Decembeard

Well, it's almost here. We've had Movember. Welcome to Decembeard. It's a natural progression.

Animated Print

Totally bonkers. This is an example of a flyer printed with photosensitive inks which uses an embedded microchip to control the ink and actually animate the flyer. This is something I want to see in the flesh...

Jon Burgerman Studio Sale

I can't go, unfortunately, so I don't mind letting everyone know about it now as I won't be competing for Burgerman bargains. Saturday 31st October, yep tomorow. 1pm - 3pm. Good bargains and the chance to meet Jon Burgerman.

Imelda May

Just back from seeing the truly awesome Imelda May, at Shepherd's Bush Empire. If you ain't tapping yo' foot yo' is dead. Excuse the useless pic.

Blackroc

The Black Keys collaborating with a whole bunch of other equally brilliant artists, like Mos Def, Nicole Wray and Pharoahe Monch. Blackroc is released on 27th November, wish it was sooner.

Scott Campbell Show

Known the world over for his skills as a tattoo artist, Scott Campbell is showing artwork in Europe for the first time. This is a stack of a hundred $1 bills with layers carved away to create an image. His show opens at Lazarides on Greek Street today.

French Tea Box

Got this tea box in Paris, as I seem to have so many teabags floating around and they're never organised. The smug chappy on the front of the tin is saying "I am especially a little Russian, a little Chinese, a little Indian... also very English." Or something like that anyway. And just to reiterate this point, his tea bag chums from the four tea-corners of the globe are on the four sides. I love, but am a little perplexed by, the Russian teabag tag saying "Dbshzh" so if anyone with a knowledge of Russian tea terminology can shed any light, although I have a feeling they simply picked a few letters that looked Russian. In case anyone is interested, tea in Russian is "чай" pronounced "ch-igh" (as in Chai).

Fox Base Beta

Saint Etienne's Fox Base Beta is available for pre-order now to fan club members and will be shipped in a couple of weeks.

Tanaka vs. Burgerman - Hoophy

Jon Burgerman has done the 10th Hoophy from Shin Tanaka. This is what tea breaks were made for, apart from drinking milky tea of course.

Matt Stuart Photography

Matt Stuart has "...a fascination with people and the way they live their lives is why I enjoy the business so much..." and I think his work is excellent. Nice to see a sense of humour in anything these days, so hats off to him.

There, I fixed it

Not mentioning names, but I know someone who did something similar to this. He knows who he is... More hilarity and stupidity to be found on the There, I fixed it website

Stefan Kanchev

Wonderful stuff by Bulgarian artist, Stefan Kanchev. Sadly no longer with us, but love his work which won him deserved recognition throughout his life and posthumously. I'm going to spend some serious time meandering through the amazing body of work on his site.

Natsko

Natsko, who's mixed media landscapes and cityscapes have a kind of nostalgic feel to them. Brought up in Tokyo and now living in London, she has an interesting portfolio that is well worth a look.

The Little Friends of Printmaking

Great work from The Little Friends of Printmaking. A couple with a massive commitment to creating excellent, intricate prints. Buy some at their shop...

Shepherd Fairey vs. MTV vs. Karmaloop Tee

Charity tee designed by Shepherd Fairey for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, exclusively through Karmaloop. 40% of the proceeds go towards The Staying Alive Foundation to fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Krink!

They're only making these signed 8 litre Krink Fire Extinguishers as a limited edition of 20. I want one but no doubt won't be able to afford one...

Keith Schofield

Keith Schofield will be an event speaker at Semi-Permanent Melbourne at the start of October. He's made some brilliant work which which tends to be based around an idea, as opposed to a technique, which is a winner every time for me. His most well known work has been out there for a while now - notably this Toejam music vid for BPA and the massive Diesel birthday viral (which has had over 15 million hits on YouTube) as well as the excellent vid for Supergrass which, like a lot of the stuff on his site, I find myself cursing inside, saying "I wish I'd made that."

Refuges Des Fondus

A rare glimpse of me. If you're in Paris, you've got to check this place out. The guy that runs it is awesome, playing the role of the most care-free-borderline-rude Parisian, with the odd little cheeky wink so you know he's just messing with you. And yes, that's a baby bottle with red wine in it.

Gats Sticker

Last full day in Paris and another person who's work I love, high up on a wall on Rue Saint Michel, this sticker by Gats. It's a pretty lackluster scene in Paris, but at least there's some good stuff about if you look hard enough.

Pavement Art

Haven't managed to find out who this is by, but it's pretty striking when you turn the corner. It's in the area of Saint Sulpice, I think on Rue Bonapart, if anyone's there and wants to see it.

Invader

Spotted on Boulevard Saint Germain...

Gold Nike Air Force

These were in the Nike store on Champs Elysee.

Gregos Faces

All over Paris you'll spot Gregos faces glued to various walls. This one was in a side street opposite the Louvre.

Invader

Spotted on Rue Étienne Marcel...

Flying Skulls

The Catacombs were closed (again) due to vandalism, but determined to see something macabre went to the most visited cemetery in Paris. Love these flying skulls and the fact everyone else is too busy trying to find the last resting places of Jim Morrison, Chopin, Edith Piaf etc. to even notice the little things like this. It's a bizarrely peaceful and calm place, not at all grim and scary. But it was a sunny day.

Melodies Graphiques

Stumbled on this old calligraphy shop on Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, where people who buy from him then write to him, showing off their skills with the new purchase. The best envelopes make it onto the wall. He's like a Parisian Tony Hart for calligraphers.

Monsieur Moustache

I haven't managed to find out who this is by yet, but I liked it so it's up here. Paris is pretty thin on the ground for good graff of any sort. It's not like they're just awesome at cleaning it off, as there's a lot of useless scrawls. It does make it extra exciting when you do spot anything half decent.

Parisian Booksellers

All along the sides of the streets around the Louvre, there are little green boxes which are occasionally opened up by people selling second hand books. There are some real gems in there.

Guess Where I Am

Phillip Marsden Exhibition

True Stories by P.M. is a retrospective exhibition of Phil's comic book works since 2004, running from 12th September - 28th November at Riverside Gallery in Richmond upon Thames. Make it there for a squizz if you can, more info here.

Anxieteam

OK, so here's something. New band. Anxieteam. Would love for this to be serious. It's like when someone superglues the locks on your car, just with music. And there's video for Melancholy Pays My Rent directed by Mimi and James of Plastik Magazine. As you might be able to tell, a certain Mr. Burgerman has a hand in things.

Moss Graffiti

I've been doing a fair bit of gardening recently, so I'm going to have to plan a bit of Moss Graffiti. On my own property, of course...

Mr Scruff Fairtrade Tea

Super-Fairtrade-Ultra-Ethical teabags from Mr Scruff, give you an even warmer feeling in your tummy when you drink it... For a more in depth review, have a look at Nice-Cuppa-Tea where they've written up their mug test.

The Toasters

Found this in a drawer the other day, it was given to me by one of the Toasters collective back in something like 2000 (or 2001 maybe?) when we helped out on a graphic design student thingemy up north. Was tough to have a conversation with at points, as was generally looking for places to stick these. Walking through the streets you'd just hear the occasional twang of a bestickered hand slapping a lamp post.

Old Obama Shots

Just seen these old photos on the Time website of Obama, looking quite young and different from the image he has these days. I'm going to have to dig out the old copy of a contact sheet I have of Sean Connery posing for his first promo shots for Dr. No in 1962. Will post them when I find them...

Clipper Tea Packaging

I love the new packaging from Clipper for their teas. I don't love nettle tea. Nettle tea was a bad choice.

Seasick Steve

I'm a big fan of Seasick Steve, and this interview is nicely put together for the Take Aways section of French site Blogotheque - I know I'll be working my way through a few more of the Take Aways films as soon as I find time, but the Seasick Steve spot has a very natural feel about it, a behind the scenes glimpse of the real artist. I love the way he strolls around playing to an almost oblivious mix of tourists and rat-racers, then sits down in the middle of a bunch of skaters who duly stop and watch, tapping along to his blues tracks. I hope I'm like Steve when I'm older. Minus the dungerees, maybe.

Robot Key Toppers

I love my Robot. Buy one from Fred.

Architectural Association

I was lucky enough to be at a wedding at the weekend, where the reception was at the AA in Hooke Park, Dorset - a 330 acre wood where they have a groundbreaking school who make some amazing experimental buildings and structures. This one, which acted as a dancefloor for the evening, is made of plywood. So I loved it instantly.

The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the new video for Treat Me Like Your Mother. I've been a fan of Jonathan Glazer's work for years, but can't help feeling this has kind of missed the mark somehow. Great track though.

James Bored

This just makes me laugh. It's like the vodka Martinis have finally caught up with him and he just can't be bothered with saving the world today.

The Gents

The Crown Inn, Roecliffe is a very nice, posh country pub in the middle of nowhere in Yorkshire, the loos are adorned with old pages from old school Playboy magazines. Tastefully done, with Honda logos and the like covering anything which may cause offense, there have been a few attempts to expose the ladies, alas to no avail. In the words of Jake Blues, "This is glue. Strong stuff."

Kent and London Letterpress Drawers

Spotted this chest of drawers, inspired by old letterpress blocks, by Kent and London is hand made and I absolutely want one but, at the thick end of three grand, I may be waiting some time...

Fabulous Bakin' Boys Packaging

Spotted on the end of a box of muffins from the Fabulous Bakin' Boys. How true they are.