Happy Birthday Cardboard!

Porcelain & Cardboard

Happy Birthday my dear friend! Hope you bowl a perfect game this year!!!

XOXO
Love, Porcelain

Warm for Porcelain

USB Heating Gloves, at USB Geek

Happy birthday, Porcelain!

I regret I did not buy the shown-above BEST BLOGGER GIFT EVER for your special day. I suggest you sit on your hands, for the time being, and just wait and hope for Christmas...or next year...or (best yet) a warmer, mo' better work environment.

I love you, my blogger buddy, and I hope 2010 brings you success and warm fingers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We took a break this week. We hope you did too! Just know that we're always thankful for you, your readin' eyeballs, mouse-clickin' hands, and genuinely smart-ass comments.

Rough Time for Scruff

We've got a situation, people. Although this is (mainly) a home design blog - sheets, candlesticks, renovations, paint - we do step outside the definition when it's important. You followed our emergency posts about the whereabouts of Grace; now help up find a home for Mr. Scruffy.

Mr. Scruffy lives across the street from Mama Cardboard in a sunny neighborhood in Denver, Colorado. This all sounds grand but his guardian suddenly passed away and he can't swing the rent alone.

Mr. Scruffy is a stunning cat (see above) but he's also a "...male cat (5-6 yrs old), very friendly companion/lap cat, indoor/outdoor." I don't know how he is with other pets/children but Mama C says that he's always been friendly when she finds him outside on her neighborhood walks.

Mr. Scruffy is paid up through Wednesday and then he's being sent into the system (ie: scary-ass shelters). If you live in/near Denver and have ever thought about getting a furry little beast of your own, send me an email so we can keep Mr. Scruff's trauma to a minimum.

6 & 7 Appreciation

Our show was a success! Check out some of our photography (above, border) that got us PAID.

With reflective hearts and sore fingers, Porcelain & I had to un-install the 6 & 7 show this past Sunday. We worked hard on this project and we're taking a bit of a blog rest (if you call going through a million photos of photos "rest"). We'll be back to the blog soon, with our usual wit and phallicism.

In the meantime, know that we very much appreciate you...appreciating us. We need to specifically thank Debbie, Pup, Formica, Michael, Amy, Domino, The Hi-Rises, Leanne, Mike, Patti, Ania, Reinessa for laughing in the face of economics and buying some of our artwork. We are also completely in love with and touched by everyone who showed up, helped out, or lifted a glass of Pinot (above, center) in DB's arty honor.

Bonus Bone: Indoor/Outdoor Houndstooth Rug & Love

Houndstooth Polypropylene Rug, at Overstock

I like this indoor/outdoor rug for a few reasons. Number one, houndstooth is a classic, a pattern that can mix with most others or stand proudly alone. Secondly, this design reminds me of my sister, Alison Rose, who is...

...finally engaged to her beloved Mr. Sketch! May love and houndstooth decorate the rest of your lives together!

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

Sweepstakes Reminder

Some REALLY old art!

It's not everyday we're giving away some of our OLD ART! Remember to enter our 3rd annual birthday sweepstakes to win a Porcelain Original or a Cardboard One-of-a-kind!

SORRY - the sweepstakes is over!
Deadline: Friday, June 12th @ noon CST

Photo credit: Conquina Daily

Third Annual Birthday Sweepstakes

So all you fabulous DB fans out there know that we just turned three years old. It appears that you guys love to read us...at least 75-80 percent of the time.

If you've been with us from the beginning, you might recall that we like to give back on our birthday. Since we can't afford to fly to your house just to give you a hug, we're going to go ahead with our traditional birthday sweepstakes. [Cue game show music]


On our first birthday, we gave away items from our homes. For our second birthday, we classed it up with a waspy weekend getaway and some reader-focused shopping. We started to edge toward artsy by also gifting the winners with souvenir design boner rocks paperweights but, this year, we're getting even more personal.

Porcelain and I have recently gotten all wrapped up in art: lookin' at it, making it, even forming a club about it (details to follow). In fact, we just nabbed ourselves a gallery show to display our 6/7's (details definitely to follow). So this year, in a hastily drawn swirl of creative spirit and nostalgia, we are each giving away a piece of...

...OLD ART!

That's right! We've spent the past week going back through old sketchbooks (high school, college, commune - oh my!) and have selected two incredible (but small) pieces from our artistic pasts. We're not going to post photos of them them yet (surprise, duh) but how can you resist a Porcelain Original or a Cardboard One-of-a-Kind?

The rules are basic: leave us a comment below (and a way to contact you, should your name get pulled from the beret). We'll choose two winners to have a happy design boner birthday on us.

SORRY - the sweepstakes is over!
Deadline: Friday, June 12th @ noon CST

Lead photo credit: i can read

A BIG Birthday for Mr. Sketch

Turning 30 ain't for sissies.  Happily, Mr. Sketch can grow this fine goatee to help him MAN UP.  

If you don't know and are curious as to the role Mr. Sketch plays in my life, he is my sister's boyfriend ("luvah") - an artist, musician, AND teacher.  He's also co-owner of the hippest online shop, Alison Rose.

Happy BIG BOY birthday, Mr. S!  Please have and eat your cake.

Wish List : Eames Rocker

Fiberglass shell rocker, at Modernica

Earlier this month Hardwood and I celebrated our 4th Wedding anniversary! We celebrated by enjoying a leisurely morning and a late brunch. We then spent the afternoon browsing around a couple of antique stores in our neighborhood and later treated ourselves to an amazing meal at Green Zebra.

At one antique store, Hardwood spotted an Eames Rocker and proclaimed his love. I knew we were meant to be together!! We checked out the price tag and were stunned to see $1600!!! WTF?! Seriously?! We grumbled, but then I remembered that Modernica allows you to build your own chair. So when we got home from our walk we started messing around with the shell, runner, and leg colors. Our favorite combination is the moss shell, zinc legs and walnut runners. Maybe on our next anniversary we'll get this!

A Blue Blogger

So it's only been one day in Worktown without Porcelain and I already miss her. I missed her after only 48 minutes! Invoices and PO's just aren't the same without her happy, shiny (I mean matte) face around.

So I'll just pacify myself with the thought that she is having the SUPER BEST TIME EVER on her rented cottage getaway. And she'll undoubtedly come bouncing home with lots and lots of photos. But, in case you all need a visual to attach to my anguish, this is what Porcelain looks like in Michigan:

D P N' Dots & Hard Scoop

[Insert melancholy sigh here]

Sex & The Settee

Okay, so on the well-meaning but evil advice of a close friend, I joined up with a free online dating service. On a side note, I have since "hidden" my profile because the onslaught of American flag leather jackets and motorcycles freaked me the @!&! out. But, before my chaste retreat, I dabbled enough to find a discouraging bit of info:

Men's TOP TEN Favorite/Least Favorite Conversation Topics

Pink

PlentyofFish.com, being the helpful little data engine that they are, decided to enlighten me with these two lists of things men do/don't like to talk about on dates. Antiques, ladies, comes in at #6 on the I-Don't-Understand-a-Word-You-Just-Said list. Gardening (on same list) is at #9.

Wheelbarrow

However, #3 on the Happy-to-Chat list is "Hobbies/Interest in General" and #4 is "Hopes and Aspirations." So - do you see where I'm going? - what if it happens that one's hopes/dreams/hobbies just so happen to include antiques and the desire to play in the dirt?

I am so (un)screwed.

And, just because I know you're all dying to read the complete lists, here they are:

Leg Study, by ejholmes

(click image to enlarge)

This is My Love on Steroids

Triple Chocolate Caramel Apple, at Mrs. Prindable's

Dang it. I just found the perfect Mother's Day present and it's one day late.

These decadent apple orbs serve 8-10 people. 8-10! I do believe that, had I planned ahead and actually bought her one, this is what Mama Cardboard would have called an "apple huge."

Hope all you foxy mothers had a great holiday weekend!

Mama Cardboard is One Lucky Lady

Photoshop Magic: Happy Birthday, Mama C! & Cool CHAIN Box/6

Well, whatta you know! Mama Cardboard saw our post on the SCOOP's second birthday and decided to try her luck...which appears to be plentiful. She is one of the lucky winners!

I fully expect to receive one of these Orange Beautiful paper goods in the mail (along with a newspaper clipping on Denver real estate and an update about who just got married/had a baby/started taking dance classes).

Love you, Mama C! I need to rub your head for luck!

Happy Birthday to the SCOOP

Our good bloggity friend, the SCOOP, is turning two today! We're rounding our applause in their direction and we hope you'll swing over and congratulate them too. If you do, there might just be something in it for you...

In the tradition of gifting on your birthday, the SCOOP is giving away a few packs of the beautiful - Orange Beautiful, rather - letterpress notesets and GOCCO notes. And all you have to do to throw your pen into the ring is talk nice.

Happy Birthday, SCOOPERS!

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.

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!

Happy Birthday to Our Saint

Today is the 35th birthday of design boner's beloved patron saint, Christian Bale. We wish him many more happy years (of watching over us).

Further proof that we are ethereally connected: I have those same "perfect amount" drinking glasses!

Photo credit: Fans of Christian Bale

A Bread Box Full o' Love

Typhoon Bread Bin, at Target

Porcelain and I are knee-deep in Amish Friendship Bread. We like the tradition, not to mention the sugary delicious taste of it. Yet with baking two loaves every ten days, the love is starting to stack up.

Too bad we don't have a cute lil' bread box, like the one above, to contain our heart warming bounty. The Typhoon Bin might look out of place in an Amish kitchen but...oh wait...the bread might not have anything to do with the Amish?

Well, then, I just like this bin. Now where is that bread knife...?