Lisa Hoffman

Bonjour Cardboard

Found something that I flipped over! Being the total pushover for recyclable art, this made me jump out of my chair and get my French-speaking pal on the line. They just LOVE it when you call: "Hey, it's me again...can you translate this?..I know that this is the five hundredth request but...." Nothing left to do but send a very big Thank You Gift...anyway...I saw this amazing layout in the French MARIE CLAIRE IDEES (that was NOT a typo, in French, it IS "IDEES"). You can subscribe through Amazon, but I warn you, I've heard totally mixed reviews ranging from "Piece of Cake" to "..never got the magazine, Amazon won't help, even the French office won't respond...." so it's up to you. I happened to find a great bookstore that will send me the thing UPS the moment that they receive it (a bit pricey, but hey, I teach this stuff...). Okay...
The above website is "Monsieur-Madame sont au Salon" (Translation: Mr. and Mrs. are at the show). There are a few shots of Dominique le Bagousse's work there, but the article is FABLULOUS, showing way more including a crazy-adorable room that is either in their home or part of an interactive kids museum that he and his wife and friends designed. I want to go to THEIR parties!

Oh, be still my vegetarian, recycling heart!
Ya know, for those of you who like to know Seven Weird, Obscure and Confessional things about fellow Bloggers (I'm not sure WHY) I just realized that under my Black clothing wearing, semi-cool (usually Dorky) exterior, beats the heart of a woman that LOVES a very specific kind of Whimsical Cute. Don't tell. That's ONE. Six more Weird things to go.

Come ON!!!.....cardboard?....try to grab that magazine...it's stuffed full of inspiration.....
Au Revoir for now....

MOCA, no whip

Playing Hooky on a Tuesday? Well, kinda. The black glass building on the corner is Denver's new Museum of Contemporary Art.  It's packed with the kinda stuff that we love. The roof garden is very cool. You can walk on skylight glass catwalks over the museum go-ers heads. They're frosted so you don't get a scorching case of vertigo. You can't take shots inside the place, which makes sense, but I really wanted you there with me to see the exhibits. We could've gasped, smiled and given each other that slow, "knowing nod".   See the neon heart? outside up there on the pole?...look closer:

The dripping blood MAKES IT. I tried to find the names of the couple that did this piece. They were JUST in the NY Times...you know...British? they're doing the big "ELECTRIC FOUNTAIN" in NYC? I think that it's being installed now. So this is their work. It stays here. I TOLD you to come and visit, right?

Insanely cool rooftop garden and water feature. Look out over the Denver skyline to the mountains.
I tolja...come on out.
I didn't see this shirt in the gift shop (distracted by the cool books etc.) but LOOK:

So I'll be seeing you in Denver. What size shirt do you wear?

EDIT...the wonderful Lisa (no, NOT me) of Blogging Queen found the exact info that I needed for the Bleeding Heart...without hesitation, I bring you her addition..Thanks, Darling LMB:

Tim Noble and Sue Webster did the piece here ("Toxic Schizophrenia") and the one in NYC. Apparently they'd made the original version back in 1997... the Times article says they wanted to put this in Rockefeller Center, but the center wasn't too excited about a heart dripping blood after 9/11. It's all in the timing... but how can you not love a dripping neon heart?

Aren't they All?

I found this book today, which is a damn good thing. I'm almost finished with the current stack and I start to pace if nothing's close at hand. Okay, I DO have a book or two sitting by the bedside, but they come from the genre of Scorching Pain and no matter HOW well written, I can't always open up and swallow that stuff.  This one caught my eye and when I saw that the intro was from Neil Gaiman, that was IT.
I just saw that you can buy one on Amazon, used, for 4 or 5 bucks. A bad omen? ...we'll see. I'm going to lift an excerpt and see if it appeals to YOUR inner Fairy Chaser. When I created the Duct Tape Fairies in the book TRUE COLORS, these were the ones that I had in mind....sassy, trashy, very...naughty. The fairies that you would prefer NOT sit on your child's shoulder and whisper in their ear. My fairies chewed too much gum, smoked clove cigarettes and swore like tiny truckers. Their eye makeup was smeared and their fishnets ripped. Their chunky, black boots were very un-fairy. Here's a sample from the back cover...enjoy, or run screaming into the Blog Night:
"The Good Fairies of New York is a story that starts when Morag and Heather, two eighteen inch fairies with swords and green kilts and badly dyed hair fly through the window of the worst violinist in New York and vomit on his carpet. Who they are, how they came to New York and what this has to do with the lovely Kerry, who lives across the street and who has Crohn's Disease and is making a Flower Alphabet , and what this has to do with the other fairies (of all nationalities) of New York, not to mention the poor, repressed fairies of Britain, is the subject of this book...."
...and it gets better! That was Neils run-on sentence, not mine. If this sounds too hardcore, but the possibility of High Art and Fantasy Fairies and (well written) fiction speaks to you....go and fall into the pit that calls itself the books of Charles de Lint. My favorite is The Onion Girl, but most are great.
Too many words...back to the studio.....

Your Giant (and growing) Book Wish List

A new one to add to your list...I'm talking about Lulu. A book by the daughter of late Billionaire Henryk de Kwaitkowski. Lulu made a name for herself in the nineties by creating a textile line: Lulu DK. This book was inspired by her travel diaries and to quote "W" magazine : "think Peter Beard without the gore". Whoa, that piqued MY interest. She has taken scissors to her Travel diaries (brave girl) , sketchbooks and childhood photo albums (cringe, but we'll give her talented self a PASS on that one). WE get glimpses into her life and relationships. Sounds like a big, juicy book and if nothing else, you can use it to flatten rolled up paper....   

You're Smart...and you Sound smart

My readers are Smart. You know how to research, listen to a variety of sources and NOT steer clear of crucial subjects when sipping cosmos. I remember asking my own Mom how it went when the Nazi's were  rounding up people: "...how could you NOT DO something??!!!"   I demanded as an angry teen.
"we didn't know...and those who did?....well....they just didn't speak up.They didn't want to offend and alienate..."..sound familiar? I hope not. I've been keeping an eye on Tibet for a while. I donate. I cringe when everything that I buy says : China. I work to educate myself and understand what every angle looks like, hoping that more people will not die while I take my time to investigate. I hope that no matter WHAT your position, you'll keep your eyes OPEN and call upon your inner resources to DO Something. The LEAST we can do is NOT SHUT UP. Every woman and man who fought for freedom and allow us the right to use our voices are counting on us.  If you do Nothing else: Be Brave and use your voice.

On a lighter note, since I just re-won the SoapBox Blogger award....allow me to add a few NEW "Faux Blog Buttons" to my collection (see  March 10 post for the Big collection):

*Only use Photos of Myself as an Adorable Child Award
(photo of a cutie at about 4 or 5 from the 50's or 60's)

*Nothing but Antique People Photos in my Art Award
(Sepia Tone, slightly scary and stern relative. Not your relative)

...there. a little lightness for the post. Ahhh.

Awesome postcard from Stella Marrs

One Night in Bangkok

Most people download new tunes. I do that too, but every time that I hear an "old" song on the radio, I write it down and search it out so that I can add it to my library. This one's a favorite:  One Night in Bangkok. I looked up the lyrics. Weird as they are (thanks, Tim Rice) I had to include them in this post:

One Night in Bangkok

Bangkok, oriental setting
and the city don’t know what the city is getting
The creme de la creme of the chess world
With everything but Yul Brynner

Time flies, doesn’t seem a minute
Since the Tyrolean Spa had the chess boys in it
All change, don’t you know that when you
Play at this level, there’s no ordinary venue

It’s Iceland, or the Philippines
Or Hastings or, or THIS place

One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a God  in every golden cloister
And if you’re lucky then the God’s a She
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

One town’s very like another
When your head’s down over your pieces, Brother

It’s a drag, it’s a bore, it’s really such a pity
To be looking at the board, not looking at the city

Whaddya mean?
Ya seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town...

Tea girls, warm and sweet. warm, sweet
Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham Suite

“Get Thai’d” you’re talking to a tourist
whose every move’s among the purest
I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the Devil walking next to me.

Siam’s gonna be the witness
To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness
This grips me more than would
a muddy old river or reclining Buddha

but thank God I’m only watching the game, controlling it

I don’t see you guys rating
The kind of mate I’m contemplating
I’d let you watch, I would invite you
But the queens we use would not excite you

So you better go back to your bars, your temples
Your massage parlors

One night in Bangkok and the World’s your oyster
The bars are temples but the pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a God in every golden cloister
A little flesh, a little history
I can feel an angel slidin up to me

One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can’t be too careful with your company
I can feel the Devil walking next to me.

(...art by L.H.)

The Mother of RUNWAY?

You do NOT have to be deeply into fashion to love THIS film. I have several pals who are committed to  PROJECT RUNWAY. I watch it just to catch a glimpse of the wonderful Tim Gunn, but I really did miss pretty much all of the last season. My nerves...I just can't take all the drama.I scream at the T.V. like a sports fan on Sunday afternoons:
"Oh, you IDIOT!!!!.....don't buy into that catty gossip!!!!"
"...ignore that last comment...he just forgot his meds this morning!!!..."
anyway....I'm thinking that THIS beautifully filmed and edited documentary may have been the Mother of Runway, minus the mean-ass take-downs (deep sigh of relief).
Douglas Keeve did the popular UNZIPPED years ago, and it seems that he's just gotten better.
The weird thing about the description on Amazon is that they say : featuring Zac Posen (you see him for a moment) and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs (you see him for mere seconds). You DO get to see the team from LIBERTINE, PROENZA SCHUELLER, the adorable Doo-Ri and the genius behind my favorite mens line: CLOAK.......oh, just sit back, put your feet up and relax. You don't have to know any of these people to appreciate a great documentary....

and the Award goes to....

I normally start my posts with a photo. Not so this time. I have to preface the body of my text today with a disclaimer....
I love the buttons on the side of many people’s Blogs. The whole intention of a Blog is to build communication and connection. These mini-tribes do that in such a great way. Illustration Friday mixes up high profile illustrators with beginners. Penelope believes in Keeping the Creative Playing Field level... I applaud her. There are many that followed her. The Blog Buttons also happen to be...well...Pretty. There are Awards, Clubs and Statements of Commitment. I bow deeply to all of them. All of you. I ask you to remember that I only poke fun at my favorite target: Myself.... and I have my own full permission to Bring It On:

Some day you’ll see these as Real Looking Fake Blog Buttons, but that’s only after I get good in Photoshop (like THAT’LL happen). Til then, enjoy or delete the following:

Bad Illustrator But Doesn't Know It Award
(pen with a circle and a slash through it)

Way Too Preachy Award
(Bullhorn with FIre coming out of it)

In Way Over My Head Monday
(arms reaching out of churning water)

I Participate in Everything that I'm Invited To Award
(gun to your head)

Ten Billion "Award Buttons" in the Side Gutter of my Blog Award
(little elephant woodcut with a ton of boxes on his back)

Tag Me Again and I'll Kill Myself Award
(sinister eyes looking to the left or right)

The Super Select Club Only for VERY Talented People Award
(Queen Victoria image, Big Crown)

I Take Myself WAY TOO Seriously Award
(Tiny photo of an unrecognizable talking to a huge crowd, like the pope addressing the people, but NOT since we don't want to offend for real)

Not Quite Pompous But Darn Close Award
(A Hot Air Balloon)

Love the Sound of my Own Voice Award
(the RCA Gramophone doggie)

Only Show Flattering Photos of Myself Award
(super-blurry image)

Authors Note....
Thanks to my very open-minded and wonderful readers....
L.H.

Put the knife down, Mr. Bates...

                        

Time for the next Street Team Crusade over at Green Pepper Press.
Count me in. Having been a serious Rubber Stamper at one point (and really, ever still)
I love a well cut piece of rubber, or carving block. This is one of the best tutorials that I've seen.

I'll show you my Big Rose. It's 5 and a half inches by 4. I did this one without a transfer...It came crashing out of my weird brain directly on to the carving block. Go ahead, give it a try.

"Justin" time for Spring

Here's some interesting news to those of us who care about such things: another Hot dDesigner has decided to offer a reasonably priced line of very-very-very amazing jewelry at TARGET starting March 23rd. His name is Justin Giunta and mark my words, you'll be seeing him and hearing his name more and more. Wind yourself around his website. Paintings, lighting design and jewels that will make you want to throw on a black tee, jeans and one of his pieces. Like many of TARGET'S designers, he has a couture line, but here's our chance to wear something very cool for less than a ton of bucks. Not into the jewels? Buy a gift and be The Person in the Know at the Birthday party.
My next Hot Tip:

TARGET'S current jewelry designer spotlight is on Domimique Cohen. I guess that she's getting the ole' Heave-Ho, cause.....and this is the important part: HER STUFF IS ON SALE NOW... LIKE: REALLY ON SALE.
I have a few of her pieces because I feel like she does a very sexy spin on Everyday Gothic for Ladies over 25 who love the Lacey-Goth Esthetic. Granted, the model above is about 6, but the stuff really looks okay on ALL of us. Guys? Mothers Day will roar down on you before you know it. Get into the car and grab handfuls of this stuff for your women....or, for some of my Darling Reader-Guys...yourself. There. I said it.