Curated turns us onto this bit of news:

“Robert Bradford has made a name for himself with his recycled toy sculptures. The idea of each toy having a history, a story to tell, is actually more important to the artist than the fact that they are being re-used rather than being thrown away. The outcome is at time beautiful and detailed, most of the time life size, sometimes even larger.”

See more over at Curated.

We’ve been supporters of Deus for a good while now. This video should give you the requisite feel required to embrace the brand spirit.

Our friends as a whole are a tight knit family of passionate, hard working post modern motorcycle lovin’ enthusiasts who love what they do.

A lot goes on in our realm of the world. Weather it be racing purpose built motorcycles across salt flats, brain-storming paint job ideas for oven fresh motorcycles or burning off into the night hoping to catch the next swell in Lombok. This video is just a glimpse from within our walls and minds.

Live fast and live free because tomorrow may just be another day…but its a day that should belong to you.

The toy car could not get any better than this prototype from Ulf Hanses of the Saab Ride-on Roadtser from Playsam. “Scandinavian wooden toy car inspired by the classic Saab Roadster prototype 92001. The car looks as good as the original Saab cars from the 40s and 50s and is a fully functional push car, it even has a steering wheel made of wood and metal just like old sports car steering wheels.” (dailyicon)

More looks at the Playsam Saab Ride-on Roadster by Ulf Hanses after the click.

Based in Philadelphia, PA, Hammarhead Industries is the baby of James Hammarhead. He’s turned his passion for 1950s motorcycles into a platform for his own creations. His bikes, like the above Woodsman 500, are lean and mean. They are minimalist rides inspired by the past and geared for modern urban life.

The Hammarhead site launched a few weeks back (and has been getting great press so far). All photography by my friend and neighbor Ryan Miller.

A closer look at the Woodsman 500, which is built off a Royal Enfield Electra X, after the jump.

One more nod to quality handmade baseball gloves.

Nokona Athletic Company, of Nocona, Texas, started producing sporting equipment in 1933. I guess that means it has some heritage, or that it feeds off a great internal tradition. Ultimately, what strikes me about Nocona is that they make beautiful baseball gloves. Above is their Buffalo Combo glove, built from ranch sourced South Dakota Bison. Touted as “soft and sturdy,” the glove probably works best for guys like us – those that haven’t played in years and are ultimately too lazy to break a new one in.

In addition to gloves, Nocona produces nice core baseball product – bats and catchers equipment. And, some really sexy bags. If you happen to be interested in the craft side, check out the American Craftsman Project, which features Nokona and some other good stuff.

The bag comes after the jump.

It’s the holiday season and with the help of some friendly brands and supporters of Selectism, we are giving away  a bunch of great items from now through the end of the year through the Selectism Twitter feed. We’ll start if off with this excellent Herman Miller Select Walnut Spinning Top Set. As mentioned the when we first covered this spinning top set, “Eames was fond of games, as you’ll guess, as a method of relaxation and beginnings to creative work. These tops are inspired by Eames, if not purely in aesthetic then by thought. Beautifully formed from walnut, they are designed by Klein Reid.”

We’ve made it pretty easy to enter and win.

Follow Selectism on Twitter and tweet the following message:  Follow @selectism and RT this message by Dec 7 for a chance to win a Herman Miller Select Spinning Top Set http://bit.ly/4OG4qP

We’ll randomly choose a retweet as the winner on Dec 8th. Good luck.

All I want for Christmas is a hand-crafted wooden boat. At this point, it is between a canoe from Klassen or a kayak from previously featured Guillemot Kayaks. Both produce stunning craft, equally suited to hitting the water or conspicuous display. Klassen, run by John Klassen, incorporates magnificent inlay in the canoe design. Needless from a boat building point of view, fantastic from an aesthetic one.

Klassen was inspired by his grandfather, an accomplished carpenter, and father, a canoe guide, and began building boats 30 years ago. Located in Whitefish, MT, each Klassen boat is built from 200 hours of John’s devoted attention.

In short, boats like these are the American made product that really make my mouth water.

Detailed images of wicked canoes after the jump.

Well, you cannot wear them unless you like flat breads. Dadada sells these perishable loafers by R&E Praspaliauskas. they’re baked and carved into the shape of your favorite house slipper. Their bread slippers come packaged in shoe boxes (recycled it would seem). Personally, I would like a set with instruction to carve my own so I can serve it with soup. Some people drink from their boots, right? (likecool)

More looks at the R&E Praspaliauskas Bread Slippers after the click.

“Toys and games are preludes to serious ideas.” – Charles Eames

Herman Miller Select’s own write up of their spinning tops begins with the above quote. Eames was fond of games, as you’ll guess, as a method of relaxation and beginnings to creative work. These tops are inspired by Eames, if not purely in aesthetic then by thought. Beautifully formed from walnut, they are designed by KleinReid. The New York-based firm formed by James Klein and David Reid is best known for its porcelain, but also offers fine work in jewelry and prints. Herman Miller Select’s spinning tops are a rare opportunity to bring home some of KleinReid’s wonderfully crafted work and have a bit of fun at the same time.

Detailed view after the jump.

Growing up, the highlight on any visit to my grandfather’s home in West Hartford, CT was a tour of his collection of antique toy cars and trucks. These pieces of Americana were among the objects that spurred my own interest in history and above all the history of things. Donald Kaufman, the founder of K-B Toys, passed away on October 12. During his life as a toy giant, he amassed a legendary collection of toy cars and trucks. His was the type of passion that leads a collecting circle and helps to preserve history for later generations. In my life, there are several folks like Kaufman, albeit in different fields, and without them much of my work would be impossible.

Last March, Kaufman brought the first portion of his collection to auction at Bertoia in Vineland, NJ. The sale brought in $4.2 million. The second portion was similarly successful bringing in $2.9 last month. The numbers are meaningless really, but do indicate the wealth of exceptional pieces within the collection. Given a shared interest I believe we all have in these objects (or at least in Americana and the toys of past) I wanted to share a few gems in Kaufman’s memory.

The Bee published an obituary yesterday, so for those wishing to learn more about Mr. Kaufman follow here.

Head to the jump for a few favorite pieces of the Kaufman Toy Car and Truck Collection.