Reading Festival of Crime Writing

As I was reading this months Mslexia I came across a tiny advert for the Reading Festival of Crime Writing – 11th, 12th and 13th Sept. I didn’t even know Reading had a festival other than the big music one at the end of August. (Rock on!)
I’ve just had a look on their website and not only have they got a short story competition which sounds fun but they have one of my favourite authors – Christopher Brookmyre talking too. They have lots of other authors and workshops but it’s always great when you can see someone whose work really rocks your world. So for anyone who’s interested in crime writing Reading in September is the place to be.

Turquoise Beads

Yay! My computer seems to be fixed – after quite a bit of messing about. I love my computer; there are so many things that I use it for. But I wish it wouldn’t have silly fits.

Anyway what I wanted to tell you about was the Gem and Bead show that was in Farnham like 2 weeks ago! There was so much there that I wanted but I managed to keep it to just a few beads and some bits and bobs to play with. I’ve still got the beautiful beads that I bought on etsy to work out how to string together.
In the mean time I’ve made myself a bracelet. Very simple, but I thought the beads were wonderful, such a lovely colour and a great weight.

The study creeps closer to being finished every day so I should be back to making stuff very soon. Helps I’ve got some holiday booked.

On a Motorway...

Ok so I spoke too soon. We do have broadband at the flat and the study is coming on by leaps and bounds (thanks to ‘im outdoors), but there is something wrong with my computer which means that it is becoming very sluggish. And anyone who has ever tried to use Photoshop when your computer has slowed to the speed of the M25 in rush hour will know the sort of frustration I am struggling with.
Little does it know that this mean we will be wiping its brains and starting again (I’m writing this at work). Hopefully this will sort it out, as I’ve lots of projects that I am desperate to get started on, but there isn’t much point if I can’t get the thing to go.

Also as I’ve finished studying the CWI website design course (although I’m still waiting for paperwork from them about this) I’ve just signed up for A363 Advanced Creative Writing with the Open University. I’m so glad I’ve kept up my writing with the writers group at work. Which leads nicely into the fact that the group met for the last time this ‘year’ today. We’ll be meeting again in September. There were many people there so I didn’t get to read my work out but I’ll still post it below.
The starting point is the sentence; You're on a motorway and there's a car out of control coming towards you...

It’s not like in the movies; no car’s flying through the air or exploding. Most people have seen the black BMW coming towards them on the wrong side of the motorway, and moved out of the way.
There are a few bumps but no injuries and it looks like we might be able to stop this idiot before there are any fatalities.
We’ve stopped as much traffic as we can and now I’m standing in the shadow of my unmarked car with the stinger in my hands ready to deploy.
‘Ready Kate?’
That’s a tire deflation device in the handbook, but anyone who’s watched any sort of police TV programme should know what I’m talking about.
‘Yes sir.’
The problem is that too many people have seen these TV shows so I have to get my timing just right.
‘Suspect one mile away.’
If I fling it out in front of him too early and he sees it and knows what it is, he’ll try and go round it.
‘All units ready.’
If I do it too late, it won’t do its job and stop him. Of course it’s all going to happen really fast.
He’s travelling at well over 100 mph and from what I’ve heard he does not want to be caught, but then he has done a pretty nasty thing.
‘Suspect in sight!’
I can hear it now, the growl of his engine coming at super speed followed by two whaling squad cars. They know what’s coming so they are easing back so they don’t deflate too, but gently so he’s not aware of what’s coming.
I can normally see the drivers eyes by the time I do this, but this time his eyes are covered by the shades he is wearing, and I’m glad because I don’t want to look into these eyes.

The Uniform Project

I quite liked working at the supermarket when I was a student. Mostly because we got to eat the cheese off the deli. But also because we had a uniform and I didn’t have to think about what to wear everyday.
Now I work in an office and I’ve made up a kinda uniform out of pretty skirts and t shirts so getting dressed half asleep isn’t too much of a chore.
But what about having one dress and then reinventing that dress every day for a year?

This is what Sheena Matheiken has pledged to do.
Starting May 2009, she has pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day she will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like she just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir.

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.

The photos go up daily on The Uniform Project, and I’m amazed at the variety of outfits she has managed to put together over the last 2 ½ months.
I look forward to seeing what else she can come up with. Good luck Sheena.

Alien Planet Photos

At some point in the last couple of crazy months I know I mentioned the fact that ‘im outdoors was displaying his photos at the local Doctors. As I finally have a computer that works and have been able to download my photos at last I can finally show you how good they look.
To see more of his work go to Alien Planet.

Nearly Finished

How exciting is this? I am sitting in our ‘study’ typing on my computer which is all set up and connected to the internet!! Ok so the room still needs some work, but we’re connected to the net and that’s the thing I’ve really missed. It also means that I now have no excuse for not blogging and I can try and get more posts up this month than the four from June (and May).
The living room is pretty much finished, it just needs some pictures on the walls, but ‘im outdoors has so many we haven’t been able to decide which ones yet.
I can’t believe how much space we have, even with a table, six chairs, a sofa, a fish tank and all the shelving.

Before:

After:

We’ve painted the kitchen and given the hall a freshen up and except for some shelving in cupboards that we need to add, and finishing sorting my junk at my parents house we are very nearly there. It’s a good feeling.

(Does Ikea furniture count as hand made if we put it all together ourselves?)