Monday, August 31, 2009

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!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

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?

Monday, August 17, 2009

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

Sunday, August 9, 2009

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!