Holy Sh*t!: Another Year! Another List!

Photo © 2008 The Royal Me

First off, I conquered all of last years resolutions, ideas, wants, needs etc. (Ok fine, maybe a little lacking in a few areas namely the art bits, but hey! I have an artsy job, that counts too, no?) So here are my top 10 for 2009:

1. Travel: My roots, the rurality of the East Coast, Turkey, Greece, Brazil, Mexico.
2. Art: Letterpress know-how, more printmaking, more painting, more photo'ing, more collaborating.
3. Learn: To sew (uh yea, I have a machine that is currently collecting a LOT of dust), to stop without the use of my brakes on my fixie, to be calm, more open.
4. Drink: Less.
5. Eat: Organic.
6. Buy: Camera.
7. Save: Thousands of dollars.
8. Thoughts: less thinking more doing.
9. Body: Spin class, bike to Nyack.
10. You: I will be nicer to...

And one to grow on:

11. Stick with accomplishing said accomplishments!

PS
Come see South Africa with me!

Goodsh*t: Merry Holidays and All!

Artwork © 2008 The Royal Me

Nothing says Merry! Merry! like a trio of faceless deers!

Antlers © 2008 The Royal Me
AND the elusive catalope! Rare sighting and photo opp!
I reeled him in with catalopes nip!!
Have a wonderful holiday season!

Goodsh*t: Swedish Hair Bow Culture

Elin.

Elsa aka Need Help Dressing.

Sandra aka niotillfem.

I got caught up all too recently with a bevy of fashion writing Swedish beauties! Meet Elin, Elsa and Sandra. I have been following them for a while now and I love their very demure and prep style. Bows (rosettes) are rampant, as are heeled oxfords, tights, primary colors and uber girlie party dresses (think Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Chloe and of course vintage! vintage! vintage!). Channeling of favorite storybook characters seem a constant too: Dorothy, Minnie Mouse and Marie Antoinette! I love reading all their blogs (of course you have to translate them via google) their photos are like porn to my eyes and I even pick up a few tips every time I visit their online minds. I have no idea if this style is the hot Swedish fetish at the moment, either way they are doing it well!

PS
Sandra is probably my most favorite, not only is she a pretty good photographer, but she inspired my most recent purchase:

Goodsh*t: Random French Composers

From Debussy to Satie to Yann Tiersen.
(An obvious win in the girlie-girl film department, it's the music I am after)

Goodsh*t: I Heart Magazines!

I can't imagine a better combination!

Been a subscriber since I was 15!

Approachable home decor!

British tabloids, this is crack to me, I read it all too frequently.
There's nothing better than a British reality TV trainwreck.

All the cool kids in NYC are doing it.
This also reminds me a little of my long lost Project X magazine from the early 90's. RIP.

So it's the recession (the "resesh", as I like to call it) and I know we are all cutting corners, cutting costs, HELL, I have demanded a DIY Christmas with the family (unless you are under 5, then you get something store bought)! I am holding tight to my job (knocking on lots of wood) and I am sure others are too, but I just wanted to give a shout out to my all my hardworking creative friends in the magazine biz! Aside from PBRs at your local watering hole, magazines are affordable entertainment! So if you get a chance and want to curb your shopping (window, in my case) support your favorite magazine to ensure more gossip, home decor, fashion, travel, 2,734.67 ways to make a layer cake and hopefully save some jobs too! Magazine subscriptions now!

It'll keep me honest and off the streets (out of the bar).

PS
Just a few of my favs.

PPS
Oh yea and recycle when you are done!

Goodsh*t: Food's Eye View

I really like looking at food. I do this a lot at work. I like to look at food I want to eat but won't eat because I am watching my girlish figure (that's a lie). I really like bird's eye views. Especially of food. What? It's pretty.

PS
I suck at photography, these photos can be found here.

PPS
I use a lot of these types of photos for my color inspiration. Is it clear that it's springtime in my head?

Goodsh*t: Buy Local!

This Saturday December 6th, 1pm-5pm!
2nd Annual Holiday Open House & Sample Sale

Join Bonbon Oiseau Jewelry
right in her studio!
Bonbon Oiseau along with
Hortensia Handmade
& Tamika of Therapy!
116 Noble Street, buzzer 1
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Win a raffle filled with all kinds of graciously donated designer goodies including:
Sesame Letterpress Coasters,
Le Papier Studio Stationary, Hortensia Handmade Hat,
Therapy Bath Oils, Bonbon Oiseau Key Fob Set,
Ana Dane Cookies, and more!
to benefit the NY Food Bank.
$5 at the door/$10 via email*
wine & surprises all afternoon!

{Oh and psst... Bonbon will have all kinds of goods, one of a kinds made from vintage stock, feather hair pieces, $25 and under section and pieces from her regular collection will be deeply reduced. Hope you can join us!}

* Raffle tickets will be $5 at the door, Saturday December 6th but to buy a raffle via email, just send $10 via paypal to deb@bonbonoiseau.com by 5pm, Sunday, December 21st with your address and phone number and email.
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE NEW YORK FOOD BANK
(Winners will be announced Monday, December 22nd on Bonbon's blog: Your Destiny is Stone Golden!)

Goodsh*t: Hitchcock

Nah, not the movies (although they are good) but the TV programs: Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It's starting to get cold, so you can bet your bippy I will be indoors watching whilst wearing my skinned Santa slippers. Sorry kids, Santa had to go, it's all for the love of leisure fashion. (Ok, fine, they're faux and super comfy!)

PS
My legs look HILARIOUS in comparison to my feetz! Those thangs are huge!

Goodsh*t: Is It Thanksgiving Yet?

Happy Thanksgiving!
"TURKOWL"
Artwork © 2008 The Royal Me

Goodsh*t: Misjke aka Sara Michelle Redelinghuys van Dyk

While visiting a little town in the winelands called Franschhoek, I came across a little antique store run by a British woman (who had moved to South Africa from London after falling in love with a local.) Upon entering this shop (which reminded me of a grandmother's parlour room with it's golden glow and poundcake appeal) a little picture caught the corner of my eye. I perused the rest of the shop thinking "K, it's almost the end of your trip, do you really need to lug back a framed print?". Needless to say I completely ignored my conscience and scooped up not only one but 2 etchings after the owner showed me the little bull-esque character. The owner said she bought both of them because she thought they could be sold together, but was really unaware about the artist.
Being the info spelunker that I am after getting home I immediately went to work on the webz. My first bump was that the artist signed only her nickname and backwards at that, so I reversed the spelling and VOILA! I found Misjke aka Sara Michelle Redelinghuys van Dyk as the creator. At this time, and with heavy heart I ask that you click on the link above to read more about this artist's career and short life. While the story is sad, I am very very pleased to own these 2 etchings and I am glad to keep her work alive for years to come.

Goodsh*t: Precious Souvenirs

If only I had my own shipping company I would have fully furnished my entire apartment whilst in Africa. Not only is it cheap, but vintage/antique shops and local markets are running rampant!!! Green Market Square in Cape Town is where I found the top 2 masks along with a couple of good luck dolls for my workmate. The merchant (Youssouf from Zimbabwe) had a very thick accent so I couldn't quite understand where he said "Ferdinand" hailed from (I asked him about 9 times, I figured I had better stop) but the 2nd mask is from the Ivory Coast and actually has a male mate which my friend owns (we bought them in a pair along with Ferdinand, around R850 for all 3, which is about $85). He said the female and male masks were worn by royalty, probably for ceremonial purposes, the other just remains a mystery!

The wooden springbok came from the Trading Post at Kalk Bay train station in Kalk Bay. (Kalk Bay is a little fishing village). This place is filled with innumerable precious things from all over the world. The shelves are lined with history and if you are lucky like most of the pieces here, the shop owner will tell you what year it is from and where it originated. Unfortunately for me, he did not know where this little fella came from, OH! the mysteries of Africa! I also picked up two Springbok pelts while on safari, they are very common and their meat is somewhat similar to beef. They are a BOOMING industry in South Africa, so I had to bring some back. (Photos to follow, they are draped all over the new livingroom!)

Goodsh*t: Do They Have Cake In Germany??

I am pretty sure they don't!
Happy Birthday Alexa!!!
Is it time to come HOME yet?!?!
I miss you!!!

Bullsh*t: Proposition 8

Did I miss the something?
REE-DON-DIK-YOO-LUSS.

PS
An interesting radio piece on the history of homosexuality.

Goodsh*t: Drink, Drink and be Merry

South Africa is widely known for their winelands and I am widely known for drinking wine, so it was love at first sight! We did not actually tour a vineyard, but we did drink a lot of Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc and Pongracz sparkling wine and spent a lot of time in little towns such as Franschoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl which are located deep in the heart. We visited the Hillcrest Berry Orchards in Stellenbosch for brunch and fresh mulberry juice and I was glad to find that in addition to the wineries, there are also other sober options (Ok, fine, they had a little Cherry Liquor which I brought home with me, as my friend Meagan suggested, it will go nicely atop a little champagne!). South Africa is also know for her own grape Frankenstein called a Pinotage which is a cross between Pinot Noir and a Cinsault for all you wine lovers out there. It's certainly NOT for the easy-going wine drinker, the Pinotage definitely marches to the beat of it's own drum!

I also found something that I love just as much as my wine and that's the native Peppadew! Cherry-sized, pickled & spicy the Peppadew goes very well on salads, pizza, martinis or just by it's lonesome and stuffed with cheese or my favorite, feta. If you come by my place during the holidays, expect to see these!

PS
Another notable winery that was suggested to us, but we just did not have the time to visit: Tokara. The locals say it's kind of commercial, but I say HEY! where else can I get wonderful wine AND olives?! Oh and also Porcupine Ridge.

PPS
In South Africa, you cannot refer to South African "champagne" as champagne, it is called sparkling wine. There is a law: it was not made in France's Champagne region, so it must be sparkling wine!

Goodsh*t: I am back!

While I was passed out 4 rows back, my girl Meagan snapped this pic of Cape Town, South Africa! I am still getting my head together, but I expect to post more this weekend!!

Holy Sh*t!: WE. DID. IT!

It's a BRAND NEW DAY!

Goodsh*t: Other People's Blogs

It's not like I really update that frequently, but did you think I would leave you stranded while I am away? I check these beauties religiously:

The Selby.
Ever wonder what the insides of some cool kids' apartments look like in California, New York and London?

Krisatomic.
Ever wonder what it's like to be an badass art-school-photographer-fashionista in England?

Door Sixteen.
Ever wonder about home renovations in upstate while designing awesome book covers?

the cherry blossom girl.
Ever wonder what it's like to be cute AND French?

betty.
Ever not been able to get your outfit together in the morning?
betty can help.

And you all know I am a flickr junkie (that's putting it mildly) just a few of my recent favs:

YoKOO
Ren Rox
Mademoiselle Molly Fryxell
Jon Burgerman
snailbooty
TO/N/Y//

Holy Sh*t!: 18 Hours. Both Ways.

It's going to be a LONG flight, so I've packed accordingly:

1. My holga, my polaroid I recieved from my granddaddy when I was 8, my regular ol' digital. You can never have too many cameras on such an occassion.
2. Dear Diary by Lesley Arfin. I am basically reading this because my friend makes a few cameos and I need as much dirt on him as possible! OH!
3. Another Bull Shit Night In Suck City by Nick Flynn. I like the title. Plain and simple.
4. Travel Scrabble.
5. iPod shuffle. I hate the big bulky ones and I am jamming it full of This American Life and The Splendid Table. Maybe even a little naughty Dan Savage.
6. Yes, I got my passport and no there's no need for Malaria shots at this time! It's spring!

Bullsh*t: Cupcakes

Some people really hate the color purple, some people really hate politics, well I REALLY hate cupcakes. The bastardization (dry cake, too much butter in the buttercream for chrissakes!) of the cupcake is running rampant here in NYC! Make. It. Stop!

But in all honestly, I certainly wouldn't mind looking like one! Topshop is calling these pretties prom dresses, well I am calling them cupcakes! Now all I need is a party!

PS
Seems the NYC Topshop flagship store is on hold until the end of the year! However my beloved is online and selling their wares in American currency!

PPS
This has been the WORST week ever. So the cupcake gets the lashing and I couldn't even muster up the skills to do my polaroid-esque black framing.

Goodsh*t: Linocuts

I used to do linocuts in high school. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the process! This was my first go at it since 1996, expect more and definately expect more of my own personal zingers! OH. MY. GAWD!

Goodsh*t: South African Fruition

OMG! Confirmation for my 30th birthday present to myself! Put your order in now! I am bringing extra bags to bring back lions, springboks, servals, duikers, the handsome kudu and of course some meerkats! Seriously, I am sooo excited!!

PS
If I have room, I am bringing back some bat-eared foxes too! But they are fast! I love foxes!