this site is an eyesore

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Frost

I’m so tired of looking at this site and wondering what to do with it. The last couple of tweaks to colour and banner have been appalling – I really have been quite clueless. But then its february, there are other things to think about, get the house ready, keep warm, fix bicycles and watch films. We are going to see "The Prestige" on saturday, I have a feeling its not going to be very good.

I think it might be to do with energy – I have very little. I’m not really all that keen on the big detox and get fit burst that we attempt after christmas – in france they wait until springtime, which is much better – you can actually go out and enjoy the big outdoors, rather than hang about in gyms. For a while I use to go, but I just don’t like them – nobody wants to be there, the view (of other sweaty people) is rather limited and the air is less than fresh. Nothing beats hitting the lanes and scooting through the countryside.

I know we’re going to be very busy, very soon, but I can’t wait.

so, bear with me, I will have a proper think about dots and spaces – this tweaking has got to stop.

hills have eyes

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Spokes

So I was thinking I should set a few goals, look at a few hills to climb, a few more miles to fear on my regular rides. I’ve got a few projects too, build a racer – a few bits here and there. loose the pounds, feel the heart pounding a bit more, not be so quick dropping through the gears, let it burn just for a few moments longer. Its good for you.

We’ve got such a big year ahead of us, and its all a bit scary and exciting and did I mention scary? all at the same time. but it’ll be fine.

The weather has been a bit uneven these past few days, but the weekend promises to be ok, so, a bit of breakfast, a and off out. At least I rode on new year’s day – it felt good, it was early and so quiet in the countryside.

Good luck to everyone and here I am hoping you’ll achieve everything you want to.

the people we work for

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Ideas

I’ve been struggling with work a bit lately, and I’m sure its just a bit of a purple patch. I’m learning an important lesson about authorship and how the work bounces from client to designer and back to client. Its not an easy process but a few articles have been very helpful in thinking about this – including this one by Adrian Shaughnessy, author of the brilliant How to be a graphic designer without losing your mind. I know I’m not the first designer to feel frustration with the process, but really, this is something I will have to come round to, otherwise, as the title of Shaughnessy’s book suggests, there could be an unhappy outcome.

Things you hear..

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I was sorry to hear that my recommended band of the moment alfie are no more, and there’s a statement on the website explaining why. Basically, they were under pressure to sell out and hit certain markets and well, they were never going to do that, so its over. Also broken up are Gorky’s, Hope of the States, Cooper Temple Clause, in fact lots of my favourite bands are throwing in the towel. I thought that the internet would bring diversity and originality, but I’m afraid everything is being swallowed up by the bland, the obvious and the boring. Different tastes are being marginalised and you really have to hunt out alternatives and it means you have to fight for the right to be different. There…I just wanted to say.

Got a few things to note – Juliette and The Licks was fantastic last week, and also Badly Drawn Boy at the Pyramids. I always have a good time there, its a bit like an 80’s youth club, and it even has a tuck shop that sells crisps and fizzy pop. what a top place.

kitchen

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Kitchen

I’ve been working on the kitchen…enough said.

There are some photos over at flickr which is where I spend most of my (online) time. It took a couple of weeks, so much prep and just getting the room to a state where we could put the kitchen in took ages. I would like to thank JLC for so much help – beyond the call of duty.

We’ll wait a bit before we start on the bathroom…

New Rock

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Buffalo

BF are a super cool band from Japan, and I idly tap away at my keyboard, I’m listening to the lovely tunes from their album ‘New Rock’ – I really can’t recommend it enough. Its hard to find mind you, but you can have a look at amazon and at thier official sites for euphorica which I think is the latest release. I just love the fuzzy guitars, analogue keyboards and top vocals. There… got that off my chest – they’re brill – and nobody I speak to ever seems to have heard of them – what’s going on people!

maps

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Maps

so its almost june and its still raining – come on, when’s the summer going to kick in?

been busy working on a new site for TC (I won’t even link to the old one I’m afraid) but can promise you the new one will be a bit more interesting and there are plans for a blog too.  Hopefully it’ll be of interest to existing clients and help us spread the word with new people. I’m really interested in doing something else too, maybe a fanzine, or a poster set. whatever it ends up as I hope it’ll cause a stir.

I wanted to do a post about the black pirate (this is a cunning reminder) – and if you don’t know who that is…you will do.

Finally – went to see Guillemots at the wedge and they were great – I wasn’t sure what I was doing there at first, but they won me round pretty quickly. There were some nice touches, arriving on stage through the audience, singing without mics, woman in a wedding dress playing a double bass – all sorts of things that a new band should adopt.

Ben’s Bird Boxes

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Bensbirdboxes2

Ben’s Bird Boxes are handmade by Ben out of recycled estate agents signs, and I bought my dad one for christmas which he duly fixed to the garage wall a couple of weekends ago.

I found out that Ben was inspired by a trip to Africa where he saw how everyday waste products were crafted into products and sold in markets. I remember seeing this in Cape Town and my day in khayelitsha. I bought a few things made by the local workers’ co-operative – you can have a look at them here at Flickr.

It got me thinking about other bits and pieces that we throw away and how we could find some uses for them – this is a theme that’s often explored in ready made mag, but I’m afraid the results don’t always hit the mark.

Anyway, buy a bird box from Ben – I’m not sure its the best time of year, you’ll have to check with him, but they make funky homes for feathered friends.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

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Lips

Yeah we all love The Flaming Lips and I have to say that there’s nothiing around at the moment to match the sonic assault that is At war with the mystics – its fantastic. I do hope that before I shuffle off one day, I’ll get the chance to see the Lips in concert for myself – lots of beautiful photos from the gigs – it looks about as much fun as you could possibly have.

Badger Press and Jason Munn

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Badgerpress2

Even though I’ve got my new Gocco, I’ve not abandoned the big prints – so I think it is great that there is a new website for The Badger Press – www.badgerpress.org for the latest news about courses, and events happening in the studio. Its always a busy place and its one of the most enjoyable weekend, I’m always looking forward to the next booking. Also to mention here a series of articles in Ready Made about three wonderful screenprinters including Jason Munn who makes amazing work for notable indie rock bands including The Decemberists – check out Jason’s work at www.thesmallstakes.com – its inspiring and beautiful, and if I can get even a little closer to that sort of thing when I got The Badger Press, then I’ll be very happy.

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