apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

AT squiggle all the way!

I have a tiny droid (think Star Wars) that my family has had around the house for years.

A little back info: We have a little game where one family member will hide the droid in a tricky, yet visible, location and then when the next person finds it, they find a new hiding spot.

Sounds silly, but it's actually exciting when you find the little guy ;)

Barbapapa! I can part with mine if you really want it. He is quite handsome and known worldwide.

http://tinyurl.com/ApartmentTherapy

I agree with littlebunnyfoofoo, if you get the squiggle laser-cut out of acrylic of an appropriate colour (visit your local sign shop) it would make for some excellent photo fodder. Also it would be fairly flat so it could be shipped easily and safely from place to place.

Where many sign shops outsource to is Gemini Signs:
http://www.geminisigns.com/

And laser-cut acrylic is BEAUTIFUL. But that's probably because I'm around it all day.

While not a garden gnome, Don Juan Featherton the 3rd (don't ask), is another popular lawn ornament. I bought him at a boot-sale in England a decade ago and he's photographed with many famous landmarks since then. Unfortunately he has some battle scars (lost his legs, and half of each wing), but they add character! He travels well and has also obtained a sharpie eyepatch at some point during his lifetime.

This is him and I in San Francisco several years ago prior to a wing amputation (hope the link works!)

Right now he's living in a drawer and is itching to get out again but my wallet isn't going to allow for that until student debt is abolished from the nation (maybe tomorrow?), yet it would be nice to eventually get him back when I do venture out into the world again. Would he be returned eventually?

If you're going for lawn ornaments, how about a pink flamingo?

I heard of a third grade class doing this with a teddy bear. I thought it sounded so exciting for the kids to see the pics of this bear at farms, in Europe, in the city -- everywhere. But I think it is just as appealing for adults.

I'm sure many here would have a fit, but my friend does this with a Jesus action figure. ;) You should use those "Homies" dolls from the quarter vending machines. They'd fit wonderfully into anyone's decor.

What about something everyone already has on them when they travel this year, like a "dollar bill?" (I'm still thinking about what it could represent..)

I vote for something flat that can go in an envelope - keep postage costs down!

International postage is very expensive, yet you want something large enough to photograph well.

I'd pick something inflatable.

Since I've already expressed my feelings on the "squiggle" logo, and the gnome has been eliminated (it doesn't really say much about Apartment Therapy, does it?), my suggestions lean toward a more literal, mascot-like figure representing something about Apartment-Therapy. I do like to brainstorm. I thought about "The 8-week Cure" but think any related totem should be exclusive to participants and people who complete that assignment. Repeated "themes" or popular "trends" are out (like an Eames chair that was suggested) because ... well, I like to think AT isn't so specific, and just because some people like something doesn't mean everyone does.

The thing about the gnome being democratic is that it's a natural ambassador. For something. Not necessarily something anyone would decorate with, but would be happy to see, nonetheless. For the most willing participation, it has to present as many of those qualities as possible. I would be able to donate my flying pig to the project. It is a folk craft of indeterminate origin, made of wood or probably coconut with golden metal wings, and he has a broken ear. He's not very cartoon-like, but friendly. It's very light for shipping and measures 9x9.5x3.5 (approx). If not the flying piggie, I hope someone comes up with a likely mascot to share with this project that anthropomorphizes the AT mission and/or community culture to a most accurate degree.

What if a doormat of some sort, I think it would be interesting to see a picture of front doors from around the world-or just a picture of the front door to include with whatever is decided upon.
As for inside, I agree no gnome and I am back and forth on the squiggley I like that it would be exclusive to AT, but agree that shameless advertising, I do think it needs to be something flat that can fit in an envelope, and nothing expensive or that may 'disappear' like a mini eames chair..

on the other end I sure people could make some interesting vignettes including the AT squiggle

"I'd pick something inflatable."

You're going to have a hard time getting germophobes on board, and non-germophobes. Or we all have to go buy a basketball pump. :)

I wish I could give away someone else's item. My friend in college used to cart around a small Baywatch David Hasselhoff action figure everywhere she went. There are numerous photos floating around of him drinking with us, on road trips and at his annual birthday party. It was silly, but come on, it's the Hoff :P

I vote you use a "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster.

An empty picture frame that you can frame an element of the picture you are taking. Then each post can be about the picture in the picture.

John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer and Rod Blagovewich, together.

how about a george nelson ball clock with the mechanism removed

http://www.unicahome.com/catalog/item.asp?id=11709&PartnerID=OV&engine=yahoo!7351&keyword=george nelson clock

Let me add: John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, and Rod Blagovewich and call it "8th Grade Field Trip".....those guys remind me so much of the 8th grade.

Can someone come up with a Maxwell doll? There's got to be someone crafty enough out there to create one.

mini replica eames chair? you could even have it screenprinted with the AT logo before you start...

I think you should use a Matroshka Doll (Russian Nesting Doll).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Russian-Matroshka2.jpg

You could send a lego person, and a flat baseplate that has the apartment therapy logo built on it with flat pieces. :D

How about the monster buddies? http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=77100&id=617819807&saved#/photo.php?pid=1807006&id=617819807

Many things come in inflatable forms. I have an inflatable Cheeseburger in Paradise (I couldn't escape Jimmy Buffett growing up) that I'd give for the cause. It would also help me in the clearing-clutter resolution. :)

My cousin's children did something similar for a school project. It was "flat [student's name]" and they mailed it to relatives in different locales to take pictures. the "flat" person was a simple paper doll with the child's photographed face glued on. very cute, and very postage friendly! maybe someone could make a Flat Max....

How about a plaque with the Keep Calm catchphrase on it? Because, once it travels around the world, we can then FINALLY bury that trend!

Sock Monkey.

What about a welcome mat? It could be thin enough to roll up & stick in a tube for mailing, and might be a fun intro to house tours? Maybe you could have one made with the AT squiggle?

Here's a link to a place that does custom welcome mats...

My friends take their monkey when they travel and photograph him. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcook/221652057/

How about one of these?

http://flickr.com/photos/alternatewords/2299798516

And I just so happen to own it. It's about 2" tall and easy to carry. It weighs about an ounce.

But I also love Tequila Red's idea. Very cool.

Holly

I like the sock monkey, because I'm partial to them, but my preferred suggestion so far is the picture frame.

The gnome has been done. Replacing the gnome with another figurine or iconic toy doesn't make it any less of a gnome, or any less done.

Picture frame, or squiggle!

I like the sock monkey, because I'm partial to them, but my preferred suggestion so far is the picture frame.

The gnome has been done. Replacing the gnome with another figurine or iconic toy doesn't make it any less of a gnome, or any less done.

Picture frame, or squiggle (not in mat format, but acrylic)!

The gnome has been done. Replacing the gnome with another figurine or iconic toy doesn't make it any less of a gnome, or any less done.

Picture frame, or squiggle (not in mat format, but acrylic)!

I say Maxwell, go to Zazzle, make one of these cutouts:
http://www.zazzle.com/custom/photosculptures
of the AT gang or just you or something and send it around ... it would be small & easy to mail!

Oh, and be sitting in an (Eames?) chair when you make the cutout ;-)

This has proved to be more complicated than intended, eh? I think Ridge Van Winkle has the most practical contribution so far... wouldn't the staff just love to see themselves be so mobile?

And KidUgly, I'm touched... it's a mini Storm Trooper at our house.

Or maybe AT needs a mascot. How about Lola the Boston Terrier? Or, oh my goodness, Miss Mabel the Aierdale Terrier?? Airedale Terrier. AT? Maybe?

I have friends who do this with a rubber duckie.

A Babushka Doll would be kinda cool.
Maybe one individually painted for the project in a suitably mid-century style? It could be empty and everyone who receives it could put a tiny little rolled up note inside, like their fav quote or a tip on being green, before passing it on?

someone mentioned inflatable. since it would be photographed in people's apartments....

how about this: http://www.instantmasterpiece.com/

with some kind of poster/print designed with AT in mind for inside it. to keep down on shipping you could also just mail the frame and print out the print - perhaps make it able to add something specific about your location to it

I have a little sculpture I would be willing to donate: it's sort of like a wire sculpture, except the wire wrapped around the frame is actually a very carefully cut tin can (a beer can from the fragments of text I can read). As it was made in Africa, (I forget where, specifically), it's already well travelled. It's also very lightweight, and represents the kind of repurposing and creativity that AT loves. I'll put up a link to a picture shortly.

otherwise, I really like the idea of the nesting doll, particularly with a little note or small treasure inside.

oh yeah, it's a giraffe... kind of an essential part of the descriptin...

Flat Stanley! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley
A colleague of mine has taken Flat Stanley with her on every business trip for the past 5 years for her grandson.

I wasn't kidding about something bearing the Keep Calm phrase. It was the biggest (most annoying) trend of this year!