Woweeee!

Goodness, the Junkstallation was a ROARING success!!!!!!

I hardly know where to start or which pictures to pick as it was such a MARATHON day! There's a couple of looks that warrant a separate post altogether....


Once again, the pub was completely transformed, practically wallpapered in all manner of clothing, nick nacks and pictures. The George and Dragon is a shrine to clutter already, so with another layer of stuff, if a person stood still too long they blended into the surroundings!

There are several people and a small child (mine) in this picture.....

Nathaniel tried to make the entrance look as enticing as possible..

The boys stayed for a while, long enough to set up a little stall in the corner with some fabulous "stock".

As usual, my decks got covered in all manner of tempting items to purchase...

Jonjo popped by to pick up a bit of fake Versace we had on lay-away for him....

As drinks-o-clock came around, people entered into the proceedings with renewed gusto and enthusiasm...

Gender became blurred as the revellers went with the flow....


The smoke-machine, still in residence after the Halloween party, gave an interesting, if slightly panic-inducing atmosphere to the already claustrophobic effect...

This lady piled on so many layers of cardigan, fabric and hattery and even sang us a song!

Definitely a case of too much not being nearly enough!
Gwen treated us to a costume change - luckily she was wearing thigh-high boots which were the perfect accompaniment to the nylon slip she spied hanging from the bar!


Thanks all for coming and remember M. Goldstein's is open on Saturday and Sunday, 67 Hackney Road.....

Madame x

Happy Birthday Max!

We're a couple of swells.....they've tried to kill us with ice........high five.....oh nothing......none of which anyone but Max will understand! But anyway dude, have a rest from pulling ceilings down today and put on something nice and get your butt down to the George and Dragon tonite where we will celebrate with fine music and much alcohol!!!!! Anyone who wants to join us is most welcome! George and Dragon, 2 Hackney Road, E2.

Madame x

Full English?

Etienne and I met for breakfast the other morning. He's been telling me about the "Regency Cafe" (17-19 Regency St, SW1) and how it's right up my alley....how right he was!

Estd. 1946 it really doesn't appear to have changed since that date. Creamy yellow tiles (one of those wonderful post-war colours like that dirty green with lots of grey in it, or rose with the same greyish lustre), red lino and formica tables, I couldn't believe I've not been here before.

Great breakfast menu...including bubble and squeak and black pudding!.....and the portions are ENORMOUS! My dinner the night before had consisted of humous and crackers and Etienne hadn't eaten at all as he fell asleep at 7pm and didn't wake until 8am (we lead very exciting lives!) so we both would've eaten a scabby donkey if it was arranged on a plate....but look at the spread! This is mine; scramble, bubble and squeak, mushrooms and tomatoes with a side of toast:

And Etienne's; frieds eggs, bacon, beans, tomato and a bit of my bubble and squeak with white toast:

Here he is about to attack!

We went for a wander around the area, alot of which seems unchanged for many years, there's a beautiful little 1950s launderette and I had a rummage in the local charity shop and came out the undisputed winner! I found a John Sex 12 inch which I saw him perform on a documentary about the New York underground scene and NEVER thought I would actually own, a Vicky Carr live album which has a genius spanish medley on it, and Frankie Vaughan 7 inch of Cabaret!!! All for the princely sum of £1.50!!!! Actually it was only a pound because the charming man serving me gave me 50p back!!! (Maybe he could sense my financial crisis!). I was so excited to get to the George and Dragon to spin my new tunes later that night!

So now Etienne and I have decided we're going to meet regularly for breakfast dates! There are so many wonderful cafes we want to try - any suggestions welcome! - and it's a meal out for around a fiver so you can't go wrong really. Maybe we could make it a Breakfast Club? Anyone coming?

Cheers!


Madame x

Happening in Hackney

Tomorrow night we'll be taking over the bottom part of Hackney Road (Old St end), as we're having a party for Nathaniel's new shop at number 67, followed by shenanigans at the George and Dragon until midnight. Nathaniel, Barnzley and I are djing and there will be stuff for sale all over the pub!!! So you could go home with more than a few drinks inside you, perhaps a beautiful vase, new dress or even object d'art!!!

I went over with the boys on Sunday for Nathaniel's birthday/father's day and you can see from the pictures that there's some antiques, oddities and very desirables.






From old burlesque costumes to Edwardian picture frames and jewelry, Victorian watering cans to 1950's fabrics, buttons and beads, old leather suitcases...there's something for everyone here, and anyone who wants to come and celebrate with us tomorrow 18th June at the shop from 6.30 is very welcome.....

Madame xxx

At Last....

I've found something to wear with my Sonia frilly apron! I know we've sold out of these now but it really was one of my favourite, if frivolous pieces of the season at Shop at Maison B...

I had to take loads of my clothes off hangers at home to use for the Wills Moody jumble on Sunday, and since I have a lot crammed into a too-small space I "discovered" this old Bella Freud dress i've probably had for about 12 years. It goes with the apron PERFECTLY - especially if you're really going to GO for the french maid theme - so glad I found it!

I felt like wearing something new as I'm doing my turn at the George and Dragon tonite....my Madame persona has oozed into the proceedings with the girls behind the bar wearing their hair in rolls, and I get to bustle about behind the bar and also do the odd song in-between playing records...another home-from-home!!



If you're over east, do pop by for a pink gin!

Madame x

GOOD MORNING

You know it is going to be a good day when a YouTube video lands in your inbox from a mate in Denver miming a long to Betty Boop. Meet Sara T!

xx Lektrogirl

P.S. Madame did her first sing song at the George last night! I'll let her tell the tale! xx

Favourites No.3

Another of our favourite ladies, Sandra, modelling the brand-new-in madras plaid sundress yesterday. The sun had come out and everyone was feeling chipper and ready to expose their shoulders!

The morning promised so little but yesterday turned into such a beautiful day, AND I had surprise visitors! I hadn't seen Laurence since before Christmas and Andrea in an AGE so it was so wonderful to see them..

And Jack, who worked in the shop over last summer came by and speed-talked me through the last 6 months or so of his busy life at fashion college and plans to move to Milan for his placement...

I was exhausted at 7pm when I eventually locked the door. Tonight I'm djing and maybe slipping behind the bar occasionally at the George and Dragon (2 Hackney Rd), I become a more blowsy version of myself calling everyone darlin' when I get behind those pumps....do come down for a pink gin!!

Madame xxx

Smurfs

Nuno did a Smurf-themed shoot with Joe and Duke and some other children of friends last week. It was wierd to be at the George and Dragon during the day , with Mary Poppins, Spiderman and Flash Gordon belting out of the speakers! The final result is going to be in Androgeny magazine, the boys enjoyed mugging and posing a little too much as usual as you can see....


Don't know where they get their love of the camera from....

madame xx

Put on your best slaxx

I'm EXHAUSTED after a weekend of jumbling and djing! Friday night it was Basement Slaxx which turned into such a fun night! Sarah surprised me by showing up late.....I'd been playing throbbing electro all night with minimal dancefloor action, finally I had given in and Baccara, Cheryl Lynn and Kylie started to get a look in and voila - dancing with actions all over the place! This was the point Sarah arrived, or rather her ghost....

Tryg was on form as usual, he's a self-confessed "boozebag" with a heart of gold and when we're together we dance more than anyone else, i usually manage to hit my head on the celing speakers at least five times due to excessive leaping!

In fact I even managed to lose my head entirely at one point...

On Saturday we had a table at the Village Fete in Dalston http://www.myspace.com/fete_dalston_oldboysclub which is an amazing space, and I think the first of many more....keep a lookout!
The boys bought a few accessories and had very sophisticated face-painting:

I invited Liliana to come down, we both bought 1950's conical bras which this girl bought in India, apparantly still a best seller there! So fantastic! I don't quite have enough to fill mine but it's so effective, gives you a torpedo sweater girl silhouette, actually they'd look fierce under a sari too.... Then Lili suggested we nip to the George and Dragon for a drink and a dj workshop for the boys courtesy of Nuno...

The boys were very excited to see where I go to dj and sing and couldn't believe their luck when introduced to the pub cat! They're pet-mad at the moment so I like having pets they can visit......we don't even have the room for a fish! I thought they would terrorise the poor thing but it actually chased Joe around for a bit which was hilarious - for the rest of us!

We left before the drag turned and I let the boys stay up very very late because E.T. was on telly (also guaranteeing a little bit of a lie-in on Sunday morning!)....of course I was sobbing like an idiot - haven't seen the movie for years and didn't know it'd still leave me emotionally spent and puffy-eyed.....

Sunday was the Wills-Moody jumble sale http://www.willsmoody.com/ which we've had a table at every month for a while and is the best day out! Max took the boys for lunch as he lives round the corner and then got the boys Wonder Woman and Doctor Who dvds so that I could concentrate on my pool-table pitch which I have to say is my favourite as you have the lovely long lampshade spotlighting your wares! Etienne came by with a few bits of his own to sell but ended up leaving with TONS more than he arrived - an ice-crusher (but who could turn down an ice-crusher for £1 !?!), a jacket, a plastic flower light and in the end Nathaniel let him take the spanish ladies home as he was lusting after them all day....

Maybe he's thinking of becoming a prostitute.....

I'm tiiiiiired but had such a wonderful weekend!

Madame xxx

Happy, Hate and the competition......

Ok, I said I'd be posting more often but this week my life's been fabulously hectic so this is gonna be pretty long...........
The boys spent the weekend in Kent by the sea on the bank holiday with Nanny Van and the horses, the weather was pretty dismal but stick on a body warmer and you can see that no sunshine can still mean fun..

We had one of the best nights at our All About Eve Babitz residency at the George and Dragon that we've ever had. Everyone was in such a great mood, just look at the sheer glee on EVERYONE's faces in the following photos which sum up the evening really well.



I would've put a photo of Max who was happy happy with the rest of us, but he's pulling nutty faces in all his shots and I know he'll kill me if I do. It has to be mentioned that Max's selection was hot, especially when me, Sefton and him did a relay on the decks, trying desperately to trounce the record preceding. How we laughed! I don't think I've laughed so much in ages, especially when Richard came back at the end of the night with his parents, still bearing a little jade green eyeshadow from his first performance of his and Johnney Woo's new show...more of that later when I have more details, I'm DEFINATELY going and they're even talking about a possible matinee becuase I know Duke and Joe would like to see Richard on stage. Anyhoo, the ensuing lock-in was filled with much hilarity and stories of Richard's youth, his parents are fantastic, hilarious, lovely people, and I went to bed very very.....very late, as anyone who received my mail yesterday will have noticed!
But Rebecca brightened my day by breezing in with her freshly cut bangs looking incredible! She even seems to have grown some freckles which took another few years off, then she slipped into some APC and you will see that the result was working very well.,,

Not bad for 58 is she?
And then (phew!) last night we had the honour of performing at Henry Hate's art show at Fortress studios, they've got a gorgeous little bar up there. Here's the proud artist himself:

And one of his sexy photo-montages which are great, and indeed for sale, I'm sure if you call him at his tattoo parlour, Prick (0207 729 9545), you can find out more.

There was a rubber-clad Suicide Girl keeping everyone warm with sambuca shots, the champagne flowed, and unfortunately I got completely upstaged by Henry's dog, who sat in front of the stage like a tart. When everyone started taking photos of her she glanced triumphantly at me as only a bitch can.......I'm smiling in this picture but you'll notice not with my eyes:

Best t-shirt of the night prize has to go to Mr Nicholas Abrahams:

Hottest ladies:

Hottest mangina:

James is apparantly the band's "babe-magnet", according to Henry, and drew many an admiring glance from both sides of the fence.
Finally, a big thankyou to Lili for bringing the batman glasses from Mexico for Batman and Batgirl (apparantly), guess who's who:

Speak to you all soon, a very happy madame xxxxx

Part 1:Babitz go east and Paris in Springtime!

Hello hello, I've got so much hot news that I've decided to divide my blog into two!!! First of all I wanted to post this pic of Emma which I've called "Lektrobaby"!!!

I hope you love this pic as much as i do Emma....I'm not deleting it off!!!
Anyhoo, on Sunday I was in Paris to order winter APC, this is Suzanne modelling one of my favourite tops, she's moving to Oxford soon and promises to come and visit me in the cake shop soooon!!

My glamorous assistants for the appointment were Iris and Hugues, who was in the middle of nurturing a "gypsy" moustache which i think you'll agree is very becoming...Iris is featuring one of the AMAZING winter scarves which is like a super-soft giant marle and i HAVE ordered! I always think it's so odd ordering again for the cold before we've even had the unseasonable scorching summer that they keep threatening us for 07...

I always try to engineer my APC buying around lunchtime because you always get a wonderful, perfectly balanced meal in little aesthetically boxed partitions with delicious cous cous, fruit and salad and i had wolfed mine before I thought to take a pic so you'd be jealous and i just had a smidgen of my fresh cream and raspberry macaroon left so here it is....this blog is a little obsessed with cakes but we do live in a cake shop so get over it!!!
Yum!
Then I had a lovely meander through the streets of Paris and ended up at Eley Kishimoto's showroom just in time as they'd just sent out for some fine wines.....we laughed so much!!! Sometimes at my expense I'll admit, Mark had been trying to get someone into Marjan Pejoski's leather catsuit all week and a glass and a half of wine later there i was throwing shapes but ending up looking like a cross between Max Wall and someone skinny and pretty bedraggled, but i'll share anyway....

It's a beautiful thing but I think being six foot tall is probably in order....Marjan was very proud of his sunglasses purchased at the flea market earlier in the day, 60's but with EK insignia, how appropriate!

We got to a silly state of giggling while looking at pictures of Lily on her flickr when she was young and had very short hair and shiny cheeks, she's got lots of her looking gorgeous as well for balance....here's some helpless gigglers, Lily and Fiona:

Then back in London on Tuesday nite and All About Eve Babitz my band were playing at the George and Dragon (2 Hackney Rd, if you're interested, we have a residency type thing on the first tuesday of every month). We provide a whole evening's entertainment, playing records punctuated every half an hour with a song. We had such a good time, lots of friends came by and strangers too, Richard and Lilianna were away so it was left to Kat be in charge...

Look at Daren, our bass/guitar player with Ian and Zack, how swarthy they all look at an angle!

Here's me and Vickram having a gossip while Jonathan and Sefton were playing their fierce set, usually I play records all night so I really enjoyed having a mingle for once.

Princess Julia came down and I was admiring her new tat, always a pleasure to see the lady, we've got the Yoko Ono issue of the fanzine in the cake shop so get 'em while they're hot......

I think people were getting a bit amorous, must've been the Babitz magic....Look at Ima and Liza and Sefton (without drums but with tamborine and vibrating eggs to keep us in time!) and Jonathan all with their tongues hanging out.....


Anyway, well done everybody, it was a super night all round and i've just realised there's no picture of James in this blog and he'll be FURIOUS! He says "It's like I don't even exist!" but look what I found of him this morning, such a cute pic from when we were in Posh and he had never seen a gym!!!!!!!!
aaaaaaah!
Part 2 where i go to Obey HQ to come...................madame xxx