Pippa & Co

Toast at Kettles

2007-10-31T07:30:00.000Z

Ahhh, we just had an amazing couple of weeks at Kettles; putting our classic Hunters on for the first time this year and walking through the leaves. There's nothing like it.

Ludo's friend Carlotta is a stylist with Toast, she came to Kettles once and was inspired by its scruffy, bohemian, Bloomsbury set-esque aristo charm so they came down to shoot their latest catalogue and here are some of the pics:

Ma's Ghanaian nickety nackety drawers.

Me in my socks (our table was at old Mr Entwhistle's for a bees wax so we had to have our toast and Bonne Maman on the original stone floor...Again!)

Gracie having rest while sweeping the flour mill.

Pa's odd socks.

A notice:

2007-10-20T11:59:00.000Z

Pippa is ever so tired after giving birth to her blessing and will be back as soon as she possibly can.
Thank you.

Email from MdlC

2007-10-10T14:56:00.000Z

To: pippa@weekendbirdie
From: maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE: hola


or maybe bonjour pippa

i come back from paris today showing my stuffs at  the shows. so tired how are you and el pequenito? i can't wait see him in few  weeks. 

anyway paris was good. i find some new accounts for  va va voom, some new concept store. now concept store is everything, everyone  tell me "i have concept store, i have concept store" - what is concept store? i  no undestand it but is good i think.

i see anton and andres at shows - they are good and  tell me hi to you. one night i go with them to le marais to meet some friends at  la perle, some grungy bar with germans smoking and talk about more "concept"! i  think some your friends like this bar. maybe even ludo.

anyway, i come to london very soon. i call  you

besitos a ti e a la familia!!

bel

x

Owen Wilson delivered my baby! (almost)

2007-09-14T21:11:00.000Z

I write to you from my Eames daybed, sipping a light decaf lemon tea and nuzzling into my new, organic cotton Marimekko-swathed little boy.

There I was at my ICA opening night, making my little speech, flanked by Charlotte Gainsbourg one side and Zadie Smith on the other, when out of the blue I began to get a horrendous stomach cramp. I had been getting them most of the day but I thought it was just the bad Gouda from Cheese Appreciation Level 4 the night before. It wasn't just the bad Gouda (must stop trying to blame cheese for everything), it was my boy trying to sally hello.

Suddenly, just as my waters broke all over the Chapman Brothers' shoes (shame), Wilson swept in and caught me as I collapsed in agony, falling off the podium.

Luckily my baby guru Gowri was also at the opening (she's very supportive of my work) and took over. Ludo was marvellous of course but he kept yelling in Finnish (he's fluent in several European languages) which wasn't at all helpful.

So alas my glorious natural home birth was never to be. I was rushed to hospital, drugged up to the eyeballs and the little fellow popped out in record time on baby blue polyester hospital sheets. I do hope he doesn't get a rash.

Well, I suppose I ought to tell you his name. We decided to mix our names so he has my surname as a first name and Ludo's as his surname. He is:

Bonhomie Lovesunday Jansdotter.

Or Bon-Bon for short. Not too silly is it? A little eccentric maybe and ever so slightly 'best in show' but I think it's just perfect. And so is he, my little Bon-Bon.

Gosh! What a year it's been. This time last year Ludo Jansdotter was the handsome and talented ex of my goofy friend Nancy. Now he's over there, across the room from me, asleep in his Alvar Alto Paimio, slumped over a copy of Architectural Digest.

Turned out nice again. (Did I just quote George Formby?)

Baby shower

2007-09-09T10:22:00.001Z

It was my baby shower yesterday.

I don't want to sound ungrateful but when your best friends invite Margot, your arch nemesis to your baby shower, you know it's going to be interesting. Luckily it was all made up for by Celine and mdlc flying in especially for the celebrations.

We had a darling picnic by the Serpentine in Hyde Park with cakes provided by Zoe of Bake-a-boo bake shop and tea room. They were divine, never let it be said that gluten-free cake is inedible, the brownies were out of this world and the cupcakes....well I never!

We played some odd games; my favourite was "Make My Baby!" where they split into 3 groups with a pile of magazines and had to cut out pictures of babies faces and put them together to make a picture of my baby. I chose the winner. Look away if you are of nervous disposition.

I made up for Margot being there by taking a quick tour of the Serpentine Gallery shop and accidentally happening upon a copy of Weekend Birdie (they have just started stocking it). She was positively green!

My show opens at the ICA on Thursday, I am very nervous about it. I do hope it doesn't bring on labour.

Directional type

2007-08-27T12:59:00.000Z

Oh Lord, I'm under pressure to update Weekend Birdie's look to something more 'directional'. I'm not the directional type however and this font quite frightens me.

i facebook you!

2007-08-15T20:33:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE:honeymoons!

hola pippaaaaa

i come back from the honeymoons on saturday. dios  mios what a travel - was amazing pippa, i cannot believe so much  fun.

in sydney we are stay in the W hotel like you tell  me, they upgrade we to honeymoon suite - big view, big tv, big everything. one  night we have dinner in iceberg restaurant and esteban say me oh my god, look  bel and i look and on the next to table is nicole kidman, naomi watts and david  lynch.

esteban sister now is living in australia with the  baby and her boyfriend and he is very rich (lucky for she) so we meet them in  whitsunday islands for sailing, swimming etc.

then finally we stay in the bloomfield lodge in the  rainforest - so beautiful and so relax pippa.

now reality again and busy busy. oh pippa, steven  meisel send me the fotos from the wedding - so beautiful.

i come in london at end august. i facebook  you.

besitos

bel xx

ps quincy jam rock!!! quincy jam yeah!!! LOVE IT!!!

England in a flask

2007-08-13T20:32:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:England in flask!

the OH my pippa! I cannot believe with what a sweet you are, almost to have a baby and time to have always to send this beautiful flask to me of cold of quince, packed so much admirably too!

Agnes and Etienne eat it for the breakfast each morning and also in the school in their boxed lunch that all their friends are very jealous! You must send even more the nextest time you see old Mme. Bell in bottom of the lane.

Soignoise,
Celine
xxxxxx

Weekend at Kettles

2007-08-13T20:12:00.001Z

Ahhh, there's nothing like a weekend at Kettles to get over all this death nonsense and put a spring back in one's step. It was so lovely to spend time with Ma and Pa and Ptolemy and Gracie. On Saturday we went to the village fete where old-Mrs-Bell-down-the-lane had some glorious quince jelly; I bought a whole box! I'm going to package it up all modern-pretty with brown paper and raffia and send it to all my friends overseas, they'll love my little bit of English countryside in a jar!
We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing and playing pooh-sticks...oh...England!

On Sunday, we all had a paddle in the river at the bottom of the garden (which was surprisingly warm), then Ludo, who was luckily shooting a story for Lula nearby, managed to pop down for a few hours. The menfolk went to the pub while Ma, Gracie and I talked about my baby shower, which I have reluctantly agreed to. Gracie's a darling but rather eccentric and I fear some random party games involving lucky rabbit's feet.

Anyway, I'm off to bed, Ludo's watching Battleship Potemkin again and I don't much fancy it.

So Long Lee Hazlewood (my, what a week!)

2007-08-09T12:09:00.000Z

It's been a terrible week for us here at Weekend Birdie...first Ingmar, now Lee (not to mention Antonioni). We knew it was coming but it's still awfully sad. I've given everyone the afternoon off to go and weep over a few bourbons. So Long Lee, we love you.

So Long Ingmar

2007-07-30T18:31:00.000Z

I can't even begin to tell you how exhausted I am...what a night!

As you will see there are two Issue 13 1/2 covers, this is because our favourite gloomy Swede, Ingmar Bergman just passed away at the age of 89 (weep) and we decided, 3 hours before the print deadline, to change not only the cover but the whoooollllle magazine.
Off came Werner Herzog (Graziella is devastated, she put a lot of work into her Aguirre: The Wrath of God photo story, but no fear, we shall reinstate him next month) and on went Bergman.

We dedicated the whole issue to him, a loony idea and commercial suicide I know but sometimes you have to follow your heart and I know, Weekend Birdie's not exactly OK, but if we lose a few readers this month it shan't matter, I shall just throw a bit more money at it next month and we shall be back on form.
Big sigh...we are all in mourning here at Weekend Birdie HQ. Ho-hum.

Gasp!...Just realised something...calling it issue 13 1/2 didn't make a jot of difference after all, what bloody bad luck.

Original draft cover

Pippa's Icons #3 - Jean Seberg

2007-07-22T19:49:00.000Z

Need I say more...

Tagged by a bunny!

2007-07-15T18:54:00.000Z

The divine (but ever so slightly cuckoo) Fifi Lapin (she’s a rabbit you know) tagged me, which means I have to reveal seven random facts about myself on this here, my personal weblog. Ho-hum…here goes…Gosh! I really don’t know if there’s anything I haven’t already told you…ummm…

I was the under 12s ukelele champion of Great Britain 1978. I was on Blue Peter. I got Lesley Judd’s autograph and Shep pooed on my shoe.

When I was a child, I was obsessed with the Mitfords and used to imagine I was a long lost sister.

I have a small collection of early Picassos that I keep in a vault in the bank. Don’t tell anyone.

Jake Gyllenhaal once asked me out for a drink. I said no because Kirsten (blimey!) is a good friend of mine and I know she’ll never truly be over him.

My middle name is Genevieve, after my mother’s favourite film. Not very romantic to be named after a car but hey-ho.

I’ve been featured on The Sartorialist like 17 times.

Oh yes…I’m having a boy!

Doctor's orders

2007-07-08T12:12:00.000Z

Been overdoing it lately so my baby guru said I need to take a week off. Plus, topshop are having a sale and it'll take at least a week to go through the racks.
Back soon, ta-ta. x

Wowy!

2007-06-26T18:14:00.000Z

Wowy! as Maribel would say...what an amazing wedding that was.

It was a two-tier wedding which seems to be all the rage these days...no-one has a one hour wedding in a church anymore. So, first we all flew to Morocco to Ouarzazate for the small evening boho desert wedding; I say small, we were 130. They'd set up these huge Bedouin tents and Maribel and Esteban appeared over the dunes on white horses. We all clapped and fireworks went off. They stayed on the horses for ages. They had to do all their vows up there and everything. Maribel said she had a very sore bottom afterwards. Luckily it was an evening do or else we would all have died of heat exhaustion. My blessing was not happy.

The next day we flew to Madrid for their official wedding (700 people). It was at the Catedral de la Almudena, which shouldn't strictly have been allowed but her husband Esteban is a distant cousin of the Royal Family or something, plus the Pope said it was OK so hey-ho.
The reception was at the Casa de Madrid, which is only in Conde Nast Traveller like every month. We had a right old knees-up...Gwen Stefani jumped out of a cake! And I don't mind telling you, the Olsen Twins were hammered!

Anyway, feeling muy retro since I saw some dear little Italian school children on the tube with Invicta rucksacks (my, they still really love those things), so I think I'm going to go to bed, listen to the Betty Blue soundtrack and weep a little.

Email from mdlc

2007-06-22T09:51:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE:besitos!

hola p
you can believe i am married at the weekend? so sorry i am so quiet at the moment but so busy with esteban and his mother - ooh la la - planning all the things.
anyway you must to come to the chicken night (so strange this term) i have on friday. my friend blanca will to telephone you to say you the details but will be so especial night. how is your stomach - i'm sure so big now.
anyway all is perfect. celine will sing some jazz and weather is so sunny and hot now. my dress is so beautiful pippa i can't wait you see it.
o dios mios pippa, i am too busy now with massaje and pedicure and hair etc etc.

besitos
bel

Interlude - Graziella's Top Pop Picks!

2007-06-18T10:11:00.001Z

Blah

2007-06-17T20:00:00.000Z

Everything's a bit blah. Had a few meetings at the ICA recently and they're all 'Wow!' about the show but I don't feel it's working, it's just not cohesive, you know? I thought we had everything straight, Parker Posey Eating a Strawberry on the left, Mark Ruffalo Doing Sudoku on the right, Lou Doillon Walking Her Cat on the far wall...all fabulous. Then Vanessa Paradis Chasing a Bagel Down a Hill threw it all out of whack and since then, nothing's working.
Plus I've got Nancy emailing me about whether I'm using one of the pictures from her Lovely Legs shoot (um...no!) and even Natalie, who is so over-exposed at the moment it's crazy, asked me if her Vanity Fair shoot is gonna be in there! The cheek! Then I'm soooo behind with issue 13 1/2 it's ridiculous and it's MDLC's wedding at the weekend which I know will be physically exhausting, if from the air kissing alone.

Ho-Hum...I need a little Pippa time...and that doesn't include doing my birth rehearsal because if I have to visualise my cervix opening one more time, I think it actually will and my blessing will pop out all over Ludo Jansdotter's new Paul Smith rug.

I seem to be complaining a lot at the moment. For that I apologise. I'm going to bed with a large mug of Charbonnel et Walker and a Radio 4 podcast. Postmodern.

And a hoot at that!

2007-06-04T19:33:00.000Z

What a show, what a show and a hoot, at that!
Had a lovely time with Ma and Gracie; a super lunch at LUNCH* and then a glorious spa , followed by a hot stones massage, flotation and Indian Head massage at Glo(w). By the end of it, my dopamine pathways were so open I was utterly drunk, all of which added to a fabulous evening at Loretta's new show, which again is soooo clever. Who else could turn an unknown beat poet's short story about a gas station romance into an interpretative dance? And not just one dance mind you; there was classic disco, street jazz, the polka, highland fling, pagan flag-waving and of course the pogo...and then we all joined in during the audience participation 3-legged merengue. Nancy's soft rock ballet stole the show of course...I simply cannot understand how she hasn't been snapped up by the William Morris Agency or something.

Then we all dashed over to Voltaire for Vodka Highfalutins (alcohol free for me please) and more polka. I don't mind telling you I was absolutely done in!

The poster

2007-05-24T19:37:00.001Z

Loretta's new show opens tomorrow.

Oh the ennui

2007-05-24T18:35:00.000Z

Well I've been absolutely snowed under. Issue 13 1/2 (I know it's a gimmick but I can't face the worry about unlucky number 13 and all the boring comments) is vaguely underway.
I've had to give Graziella more responsibility and so far she has been to three Werner Herzog films and a Slovakian ballet so there's hope. She's completely in love with my typesetter Toby Van Cleef, which is a slight distraction but I've decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Oh yes, I passed Progressive Urdu level 3 with flying colours! What a relief.

I am starting to feel a tad heavy and unattractive (oh the ennui) so Ma and Ptolemy's girlfriend Grace are coming up at the weekend to take me out to lunch and then for a pampering somewhere. Divine with a capital D!

Weekly planner

2007-05-13T21:16:00.000Z

As I said, I'm taking this blessing very seriously indeed.

Lovely

2007-05-06T09:44:00.000Z

What do you think of 'Lovely'? As a name I mean. Do you think it's a bit much? I don't think Ludo will like it since he's stuck in the 'old Norse' section of 1000 Baby Names. I wonder how we will ever agree. Lovely is for a girl by the way, not a boy. No, that would be silly!

Anyway, of to meet Natalie for a room temperature water at the Brick Lane greasy spoon.

Issue 12

2007-05-02T08:49:00.000Z

Gazpacho

2007-04-27T07:16:00.000Z

I'm in one of my tizzies! Having people over for gazpacho tonight, then we're all going to a Folk-Thrash bash in Tooting of all places (where the hell's Tooting?). So I've got to go down to my Spanish deli in Soho to pick up ingredients. Then I've got to swing by B-Store to pick up my Karen Walker playsuit that'll be ever so comfy-cosy for my growing bump this summer and I've still got to fit in half an hour self-hypnosis for Gowri, my baby guru, and she'll know if I haven't been practising.
Ahhhh!...Soup spoons! I knew I'd forgotten something.

Oh barnacles!

2007-04-23T08:51:00.000Z

Hmmm...so much for Ludo massaging my sacral iliac, I spent most of last night massaging his calves after the Marathon. So glad it's over. He ran it in around 3 and a half hours which is a little slower than he'd hoped because he passed a darling little antique shop somewhere near Greenwich and stopped to have a look. And I'm currently scraping barnacles off a bit of old driftwood he picked up by the Thames that he's going to turn into some kind of distressed sculpture.
Very distressed if you ask me.

Who's Jorge?

2007-04-21T05:10:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: Who's Jorge?

Who's Jorge? You know, my Romanian beau. I know his name is Bogdan, but we really can't have that and he doesn't seem to mind being called Jorge, so hey ho.

Loretta x

Jorge

2007-04-21T05:08:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: Jorge

Having a gay old time with Jorge. I've managed to squeeze him into The Gay Guy Drinks Coffee - an interpretative dance. He's going to play the balalaika during Nancy's soft rock ballet.

Loretta x

Cleansing

2007-04-18T07:46:00.000Z

Well, I reluctantly did Nancy's Wyoming shoot. Got paid a pittance but it's nice to do a friend a favour every now and again and it wasn't exactly a stretch.
Off to see Gowri my new baby guru later. She thinks I need to cleanse my uterus so I've had to cut out my triple whipped double choca mocha vanilla lattes. Bums. Then Ludo's got to massage my sacral iliac for half an hour. I'm taking this blessing ever so seriously, in case you hadn't noticed.

Ouch!

2007-04-07T13:16:00.000Z

Ouch! Keep bumping into Ludo's Mies Van Der Rohe Barcelona chair. Oh well, it's not all bad, I've just spent an hour in the spa downstairs while Ludo's out training with his best friend Giovanni and Jaarko...only 2 weeks till the Marathon!

So guess who was at antenatal yoga today? No, not Zooey Deschanel, although I am meeting her later at 1920's Photo-montage Propaganda (intermediate). No, it was Margot! I didn't even know she was with child but I suppose it has been a while. Anyway, you wouldn't know, she's still stick thin and not a little odd. There was some chit and then some chat and then some chit-chat...I do hope it doesn't get awkward.

Just shoot me

2007-04-02T13:42:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:nancy@a-zmodels
RE:just shoot me!!!

Hey you! I've had my contract renewed for the Lovely Legs Stocking Co, Wyoming. Will you shoot it? Money wouldn't be great but it would be so much fun! Hey, good news about Loretta asking me to do The gay guy drinks coffee - an interpretative dance, no? I told her I did Jazz tap from the age of 5. I think that's what clinched it.

*****NANCY*****
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Modern architecture

2007-03-26T15:52:00.000Z

Ooh I've had a lovely week with Celine and the bebes but really ever so tiring (and Agnes and Etienne are such darlings but tri-lingual don't you know, which I find not a little exhausting), all culminating in a children's architecture workshop, where Ludo helped them build the Trellick Tower out of stickle bricks.

A little catch-up

2007-03-19T12:26:00.000Z

Goodness, I know I haven't been around for a while but I've been keeping my head down working on Issue 12. Spent most of last week visiting the various poetry slams of Greater London. Illuminating.

And Celine gets in later today so I imagine I shall be frequenting a lot of cafes, Baby Gaps, and random children's art workshops on the South Bank for the next few days. I'm bracing myself as we speak.

A little catch-up:

As you read, Loretta has finally asked Bogdan out for coffee (yes, this is his name. I think Lol was hoping for something a little more romantic but them's the breaks). She also finally asked Nancy to be part of her new production TGGDC - an interpretative dance.

Ludo is in Peru on a Gaultier shoot. He hates Gaultier poor love but the money's ridiculous! The marathon grows ever closer and he's threatening to jog the Inca trail for a bit of extra training.

Haven't seen Natalie for ages. She wasn't at French Scrabble last week but she's been ever so busy working on her new underwear line. She's awfully defensive about it and can't understand why the literati are berating this new avenue.

Such is life.

All a-quiver

2007-03-19T12:20:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: coffee

Got bored of hiding in bookshop. Been through all random art photography section near window 7 times so I went back to Bungees for a lactose-free frozen yoghurt and asked him out for coffee! Gosh, I'm all a-quiver!

Loretta x

Pippa's Icons #2

2007-03-16T11:08:00.000Z

#2 - Great fringes of the 20th Century.

Louise Brooks, Anna Karina, Elina Lowensohn (is this the best arthouse haircut you've ever seen?)

Visitors

2007-03-14T10:25:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:We come!

Hé Pippa, I come to London with Agnes and Etienne thus we can rub your bomp! You see Monday!

Soignoise,
Celine
xxxxxx

Scan

2007-03-07T15:08:00.000Z

Hey! Had my scan yesterday. Here's my little blessing.

.

Just for the record...if you ever see me getting out of a 4x4 wearing a pair of Boden wellies, please kill me.

The committee

2007-03-07T15:03:00.000Z

Ugh! Had this hideous committee meeting last night in my block where I had to raise the issue of Ludo moving in and guess what? It was bloody rejected because of Jaarko, his bloody afghan hound! Seems I may be leaving my pseudo north london village for a mid-century penthouse overlooking the heath. Ho-hum.

Stalking II

2007-03-05T10:49:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: re stalking

Well ok, not 'stalking' exactly - whatever you want to call it. So you think I should leave the shop and accidentally on purpose bump into him?

Stalking

2007-03-03T16:19:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: stalking

Hey Pip,

When you were stalking old Ludo Jansdotter, what did you do exactly?
So far I've only stood in the window of the photography bookshop opposite bungees in a large fedora and my nose in a cindy sherman.

Loretta x

Mahjong Madness etc.

2007-03-01T09:04:00.000Z

Met Loretta at Bungees Coffee House & Folk Cellar the other night. It began as a coffee (decaf for me thank you very much, I'm taking this blessing very seriously) and turned into a night on the tiles which was hilarious as Lol can be such a loon - she can come across as a little abrasive and very serious about 'the work' but deep down she's a darling and a real scream.
We talked about all manner of things including whether she should ask Nancy to be part of her new production. She was such a hit but they didn't exactly get on. Sometimes I think I just need to bang their heads together.

Anyway, after an organic 3 bean salad and a gluten free baklava, the handsome Romanian waiter came on stage to play the balalaika and he sang so tenderly, Lol was positively swooning! She even tried to get him to come along to Mahjong Madness but he was working till 3.
The lovely thing about being out with Loretta is that you can feel drunk as a skunk even when you're completely sober. Luckily she was drunk as a skunk and I beat her 14/8 at Mahjong. She jumped on the table and demanded a rematch. Then she was sick all over my repetto flats.

Ho-hum...I have a feeling this isn't the last we've heard of the Romanian crooner.

Email from Loretta re Bungees II

2007-02-24T10:19:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: re bungees

Ah well, no panic, I shall have to get a few gitanes out of the way before you arrive.

Email from Loretta re Bungees

2007-02-24T10:17:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: bungees

Listen, can we meet for dialogue at Bungees coffee house and Folk cellar instead of Starbucks? My new production 'The gay guy drinks coffee - an interpretative dance' is set in beat-era San Francisco and I need to get into the zone. And you can still smoke there which is a blessed relief. Oh dear, will a smokey, damp cellar be bad for your blessing?

Loretta x

Issue 12 ideas

2007-02-18T16:21:00.000Z

Legwarmers, whittling and Scarlett Johansson

2007-02-14T13:01:00.000Z

Ugh, still feeling grim, hope this morning sickness passes soon. And it doesn't help that Ludo wakes me up every morning at 6.00 to go running (he's training for the marathon, the crazy fish). He's such a picture in his yellow leg-warmers and earmuffs. Oh, I do love him so.

He's being ever so sweet about the baby - talking of whittling him a bow and arrow in the woods, making camps in the trees. I think he secretly (or not so secretly) wants a boy as he never speaks of girl related things.
This week is half term and he's teaching a children's graphic illustration workshop at the Design Museum!

Anyway, haven't even thought about Issue 12. I hope I'm not already losing all my creativity because of said blessing. Must crack on. I shall begin tomorrow...Oh no, tomorrow I'm off to Tokyo to shoot Scarlett Johansson dressed as a Harajuku girl for Vogue Italia. Next week then.

Nice for Nance

2007-02-12T12:32:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:nancy@a-zmodels
RE:elle deco!!!

Hey Pip! You'll never guess.....my papier-mâché tea light holders are going to be in Elle Deco! They contacted me this morning for pics and info!

Thanks for believing in me.

*****NANCY*****
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

And I thought they were just a fire hazard.
Well, I suppose what with Yo Beowulf - a shadow puppet cabaret coming to the end of it's run, it's nice for Nance to have something exciting in her life.

...in with the new

2007-02-08T07:50:00.001Z

Ludo Jansdotter stopped me mid-sentence the other day and said "Pippa, don't you think since we are going to have a child together it's time you stopped calling me 'Ludo Jansdotter'? 'Ludo' will do."

I suppose he's right. He's not really 'Ludo Jansdotter' anymore anyway, not the Ludo Jansdotter I used to google, and keep cut-outs about from Design Week and follow around at photography exhibitions. He's just my Ludo, and I should embrace that.

Pippa's Icons #1

2007-02-05T15:49:00.000Z

Hey, here's the first in my new series (as if I have the time) 'Pippa's Icons'!
#1 Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde.

Isn't this the most modern yet timeless outfit you've ever seen? The beret, the mustard cap-sleeve jersey...sooo A/W 06-07!

And as if it couldn't get any more this season...a trench!

Never mind

2007-02-05T15:13:00.000Z

I failed Prog Urdu level 3. Not embarrassingly just a possessive pronoun mix up...again!
Oh well, I've too much on my plate at the moment what with Nancy moving out, Issue 11 and the whole baby thing. I simply couldn't concentrate.
Shan't give in however, I will try again next month.
Never mind.

Out with the old...

2007-02-03T18:39:00.000Z

Nancy is moving back in with Pedro this weekend which is a blessed relief. Ludo Jansdotter and I haven't actually discussed it yet, but if he does move in, it doesn't seem right that Nancy would still be there. Their history doesn't bother me, he just has a slightly nervous energy when she's around and she's an incorrigible flirt!

Anyway, I shan't miss her random origami birds cluttering up my mantelpiece, nor her decorative bowls of lemons, nor her growing collection of Jo Malone scented candles - what a stink!

Storm in a soup bowl

2007-02-01T08:07:00.000Z

Quite a late night last night but it's so nice to be able to thank my team personally for their hard work on Issue 11. My sun-speckled bream potage went down a storm! And I do believe I detected a mild flirtation between Graziella and my typesetter Toby Van Cleef!

Issue 11 Ahoy!

2007-01-31T09:36:00.001Z

I'm in a flap, Issue 11 comes out today and I've got to dash to the printer and then on to the ICA. Then I've got to get some things for a little soirée I'm having tonight and I've still got to squeeze in some Progressive Urdu revision.

Anyway, here (finally) is Issue 11.

Kettles

2007-01-29T10:32:00.000Z

You know when you're flicking through the Observer Magazine of a Sunday and you turn to the fashion pages, hoping to see the latest To'sho' tunic dress and instead it's a story called 'The New Gent' featuring tall, angular male models wearing cravats and carrying man bags?
That's Ludo Jansdotter.

When he picked me up to go to Kettles, he was wearing his paisley tank top and orange slacks and I thought 'Oh dear, is this really how I'm going to introduce Ma and Pa to the father of my child?' I mean, I love that LJ's a natty dresser but sometimes it's a little OTT and I don't really want to be the one to tell him that the 1970's pimp look is passé.
However, Pa always refers to me and Ptolemy as 'you arty types' so i suppose he was expecting nothing less.

M&P were very welcoming and asked Ludo Jansdotter very many questions about his work as an art director/photographer/graphic artist/illustrator David LaChapelle-type and seemed captivated (although Ma found his accent a little thick and kept having to say "I'm sorry Ludo, which anorexic supermodel?", "I'm sorry Ludo, which German performance artist?").

After lunch Ptolemy and Ludo Jansdotter played backgammon while I went with M&P to pick blackberries and visit old Mrs Bell down the lane. On the way back I told them the news.
Both were a little taken aback of course as they had only just met LJ but after the dust settled they seemed rather chuffed and when we got back, Pa walked me round the garden and showed me where we used to make camps and have treasure hunts.

The next day Ptolemy took us all off to the farmer's market where Ludo Jansdotter was very impressed with the range of organic preserves and pâté.
Later, Ma spent quite a long time telling him about all the different types of bird that come into the garden. LJ was awfully kind to humour her so and even talked quite knowledgeably about the birds native to Finland.

The day ended with a jolly visit to the pub and a hilarious game of charades which Ludo Jansdotter found infinitely confusing.

What made the weekend was Ma telephoning me after we got home to say that she and Pa thought Ludo Jansdotter was charming and delightful and that they were sure all would be well.
How lucky I am to have been adopted into this joyous and jolly family who love me so unconditionally.

Poor old Margot

2007-01-20T18:45:00.000Z

Bumped into Rolf+Margot this morning at the ICA. I was there for a meeting about my upcoming show, they were there for the London International Mime Festival.
Margot's fringe doesn't seem to have grown a millimetre. I can't help thinking she went into the salon with a picture of this:

And came out looking like this:

Email from MdlC

2007-01-20T18:44:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE:wowy!

pippa

i cannot believe!!!! you crazy lady no? so many  news and now who i can drink the champagne with celebrating? maybe you can have  some little glass with me and esteban. when you have the baby? esteban tell me  good idea for you - you MUST to come to puerto banus in july with me and  the esteban for relaxing before baby. esteban mother house very beautiful with big  pool and many room for you and big stomach!!!

felicitaciones

besos

bel x

Telling Nancy, Loretta and Natalie

2007-01-20T18:31:00.000Z

Well, the darling girls were ever so supportive, although Loretta has some concerns regarding work and how I could possibly juggle everything. I told her that I shall just have to prioritise and maybe (though I dread the thought), Graziella will have to take on a bit more responsibility.

Nancy was most excited and her knitting circle, Knit-a-go-go are meeting next week to start booties and such like!

Most surprising was Natalie, who positively melted and confided to me that she had always wanted to write a children's book and that maybe one day we could collaborate.

Well, I do feel relieved.That's Ludo Jansdotter and the girls told. Next weekend I shall go back down to Kettles with Ludo Jansdotter in tow to tell Ma and Pa and Ptolemy. (I imagine Ptolemy will be one of these very exciting and slightly mysterious uncles who the little one will be enthralled by!) What fun all this will be! I do hope Ma and Pa will be pleased. I know it's a little left-field but I like to think of M and P as modern, forward-thinking people and hope they will embrace the idea.

ps. There was a slightly frosty atmosphere between Natalie and Loretta but it thawed after my news and I hope they will be able to resolve their issues in time.

Holy Cow!

2007-01-20T18:29:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:natalie@nataliespooner.com
RE:re: News

Holy cow! I'll see you later. Salman and Zadie can wait!

Oh fiddle-de-dee

2007-01-20T18:22:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:natalie@nataliespooner.com
RE:News

Oh fiddle-de-dee, can't you just tell me the news now? I don't really need to sit in a bar with crazy Loretta shooting me evils all night after that whole dada poem episode. And I'm having dinner with Salman and Zadie later (Grrr...Zadie Smith, my arch enemy) so I'd only have time for the one Mohair Russian anyway and what's the point in that?

Natalie Spooner
Author

Interlude: Let's celebrate!

2007-01-20T15:11:00.000Z

The blessing

2007-01-17T16:20:00.000Z

Well, it seems I underestimated Ludo Jansdotter. I told him the news last night and this is what he said (while reading this, imagine him squeezing my hand a bit too hard and quietly weeping. Oh, and a strong Scandinavian accent):

"My Pippa this must be a dream! All this time I was thinking: 'Pippa is too work-centric, Pippa is too party-centric, she is a too silly girl.' But now I see you in a different light. You are my Madonna, my beautiful pregnant Madonna, mother of my child!

If it is a boy we call it Magnus. If it is a girl we call it Irmeline. And whichever, we must enrol in Baby Parkour immediately, the waiting list is very long I hear."

Well..who knew. It seems I don't know Ludo Jansdotter all that well after all. I suppose we have spent quite a lot of time apart.

Gosh, I'm going to have a baby! What a blessing!

ps. By the way, no daughter of mine will be called Irmeline.

Further delaying tactics

2007-01-15T16:37:00.000Z

Dum-di-dum-di-dum...Hey! Look at this gorgeous Figgjo vase on ebay!
Oh, alright! I'll tell him tomorrow.

Pippa!

2007-01-15T16:36:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:Pippa!

Pippa! Stop in denial! You must to indicate Ludo Jansdotter!

More delaying tactics

2007-01-15T16:19:00.000Z

I'm thinking of painting my sitting room a warm, dusky sage.

This is my sitting room now: sunbleached driftwood 2.

and this is a warm, dusky sage.

Be careful what you wish for...

2007-01-15T16:04:00.000Z

I suppose I should tell Ludo Jansdotter at some point.
My goodness, I know I was feeling a tad melancholy about Celine and then Tony and then bloody MdlC but this is not exactly what I envisaged.
I'm a career woman of the highest order! A photographer! An editor! A collector of mid-century Norwegian pottery! I'm on the board of the Hal Hartley Appreciation Society! Holder of the British Ukelele Songbook Award! My Progressive Urdu level 3 exam is in 2 weeks!
It's folly i tell you, pure folly!

Of course I will tell Ludo Jansdotter...but not just yet.

RE: re: Congratulations from Celine xxx

2007-01-12T15:09:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:re:re:Congratulations!!!

Yes I see what you say. He is man of the world, always busy – people, people, people; things, things, things; work, work, work. But the clock it goes tick-tock you know for man also. Ludo Jansdotter is very much in love with you, he indicates Pfeiffer at the party for Yo Beowulf. He was very drunk but in the vin the vérité non?

RE: Congratulations from Celine xxx

2007-01-12T15:08:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:re:Congratulations!!!

What? That Ludo Jansdotter does not know these news yet? Do you joke? You must say to him! Pippa!

Congratulations from Celine's mum xxx

2007-01-12T15:05:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:claudette@soireeclub.net
RE:Congratulations!!!

Chere Pippa, congratulation my darling! These is marvellous news. You know that I always remember time you came to Paris; you were on my threshold with juste a bagpack of Invicta! Now you are woman!
Come and visit soon, whereas you can still fly.

The regards to your parents.
Claudette
X

Congratulations from Celine xxx

2007-01-12T14:55:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:Congratulations!!!

Wow! which is news fantastique! What Ludo Jansdotter does indicate? Is it happy? Oh now you can join to me in my insane world!
Oh dear, now I become emotive, thinking of you and me in Paris when 14 years old. You had just the escape the house and you upwards turned on my doorstep avec juste your invicta bagpack. My mother always speaks about this! She will be so happy. Can I tell to her?
Ah Pippa, now you are woman!
Soignoise,
Celine
xxxxxx

Delaying tactics

2007-01-10T15:06:00.000Z

Dum-di-dum-di-dum...I'm thinking of switching the Weekend Birdie body font from gill sans to trebuchet. What do you think?

Cheese-Schmeese

2007-01-10T14:31:00.000Z

Well...when a girl can't even get into her boyfriend jeans, you know something's up. It turns out it wasn't the cheese after all; I seem to be pregnant with Ludo Jansdotter's baby.

It's bloody cohesive, that's what it is!

No idea how Ludo Jansdotter is going to deal with an accoutrement of this magnitude - he's only just got used to his Prada man-bag.

Anyway, no great shakes, must crack on. Meeting Parker Posey in half an hour for gluten-free cupcakes at the Bake-a-boo bake shop and tea room, NW6.

Issue 11 checklist

2007-01-03T13:24:00.000Z

Still feeling nauseous. Haven't felt this bad since I spent NYE on a fishing boat with Ludo Jansdotter shouting "Yeah!" and punching the air every time a firework went off. I'm not good on water.
Anyway, must soldier on; got to go through the Issue 11 checklist or I'll miss the print deadline.

Tomma Abts Q&A - check!
Behind the scenes with Belle & Bunty - check!
Yellow clog interview and photo story - check!
Directional fashion shoot: androgynous women in men's underwear - check!
Graziella's novelty blurb 'Zine-Gal' - check!
Jaunty text angles - check!
Hal Hartley retrospective - check!
Random stills of Jane Birkin - check!
What's hot and what's not zeitgeisty-list-type-thing - check!
Directional fashion shoot: featuring Lovefoxxx from CSS - check!
Feature: Cave Spooner unleashed - check!
Feature: Thrift-store shopping with Maribel de las Casas - check!
Review of the Scandi Design Festival - check!
Ludo Jansdotter illustrations - check!
Sofia Coppola photo montage - check!

Pheeeewww!
Oh dear, it's happening again, these horrid cramps and nausea. Must go and see Dr Lim.

A bad cheese day

2007-01-03T11:48:00.000Z

Feeling in a melange today.
I've been asked to do a show of my photographs at the ICA later in the year, which is only the pinnacle of cool and will drive Rolf+Margot mad with jealousy, since neither of them has a talent other than thinking up kooky ideas for their pretentious rag. So for that, I am elated.
Unfortunately, physically I feel dreadful. Was sick all night after that Cheese Appreciation class last night. Who invented cheese and wine evenings? Wholly unwise.
Ludo Jansdotter was very sweet; he mopped my brow and stroked my hair. He's really such a kind man.

In other news, Nancy is still staying with me which is slightly awkward with Ludo Jansdotter around so much. She's loopy over Pedro but she still can't help flirting her socks off with L.J. I think he finds it all rather embarrassing.
Nancy and I are starting to rub each other up the wrong way; she always asks such inane questions. This morning she asked me if you can use body moisturiser on your face.
I said "No Nancy; if you use it on your face, your arm will start growing out of your forehead like a Jake and Dinos Chapman installation." She said "Ooh, sarcasm's the lowest form of wit you know!" I said "Well ya boo and sucks to you!" She said "You, you mean!" which made no sense.

A definite cheese night

2007-01-03T11:40:00.000Z

I'm feeling a bit down today. You know when I said I was going to put all that Celine/Tony Novembre stuff out of my head and enjoy the moment? Well that was before this happened:

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE:big news!!!!!

hola

i have big news p. so exciting i must to tell you now. esteban propose me - yes, i cannot believe! we went my parent house for the christmas lunch and esteban family also came - his mother, his father, his sister and baby - yes she has baby now. she is so crazy and make big scandal in the family. she never marry the father of the baby and esteban thinks maybe father is the circus guy from when she was doing trapeze in praga. anyway all crazy but cutting the story esteban on the middle of the lunch suddenly make speech and propose me. of course i say yes and all the family very happy. i feel like he sweep my feet (correct? i remember this expression from school) and i feel so happy.
anyway we want marry on beach and i ask celine to sing some jazz. maybe you can take the photo. we don't know what day will be the wedding but we have many planning to do now.
oh pippa so happy and excited.
i'm coming to london soon for va va voom - some WAG say she like my collection - what is WAG? so we can drink cocktails together celebrating.
life is so crazy
besitos
bel
xx

Now I'm glummer than glum can be so I'm off to Cheese Appreciation tonight for some comfort eating.

Deconstruction Issue 12

2007-01-03T11:36:00.000Z

Deconstruction 12 'The Sound Issue' came out today. The magazine is completely blank, even the cover. You download the MP3 and flick through while 'listening' to the pages.

I'm a little bit jealous. Although I wouldn't take Weekend Birdie down this particular conceptual avenue, it's awfully interesting and the movers and shakers in the ICA bookshop-type-magazine world will be watercoolering it for weeks.

Welcome home Pippa. Huff.

Yippee!

2006-12-31T08:32:00.000Z

Yippee!...off to Reykjavik for New Year's Eve with Ludo Jansdotter! What joy!

Christmas at Kettles

2006-12-28T13:57:00.000Z

There's nothing quite like waking up at Kettles on Christmas morning under a Couverture vintage quilt! The distant sound of a carol concert drifting upstairs, then creeping down in my 100% cashmere bedsocks (an extravagance, i concur) to find Ma and Pa stoking the fire...divine.

Christmas was lovely. My brother Ptolemy was there with his darling girlfriend Gracie (they were at the RCA together and now run their own furniture design company Ptolemy-Grace, centering on the trad-modern style. Their concrete benches embedded with Victorian flower motifs are in Elle Deco practically every month).

Being at home was a real tonic; lots of late suppers, kippers, cocoa and hot buttered toast. Muddy walks down the lane, hot toddies and sing-songs at the pub. No cocktails, just warm beer.
Nancy's presents went down a storm; my family took to her immensely and treated her like one of their own.

Pa made me promise to slow down a bit and was very relieved to hear that I had come to that conclusion myself. They were all terribly intrigued by Ludo Jansdotter and think he sounds infinitely fascinating. I have very much missed him actually and I think I may have been a bit silly about the whole thing. I'm going to put all this Celine/Tony Novembre nonsense out of my head and just enjoy things as they are for once.

Ho-hum...I am not relishing the prospect of going back to London; Issue 11 and Graziella's tedious sagas. I shall have to put on a brave face.

Happy Christmas

2006-12-22T14:52:00.000Z

A Martha Stewart Christmas

2006-12-22T14:22:00.000Z

Nancy has made us all Martha Stewart snow globes for Christmas. Most of Nancy's stuff is a load of old junk but I dig her enthusiasm and the effort she puts in.
I don't particularly dig the bronze-sprayed willow twigs, adorned with papier-mache reindeer, currently sitting rather camply in the corner of my sitting room. I suppose, at least, it saves me hoovering up the pine needles for the next six months...
...Nancy just asked me if I have any double-sided sticky tape. As we speak she is constructing something involving pressed flowers, gold twine and retro band badges.

Ludo Jansdotter is staying in Helsinki with his family for Christmas so I'm taking Nancy down to Devon to spend Christmas with mine. Her parents are in the US where her mum's hosting the 20th Annual Women's Herbal Conference in New Hampshire.

Oh! We found Mischa Barton by the way. She'd accidentally got trapped in the cellar - can't imagine how. Still, it was nice to stop sneezing for a couple of days.

Poem schmoem

2006-12-14T14:53:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:natalie@nataliespooner.com
RE: poem schmoem!

Did you see that dada poem Loretta sent? What a lot of rot! As if those words came out in a random order! She's vindictive I tell you, vin-bloody-dictive!

Natalie Spooner
Author

Mischa Barton is missing!

2006-12-14T14:50:00.000Z

I swear I haven't touched her!

Loretta's poem

2006-12-14T14:29:00.000Z

TO:natalie@nataliespooner.com
CC:pippa@weekendbirdie, nancy@a-zmodels, celine@bicyclettebleu
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE:a dada poem

How to make a dadaist poem

2006-12-14T14:27:00.000Z

As Gore Vidal once said...

2006-12-14T14:04:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE:Spooners

I suppose you saw Cave Spooner's review of Yo Beowulf? Those two are so self-important, probably just jealous. As Gore Vidal once said:

"Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies."

And I know it's irrational; YoB is a roaring success, but I thought better of the Spooners. We're friends, aren't we supposed to rub each other's backs? They're so...Spooner-centric!

I'm going to soak in a hot bath and write a dada poem.

Loretta x

Cat stories

2006-12-14T13:57:00.000Z

Nancy is staying with me because Pedro is on tour and she wants to prove a point by not following him around like a groupie.
She brought her cat Mischa Barton.
I am not a fan of cats, but most of all, I am not a fan of the cat story.

"Oh look Pippa did you see what she did? Did you see Pip, did you? She kissed her mummy, she kissed her mummy didn't you Mischa Barton, didn't you!"
And:
"Yesterday I came in the front door Mischa Barton was sitting on that ledge there, where you keep your keys and letters and stuff and she was waiting for me to come home and when she saw me, she put her little paws up, both of them, and waved! Oh look Pip, she's doing it now! Yes Mischa Barton, YES!"
Suffice to say, I have had Mischa Barton up to HERE.

Ludo and I are having a little time apart. I haven't mentioned anything about my unpacking though, he's in Helsinki for a couple of weeks working on his Finnish Folk Tales coffee table book. It's good because I really need to put some energy into Issue 11.
I've also decided to put a few evening classes on hold, apart from Progressive Urdu (because I am coming up to my level 3 exam), French Scrabble (because I go with Natalie and it's practically my only chance to see her) and Interpreting the Tambourine (which is just too uplifting to quit).
I've knocked Three-Legged Merengue on the head. It's just ridiculous!

La cucaracha

2006-12-14T13:52:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE:hola guapa

hola p
oi my legs is hurt from the merengue yesterday night but que divertido no? i laugh so much when julio show you the maracas mochacha - so funny your face. i think ludo is jealous no?
i went to la cucaracha after you go home, with julio, alejandro, skye and milo. many mojitos and crazy dancing with alejandro. now i feel like big bang in my head and esteban is so angry with me for come home at 5am!!! i tell him is all for my work i need networking (correct english?).
next week you must to come with us - it is too fun.
now this morning i have shoot for big spread in korea vogue and they ask me wear my hula hula bikini - dios mio my face is terrible. maybe i go to see shrini for facial and massage before.
besitos my merengue miracle!
bel

Rainy days and Mondays

2006-12-12T13:04:00.000Z

Some feelings I need to unpack: Ever since Ludo Jansdotter came back from Paris, I have been feeling a little uncertain. Don’t get me wrong, I think I really do heart him, but it’s all been such a whirlwind and I am so very tired.
I thought the reason I liked Ludo Jansdotter was his get up and go but if I have to wake up one more morning with a Mitch Martini hangover, before an afternoon of Parkour for Beginners, and dinner and dance at The Cuckoo Club, I think I shall collapse.

Recently, I have been thinking about Celine and how happy she is looking after Agnes and Etienne. OK there is the occasional film review for La Bicyclette Bleu, singing every Saturday night (and alternate Thursdays) at Soiree, manning the phones at Les Samaritans twice a week, but it’s a simple life. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that maybe I’d like a nice husband one day soon, and maybe even a family. And I can’t imagine Ludo Jansdotter is ready for all that.

And all this is compounded by the fact that I heard on the grapevine that my ex, playboy celebrity hair-designer, Tony Novembre is getting married next month on a beach somewhere in Zanzibar, where they’re going to settle down and export woven goods to overpriced shops in Notting Hill.

Deep breath…sigh…

…And then I look at someone like Maribel de las Casas, whizzing around the world, party after party, and I think she’d be happy doing that forever.

Deeper sigh…

…I saw an elderly couple holding hands this morning. It made me cry. Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

Gosh I’ve just had an epiphany! Ludo Jansdotter is actually me, in male art director/photographer/graphic artist/illustrator David LaChapelle-type form. We’re exactly the same, what with our 100 projects at once and countless after school activities.
Now I’m really confused. This warrants more unpacking than I had first envisaged.

I’m coming down with something. Imagine how much I feel like meeting Maribel de las Casas in 2 hours for Three-Legged Merengue.

Opening night

2006-12-02T10:10:00.000Z

The Yo Beowulf opening night was a triumph, assisted no end by some glowing reviews:

'One of the most moving productions I have had the pleasure to critique in all my years in theatre.'

'The puppets moved with a poignant vulnerability.'

'Although a good 20 minutes too long, the four and a half hour production was utterly engaging.'

'Enchanting, entrancing, enriching…I am a better man for this production.'

There were 3 less complimentary:

'It lacked the intensity of earlier works such as 'Strindberg On Trapeze.'

'An exercise in utter pretension.'

'The biggest pile of doggy doo-doo I have had the misfortune to witness.' (Cave Spooner) (oh dear)

And one of particular note:

'Special praise must go to thumb #46 in battle no.12 which had such flair, not witnessed in shadow puppetry before.'

Ludo Jansdotter missed the show but turned up at the after-show party at the Bungalow Club. There was a slightly awkward moment when Nancy (who is so self-absorbed she had somehow missed the fact that we are having a dalliance) promptly threw herself at him, much to my and her boyfriend Pedro’s chagrin.

Rolf+Margot were there with their twin dogs Gilbert+George. Margot has had her fringe cut far too short and now resembles Emo Philips circa 1985. They congratulated me on Sofia Coppola. I congratulated them on Nicky Hilton. (Hee-hee)
It's so childish but I secretly enjoy this petty competition.

Pfeiffer Braun took to the stage in an impromptu jazz flute performance, joined by Pedro on bongos and Celine, Agnes and Etienne on vocals. Then Nancy got very drunk, jumped on the stage and proceeded to sing REO Speedwagon’s entire back catalogue.
Loretta spent the evening in a smoky corner rehearsing her speech which she 'performed' at the end of the night using a combination of mime and interpretative dance .

Then, in the morning, Ludo Jansdotter accidentally put on my new boyfriend jeans and left the house in them. I suppose he took the name a bit too literally. Let's thank our lucky stars it wasn’t my Sass and Bide skinnys.

Natalie Spooner -Author

2006-11-26T12:21:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:natalie@nataliespooner.com
RE:a rant

Loretta keeps leaving messages asking whether Cave is going to the press night of Yo Beowulf – a shadow puppet cabaret and whether he’s ‘going to be kind’. I don’t know, he’s rather preoccupied with the book launch at the mo and I’m too busy to think about it.
I've got to come all the way up to you to look over the Vanity Fair shoot and then all the way down to Newsnight Review who are doing a special report on me. And they’re probably going to go on and on about how female writers are getting more and more glam and how it’s detracting from ‘the work’ and how I shouldn’t be on the front of Loaded in my underwear if I want to be taken seriously.
Well boo-hoo, I am taken seriously. The Politico was at number 1 for months, I was shortlisted for the Orange Prize, Modernity is tipped for the Booker and I’m married to l’homme du jour Cave Spooner for God’s sake. I think I’m just too post-modern for the average Joe.

See you later at French Scrabble.
Natalie xxx

Natalie Spooner
Author

Missing you...

2006-11-24T18:20:00.000Z

The Vanity Fair shoot was a breeze. It was a sexy librarian story with Natalie posing in Maribel de las Casas swimwear among the antiquarian books at the British Library.
She was a little subdued though; she’s been getting a bit of bad press recently. In fact, everyone’s a bit miserable at the mo, what with Nancy and Loretta snapping at each other and I’m suffering a little from S.A.D myself, especially as I am missing Ludo Jansdotter something rotten. Not helped by going to Progressive Urdu last night and everyone in my class asking where he was and recounting anecdotes from the night we all went out.
So it was a real tonic to get this card this morning accompanied by a basket of brioche from Boulangerie Delacroix.

I think I heart Ludo Jansdotter.

Oh dear oh deary me

2006-11-12T11:49:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:nancy@a-zmodels
RE:loretta

Lordie Loretta is such a BORE! I’ve only got a small part so there’s no need for me to be at rehearsals 24 hours a day is there? So I’m flogging some stuff round the back of the theatre and she’s like “NANCEEEEE? NANCEEEEE?” and she storms out there with her hobnailed boots and cigarette holder looking all Ann Demeulemeester meets Cruella de Vil and just completely frightens off these poor little Japanese tourists I was selling to.
She needs to get a life, Yo Beowulf’s not exactly Brecht!

Plus she's one of those people who says "Correct" instead of yes, e.g "Can I go to lunch now Loretta?" "Correct"!

Toodles,

*****NANCY*****
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Oh dear

2006-11-12T11:48:00.000Z

TO:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:loretta@yellowclog
RE: Nancy

Lord! Nancy is driving me mad, she's so flighty! Has she always been like this? She spends most of her time sitting on the steps outside, draped around her boyfriend while he plays the bongos. Thank goodness she only has a small part.
Yesterday in rehearsals her thumb was meant to come on and I called and called and had everyone scuttling round the theatre looking for her and there she was, just outside the stage door selling some of her old tat from a stall! She simply can’t commit to ANYTHING!
Plus, she keeps confusing Jacques Cousteau with Jean Cocteau e.g "This set is sooo Jacques Cousteau." Ridiculous.

Anyway…miss you. Let’s have dialogue ASAP.

Loretta x

Lunch with C.B

2006-11-12T11:11:00.000Z

Soooo busy. Lunch with Charlotte Gainsbourg was lovely and it transpires that Ludo Jansdotter knows her mother since they attended the same Hungarian Throat Warbling class so I had no need to worry about him using me to get to her. Silly, silly Pip!
Still, I’m sure she may be somewhat perturbed to know he makes strange experimental films about her, nay alarmed!

Anyway, Miss Gainsbourg doesn’t half talk but she is such a natural beauty, I was quite spellbound. After lunch we had brandy and chocolates at the Covent Garden Hotel and what with all the hot yoga in the morning, it turned out to be quite an exhausting day.

Ludo Jansdotter is off to Paris tomorrow for a few days working on a Diesel ad so I will have a chance to catch my breath. Hoping he’ll be back in time to escort me to the opening night of Yo Beowulf – a shadow puppet cabaret.

I’ve got Natalie Spooner’s Vanity Fair shoot this week to keep me occupied. Graziella and I are up to our eyes in Maribel de las Casas swimwear. I do miss having Celine around to share all this with, but alas she is stuck in Paris with the little bebes and busy enough keeping la bicyclette bleu en float.

All Paris speaks about it!

2006-11-12T10:22:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
FROM:celine@bicyclettebleu
RE:what continues?

Pippa! What is all this that I must intend to speak about you and of Ludo Jansdotter? All Paris speaks about it. Loretta indicated Nancy, Nancy indicated Pfeiffer and Pfeiffer indicated to me. Nouvelles please!
I manque of Pfeiffer terribly and donot can wait to come to see - they indicate to me its solo of groove as something to behold.
This evening I sing in a new club in Montmartre called by Rififi. Only me and the accordian. It promises to be a great exposure.

Thank you for your flowers and bonbons for Agnes, it recovers well of measles.

Soignoise,
Celine
xxxxxx

Q&A

2006-11-07T15:35:00.000Z

Had to do one of those awfully tedious Q&A thingys for one of the Sunday magazines. See above.

A master class

2006-11-01T10:07:00.000Z

Well, I’m all for a free lunch at Chatulle and plentiful air kisses but it wasn’t half a palaver (ooh, get me coming over all cockney) flying to Milan for a 30 minute meeting.
So I took the opportunity to meet up with swimwear designer to the stars and general bon vivant, Maribel de las Casas. She gave me 2 leopard print bikinis and a kaftan! Then we did drinks and dancing at Just Cavalli and crashed at her pad.

Anyway, Ludo Jansdotter is as special as expected and working with him was a master class. He literally took my contact sheet in one hand, a razor blade, paint brush and typewriter in the other (well, not quite literally) and 3 hours later we had our whole story. Just emailed the prints to Sofia.

After that we hopped on his Vespa and went for Japanese Mojitos at The Zetter, then the crazy fool demanded to come to Progressive Urdu with me, wowed everyone by picking it up in 10 minutes and insisted on taking my whole class out to dinner!

Tomorrow he’s taking me to Bikram yoga and then to lunch with Charlotte Gainsbourg who, rumour has it, is also a big fan of Weekend Birdie.

It’s so nice to go out with a man who wants to do more than just dinner and a movie. I have been thoroughly swept off my feet.

Mmm…just thought of something. I hope this lunch with Charlotte Gainsbourg isn’t just a ruse to get close to Jane Birkin, he is a little obsessed…and I met Jane Birkin a few weeks ago when I shot her for Issue 11. Just a thought.

Working with Ludo Jansdotter is a joy!

2006-10-22T12:24:00.000Z

Got an impromptu meeting at Vogue Italia so I'll fill you in on my first creative jam with Ludo Jansdotter when I get back. Truuuly cohesive.

Natalie's Masterpiece

2006-10-20T15:10:00.000Z

Who's that girl?...Natalie

2006-10-19T11:52:00.000Z

Mensa member Natalie grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles and was raised by her bohemian Nana Betsy who encouraged her keen spelling ability.

When her Nana won the lottery, she sent Natalie to a respected English finishing school where she learnt to walk with a book on her head.

One day she took the book off and is now a successful author and married to theatre critic Cave Spooner.

Hola Guapa

2006-10-16T13:05:00.000Z

To:pippa@weekendbirdie
From:maribel-de-las-casas@vavavoom
RE:hola guapa

pippa mi amor
como estas? i have really sorry not see you in the Helsinki. i did see your friend Ludo at the party for the my new swimwear - Va Va Voom - he did take the photos for the catalog and he say me that you had meeting with sofia coppola - que suerte - she is the my hero!
everything happen in helsinki now no? but so cold. now i come back to madrid and next week new york for more Va Va Voom promocion with spike jonze, then finally i go to ile de rey with esteban - my new boyfriend - i tell you him no? be in love is life. life is crazy!
thank you for the invitation to the party for the book of cave spooner - i will go to it and i see you there yes? i hope. we can dance and chat many things.
besitos
maribel de las casas

Yo Beowulf shoot

2006-10-16T12:44:00.000Z

Rehearsals continue

Went to the Yellow Clog shoot today. Picture Loretta, sitting at the back of the theatre, bowler hat and cigar, waving a walking stick around. It was like Cabaret meets The Kid's from Fame.

Yo Beowulf (a shadow puppet cabaret) is actually very impressive. I didn't think it was going to be my bag but it's truly cohesive. No wonder Loretta is so esteemed in the world of performance-experimental-theatre-art...or whatever.
And Pfeiffer Braun's flute solo at the end of Act II is a revelation. I had almost like, a spiritual epiphany.

Nancy was there. Loretta's given her a bit part; her left thumb is involved in a battle scene.

Anyway, off to a ukelele session, then dinner with my friend Natalie, uber-babe of the new literati. She wants me to shoot her for Vanity Fair in Maribel de las Casas swimwear.
x

p.s. Ludo Jansdotter's coming over next week to work on the Sofia Coppola photo montage.
I'm thinking trapeze skirt/military jacket or military skirt/trapeze jacket...can't quite make up my mind.

p.p.s. Ludo Jansdotter seems to be a little obsessed with Jane Birkin. Maybe I should go more skinny vest, jeans in boots, mohair beret, beads...