Cheese graters....

So this thing looks like a cheese grater.
...Except it's not...

 It's really a pen holder....

Here's an image for scale

 

The story of this device starts with a cup of yogurt. Or really, just me trying to save some money....

If you're me, a yogurt cup is a perfectly acceptable container for all of your art supplies.

Plus it shifts into a convenient water container for your next painting project.

However....if you're a more aesthetically concerned individual (such as my roommate) a yogurt container belongs in a recycling bin.

So as a more design friendly solution, she decided to buy what I call the cylindrical cheese-grater.

I'm..not really sure if it's actually a pen holder or not, but it looks pretty cool when it holds my pencils...

It seems like a strange object to blog about, but I've been noticing it everywhere. When I get a chance I'll post more stalkerish photos of these objects in context, but I've seen them in:

• Metal working studios
• Coffee shops
• Office buildings.

I mean, they're pretty cheap but the I just enjoy how Ikea manages to sneak their way onto every work space throughout Oakland.

And they're really not friendly for colored pencils, once the shavings and lead nicks build up.
In a way I can see that being useful....since it forces you to clean up your supplies...but personally I think this thing has capabilities to create fantastic grated cheese.
(Or a cool lampshade, but that's not as amusing.)