Zippy

I've upgraded my Mac's memory this afternoon and it's running great - feels like I'm driving a brand new car! Thanks to the boys in Cancom Brighton!

Off-season

Rode Minty down to the sea yesterday - when I left it was sunny but quickly turned to hail! The sea was rough as anything, with seaspray lashing the shore and my face. But the colour of the sea was amazing: a yellow-grey, with a moody blue-grey sky.

National freelancers' day

As part of National freelancer's day, Brighton is putting on its own event discussing the future of freelance, at the Eagle from 7.30. See you there.
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Wolff

Booked my ticket to see the inimitable Michael Wolff at the Typographic Circle's lecture on 3rd December. Can't wait.

Crafty

Been looking at my friend Amy's logo for her one-woman wonder, Craft Mondays. Going to get a rubber stamp made for her xmas pressie! These were the final three options of my afternoon's work.

Culture vulture

Took the train north yesterday and had a cultural trip to London. Walked around for hours, taking in the British museum (and a visit to the delightful Blade Rubber stamps shop), walking along Shaftesbury Avenue and along Pall Mall to eventually the Royal Academy, where I saw the fantastic Wild Thing exhibition. The show features the work of Jacob Epstein, Eric Gill and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and how they swept preconceptions of classical sculpture aside and instead took inspiration from 'primitive' cultures to create their very own style of 'direct carving'. Amazing how relevant and futuristic some of their work still looks.

Winter in the air

Came across a card I'd bought from the beautifully designed Ditchling museum back in may when my friend Amy was down. Penny Bhadresa's gorgeous linocut really sums up this time of year and reminds me that I really ought to get my lino stuff out to do some xmas cards...watch this space!

In praise of BBC Four Golden Age of Glamour

BBC Four's 'seasons' continue with a whole host of programmes about the 20s and 30s I've been enjoying over the last month. From the golden age of liners, to the expansion of the suburbs, the formation of London Transport and the spread of Deco in the design of everyday objects, it's been a real joy to learn more about this most fanstastic and escapist period of the 20th century.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00njy28

True blood

Been enjoying the new HBO series, True Blood, with the fantastic Anna Paquin as a wide-eyed southern waitress with an open mind about vampires. The title sequence, by Digital Kitchen is fanstastic (who also worked with Alan Ball on Six Feet Under). Read more about the project - complete with bespoke True Blood typeface - on their website:

http://www.d-kitchen.com/projects/true-blood-main-title

Remember, remember

Another great night in Lewes to see their annual processions through the high street, where Bonfire societies from around Sussex dress up and parade through town. Headed up in the hills to see some amazing firework displays. Unrivalled! The biscuits fuelled me throughout the evening, along with some sugary teas. Home at midnight.

Bonfire night!

We're off to Lewes tonight for their legendary Bonfire society processions through the old town streets - costumes, crackers, torches and effergies - to ring in the start of winter. Made some of my nana's oat biscuits to keep us going. Deciding whether or not to take my camera - it all gets a bit of a crush when the streets get filled of locals and us Brighton day-trippers.

http://travelguides.lastminute.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=83559