I Know How To Cook.

I Know How To Cook by Ginette Mathiot

Phaidon 2009

I don't know how to cook but this book makes me want to learn.

Robert Mapplethorpe.

Robert Mapplthorpe: Polaroids

Prestl 2007

Got this book back in stock. Good news for all. I went to Skylight Books last week and got the Patti Smith biography. She's going to BE THERE TONIGHT AT 7PM but I can't go because I'm going to Santa Barbara Walters for a few days and I will have already left. Oh curses but oh excitement because I like going to stay by the sea.

The Contemporary Garden.

The Contemporary Garden

$24.95

Today has been bonkers busy in here. One of my favourite customers came in. His name is Tony Wilson and I like him because he's very friendly and has the same name as the man who started Factory Records. He is not the same person. A lovely lady from Philadelphia came in, she works for Urban Outfitters and has just done the Pasadena U.O window and apparently they did penants, just like me. Then Russell Brand came in! He bought a terrarium. I called my brother to tell him and he said that the word terrarium sounds like a disease. Silly billy. I have seen Russell Brand do stand-up a few times, he's very funny indeed. In person, he was much calmer (but maybe he had a headache). We chatted for a bit. He told me he liked my hair colour. I told him he was tall. I asked him what it was like being friends with Morrissey and he said a bit intimidating. I asked if Morrissey was grumpy but I can't remember what he said. It was fortuitous timing because just before he arrived I was eating a very messy thai lunch and he could have caught me with egg fried rice down my shirt. Phew and hoorah for small mercies. I got quite flustered but I don't think I showed it too much. I did ramble a bit but then I realized and I piped down.

This has nothing to do with contemporary gardens. I just really like the photography in the book.

William Eggleston.

William Eggleston: Paris

Steidl 2009

Last night I dreamt that I moved to NYC. I caught a bus to go to a job interview at a department store on the Upper East Side, but horrors of all horrors, I left my bag on the bus. This meant that I couldn't buy shoes for my interview which I obviously needed because I was bare foot. I walked in despair to my friend Doan's house (she lives on East something-or-other). I had sore feet.

Odd.

I like Paris. I might go on the way to the wedding-of-the-year-in-Italy, which takes place in May. I think Paris in May would be wonderful.

Peacock Males & Perfect Gentlemen.

The Man of Fashion: Peacock Males & Perfect Gentlemen

Colin McDowell

Thames & Hudson 1997

Continuing my love affair with all things written by Colin McDowell, I got a copy of his book on menswear through the ages. As expected, it's glorious. I have learnt many a titbit of information. Did you know that tweed was first named in the 1830s when a Scottish clerk misread the word "tweel", the Scottish form of twill, and put a d instead of an l? Did you know that a codpiece, despite being alarmingly phallic, was actually never intended to be sexual but was in fact, a man's way of establishing his male-alpha dominance? I did not. Endless factoids!

p.s. I've always been a bit obsessed with menswear, I have been checking out this blog for a few days mistermort.typepad.com. It's goooooood and fixes my menswear cravings.

IRM.

The new Charlotte Gainsbourg album came out yesterday. It's pretty good. I'm not a humungous Beck fan so I was a bit worried I wouldn't like it (he's the producer), but his vocals aren't too present so I worried all for nought.

James Turrell.

James Turrell: Geometries of Light

Hatje Cantz.

I had a sewing class yesterday. I had the class with my friend Lisa who is very nice. I hadn't seen her for a while so when she arrived at our sewing class I quickly pirouetted around (I was facing the window, ironing some fabric), and started doing Jumping Jack Star Jumps, to show my happiness at her arrival. During the afore mentioned JJSJs I noticed a little twinge in the shoulder but thought nothing of it and got back to work. Later that evening I could barely move. This morning I went to acupuncture and I have pulled a muscle and pinched a nerve in my scapular (?) area. I think that's the shoulder blade bit. I feel stupid. I felt more stupid explaining to Irina Tsong-The-Amazing (my acupuncturist), that I did it doing JJSJs. I am a twat.

Now I am on loads of pain medications, trying not to scare customers when they walk in. James Turrell has nothing to do with this, other than the fact that he is fairly soothing in times of distress. I actually feel great despite the agony. I think it's because it's raining again in LA, and I love rain. I may also just be high off my meds.

Norwegian Wood.

Norwegian Wood: The Thoughtful Architecture of Wenche Selmer

I'm having a dreadful day and it's only noon + 13 minutes! I think the ancient Greek goddesses Nemesis and Strife are following me around today and causing problems. Ug.

Things that cheer me up when I'm feeling horrendous:

1. Mochas

2. Fish and chips with lots of tartar sauce

3. One of my grandfather's terrible jokes

4.Gin

5. A good book

6. Norwegian Wood by the Beatles - I typed this in as Norwegian Woof originally - this apparently can also cheer me up. I should remember this for future reference.

Leslie-Miles

Been looking at this blog for a while. It's inspiring, fun and visually stunning. Saw this image on there today and fell in loves. This is my ideal bedroom.

Check out the blog by clicking the link: http://leslie-miles.blogspot.com

Tilda.

Tilda Swinton in the new Pringle adverts.

I like her very much indeed.

Fred Tomaselli.

Fred Tomaselli

Prestl 2009

$60

Do you have a wish-list of art you would own if you had endless pots of gold? For me Fred's Number One on that list. I love his art so much I could explode. I saw one glorious piece in a Saatchi exhibit in London about 10 years ago, and I seriously considered stealing it. I was fueled with much cheap alcohol. I think Ben talked me off the thievery-ledge.

On another note, it is literally a DELUGE of rain here in Los Angeles. Drains are bursting, trees are falling over and landslides abound (luckily nowhere near me). I feel that considering I'm fairly crafty and good with my hands, I should perhaps consider building an ark.

Je Love You Jane & Serge.