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.

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. 

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.

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.)

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.

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. 

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