Friday Furnishings: Goodwill Challenge Part 1

Alright, dear readers, full disclosure: the DCGF is in no way “crafty.” Sure, I had my shining moments in 4-H at the county fair a few years back (champion ribbon in gift wrapping, anyone?), but a latchhook rug here and there does not an artist make.

I know so many talented gals and guys who can waltz into a Goodwill, grab a few seemingly disparate items, and reemerge a few days later with some amazingly faboulous (yes, it’s that good) creation of their own design.

Some of you may remember a few weeks back that I featured the Alessi Tigrito Cat Bowl, at right, on the Friday Furnishings blog. It’s an oh-so-cute way to provide water and food for your little furry friends. I really, really like it, but the price it definitely prohibitive, especially for something that’s going to hold chopped liver and shredded tuna.

I popped back into RCKNDY on U Street in DC the other to confirm what I already knew: Tigrito still costs $80 and – for a gal with two cats or other critters – doesn’t quite hold enough consumables.

Oh, but as an aside, they do have a selection of pieces from the new Alessi Orien Tales collection, including the über-adorable salt-and-pepper shaked/toothpick holder combo known as “Forest Gump,” at left. It’s a hedgehog! In thermoplastic resin! Too fun.

Okay: back to the task at hand. Could I possibly create something similar to the Tigreto using materials only found at the Goodwill store located on the first floor of our office building? I was sure I could…

Completely without warning I spotted a large ceramic cat sitting on a shelf in the housewares section on day. And just $5.99? Perfect! Complemented by two white ceramic bowls (at about a doller each), I had the Goodwill approximation of Tigrito. I call it “Le Tigre,” not after the punk band, but after one of Zoolander’s signature looks. Duh.

Obviously Harry is a big fan, seeing as how I was unable to take a picture of Le Tigre without him being in the shot. Penny also dug right in when I put some treats into the two bowls. The great thing about Le Tigre is that it’s very versatile, even moreso that Tigrito. In fact, I was able to make it look just like a Frisch’s Big Boy. Awesome.

It also cost less than $10 to put together. I could have attached the whole thing to a base, or perhaps affixed the bowls to the cat statue, but I was experimenting.

And if this whole post seems just a tad bit silly, well…that’s kind of the point. Great design doesn’t have to cost a fortune and – at the end of the day – if you don’t really like what’s in your space, then what’s the point? I love this cat, even though Le Tigre doesn’t really go with much else in my apartment. But it makes me smile when I see it! The bowls will eventually get washed and put in the cupboard, but Le Tigre will live on…