My Engagement Ring, Stuck to a Cup

A proposal? Not!

This is a very clever item, best given as a gift to a woman. It's a porcelain cup that's got a ring attached to it. Put in an oversized box, the cup is concealed so that the receiver of the present will initially think that you are giving a ring. It can leave the person quite nervous, but it can also lead to a good laugh afterwards.

This is called the Two Karat Cup, designed by Yusuke Fujinuma. The cup itself is made out of white porcelain, and the handle-slash-ring is a gold or platinum glaze with a Swarovski crystal embedded in it. The packaging adds to its charm- a jewelry box where the cup is placed.


Using this cup can give other people the impression that you just might be engaged. It might also serve as a reminder that you really aren't (Haha!). Anyhow, it's a very delightful and practical item to have- adorning you with a big diamond ring while you drink your latte.

Giant Earphone Speakers

This is for the music geeks. Designed like the iPod earphones, but without having to plug them into your ears. These buds are five hundred times your regular earphones. Yes, they are speakers, and a pretty funky one at that. When you think it's time to replace those old boring computer speakers, how about having one of these instead? It produces clear high quality sounds. These are also very handy and hassle-free if you need a portable speaker. It can be connected to your PC or even to your MP3 player. Even though they look like earphones, don't make the mistake of putting them too near your ears!

Band-Aid Rings for the Broken Hearts

Got a heartache? It's time to heal with an 18 karat gold bandage.

This unusual creation was made by a jewelry designer named Alyssa Dee Krauss. For those who just got divorced, this is the perfect ring to replace what's on that ring finger. It isn't just for the broken hearted, but it can also be a declaration of support for victims and survivors of a tragedy. Bandages for the heart is a symbol of healing. With all the meanings you can associate with it, one can always purchase it just for it's style and uniqueness.
Each ring is either made from stainless steel, sterling silver, or a solid 18 karat gold. On the other side of the bandage, there's a drop of deep, red garnet stone (supposed to look like a boo-boo when worn). Besides band-aid rings, there are also band-aid pins. When bought, each piece is wrapped in a white gauze tied with a red string.

It's not something you'd commonly see people wear, but it'd be cool to see a wedding where they tie the knot with this ring!

Jell-O City

Feast your eyes with the city of San Francisco, made completely out of Jell-O. This isn't really an invention, but another cool and nifty form of art.



If you think Jell-O aquariums, animals and other shapes are already quite attractive, then you haven't seen this. The Jell-O sculptures are created by an artist named Liz Hickok. According to her, she makes "the landscapes by constructing scale models of architectural elements," which she then utilizes to form her molds. "I then cast the building in Jell-O," Hickok says.

She also paints the backdrops to add natural elements such as mountains, trees, or the hues of the sunset. After doing so, she lights the scenes from behind or underneath the Jell-O. This then creates a dramatically colorful effect. Because the Jell-O sculptures can't hold long and quickly deteriorates, she makes sure to take a photograph or video copy of it.

This is just one of Hickok's works from her Molds and Models series.

Shoe Wheel

The ultimate shoe storage.

The Shoe Wheel was innovated by Rakku Designs. I first learned about this awesome furniture from Reader's Digest. It is movable storage unit that can hold up to thirty pairs of shoes. It's got expandable pockets where one inserts the footwear, and it adjusts to the type of shoes so they fit snugly into place. Like any other wheel, it can be rotated. This is very convenient because aside from being organized, one can see his or her shoe collection in one look. No longer will you have the trouble of thinking about what kinds of shoes you have, or the trouble of opening your shoeboxes just to see for yourself. Because you can turn the wheel, you don't have to bend down to pick up a shoe- let your shoes come to you.

There are other varieties for this wheel. There's the Shoe Pod, which is another form of the Shoe Wheel. This time, it's cut in half and meant for the big footed men (but not limited to this). And then there's Rakiddo for kids- it's a mini version of the shoe wheel. This variety of products come in different appealing colors: silver, black, white, pink, and blue.

When I found an online shop selling the Shoe Wheel in the Philippines, I instantly got excited. I wanted to get one so bad, but I had second thoughts with my longing. First, I inquired on the price and found out that the seller was selling it for about 2000 pesos more than the original price stated in the official site. While I already considered the shipping costs, it was still pretty expensive. Next, it's actually space consuming. It' a big wheel: 29 inches high, 28 inches in length and 12 inches in width. Third, it doesn't protect one's shoe collection from dust. Lastly, while it offers convenience, the storage size is still pretty limited. This isn't very suited for the avid shoe collector, but if you have a few good pairs, might as well show them off!

Anti-Theft Mouldy Lunch Bag

Tired of having your office-mates, schoolmates and friends stealing and eating up your packed lunch? Try putting it in a moldy plastic bag.

Actually, it's a plastic bag with mold printed directly on it. When you put your sandwich in it, lunch-thieves would see mold-covered food, but in reality, it's as fresh as can be.

There are a few problems with this product, though. For one, somebody might mistake it for actually being moldy and throw it away. Second, it's a pretty short term solution. Unless you eat your food secretly, people around will start to notice that it is fake when you pull out your sandwich from it and begin munching. Third, if you look at it long enough, you might ruin your appetite as well. You must always keep in mind that they are two different and separate things.


This is a pretty clever disguise. Just to make sure though, better to check your sandwich in case it really is moldy!

The Art of Our Times

Decades and centuries ago, people have invented things that have widely changed the way we live today. From televisions to cellphone and telephones, they have, in a way, created a lifestyle for us. Although there have already been so many developments over the years, there is still enough room left for creativity today.

One of my favorite reads is Reader's Digest. It's a small magazine packed with all the interesting stories, information, jokes, and cool facts all over the world. This is also where I get to read about innovations that never fail to make me smile. So for this week, I'll be writing about the most interesting creations I have read about. These inventions may not be as big and life changing as what inventors in the past have devised, but they are nonetheless practical. If not for that reason, well, at the least they are fun.