It's a grey day today, but after the lovely weekend I still feel all full up of sunshine. Spent most of the weekend working in the garden, and managing not to get sunburned, which is a first for me! I switched some bluebells from the front garden to the back, potted up some cuttings from my herbs, trimmed the hedge, did some weeding, painted the fence, tidied up and began a war against slugs and snails. Now, we're an organic garden, so what to do? Obviously I don't want to stand on them because that's gross & mean, but I also don't want them to eat my newly bought & installed beautiful plants right down until they are nothing but stubs in the ground. [So far they've eaten at least £20 worth...and counting...]. So, I'm trying various things.
First off, coffee grounds, which didn't seem to be effective in the least, but which I've since figured out is at least slowing them down! Thanks to the Little Deli in Carrington for their kind provision in one day of more coffee grounds than we could manage in a week! I've since been recommended digging a plastic cup of beer into the ground and giving them a drink before they (unfortunately) die. For a while we did try taking them round to the park, but apparently they have a homing instinct which works for up to 4 miles, so that's not going to be any use at all! [This instinct has been contested by Joey Chickenskin and apparently I have to put a dot of nail varnish on the snails and see if they come back, if I get round to doing that I'll let you know how it goes!]
Anyway, garden pests aside, it's really nice to work in the garden, to plant stuff and see it grow (or not), to figure out where you've made a mistake and fix it for next time, and then at some point to end up with a bunch of flowers for the bees, seeds for the birds and vegetables for us! It's also really nice to listen to the blackbird who has taken up residence nearby, who Anders described as being "The Police Academy Guy of birds" because it makes all different noises like alarms, bells, beeps and whistles.
I did actually mean to write a whole different post today, but it seems that's what's on my mind, so there we have it!
bex
x
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Friday, 21 May 2010
Spring Fling!
Just wanted to mention that I Dress Myself are having a Spring Fling Studio Sale tomorrow! We're pretty lucky to have such a creative design & printing force on our doorstep, so I hope lots of people will come down and get bargains!
Here's all the info:
This Saturday, the I Dress Myself print studio is opening it's doors for our first studio sale, the Spring Fling. Jon Burgerman will be doodling on the day, Nicholas Saunders will be screen printing some limited edition posters, Norm from Waste will be screen printing some amazing tees and we'll be selling vegan cakes....oh, and lots of other stuff.
Back catalogue tees will be on sale for £10 each and we're putting together a bargain bin of test prints, misprints and random stuff for £5 each. If that's not enough, all our current products will be available for 20% off. All for one day only!
Come to the studio sale:
When: Saturday 22nd May 2010 12-4 pm
Where: I Dress Myself, 32-40 Carrington Street, Nottingham, NG1 7FG
PLUS! It's the final episode of Ashes to Ashes tonight. I haven't seen the whole series, but I'm sad it's totally ending. I love Gene Hunt. He's an amazing creation!
AND I'd like to say a very happy birthday to Mr Joe Wrigley, in case he reads this. See you on Sunday!
Love Bex
x
Here's all the info:
This Saturday, the I Dress Myself print studio is opening it's doors for our first studio sale, the Spring Fling. Jon Burgerman will be doodling on the day, Nicholas Saunders will be screen printing some limited edition posters, Norm from Waste will be screen printing some amazing tees and we'll be selling vegan cakes....oh, and lots of other stuff.
Back catalogue tees will be on sale for £10 each and we're putting together a bargain bin of test prints, misprints and random stuff for £5 each. If that's not enough, all our current products will be available for 20% off. All for one day only!
Come to the studio sale:
When: Saturday 22nd May 2010 12-4 pm
Where: I Dress Myself, 32-40 Carrington Street, Nottingham, NG1 7FG
PLUS! It's the final episode of Ashes to Ashes tonight. I haven't seen the whole series, but I'm sad it's totally ending. I love Gene Hunt. He's an amazing creation!
AND I'd like to say a very happy birthday to Mr Joe Wrigley, in case he reads this. See you on Sunday!
Love Bex
x
Saturday, 8 May 2010
BURLYYYYYYYY NAGASAKIIIIIIIIIIIIII !!!!!!!!!
Went to the Burly Nagasaki Album Launch @ the Chameleon last night. It was ace. It helped that they'd chosen 3 bands/artists to play with who I really like and that everyone there seemed full of friendliness and goodwill and cheer.
First up was Matthew Stephen Cooper who I've only seen in the teenytiny space at the Alley Cafe when he played Jumpers For Goalposts. It was really good to see him with a big soundsystem and to hear his playing & singing properly.
THEN came the wonderful Smell of Success, aka the very talented Joe & BD. They played some new tunes which BD told us he'd only learned 1 week ago. It showed a little round the edges, but not in a way that took away from how good the songwriting was and they were still full of heart and melody and sounded great. Plus Joe looked super cool with a sharp suit and shades and an old-school keyboard.
NEXT came the big BURLY NAGASAKI set. Having been lucky enough to hear the album when we made the video for forthcoming single Fools' Gold, I was really excited to hear it live. They opened with a supercool Berlin-influenced underground dance piece with an awesome performance art aspect to it in the shape of an awful ear-splitting electronic feedback-type of noise which prompted some kindly help from a member of 20 Year Hurricane who thought that something was genuinely going wrong. Music where people think something is going wrong is brilliant, like the Tom Tomas Club at the Alley Cafe covering Prince and having a member of the audience genuinely concerned shouting "What's going wrong?"! Anyway, awesome intro over Tez & Joey treated us to a full live album set including the following instruments: guitar, drums, saw, keyboard, sandwiches, scissors, ukelele, a giant cardboard gun, an apron and probably more that I've forgotten. There was a brilliant air of rehearsal about it, with a few false starts and a couple of "who begins the next one?" moments. I was really into that, like this was the rehearsal show and next week the whole night would run again and everyone would be note perfect. We were seeing something special with a few charming, minor imperfections which gave it its heart.
I think my favourite moment was the crowd singalong to "look at all the babies we've killed" and then Joey's explanation story about Elvis. Ask him if you want to know what it is.
LAST but of course not least, were Twenty Year Hurricane. Despite Nick's proclamations that their opener was a new song and was probably going to be rubbish it worked really well. The sound in the chameleon is really good, credit to Simon the sound engineer, and it's so nice to hear bands you like playing there. the Hurricane sounded great and even though the crowd thinned a little they still really created an atmosphere. Gareth is ace on the drums, really playing and smiling and involved, Chris on bass is focused and intense and Nick singing has a charm all of his own. (Nick if you read this i mean that in a good way I promise x).
Anyway, few pics here, more Burly gigs to come, can't wait!
Random layout once again courtesy of Blogger. Well done Blogger team.
Bought a Burly Nagaasaki album for only £4. Haven't looked through it and my goodies properly yet as I'm waiting for Anders to return from a stag weekend. Can't wait though, looks choc-full of fun!
bye for now
x
Bex
First up was Matthew Stephen Cooper who I've only seen in the teenytiny space at the Alley Cafe when he played Jumpers For Goalposts. It was really good to see him with a big soundsystem and to hear his playing & singing properly.
THEN came the wonderful Smell of Success, aka the very talented Joe & BD. They played some new tunes which BD told us he'd only learned 1 week ago. It showed a little round the edges, but not in a way that took away from how good the songwriting was and they were still full of heart and melody and sounded great. Plus Joe looked super cool with a sharp suit and shades and an old-school keyboard.
NEXT came the big BURLY NAGASAKI set. Having been lucky enough to hear the album when we made the video for forthcoming single Fools' Gold, I was really excited to hear it live. They opened with a supercool Berlin-influenced underground dance piece with an awesome performance art aspect to it in the shape of an awful ear-splitting electronic feedback-type of noise which prompted some kindly help from a member of 20 Year Hurricane who thought that something was genuinely going wrong. Music where people think something is going wrong is brilliant, like the Tom Tomas Club at the Alley Cafe covering Prince and having a member of the audience genuinely concerned shouting "What's going wrong?"! Anyway, awesome intro over Tez & Joey treated us to a full live album set including the following instruments: guitar, drums, saw, keyboard, sandwiches, scissors, ukelele, a giant cardboard gun, an apron and probably more that I've forgotten. There was a brilliant air of rehearsal about it, with a few false starts and a couple of "who begins the next one?" moments. I was really into that, like this was the rehearsal show and next week the whole night would run again and everyone would be note perfect. We were seeing something special with a few charming, minor imperfections which gave it its heart.
I think my favourite moment was the crowd singalong to "look at all the babies we've killed" and then Joey's explanation story about Elvis. Ask him if you want to know what it is.
LAST but of course not least, were Twenty Year Hurricane. Despite Nick's proclamations that their opener was a new song and was probably going to be rubbish it worked really well. The sound in the chameleon is really good, credit to Simon the sound engineer, and it's so nice to hear bands you like playing there. the Hurricane sounded great and even though the crowd thinned a little they still really created an atmosphere. Gareth is ace on the drums, really playing and smiling and involved, Chris on bass is focused and intense and Nick singing has a charm all of his own. (Nick if you read this i mean that in a good way I promise x).
Anyway, few pics here, more Burly gigs to come, can't wait!
Bought a Burly Nagaasaki album for only £4. Haven't looked through it and my goodies properly yet as I'm waiting for Anders to return from a stag weekend. Can't wait though, looks choc-full of fun!
bye for now
x
Bex
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
The Election: Who Wins? You Decide!
Just read an incredible article on the election on the Guardian's website. I've been a bit wavering, still undecided one day before the election whether to vote Liberal or Labour, whether I know enough about either to make an informed choice is debatable. I feel a lot more involved and aware in this election thanks to the TV debates, but I haven't read any manifestos and still feel I have only a scant knowledge of each party's policies. Anyway, this made for fascinating, horrifying reading. I'll copy a bit in, but I urge you to read the article in full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/05/1983-cameron-victory-kinnocks-words
On the eve of the 1983 election – which, until this year, seemed destined to represent for ever the low watermark of Labour performances – a young member of the party's shadow cabinet delivered what was to be one of his most compelling speeches. Neil Kinnock knew a landslide defeat was imminent so, speaking in Bridgend, he sketched the world to come. "I warn you," he began, addressing a nation about to descend into the bitterest stretch of the Thatcher era. "I warn you not to be ordinary. I warn you not to be young. I warn you not to fall ill. I warn you not to get old."
and
I warn you that the economy could slide back into despair. Maybe people have not paid attention to this argument because Gordon Brown has been making it, but the danger is real. A sudden shut-off of the public spending tap could well send a frail recovery staggering back into recession: the dreaded double-dip. It's happened elsewhere and could happen here. The US and other economies are seeing the tide turn, but that's because they've kept the public cash coming. Cameron's aim, played down in the rhetoric because it polled so badly, is to cut spending immediately, ushering in what he once proudly trumpeted as an "age of austerity".
I kind of wanted to copy and paste the whole article then. Anyway, hope you're going to vote tomorrow, however you're going to vote.
Becky
x
On the eve of the 1983 election – which, until this year, seemed destined to represent for ever the low watermark of Labour performances – a young member of the party's shadow cabinet delivered what was to be one of his most compelling speeches. Neil Kinnock knew a landslide defeat was imminent so, speaking in Bridgend, he sketched the world to come. "I warn you," he began, addressing a nation about to descend into the bitterest stretch of the Thatcher era. "I warn you not to be ordinary. I warn you not to be young. I warn you not to fall ill. I warn you not to get old."
and
I warn you that the economy could slide back into despair. Maybe people have not paid attention to this argument because Gordon Brown has been making it, but the danger is real. A sudden shut-off of the public spending tap could well send a frail recovery staggering back into recession: the dreaded double-dip. It's happened elsewhere and could happen here. The US and other economies are seeing the tide turn, but that's because they've kept the public cash coming. Cameron's aim, played down in the rhetoric because it polled so badly, is to cut spending immediately, ushering in what he once proudly trumpeted as an "age of austerity".
I kind of wanted to copy and paste the whole article then. Anyway, hope you're going to vote tomorrow, however you're going to vote.
Becky
x
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
FISTS EP Launch gig - 9th April & Fools' Gold Loaves
Hello!
Isn't it nice to have a bit of sunshine? Mmmmmm.
I realised I haven't posted or put up any pics since the Hello Thor/ Fists EP Launch at the Rescue Rooms on the 9th April. What an amazing night. ALL the bands were brilliant. Escapologists had a hard slot being first on, but totally set the tone for a great night with their performance. Pilgrim Fathers killed with a big rock set and lots of great posturing from frontman Shelf. Swimming were brilliant and it was awesome to hear one of my favourite songs (Tigershark) live. Then Fists rocked up and played the best set I think I might've ever seen them play. It was an amazing way to launch the new Fists Olympic Hits EP and lots of people went home with copies. If you didn't get one you can buy them at http://www.hellothor.com/ or on amazon etc.
Here's some pics (apologies for the variable quality - not much light in the Rescue Rooms it turns out):
(*Random order is due to the intensely annoying new Blogspot editing*)
Fun!
This week: off to see Greenberg at the Broadway on Thursday (part of Screenlit), hopefully just relaxing on Friday then it's Dolly Disco time on Saturday! It's at Moog, Nick (Hello Thor) & Daddy Bones & Abi are DJing, so it should be ace!
Bye!
Bex
x
Isn't it nice to have a bit of sunshine? Mmmmmm.
I realised I haven't posted or put up any pics since the Hello Thor/ Fists EP Launch at the Rescue Rooms on the 9th April. What an amazing night. ALL the bands were brilliant. Escapologists had a hard slot being first on, but totally set the tone for a great night with their performance. Pilgrim Fathers killed with a big rock set and lots of great posturing from frontman Shelf. Swimming were brilliant and it was awesome to hear one of my favourite songs (Tigershark) live. Then Fists rocked up and played the best set I think I might've ever seen them play. It was an amazing way to launch the new Fists Olympic Hits EP and lots of people went home with copies. If you didn't get one you can buy them at http://www.hellothor.com/ or on amazon etc.
Here's some pics (apologies for the variable quality - not much light in the Rescue Rooms it turns out):
(*Random order is due to the intensely annoying new Blogspot editing*)
Fool's Gold Loaf? It's what killed Elvis and recently our kitchen turned into a film studio when we helped Burly Nagasaki to try and make a music video for the release of their forthcoming album. We heard the album too, it's GREAT! They recorded it in a month for the RPM challenge, doing it all in February, and it sounds awesome. Can't WAIT for their Launch Party at the Chameleon on the 7th May (I think). Hopefully some of the footage we shot will also be useable so you might get to see the horror that is a FOOLS GOLD LOAF - AKA A jar of peanut butter, a jar of jam, a whole heap of bacon and a massive buttered loaf. It tasted disgusting and was definitely a month's worth of calories in one go. Elvis used to eat them as a midnight snack. Unbelievable. here we are filming:
Fun!
This week: off to see Greenberg at the Broadway on Thursday (part of Screenlit), hopefully just relaxing on Friday then it's Dolly Disco time on Saturday! It's at Moog, Nick (Hello Thor) & Daddy Bones & Abi are DJing, so it should be ace!
Bye!
Bex
x
Friday, 9 April 2010
General Ramblings
Hi,
Thought I'd pop a few thoughts up while I'm finishing off my lunch on this sunny Friday.
Firstly, who watched MasterChef this season? How great was it?! I was totally hooked. I haven't been that into it for a couple of years, but I really enjoyed this one. Particularly how John had gotten all slim and cool in his cardigans, instead of his 80's blazers. Did anyone else spot the winner really early on? I thought I was a genius, but it appears lots of people knew, so maybe I'm only half a genius.
Secondly, who watched the new Dr Who? LOVED IT. Can't wait for the next one tomorrow!
We saw Kick Ass the other day at the cinema. Have you seen it? It's a strange film, enjoyable but kind of like it's two films squashed together. There's a super-violent/bloody Tarantino/Japanese style super hero revenge flick combined with a 'nerds at school get cool' film. It was good, but I expected something very different. By the way, if you have seen it, the guy who plays the main character is British, weird right?!
Popped to a little art auction at BackLit studios on Wednesday and accidentally bought two pieces. Well, I say accidentally, it's not like I sneezed and he counted it as a bid or anything, but I wasn't really planning to go hog-wild and buy two things. I love them both though, will try to pop up pictures of them another time. Really i just wanted to mention the studios as I haven't been before but they have lots of exhibitions and happenings, well worth checking out. Apparently there's a facebook group for those of you on there. They are in Sneinton somewhere, just off Carlton Road.
If you're free next Thursday we're doing Jumpers for Goalposts at the Alley Cafe, as we do every 3rd Thursday of the month. If you haven't been before, it's billed as Nottingham's finest, funnest, free-est felt-tips n folk night and basically involves the following elements:
This weekend we're at the big Hello Thor / Fists EP Launch Party at the Rescue Rooms tonight (incidentally I dreamed about this last night and Barack Obama turned up. He's so cool.) and then just doing general hanging out and relaxing over the weekend. I'm hoping to see Whip It (Drew Barrymore's film), because I HEART Drew.
Right, better go crack on with some work now. Lunch technically finished ten minutes ago.
Love
Bex
x
Thought I'd pop a few thoughts up while I'm finishing off my lunch on this sunny Friday.
Firstly, who watched MasterChef this season? How great was it?! I was totally hooked. I haven't been that into it for a couple of years, but I really enjoyed this one. Particularly how John had gotten all slim and cool in his cardigans, instead of his 80's blazers. Did anyone else spot the winner really early on? I thought I was a genius, but it appears lots of people knew, so maybe I'm only half a genius.
Secondly, who watched the new Dr Who? LOVED IT. Can't wait for the next one tomorrow!
We saw Kick Ass the other day at the cinema. Have you seen it? It's a strange film, enjoyable but kind of like it's two films squashed together. There's a super-violent/bloody Tarantino/Japanese style super hero revenge flick combined with a 'nerds at school get cool' film. It was good, but I expected something very different. By the way, if you have seen it, the guy who plays the main character is British, weird right?!
Popped to a little art auction at BackLit studios on Wednesday and accidentally bought two pieces. Well, I say accidentally, it's not like I sneezed and he counted it as a bid or anything, but I wasn't really planning to go hog-wild and buy two things. I love them both though, will try to pop up pictures of them another time. Really i just wanted to mention the studios as I haven't been before but they have lots of exhibitions and happenings, well worth checking out. Apparently there's a facebook group for those of you on there. They are in Sneinton somewhere, just off Carlton Road.
If you're free next Thursday we're doing Jumpers for Goalposts at the Alley Cafe, as we do every 3rd Thursday of the month. If you haven't been before, it's billed as Nottingham's finest, funnest, free-est felt-tips n folk night and basically involves the following elements:
- a live act (usually one person and a guitar, but in the past it's hosted keyboards, synths, washboards, melodicas and even a double bass)
- DJs (not making you dance or anything, it's a bit small for that, but offering a fabulous soundtrack to your evening)
- a craft competition (there are rules and craft materials provided for you to explore your creativity and use your nimble fingers to invent a beautiful miniature artwork. Or you can just put glitter and googly eyes on some bits of old cardboard... it's up to you)
- "mega prizes" TM. (I'll let you decide if they're mega or not when you win one)
This weekend we're at the big Hello Thor / Fists EP Launch Party at the Rescue Rooms tonight (incidentally I dreamed about this last night and Barack Obama turned up. He's so cool.) and then just doing general hanging out and relaxing over the weekend. I'm hoping to see Whip It (Drew Barrymore's film), because I HEART Drew.
Right, better go crack on with some work now. Lunch technically finished ten minutes ago.
Love
Bex
x
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Fists EP Launch plus "Boy Meets Gay Swan"
Hi Everyone!
How was your Easter? Mine involved doing 2 hours of gardening and needing 4 hours to recover (#whenyouknowyou'reold). We also went to see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake which is just incredible. It's also awesome seeing it in the heart of Yorkshire with my dad, who said afterwards: "It's just the age old tale of boy meets girl, boy's mum won't let him see girl so boy meets gay swan". Of course.
I hope you'll all have heard by now about the big party on at the Rescue Rooms this weekend. Hope to see you there, come say hi, I'll be manning the stall giving away free EPs! In case you needed more info, all the stuff's below. PLUS there's exciting news about who the special guests at the after party are! Oooh!
love Bex
x
FISTS ‘Olympic Hits EP’ Launch Party! @ The Rescue Rooms 9th April 2010
SWIMMING manage to combine an avant-garde approach to making music (incorporating experimental field recordings, binaural art, electronica and post-rock) with a knack of writing anthemic, euphoric and righteously poppy music. http://www.myspace.com/swimmingband
PILGRIM FATHERS play awesome slabs of mind melting psychedelic post-rock. Expect inter-galactic riffs and songs that make you think of lazers, monsters and just how incredible this spinning ball of rock we inhabit is. http://www.myspace.com/thepilgrimfathers
ESCAPOLOGISTS have recently regrouped and morphed into the kind of band that makes synth-heavy, drum machine backed, dark pop that bring together psychedelia, hip-hop and electro together in all the best ways! http://www.myspace.com/escapologists
INCREDIBLE AFTER-PARTY IN THE RED ROOM featuring special guests, playing live, the “North west musical cataclysm” that is Apes Fight Back (www.myspace.com/apesfightback) & Frank's Vintage Metal Disco (featuring the likes of early ZZ-Top, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Led Zep, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest).
PLUS there's still time to snap up an advance ticket for £5 (from Rock City box office / www.alt-tickets.co.uk) and you’ll get a FREE copy of the brand new ‘Olympic Hits EP’ by FISTS - just swap your ticket stub at the merch stand on the night.
http://www.hellothor.com/
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