Tuesday, June 30, 2009

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Weekend Flings

HOW TO: Make Deodorant (seen above)
RIP: Crazy Brave South Pole Doctor
Does Twitter Hurt?
So Summertime Walks Into a Bar...
Mama C Wants One for Vacation
Perez vs. The Peas
HOW TO: Moonwalk

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

Friday, June 26, 2009

Bonus Bone: Red Leather

I just can't let this Michael Jackson passing thing, well, pass, just yet. Besides the moonwalk, Michael gave us the iconic red leather jacket. In his honor, I wanted to highlight red leather for the home.

Celina Settee, at Artnet

Wilko (Faux) Leather Mirror, at WilkinsonPlus

Yet, after my many minutes a'google, I found that red leather can often appear tragically flawed and/or uncomfortably weird.



But at design boner, we prefer to focus on the good in design, on the qualities that elevate acceptable into classic.

Red Leather Side Chair, at Alternative Office Source

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare all this (and Michael) a Design Boner.
MJ Photo Credit: Costumes of Nashua

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson Too?!

Dude.

I can't believe Michael Jackson is dead. And I can't believe I got rid of my Jackson doll.

One (g)Love, MJ.

Farrah & The Poster Revolution


I just read the sad news that Farrah Fawcett passed away this morning. She may have accomplished many things in her short lifetime but the one thing she'll always be remembered for is her guaranteed presence on the bedroom wall of every hetero-boy in the late '70s.

In honor of Farrah, the newly anointed angel, let's remember our teenage poster portraits. Whose eyes did you gaze into, while picking out the names of your future children (and horses)? Or maybe it was [insert hottie here]'s mile-long legs that gave you your first lesson in...um...self-design, as it were.

My dreamboat of choice was Corey Haim. I loved, loved him - with his big eyes, bigger hair, and squeaky not-quite-a-man voice. Fellow Haim'er, Candid Karina, provided the only image I could find online of the poster that also shared my wall space. Just look past the flash spot and awkward family photo to the gelled and leathered Corey...sigh. The reason for my obsession should be obvious.

So tell us all who made you swoon and provide pics and/or links, if you can!

Monday, June 22, 2009

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Weekend Flings

Princess: Revised (seen above)
Now THIS Is An Invitation
"Spend Time to Create"
Oh, Detroit...
We Can Defiantly Believe This

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

Friday, June 19, 2009

Bonus Bone: Make Art Not War

Make Art Not War poster by Shepard Fairey, at Northern Sun

Words to live by!

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


Use Your Words : Rock With You

I Want to Rock With You, by yumalum

"Girl, when you dance
There's a magic that must be love
Just take it slow
'Cause we got so far to go
When you feel that heat
And we gonna ride the boogie

Share that beat of love..."

-Michael Jackon, Rock With You

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Eye Candy: Chicago Botanic Gardens

Since our computer system at work was being upgraded (and, therefore, unusable), Porcelain and I, along with the rest of our department, took a field trip to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. It wasn't the springiest day to visit but there was no down of the pouring and the inspiration (color, shape, texture) was completely user-friendly.

Feel it along with us and help will summer to get here already by checking out the rest of our beauteous botanicals.

Monday, June 15, 2009

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Weekend Flings

Hoot for Peace!
i can LOVE this read
7 Symptoms of Adulthood
Best/Worst of Google Street View (seen above)

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

Friday, June 12, 2009

Bonus Bone: Mod Toolboxes

Take a swig of Rolling Rock. Survey your work. Nod your head and smile at a job well done. Yet, in the end, stay true to your femme-chic self and close up those unsightly tools.


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

Thursday, June 11, 2009

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

Use Your Words: Brass Monkey

Brass monkey, at Canoe

"Got this dance that's more than real
Drink Brass Monkey - here's how you feel
Put your left leg down - your right leg up
Tilt your head back - let's finish the cup..."

- Beastie Boys, Brass Monkey

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

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

Monday, June 08, 2009

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Sunday was an extra special day for design boner, we celebrated our 3rd blogaversary!! Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Three Years!


Three years ago today, design boner was born! We decided to celebrate the occasion by spending a fun-filled day together, along with one of our dearest friends (material name yet to be determined). Brunching, dancing, and drinks. The perfect trifecta!

At Fiddlehead Cafe, Porcelain inhaled her plate of Chilaquiles and washed it all down with a Spicy Bloody Mary. Cardboard chose the deliciously flavorful Truffled Eggs and a cup of coffee with a hint of cream.


With full tummies and just a tiny bit sleepy, we headed over to the Athenaeum Theatre to see Little Dead Riding Hood performed by Chicago Tap Theatre. Cardboard had seen two members of this dance company perform earlier this year and we were all so glad she told us about this production. Completely wowed and inspired, we all knew we'd be googling Chicago tap dance classes as soon as we returned home.


To close up the day, we went for a birthday drink at the sophisticated but not snotty In Fine Spirits. Cardboard chose the elegantly named Bonaventure (12 Bridges Gin, Junmai Ginjo sake, cucumber, lemon, mint) and Porcelain went with the summer classic, Pimm's Cup (Pimm's No. 1 Cup, fever-Tree bitter lemon soda, cucumber, strawberry, lemon, mint). A nearby table was also celebrating a birthday. They were sweet enough to offer us a slice of their ice cream cake, which we happily fed to one another (see photo above).

It was a perfect day with a perfect friend!!

Weekend Flings

Do Not Watch This If You Are On Drugs
... But Everyone Should Go See This!!! (seen above)
Ready-to-Wear Blossom
Dumb Clients

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

Friday, June 05, 2009

Bonus Bone: Studioilse lamp

Studioilse w084t Halogen IRC Lamp, at DWR

Wood, white and red. That's my idea of perfection!

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

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.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Design Discourse: Lo-Tech

I've been thinking lately about music systems. I don't have a great one. I have a boombox (old school), I have a laptop (weak), and I have a Zune (shut up, I know). I do not have stereo piped subtly into each room or even a stackable component system with GIANT speakers. But, it could be worse...

Stroll down memory lane as Porcelain & I discuss the musical methods that made us:


Porcelain:
Ha! I remember my parents got me a little boom box for Christmas one year and I was so disappointed in it 'cause it didn't have a record button. My way around that was to play the radio and record the song from a tape player, like this:


The recordings were all crappy and you could hear background noises and me shuffling around trying to be totally quiet. Hahhha! That was the best!


Cardboard:
Hahahhaa, I used to record songs with my pink boom box (which I still have). But - and this is the BEST part - I used to record them off the TV from some non-cable Saturday video show! Hahahahahahahahahahah...

Call us low-quality but never call us unoriginal. How did YOU used to do it?

6 & 7

Here are our weekend photos. Visit flickr to see the entire 6 & 7 collection.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191

Monday, June 01, 2009

"No, Not Anymore - Paper Towels."



The best pleasures are the simple ones...

6 & 7

Another design boner vacation and another week behind in our weekend photos. Here is our Memorial Day weekend mosaic. Visit flickr to see our entire 6 & 7 collection and check back tomorrow to see newest set.

Cardboard: left, Porcelain: right

Original inspiration by Stephanie & Mav at 3191