Free Ben Folds Five download

Things are very exciting in the music world this week. By that I mean things are very exciting to ME this week (and probably lots of other people too). I will relate this in the order I discovered it. First, I discovered through following Neil Gaiman on Twitter (@neilhimself) that Amanda Palmer (love) was releasing a new album and looking for backers starting from $1. Investigations revealed her kickstarter page. She's teamed up with the Grand Theft Orchestra to make a new album, without the support of a record label. So to raise the $100, 000 needed they started a kickstarter page. All kinds of amazing rewards for backing are on offer, from a download of the new album for $1 all the way to the entire band coming over to your house to pose for photos with you and eat Thai food for $10, 000.  There are lots of facebook groups set up to raise enough money for the 'House Party' reward ($5, 000).  At the time of writing this the amount they've raised is $619, 841. That is astounding!

Then none other than the Ben Folds Five leapt aboard the "ditching the record labels" wagon. They're releasing their first album in 12 years! Woo! Their pledge page is here. A pledge of $10 gets you a download of their new album when it's released. They've already reached 197% of their target and a lot of the 'rewards' (signed CDs, t-shirts etc.) have already all gone. What's really exciting about this is that they're turning to their fans to help advertise the album and produce artwork for it's promotion. Also, they've put up a free download of a new track. You can get it below:

2012 is shaping up to be a good year! I'm now trying to find the perfect picture of the Ben Folds Five to make into felt.

A Fairy-Tale Challenge

The other day I issued a challenge on Tre La Creativity's forum the Coffeehouse.

It was as follows: 

Hey y'all. 
I LOVE fairy tales. And also projects. And challenges. So I'm going to suggest the VERY FIRST challenge of this forum. Sorry about all the caps but I am EXCITED.
I'm not really sure what kind of challenges are in mind for this....but I will give it a go anyway. 
So.... my challenge is to make a 10 cm x 10 cm square with the theme 'FAIRY TALES'. That's it. Keeping in mind Siobhan's warning of this being a mixed media kind of place it can be made of ANYTHING. The size and theme are the only restriction. And that's a pretty wide theme. 
I am very much looking forward to what you challengers come up with. I will obviously be participating myself. No prizes for guessing my material (FELT, oh felt I heart you).
xxxx

And here is my entry for this challenge (only just completed):

Is he giving her a kiss, or trying to eat her head?

Can you guess who it is?

If you want to take part (do do!) go here.

Tre La Creativity - supping lattes in the coffeehouse

Attention all! I bring news of an excellent new magazine. It's called 'Tre La Creativity'. And... it is all about using creativity to help with illness and stress. Huzah! Now I for one can attest to the wonderful benefits of doing crafty things. Nothing cheers me when ill or 'down in the dumps' quite like making something insane out of felt. In particular I believe it is important to TALK about ill health, stress, depression and all that jazz rather than hiding it behind closed doors. No more shame!  I am genuinely enthused and excited about this project.

You can see the info pack below (hopefully).

Open publication - Free publishing - More crafts

I love the front cover!

It's going to be PACKED full of inspirational articles, tutorials for making beautiful things, and all kinds of lovelies.

Tre La Creativity is also creating a wonderful fledgling online community. The Coffeehouse is a great place to kick off your shoes, enjoy a (virtual) latte and share ideas and projects with other crafty folk. I joined it just the other day and am having a whirl. I think it's going to turn out to be a goody. Come on by and have a peek!

Tre La Creativity is launching on the 6th of September. It will be stocked on-line and at independent retailers. You can pre-order now!

Squee!

The rise of a felt zombie Scotty Dog

"Bones...bones...boooooooones"

So, I have a new product in my Etsy shop. Oh yes. It's a felt zombie dog. I haven't named him yet. Any suggestions?

He's SECURELY glued to a plain white card.

 "Who would want a felt zombie dog birthday/wedding/christening/Christmas card?" you may be asking. 

Who wouldn't want one? 

He is totally awesome. And fiercesome. But don't worry - I used strong glue. There'll be no escaping from this little fellow. He's a bargain and there's only one of him so if you want his merry company be quick. 

I may also make some zombie brooches....

I Spy.... Knitted London mayoral candidates

Created by Heather Brown.

The above was featured in the Stitch London newsletter. Last Thursday (3rd May 2012) saw various elections across the U.K. including the London mayoral elections. To celebrate Heather Brown knitted four of the candidates - Boris Johnson, Brian Paddick, Ken Livingstone and Jenny Jones. The candidates for UKIP and the BNP are conspicuously absent (good on you Heather). More about the knitted wanna-be mayors and more photos can be seen over at Londonist. And more of Heather's knitted people can be seen here.

Brilliant.

Probably the best ribbons in the WORLD

After work one day a couple of weeks ago I was wandering around Marylebone in a zig-zag fashion when I stumbled upon the most amazing ribbon shop. It was like a fairy wonder cave of ribbons and pretties. My knees felt weak just looking in the window. I was so mesmerised I didn't notice the name at the time, but, having just googled for it I've discovered the shop is none other than V.V. Rouleaux.

V.V. Rouleaux sells hundreds of ribbons, and other bits and bobs of fabulousness. In amongst them all I found this collection of ribbons. I assume they are inspired by all the Britain-love at the moment roused by the Jubilee and the Olympics. There seem to be a lot of flags, bunting and 1940's-style slogans around. These ribbons follow this theme.

I. Love. Them.

I haven't used them for anything yet. I'm waiting for the right project.

Turkish rugs are the place to be (on)

The James F.Ballard late 16th Century Bursa Prayer Rug. Ottoman Period

 A couple of weeks ago I found myself in Turkey. That makes it sound like an accident. It wasn’t. It was totally on purpose. We went for one week to Istanbul. And the bit around Gallipoli.

Istanbul is famous for its leather work. But I don’t like leather work so instead I’m going to talk about Turkish rugs. Istanbul has many rug shops, and many men standing outside the rug shops attempting to coax people inside to buy rugs. Perplexingly these men kept offering me “student prices”. I’m not a student. I can only assume that I was dressed so scruffily that they concluded I had to be a student. I also wasn’t offered any shoe shines by the hundreds of shoe shine men because of my falling-apart converses. I feel almost guilty.

I don’t actually have any of my own photos of rugs. I kept seeing beautiful examples but I was too afraid to take pictures. I’m such a coward. But I knew if I whipped out my camera then the rugmen would use the opportunity to scale up their attempts to sell me rugs. And then I would buy rugs. Probably plural amounts. Because I am weak. And I really can’t afford even one rug. Plus, I don’t have anywhere to put rugs. So I didn’t take pictures. Instead all pictures are from Wikipedia.

Turkish rugs consist of repeated patterns, often flowers or geometric shapes.


Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

More correct would be to call them 'carpets' rather than rugs. I have rugs in my head because that's what the people who wanted to sell them to me were calling them. Probably because a 'rug' seems more like a suitable souvenir than a 'carpet'.

They were all very beautiful.

More can be read on the history of Turkish carpets here.

A Turkish women using a loom to make carpet

They are often woven by hand, which is amazing.

I do find myself slightly regretting not having impulse bought one. Oh well. There's always a chance of another trip to Turkey.