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.

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.

Bonus Bone: Gimme Cupcakes Tea Towel

The cupcake - such an iconic, innocent, and one might even say, American image. Now mix it with the curved tongue and pointed claws of a flying (swimming?) dragon and you've got a playful new exotic feel.

And the tea towel is made from the softest (I've actually felt it) flour sack cotton so the literal feel won't have your hands breathing fire...Cupcake.

Gimme Cupcakes Tea Towel, by lovelane on etsy

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

Bonus Bone: Hand Towels by PataPri

Iroiro Hand Towel, $15 at Etsy

Yuko Uemura, the creative force behind PataPri, is getting this screenprinting thing just about right. A graphic designer who spends her time in both Tokyo and Chicago, she loved her screenprinting class at Lillstreet Art Center so much that she decided to start her own handmade business.

Set of 3 Hand Towels, $27 at Etsy

What I love about her hand towels is the girlish simplicity. First of all, everyone can use a towel - in the kitchen, in the bathroom - so the product is necessary, basic. But then Uemura makes each towel special with a smart, sweet, but never saccharine design.

Paper Towel Hand Towel, $15 at Etsy

Besides hand/dish towels, she also prints on aprons and tote bags. Her Etsy shop also lists bedding, tablecloths, and paper products, although these categories are empty now. I'm so sad; I'm so curious. Perhaps, if we buy enough towels, we can fund her new year printing spree and satisfy our textile habit!

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

Take a Pill

Sleeping Pill Body Pillow, by Galactic Boutique on Etsy

Full of sugar (thanks to yesterday's delicious cookie fest) and completely exhausted, I could use one of these pillows right now. I probably don't need the hard stuff; a Tylenol PM pillow will do just fine.

First Found (Hilariously Doctored) on Regretsy

Bonus Bone: Tulip Chandelier

Tulip Chandelier, by Schmintage at etsy

Although the outside is starting to feel more like fall, this pendant lamp can keep your inside light and springy. AND it's actually made of plastic so when you swing from it, no cuts.

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

Bonus Bone: Handmade Condom Pillows

Lifestyles Banana Flavored Condom Pillow with Giant Fabric Condom, by LittleElk

Silkscreened safe snuggle.

Giant Condom Pillow (No Pockets), by Little Elk

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

National Work That Bike Day

Want a Bike - Double, by vintagelove at etsy

Dear Commuter Polluters-

We just read that May is National Bike Month...and this week is National Bike Week...and tomorrow is Bike to Work Day! Unfortunately, both Porcelain and I have tomorrow off (strike that unfortch) so we will be keeping a lo'zone profile by hanging around in our rompers, drinkin' coffee barefoot, no lights on.

To all you good decent workers who are hitting the streets in the AM, you should do this. If you don't have a bike, why not try a bus or a train or a walk (gasp!) or, in the very least, a carpool? The Earth and your HOT BOD will soon thank you.

Many green kisses-
The Family Bone

Bonus Bone: Wolli Snow Mountain Toy Box

Wolli Snow Mountain Toy Box, $150

I love this. Period. Yeah, yeah - it's for kids and - sure, sure - it's supposed to hold their toys but...agh, my heart...it just melted and I want this thing.

Etsy vendor BabiesBreath has, with a few stitches and a whole lotta' felt, has thrown me right back to when I was wee and my sisters and I would play with our felt board. With our imaginative "grubby biscuit hooks," as Porcelain would call them, we'd orchestrate fairy tales on the felted surface, adhering the floppy cut-outs - dogs, girls, buckets, trees - to our canvas with an amateur and wild grace.

This toy box, this masterpiece of "sturdy and flexible storage," may not be meant for me yet. But it could hold all my mittens...

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

Shuttle Stuff

Inspiration can be found in the most unlikely of places. I, myself, have no "thang" for space shuttles but I know some of you crazy astronauts out there do! 10...9...8...here we go:

Space Shuttle Print, by laliv at etsy

Old Brass Space Shuttle Paperweight, at eBay

Apollo Pillow, by brokesy at etsy

Space Shuttle Apron, at Zazzle

Space Shuttle Lifting Off Wall Mural, at Art.com

The artifact is a little 'meh' but the kid's face is classic...

Space Shuttle Nesting Dolls, by Lavatican at etsy

Especially Nice! NASA Space Shuttle Bottle Opener, at eBay

Handmade Space Shuttle Puzzle Game, by usnavyretiredvet at etsy

Kennedy Space Center Salt & Pepper Shakers Florida!, at eBay

Rocket Print, by obotek at etsy

Even though it was made in 1981 and the trivia contains no mention of all this Pluto ambivalence, the best - the greatest - space age addition to your home is...

Space Hop Board Game 1981 SEALED, at eBay

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.

That Initial Sparkle

Pink J Pencil Box, at THiCKandTHiN

Oooh, a monogrammed pencil cup that's pink and glittery! Just the thing a fancy girl like myself could use (but doesn't at all need) for the holidays. And - look! - Porcelain gets one too!

Light Blue K Pencil Box, at THiCKandTHiN

Bonus Bone: Fresh Photography for Hip Homes

Shopping cart, by Jennifer Squires

February Blues 2, by Jennifer Squires

Tree in Winter, by Jennifer Squires

Jennifer Squires offers up some fresh photography for your hip home in her etsy store. I'm attracted to her quiet, almost lonely prints (as evidence from above). There is a simple beauty about them. She also has some gorgeous shots of flowers and food that would love to grace any one's walls. The prints come in a variety of sizes and Jennifer will work with you to get the perfect print and size for your hip home.

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

Hurricane Frames

Maroon and Pink 45 Degree Frame, $125

SecondLineFrames is an Etsy store with a conscience. Their beau-ti-ful picture frames are made of wood salvaged from buildings and homes that met their fate in Hurricane Katrina. In addition, this indie store will donate a portion of each sale to the effort to rebuild the damaged neighborhoods.

So that's the scoop on the company ethics but I really think these frames sell themselves. Just look at these stunners...

Golden Wood with Sea Green Border, $150

Beige and Goldenrod Striped Frame, $110

White and Natural Moulding Frame, $125

If you're eager for more, contact SecondLine to discuss a custom commission or visit their sister shop, RebirthFrames.

Turquoise and White Mosaic, $115

Buttercream and Sea Green Frame, $110

When Two Trends Become One

Brass Stag and Doe Paperweights, at Etsy, $15

Interiors Trend #1: Deer

Yellow Bird on Cherry Blossom Pillow, at Etsy, $28

Interiors Trend #2: Birds

Deer/Bird, at Etsy, $30

Mash them together and you get Deer/Bird! This small ceramic sculpture, by Etsy artist, therunnybunny, combines the two ubiquitous woodland fads into one "altered assemblage." Upon first glance, you might shrug and think, "Oh, just another deer...waidasecond...that's a bird head!"

It's just the right amount of interspecific creepiness to make the dainty statue stand out.

Sweet Juniper prints

Mies van der Rohe, Lafayette Tower West

Dequindre Cut

Untitled

Jim (the artist formerly known as Dutch) from Sweet Juniper is now selling prints of his photographs on Etsy. Jim has a pretty amazing eye. His photos are saturated with color and the man knows how to frame a shot!! The work is very affordable ranging from a mere $15 to $30. He also noted on his Etsy site that if you see any photos from his flickr stream that you'd like him to sell send him an email.

Delightfully girly

Vintage pink footed sherbets, available at Peacock Modern

I do love the color pink, but I don't have all that much of it in my home. These sweet little footed bowls have just the right amount of girly frilly vintageness, but are a tad restrained. No crazy baroque gaudiness pour moi! They are positively blushing. Part of me so wants to use them as food dishes for my two cats. How totally fabulous would that be!!