Took some skirts up to the Design and Technology show at the NEC to make Birtys with Practical Action and [re]design.The stand was choc-a-block all day with teachers enthused about sustainability and design in education. Great stuff. There are loads of brilliant ideas and resources for teachers and schools on the Practical Action website. Check it out!

Take 40 meters of stunning 4mm felt, two topographical maps, several large print outs, preparation, diet coke, two boxes of scalpels and a few litres of Copydex and… Voila!

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They’re beautiful.

I’ve spent the last month in my dream job! Working intensively on these beasts has all been worth in and they’re beginning to take shape.

This is Joanna Newsom. I discovered this clip, among others on YouTube. She’s going to be up there with Annie Lennox, Bjork and Regina Spektor before long – in my book at least. Lovely stuff.

At hive we’re making two ‘Cityscape’ rugs for a Russian bank; one of London and one of Moscow. They’ve done a London rug before, but the biggest hurdle so far has been finding a topographical map of Moscow – a detailed one.

Working on a Sunday… Ahh, the life of a freelancer.

Why work the weekend? Well, I’ve been thrown in the deep end somewhat.

I’ve been working with a social enterprise called [re]design since I left college last year – the day after I left college as it happens. Anyhow, as a non-profit organisation we’ve been struggling to get funding for as long as I can remember. However, there’s hope for us yet: on Friday I got a call to say that we’re through to the final round of applicants for the Stanley Picker Fellowship. Hoorah! Progress and recognition at last!

But every silver-lining has a cloud… Next Wednesday, the five finalists will be grilled for 35 minutes, under high pressure to persuade a panel of judges that their research proposal is the most delicious dish on the menu.

It turns out that everyone’s on holidays next week.No prizes for guessing who’s getting cooked next Wednesday at 9.45am.

During a recent rethink, I realised that eight hours a day (and then some!) in front of a screen is most definitely not good for the soul. Especially my soul. It doesn’t do much for my creativity either. I am a maker and a doer, not a sitter and a clicker.

‘Why start a blog?!’ I hear you cry. Well, that’s a good question. Sure enough, if I’m trying to keep away from the keyboard it does seem a little perverse to begin an online diary. However, it’s about quality, not quantity. All the time I spend on the blog I’m learning new things to make me super web savvy, recording interesting and inspirational things (like this film) and I’m collecting and publishing my work. In fact, since I’ve started blogging, I’ve even started new projects! So watch this space…

The first venue for Climate Cool! Impressive venue.

Efficiency! The production team here in Shanghai is spot on. The exhibition was set up with hardly a hiccup. White gloves, labeling, floor plans and more labeling. Great stuff.

Managed to catch up with an old school friend, Mark, (and his backpack buddy Neil) after we flew into Shanghai on the same day! Who would have thought it? I haven’t seen Mark since Sixth Form. So great to see a friendly face.