Musician of the Month - Carla Bruni

Well who knew? I certainly didn't. That Carla Bruni is a sexyland musician! 

This month's chosen musician is for Laura's bestest friend Hayley who has educated us in the way of the Bruni and has a love of all things French and wonderful.

So have a glass of wine (tres French apparently - I prefer ribena), sit back, listen to this and feel all cultured and like you live in your very own romantic black and white French movie. It's what me and Laura do like a pair of saddos.

Blog of the Month - My Owl Barn

Now come on, who doesn't love owls and owl themed items? There may well be some but I am not one. This website is absolutely sexyland for finding those gifts for that special someone in your life who has a curious obsession with these winged beasts. I have found many a wonderful item here so I may shower myself in gifts this Christmas. Quite literally. 

http://www.myowlbarn.com/

So go on, forget about everyone else and buy lots of lovely things just for you, it's what Christmas is all about!

Look at these lovely biscuits! Mmm lekker! http://www.myowlbarn.com/2011/12/cookie-boy.html

Free things at Christmas?! FREE THINGS! What a sexyland desktop wallpaper! http://www.myowlbarn.com/2011/12/december-desktop-holiday-love-owls.html

Brillo pads ornaments by Renee Treml http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReneesArtwork

Artist of the Month - Kazuko Taniguchi

Golly gosh I appear to be a little late with December's Artist of the Month! Although we pandas celebrate our holy festival in October one cannot help getting caught up in this whole Christmas thing. I spent two hours staring at fairy lights, methinks I go all moth-like around bright sparkly twinkly things...Forgive me! 

This month Laura and I have collectively chosen Kazuko Taniguchi as our Artist of the Month. We thought we'd go for something cute and cheerful rather than dark and bleak, that wouldn't be very Christmasy would it (or so I am told, though I'm beginning to believe my foreigner status is being exploited). 

You can find her images and information on her website here:

http://kzk-t.com/top.html

We picked one we both liked (it's a Christmas miracle!) and then some Christmas ones to give us all a bit of festive cheer. Joyous Christmas to you all! May you eat copious amounts of bird and wear ridiculous paper crowns, may you welcome a strange man with a sack and beard into your home, may washing powder fall from the sky and cover your houses and make them smell nice (though not too much or Laura's mum will get stranded at work), and may you not go mad from food and family overdose. Amen.

Kazuko Taniguchi - http://kzk-t.com/top.html

Kazuko Taniguchi - http://kzk-t.com/top.html

Kazuko Taniguchi - http://kzk-t.com/top.html

Kazuko Taniguchi - Merry Christmas!

'Sexyland'

Dear All

Tis I, Creepy Panda. You may or may not have noticed me using the word 'sexyland' but I thought it warranted an explanation incase you thought I was just a pervert of a panda. Though it is worth mentioning, it is used as a replacement for 'excellent' and is not a reference to a sexy land (which I imagine might be a theme park or some strange country). It still makes me giggle everytime I use it.

Musician of the Month - Laura Marling

My friends, I have fallen in love. Head over heels with Laura Marling. 


Now I'm not going to lie, my first impression of Miss Marling was not a good one. I blamed her for ruining Noah and the Whale's brilliant song 5 Years Time. I held that grudge for quite some time...


Then one day her first (Alas, I Cannot Swim) and second (I Speak Because I Can) album fell into my lap. Oh what a wondrous day that was. I still maintain that my owner Laura only bought the albums because she liked her name. Find everything you need to know here:


http://www.lauramarling.com/


I'm still saving her new album, A Creature I Don't Know, so I can get my fix. Gosh, I'm a Marling-crack addict. 

Blog of the Month - Cuppa tea and cake

Now this is how you deal with an obsessive desire to collect things: have a cup of tea, some cake and search the internet for more sexyland things to buy with Laura's debit card. She still hasn't clocked on. The blog is a lovely insight into creator Jess' world with information and links to her shop:


http://cuppateaandcake.blogspot.com/


You can find her shop on folksy using the link below:


http://www.folksy.com/shops/CuppaTeaAndCake


Where you will find such delightful items as the tote bag and crochet lover badge below. I don't even know how to crochet but I want this badge. Methinks it is time to start a new hobby. Oh if only I had thumbs.

Tote bag from Cuppa tea and cake

Badge from Cuppa tea and cake

Artist of the Month - Stella Im Hultberg

Another artist that I've known for a while and with an easier name to pronounce than dear Eveline Tarunadjaja. With a slightly darker feel that, I think, reflects the glorious English weather of November. You can find her website here:


http://stellaimhultberg.com/


Laura and I once again couldn't decide on a picture so we both picked one, that seemed fair. So I picked another one. I may throw a tantrum anyway.

Like a restless wind - Stella Im Hultberg 2011

Adrift - Stella Im Hultberg 2007

In waking dreams - Stella Im Hultberg 2011

Creepy Panda's Holiday

Dear All

Tis I, Creepy Panda. Forgive me my lack of posts, I have been home for the holy festivals of October. To explain I have asked Laura to communicate it through the art form of drawing. I'm not going to lie, she draws like a 6 year old but alas, beggars cannot be choosers.

Musician of the Month - Tori Amos

September's 'Musician of the Month' is for Laura (my dear owner). She absolutely adores the eccentric red head (and I do have rather a soft spot for eccentrics myself) and this month sees the release of Tori's new album 'Night of Hunters' on 20th September. 

Although not the official Tori Amos page, 'Here in my head' contains everything and anything you would ever want to know:

http://www.hereinmyhead.com/

Whilst Laura looks forward to the new album (sat in front of the front door Scott Pilgrim style) here are some old favourites.

1000 Oceans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXsT8uTyt34

Raspberry Swirl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V9pfaCqChY

Blog of the Month - Bluebell & Rosie

What a lovely little blog this is! Whilst I may appear to be just a morose little bear, I do have a penchant for list making and pretty things and if you too share my interests then welcome to Bluebell & Rosie.  Find the blog using the link below:

http://bluebellandrosie.blogspot.com/ 

Not only do I enjoy the blog, but there are even things to buy as well at their folksy shop. Marvellous! I love decoupage at the moment but am terribly lazy (and have no thumbs) so these would be most welcome additions to my collection. The Folksy shop address is: http://www.folksy.com/shops/katelj

Decoupaged box from Bluebell & Rosie

Decoupaged chest from Bluebell & Rosie

Artist of the Month - Eveline Tarunadjaja

I've been a fan of this lady's work for quite a while now and also enjoy attempting to pronounce her name. It's even harder for a panda, especially a creepy one.

Find her portfolio at:

http://lovexevol.com/

Here's a picture me and Laura could both agree on (I really like one of a girl with an octopus on her head, but Laura refused given her ridiculous phobia of tentacled sea creatures).

Why does my heart feel so bad? (even when he has a lovely blue balloon)

Dear All

Tis I, Creepy Panda. I've finally managed to get Laura to finish some drawings. Methinks someone has been listening to Moby... but I hope you enjoy anyway.

Musician of the Month - Josh Pyke

While Laura is busy doing things (some curly haired foreigner coming to stay) and refusing to draw I must amuse myself some other way, and this month I have been mostly listening to Australian singer-songwriter Josh Pyke. Phil is also enjoying this music and as Pyke has a brand new album 'Only Sparrows' out on 19th August, we felt it was well worth a mention. Check out the latest news on Josh's myspace page:


http://www.myspace.com/joshpyke


While it's hard to pick favourites from his previous albums, we particularly love The Lighthouse Song and Monkey with a Drum at the moment. We hope you enjoy as much as we do. Phil says hi.


Monkey with a Drum: http://youtu.be/0DW9YrVOZDs
The Lighthouse Song: http://youtu.be/GquroFVb_48

Blog of the Month - Owl Loves Panda

I might be a little biased but Owl Loves Panda is definately my favourite blog right now. Check it out using the link below.

http://owllovespanda.blogspot.com/

If you enjoy the blog, you will love the Owl Loves Panda shop. Laura has lots of the necklaces from there which I like to try on when she's asleep. This one's my favourite, it brings out the colour in my eyes.

Fawn locket from Owl Loves Panda

We also love the new badges. I like the vintage fabric set, and I like the retro comic set but I don't wear any clothes so it makes it most difficult. I think I shall wait for Laura to buy them then steal one and add it to my collection of pretty things. I'll just tell her she lost it.

Retro comic badge set from Owl Loves Panda

Vintage fabric badge set from Owl Loves Panda

Artist of the Month - Aya Kato

Given the lack of skills that feature on this page, I feel obliged to point people in the direction of those who are really rather talented. Here is a long standing favourite of ours, Aya Kato. Visit her website at:

http://www.ayakato.net/

Once in the site you can view all of her pictures in the gallery section. They are sorted by years and if you click a thumbnail on the left it will open so you can see the whole wonderful thing!

Here is a new one of hers that we really love. Enjoy!

Aya Kato - Myth and Legend

Creepy Panda Origins: Part 3 - The Trip to Ikea

Dear All

Tis I, indeed once more, Creepy Panda. Here is today's final installment of the Creepy Panda Origins tales. Part 4 should be coming soon and will be written by me. 

I must add a short word of birthday congratulations for Hayley: Happy Birthday and gefeliciteerd! Had it not been for Hayley and Tom I would never have found my owner Laura. And that would have been a sad tale of woe. For I am rather fond of her.

 

Creepy Panda Origins: Part 2 - The Biblical Tale of Great King Boxman and his Magnificent Brain

Dear All

Tis I, Creepy Panda again. My, it must feel like Christmas for you, two in one day. How exciting.

Creepy Panda Origins: Part 1 - Board Meeting

Dear All

Tis I, Creepy Panda. 

Forgive me for procrastinating over my first post, it is such a difficult task, us pandas do rather enjoy sitting around pondering. Also I rely on the questionable drawing skills of my owner Laura. If only I had thumbs of my very own. Please find Part 1 below.