Bonus Bone: Ettore Sottsass Valentine Poster

Ettore Sottsass Valentine poster, at Design Museum Shop

Bold, graphic and RED! All these elements combined make my heart skip a beat! There are only eight copies left, so be snappy and snag one quick.

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

You Feng Shui?

Feng Shui - Humorous Birthday Cartoon Greeting Card, at Amazon

So I'm cleaning up again (always) but - seriously now - I've got a whole lot of purging/arranging/painting/nailing ahead of me. As I lug furniture about, I've begun pondering the ancient Chinese art of feng shui.

The only thing I know, in compliance with this system, is that I'm not supposed to face a bed toward a door, a task that can prove challenging in Chicago's tradition of quaint and oddly-shaped bedrooms.

Since I just listed my only manual for sale on Amazon, I'm wondering...does feng shui really work?

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!

Gift Wrap Essentials

Gift Wrap Checklist

My Home Ideas just published a smattering of gift wrap ideas. What I was most intrigued by was their list of gift wrap essentials. Here's are the supplies they deem mandatory:

• Wrapping Paper
  
• Tissue Paper
  
• Scissors
  
• Scotch Tape
  
• Ribbon
  
• Tags
  
• Hole Punch
  
• Red or Green Pen
  
• Gift Tags
  
• Address Book
  
• Markers

I agree with mostly all of it, with the exceptions being I prefer metallic pens to red and green and I normally don't use gift tags. Since I don't use gift tags, I have little need for a hole punch.

To add my own flare to the list, I inject rubber bands (wrapped around a small parcel, they look very slick), magazines (for the ever-entertaining collage wrap), and glitter glue (no explanation necessary).

What's on your work table?

Bonus Bone: Barbara Hulanicki wallpaper

Diva-Oyster wallpaper, at Graham & Brown

Hula-Charcoal/Gold, at Graham & Brown

I'm still dreaming of the day when I can wallpaper a wall or two in my home with some gorgeous, bold paper. Hardwood and I have decided to push back our house hunting until next year with the financial crisis going on. So for now it means I will still be hunting around for that perfect design.

And I believe I may have found the one! The line of wallpapers designed by Barbara Hulanicki is right up our Art Nouveau-loving alley. Hardwood and I got married at a very lavish Art Nouveau venue so we have a soft-spot for those curvy, organic swirls. I can't decide which design I like better. The Diva has the more traditional Art Nouveau design. But KERPOW! the Hula wallpaper in Charcoal and gold just knocks me out!!!

The other thing I love about these wallpapers is the price. I always balked at the idea of spending $180 on a roll of paper. Outrageous! But these are only $60 for a double roll. Definitely a nice surprise!

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

Bonus Bone: Notepaper roll dispenser

Notepaper roll dispenser, at MoMA

Here's to some slick and smart German engineering! This notepad is simple, sleek and very practical. It's also rather "green". When you write a shopping list, for example, just tear off the exact amount of paper you need with no extra unused white space.

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

Squares

Squares wallpaper, at Ferm Living

Whoever styled this photo gets an A+ in my book! I love this new wallpaper from Ferm Living. It looks like Q*Bert's more sophisticated home.

Print the Pills!

From some "Canadian Pharmacy"

I just received this image in a SPAM email. I think someone should make wrapping paper with it...Or wallpaper.

The Letterpress in My Brain

You know how when you have something really tough to tell someone and you have no idea how to say it...

You think about calling them but then you wouldn't be able to read their body language. Or you draft a few emails but emoticons, although handy for quick notes, are truly anti-emotional - mocking, even.

Though it may seem an impossible design, I fully believe in face-to-face. You're going to think that you'll never live through it (you will) or that you might throw up (hope you don't). But when it's done and all is said, you will feel better for being a grown-up.

If you chicken out though - if you just can't do it - keep things at least somewhat personal. Get out your pen and find the perfect card:

Some Things Just Suck, by letterarypress, $4 on Etsy

Bonus Bone: Personalized stationary

Yesterday when I came home from work I found a surprise package from OrangeBeautiful. My very good friend, B, works with Emily and they made me some beautiful personalized stationary. I love the combination of the girly swirls and the crisp, simple font. My last name on the envelope flap is such a nice little detail! Thank you ladies, you two are the best!

[Editor's note: I just spoke to Cardboard and she too received some lovely stationary from B and Emily!!! Seriously, you ladies are the BEST!!!!!]

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

Stripe Sale!

Stripes

We just got notice that Fabulous Stationery is offering a sale on their Stripes stationery but only until February 18th! Porcelain & I bought some customized DB cards from this company and they are (haha) fabulous. If you're not down with stripes but like cards, go check out all the other great designs.

Stripes 3

Act now!

Oh, Sweet Prince...

Sweet Print (Brown), $9

I really like these sweet prints from Orange Beautiful. I think they are, well, sweet. And I mean that in both the "pleasing in general" and the "something that is awesome" kind of way.

More colors available in the Orange Beautiful etsy shop.

Sweet Print (white), also $9