If time is a construct...

 I'm a big fan of New Years Resolutions. One year I made a very extravagant list and managed to check off every single box. Though it came down to the wire with "get a new job" being ticked on the 21st of December. Skin of my teeth as it were. At any rate I've been pondering what will make it's way to the list this year. Someone in one of my fave FB groups {I loathe Facebook, but love the camaraderie} posted about what a shit year 2021 was and what were people planning as a way to cleanse themselves of the bad juju.  And I've been enjoying the responses. A number of people suggested writing down all the shit that transpired in 2021 and tossing it into the fire. As a fireplace haver, I will most certainly be doing this. Other were going for a run with friends on Jan 1. An idea which I cottoned to immediately. Screw getting blitzed for no good reason on 31 only to wake up in the new year bleary eyed and queasy. I am determined to start the year on a good note. Perhaps the most revealing and thought provoking comment came from a woman who started by explaining that time was merely a construct and therefore if we were only willing to grasp this fact this conversation would be moot.

I found this somehow hilarious. Like because science has figured out a theory on this; your anxieties, desires, rituals, hopes and despair are pointless! I mean... Explaining something in scientific or philosophical terms does not make it irrelevant. It just means you're a smarty pants who's all IQ and no EQ. Boooooring. Take that "does not compute" attitude elsewhere, Small Wonder! It got rather heated when the author of the post responded that while she agreed about "time", she was merely asking for questions and solidarity. She finished her response with a "Best of luck with your history major!" To which the Timeless Beet Bot 2000 very nearly short circuited.

I thought about that exchange a bit. Particularly how within a commiserating, friendly and lively chat with over 100 respondents, there could still be one lone bitter, angry troll spreading xmas dung over the freshly fallen snow. I mean why? Part of me wanted to ask her to take a beat and pour herself a stiff 'nog. But I doubt that would have smoothed those ruffled feathers. So the other part of me actually racked my brain for what would be the right thing to say to diffuse the situation and give this character some of the comfort and kindness it seemed like she could use. Honestly I came up empty. How does one respond to unwarranted vitriol? And how do we bridge the gap with those that seem to be utterly belligerent and obtuse? Is there any point to even trying? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I know I'm going to add empathy and patience to my resolutions. ADHD is a real MF when it comes to composure and tempering irritation. But I'm nothing if not a determined little bee. I've been working on this kindness and empathy jam pretty intensely this past year and in some ways I think I've turned a corner. I read somewhere that it's not the first thought in your heard that counts, it's the second. So like if some bozo nearly knocks you down with his bike while riding on the sidewalk. It's not the "Go fuck yourself!" and middle finger you offer up in the heat of the moment but more the "Man that loser must have somewhere to get to quick" that illuminates where the heart is at. I jest. But yeah even I can't find a silver lining to the batshit code of ethics that the average Dutch cyclist subscribes to. 

But I digress. My resolutions this year will be a 2-parter. I'm going to take the 31st as a day to cleanse, freshen all the linens, air out the house, (no I won't be burning sage and you shouldn't either), vacuum and scrub, and then finish it with a long walk and rumination. Then after I've gotten the cobwebs out physically and metaphorically I'm going to write my list of intentions (that sounds a little nicer than resolutions right?) and pin it somewhere handy. There will be lots of room for kindness to myself and others as well as some space for ambition and self improvement. January 1st I hope to wake up refreshed and ready to take on what 2022 has in store. Time and it's metaphysical (non)properties be damned.

'Tis the Season

 I've been pondering a lot lately. My mental health, financial stability, professional ambitions, friendships. Though my mental health seems to be stealing a lot of the bandwidth these days. My naturally cheery disposition is at an all time meh. It's been raining very nearly non stop for something like a week and a half and that coupled with the endless gray/black sky is enough to send me howling into the abyss. And still they persist, drop drop drop drop. I listen to the unrelenting piter pater on my roof and windows and wait for my mind to utterly unhinge itself.

Speaking of claustrophobic, we're tits deep in yet another lock down/code red covid situation here in the NL and man this time it's really hitting different. The first 2 lockdowns allowed me to wallow in my curmudgeonly, anti-social tendencies. I've boned up on my knitting, and dumpling making skills (fuck sourdough); read a mountain of books, developed a soduko habit (I'm always always late to the party) and lavished myself on the cuddles and good company of my precocious and hilarious 8 year old. Even homeschooling couldn't throw my chillaxed vibes asunder. I deleted all my queer dating apps and reveled in the quiet content single life. I was so fulfilled being alone, I wondered if I'd ever get the urge to partner up again.

Fast forward to today. I'm wading through a non stop anxiety
stomach gnaw. Business is blurg. The onslaught of baby birthday/sinterklaas/xmas is overwhelming me to the point of a tantrum. And the thought of spending Xmas alone this year (as my kiddo will be doing it up with her father) is making me really weepy. And for some bizarro reason those queer lady dating apps have found their way back on my damn phone. And I am just so. fucking. done. with this fucking pandemic.

 Despite the sticky effluvium I'm braising in; I'm busy planning some new initiatives for 2022, because I gots to get out of this place. For one I'd like to reboot this blog. Where I discuss life, art, design & bidness in an off the cuff veneerless sort of way. I'd also like to launch my newsletter, a full frickin year in the making. And lastly, I really really really need to up my social game. When I was killing it on social, it zapped so much time, I was hardly doing anything else. So I'm hell bent on figuring that out in a way that my overwhelming ADHD will allow me. Tall order, I know! 

Funny that all my big goals for 2022 are &SAVOIE.CO related. Honestly, I have this idea that if I get this creative studio of mine swinging in an upward motion the rest will be gravy. 

Shall we toast to the gravy with some champers?

Happy Winter Solstice Y'all.

xoxo

Passepartout Press has a shop!

I think this site has been down for roughly 3 years. That's how old my daughter is so...duh. I recently bought back the url [it was actually held hostage for the three years since I let it go, people are dicks] and am setting up an instagram, so sit tight old friends. I was looking up the analytics and dang if the old chateau didn't have some followers back in her day. I can't promise to post like I used to. I remember at one point I was banging out 3 posts a day! But what I can't do in quantity I will try to make up for in quality.

At any rate. I've been busy on another venture, creating what I hope will be a printmaking empire. Today the etsy shop opened. Feel free to take a gander. Better yet, buy something. Comments are and have always been appreciated. Trolls can suck it. Gros bisous!

Paper paper everywhere.

Don't you just love these wigs made by Nikki Nye and Amy Flurry of paper-cut-project? Made out of none other than my favorite creative material. PAPER! It's all about paper over here at the chateau. Well, duh, I mean I'm letterpressing day and night, you didn't think I was doing it on metal did ya? Hmmmm. That's an idea, though. OK, I digress. Behold the paper majesty. Check out my press site for more frequent updates. And pass the love along. xoxo

Where have you been???

You may be thinking. Indeed. Where have I been? Well. The short of it is that I've been working on 2 other blogs here and here. The long of it is, that while [over]working full-time, and traveling up the ying yang, I've also started my own business which has taken some might, time and patience to get off the ground. Officially it's still on the tarmac, but it's been cleared for takeoff. Introducing Passepartout Press. After discovering a real dearth of letterpress studios and even information or supplies in Ye Olde NL. I decided to start up my own company. Currently I make my own films and plates [on my homemade exposure unit] and print on a flatbed Tetterode. A great Dutch proofpress. I've been kept quite busy with teaching workshops on exposing your own photopolymer plates and setting up shop at home. Alongside a myriad of press projects I'm working on. Things have been going well! And busy! So check out the Passepartout website! Have any questions about building your own letterpress studio? Or just wanna yell at me for staying away so long? Shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. Oh and I won't be abandoning the good ole chateau here. I'll keep it updated with cool things I find and do, but for more press action check out the studio site. Ciao!

This is one of the best videos I've ever seen.

Speaking of cool creative things to do...

I've been waiting on this, because it was a surprise for my brother and he's a somewhat faithful reader at the 'ole chateau. The surprise has been revealed, so now I can show you what I've been cooking up over here. I'm getting into the letterpress game. For my first real foray. I met up with John Cornelisse of Enkidu Press in Philippine, The Netherlands. We met on Drukwerk in de Marge, a press forum for Dutch type nerds. He offered to show me how to burn photopolymer plates and to use them for the press. Since there's no Boxcar Press in the NL and as far as I can figure, no one else who provides a similar service. I figured, I gotta learn how to do this shizzle meself. What better excuse to learn than an invite for an upcoming concert featuring my fabulously talented baby brother? So checkout the flickr set. There's also a much larger and less edited set here, if you're a type nut like me. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kalimera!

That's good morning in Greek! I'm here on the balmy breezy island of Kos after a couple exciting days in Athens. The air is charged there right now. More on that later. But for now, the wifi in the room's been spotty, so I've been forced to relocate to the pool just to get this post to you! Oh the sacrifices I make for you guys. haha. Wanna see what it's like?

I call this girl with potato chip.

More fun photography and Greece travel tips to come. It's amazing here!

Recycling, Yay!

Those who know me well, know that I HATE throwing anything away. I've been known to eat questionable meat in lieu of depositing in the bin, and I refashion my old clothes before giving them the heave-ho, I even extend my denim life by patching the inner thighs. [yeah my thighs touch, sux] So in the spirit of reduce reuse recycle, check out this lovely newspaper wood. Stunning. And right up my alley. Via.

Can we kiss and make up?

I wrote that line after I realized the irony that I am in quite a tempest with my beloved at the moment, but the kissing and making up I'm talking about here is of me to you. Blogging! I've been away for so long! This new job + this new endeavor I've taken on = an overwhelmed and very tired gal. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. My new resolution, is much better time management [actually what it means is not crashing on the couch after a long day's work, but getting online and delivering the goods to you guys]. I have a stuffed folder of ideas to share and a whole flickr album of fun for everyone. But first things first. My amends. If this video doesn't melt your heart and send you rushing right back into my arms, well then I don't know what will. Don't you wish charming videos could piece divides back together in real life? I know I do. The only thing stress seems to be good for is weight loss. Well I can't say I'm not vain enough to enjoy that. Oh, I got this video via A a lovely friend of mine back in NYC that I miss dearly. Have a lovely week friends. Be back soon with more.

Friday's Inspiration.

Remember that sad post I wrote about not finding work? Well cheer up friends, because work, it seems has found me. Or more appropriately, we found each other. What started as an internship, "stage" as we call it here, has blossomed into much more. Thus the more sporadic postings. [trying to figure out how to balance work, exercise, blogging, and cuddle time] I was thinking about sending an email to my colleagues each friday of some weekend inspiration and then I realized; I would be a fool not to share it with you, my faithful readers, as well. So here we go, the balm that will soothe a week's worth of aches and get you in the mood for the weekend. I present, Friday's Inspiration.

Dope lamp.

Worn Out. via.


Fun and informative guide to printing processes.

Exuberant packaging by wink. via.

Vrolijk Pasen!

Means Happy Easter in Dutch. I'm tickled today to find some fun Easter art on one of my favoriter Dutch blogs Fontanel.nl. Funnier still is that the illustration came from Christopher Niemann of the NY Times. It's come full-circle now.

IFFB Highlights.

Her. Obviously.

Lin.
Quiet, intense, and gorgeous. This film, as Ward Janssen put it, "Is perfect in every way." It really is.

Somewhere.
Oh Sofia, I can't help but love you. Sofia is at her schtick again, but I can't fight it, I like her quiet sad introspective films. 

Audrey the Trainwreck.
Funny, clever and poignant. This is a great date movie that doesn't dip into cliches or maxims.

Microphone.
Filled with the kind of hope and angst that only the repressed and teenagers can really channel. This film will bring you there and back and to places you never knew.

Twin Freaks.
It was a party. I wore a backless shirt. Woot woot!

Check out all the fun on Flickr. You might even spy a certain cheeky blogger.

There were a lot more films that I failed to see. Running around, Angeling, and After-Parties can take a lot out of you!

Many many thanks to Marijke [see 'licious pic above] and Ward for bringing me into the fray; and to Laura who got me acclimated, wined and dined me, and kept me in 6" stilettos on party night. I had an amazing time, saw an exciting panoply of films, and best and above all met a talented and driven group of amazing photographers, film-makers, artists, volunteers, bloggers etc etc. Man I gotta say. I fracking love the NL. The people here are tops.

Slow Breathing.

As much as I am "living the dream" out here in the NL complete with the gorgeous apartment and devastatingly handsome French partner; my ego still does get quite bashed about, by my current job situation...or lack thereof. I'm interning at the most darling of design agencies in the Hague, but not sure if that will manifest itself into something more. All the while I've been networking, and applying, and cold-calling, and interviewing and pavement pounding and all for naught. I average about a rejection a day. I didn't think it was taking such a mental toll until today when I got yet another and called said devastatingly handsome partner and broke down into a blubbering mess. I guess I am bummed. And then I stumbled upon this lovely painter Samantha French [what a name!] through Poppytalk handmade. I love the Frenchie feel, her chunky strokes and bold use of light and reflection. But most of all, I love the message. Slow Breathing. Relax and enjoy. Something I very much need right now. Check her out on Etsy. And check out Poppytalk's store here.

Microphone.

So I saw this really cool film about Egypt and it's underground hip-hop, skater community. Very interesting, entirely in Arabic [which was a real treat for the ears] and well-paced; I recommend it highly. The film unfolded around Khaled as he tries to bring together this community of artists with as many roadblocks as you could imagine in a conservative devout culture. Interesting, poignant, and eye-opening to a western gal like me. Come to the IFFB to attend a screening or find one near you. Check the movie site for more info. You can thank me later by buying me a drink at the Twin Freaks party tonight.

Dummy.

That's me. Here I am at the illustrious IFFB [that's International Film Festival Breda to the uninitiated] having a blast; watching great films, meeting cool people, and squiring cool directors about town and I haven't even told you guys all about it!



In my defense, I had a migraine yesterday and was in screenings all day today, but still. Check out this dope trailer! More to come babies, more to come...

Cooking and Cool Design.

What could be better?


Ikea - Art of cooking - Make sushi! from Carl Kleiner on Vimeo.

Thanks Fontanel! An awesome Dutch design blog that me loves. xoxoxo

Yummers.

Maquette. Wicked good illustrator painter.

I hope I look like that in the kitchen...

Boss right? Go here. Awesome.

Shadow Boxes and Nabokov.

What could be better?

Learn more about these amazing pieces here. Awesome design blog. See the collection here.