It's a helluva town

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Originally uploaded by little nell smith

What can I say? New York was amazing, amazing! I flew First Class, gobbled much food, drank my own body weight in fine wines, stayed at the swanky Soho Grand, shopped shopped shopped, went on a helicopter ride over Manhattan, had my mind blown by the collection at MoMA, walked through Central Park, goggled at the Guggenheim, drank cocktails at the Rainbow Rooms, chomped a cheeseburger at the Union Square coffee shop and generally lived it up. The only disappointment in the tale is that we saw no
celebs until we were dining before our flight home, when we witnessed the massive horse-like visage of Piers Morgan. Yeah, great. Still, a roaring success, felt like I was away for 2 weeks rather than 2 nights!

up and down and round and round

Hello! Despite my good intentions to blog more often, I always leave it too long and end up forgetting all the splendid things I've see and done. Sorry about that.
On Sunday I got a call from lovely Kwong from Castlefield Gallery inviting me to be part of a focus group tomorrow night to assist in audience development planning. I am interested and excited, but also a little nervous - I have the fear that it may all be a bit highbrow for little old me. I just draw pretty things, gah! But I guess you always know more than you think you do, right?

The questions we're going to be discussing are:

1. What interests you about contemporary arts and culture in Greater Manchester and further afield?

2. Where do you experience/go for contemporary arts and culture in Greater Manchester?

3. How do you find out about contemporary arts and cultural?

Any thoughts?! xx

p.s, please can someone get me this outfit from Minimarket, I need it for dinner in New York on Saturday! But more on that at a later date, promise ;) xx

Scramblin' gals

Sunday saw me and my good friend Liz (of Lily Greenwood fame) embarking on a little adventure to the hills of Edale. The day started out grey n'drizzly, in true Manchester style, but once we were further into the countryside, the sun came struggling through the clouds.
I haven't been walking in ages, it was so, so good to breathe in the fresh air and to take in the beautiful scenery...and laugh, drink rum and stumble around.
I'm teaching again tomorrow and feeling a little nervous. Positive thinking all the way!

Professor Peabody...

Aha! Here is me as a small child, with previously mentioned Munch Bunch book! As you can clearly see, I had rad styles even then, red shoes and dungas?! Oh yes, I would rock those sandals today. My amazo sister sent me a Munch Bunch annual through the post last week, I may well treat you with a little look once I've sorted my accursed scanner out. That is all for today, I am feeling a little ropey due to too much adventuring in the hills. More on that at a later date. Over and out!

Living my childhood dream...

When I was small my favourite book was the Munch Bunch book about Professor Peabody. He loved books and learning and sharing knowledge. He was also a peapod with legs and shoes. Now, I'm no peapod, but I sure loves to learn. Anyone who has read previous posts will know how I've been rambling on about the good times around the corner - well, the good times are HERE BABY!! So many good things have happened of late, it's been incredible. Today was my first day of teaching at UCLAN in Preston. I did a presentation about my work to the final year Textiles students and went through the brief of a project I will be teaching on over the next 8 weeks. Exciting stuff and I will be writing more about it.
A couple of weeks ago I did a workshop and talk about my work to a group of teenage boys seeking asylum in the UK. I was pretty nervous about it, but I really enjoyed it, and it seemed they did too. I got the gig through Manchester Art Gallery, where Lilli Brodner and Jason Tayor are running a programme called Design Your Life. All good stuff.
I have been featured the Autonomous Artisans blog this week and have been included in an article on etsy. Wowzers. It's all go! You know I like to keep it brief, so that's enough trumpet-blowing for now. I guess I'll just have to blog more frequently...
Oh, yes, one more thing, it was my birthday on Saturday, I'm a Valentine's baby and boy was I feeling the love from my awesome friends. Thank you all for a fantastic day and night, love love love you all xxx

I've got a tiny little crush...

...on the lovely Guy Garvey off of out of Elbow. The 'thinking woman's bearded crumpet' came into my studio on Saturday and made some purchases. I think I kept it pretty cool, but inside I was mad swooning! He bought a feather-print apron and matching tea towel for his friend's housewarming, what an absolute gent! He was chatting away nicely as I stared at him, agog. Yes, we shared a moment.

In other news, the snow has caused me some small pain, I absolutely stacked it walking to the bus stop this morning, causing me to swear like a trooper and crushing the life out of my coccyx. I will be bruised.

N to the E, double L, that's me!

What's my name, yo?
Originally uploaded by little nell smith

Planning, planning, planning. I can feel good things a-coming. Whether the changes I am going to make are radical or subtle, they are going to happen SOON! So watch this space...
I had a pretty good weekend, drunken fun with some excellent buddies, a chance meeting with a certain someone who has been occupying my mind and a day of rest with a spot of Mario Kart on the side!
Today is apparently a good day for envisioning what we want in the future, need to focus my returning energy on creative success! It's also Chinese New Year, so I donned some red lippy and nail varnish for luck and my super-cool name necklace from Paraphernalia. Thanks Ms. Vanda!