Bonus Bone: Formica's future peacock

Boho diva peacock wall sculpture, at Austin Modern

Our good friend Formica emailed us a link to this peacock with this note:

OMG, Dude!!

This is the peacock that my grandma has hanging over her bed and that I've told her she cannot, under any circumstances, get rid of before checking with me. I have never ever ever seen another one! Crazy!

Crazy is right...crazy-fantastic-rules-so-hardcore-I'm-going-to-pee-my-pants-amazing!!!! I love that the feathers on the head have some serious bling!

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Blog Spotted: Cardboard

Oh the blog chain posts...I'm feeling very self-indulgent so I'm jumping right in. Not that my space is all that great or even situated but, as is the origin of our catch phrase, it is very, very orange.

Welcome to where Cardboard blogs!

There are a few oddities about this photograph:

#1 - My desk/dining table is usually much more cluttered but I had, just a few days prior, cleaned it off when I thought I was having company (which did not actually happen to the extent that I thought it would but thanks, Porcelain, for coming over with bobby pins and wine).

#2 - Mille typically does not sit on the bench with me when I blog. She'll roll around on the floor or rub naesty across my shins but Bird is the king of oh-she's-on-the-computer?!-i-must-sit-on-her-lap-rest-my-head-on-her-arm-and-embed-lots-of-stray-hair-into-keyboard.

If you want to know more details about this photo, click over to flickr, where I have blatantly abused the "Add Note" function.

The rules of Blog Spot tagging are as follows:

1. Once you are tagged, post a picture of where you blog. This might mean a picture of your cozy bed, or your office at work (you naughty employee, you!), your bathtub, coffeeshop, etc. Feel free to be creative, but be honest–if your desk is usually covered in Ritz crackers and love letters to Carrot Top, then show us!
2. Feel free to tell us a little about your space, or explain certain items in more detail. Or not.
3. Link back to this post.
4. Tag five other bloggers to show their blog spots.
5. If you are tagged and do not participate, you will become allergic to cabbage (the horror!).

To begin, thanks to Oh What Larks for allowing me to show off. I extend the invitation to:

1. Porcelain - She hasn't revealed her seven facts (yet) but I have faith...and she has a nice camera.

2. Briggles - She's hilarious and designy but I don't think I've actually seen a straight-up photo of her "work station."

3. Angela - A brilliant designer (also muy hilario) and very, very Apple-centric.

4. Tate - I've visited his home and I can only imagine the lovely way in which he'll photograph it.

5. Debon - She's new to blogging and although she's my sister whom I love and miss terribly, she's a damn fine blogger and I eagerly await each item she adds to the internets.

Kiva Loan #2

Since my favorite Hernandez Garcias worked everything out down in Mexico and paid their Kiva loan back, I had a surplus. Time to loan again!

This time I'm helping out Osas Orhiekpaiyo, a 36-year old man in Nigeria who is hoping to buy more spare motor parts. Maybe I chose him because he's single (you go, young professional) or maybe it's because his shop looks a lot like my house. I think the true reason is the shirt.

Go HERE to offer your assistance to Osas, click HERE to see who else needs a hand, or settle in HERE to read more about Kiva.

Faking It / Taking It

Aeonium and Echiveria, at Carmel Bay Company

Even though they're pleasant to look at, I'd rather have no succulents than faux succulents...

Goat Head, at Carmel Bay Company

...But I'd totally take the weepy goat head.

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

Wendy's Southwest Taco Salad

• Advertised and Real (seen above)
• "Authentic Human Experience"
• Time Out for a Snuggie
• Porcelain Knows Rin so Vote for Her!
• Word

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Bonus Bone: Colori Paring Knives & the Courage of Hardwood

Colori Paring Knives, at Delight

Last night, at a lovely, casual dinner party (Thanks, Tate & Dean!), Hardwood told us a comical (yet scary!) story about the time he was forced to pull out a knife.

Long story short: Hardwood had loaned out his mace but didn't feel safe walking around unarmed so he was carrying a paring knife in a homemade paper sheath and good thing he was (!) because he encountered a few car thieves one late Uptown night and had to whip out his kitchen tool when they ever-so-sinisterly stepped to him.

Had he brandished one of these playful paring knives, the thug, instead of slinking back off into the night, may have said, "Damn, that's a great color. What you think 'bout CB2's new palette?"

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Branch Brunch

Branch Set, at Delight, $114.89

Serve me up seconds! These twigs are gorgeous.

Fork or Spoon, $59.89/each

Askin' Dad

Porcelain, 4-29-2007

Today, I'm thinking a lot about dads...or fathers or pops. No matter what you call him, your father plays a vital role in your life. Whether he's around or not, nice or not; he's one half of the tuner that sets your individual tone.

Both Porcelain and I are now living without the advantage of fatherly advice. It's something you get used to but the vacancy always finds ways to sneak back in. I often envy the playful bond of a close father/daughter relationship but, right now, I would settle for a few emergent phone calls when I'm re-tiling the bathroom, a quick email explaining to me why boys are so dumb.

Today, let's just dish happy about Dad. We want to hear the stories, home-related or not, about how the words or actions of your father made all the difference.

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

• Why Didn't We Think of This? (seen above)
• A Fug Favorite
• What We'll Do for Big Hair
• That Familiar Worcester Smell
• The "Heavan"
• Worst Celebrity Nips, Tucks, Sucks & Deviated Septa
• Best Product Review: "However, when marching band season rolled around..."

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Happy Valentine's Day

Heart Egg Molder, at Perpetual Kid

design boner [hearts] you.
(Now please make us some eggs!)

V-Day Decor

Heart Garland

I don't normally dress up my house for Valentine's Day but today, I'm feeling the love. And I owe this warm and fuzziness all to the crafty blogger at Mintage Home.

Heart Shaped Wood Block

Click over to this charming blog for tutorials on how to make a sparkly LOVE banner, glittery heart blocks and/or mobiles, or even a welcoming window display.

Love Covered Front Door

Thanks, MintHome, for the spreading the love (and glitter) around like homemade butter!

Bonus Bone: Cheese plane

Cheese plane, at Sur La Table

Last month I went on a mini-vacation to the Wisconsin Dells, land of cheese, beer and titty mugs! While on a beer run, I spotted this Norwegian cheese plane for a super cheap price and bought it as my vacation souvenir.

Last week I finally gave it a spin when making lunch. It changed my cheese slicing ways forever! It cuts through the cheese (HA!) silky smooth, and unlike this type of cheese slicer, it's easy to clean and doesn't get cheese bits stuck in the crack.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Price Chop

Wood Lamp, at Delia's

I "bonus boned" this Wood Lamp from Delia's a few weeks ago. There remains no image of the strange "forest scene on shade interior," even after I emailed them to ask them to show a photo OR to comp me a lamp so I could shoot one myself. I have not (yet) received a response...

~But~

They dropped the price! The lamp, once $39, is now listed at $18.99.

200 Lincolns

2 of 9 Lincoln photos by Katie Brown (aka Porcelain)

Cardboard and I are exhibiting a few pieces in the "200 Lincolns" gallery show at the Chicago Art Department. The opening is this Friday from 6-10pm. Come see many more pieces of art inspired by Abe and stay for a piece of birthday cake.

Trophy Dish

APM3, at Velocity

It's a silly "vessel." And it'll never hold enough M&M's to justify the $165 price tag.

But it's still pretty. Gotta give it that.

Clearance Curtain

Martha Stewart Sunflower Fields Shower Curtain, at Macy's

Macy's emailed to alert me of their two-day $.99 shipping deal (online code: 99cents). I skimmed the clearance housewares and found this sweet and Springy shower curtain. It's a little bit granny and I would nix those terrible towels but I like the soft colors and pattern.

The best part of said curtain is that it's marked down from the original $29.99 to a bargain...$29.97. I feel futile just typing this...

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

• The Sweetest Tale of Friendship (seen above)
• Snowy & Gleeful London
• Especially for Mama Cardboard
• Obama Likes the Heat
• Russian?

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

Public Weather Announcement

THANK YOU!

I would like to, on behalf of the design boner team, thank the Chicago weather gods for finally giving us a break with the weather.

Being two girls without cars and long commutes, we are constantly waiting and walking and waiting, outside. The weeks-in-a-row of negative temperatures were beginning to weigh on our spirits, not to mention our sinuses. And, as far as productivity goes, it's hard to get to the laundry or clean up that bathroom when all you want to do is mainline hot soup while snuggled up on the couch.

Yet the past two days have required no frostbite precautions. It makes walking to the store for eggs (and a decent "7" pic) an absolutely inspiring excursion.

Bonus Bone: Spoon Sconces

I have a "thing" for spoons. I critique them. I collect them. I write fiction about them and even buy tote bags that have them all over the fabric pattern.

Spoon Sconces, at House European of Design

There's something a bit intrusive about these sconces but, if placed high enough on the wall, these little spoonfuls of light would be just the right food for my obsession.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Sandwich sponge

Sandwich sponge, at MoMA

First of all, this is the most expensive sponge I've ever seen and that's just redonk. But it is pretty adorable and makes me smile a ton. If I had a kid it would make bath time a lot of fun. Or maybe Hardwood would help with the dishes more if we had a bunch of them.

Pipe Livin'

Maybe it's because I'm feeling like I should pare down - get back to basics - but I find these rentable rooms charming. Cozy, in fact. I think these cabins, at Das Park Hotel in Austria, are as Home Sweet Home as concrete sewage pipes can possibly be.

Hand Wash Only

Bamboo Dish Rack, at Crate & Barrel

This is a sharp looking dish drying rack, don't you think? With its sturdy design (of renewable bamboo), I see it next to the washbin of a solitary monk or beside a beach house farm sink.

Yet, in real life, I fear this baby won't be able to hold up. I mean, where do you store the super-sized plastic HeMan novelty cups from McDonald's?

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Weekend Flings

• "They're Boxy But They're Good." * (seen above)

• IKEA Watch
• Life After Tyra?
• Burrito: A Step-by-Step

If you're new around here and have no idea what this list means, click HERE for a brief and witty explanation.

* Quote credit: Crazy People