All Things Considered

Ditchling vs. Kabul
Posted by Simon Lewin

An unusual story picked up via MADE...

"Surrounded by tight security and watched by baffled US servicemen, the tourists from Ditchling Cricket Club were beaten by 124 runs over 25 overs on Friday 1st May.

Ditchling's unlikely journey to Kabul began three years ago with an Afghan cricket tour of the UK. A chance meeting between a Ditchling player and an Afghan official prompted an open invitation to play the village side." Read the article in full

Posted by Simon Lewin on May 8th, 2009

Elle Decoration
Posted by Simon Lewin

Thanks to Elle Decoration for the mention of our gallery in their May issue. We're now well settled into our new home and are looking forward to our first solo exhibition - a selection of Angie's prints, as part of Norfolk Open Studios 2009. Opens on Saturday 16th May.

Posted by Simon Lewin on May 4th, 2009

Fish
Posted by Simon Lewin

I've turned into what I could best describe as a 'virtual' fisherman. Having moved to Norfolk shortly after I'd take up trout fishing, I'd always assumed that trout fishing opportunities would be limited. But far from it. Over the years I've discovered some cracking little rivers & streams. Patience is required with access to some of these as most of the clubs have lengthy waiting lists - but it's always worth the wait. That said, over the last couple of years my fishing activity has been limited to thinking about it rather than doing it. Hopefully things will be a bit better this year.

When I do fish one of these Norfolk rivers, it's always a bonus to bump into Charles Rangeley-Wilson. You may have seen his series 'The Accidental Angler' on BBC2.

On Monday night, BBC4 will air 'Fish! A Japanese Obsession', part of their Hidden Japan season. The 90-minute film follows Charles on a 6 week trip across the country, sharing his love of fish and fishing with those he meets along the way.

Later in April, Charles is taking part in a fishing competition, 'One Fly', on the River Test. Not the first person I'd expect to take part in competitive fishing, Charles is using the opportunity to raise funds for the invaluable work of The Wild Trout Trust. If you have any interest in fishing - or even if you simply enjoy messing about near or on rivers, please do consider making a donation to support the Trust's work.

Posted by Simon Lewin on March 22nd, 2009

Pastures new
Posted by Simon Lewin

Some changes afoot at St. Jude's...

We have now closed our Aylsham gallery to the public and are in the process of preparing our new venue in the nearby North Norfolk village of Itteringham, not far from Blickling Hall. We'll be opening here in late February 2009. Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter for further details.

This is part of some gentle expansion for St. Jude's - our existing premises in Aylsham will now be dedicated to the design of our screen-printed textiles and a new letterpress studio (which we're very excited about). These will be open by appointment only.

Our new gallery (on the right hand side of this photograph) will primarily focus on a range of original prints and our own St. Jude's textiles and stationery. But we'll still also play host to a number of additional exhibitions throughout the year.

We'll be working alongside the community run village shop and café next door, and there's also the excellent Walpole Arms just down the road.

Don't visit us just yet - we'll be opening towards the end of February - we have our St. Jude's In The City exhibition at the Bankside Gallery to organise first.

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 12th, 2009

News in from Apple
Posted by Simon Lewin

Some news just in from Apple, via The Onion...

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

I don't know if Peter Serafinowicz deserves any credit for this innovation? What do you think?

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 6th, 2009

350 Miles – An Essex Journey
Posted by Simon Lewin

As the web grows in size by the day, it becomes even more of a pleasure to find those little corners where you instantly feel at home. A recent find has been Caught By The River, edited by Jeff Barrett, Andrew Walsh and Robin Turner. A sort of fishing website? Much more really.

The site features a shop of related books, music etc. and a book - "350 Miles - An Essex Journey" by Ken Worpole and Jason Orton caught my eye...

‘In the early months of 2005, we walked, cycled and occasionally drove, separately or together, much of the 350 miles of coastline, taking in the atmosphere, the landscape, and the abiding relationship to the sea. At the end of the journey we appreciated, more than ever, that the Essex shoreline is especially memorable for its obstinate refusal to conform to conventional notions of what is beautiful or picturesque. This landscape is singularly rich in history, and full of layered meanings and visual pleasures to those who give it the time and attention it deserves’ Ken Warpole

You can purchase a copy via the Caught By The River shop.

Posted by Simon Lewin on December 12th, 2008

Okido
Posted by Kate Sullivan

The art and science magazine Okido, is the brainchild of illustrator Rachel Ortis and designer and scientist, Dr. Sophie Dauvois. This exciting, educational and beautifully illustrated magazine was launched last year and aimed at children aged between two and seven.

Printed on sturdy recycled paper using vegetable inks, the magazine encourages lots of drawing, cutting and entertainment and unlike most other kids magazines printed on flimsy, shiny paper, Okido entices parents to read and play along too.

I've purchased the magazine from Borders in Norwich and if you live in London, there are many other stockists. Click here to finds out where. Alternatively, you can subscribe to Okido on-line. A subscription will buy six issues and the magazine is published every three months.

Posted by Kate Sullivan on November 6th, 2008

Squob.com
Posted by Kate Sullivan

Earlier this year I posted a blog about the Dutch motor-home site Tonke. Although the pictures of the motors were great, my understanding of the Dutch text was not so great, so I confess to knowing little about the beautiful vehicles at the time.

Then this week I received an email from Chris from the Recreational Vehicle blog, Squob, Informing me that he had just posted information about Tonke's in English.

After reading the article I flicked around the Squob site. It is brilliant if you're interested in diverse forms of mobile architecture and like to dream about roaming around, mortgage free.

"Squob is the only RV website focusing on good design. We cover the most interesting new vehicles and classics from the past."

The site is full of  images and information on trailers, motor homes, expedition vehicles and caravans both vintage and modern. It has links to some amazing images on Flickr, including a pick of Squob's top ten best RV images from the Flickr Group Squobstock.

Posted by Kate Sullivan on October 16th, 2008

Chris Watson
Posted by Simon Lewin

A recent link from Underworld's website served as reminder about Chris Watson's work.

Having been a founding member of Sheffield's Cabaret Voltaire (when I first came across his work), Chris began his sound recording career in 1981 working for Tyne Tees Television.

His recordings regularly crop up on radio and TV nature programmes, and the Guardian rated his 2003 'Weather Report' album as one of the '1000  Albums to Hear Before You  Die'...

"Watson is one of the world's leading recorders of wildlife and natural phenomena, and here he edits his field recordings into a filmic narrative. The unearthly groaning of ice in an Icelandic glacier is a classic example of, in Watson's words, putting a microphone where you can't put your ears."

Posted by Simon Lewin on August 26th, 2008

The Weather Tree
Posted by Kate Sullivan

It's so very British to talk about the weather. When we're in a spell of either hot or rainy climatic events, it feels as though we're in it for ever, but of course we never are. The Weather Tree is one way of showing how good (or bad) the British seasons really is.

The Weather Tree poster is a simple drawing of a tree with twelve branches representing the twelve months of the year. The branches have have a leaf for everyday of the twelve months. You decide on the colours you want to depict the weather types, then you simply colour in a leaf everyday to record the day's meteorological happenings.

Dorothy Thelwall, the artist behind the weather tree, is also producing One-Day-at-a-Time Tree. This poster helps you record what ever daily achievement you wish.

I'm about to make a purchase, they cost £5 each including postage and packaging. I'm going to buy the Weather Tree and a the One-Day-at-a-Time Tree to record my irrational mood swings - could the two are related?

Posted by Kate Sullivan on August 1st, 2008