More pics here

The initials “A.D.” were painted on the backs of the shoes, as requested by the customer.

More pics here

UPDATE – I only just found this out, but this pair were featured on banksy.org back in December. Should really keep an eye out for these things…

Anyway, today marks the release of our debut EP, L’Orangerie. We have recorded a fair amount of music in the fifteen days that we’ve actually seen each other since mid-August, and this particular bundle comes mostly from the time we spent in an old orangery in Normandy. Five songs that span a range of genres and emotions, and will hopefully offer an accurate slice of the sort of music we make, and of what’s to come in the future.

What’s more, we’ve put the EP up for free download – so there’s really no excuse not to give it a listen. All you need to do is send an email to:

orangerie@royalnative.com

… and you’ll receive an immediate automated response with a link to download the EP. And no, we won’t bother you with other crap.

If you hate it… well, at least you didn’t pay for it. And if you love it, then why not take a trip over to our (recently revamped) myspace, website, soundcloud or twitter page… some inquisitive exploring will reveal a host of other songs, and plenty of surrounding information, should you desire it. Go on!

(Shameless plug over.)

The workshop is tonight, Tuesday November 10th, from 19:00 to 21:00 in Appleton Tower LT1. There will be 3 other businesses presenting, all varying in product / service, and the idea will be to brainstorm methods of market assessment and try to identify target markets, and the most effective ways to reach them.

So if you’re in Edinburgh, and you’ve got an interest in marketing or entrepreneurship – especially at an entry level – it could be really interesting, so I’d recommend coming down. The event is free, and I’m told there will be pizza and beer too!

Alas, Le Shouvre is becoming more and more like said website, much to my dismay. The simple fact is that everyone is just so busy at the moment, including myself. I tried blaming the economy, and I tried blaming the government. But I alone must take responsibility for my own schedule.

Do not despair: there is a definite chunk of my life being dedicated to the Avenue du Shouvre, as well as its future expansions. But there is also a sizable portion going to other things, such as (gasp!) my university degree, which is nearing its final chapter, and a dubiously large pile of admin forms – applications, plans, registrations, etc etc etc…. and there are only so many hours in a day.

I am even starting to make semi-regular trips down to that looming expanse known as London… these are unquiet times.

All this means, for now, is that the face of Le Shouvre has become semi-static; it shall change, but realistically, it will not advance significantly before the new year, due to other commitments.

So please stay tuned, as the ball is still rolling – it’s just eased to a gentle spin at the top of the approaching slope.

(Artwork above by Stanley Donwood)

…well, apart from the Age of Empires music in the video. Found through Abduzeedo.

These sketches my friend Lyle and I did for a laugh are like a “before and after” series from a drug trafficking documentary. “The one they call El Marrón was last seen at the Mexican border two years ago. Police can only speculate his whereabouts now – but suspicions suggest Cuba….”

She’s from the west coast of Canada, and basically her watercolours are awesome. It’s a very defined style, and I like the way she’ll stick to a certain colour scheme, and rarely seems to mix hot and cold colours.

Click here to visit her website