Quack, Quack: Happy Rubber Duckie Day!
Make January 13 all it's quacked up to be with a yellow little fellow perched on a sink, tub or table
Happily living and working at the Silicon Valley, playing music and doing cool stuff at Houzz.
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“Rubber Duckie, you're the one," sang Ernie the Muppet to his beloved bath toy beginning back in 1970. Jim Henson's acclaimed TV show Sesame Street and its characters reached children all around the world, giving rise to the popularity of this aquatic hero.
At Houzz we, myself in particular, love rubber duckies (more on that later). I'm a software engineer, but for National Rubber Ducky Day, January 13, I'm joining the editorial team to share what I know about the duckies and offer a few duck-decor ideas of my own.
At Houzz we, myself in particular, love rubber duckies (more on that later). I'm a software engineer, but for National Rubber Ducky Day, January 13, I'm joining the editorial team to share what I know about the duckies and offer a few duck-decor ideas of my own.
by Robert Kocis
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I suppose it all goes back to childhood, when the promise of playtime (i.e., getting your parents all wet) beats the terrible notion of being required to take a bath — not to mention being sent to bed later. Hence the common appearance of duckies in the bathroom.
But do duckies go beyond childhood, and can they be applied to home design?
But do duckies go beyond childhood, and can they be applied to home design?
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It doesn't take much for a duck to be funny; ducks are at the top of my list of funny animals, right along with monkeys. Also, lemurs and meerkats. Also cats. And dogs.
Parrots and turtles are funny too. Heck, most animals are funny, but there's something about ducks — their silly quacks, awkward way of walking and occasional grumpy behavior — that makes them especially charming.
But what makes a rubber duck in a guest bathroom funny — the duck itself or the owner who would put it there? One can never tell.
Parrots and turtles are funny too. Heck, most animals are funny, but there's something about ducks — their silly quacks, awkward way of walking and occasional grumpy behavior — that makes them especially charming.
But what makes a rubber duck in a guest bathroom funny — the duck itself or the owner who would put it there? One can never tell.
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If duckies could sing, I bet their song would be titled, "It's Not Easy Being Yellow." I have to agree: Too much yellow can be intense.
But strong yellows make great accents, so some strategically placed duckies can provide the perfect decoration. Here, a troupe of brave swimmers brings color and surprise to a dinner table.
Please make sure you don't serve foie gras around duckies, though.
But strong yellows make great accents, so some strategically placed duckies can provide the perfect decoration. Here, a troupe of brave swimmers brings color and surprise to a dinner table.
Please make sure you don't serve foie gras around duckies, though.
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Rubber duckies make great collectibles, with sizes ranging from 2 to 15 inches plus varying colors, shapes and characters.
The largest collection of them, according to Guinness World Records, is owned by University of Washington professor (and fellow engineer) Charlotte Lee, who's amassed 5,631.
But you can settle for 20.
The largest collection of them, according to Guinness World Records, is owned by University of Washington professor (and fellow engineer) Charlotte Lee, who's amassed 5,631.
But you can settle for 20.
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With their increasing popularity, it was just a matter of time before designer ducks emerged. This David Bowie look-alike from his Aladdin Sane period is just one novelty option.
I got this particular duck from my mom. This gives me the chance to say, "Thanks, Mom," and to mention that duck fans are always happy to receive more. So here's a gift idea for you.
I got this particular duck from my mom. This gives me the chance to say, "Thanks, Mom," and to mention that duck fans are always happy to receive more. So here's a gift idea for you.
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Do-it-yourself fans can take on the challenge of custom-building their own rubber duck. All it takes is a white rubber duck, permanent markers, felt, stickers, glue, duck/duct tape (sorry) and your creativity.
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| It's worth noting that duckies aren't all confined indoors. Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman has been setting gigantic inflatable duckies afloat on rivers, lakes and canals around the world. Hofman's giant ducky passion goes back to 2007, when he set 15-foot duckies into the canals of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Since then his gigantic duckies, now reaching 48 feet in height, brought yellow joy to the people of Osaka, Japan; Auckland, New Zealand; São Paulo, Brazil; and Sydney, Australia. |
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| As I mentioned, we love duckies here at Houzz. (Or at least I hope we do. There's a slight possibility that everyone else is just being very nice to me and my whims.) Our own duck installation started two years ago, with a small, noisy specimen that entertained the engineering department. The joy of duck collecting swept through the company, and today they adorn desks, monitors, planters and shelves all over the office. I keep a small collection of dog duckies and cat duckies, so when new team members join, I can ask them, "Are you a dog or a cat person?" and offer the appropriate duck design. I was once asked back, "Well, which kind of person are you?" It took me a while, but then I realized I was neither. Apparently, I'm a duck person. Got your own duck photo? Please share it below! |
Ideabook updated on Jan. 14, 2013.
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Smiling
Brenda A, Dallas
In response to a few questions and comments:
Charity rubber ducky races take place everywhere, and while not related to home/urban design - they're sweet, positive, and excellent fun(d) raisers.
Custom Rubber Duckies can be purchased through various online vendors, try googling "Valentine Rubber Duckies" and get prepared for the next holiday. I usually buy them at www.orientaltrading.com, but there are other stores.
I love the ducky drawings, it's all very post-modern. I envy those who get to have a REAL duck pond; I compensate by feeding the Hummingbirds.
The tale of the kidnapped office duckies is brilliant. Having a chance for fun and creativity at the workplace is a positive, driving thing; I think Houzz sets a very good example (or am I trying to be nice to someone?) Last Friday the entire team spent an hour with DIY duckies and created an awesome collection (hope to share some photos later). In the meanwhile, here are rubber duckies made of Chocolate, which I found in Brugge, Belgium.
Pink!
In 2 weeks time, our IVF daughter is due. So right now, the duckies that are out are the baby, the doctor, and the scientist.
You'll see my aunt in front of him next to the pillar, it will give you the indication of his size, HUGE!
Overview
In 1992 a thunderous storm threw a cargo container filled with bathtub toys overboard into the Pacific Ocean. While lightning flashed, the ship continued on into the night, leaving the container floating in the storm. As the waves calmed and the sun began to beam through the clouds, a single rubber duck popped to the surface. Before long, nearly 29,000 bathtub toys had escaped from their container, bobbing along the globe's waterways. Over the years, the toys washed up on beaches near and far-Alaska, Seattle, Fiji, Tonga, and Tahiti. Some of the toys journeyed through the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, the Arctic Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Based on a true event, this fictionalized account tells the story of the astonishing journey of little plastic bathtub toys as they made history. The toys are still popping up today and 17,000 miles away from the incident, helping scientists understand how the ocean currents are connected.
Maps charting the toys' travel pattern are included in this book, along with a glossary and a summary of the highly publicized event.
http://www.janeenmason.com