Deadly Red

Wrath; Gluttony

Happy karma is coming to me in a BIG way because, this weekend, I get to play host to the ever-astrological Miss Brig. I am wicked excited.

I DO plan on having my fridge fixed so keeping the nail polish and guac properly chilled shouldn't be a problem but I fear I have failed in the non-refrigeration department. If only - alas! - I had the foresight and wherewithal to snap up a set 7 Deadly Glasses.

Pride; Envy

2 bloggers + 1 night in Chicago / x bottles of red = 7+ sins. Easy.

Bonus Bone: Moab Mug Trees

I am still busy editing, photoshopping, and uploading photos from my recent trip to the Grand Canyon. Stunning photos, "like such as:"

From the Car #1

You can see more HERE yet you should wait until I've gone through them all. I have, however, put up a little group of pics taken at one of our first souvenir pit-stops.

Mug Tree

Souvenirs shops are terrible. Most of the stuff is Crap (capital C): cheesy, typical, made somewhere other than where the vacationer stands. But, comb through these places enough, and you can find some authentic gems. Case in point, these mugs and mug trees that I discovered in Moab, Utah.

Moab Mug Tree

The mugs, hand-glazed and available in any number of colors, are easily corralled on a their own little tree stand. They were Mad (capital M) expensive - this yellow set cost about $290 - but they were sweet, special, attractive.

Cheers

Even Bamboo, who is the QUeen (capital QU) of spotting and eradicating worthless crap, loved 'em.

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

All About INV/ALT

We here at design boner have made a HUGE oversight: we did not (until now) have INV/ALT listed in our side bar. We are flaccid in our embarrassment.

In order to correct the matter, allow us to swiftly introduce Angela Schwab, the designer/bike enthusiast/natural blond behind INV/ALT:

four-eyes

We've only met Angela once, a Denver dinner with discussion of meat + chocolate and custom chrome, but we've since struck up a right jolly friendship. But you don't need to know how we met her (my friend dated this girl who was near BFF's with Angela and he said she, Angela, was a little crazy but thought we'd all hit it off - true), you only need to know that she's rather amazing.

Magnetic Cups

We first noticed her Snap Cups. Then came her Magnetic Cups. We all rejoiced when Umbra picked up her Benta Plates and sad when they discontinued them. One might think she would rest on her laurels or give in the art towel but...hold up...she's already onto something new.

When she's not too (un)busy playing with her no-longer-a-guide dog or discovering/creating the most cleverly pointless websites, you may find her co-authoring the Annoyance Allowance, organizing Pecha Kucha: Denver, GOCCO'ing building blocks, reupholstering a chair, or obsessing over sugar and biscuit shoes.

So we apologize, Angela Schwab of INV/ALT, for not having you in our list sooner. We'd add you to the TOP but that would defy the alphabet and that ain't how we (blog) roll.

Love INV/ALT like we do: Portfolio and Blog.

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

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.

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?

Bonus Bone: B&W S&P

Pimienta & Sal Shakers, at CB2

The black and white styling of these porcelain salt & pepper shakers is simple but strong. The use of Spanish, however, keeps them spicy.

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

Bonus Bone: Snowden Flood plates

Snowden Flood river series, at Three Potato Four

Snowden Flood urban landscape series, at Three Potato Four

I've been feeling very Susie Homemaker and wishing that Hardwood and I had a big dining room with space for 12 of our closest friends. I'd like to have a nice big table with a white tablecloth, but instead of traditional fancy china I'd use these two series of plates from Snowden Flood. Each plate depicts a different scene from a walk along the Thames or a drive along the highway. I can see our guests arguing over who got the Tower Bridge plate and who got the bright pink motorway plate. It would be just like when by brothers and I fought over which color fondue forks we got.

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

And Speaking of Butter...

French Butter Keeper, at Gaiam

I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's rich and creamy holiday. I found this smart little product while I was googling "French design," "home beret," and (of course) "butter."

I love me some soft butter. My problem is that I don't eat it enough to keep it unrefrigerated. And I can't possibly think ahead enough to pull it from the ice box and let it warm up on its own. This dilemma usually leaves me monitoring the microwave (Two seconds? No. Two more seconds? No.) or chipping butter bits off the fridged-solid stick.

Here's how it works:
Pack a single stick of softened butter into its lid, fill the base 2/3 full of pure water and then invert the lid into the base. A seal keeps oxygen out and freshness in.

Now how do you say "genius" in French?

Toolware

Tooltime 4-piece flatware set, at unsaleable

I know and love a certain person and IF that certain person whom I know and love happens to be edging up to that long walk down the aisle, I know exactly what I'll buy for the shiny new couple. I don't even care what their BB&B registry says.

And "that certain person" wouldn't at all be me. *

* There's no white veil in my future, but please bookmark this link for when/if there is.