And now for a behind the scenes ceramic animal related story. While we were working on this…
… this happened:
Since I’m still not ready to talk (or write) about it in depth, here’s John’s depiction of how the tragedy occurred:
Alas, my favorite giant ceramic dog (snagged from HomeGoods three years ago for just 29 bucks) sadly lost his face. In the words of the world’s most famous blogger, it sucked and then I cried.
Yes, there’s a candle lit vigil in progress. Goodbye Mr. Ceramic Dog. You were a wonderful pet. Never had to clean up after you once. Until this happened.
I might try to glue him back together (although some of the pieces are pretty tiny). Until then I’ll be found shaking, crying, and whispering “why?”
Just kidding, I’ll live.
Psst- To anyone having Feedburner/Google Reader issues with our posts coming through, we think we’ve fixed the issue. But just in case it’s safest to unsibscribe and resubscribe, just to be sure you get pinged whenever we post something new.
Chantelle says
I actually gasped out loud when I saw the poor dog! Maybe a sign I spend too much time reading your blog?
Given that the broken pieces are big enough, I think you could glue it back together. And if the cracks look awful, you could spraypaint the whole thing and that should cover the cracks.
Crystal @Beautifulhaven says
The drawing is priceless.
Sandy says
Maybe John didn’t really like it and he “accidently” broke it like the Leg Lamp in “A Christmas Story??”
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that could have been a possibility except he just froze and looked instantly remorseful. Poor guy.
xo,
s
Alex says
260 comments already! wow!
Well pardon me if this was already said
I was shopping at my local home goods (I’m in texas) probably two months ago and they had your dog! Not $25 but he was $40 and he was white, not cream.
Maybe this will give you some hope? I know you can never replace a pet *blah blah blah* but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t love another one just as much
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much! It definitely gives me hope.
xo,
s
kristiina says
omg…that drawing is priceless!!! and sorry about your dog :(
Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen says
Nooooo! How sad :(
ronda says
The drawing is hilarious!!! Sorry for your loss though, that truly sucks.
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
RIP, Ceramic Doggy. You will be missed…
Melissa @ A Place to Nest says
OMG! That is a pisser! Figures you move houses and it makes it and then during your wall art glory this happens. I wonder if Burger secretly was happy to be the only dog in the house again…
Deb says
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The greyhound is my favorite part of your blog!!!!
Tara says
As an owner of an Italian Greyhound (living one!) this breaks my heart! I’m sure the perfect ceramic creature will find its way into your path soon!
Shannon says
I actually noticed that the ceramic puppy wasn’t in your final pictures of the framing post and thought “hmmm, I wonder where they moved the little guy too.” Too bad the answer is probably the garbage. :(
I feel observant at the very least. Sorry for the puppy boom boom!
Beth says
From that sketch it looks like John has put on some weight.
Rest in pieces sweet ceramic dog.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s true. We had to force feed him so he wouldn’t be such a toothpick anymore. Haha.
xo,
s
doahleigh says
NOOOO! Not the ceramic dog. Seriously the sight of his face missing made me so sad. I hope you can fix him.
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Boo…..may he rest in ceramic dog heaven. Sorry guys….he was a real cutie.
Jennifer says
Noooooooo!
And darn you! I have to constantly refrain from impulsively snatching up little ceramic/resin/insert whatever critters to remake into sparkling white beacons of cuteness. (I already caved once and bought a bird :)
Kyla says
In case it helps this guy is pretty cute!! http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/Seasonal/tabid/467/List/0/CategoryID/92/level/a/ProductID/29125/ProductName/Ceramic-Doguu/Default.aspx
Nicole says
Oh Sherry, I’m so sorry. I just started reading your blog and that dog was one of my favorite pieces in your home. He or she was beautiful. Boo hoo. I bet your hubby feels bad. :(
Autumn says
Happy birthday! I love bees too, you’d love this necklace on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63766181/honey-bee?ref=sr_gallery_20&ga_search_query=woodsy&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet= !
YoungHouseLove says
Pretty!
xo,
s
Tanya from Dans le Townhouse says
Awww. That super sucks. What a horrible casualty, even though the wall is awesomely cool. I hope you find a replacement. Suggestion? Put a “want” ad in your local online classifieds with a pic (before the accident). Someone else may have snagged one too that is languishing in a basement, unaware of its desirability. Bonne Chance! And thanks for the hilarious drawing. Too funny.
Tracy says
Aww, don’t be sad Sherry. Take comfort in the fact that all ceramic dogs go to heaven.
Diana says
My condolences Sherry…I almost (almost) cried for you the second I scrolled down and saw the pic! It was one of these moments – :O – followed by an “oohhhh…ooohhh noooo” lol I’m loving some of the ideas on how to “upcycle” him though!
Sara says
Oh, so sad.
But, the stick figure looks eerily like John! Weird!
Irene Toohey says
they have one at my homegoods now! i can get it for you if you really want another!
Irene :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re too sweet! We’re going to keep an eye out for one (so many people have reported seeing them that we’re hopefuly)!
xo,
s
Colleen says
Awwww, bummer. I just found this and it was too weird not to share. hehe
http://blog.thisnext.com/display/ShowJournal?moduleId=643309&categoryId=64774
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahaha. That’s what we need! A speaker in place of his face!
xo,
s
r8chel says
Oh no! :(
BethanyB says
I was wondering were this pooch went in all the photos from before. I wish you the best in finding a new friend.
Ps. Found a TON of ceramic birds at Michael’s and TJ max. Thought you’d like to know.
Erin says
I gasped when I saw that. I love that dog so much, I’ve actually been looking around the internet for one of my own! If I come across one I’ll pass it along.
Jenna says
you should glue what ya can and then out a muzzle on him ;) give him some character! still, sorry. I hate when something like that happens :(
Emily T. says
Sherry, my sincere condolences. But I don’t think all hope is lost on the dog face. Over the holidays, I dropped my beloved venetian glass sprig of mistletoe and it shattered into many pieces. With some concentration and patience, I superglued that thing back into some sort of assemblance again. I know you can do this, girl. Give that pooch the reconstructive plastic surgery it needs and you have tons of pictures from every angle of it-print some out and let it be your guide. You can do it! (and that illustration of ‘John’s version’ is hilarious.)
Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique says
R.I.P ceramic doggy. At least the wall is turning out awesomely! Love it!
Patti says
OH NO! best post ever ;)
Melissa @ A Place to Nest says
found this – has diamonds on it but could be a new friend?
http://cgi.ebay.com/LARGE-MODERN-CHIC-WHITE-GLOSS-GREYHOUND-STATUE-DECO-ERA-/350445029788?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519826c99c
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh la la. So swanky.
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
All dogs go to heaven. Even ceramic ones, right?
Krystyl says
My instant thought was “OH NO!!!!” So sorry, maybe you can find another one…..or an umbrella stand sounds AWEOSME!!!!
Melissa says
I’m so sorry for your loss.
My husband has recently/accidentally broken 2 ceramic umbrellas stands (one homegoods, one garage sale find) and I feel your pain. We have since moved on to a metal one.
Janelle says
this is so sad. but, i’m almost positive i’ve seen said ceramic dog (or one that looks suspiciously similar) at homegoods recently (i.e. last week?). maybe you can find a new one at yours?!
YoungHouseLove says
Word on the street is that they’re baaaaack. Wahoo!
xo,
s
Nikkidd says
I think it’s a good thing I DIDN’T see it when my husband broke my cake plate moving in the new buffet we bought a few weeks ago. It is red glass plate and gorgeous (if I do say so myself) and we bought it in Kentucky at an antiques store during a particularly rough time last year. If I had been in the condo when it broke, I would have been a lot more upset, I think, but he sounded so sorry on the phone when he told me about it breaking that I just couldn’t be that upset with him. Of course, a funny drawing of the incident would probably have eased my pain even more!
I’m hoping to glue my cake plate back together (it seemed to break pretty cleanly), and I wish you the best of luck on fixing your dog or finding a new one!
Kyley says
oh sad.
I thought I might send you over a helpful link…although you seem to be pretty far along on your picture frame wall project (sorry I didn’t post this sooner).
Being a picture framer, whenever someone mentions they will be hanging groupings (or if the artwork is pretty heavy) we always attach these hangers to the back: http://www.wallbuddies.com/
They make the frames a lot more secure on the wall, super easy to hang (doesn’t even matter if you made your nail holes level), and they keep the frames from shifting on the wall.
Any local picture framing store might carry them, but you can also probably buy them online. After I found them I put them on all the frames in my house. I won’t use any other hangers again!
Lindsay says
I would’ve cried if it happened to me, I’m way too attached to my stuff!
You could try gluing it together and then filling in the spaces left with super glue or clay that will dry hard. Then, sand it and spray paint it so it’s all the same color again. Maybe that might work?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, that could definitely work! We’ll see how it goes and report back!
xo,
s
Anna says
Oh no! Our house has a ceramic mascot too (a ceramic mascot named Sir Reginald) Here he is wearing a pirate hat and eye patch on his birthday (not sure if this link will work): http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/24205_515233036798_9701062_30632607_1094657_n.jpg
He suffered a nasty fall at a different party a few months after this (someone was trying to steal him, and so a valiant housemate had to escape with him out a bathroom window), and his whole bottom half cracked apart.
Luckily, I was able to restore him to his former glory with E6000 glue! http://www.amazon.com/100099-E-6000/dp/B002OJX1GU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300825729&sr=8-1 You should try it!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! SO gald you saved Sir Reginald!
xo,
s
Kristal says
Oh no Sherry!! I’m sad for you. :( but I love the diagram of the ‘incident’.
Oona says
Oh poo… I would be traumatized.
petra says
if it’ll turn out impossible to repair dear ceramic dog you can always put John’s picture in the fatal frame and hang it to the wall. Maybe next to a framed “dog-piece” (is that a word?)
This would – at least to me – be an appropriate way to remember your ceramic friend…
;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we actually framed John’s pic! You can see it in the top row of frames in our reveal post on Friday. Haha, it just cracks us up so we couldn’t throw it away. The dog will always be remembered!
xo,
s
Spec says
I really enjoyed this post! I love lots of pics and small (amusing!) tid bits in between. :)
Emily D. says
I screamed when I saw the picture causing everyone in my office to come over to my cubical to see what was wrong because in my ear-bud-wearing stupor I didn’t realize how loud I was! That stick figure depiction is so my husband it isn’t even funny, even though it is. My brand new mirrored glass candlesticks from IKEA (that I only had for a day, well 19 hours, but who’s counting) perished in the same manner. I will say a prayer for the repose of the soul of Mr. Ceramic Dog.
Nicole says
No!!!! That dog inspired me to buy one at homegoods!
Actually, I bought two – hm… would you guys like my second one? It looks weird having them flank my fireplace anyway…
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet! We have faith that we’ll find the right dog for the job. Haha. We hear they’re back at HomeGoods so you never know…
xo,
s
Ellen says
I realize this has nothing to do with this post, but I was in a fabric store over the weekend and I overheard a total stranger referring to YoungHouseLove.com. So of course I professed my love for your blog, too.
YoungHouseLove says
No way. My brain just exploded.
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Oh no!! I am not normally shocked by things, but the broken photo did make me gasp.
I am empathizing with you girl!
lol, I would try and glue it too even if it doesn’t look the same…although, you could say it is a Frankenstein’s Monster Dog type of form like from that one movie where the dog was all stapled together? (I just looked it up, it was called “Frankenweenie” and all I remember was it was really really weird ..)
YoungHouseLove says
Totally remember that movie! I actually reference it all the time in our house (much to John’s chagrin). Haha.
xo,
s
Dave says
The importance of cleaning the staging/working area of all not required items or anything that can break before starting any project…….sorry it had to be this way. But hey everything happens for reason so maybe this happened to allow space for something even better.