Iacoli & McAllister

I've lost nearly every ring I've owned. I find bracelets to be cumbersome little things, to be taken off as soon as I get to a desk and at a computer. After a childhood of painful incidents involving hair getting stuck to little hoops, I swore off earrings long ago.

Basically, I'm not a jewelry person. But exceptions are to be made, and for me, it's Iacoli & McAllister. Founded by Jamie Iacoli and Brian McAllister, its designs are guided by industrial design. That means extra sleek, minimalist pieces—pieces that even the most jewelry-resistant people such as myself could not resist. The knotted and re-knotted leather cord (my little attempt at salvaging a well-worn piece) should be evidence enough.

Read more about Iacoli & McAllister in a piece I wrote for Handful of Salt (a lovely website that explores modern craft and design), here.

Atlas

I first discovered Atlas at a small denim shop in the Mission called Self-Edge. My boyfriend was trying on a pair of jeans, and I was browsing through the selection of magazines they had on a shelf. I liked the intent behind the magazine—it spotlighted American craft and curio, with the magazine itself being a testament to it.

I recently had the opportunity to contribute to Atlas, interviewing Samovar founder Jesse Jacobs at his newest tea bar location on Valencia Street. We talked about simplicity (and how hard it is), caffeine (and how bad it is), and distractions (and how tea can help overcome them).

You can purchase your own copy of Atlas here, or find a list of stockists here.