Lladró has come a long way, baby. For high-flying moments, witness these lovelies, and there’s soooooo much more. There are even a couple of tiaras, for God’s sake; you know, for those days when simply nothing else will quite do. Just think, you can honestly say that your hair is just a bird’s nest today!

Alfred Hitchcock would be proud.

A word to the wise, of which you are a member in good standing: the site is a little wacky, so you’re not losing your mind. At least I don’t think you are. To help you along (with the site, not your mind), these are from the Re-cyclos Collection | Magic Forest line.

And I think they really are from a magic forest.

www.Lladro.com

Just because you need to smell the sea. Just because these are much better than the popular ‘others’ that you already know about, tried, are tired of, and so is everyone, quite frankly. Just because you need a house gift and these are perfect. Just because you don’t want to do what everyone else on the planet is doing. Just because these are smell combos that no one else is doing. Just because they are completely affordable and last a long time and are simply delicious.

1. Fig, orange peel, black pepper, cranberry
2. Pomegranate, wild berry, citrus, honey
3. Driftwood, sale, seaweed, sand

$28 | each.

And from the same shop, this utterly magnificent leather notebook. The best thing is that the leather will age and will get darker with use and with time. Inside, a spiral blank book. But of course it also comes in black! Feels great; looks even better.

$78 | each.

Unfortunately, there’s no website, but give them a call and they’ll fix you right up. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

RUBE
631 267 6117
156 EAST MAIN STREET
EAST HAMPTON, NY 11937

Do you know someone that is forever yakking their heads off at you and barely takes a breath? Unfortunately, I know too many of those for some unknown reason. Hmmmmm, must investigate that. Anyway, they’re like mosquitoes circling your head and just won’t GO AWAY, as much as you bat at them.

You’re eyes glaze over, your brain shuts down and your tolerance is just sapped, not to mention your manners.

Okay, so I found these cute little cards, and now I just hand them to the particular person in question (you know who you are). Doesn’t seem to offend, either. Just a mild look of surprise, or shock … and then laughter. I mean, I don’t even think these people have a clue that they need to come up for air every now and then!

So it’s our job to clue them in, don’t you agree?

AND. So new they’ve haven’t even made it to the website, are the latest and greatest; The Big Debut.

These are just 2 that come in the pack. The others are →

I am right you are wrong You are right I am wrong
You are right, I am wrong I don’t even know what we’re arguing about
I am in a bad mood and taking it out on you

Get ‘em here: www.seteditions.com

In the throes of the ceaseless, unending and unyielding heat, it’s nice to know that there’s somewhere cool, calm and collected to take yourself to. It’s a forest. A white … forest.

You’re absolutely going to go into apoplectic fits when you see Nancy Bauch’s amazing work at White Forest Pottery. She is one talented woman, that Nancy. And her husband Mike is just a dollbaby. They’re both just beyond wonderful, and you will be smitten with them.

She never fails to impress, and also never fails to illicit oohs and aaahs when I give her things as gifts. This is, quite frankly, all the time. Until now, I’ve never shared this source, so keep it a secret for me, okay? I don’t want my gift list to know about ‘that place’.

Just take a gander at some of what she does. Really cool on a hot day. The site alone will make you sigh.

www.whiteforestpottery.com

(more on Katy Kane)

Only a little bit of what she has is on her site, so contact her if you’re looking for something special or particular or whatever. Work or play, she’s got you covered. She sells to celebrities, museums and even people like you and me! But her client list doesn’t matter — what matters is that she’s the go-to gal for vintage, and it’s not all designer. She also loads of not-designer things. And every single piece has to be in pristine condition to make it into her stock, so no worries there.

She’s a very nice Yankee, that Katy Kane. You’ll love her. I know you already love her name!

Oh, and word is she’s about to post some vintage Hermès, so you’d best be quick on the trigger for that one.

www.katykane.com

And seeing double. But why? This is what I don’t get —- why everyone wants to wear the same thing as everyone else, so you constantly see yourself coming and going. Clearly I’m missing something in this regard. Just the same ol’, same ol’? What’s that all about?

Have also just never understood why you want to wear something that is both straight out of the fashion pages and thus so distinctive to a particular season. So the world knows how much you paid for it and then of course, because it absolutely SCREAMS what season it’s from, you dare not wear it the next. Yeah, I don’t get that, unless you’re a kazillionaire.

So here’s what I do: I wear vintage. Good vintage. I mean, really good vintage. I don’t want someone else’s distinctive style. I want my own, don’t you? I want to mix it up, sister.

I go straight to Katy Kane. And you should, too. It will definitely put a spring in your step and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Geoffrey Beene

But that has never stopped me.

This cuff. Ah, this cuff. I have such a list of people I’d like to give this to, and you should, too, or you’re just not living right. I love it mostly because it’s just soooo damn smart and we like smart. Aren’t you just dying?!

Immediately diffuses. Instantaneously jump-starts a conversation. Imminently better than a message in a bottle.

Short, sweet, to the point. With maximum impact, it’s about as subtle as a billboard. And like a good billboard should be, it’s less than 9 words. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?

Clever and cocky; what’s better than that!?

Get it here.

Okay, so I thought I would give you some pointers, hints, tips and insider info on what not to do in the City when you visit. You may not care. You should, though. It’s your patriotic duty. An unofficial list (which could change at any moment) on how to be ‘one of us’.

1. Don’t wear clothes 2 sizes too small. Please. We don’t want to see your skin or your panty line or that extra 10+ pounds you’ve been trying to lose for god knows how long. It’s just not pretty.

2. Don’t wear white shorts, even though they go with everything. Yes, they make your butt look big.

3. But please do smile. Cityfolk love that and it’s disarming. We’ll smile back, I promise.

4. Please don’t walk 3- or 4-abreast on the sidewalk. We’re BUSY, and IN A HURRY and will just mow you down or take you out. Besides, I guarantee you that you will be walking much slower than we are. Trust me.

4½. And that brings me to this: Walk faster. Or at least don’t walk in the middle of the sidewalk if you’re strolling. And really, anything less than Mach 1 is strolling.

5. Lose the big white athletic numbers on your feet. It’s a dead giveaway. If you need to wear sneaks, wear Converse. Those godawful Crocs …. well, I wouldn’t go there. They’re only cute on kids, and just barely.

6. Don’t be rude. It’s a lie that New Yorkers are rude. We’re the nicest bunch of people on the planet, so you won’t be blending in at all.

7. If you want to look up at the buildings/architecture across the street, either do so at the curb or at the building side of the street you’re on. And don’t point at that beautiful building you’re looking at. You’re mother told you pointing was rude, didn’t she?

8. Camera around the neck → do we even need to go there? And while we’re at it, ditto fanny packs, belly bags or anything tied, affixed, riveted or annexed to your waist.

9. Bright colors? Nope. White pantyhose, stockings, whatever you want to call them is also a big fat no. Hot pink or purple? Yeah, don’t do that. And don’t even get me started on white socks.

10. Wear black. We do. It’s easy, slimming, goes with everything and chic. What’s better than that?

There you have it. Pretty painless, unless you’re a Croc-lovin’, white shorts wearin’, camera slinger, fanny bagger. But follow these rules and you may just wind-up being the toast of the town!

 … And perhaps I’ll make you smile.  You’ve landed in the world of BobbiePen, a brilliant and astonishing place to be, I assure you.

I’m a card-carrying Texan, official and credentialed, 5^th generation and all that.  I mean, I have my grandmother’s shotgun, so that seals that deal.  I’m now in the evil wicked city of New York, and I’ve to my megaphone handy to shout out what’s hip, hot and happenin’, so listen up.

 I browse.  I shop.  I search and I sleuth.  I dig deep to find the coolest stuff.  Call it twisted, call it a sickness, but there you have it.  Now I’m going to share it all with you, so count your lucky stars.  You’re going to thank me, and oh! you’re very welcome.

 I’m going to save you soooo much time, not to mention angst over the perfect whatever you need or need to know.  And let’s face it → it’s not about need, now is it?!  It’s about people thinking you get it.  Stick with me and yeah, you’ll get it.

 Stuff and tips and sass and schtick.  The occasional opinion; I mean, my friends have to suffer through these, so why shouldn’t you?  Oh, I have opinions.  So there will also be my rantings and ravings.  I just can’t help myself.  I’ll lay it bare, baby.

 But mostly, stuff.  Cheap and cheerful to the sublime and divine, which of course means pricey.  I’m an equal opportunity stuff finder.

 So stay tuned and welcome to my world.  I’ll cut through the crap because there’s just so much crap out there.   Saddle up and buckle up because I’ll put up or shut up.  It may be a wild ride, but won’t we have fun!

 xxooxxo,

Bobbie