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What’s cookin’ for 2019?

Most of the products in the Calamityware store get their start as Kickstarter projects. Here are some things I’m working on that might become Kickstarter projects in the new year. As always, my predictions are likely to be wildly inaccurate. The freedom to start new projects, procrastinate, change my priorities, and put work on the shelf are some of the reasons I love my self-inflicted projects.

Flora, Fauna, and Aliens, an effort to produce some domestic textiles that will look good with your Calamityware porcelain. Think aprons, tea towels, placemats, napkins, and pot holders. The design is based on a pattern I created with exotic plants, diverse creatures, and a few visitors from outer space.

Drawing the pattern

 

Monster Etiquette, a richly illustrated book to help monsters, gargoyles, aliens, and nephews behave with civility and grace. A self-help guide for creatures that really need it. 

DoubleDip

 

BADbandana 5: Snack Dragons. The original blue bandanas featuring angry paisleys are all gone, so it might be time to produce a new design. This time maybe a celebration of dragons or robots or donuts...or all three.

DragonPizza

 

Oodles of Robots, a great, big, round, deep porcelain platter that will look good with your existing Calamityware. In the same way that the Gangs-All-Here oval platter is over-run with too many dinosaurs, this beauty is over-run with too many robots. (This sketch is black, but the prototype will be blue...Calamityware blue.)

BotBowl

 

Make 100 Quirky Drawings. Each year, Kickstarter invites creators to define a project that features only 100 rewards. I’ve collected 100 original drawings of aliens, robots, monsters, and other oddities and matted them so they are ready to frame. These drawings will make an unusual addition to your growing art collection, especially if you prefer spicy originals over bland reproductions. Plan to make it a Kickstarter project in January.

AlienSickday

Vigilant Dragons Cookie Jar. One way to discourage unauthorized withdrawals from your cookie jar is to cover the surface with watchful dragons. In my version, the dragons will be munching cookies. 

CookieJarColor

 

And that’s not all...
I also have some ideas about a new letterpress print, some colorful silks, and more porcelain treasures. And there’s still the puzzle idea that failed to move forward in 2018.

I’m still exploring the zone where products are beautiful, utilitarian, and funny. I hope you’ll find something I’m doing worthy of your support. But I plan to keep up the effort, whether anyone is behind me or not.

Don
Pittsburgh, December 27, 2018

100 Responses

Linda Sines

December 20, 2019

Dione moved that we need teacups and saucers, Karl seconded the motion and I say the vote is in. Yes, Yes, Yes! to teacups and saucers, please!! Egyptian Plagues would be the bomb!

Dee Gallo

December 09, 2019

OMG! I have always loved blueware but when I saw this, I knew it was for me. I immediately ordered the Flying Monkeys but have just seen the Pirates. I am in love….

Dee Gallo

December 09, 2019

OMG! I have always loved blueware but when I saw this, I knew it was for me. I immediately ordered the Flying Monkeys but have just seen the Pirates. I am in love….

Conni Newsome

November 22, 2019

Hello! I’m obsessed with your line! I plan to have a “full set” someday! I have mugs…and need to keep adding to my collection.

I received something about a kickstarter project recently and I was going to contribute, however I can’t find the “invite” now…can you help direct me if it’s not too late?

Thank you!

Betsy Shults

November 20, 2019

I have been buying PJ’s for Christmas for the past 53 years! These would be SO AWESOME!!! It could even serve as my Christmas Card PHOTO🎄🎄🎄please, please make them in XXL Mens, Ladies AND through toddler 2 sizes!

Tracey

October 23, 2019

I’d love to see more urns, crocks and canisters. My Mom had a wicked sense of humor and loved her blue and white porcelains. Do you see where we are going here? I need a place for her cremains that does her justice. Ever Vigilant Dragons is nice, but not quite the battle of fat pugs, nosy neighbors and the condo association that Mom deserves.

Shay

October 10, 2019

I just saw an ad for your cups on Facebook and ordered a set to send to a friend. I know she will love them. All your stuff is great. Kudos to you for doing what you love and making money at it. I like it that you do what you want to do and don’t need to make any excuses for it.

Wishing you continued success in your endeavors!

Karl Blume

October 02, 2019

I totally second the pajamas idea and the Plagues of Egypt dinnerware. Totally.

Zita M Cael

October 01, 2019

Oh! Frances mentioned ceramic tiles! I’d love to see a Delft tile landscape/mural – one of those 17th century tavern exteriors, but the shepherd boys are, um, unusual. OK, I’ll be quiet now.

Zita M Cael

October 01, 2019

Hmm. Too late for 2020, but my favorite engagement calendar (Celtic Mandala, Jen Delyth) apparently discontinued with 2019, and nothing now available quite measures up. Any chance you might launch further into print, now that you’ve mastered manners? Now punctuality? Maybe? Please? Shall I beg?

Linda Dean

September 30, 2019

I just discovered your stuff. Love the pajama idea. More notecard designs would also be great, as I write a lot of notes.

Mary

September 25, 2019

I love the Flora, Fauna and Aliens idea!

Maggy

September 19, 2019

I liked the plagues of Egypt idea.

I would like great big coffee mugs that hold 12 Oz. With monsters getting ready for a hard day’s marauding?

frances

August 30, 2019

Star Trek … yes ! anything with the classic 1701 Enterprise. blissful.
kitchen utensil crock
4.5" ceramic tiles
everything is so wonderful !!! thank you.

Christina

August 12, 2019

I second the suggestion for tiles (kitchen or bath!). Calamity while brushing my teeth.

Georgia Peach

July 27, 2019

Just got my first order from y’all and it arrived speedily! What FUN. Got frog calamity plates for sederware for my grandbabies. Hope to build on theme of Plagues of Egypt and Jewish mamalas such as flies/ants on matzo balls in soup bowls!
Y’all are the nicest folks. It is a pure pleasure!

Wendy

July 01, 2019

Tea cozy in a fabric version of the TCBW teapot?
Fabric yardage, in any of you patterns – bats, whatevs!
💙

Cherie Roco

July 01, 2019

Just ordered my first set of mugs. Love the large platter with robots that is in the works. I would really like to see it done in black! The way it is in the sketch. Looks awesome. The black would go with any other color of dishware. Please consider????

Katherine

June 30, 2019

I’d love to see the aprons, tea towels, pot holders, etc!

Ducky

June 20, 2019

Calamityware utensil crocks, please!

Leslie

June 17, 2019

I’d love to see 4×4 tiles for accenting the kitchen backsplash or shower!

Karl Blume

June 09, 2019

I second the teacups & saucers idea from Dione.

Suzy

June 06, 2019

More plates in the series would be great I would love to have a set of 20 but I would really like them to be differnt

D

May 13, 2019

Oh my! I love my Calamityware. Just got back from visiting a friend far away, and she had the same mugs that I did!!! Would love to see HOUSE NUMBERS!

Alene Drummond

May 11, 2019

Please please please re-issue numbers 1 and 2! I need, no must have Flying Monkeys! I ve had a lot of tragedies in my life, I have over come, so far. Your art would give me something to remind me….it could be worse! I just found you, and love your art! I recieved my mugs just yesterday, in time for me to share with my sisters on Mothers Day! Keep on making me smile!
Thanks.
Alene

Dawn Crandall

May 11, 2019

Star Trek. The ship and a KlingonStar Trek Enterprise and a Klingon Bird of Prey. Maybe one of those ship has black smoke coming from it and …..

Glenda --

May 09, 2019

Funeral urns — I’m thinking Vigilant Dragons “Cookie Jar” for my ashes — But “It Could be Worse” pattern would also work well. Not for burying… no, no, no! These have to go on the mantle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFtpqFtCIww&feature=youtu.be&t=29

Elizabeth

April 27, 2019

I am so saving up for a set of these! They are perfect for dinners with my quirky population of guests!

I particularly like the dinosaur platter and the new tea set. I hope you’ll do more serving pieces in the future: perhaps a couple of vegetable bowls, or a covered soup tureen, or a punch bowl (maybe with a tray and little cups?) and I hate to think what you’d do for a sauce boat LOL.

Anyway, thanks again for the great work.

Jill Cummins

April 25, 2019

I love your creations!

Doreene Castro

April 24, 2019

BATS!! YES!! And saucers…and the teapot…and … EVERYTHING!! I’d LOVE a whacky robot or monster apron for the kitchen tasks!!

Melissa Hero

April 22, 2019

I absolutely adore Calamityware!!! I am buying many of your products as gifts. I was disappointed to find you had no wrapping paper in your Calamity paper section. Please create some crazy wrapping paper!

Dana

April 15, 2019

Silk neckerchiefs (21 inch squares) and tank tops would be lovely. As would any already posted ideas (soup tureen a, bats, wallpaper, dog bowls, etc.)

Lianna Wyeth-Charles

April 06, 2019

How about a serving bowl – about 9-10 inches in diameter? Or it could be a turine! Like a soup turine. I love the idea (it could be advertised as a covered serving dish). Maybe with giant sea monsters or the like on it – reminding people of how Japeto was swallowed by the whale in Pinochio. :D

Barbara Heinrich

March 17, 2019

Oh please reissue sets one and two of your calamity where! I came late to the party.

Dione!

March 17, 2019

Tea cups and saucers please!

Margaret Daole

March 09, 2019

Women’s pajamas, silk, cotton or flannel, PLEASE!

and I just love my mugs!

Teena

March 08, 2019

Toothbrush cup, mah jong set, coasters
Fabric shower curtain (black, blue)

Calamity microorganisms: bacteria, virus, protozoa, oh my!

David

March 08, 2019

Plastic shower curtains?

Robin

February 23, 2019

Bowls? Rice bowls?

More ties?

Robin Thomas

February 20, 2019

Have you thought of doing graniteware?
Dog dish in the zombie poodle pattern would be very cool.

jodi

February 11, 2019

I’d love a way to add this quirk to my office – so a pen cup, or paperclip dish would be awesome!

Looking forward to seeing what you create!

James

February 02, 2019

Fabric by the yard!
Coffee pot!
Chargers!
Soup tureen!
Gravy boat!

Pam

February 01, 2019

I am dying for wallpaper!!!!! Fake toile of the Things could be Worse. Preferably green.

Michaela Roessner-Herman

January 24, 2019

Stainless steel flatware! Maybe something simple with just a single iconic figure at the end of each utensil? Like the classic ubiquitous kitty?

Becky Einolf

January 18, 2019

Oh, and what about a boardbook with some of your signature monsters, robots, bats and aliens?

Becky Einolf

January 18, 2019

Monster or bat pint glasses!

Dishtowels, table runners, etc. – I love textiles!

Cheryl Washer

January 16, 2019

Hawaiian Shirts!!! YES!!! Please make Tall and Extra Large so I can get one for my spouse.

Austin

January 12, 2019

A proper set of tea cups and saucers to go along with the recent Calamityware tea pot!

Excited about the cookie jar and dragons.

Definitely support the Hawaiian shirt idea, and any other kitchenware really. A butter dish perhaps?

Micky Shirley

January 11, 2019

Please please please more porcelain dinner ware for us unfortunates who came late to the party.

Sonja Thiede

January 10, 2019

Looking forward to more Calamity on 2019!

Yea, DRAGONS!!!

Esther Leising

January 08, 2019

MORE T-SHIRT and SWEATSHIRTS!!

Mark Engstrom

January 07, 2019

I second the bats idea! Something porcelain please!

Cynthia

January 07, 2019

Will you offer some of your sold out porcelain designs again?

V

January 02, 2019

Love the “it could be worse” mugs and have given a bunch of them away BUT we love BIG mugs. Who wants to mess around with puny little 8 or 12 oz mugs? It’s got to be 16-20 oz or they just don’t get used much at our house. Please, please, please make some BIGGIES!

Cathie Farroll

January 02, 2019

Oh YES! Bats, please!!!! On anything…. but bats on large coffee mugs would be lovely.

Cindy Johnson

January 01, 2019

Origami paper, please!

wendy

January 01, 2019

How does Kickstarter work, and how do I know when you have new things out?

alisa

December 31, 2018

More black cats please
Pint glasses sound great, how about shot glasses ? Coasters would be wonderful too. I love my bowls & dessert plates.. Can’t wait for the tea set!! Saving $$ for dinner plates… Love the original designs. Keep it up Don!

Robert

December 30, 2018

On my calamitous wish list:

1. hot plate
2. chopsticks (and other utensils)
3. chef apron

Teresa

December 30, 2018

All The Dishtowels!!!! And potholders.

TL

December 30, 2018

More Calamityware blue dessert size plates, please. Treats would look so delightful on them.

Heather

December 29, 2018

My husband would be in love with the pint glasses!

DonutDragon42

December 29, 2018

Tchotchke boxes with lids

mike crenshaw

December 29, 2018

COASTERS!!!

Sure the ornaments are cool, but having a set of coasters in use year round would be 12 times as cool.

TJ Dellinger

December 29, 2018

Need 2 sets of potholders, ASAP……..
The Hawaiian shirt would be great, also.
Your fans have better imaginations than I do.

Claudette Dorsey

December 29, 2018

Wonderful! Totally behind you!

Cephalopods. Pint glasses.
Noodly alien monster robot calamitous pasta bowls.

Also floundering in the dream of cat food bowl/dish.

Here’s to a New Year filled with Calamity!

Roland Denning

December 29, 2018

Dear Don -

Could you work out a cheaper way to ship abroad?

Shipping your Ominivore bowls to the UK costs more than the bowls themselves.

Even to get your book here almost doubles its cost.

There must be a better way of doing it?

thanks

Mandi

December 29, 2018

Pint glasses. Please oh please.

Hiram Wells

December 29, 2018

A Hawaiian style shirt in the Calamity way would be my favorite thing to put on my body.Lush foliage, Tiki’,s volcanos, sea monsters. It’s a natural.

Hiram Wells

December 29, 2018

A Hawaiian style shirt in the Calamity way would be the best thing to put on my body.

Bob Eames

December 29, 2018

Love the ideas…I loved the “Stay Home” book…gave it to my brother who has reservations on Virgin Galactic. Since he made the reservations he got married, had kids and his wife is nixing the idea of space travel so the book was good reinforcement. I was thinking another book on leadership lessons for robots—sort of a panel discussions meets calamity ware? Can’t wait to see the kickstarter for originals…and ties….long ties

JANE LOVSTUEN

December 29, 2018

Tote bags ! Men’s ties ! Tablecloths !

Margaret Schafer

December 28, 2018

Table runners.

Leah H Yellowbird

December 28, 2018

Serving bowls pleeeeeeeese

Helen

December 28, 2018

A quilt cover set would be irresistible! (just saying)

Sara

December 28, 2018

Cookie jar and linens! watches money fly away

Lianna Wyeth-Charles

December 28, 2018

1. Love the pet food bowls idea.
2. maybe giant plants and miniature monsters?
3. maybe a T-shirt with naughty monsters
4. maybe a serving bowl
Cheers!

Corina Eberle

December 28, 2018

Okay this is at the request of my various (overindulged) pets, but what about zombie poodle dog bowls and alien robots cat bowls? Seeing that query in print does make me question my grasp on good judgement and sound financial planning…
But the heart wants what the heart wants.

Linda Martin

December 28, 2018

Love more Zombie Poodles!! Teapots, scarf, linen, clothes bowls ❤️❤️❤️

Jenny Gardham

December 28, 2018

Bats..;……………..

Catherine Myers

December 28, 2018

I am there for original sketches!

Laurie

December 28, 2018

More tentacles, please! And the snack dragons would look great on a cotton tablecloth. So happy I found this site. :-)

Happy New year!

Jo

December 28, 2018

Please also count me in for more zombie poodles 🧟‍♀️ 🐩
A t shirt perhaps?

Gigi Poodle

December 28, 2018

Zombie Poodles on a silk scarf would be most welcome. Happy 2019!

Gretchen J Riddle

December 28, 2018

How about another jigsaw puzzle? I loved the first one!!

Diana Lynn

December 28, 2018

It seems all the other monster etiquette books out there are actually written for little kids to get them to say please and thank you! Where does that leave real monsters? About time monsters, aliens and the like were instructed in the finer points of everyday etiquette on earth! (Can’t wait to buy copies for my new neighbors.)

About the cookie jar – it seems to have lots of appeal. I like the idea too, but would want mine scarier since I need to lose a few pounds. Those dragons look pretty friendly.

Chris Ankney

December 28, 2018

I am excited!!!! Yes to all! And I love the cookie jar; I want it all!!!!
It will be, if not a really happy new year, at least an amusing one.

Anita

December 28, 2018

The ornaments have been a great success with my family.
Eagerly awaiting the cookie jar and platter.

Chip Hildreth

December 28, 2018

More puzzles!

Please.

Katrina Boyajian

December 28, 2018

Oh, that cookie jar absolutely MUST grace my kitchen! Love it, love it, love it, and the round platter and the textiles and…oh, just take my money now. ;-)

Jeff Vandenberg

December 28, 2018

looking forward to adding to your collection in my kitchen.

Patty Parker

December 28, 2018

I love all of it, but especially the flora, fauna, and aliens design.

Susan

December 28, 2018

Love, love, love the cookie jar!

Mrs Mothy Twillbottom

December 28, 2018

The great-big-round-deep porcelain platter will be perfect with the oval platter that already graces our table. And the suggestion above for a mashed-potato or pasta serving bowl is spot on! Calamityware plays very nicely with our 18th C blue & white. Mr Twillbottom and I eagerly look forward to 2019’s designs. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year. We’re so glad we found you this past year. Cheers!

Alice B

December 28, 2018

How did you know that a copy of your first book, Stay Home, went to my nephew? He’s a young engineer working at a corporation developing reusable rockets for tourist-centered orbit-level space trips. He loved it!

Wendy Boucek

December 28, 2018

A question about the Oodles of Robots platter: will this work as a cake platter, with, perhaps, a flat center area 8”-9” across? That would be outstanding and wonderful, a piece to serve my persimmon puddings and victoria sponge cakes? Yes, please!!!

James Collins

December 28, 2018

Yes, more tentacles! Who needs the rings. I’ll trade rings for tentacles. Also, if you’re thinking of making neckties, please make them 2.5” at the widest point. Don Draper is only on tv, he doesn’t use real money and he doesn’t have internet yet, so he can’t order anything and you won’t get paid. I have calamari rings I would offer in exchange for items of interest.

Maia Klapko

December 28, 2018

My vote is for the cookie jar!

April Maybee

December 28, 2018

Your plans sound lovely!

as another idea for the future, perhaps teacups and saucers? i will shortly be receiving my very proper teapot and proper cups would be a wonderful addition!

Oh! or a set with teacups and saucers and a COFFEE pot to go with the teapot set? then it would only need a chocolate set to have the most proper tea party imaginable. Great for practicing those new etiquette skills!

Thank you for projecting a bit of art and humor into our lives every day. :)

Jane

December 28, 2018

I yearn for a table cloth filled with green dragons…

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