Confession Session...

Dearest Blog Readers,
As you may have noticed - my blog entries have been few and far between over the past few months. I find myself not writing as much because as mothers have said for centuries - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. It's been a pretty rough year & as each month passes I fear I have even fewer nice things to report. Maybe you've picked up on my malaise or maybe I've done a good job of masking it, either way I've just been having a shitty year. Forced to move out of my home of 6 years because of sky high property taxes... Problems at my day job (that are far too blah to go into) & recently me & my boyfriend of 10 years almost split up. The cherry on top? This past week I've been sick & in bed. Ugh. It's hard to "just keep swimming" sometimes. I've been creating some new stuff for Model Citizen, but I haven't had time to photograph it & blog about it & I've no energy to try & "sell it". You know what I mean? I'm just not "on" right now. I'm not complaining. I know you can't have the rainbows without the rain. I just thought I'd be honest with y'all.
The good news is - I'm going to snap out of. Soon! Dancing should help. So, without further ado... Jem performing Le Tigre's one & only DECEPTICON! Who's going to dance with me?

Black Friday? More Like Black Magic!

Finally! The holidays are here! Time to clock out & spend some time around the table with the people who drive you nuts and who you love the most. Then once we've all slept off that massive meal it's time for you know what!!

X-mas Shopping!

For all you Model Citizens out there I've got some good news!


1. There are over a dozen items in the SALE section of my shop right now! T's for $12! You'll also find some Boy Beaters, Bobby Pin sets & Earrings too!

2. In honor of Black Friday, ALL black items in the shop will ship for FREE all weekend long! That includes hoodies, yoga pants, tanks, t's, & dresses! Just enter BLACK MAGIC in the message to seller field when checking out and your shipping will be refunded to you.

3. Since the holidays are all about sharing I'm giving away a pair of custom Best Friend Necklaces! One half will say your name and the other half your best friends! How cute is that? If you'd like to enter to win all you gotta do is leave a comment telling me your favorite song with the word Black in the title.
The first one that pops into my mind is Black Out by Pavement - it's a damn good song.

I wish you all safe travels & a fantastic holiday! Eat a second helping of mashed potatoes for me!
...and of course I urge you to steer clear of the malls - handmade is where it's at! I know I am preaching to the choir, but what kind of Model Citizen would I be if I didn't say something?

xo!
Bonnie Rue

In Love and In Stitches!

Hello Lovelies!

I've got some good news!

1. Austin TX Finally cooled off. I'm blogging on my porch right now, listening to It's Blitz! sipping coffee in my hoodie & it's a crisp 47°F outside! I know that doesn't sound all that cold, but for Austin TX - that's full on winter! Just sayin.





2. The Sublime Stitching/Model Citizen Ready-To-Stitch Eco Totes are in my shop! AND - they come with floss, an embroidery needle AND How To instructions! This is a limited time offer kiddos. So don't eff around! Oh and BIG THANKS to Amy Bindle of Early Bird Special for stitching the example!




3. Tonight I'll be joining my manpanion, Austin Kalman for dinner @ Uchi in celebration of our 10 year anniversary! In 1999 we both moved to Olympia WA on a whim. We met almost immediately @ Majical Journeys where we both worked as phone psychics. Yes, phone psychics! I fell for him instantly and I'm still falling for him now. It's funny, I can't get away from musicians. On one of our first dates he told me he played guitar and I said "Oh honey - we all do.." Because I'm a jerk, BUT now he's about to embark on his first UK tour with his band and one of his songs actually appeared on Guitar Hero III... So, I was a jerk who is still pulling her foot out of her mouth. I'm so proud of him! Speaking of... I'm going to get off this computer and go give him my full attention. Nothing against y'all* of course.


xo!
Bonnie Rue

p.s. Expect East Austin Studio Tour updates next week!

*yeah, I said y'all. What you gonna do about it?

E.A.S.T. The New Frontier

Remember how I recently moved into a new place on the east side of town? Well I'm excited to announce my participation in the 2009 East Austin Studio Tour! That's right on the weekend of November 14th & November 21st you can come over and visit me in my studio. I'll have some items for sale and I'll be printing new items too! Oh and there will be drinks and snacks for visitors, you've got to keep your strength up on the tour! So much walking and so much to see! Speaking of - The Birdhouse (my amazing neighbors) will have an awesome group show up during the tour that is NOT TO BE MISSED! To learn more about who is else will be opening their doors please visit the E.A.S.T. homepage!

Praying for Plaid? Hungry for Houndstooth?

Or maybe just anxious for argyle? Me too!
Tis the season for these preppy/punky patterns - and don't worry because Model Citizen's got your back.

This fall I'm offering a small run of limited edition jewelry featuring more plaid, argyle and houndstooth than you can handle! Why - because I'm crazy obsessed with all three. Seriously - cray cray!


I sat down the other day while I had a cold and designed my own argyle (see with the unicorns!!) and then I could not stop myself. And there is more to come! You know this! Two words for you Cupcake Argyle. Oh yeah - that's in the works! Do not fret my lovely readers, I'll keep you posted.

If you see something you like, but maybe you prefer a different tartan or color scheme please feel free to message me on etsy or email me @ bonnie@modelcitizenclothing.com and I can make you a custom piece. Why? Because I want you to be happy ;)

So tell me, which is your favorite? Houndstooth, Argyle or Plaid? Which do you wear the most of? I think I probably wear plaid the most. Austin recently bought me a plaid dress - check it out!

xo!
Bonnie Rue

p.s. My $12 T-shirt sale is still in full effect... but how long will it last?

Trilogy of Awesomeness!

Hello loverly readers! Remember how I've been hinting at a Super secret collaboration for months now? I don't have to keep you in the dark any longer! Sublime Stitching approached me a few months ago *swoon* about the Model Citizen <3's Bake & Destroy design I did at the beginning of the year. You know the one - inspired by Natalie Slater & it came with her awesome Nacho Cupcake recipe? It was featured on the Bust blog & we did a huge giveaway? Yes! Now your memory has been refreshed & just in time! Well, that design is now featured on one of Sublime Stitchings Stitch-It-Yourself Eco Tote Bags!
That's Right!
Sublime Stitching + Model Citizen Clothing + Bake & Destroy!

Soon they will be available in my shop too, but here's some seriously amazing new: You've got a chance to win one of these amazing totes, a Model Citizen brooch AND 3 sets of cupcake toppers from Bake & Destory! Visit the Sublime Stitching blog, leave a comment and cross your fingers! The give away ends @ 4pm this afternoon so do not dilly dally!

*You will get a second chance to win a tote here @ Good Girls & Geeks - but not today...

Okay, What are you still doing here? Scram! Go! Win!

xo!
Bonnie Rue

Naughty and Nice Posh Punk Lace Button Set

Now that I have room to play again I have been digging out old craft supplies and playing into the wee hours of the night! These new Naughty & Nice Posh Punk Button Sets are the result of last nights free time! Inspired by my childhood love of Madonna, Pretty in Pink & my ever growing collection of girl band 7 inches, these buttons turned out better than I could have ever imagined! One set of 4 will run you only $9! So strike a pose ladies!

Massive $12 Model Citizen Clothing Sale!

Like I said in my last post - I'm in a new place now (high 5!) & the show is ready to go on! I'm setting up my new studio at the moment & it's very um, cozy, so - it's time to make some room! How to do that? Four words, ten syllables, twelve dollars...
Massive Model Citizen Clothing Sale!
Over 12 T's Earrings, Bobby Pin sets & Brooches in the shop for only $12 a piece! How long will this crazy sale last? Not forever! It's like Janis always said "Get it while you can!"
Just click on the picture below & you will be whisked away to a land of guilt free shopping!

Etsy Buy Handmade ModelCitizen

As things move along here at Model Citizen HQ I will send out another news letter with pictures of my new amazing work space and the scrappy porch cat that hangs around. We've been calling her Ms. Hissy.. but that's a story for another day isn't? Anywho..
As always - I hope you all have a good deed filled day!

xo!
Bonnie Rue

p.s. I'll be showing Melisser of Urban Housewife fame around Austin this week! Expect fantastic photos & tales of good vegan eating very soon!

Moving on up to the East side

Our move is complete!.. and so is most of the unpacking. It's been long and hard (that's what she said). I know it's not news, but moving SUCKS. It makes everything hurt. At times you want to put all your stuff on the curb and live the "simple life" but, that's not me. I'm not simple. I need this for that and can't get rid of x, y & z because they are needed for c, d & e! So we march on in our journey for order and cozy-ness. And cozy it will be! Our new place is about 1/4 the size of our old house. Eek! Time to get creative! The BIG project has been putting together Model Citizen HQ. There are no pictures yet, but I think this will be the most streamlined work space I've ever had! Super exciting! I've been visiting Apartment Therapy daily for inspiration. Thanks Apartment Therapy!

In other news - Model Citizen will be unveiling some new snazzy designs in October! More dresses ladies! Also - I've got a new super secret collaboration with one of the worlds biggest craft stars that will be released very soon! Unfortunately I can't say more than that for now. I know, boo, hiss - but patience is a virtue, right?

For now - I leave you with a drawing of some dresses I doodled from a dream I had. I hope you like them ;)

Handmade Nation Premier in Austin, TX!

On Sunday, September 6th The Alamo Drafthouse is hosting the Austin premier of Handmade Nation! A documentary about the craft movement in America by Faythe Levine. If you read my blog I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you are crafty - or a crafty connoisseur - ergo you must go to the premier. It's mandatory.
Faythe has been traveling all over - premiering her documentary 1 city at a time & I've been eagerly awaiting it's arrival to the Lone Star State! So you can only imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to come and sell Model Citizen Clothing @ the premier! I've got some new stuff that isn't available in the shop yet! Ooh Aah! Other crafty Austinites will be there too - such as Sublime Stitching, Naughty Secretary Club, Made With Sweet Love, Ramonster, One Creative Girl, Pommes Frites & More! Come out, shop, see the film, check out some awesome demo's by Yudu, Wondercraft & Rachel Hobson! It's guaranteed to be an inspiring day! Tickets are still available through the Alamo Drafthouse!

Art of Living

As you know, I've been bunking up with friends all summer but as of September 1st Austin & I will be moving into our new abode! We are incredibly excited to announce that we will be living in the BiRDHOUSE - one of Austin's latest & greatest independent art galleries. We couldn't have asked for a more creative environment to live in. It's right down the street from Domy Books, around the corner from Okay Mountain and walking distance from downtown and Rio Rita! Plus - this fall Model Citizen Clothing & BiRDHOUSE will be a part of the East Austin Studio Tour.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Now I'm off to day dream about paint color options... I'm thinking peach, gray & cream. The wood floor is painted red, so...
What do you think?

Triumphant Return!

Hello Lovely Readers!
I'm back from Portland & in a super-duper good mood! Vacation will do that to you *wink*
My arrival to the City of Roses was a late one indeed. I rolled in around midnight on Monday and my friend Eli picked me up from the airport. What a doll! We got up fairly early on Tuesday and hit the ground running. Breakfast @ Paradox was Eli's call and a delicious call at that. I had the vegan "eggs" benedict, so filling, so yummy and totally affordable. Then we were off to visit a ton of fabric stores and to take a stroll across the St. Johns Bridge - which I was totally into and then I sort of wimped out over the height. It's a TALL ass bridge and I'll admit it - I was scaredy fraid. BUT the photo ops from that height we're uh-mazing! See? It was so beautiful it didn't feel real. How many places can you say that about? Well, sure there are others, but c'mon you know what I mean.
There are a lot of reasons to LOVE Portland. The people are friendly even when they're in traffic! On top of being friendly, they are also crafty, stylish, well read & well fed! We went to get bubble tea (the best I've EVER had) one afternoon and I picked up a the Microcosm Publishing catalog! It is filled with crafty and informative zines - TONS of them! I wish Austin's zine scene could compete, but Portlands zinesters are in a league of their own. If you love zines I suggest you give the Microcosm catalog a thorough flipping (or clicking) through.
Unfortunately I arrived JUST after Crafty Wonderland, it's just how the dates worked out, but next year I think I'm going to try and participate. Portland NEEDS some Model Citizen action AND I am happy to report that they won't have to wait until next year for that to happen! Soon - Naked City on Hawthorn will be carrying Model Citizen Clothing! I stopped by one afternoon to met the owner and we are a go! I'll keep you all posted as to when the goods get there.
I also met with Michael @ Tinymeat and got to see their awesome space in the Mississippi neighborhood. We went to lunch and talked about crafting and what is to come next in the craft scene. Enlightening and fun! Before we parted ways Michael gave me a few wallets that I had designed for them and in the coming weeks I'll be giving one of those wallets away to one very lucky reader. Stay Tuned!

A week in an amazing city leaves me with too much report, but here are some other highlights from my trip:
*Seeing Austin's band (LIONS) play a show at the East End with Red Fang! I picked up one of the coolest band t-shirts I've EVER owned!

*Visiting Voodoo Doughnuts in the middle of the night and loading up on crazy deliciousness! We got one TEX-ASS doughnut which was just a big-ass doughnut! Like the size of a dinner plate. We also got a Maple Bacon eclair kind of thing that everyone fought over due to it's extremely tasty nature. Then there was my favorite - The Old Dirty Bastard. Oreo cookies, chocolate & peanut butter. Watch out! It was incredible & edible & undeniably my favorite. This place could keep Portland dentists in business.

*Taking a lot of photo booth pictures with some of my oldest & greatest friends. See:


*The afternoon I spent with Austin @ The Portland Classical Chinese Garden. It's a living museum tucked into the middle of downtown. Once you enter you just forget where you are & it's uh-mazing! Perfect date place, if you ask me.

*And last but not least, my friend Russ from Seattle came to see me for a few days & we drove out to Multnomah Falls. Again - it was so lovely that I just couldn't believe it was real. Strange Magic indeed. I say that because I had Strange Magic stuck in my head for the entire trip. Thanks ELO.


To see more photos check out my flickr PDX 2009 set.

Where did YOU go on vacation this summer? Do I need to add it to my long list of places to see before I die? Tell me all about it!

xo!
Bonnie Rue

Leavin' On A Jet Plane!

I'm getting out of town for a bit! Headed out to lovely Portland OR to visit some old friends & catch up with my boyfriend while he's on tour playing a couple of shows with Red Fang.



I shall return in a week with lots of photos & fantastical tales of my travels. You can also look forward to the 3rd installation of Becoming a Modern Day Model Citizen. It's going to be all about making the world a lovelier place.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu & yieu & yieu!

Becoming A Modern Day Model Citizen Pt. Deux

Charity for charity's sake.

I think Lily Tomlin said it best "I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."

We are all somebody. Maybe not as funny of a somebody as Lily, but somebody none the less. Earlier this week we talked about being green and today I'd like to share some fun ways to lend a hand in your community. Occasionally I help serve dinner at a homeless shelter here in Austin, TX called the ARCH. I'm on an email list and when they need me I go. It's allowed me to meet some really neat people and see a side of my city that I used to just pass by. Since I do not have a lot of expendable income, my time is the most valuable thing I have to offer. I think the same goes for most people these days. And with the economy hurting as it is at the moment there are a lot more volunteer opportunities out there.

Here are just a few:

* If you'd like to get charitable along side your friends I suggest you throw a bake sale or YART sale and donate part of your proceeds to a local charity. Baking some cupcakes and take them directly to the homeless shelter would be a genuinely good deed as well. And perhaps, if you live in a place that is cooler than Austin TX, consider having a picnic in a your favorite park and then literally pick up some litter once you've finished dining with your friends. You could separate all the recyclables and take them to the recycling center and pat yourselves on the back.

* If you are an animal lover you could walk a dog at your local animal shelter. Lots of animals have been displaced as people have lost their jobs and our furry neighbors need some love too. If you fall in love with one of them you could offer to foster them until they find a permanent home. Shelters often do not have a lot of money and this helps them out tremendously.

* Sort donations at a food bank or goodwill. Most of these centers deliver to a plethora of different locations and truly need you help, because it's not all peas and carrots. There's so much more work to it.

* Be a Baby Cuddler! Hospitals, orphanages, group homes & nurseries need people to come in and simply hold babies. These little bundles of joy need human contact to begin developing their social interaction skills. It will literally change their lives. You could help them increase their learning abilities and build stronger self-esteem. Sometimes babies who were born prematurely will stay at the hospital for months, but their parents have to go back to work. That's where you come in, to be there when their parents simply can not.

* Do you have a green thumb? You could help teach elementary school children how to garden and what it means to eat organic! I've seen lots of schools around here put in small gardens for their students. They learn about composting and which bugs are helpful or harmful. Down the road it means healthier kids who care about what they eat and where it came from.

* Every city has a homeless shelter and they often need a lot more than someone to help them serve dinner. They need hairdressers to volunteer a haircut or two so that their clients can go out and get jobs! The ARCH is always asking me if I know anyone who can come teach the men who live there how to play chess. They even have art teachers come volunteer their time so their residents can creatively express themselves.

* Join your local Food Not Bombs chapter. You will meet some very awesome and highly progressive people while getting a lesson in vegan cooking

To find awesome opportunities in your area please visit www.volunteermatch.org - you will be glad you did.






Do you already lend a hand? I want to hear all about it! Please tell me your story in the comments.

xo!
Bonnie Rue

Become a modern day Model Citizen Pt. 1

I didn't just name my clothing line Model Citizen for any old reason. I chose the name because that is what I aspire to be. Sure, I have a ways to go, but luckily I can't shake that old Gandhi quote "Be the change you want to see in the world" & I just keep on keepin' on the path to becoming a modern day Model Citizen. Join me in my journey!
Over the next week I will be posting some fabulous and easy ways to kick start the Model Citizen inside all of us.

Today lets talk about being Green!

First off, to be a Model Citizen, one must be conscious of their actions and the results of them. Obviously littering is a big no no and recycling will get you high 5's all the way around. But as a lady have you ever thought about how much stuff you throw away every month that just ends up in the land fill? Tampons, disposable razors, cotton balls, maxi pads, etc. Well, we've all gotta cut that out. We've got to replace these things with reusable products that come with much less packaging. Lets have a look at whats available to us these days shall we?


Personally, I don't want to know how many disposable razors I've heaved into the landfill since I started shaving 15 years ago! Don't get me wrong, I loved those little pink razors, I even made a shirt in homage to them, but sometimes you gotta choose function over fashion. Luckily, now you can get your legs bare with care using the Retro Razor! It'll give you a closer shave and the only thing you toss is the metal blade itself. Greener, cheaper, closer!

Say buh-bye to tampons! The Diva Cup is here to save the day & save you money! Yes, it is literally a cup, it does not absorb, it collects. You change it every 12 hours, wash it off and tah dah - use it again! You buy 1 (yes only 1) a year! You won't be asking around in the ladies room for a tampon ever again and you will no longer be throwing away tons of bleached out cotton that had to be grown somewhere. Total Win! If the concept makes you tightly cross your legs and shake your head, remember what the A Team taught you - Knowing is half the battle! Visit www.divacup.com for some in depth QnA. Seriously though - if every lady who read this blog in the last month used a diva cup instead, there would be about 20,000 less tampons in the landfill each month! That's some crazy math.

While we are waving goodbye to tampons, lets say farewell to their Maxi-pad sisters of the south. There are TONS of options for reusable liners these days! They come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a wide array of fabrics that will make you say "ooh aah" and some will even make you chuckle. Etsy has a large selection and you can also check out Lunapads for all your PMS precautions.

Since we're on the subject... I was recently introduced to another eco-friendly creation for your girlie bits. Time to climax with a conscious using the worlds first sex toy made with 100% green technology! The Earth Angel! Dang, even the name is fantastic! This vibrator (and the packaging) is made entirely of recycled plastics AND requires NO batteries! It charges manually through a small crank tucked into the base of the toy. Turn it 4 times and you've got 30 minutes of fun in your hands. Turn it 8 times and it will purr for an entire hour.


Hopefully these few suggestions has you thinking about other things in your life that could be replaced with an item that has a longer shelf life. We've only got one planet and it will really suck if we gunk it up with all the junk we do not want.

For more inspiration in the green department you should calculate your personal carbon footprint with this handy dandy footprint calculator.
How do you measure up?

What's next up on How To Become A Modern Day Model Citizen?
Creative ways to lend a hand!

Until next time...
XO!
Bonnie Rue

Summer Time Blues

I get hung up on things. Obsessed, infatuated, fixated, consumed, whatever you want to call it. Sometimes it's a fleeting thing and sometimes it becomes a life long addiction .. such as my love for BIG noses & GIANT earrings. These things will never fall out of favor with me. Ever! Currently I find myself feeling Blue. If it's blue, I want it, I need it, I've got to got to have it! And my pocket book is feeling weak under the weight of my desires.

Recently I purchased the most adorable blue shoes from Irregular Choice. I picked them up at Creatures, a little boutique here in Austin that I love! When I put them on there is no way I could feel blue. They scream "take me out, lets dance this mess around!" I must obey. It's hard to say no to Irregular Choice. They recently opened their online shop and I've already picked out another pair of shoes that I MUST have! If you can figure out which pair they are I will send you a Blue Tiger's <3 Cupcakes brooch. Leave your guesses in the comments below! I'll give you some hints - they are tall and blue (of course).

In other blue news I picked up this adorable bag from Eli Makes and it has become my #1 grocery store/ farmers market companion. It's made from oil cloth so it stands up to the wear and tear and is easy to clean. Much appreciated. I can't even tell you how much I love the oil cloth lace that lines the edges of the heart and the trim of the bag. Such a fantastic detail. People always ask me where I got it, so now you know! Thanks Eli!


AND because I am obsessed, infatuated, fixated, consumed, etc. I am currently sporting a bright blue mani pedi (which looks fantastic with my new shoes, btw). When I saw OPI's Blue My Mind I had no choice. My mind was blown and my toes are blue. Making me very blue and very happy. OPI has just teamed up with Sephora for a new line of polishes that will knock your socks off. Which is great because no one can see your lovely feet with socks on. Check it out!



If you actually suffering from a case of the summer time blues I suggest you load up on some blueberries. My boss calls them "the #1 berry" and with good reason. They allow the body a greater ability to release dopamine (the stuff that makes your brain all glowy when you fall in love)! Blueberries contain tons of antioxidants that trigger the growth of new neurons in the brain's hippocampus that governs motor skills, memory and learning. Their smell is known to trigger other feel-good neurotransmitters like and serotonin. These #1 berries also help that regenerate skin cells and their blue color instantly lowers heart and breathing rates and hence, reduces stress. You gotta love that.

In short - blue is the new black!
If you want to win this snazzy brooch just guess which pair of shoes is next on my hit list. First person to guess correctly will be the winner du jour!

*facts about blueberries were lifted from faq.com

There's no place like home! There's no place like home!

Summer is so serious! It has been NON STOP! Between the heat, work, Model Citizen & trying to find a new place to live I have not had a moment to even begin to update my blog. Which saddens me to no end. It's not like I don't have a place to hang my (fabulous) hat in this heat, but as I've mentioned before, I am staying with friends and living out of boxes during this record high summer. But - that brings me to the big news!

Austin (my manpanion) and I have decided to say Buh Bye to renting and Hello to home ownership! After 10 lovely years of living in Austin we feel it is high time to plant some serious roots and buy into this city that we love so. It's not the most original idea, sure, but we are very excited! It's kind of weird though - all of this is happening while he is on the road touring with his band. So, I've been house hunting rather than blogging, designing and going to yoga.
While I day dream of something like this:

The reality of my bank statement is keeping my head from floating into the clouds.

Ooh - look at the time! I'm off to look at a house now! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Wheels On Fire

It makes me pretty sad to think that I haven't had a chance to write a blog post in almost a month! Things have been so insanely hectic! Me & mine moved out of our house in exactly 30 days. That my friends was HARD. Austin (my manpanion) was in the studio recording a record & getting ready for a 3 month tour. I was in the middle of designing new items for fall and creating lots of new jewelry for the Texas Roller Derby Battle on the Bank II - The largest roller derby event in the world! Making a creative mess while packing and downsizing is something I hope to never have to do again. But I have to say - it all went off with out a hitch. I'm in my new temporary home now, living in South Austin with my talented friend Adrienne who is an architect & all around design genius. She is also married to the drummer of Austin's band so we are keeping eachother company while our dudes tour across the US. We work out together every morning and trade off making dinner almost every night. This might just be the most healthy & grown up relationship I've ever had ;)

But what about the Battle on the Bank you say? Well, it was kind of incredible! Women from all across the country came out to compete against our "All Scar" Texas Roller Derby Girls! I spent the past weekend in a huge room filled with some seriously tough women on wheels!

In true Texas style - the theme was capital punishment and when you walked in the door you immediately saw an electric chair sitting just in front of the ring! Kinda scary, but people popped in and out of it all day posing for pictures. The crowd for this event really brought it! I'm talking costumes i.e. Jedi's, Ninja's, peacocks & of course the derby dolls themselves we decked out in war paint, tattoos, super cute booty shorts and flashy safety gear. Eye candy everywhere!


Of course, I was cheering for Austin's very own Lonestar All-Scar Army but the San Diego Derby Dolls reigned supreme, beating the LA Ri-ettes 78 to 76 in the final bout! SO Close! To see everyone's final scores check out www.derbynewsnetwork.com

As if all this heavy competition wasn't exciting enough - I am happy to report that I was in good crafty company all weekend long! So much talent! I had to keep reminding myself that I was there to work and make money, not shop and blow it all. Although I couldn't pass up a bottle of Bruise Balm from Glimmerance. Designed to help heal those of us who like to play rough so we can get back in the saddle a little sooner. I hope every derby doll went home with a bottle of this magical lotion! Oh did I mention that it smells lovely too? '


Other heavy hitters you should know about?
Diamonds & Guns
Devil Girl Designs
Lucy Blue Studio
Goth Martha
&
E Street Jewelry (etsy shop coming soon)

For all you ladies on wheels I highly recommend that you check out Jane Awesome. She has great gear, is a wealth of roller derby knowledge & can help you breath new life into your skates!

And if your wheels are on fire & you like it that way you should pick up a subscription to Blood & Thunder Magazine - the largest magazine dedicated to the revival of this awesome sport! www.bloodandthundermag.com/

xo!
Bonnie Rue

Eight is Great

Indy Grrrl, a fellow blogger, juicer, crafterella & entrepreneur has tagged me to list 8 things about my life

8 things I am looking forward to:
1.Oddly enough - I am looking forward to moving & spending the summer in flux. My tree needed a good shaking & now it's happening. Time to purge & start over in a new place!
2. Visiting Portland in August! I'm going to escape the heat & visit some old friends!
3. Selling my goods @ the TXRD in a few weeks!
4. Paying off what little debt I have.
5. The next YART Sale (date TBD)
6. Going to see UP with my mister before he leaves for tour.
7. Doing lots of yoga with Adrienne who is putting me up for most of the summer.
8. Our Moving Out party which will be from sun up to sun down next Saturday!

8 things I did yesterday:
1. Rolled out of bed & got a smoothie @ The Daily Juice! Peaches & Maka & Ginko Oh My!
2. Model Citizen inventory & order shipping
3. Packing up the house (boring!)
4. Had a talk with my cat about his much needed attitude adjustment
5. Ordered T's from American Apparel, including XL's for everyone who requested them.
6. Posted some Pink Gunslinger T's in the shop
7. Had an amazing macrobiotic dinner @ Casa de Luz with an old friend
8. Fell asleep early watching No Reservations.

8 things I wish I could do:
1. Tap dance in roller skates... or out of them
2. Speak a 2nd language
3. Be taller
4. Quit my day job
5. Have my cake & eat it too
6. Play the piano
7. Spend even more time volunteering
8. Be naturally good at organizing things...

8 shows I watch:
I don't have cable so most of the TV I watch is either rented/ owned/ or viewed on Hulu
1. No Reservations
2. 30 Rock
3. Six Feet Under
4. Iron Chef
5. The Office
6. Daria
7. My So Called Life
8. The Daily Show

Now to tag 8 people!
Goddesses Are People Too...
Flying Cars & Robot Boyfriends
Tuesday at Eleven
Naughty Secretary Club
Bake & Destroy
Average Jane Crafter
MewFashion
Eli Makes Things

Rhinestones & Roller Skates

Because packing is boring & crafting things is way fun I took a break from the boxes to create these awesome new Rhinestones & Roller Skates earrings! I'm making tons for the derby next month, but for all you non-Austinites they are up in the shop & ready to roll (pun intended)! Yes there really are little rhinestones in the wheels that catch the light & add to the awesomeness of the retro rollerskates. Soon I'll also have the Skatin' Worshiper Skorts available in LG & XL. If you are interested in either of these sizes you must let me know now as I am doing a limited run of them and most will be going to the tournament. Do you know a team or are part of a team that would like to sport some of my Skatin' Worshiper wear?! If so it is available at discount prices if you are buying for the whole team.
Speaking of discounts there are a few electric blue & hot pink Skatin Worshiper T's marked down in the shop. Once upon a time they were $26 & now they are $15!
Only 3 left so get 'em while you can!

Upside Down Cake

No, this isn't a post about baking or even cake.. Sorry to disappoint you, but my life has recently become just that - an "upside down cake". For the past six years I've lived on the greatest little corner of the world in an old two story house built in the 1930's. It's where I've been loving and creating my little heart out. It truly has been my home. This is where the upside down part comes in... My land lady has recently informed us that she has to sell this house due to rising property taxes. We didn't see this coming at all & after the heartbreak set in we thought about our options and decided that it's best if we move NOW. Since I run Model Citizen out of this house it feels impossible to keep it all up and running while realators show the house to potential buyers. PLUS Austin is leaving on tour soon and will be gone for most of the summer, so if we had to move in the next few months, I'd be doing the bulk of it alone. I'm not into that AT ALL.

So, to put it lightly, this is a bummer. BUT, at the end of the day I have to admit that a change will do us good. *This is me trying to embrace change rather than resist it* We're going to get rid of all the extra "crap" that has accumulated here, then throw a massive dance party in the empty house & move on.

I'd be lying if I said that the neighborhood hasn't changed. It's happening everywhere! You've all seen it. Old houses and buildings get bought up, torn down & replaced with condo's and town homes. I'm not sure why I thought we were immune to this trend. Naivete I suppose or maybe just wishful thinking. I love these old houses & watching them get torn down & forgotten breaks my heart. I can only hope that whoever ends up here will try to keep the charm of this neighborhood alive by not building some mcmansion here. *fingers crossed*

Since this is all happening so fast & we are unsure of what our next step should be, I will be moving in with a friend for the summer & all of our earthly belongings will go into storage. I think it will be like sleep away camp all summer long, which is really very exciting! I do want you all to know that Model Citizen will remain in business through this process though! If you are in Austin & you want to see the latest & greatest of my creations, you can come check them out at the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls Banked Track Tournament on June 20th & 21st. I've got tons of new stuff for all you skatin' worshipers out there!

Well, I'm off to pack & make a trip to Goodwill. Bye Bye stuff!

Want. Need. Summer Edition

Here in Austin, TX summer is in full swing! It's only May & we are getting into the 90's with little to no effort at all. This isn't unusual, I'm just saying - Summer has arrived! I've already been swimming, achieved a less than appealing "farmers tan" & lost a couple of poppy plants to some serious sunshine. So yes, lets bust out the Banana Boat & sneak into some apartment pools!

This is less of a want / need list & more of a Summer Survival check list - and away we go!

First off EVERY girl needs a sun dress & a pair of all purpose sandals or flip flops to beat the heat. I have fallen in love with this Reflection Pool Dress from ModCloth! It's breezy, colorful, strappy & calling my name. I've never gotten over my punk & gothic tendencies. It took years for me to introduce color into my wardrobe... and this dress is the best of both worlds. It will pair up perfectly with my all black Tiddies! Wait? What?! No, I'm not being obscene, not this time anyway.. I'm talking about Tiddies Sandals which are made right here Texas. Soft & squishy (as the name implies), sturdy & guess what kids, they float! So no worries about loosing a shoe over the side of the boat or at the bottom of the pool. You can pick up a pair at www.mytiddies.com

With all the humidity it's best to wear little to no makeup. I suggest a touch of waterproof mascara, a dab of Staniac by the Balm & some 30 spf mineral powder by Peter Thomas Roth. The lip stain is by far one of the greatest purchases of 2009. You only have to apply it once, maybe twice a day & your lips look so bright & lovely. This stuff will never streak! It's my new favorite thing. I'm also pretty in love with this mineral powder. My skin can be problematic in the summer months with all the sweating & swimming going on. It's compact, enough to live in my bag & will help fight off the sun & my dreaded adult acne. Genius!

Speaking of battling the blazing sun, how fabulous are these vintage Ray Ban sunglasses?! I've been excited to see the Wayfarers make a mighty return, but given the choice - these sassy cat eyes would be my pick. I'll race you to the check out line! Now that we've got the look covered, lets talk about the scent of summer. I'm not into being stinky per se, but I really hate perfume and groddy aluminum filled deodorant. Lucky for me, I'm not alone. Christopher Brosius not only hates perfume, he did more than just complain about it. He created a line of perfumes that has been summed up in 3 words "Scent is Life". And that's exactly what you get. Scents with names like Burning Leaves, In the Library, & I am a Dandelion - there is no way you can go wrong.. Scents so distinct that you'll find yourself places you've never been like... At the Beach 1966. Said to smell of Coppertone, wet sand, seashells, driftwood & a hint of boardwalk, I am sold! I can't wait to order a bottle and bathe in it. He has over 20 scents in his collection, you really must check them out www.cbihateperfume.com

No summer is complete with out a reading list & a soundtrack. I'll be sitting by someone elses pool, listening to the Talking Heads & reading a Brave New World.
What are you reading this summer? Have any amazing travel plans or are you going to enjoy a little "stay-cation" this year? Inquiring minds want to know!

Creatures of Delight

I was checking out some of my blog posts from last year when I came across Making Old Art New Again & realized it was high time I do some creative recycling again. Over the past few days I've been working on these Creatures of Delight Earrings (seen above). If one of these ladies looks familiar it's because she lives on the cover of a Tinymeat wallet!
Perhaps you are familiar with my scribblings & know that I rarely draw pictures of actual people. When I have in the past it's always been practice for the autobio"graphic"al novel I plan to put together one day. For the most part though I draw imaginary girls. Girls who are missing limbs, faceless bitches & anthropomorphic ladies are my favorite things to draw. Oh & hairdo's - always hairdo's! That's where this Creatures of Delight series started, with big colorful hairdo's. I'm from Dallas, big hair is in my blood. The bigger the better! *that's what she said*

When sporting a massive do you need BIG earrings and thus - Creatures of Delight Earrings were born! They are still in production & are not in the shop just yet, but they will be very soon!

I decided to photograph the jewelry before I put the hooks on because geometrically they look soo good together. They wanted to have their picture taken right away & I never say no to a pretty lady who wants to be in pictures. The first batch of these new gems are going directly to Sparrow Collective in Milwaukee, WI (previously called Fasten Collective) which is having it's grand opening on May 16th, 2009. I've been hearing amazing things about this shop, so if you are in the area you should definitely swing by & help Sparrow Collective become what really made Milwaukee famous.

Other drawings are being turned into wearable pieces of art as we speak (er, type)! I'll photograph and post as soon as they are ready to hit the stage.

Out with the Old, In with the Awesome

If you read my blog often or follow me on Twitter you know that I like to party with a purpose. You may recall my post about the Art Raffle we held a few months back? Well, me & the same group of friends held a YART Sale this weekend @ BiRDHOUSE Gallery. There were maybe 15 people total who brought out their unwanteds for the public to dig through. Clothes, books, records & nicknacks galore! Everyone also brought some art they'd made. Small zines, large paintings, photographs, prints, greetings cards, & even some sculpture pieces. It was really amazing, totally inspiring & quite profitable! I sold a bunch of old clothes, lot's of my new jewelry & a few prints, yay! We sat on the porch soaking up the sun, haggling our tails off drinking Tito's all day. Oh did I forget to mention that Tito's sponsored YART & gave us a case of vodka?! The folks at Tito's are mighty generous. I'm thinking of asking them to sponsor my next breakup... Anywho... Let me show you some of the incredible booty that I scored at YART. Prepare to turn green with envy!

First off Larissa Swindle put this little shindig together. Round of applause for her! I know that getting all of us together had to be a lot like herding cats. She had these amazing photographs she'd taken with her Holga and I was lucky enough to make three of them MINE! I came home & directly hung this shot in my kitchen, so I can see it every day. The kitchen - most popular room in the house.

Clayton Kalman created these "semi autobiographical" greetings cards - which I instantly fell in love with! Sure, Clayton is sort of my brother-in-law, but that doesn't make me biased. Cross my heart. I love that these cards are written on left-over sticky pages from an old photo album. You get the sense that he just had to tell someone this RIGHT NOW & found whatever was near by. I can't count how many times I've run into an X & thought this exact thing. If only I'd had this card or the balls to tell them. This next one is straight out of a movie. "I almost lost my job because I over slept... because you were in my bed." This is a note anyone would love to find on a pillow in the morning. It'll give you goose bumps & make you blush. I purchased a third card that reads "I surrender... I'll do anything you say". See what I mean about the goosebumps? The other amazing thing about these "greetings" cards is that they require no signature. I'm trying to convince Clayton to put these up on Etsy... If you would like to help me persuade him please leave a comment here so I can point wildly at them and make my case. I do have one item for sale in my shop that was created by Clayton - The Sinking Ship earrings. There are only 10 pairs - so when they are gone, they are gone.


Last but certainly not least - I picked up this Fake Steak that was created by a cute little vegan girl named Michelle. This makes me so happy I can hardly tell you! A screen print of a steak resting in a styrofoam shell & saran wrapped for your giggling pleasure. Finally! A steak that is good for something!


YART was so incredible AND we will be doing it again! I hope this post inspires you and your friends to get your YART on!

xo!
Bonnie Rue