Some really nice linocut art from Scott in Seattle. New and old Vespas are featured.

http://art.chuntao.net/

Here’s a collection of British Mod Girl accessories, including a purse, wallets and a notebook. It looks like they’re selling out although they may be easier to find on plasticlandclothing or other equally girly sites.

http://www.nocandy.org

http://www.plasticlandclothing.com

Barbera d’Asti has been around awhile and is too dry and tannin-ey for my taste, but damn is the bottle nice. The label features a vintage photograph of a handlebar Vespa with the actual maker of the wine and her sisters sitting on it. I’ve been able to remove the label off several with a “wine label remover” sticker that works great.

Be sure to visit scooter-art.com if you like retro imagery. The two images shown here are just a sampling of what this Australian merchant has to offer. Stickers for your scooter, stickers for your helmet and cool t-shirts are all on this site. At the current exchange rate, you get 25% off your order if you use US currency.

http://www.scooter-art.com

This one doesn’t seem to be available from Pottery Barn Kids anymore but it’s so danged cute, that I’m putting it up anyway. I don’t usually miss stuff like this but it went well past my radar. If you’re willing to eBay it, there are still some around and who knows about Pottery Barn outlet stores? Not sure if they came in other colors. Pink is all I could find. This seems to be more of a nightlight but it has 6 working lights, 3 in front and 3 at back. Measures 13″ long x 9″ high. Crafted of heavy weight metal and finished with enamel paint. Thanks to Steve Guzzman (Mr. ScooterScoop.com)

This is very, very cute. Two sock monkeys ride their scooter and sidecar all over town looking for a birthday present. Here’s the description from Amazon:
“In this kids’ book debut by sisters Kara and Jenna Lareau, Rocko and Socko (a funky pair of sock-monkey twins) couldn’t be more excited about buying a gift and dressing up for a big birthday party on Saturday. In a spunky collage of digital photos and kitschy-chic illustrations, the action starts quickly for these simian siblings, who tear off at the beginning of the book in a sidecar-equipped Vespa. But can they agree on what to buy at the Gift-o-Rama? And then there’s deciding on the right party outfits, an equally contentious affair: “What about these boots?” asks Spanky. “Can I pull off the western look?” “Please do,” says Rocko.” But after some good-natured squabbling, the duo is ready to arrive at the party, fully decked out and gift in hand. The only problem: Who’s birthday is it? Could these twins have possibly forgotten their own birthday?”
Available from Amazon. Just click on the book cover.

This book is the compilation of the Dead Enders series which is terrific. It’s just fun to look at a post-apocalyptic scooter scene. Here’s the description from Amazon:
“Twenty years after “the cataclysm”, New Bedlam is a bleak metroplis divided by the authorities into fenced-off sectors dilineated by wealth and class, all policed by stormtrooper-type policemen. In the outer sectors, a post-cataclysm nuclear winter type phenomenon means 24 hour darkness, while in the wealthy areas, weather machines can generate sunlight and temperate climates. The story takes place mostly in an outer sector where a group of teenagers styled on the mod subculture run around on scooters and deal in amphetamines. One of these mods seems have visions of the past, and the authoroties are trying to find him in order to study him for some unxplained reason. In the meantime, he’s trying to steal a weather generator to fulfill a friend’s dying wish. Although the story is somewhat disjointed and has a number of grey areas, it’s visually compelling, with a nice palate and good action art. The use of basic mod style touchstones, such as parkas, scooters, and arrows.”
It’s available from Amazon. Just click on the book cover.

This is a really fun comic book. Here’s the description from Amazon:
“Ashton Archer has it all. He’s the biggest man on his campus, he’s got a family fortune waiting for him to transfer into his own account, and his closet and garage are full of the coolest accoutrements available, from flash suits to swank shoes to a zippy Vespa scooter. It appears that nothing can go wrong for this hard-hearted hottie – that is until the sexy and fashionable Margaret Sheldon motors by on her Lambretta. At that moment, Ashton’s life takes a turn for the worse. Everyone at school hates him, his father declares bankruptcy, and his scooter gets run over by a truck. Even high-tailing it out of town does him no good, because wherever he goes, Margaret follows. How can he get out of the black curse this woman has placed on his life? By getting her to fall in love with him, of course!”
Available from Amazon. Just click on the book cover.

I met Lin at the Isle of Wight Rally and she does beautiful work. Her jewelry is very detailed and nothing like the charms we occasionally see over here in the states. Here’s a link to her site. Click here.

Put down the trendy knitting needles and start embroidering. Besides, you NEED little kitchen towels with cool chicks in half shells embroidered on them. Here’s where to see the pattern:
Click here.