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What’s cookin’ for 2020?

Most of the products in the Calamityware store 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.

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BADbandana 6: Pizza Dragons. I’ve been working on a red bandana design decorated with pizza-loving dragons. I hope this can be a Kickstarter project in January 2020. A great way to get the new year off to a hot start. (Became an active Kickstarter project on January 5.)

BB6

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Big TCBW Mug. Been working on a prototype of a really big version of the Things-Could-Be-Worse mug. Finally think the handle is right and all the production difficulties are solved. This could be an ideal project for people who prefer a BIG beverage. Also been investigating the notion of a porcelain travel mug.

BigMug

 

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New Jigsaw Puzzle.
 Now that all the original puzzles are gone, it might be time to create a new jigsaw puzzle design. My previous manufacturer closed down but I think we’ve finally found a good workshop to make them. So, I’ve been auditioning characters. 

ApeSketches

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Bug-Out Bag. Been sketching some ideas for a zippered tote bag for overnight get-aways or other escape plans.

DinosaursOnBikes

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Beastly Bowls.
 How about a set of porcelain bowls especially for your favorite pets—cats, dogs, bunnies, capybaras, pythons? Still a lot of work to do, but this could become a project before the year ends.

DogWithBowl2

 

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Letterpress print. I like the idea of doing another letterpress print to pep up someone’s art collection. Several different themes are competing for my attention right now—traffic, dinosaurs, space travelers, megaphones, robots, maps, and troglodytes. If one of them floats to the top, that could make a fun Kickstarter project in 2020.

Traffic

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Textiles? I’ve been exploring some new ideas for patterns that could make unusual scarves, ties, or other textiles. Might make some colorful additions to 2020.

FrogPattern

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Another book? I’ve noticed that bad guys don’t seem to be as good as they once were. So, to help, I’m working on an illustrated career guide for villains. It’s going very slowly because other projects keep eating up my time. Some good news? Readers will be delighted to know that this book will not include any poetry. Yeah!

villain

 

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Other potential projects include more tea cups, a blanket, cloak of invisibility, and anti-gravity boots. Watch for email updates as the year advances.

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, 2019

51 Responses

Melissa

January 04, 2020

I would like big, deep soup mugs. With something entertaining on the very bottom when I’ve eaten all the soup. Also salt and pepper shakers. Oh and a butter dish. Who am I kidding, take our money Don. But if the prospective 2020 items I’ll admit to being very excited about a travel mug. And really like the design of the bug out bag. We use cloth diapers and if it could be similar to our wet bags we use that would be awesome!!! Keep up the fine work Don and company, we appreciate you!

Sabina

January 03, 2020

I am looking forward to the textiles in the frog print and the bowls. I would love to see espresso & cappuccino cups. I am also a fan of bumblebees and ladybugs! Thanks for sharing your creativity. Cheers to another great year!

Robert T. Shafer

January 03, 2020

Cloak of invisibility? Count me in! Oh, yeah, a big TCBW mug might be nice, too. And a pet bowl. But definitely the cloak. Yeah, for sure, the cloak.

Cindy

January 03, 2020

A puzzle?? YES!!!!

Roberta

January 03, 2020

Yes, yes, yes to the larger sized TCBW mugs! And pet bowls are great too.

patty

January 03, 2020

People freak with delight when they see our CW platter and now the super delightful mugs my sweetie just gave me for Valentine’s Day. Ooops- I swear it looked like that package had my name on it.

Jennifer Houlihan

January 03, 2020

More things with bats, please.

Adrian

January 03, 2020

After careful consideration of the “Hiring Don” section from FAQ, I am still and kindly asking Don to take into account my humble preferences, all with arguments.
- 1 – Porcelain travel mug. Must-have item in my bag, in case of an alien invasion.
- 2 – Illustrated career guide for villains. Must-read here in France. I will buy 100 pieces, for all my colleagues.
- 3 – Puzzles. My boy (6 yrs) loves your TCBW so much, so that he also started his own calamity designs 🤦🏻‍♂️
- 4 – A really big mug. I just can’t wait to pour in the largest beer of my life.

Kasumii

January 03, 2020

Some great ideas! I vote for porcelain tea cups with no handles, porcelain cat bowls, a letterpress print and the bug-out bag. At a minimum.
Happy New Year to all.

Woody Reed

January 03, 2020

Love to see the Big Robot guy on a shirt too!

Keith Schengili-Roberts

January 03, 2020

I’m not really much of a bandana wearer, but I would love to see some of those designs done as an art print instead. Just food for thought.

Also, definitely sign me up for the Big TCBW Mug. I love the “small” one I got, but it is the smallest tea cup I have.

Cheers!

Mary Edna Benner

January 03, 2020

A career guide for villains book? YES! I loved the two books I purchased for Christmas.

I would love cat size bowls for my pets. Plastic rather than ceramic, for durability.

More textiles please!

The T-shirts, mug set and shower curtain were all happily received holiday gifts.

Mary Edna

Pegra

January 03, 2020

YES, YES, YES, OOOOOOHHHHHHHH, YES!! To the very big coffee mug, the pet (read: CAT) bowls, the bug-out bag (like the dino print).

Jenny

January 03, 2020

I second a Calamityware line in red option! Love all the designs but blue and white don’t work with our decor.

Jaye

January 03, 2020

I love all your bandanas, and so has everyone I have gifted, but red bandanas are my favorite and your design is dreamy— bring’em on!

Donna

January 03, 2020

I love the idea of a travel mug – would love for it to include traveling aliens, dinos and/or robots.
I really appreciate that you carry on the Blue Willows tradition. Ever think of doing Flow Blue???

Susan Loveland

January 03, 2020

Do you think the pet bowls could also be used for dips, crackers, etc? I think I would appreciate them more on my table than my food-focused dogs would on the floor. Please keep up the creative work! I LOVE my Calamityware plates… and mugs… and placemats…

David

January 03, 2020

BIg TCBW cup is an instant win for me! Also, bugout bag.

Karl

January 03, 2020

Would you consider the Calamityware line in red?

Karl

January 03, 2020

Teacups and saucers! Pretty pleeeease!

Lyn

January 03, 2020

Hoorah for 2020 projects! One of our holiday projects was to reorganize our cabinets so that our Calamityware is handy at all times. Heaven!

Looking forward to Pizza Dragons, very large mugs, and more! Still dreaming of a Zombie Poodles sofa. Cheers to 2020!

Wendy

January 03, 2020

I love all of the Calamityware ideas but my favorites are the tea cup and saucer along with the pet food bowls! Thank you for keeping the line growing and adding new items!

Adrienne

January 03, 2020

I salute you sir, on the pet bowls, bandannas, amphibian insect textiles, and the jumbo mug. Oh hella yes to the jumbo mug.

Nancy Bailey

January 03, 2020

I love the William Morris like frogs and flys. I can see a nice tote in the frog textile. Love the pet bowls too. Everything else I like a whole lot. Sent clamity ware mugs for christmas presents.

Rebecca Tapley

January 03, 2020

On behalf of all omnibeveragists, I would support BOTH morning-sized coffee cups AND cup-and-saucer sets to go with my teapot. I like the idea of pet bowls, but my cats are too calamity-prone to be trusted with anything breakable. :D

Scott

January 03, 2020

There’s nothing quite as wonderful as a big mug of scalding hot tea and biscotti first thing in the morning. And a well-balanced big mug is as rare as catching dragons with pizza. I love the graphics and the balance of the first edition of TCBW mugs but was disappointed by the size. (They made great presents and I have fun visiting them at their respective homes.) I would absolutely go for a couple big TCBW mugs…

Dee Gallo

January 03, 2020

Yes to the pet bowls and the bandana! I’m in! I’m glad the notebooks are back!

Bruce Balisterri

January 03, 2020

Pet bowls, yes! You know we spend way too much money on our pets. And you know damn…er….darn well those pet dishes from China have lead in the glazes. Who would do that to well loved pets?!
I like the quirkiness of the fly and ant plates, but spiders, much as I love them, have limited appeal. And cockroaches have no appeal except maybe to Veronica (12/29/19) who I think I’d love to meet! Lady bugs, dragonflies/damselflies, bumblebees ….too cutesy? Praying mantises then! Quirky looking and deadly!
Keep creating, and keep up with that little black cat too!
BB

Kat

January 03, 2020

Pet bowls! YES!

Abbie

January 03, 2020

Love them all! Especially the pet bowls and porcelain travel mug.

Bobbie Thompson

January 03, 2020

We have two 100 pound Beasties. We SOOOOOO need the Beastly Bowls! we will be standing by…..

JoAnna Motylewski

January 03, 2020

MORE!! I NEED MORE!!
We love all the designs and are so very pleased with the quality of the dishes (OK, the Cookie Jar just is not up to scratch BUT the design is WONDERFUL so I forgive the materials) do have a BIGGER MUG (and perhaps saucers for the small mugs as I prefer cups … old woman here, set in her ways … so old in fact that she remembers her Uncle pouring his coffee from his cup onto his saucer and supping it that way … We’re Swedish/Danes … just plain odd people) Love all your ideas and am a dedicated purchaser …

E.B. Abrams

January 03, 2020

Love the Plague of Frogs textile!!!! I see placemats and napkins made by Nana for my grandbabies Passover china💙
Also, may get a couple of pet bowls for the kids to use for soup bowls since they are more sturdy and wouldn’t fly off the table. Then when my political agenda to get them to rescue a pup achieves victory, the dog has his dishes! Win, win. Happy 2020 Don & Friends. Think Passover Plagues!❤

C. Chavez

January 03, 2020

More Letterpress Prints! And I love Shelley’s killer bees idea! Keep up the great work!

Irene McFee

January 03, 2020

love the bug out tote
Frog 7 fly textile love it
Dragons yes!

Tara

January 03, 2020

Ceramic travel mugs – sign me up!

Shelley

January 03, 2020

Something with killer bees? 🐝

Annie Fitt

January 03, 2020

Ooh, dog bowls! Yes, please.
To my great sorrow I broke one of my ant plates. Thinking I will get the new design for variety’s sake. Love Your work so much!

Beckee

January 03, 2020

Love ALL your ideas especially anything to do with dragons and/or robots! The big mug will be a huge hit in my house. Please consider a dragon motif LAMP so I can light up all my Calamityware at night!

Bec

Cynthia Col

January 03, 2020

Pet bowls!!!!

Jane

January 03, 2020

Seriously? No teacups and saucers to go with the tea set? Seriously?! You coffee people and your big mugs…

Sabrina

January 03, 2020

Love the Bug Out bag!

Jane

January 03, 2020

I love these new ideas and appreciate your talent and creativity so much! Your work makes me smile and I can not wait to collect more of it!

Jared

January 03, 2020

You forgot to mention your new line of disaster-themed porcelain tiles so that I can finish off my kitchen backsplash….

Lissa Rosenthal

January 03, 2020

All of if! Especially scarves!

Katie

January 03, 2020

Big Mug 2020.

Jacob Williams

January 03, 2020

Love the big mug and the pet bowls ideas! Sign me up!

Laura Bomar

January 02, 2020

Literally minutes before opening your website and blog, I said that the only thing that could make my new mug even better is if it was BIGGER! I love that you are thinking about a bigger TCBW mug! I love all the TCBW products and wish I had found your products sooner. I’ll be watching for more items. Your art and products are the Bees Knees! Love everything so much!

Nairne Dickey

December 30, 2019

Glad to hear about these upcoming projects – I just found your site through, of all things, a targeted ad on Facebook – and I’m so very happy to know about your work! And as a person who enjoys a lot of a beverage at one time, I love that you’re considering a larger size on the mugs. I just love that new BADbandanna design, it put a huge smile on my face!

Liz

December 29, 2019

Your work reminds me of an artist couple who go by Woodgill. They get those fantastically mundane “starving artist-esque” oil paintings at Goodwill and give them a make-over with the odd robot, alien, dino, etc. to create delightfully obscure scenes.
Anyway, I love what you do. A lot of people decorate in shabby chic, and I would love you to do something with a common Victorian pattern, like “Old Country Roses”, but with your flair.
Wishing you “perfect vision” in 2020!

Veronica Devenyi

December 29, 2019

Don!……Please prioritize mug the mug the mug….20 ounces would be magnificent. I Love the pizza dragon design! TRex taco next. Just two more food monster designs to make a fierce foursome for a themed monster (20 oz)mug pack! Sasquatch spaghetti? I just ordered the plates with the ants! Saving up for the flies. Got spiders? …..again one more makes four… cockroaches maybe? Anyway, thanks and Happy New Year. Keep drawing. Veronica Ps. Love the little cat and how he/she hides in plain sight.

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