Erin Plug

Thought I'd play a bit of PR and give my mum a mention as she's just started out. Her bags are made using designer fabrics such as Barbour tweed, Designers Guild, etc, and she's pretty darn good at it to be honest! Make great xmas pressies... You can find her online shop here.

Films I Watch With Mum: Les parapluies de Cherbourg

This is the most beautiful film about one of life's inevitable disappointments, having to settle for second best. It is singing throughout, as in no spoken dialogue at all. But once you get over the initial cringe it's hard not to fall in love with it, what with it's cobbled streets and distressed old green walls everywhere! AND not only is it a classic tearjerker (girl meets boy, boy leaves to go to war, girl then realises she's pregnant, etc) but in the 90's the original three-strip negative print was restored back into colour, so all the patterns and colours are as vivid and striking as ever. Dreamy...

Michael Clark Company

We managed to get tickets last minute at this year's Edinburgh Festival and I'm so glad we did. From what I understand Clark's latest work has distinctive personal references, playing homage to the music that saw him through his younger years - predominantly David Bowie, Iggy Pop, etc. Choreography was definitely a bit challenging in parts! The pair on pointe was my favourite bit and that lasted all of about ten seconds. But although I didn't enjoy the actual performance as much as the £3 programme (see photography!) you could tell that Clark is well known for collaborations with other visual artists, and the technical ability of the dancers was amazing. It felt like dance, fashion and graphic design all rolled into one. Big Feast.

foundation days: The Art of Conversation

I was wading through the archives and thought I'd put this up because I do find the topic interesting. Here are elements of research that explore the differences between face-to-face and online dialogue, and how the accessibility of technology has changed the nature of modern interaction. I'd like to touch on it again sometime because it's a project in need of some serious development! Maybe one day. When I can be bothered.