Skillshare + Bigcartel Video

Last Spring Bigcartel contacted me and asked if I wanted to be apart of a video launch with Skillshare that they were launching to help new designers create a brand and voice. I was so flattered and excited to be apart of something that could help other designers grow that I said yes immediately! 

From there we worked with the Skillshare team to create a video that would teach you how to develop a cohesive product and market it. It was a full day of shooting in my studio, and I was def nervous but the team I worked with was so professional and relax!

 I am so excited to bring you this video here on my website, Skillshare is actually offering it for free (thank you!). Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments! 

Brand an Online Shop: Create a Cohesive Product Line

An Online Skillshare Class by Melanie Abrantes

Stacked Jewelry Box a Collaboration with AVANDI

This year I am branching into the world of collaborations....If anything, I think I have become a little addicted to them! It is so much fun to work with someone else and see their perspective on design. Further, they are able to give me access to different materials I wouldn’t be able to use otherwise. I am super stoked on a new product, the Stacked Jewelry Box, I made with the designer Ariane van Dievoet from Avandi in Brooklyn.

We designed a stacking jewelry box that uses only beautiful natural materials. It incorporates copper, maple hardwood and natural cork. We went through many concepts and iterations, trying to think of how we store our own jewelry and what aesthetic the modern woman would want her jewelry box. Instead of a traditional rectangular box we designed a minimalist bowl that had different sections for different pieces, using cork so that your most precious metals wouldn’t be scratched.

We are so excited to launch this limited edition design. There are only 100 pieces for this production, so get yours while they last! Every Jewelry Box is handmade in America and uses sustainable and domestic materials. You can purchase your own or for that special person to carry all of their treasures in my store this Wednesday September 2, 2015.

I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you guys think on our Stacked Jewelry Box in the comments below.

Photos by: Melanie Riccardi

More about AVANDI and their process: 

Ariane in her studio in Brooklyn, NY.  Photo by: Xavier Portela

AVANDI is a Brooklyn-based contemporary studio that designs and manufactures a selection of home goods and jewelry inspired by sustainable solutions and modular systems. AVANDI generates durable products that seamlessly blend technology and craft. AVANDI's profoundly versatile designs thrive in a nomadic space, shifting their function to meet your needs, merging with your lifestyle while adding a bit of fun and playful elements.   

Ariane van Dievoet is the designer and creator of AVANDI. Heavily influenced by her Belgian roots, her designs are honest and sophisticated. Ariane’s passion for traveling and discovering different cultures brought her from Brussels to London where she studied Interior & Spatial Design (Chelsea College of Art & Design) and to North America for her Interior Architecture studies (RISD). Ariane felt inspired and attracted to New York City’s energy, diversity and hands-on production principles which led her to her next venture, working with Brooklyn-based product & furniture design studio Bower. During that time she started developing her own ideas by pushing boundaries with different techniques and materials.

Sneak Peak of Melanie Abrantes Designs Winter Collection '15

Melanie Abrantes’ Winter Collection introduces new products and a new material- leather- to the designer’s line of home goods focused on showcasing the natural beauty and unique qualities of hand-turned cork and wood. Available for purchase in the shop August 24th, 2015. 

Shop the collection here.

Photos by Melanie Riccardi | Styling by Genevieve Bandrowski | Copy by Kat McEachern 

WHAT UNITES THIS COLLECTION?

This collection is cohisive in its classic shapes and natural materials. When designing for this season I wanted each piece to be a strong stand-alone object. Each one being an heirloom that someone would cherish and bring out during their most beloved gatherings.

WHY CORK ,WOOD AND LEATHER?

I am drawn to materials that are natural and beautiful in their raw state. I feel that cork, wood, and leather are both elegant and understated. I wanted to elevate each one by finding unique ways for them to interact within the collection.

FORM VS FUNCTION?

Utility is something I strive for when I’m creating a product. When designing home décor, the beauty of the object is just as important to me as its functionality. For instance, the new hardwood Cake Platter can be used to display cakes and charcuterie or as a cutting board, providing versatility for its owner.

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTS

I wanted the customer to imagine themselves in this beautiful setting, creating cherished memories dining with ones they love. I envisioned my own family gatherings during the holiday season, where we tell stories, laugh and have a shared experience around the table.

Meet the Maker by LaLovetta

My dear friend and colleague Eileen wrote a wonderful post featuring me in her new series Meet the Maker on her blog LaLovetta. You haven't done so yet, keep an eye out for her blog, she is a wonderful writer and always has the funnest posts!

I wanted to share it on my own blog because It was so great! I am touched to be around some amazing people in my life who has been such huge supporters in this new endeavor, Thank You!!!

You can see the full post here. 

It's Live! Check out my OKL Sale!

It's now live! Please take a look at my One King's Lane Sale going on now till Jan. 31st! I am selling heirloom objects made from cork and wood, check out the selection below. Also, some new products have been added to the site that you will surely love.

You can see the One King's Lane sale here.

Cork Planters in every size!

Cork Vases looking cute side by side.

Wood Bud Vase

New Cork Treasure Pots! 

Boisbuchet Workshop

In August I had the privilege of doing the Design Vitra's Boisbuchet Workshop. It took a 13 hour flight to Paris a 3 hour train ride to Poitiers and a 2 hour bus ride to pretty much the middle of nowhere in France. But it had to have been one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed at. The domain had a river, lake with canoeing, chicken coops, donkeys you can only find in France, a mini wood shop, a gorgeous clay kiln that was completely fired by wood (only two in the world) and of course a beautiful castle! It was pretty much a glorified adult design camp, and man was it fun! I attended the Snarkitecture workshop which was about excavating natural material from the earth and making different objects by casting with it using plaster. My classmates started out with some weird stuff, but after making throughout the whole week we all finally got a hang of it and ended with some interesting objects. Although on my spare time I was able to hang out at the woodshop, which had two super old lathes. I found spare cork lying around (yes, it was that kind of place) and made some really fun cork objects. Which I am trying to explore for new products! Boisbuchet was an amazing experience, I met some of the most talented folks and I know for sure I will attend another workshop in the future! 

Everyone in front of the Castle and the amazing interactive dragon a group made!

Drawing out different exercises with Alex from Snarkitecture. 

Me working hard on the lathe! 

My sister and boyfriend was in France at the same time (crazy!) and so they came and visited me. Here we are at the lake. 

Our presentation was beautiful. It was inside of a 100 year old barn which we laid on white paper all of the objets we made through out the week, showing the process of each final object. Here in the photo you can see each medium and the line of objects in the barn.  

Here I am giving my final presentation for my casted objects, I made a pillow iPhone stand and different pillow containers to hold your lipsticks. 

My pillow castings.  

More castings using found objects.

The castle

My roommate Shan and I 

Crafting Community + One Kings Lane Sale

I am happy to announce being apart of Crafting Community's One Kings Lane Sale! I am selling my California Trees Series. Check out the sale soon, it goes live on Wednesday June 24! 

Photo: Kimberly Genevieve

Redwood and Douglas Fir Trees with little wooden VW van.