It’s the Alternative Press’s 1st Birthday…soon!

Firstly, apologies for the radio silence since my New Year message – I have been struggling without interweb access for a good couple of weeks. But I’m back on now! Woot!  >_<

There is so much I’d like to share with y’all but the first and most important feature should be the upcoming APF’s 1^st Birthday and Fair.

You may (or may not) know that I have admired the guys from the APF from day one. They are an amazing small-press awareness organization and over the last year I’ve met great artists, lovely friends and good contacts! So here’s a big woot to Jimi, Peter, Shabz and Gareth from the APF! Y >_<Y

So what’s their 1^st Birthday celebration all about then? Well, as you’d come to expect it’s going to be a days’ event of artists stalls (including myself) – selling small-press snacks, greeting cards, posters, and anything else hand and home-made. By the early evening all the selling will wrap up and there’ll some stand-up, live music and poetry readings…and lots of bier!

It’s on Saturday 13^th February at the St Aloysius Social Club in Euston, from 1pm til late.

And just to get you going I’ll announce now that I will be selling two *new* small-press comics of mine – The Art of Sleep III, and the second Le Mime installment! Please look now for snapshots:

For more information about the APF’s 1^st Birthday visit their site here or email jimi@alternativepress.org.uk.

Woot! >_< x

 

Happy 2010! Y >_< Y

Happy belated New Year to all!

I know I’m a few weeks late but I’ve been recovering from the dreaded end -of-year burnout/cold!

Anyway this is really a post to say hello and wish you a great year. Also to update you on some Cobaltcafe changes for 2010!

You will notice that my website is blank or has a holding page – this is because it’s going through an exciting new redesign which will include a proper shop and host my blog as well! I’ll also be rolling out a weekly webcomic (when, where, how?!)…SOON! That’s all >_<

Upcoming tours include the Alternative Press Fair’s 1^st Birthday and Japanese Art Festival as well as more small-press from me and a collaboration with Tempo Lush for May’s MCM Expo!

Soooo exciting! But first…I’ve got to do all this work! >_<

Before I go…my illustration of the day, and first illustration for the year: my self-portrait!

PS I know I’m wearing Lanvin sandals, I don’t currently own any but I have my eye on this very pair in real life and may have to…(squeeze arm)…buy it (koff!)

 

Winter Wonderland… >_<

I know it’s been a while since my last update but hey! It’s the holiday season now and I’ve been busy trawling the Winter Wonderland and festive markets for treats! =_=” OK… the truth is…I’ve been really swamped with work… =_=”

But I’ll be posting up new illustrations soon and launching my website update and much more to go with it after the New Year! So until then…have a great holiday! >_<

You can still email me for work related queries, I’ve not completely hibernated yet!

Zx



 

Will you be at the ICA’s Comica Comiket this Sunday?

Hello peeps! Did you enjoy the fireworks last night? If not, there’s still time tonight! Fireworks = hotdog + sweets + hot drinks = nom! Y >_< Y

I will be selling my artwork and small-press snacks at the ICA this Sunday, from 1pm to 6pm. This will be the last art fair for me for this year and it’s going to be very exciting! It’s the Comica Comiket, your one and only chance to check out the alternative press scene and meet up-and-coming artists in a great, central location! There’s also an exhibition going on plus the usual ICA art exhibits as well as a bar and musical entertainment. But forget that…there’s mee and my artwork! >_<

If you’d like to read about the Comica Festival, visit Paul Gravett’s site here. If you need more info about Sunday email me or view the ICA’s map – it’s near Piccadilly Circus and I’ll be in the Theatre.

The Comica Comiket line-up of other sellers will include my small-press partners in crime Capes & Drapes and Tempo Lush, plus sci-fi/horror fanzine extraordinaire Murky Depths as well as TP Cat Melody Lee, Atlantic Press, Decadence, Cute But Sad Comics and the amazing Alternative Press team!

 

London MCM Expo Weekend + Illustration of the day!

So the Expo Weekend is finally upon us! If you’re coming along then I certainly hope to see you there! I’ll be in the Artist’s corner, on table C28 with Van, my Expo partner-in-crime, from Capes & Drapes!

If you’re unable to make it don’t worry – keep Sunday November 8^th in your diaries as I will be selling my work again at this year’s Comica Comiket at the ICA. This event will be free to all and I’ll keep you posted nearer the time.

Alas! Back to the Expo! So who is it that I’ll be dressing up as? The Malacca Cane’s “Lady of the Night”. I’m actually still deciding what her name should be (if you have any suggestions – feel free to contact me!), so for now, she is known as the lady of the night.

See you at the Expo! >_<

 

Malacca Cane gonna smash your brain…

So, only  a week left to go until the highly awaited London MCM Expo! I have just received my Victoriana pantaloons in the post this morning and I love them! They look so laced up, so Malacca Cane I can’t wait to rock the full look. It’s sort of a mix between Victoriana and Gothic Lolita, crazy! >_<

My partner J is also waiting for his personalised Malacca Cane to come in the post, and I can’t wait to see him in the full get-up, top hat, eyeliner. Oh Boy! >_< Dress-up is so much fun… but will we look authentic? We’ll have to see… =_=”

And just so you have a clear idea of what characters I’m talking about, here is a sneak preview of a print I’ll be selling (in print and postcard) over the MCM Expo weekend. I present… the Malacca cane himself and his partner-in-crime:

Woot! Woot!

 

Illustrations of the day + MCM Expo News >_<

So I’m officially back from my beachy-break and have some new illustrations of the day to share with you, as well as exciting updates about the coming MCM London Expo!

Some of you may or may not know that I’ll be “Cosplaying it up” for the  MCM Expo, I know, this is really crazy and so unlike me but since it’s the place to dress up for, I thought, why not? I will be dressing up as the first lady of my illustrative project “The Malacca Cane” and…exciting…I have somehow roped my partner to turn up on the Sunday, as the Malacca Cane himself. Woot Woot! Our costumes are nearly there, and can I say…I’m just glad that the Vampire/Goth/Victoriana look is back for A/W 09 because we’re going to be all about that for those two days! >_< or =_=”… you decide…

I will be updating you with more news about the MCM Expo and the Malacca Cane. If you’re interested in going I would recommend you buy advance tickets here. If you’re unable to go but would like to order any of my artwork I’ll be selling on the day, I will be opening my online shop by 10^th November, so don’t worry! If you would like orders before then, just email me.

As for my illustrations of the day, please see below:

You can view these in more detail here.

These will be greeting cards to be sold at the MCM Expo, and bite-sized prints so watch this space!

 

This is great! >_<

Ok I know I’m supposed to check-in in like two hours but I can’t resist! Must post this latest strip of me by fellow alternative presser Paul Shinn, of me at the Japan Matsuri! Thanks so much Paul – I love it! >_<

In case you’re wondering if this actually happened… it DID. I stood in confusion for a while trying to figure out whether the poor girl had already figured out that I didn’t know who she was and vice versa. Her boyfriend looked… confused too. And Paul watched on… planning his next comic masterpiece! LOL >_<

Please visit Paul’s blog here for more of his strips!

 

Thanks for coming to the Matsuri! I’m away like the waves >_<

Thanks everyone who managed to make it to the London Japan Matsuri yesterday, it was a brilliant day with so much happening and so many cute Japanese families running round, enjoying the events and activities.

I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed speaking to everyone who came to visit my exhibition and was even given a lovely good luck origami crane chain by one of the Matsuri front-runners, Megumi Tsuchiya – so touched and inspired by everyone who came and the day itself >_< Special thanks to Yuki and Carlos as well for their support! Y >_< Y

I have some photos of the event here. Unfortunately these were taken from my not-so-great camera phone so if you have any photos of my exhibition please email me or tag me in Facebook to share with all!

Roll on Matsuri 2010, it’s got to be the most exciting cultural event I’ve been to and experienced this year!

I will now make like the waves and be on my annual leave for the next two weeks. At last! Beachy time for meeee! >_< On my return I’ll be preparing some very exciting things for the coming London MCM Expo so watch this space!

 

Japan Matsuri this weekend! An extreme…close-up >_<"

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.. I spent mine having a real nostalgic steam boat dinner which was…delicious! >_<

It’s not long to go now until the London Japan Matsuri Festival – this Saturday at London’s Spitafield’s Market, from 10am to 8pm. Please visit their website here for all the exciting details of stalls, activities and cultural events!

And don’t forget I will be exhibiting my recent art pieces including the original painting of “Farewell”, the Grateful Crane. So come and see what it’s like as an extreme close-up or view it’s print in a massive A1 size, courtesy of the Matsuri team >_<

If you’d like more details of how to get there just drop me an email or visit the Japan Matsuri site here.

What are you waiting for? Make a weekend of it! >_<

Hope to see you there!