Sunday, April 04, 2010

So Long, Lovers

Last week, I read a quote from some young scene-stealer who declared Mariah Carey was plaaaaayed out. The newbie said she was past her prime and stated that she should give it up. How someone could spit this blasphemy about such a classic and understated talent was shocking and sad! Naturally, it got me thinking about Design Boner (as the similarities are obvious) and that got me thinking about metamorphosis.

Normally, I would get sappy and long-winded with you. I would tell you that my aimless fingers keep trying to blog upon an invisible keyboard, when they're not busy picking up the pieces of my broken heart...

But this post isn't so much a goodbye as it is a herald - an overstuffed, glittery butterfly announcement - for change and I would like to be brief.


Design Boner has had nearly four years of ad-free, snarky fun and I'm proud of this. The blog, as it is, will remain up because we like it and hope you do too. But there's more out there besides bathroom accessories, wallpaper, and trips to IKEA and it's time we turn our focus.

So, Lambs, remember us for what we were: smart, funny, and not entirely about sparkle and boners (but mostly).

Farewell Design Boner

It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Design Boner.

I've had such an amazing experience working on this blog whose name makes the occasional person blush. We've been interviewed twice for two different magazines, had our photos taken, had a gallery show, gone on vacation together but best of all, I was able to work with one of my best friends. I'm very proud of what Cardboard and I accomplished and I couldn't have and wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else.

I have wanted for some time now to try and make a more serious go at my passion and figure out a way of making some sort of living off of my art. It will be a difficult challenge and I don't expect to be quitting my day job any time soon but I want and need to make a concerted effort at realizing my dreams. The hardest part of all of this is giving up something that has been such a big part of my life for so long and I will miss it dearly.

Thank you for reading, leaving comments and being so supportive. All my love to Cardboard for being such an incredible partner-in-crime!

Au revoir!

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Weekend Flings

Acrylic on Flesh (seen above)
Photoshop Love
Fried Pickles!
Aspic Anyone?
CraZy StairZ
Free Ear Books
Potatoes Redux
Ask the Shaq
Pocket Art
Cardboard's Next Project
Cardboard's Next Job
Dope Book
Abs R EZ
Most Important Art of the Day
Everything Reads
Feelin' Good

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

Friday, April 02, 2010

Bonus Bone: Chris Jordan's Intolerable Beauty

Boxcar, Seattle 2003

Chris Jordan's photography focuses upon the Intolerable Beauty of our mass-consuming ways. By visiting American shipping centers and industrial dumps, Jordan has seen the vast stacks of by-product and waste and he's both drawn in and repelled.

Circuit boards, Atlanta 2004

These images are staggering, mostly due to the sheer volume of all this garbage! We can't not buy things, we can't not waste, and it would take a miracle for everyone, everywhere to start carrying around re-usable produce bags. A lot of us are still trying to get our neighbors (eh em) to recycle - period. But each of us can become more aware of how we use what we buy versus how we waste it.

Crushed cars #2, Tacoma 2004

So we'd simply like to ask you to pay attention. Maybe this means you'll choose the yogurt in the container that can be recycled over the one that can't. Or perhaps you'll turn over a whole new green leaf and become a composting freak (way to go, Mama C!). Hopefully, you're already on board - recycling, shopping farmers' markets, using the heck out of your cell phone before getting a new one - and this post will merely inspire you to push your dedication further.

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

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Worth the Week: Mille

I'm happy with this photo for three reasons:

1. I'm learning to use my new camera better and it's starting to show.

2. It's a lovely - and still! - portrait of my Mille (who is typically captured as a blur of nose and fur).

3. ORANGE! This bright, crazy orange wall is the very wall that inspired the tag line for this blog. The time has come to paint it over now but it'll always be orange underneath.

Take one photograph,
trade thought for order and words,

Monday, March 29, 2010

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Weekend Flings

A Hill Story (seen above)
Cake vs. Pie
Ryan Ain't Chicken
Hipster CEO
Organic & Local

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

Friday, March 26, 2010

Bonus Bone: Round paintings by Sophia Brueckner




Round paintings by Sophia Brueckner

I love everything about these paintings by Sophia Brueckner. The size, the shape, the repetition of pattern. I can lose myself staring at the waves and undulations. I find them soothing. It's like sitting at the beach and watching wave after wave come in. Lucky for us, Sophia is thinking about opening an Etsy store to sell her beautiful work.

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

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Worth the Week: My Own Personal Sunset


My commute home from work involves almost one hour, split between two trains. It also often entails gum smacking, brassy cellular blah-blah, and the litter of afternoon teenagers. Sometimes I am like LOL but usually I say, "FML" and wish I was anywhere else.

It was one of these latter moments, one in which I was on the edge of hurling my unobtrusive and COMPLETELY SILENT book at these obnoxious folk, when I noticed this sunset. Everyone else - busy smacking and yakking - did not.

This was mine - all mine - and it was the quietest, most lovely sunset I ever did see.


Take one photograph,
trade thought for order and words,

Monday, March 22, 2010

Weekend Diptych

March 20-21, 2010

Weekend of glutenous homemade gluten.
Visit flickr to see the ever-growing Weekend Diptych collection.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Weekend Flings

A New Idea for Easter (seen above)
Free Moos!
Love Handles Beware
Update Resume; Read this List
Wonder Wise Ass
Holy Heels!

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

Friday, March 19, 2010

Bonus Bone: Abacus

I would love this in a child's bedroom or maybe in an entryway. Everywhere else, I'd use a calculator.


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

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Worth the Week: Trump Tower

Trump Tower

Darth Trump.

Take one photograph,
trade thought for order and words,

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Weekend Flings

Russian Art Watch (seen above)
Way to Go, Skinny CO!
The French Woman's Secret
Dulce de Hell Yeah
The Final Show

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

Friday, March 12, 2010

Bonus Bone: Monstrito pillow

Monstrito pillow, at giulia sagramola

This little guy is just plain cute! I'd snuggle up with him any day for a cat nap.

For this reason, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Weekend Diptych

March 6-7, 2010

My weekends as of late have been a combination of domestic chores and screen printing.
Visit flickr to see the ever-growing Weekend Diptych collection.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Worth the Week: Ice Jellyfish

The back porch/fenced-in area of my condo building does some crazy (cool) things in the winter. Our ice situation, for example, is an absolute menace. To empty out the trash bins, one must risk paralysis either by icy steps, icy jellyfish, or icy stares from neighbors because our gate is broken again.

Take one photograph,
trade thought for order and words,
call it Worth the Week.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Weekend Flings

Shopping Cart Chic (seen above)
How to Do It for the Little Gold Man
How WE Do It for the Little Gold Man
Sexy Star Wars
Business Days Means Business Days
Cardboard's Nightmare

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

Friday, March 05, 2010

Bonus Bone: Picnic Plates

The weather was so totally nice in Chicago yesterday...

So this time, when I found myself waiting for my ride, instead of shivering and swearing, I was squinting and smiling. As my face soaked up the warmth of the sun, I actually started to think of spring. And then, since I was hungry, I started to think of food.


The sun, the snacks, the several minutes of trainspotting - it all got me in the mood for a picnic and these plates are so totally cute.

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