from the edge.

Pull through:

13) On the left of the rolled edge, pick up only a few threads of the fabric and slide your needle through.  It's really important to only pick up a few threads.  As you start sewing along, if you get too many threads on the needle, you'll see your handsewing stitches on the outside of the pants.  It may seem like a couple of strands won't be strong enough, but it's plenty strong.

14) About 3/8" to 1/2" up from where you pulled the thread through, insert the needle in the back of the rolled edge and pull the needle out the front. 

Pull through:

15) Again, to the left side of the rolled edge, pick up only a few threads with the tip of your needle, and pull through.

A closer look:

And again, about 3/8" to 1/2" up from your last stitch, insert the needle into the back of the rolled edge and pull through the front. 

At this point, you'll be repeating steps 13 and 14.  Once you've got a few stitches in, flip over the leg so you can see the outside. 

When you pick up threads to make a stitch, this is how much needle you should see on the outside of the pants.  You can use this as a gauge so you know you don't have too many threads on the needle (it's just a speck of silver):

It's also important to keep consistent spacing in between your stitches.  Although you don't see the thread from the outside, you will see a slight impression.  If you have varying stitch lengths, it won't look as nice as evenly spaced ones. 

16) If your stitches are looking good, keep on going!

17) After you've gone a fair amount, your hem should look something like this:

The outside will look something like this:

Can't see the stitches?  Good!  You shouldn't be able to.

Don't worry if you feel like this is taking a while.  Handsewing is time consuming.  Professionals use a hamming machine that can do this sort of stitching in a matter of seconds.  But don't be discouraged by how long it may take.  Put on some Netflix and settle in!

18) Once you get back to where you started, tack a couple of times where your first stitch is.

Snip the thread, leaving enough to tie a knot.

Tie a knot, and clip the extra thread.

Now do the other leg and you'll be ready to press!

19) Just like in the jean demo, start pressing on the inside of the leg.  Go around the whole leg and use steam to set the hem and flatten out the fabric/stitches. 

Now press the outside lightly to flatten the stitch impressions and re-crease the pants if they have creases on the front and back.

Alright!  You did it!

Danni Trester is a textile designer that's been daylighting as a tailor for the last seven years.  In addition to alterations, she designs and produces accessories which she sells at indie craft shows across the Midwest. 
Etsy shop: www.innad.etsy.com 

Even though this gadget won't give you a slap in the hand whenever you're spending unwisely, it will certainly alert you if someone steals your wallet. Clever!

The Ping Wallet is currently being funded on Kickstarter and it's creating lots of buzz due to its smart features. This little gadget is able to give you card reminders (so you don't forget your card at the cashier), theft alerts, and GPS tracking of your wallet - all possible through a magic connection to your phone, also called Bluetooth technology.

It's minimal design fits perfectly in your pocket without creating too much bulk - in a way it forces you to carry only what you need (and leave behind that mountain of old receipts and notes). Though, I wonder if it will withstand the pressure of one's butt sitting on it day in and day out? 

If you want to pledge your support for the Ping Wallet, head over to their Kicktstarter page.

To step up a room in your home and apartment, sometimes all you need is a single accent piece or focal point to set it off...no major makeovers required. 

1. Metal-Wrapped Wood Tray: Industrial and masculine, you can't go wrong with that. Get this tray to carry around snacks from room to room or simply put it on your coffee table to create an extra layer of decor.

2. Triangle Cutting Board: Looking stylish while prepping a mighty dinner? You bet! This triangle cutting board is perfect to add a rustic and modern edge to your kitchen. You can also use it to serve cheese or other finger food - it will definitely be a crowd pleaser.

3. Mid Century Modern Daybed Sofa: Mid century, do we need to say more? And yes, even though this is a pricey piece of furniture ($1,150....hmm..) it's a good investment that will add tons of character to your living room. Mind you, you can definitely find similar sofas on Craigslist and even Ikea, but you have to be quick to get them 'cause these things are in demand.

4. Speckled Black Panters: If you're afraid of adding some greenery because it would look like your granny's home, don't worry, these black planters will allow you to have a green thumb without compromising your home's virility. The speckles make it look like concrete, so there, without even knowing it, you have added a touch of modern.

5. Canvas Style Science Chart: If you are not into putting art on your walls (perhaps because you haven't found something that fits your space), what about using something more quirky instead? Like this awesome science chart. It looks cool and it can keep your guests entertained. Win / win!

6. GroVert Chalkboard Wall Planter: If you're a total foodie, then this wall planter will make your dreams of always having fresh herbs at hand come true. Since it's black it already looks super masculine and it will fit almost any space. Impress your neighbours with this living wall of goodness!

7. Antique bulbs: Having some of these bulbs at home will bring back vibes from the 1800s, minus the haunted spirits. These vintage lightbulbs are quite popular right now - they add less harsh than the regular ones and they look awesome. If you already have some lamps at home check if you can replace your current bulbs from some of these, at only $10 each? That's not a bad upgrade!

Remember that a home always feels cozier when you add little details like the ones mentioned above. If you are overwhelmed, just take baby steps and add a few items at a time.

Have fun!

A Note to Self: September 5, 2013   
Over the last few years, early September has emerged as the perfect time for my wife and I to travel. It works well with our work schedules, peak season is over, and I love that we leave in summer, but come home in fall.

For the next seven days, we'll be exploring the natural geography of Utah, and visiting all five National Parks. We'll be sleeping under the stars, sleeping in cabins, and sleeping in hotels. We'll be hiking for miles, driving in a rental car, riding bikes, and, at some point, jumping out of an airplane.

ManMade will be taking a nap while I'm away, but if you want to check out the scenery and all the cool stuff this amazing region has to offer, please follow along with our adventures on the ManMade Instagram page. I'll be sharing when I can.

See you soon.

[Photo from TopTravellists.net]

Stop using your pillow or that pile of library books  and upgrade to something modern and handmade like this totally DIYable iPad easel!

Having shiny toys around the house is cool, but you know what's cooler? Having them displayed on a proper stand. If you like to watch movies or shows on your iPad, or you simply use it to play your favorite tunes, then this reclaimed wood easel by PegandAwl is the way to go.

The easel is handmade in the good ol' US of A and it's made out oak from the 1800s (fancy!)- It's the perfect mix of modern and rustic. It comes with all the things you need to install it, which should be fairly easy to do.

If you want to make your own version of this, you can get some wood from the hardware store or even better, find your own reclaimed wood! Maybe not from the 1800s, but something off of craigslist will do. Other than that you will need a saw to cut a kerf, some screws to install it on the wall and voila! Movie time!

But of course, you can avoid the hassle of making one and you can just buy one over at PeganAwl (only $60! Quite affordable, yes?).

The ketchup bottle, that eight or so inches of clear glass and familiar logo that sits on every formica diner table across the U.S., serves as a prime example of invisible design: most of us don't even notice it, but when it becomes time to use it, its put into play and works exactly as intended. 

It turns out, the Heinz 57 bottle has a pretty fascinating history, and some clever built in features.

That ketchup is non-Newtonian is the main reason why getting it out of a glass bottle is so slow. Allowed to flow naturally, ketchup only travels at a speed of 147 feet per hour. The only way to speed it up is to apply force, which through the principle of shear thinning decreases the ketchup’s viscosity, and thus increases its flow rate...

But despite common opinion, the bottom of a bottle of Heinz Ketchup isn’t actually the best place to thump it. If you apply force to the bottom of a bottle of Heinz, the ketchup closest to where you smacked will absorb most of the force of impact. It will flow freely, but the ketchup that is viscously clogging the neck and mouth of the bottle won’t, leaving you no better off than you were before. The solution is to trigger the shear thinning effect at the top of the bottle, not the bottom. That unclogs the mouth and lets the ketchup below to freely flow.

So while the substance of Heinz’s "57 Varieties" label may be just a fanciful whim on the part of the company’s creator, its positioning is deliberate. It’s a target. By simply tapping the label with two fingers, you create the optimal conditions for shear thinning, transforming non-Newtonian ketchup into a free-flowing liquid. Physics!

Though, that thing about fifty-seven varieties? Totally not true. 

How 500 Years Of Weird Condiment History Designed The Heinz Ketchup Bottle