Best Believe ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Launch party Thursday 24th June from 5pm Sauce Gallery, Custard Factory Birmingham.

Merz Party, Eastside Projects, Saturday 12 June, 1-4pm, FREE.

Merz Party is about everyone making collage. With an exciting array of printed material waiting at Eastside Projects to be cut up, and stuck back together, it uses a group dynamic to generate new ideas by swapping, sharing, obliterating and adding to each others’ work. Bring your best scissors and help artist Elizabeth Rowe bring a collage revolution to Birmingham!

Just peeped this over at Ideal Skate Supply, looks like they have secured a screening of the Vans film just out. This is a high coo by any standard. The film will be shown at the shop down at The Custard Factory on 24th April, for all the info peep here.

…Just had Kris Vile in the store and we worked out a date for a Birmingham premiere of the Vans Europe DVD. We are going to hold it in the Cinema space at 5.30pm on Saturday the 24th of April. Tickets will be on sale in the store this weekend and for a measly £2 you will get to see Chris Pfanner, Danny Wainwright, Ross McGouran, Flo Marfaing, Sam Partaix and more in the first video to come out under the Vans banner. And of course you will be able to shake Kris by the hand and congratulate him on his section which, so I have heard, is rather good.

Underneath Eastside’s arches you’ll find a whole host of organisations making and presenting film, music, visual arts, digital media, craft, literature, and photography – and some great pubs and cafes too. We Are Eastside is a guide to some of these hidden treasures.

We are Eastside is made up of;

7 INCH CINEMA – BIRMINGHAM JAZZ – CAPSULE – CRAFTSPACE – THE CUSTARD FACTORY – EASTSIDE PROJECTS – GRAND UNION – IKON EASTSIDE – PROJECT PIGEON (Photo featured above) – PUNCH – RHUBARB RHUBARB – THE EDGE – TINDAL STREET PRESS – THE LOMBARD METHOD – VIVID – VRU

A couple of exciting developments in the We are Eastside camp in Digbeth, Birmingham is the addition of a new photographic gallery space called Rhubarb East Gallery situated in the Rhubarb Building and a performance by Japanese artist Atsuhiro Ito.

Vivid and Capsule are combining forces to present Atsuhiro Ito. Atsuhiro uses a fluorescent light with pick up mics attached, and alters the voltage applied to tubes causing the lights to flicker. Microphones pick up electromagnetic noise perfectly synchronised with the flickering lights in a light/noise/electric eye festival at only a fiver it is well worth a look next week on Wednesday 10th March 2010, more information can be found here.

The project is aimed at diverse young people aged 16 -19 from inner city Birmingham (some of whom are not in education, employment and training) but who have some interest/ability in the arts. The project will focus on ideas of guerrilla craft, DIY Craft and Craftivism – with a view to developing a young people led craft collective which will then organise a series of interventions throughout the city.

More info here.

Here is a collection of alternative Christmas gifts available from creative folks in and around Birmingham. Firstly a Christmas type mix of records from me. Feel free to wang this mix on whilst wrapping your presents or mulling your pies… enjoy!

At the top of the page we have the infamous Spinwell Bobble Beanie – which had almost sold out from this Birmingham based cycle blog, before the delivery had even arrived. Thankfully some are still available and now in stock ready for Christmas, very reasonably priced at £15 a pop. You will look hot when you are cold.

Spinwell Projects No.1 will be the Spinwell Bobble Beanie. Limited to 30 pieces and available in two colour options – Red/Grey/White and Grey/Red/White ( unfortunately not the colour pictured, this is my special sample! ).

Current State is the work of Birmingham based designer and illustrator Jane Anderson. Current State do lovely bold prints and are often feature in Fused Magazine. You can purchase postcards and Eco bags from Studio 4 Gallery aka The Framers along with a whole bunch of other stylish prints, postcards, bags and stickers from other artists and designers. Picture of Current State’s Eco Bag below - online shop and information here.

Mouldy Loaf is an independent company and brand which stocks the best in men’s and women’s wares. We have created an innovative and alternative brand which provides a great change to mainstream, high street fashion.

I say amen to that! Mouldy Loaf also run We Create* in Oasis Market. To go peep their wares just head down to the Custard Factory or look online here.

From mouldy bread to tasty and mouldy (if you so please) cheese! I love cheese and I love this shop! Newly opened in Kings Heath with a tasty collection of cheese, deli goodies and chutneys.

Capeling and Co is a specialist cheese shop and delicatessen on York Road, Kings Heath. We sell a large range of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, olives, antipasti, chutneys, vinegars, oils and lots more!

You can find out more here and become a fan on facebook. Support your local independent cheese retailer!

Merry Christmas!

Best Believe xx

The closing party to Capsule’s 10th birthday celebrations is on Saturday 19th December at Vivid on Heath Mill Lane in Digbeth. This party will see a gathering of some of Birmingham’s most exciting experimental live acts including the fabulous Modified Toy Orchestra plus someone called Stinky Wizzleteat and others – all paying tribute to the ten years of exciting, genre pushing music that Capsule have produced and provided a stage for. You can get more info here and tickets from here. See you down the front.

Pioneering typographer, sleeve designer and artist Swifty will be setting up shop at the Sauce Gallery in Birmingham’s Custard Factory from Saturday 12th December. Everything from originals and one off prints to T-shirts, skateboards and stickers will be for sale in The Swifty Pop Shop.

The Pop Shop, which is being brought to Birmingham by Sauce Gallery and Punch Records, will feature Swifty’s Newsagents installation. This life size shop front was partly inspired by Peter Blake’s ‘Toy Shop’ and the artist’s fond memories of a local village newsagent in Lancashire. The Shop will also be home to the A-Z of Swifty Show, including pieces based around everything from Action Man to Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout.

The Pop Shop is the latest branch of Swifty’s expansive career. Having studied design at Manchester Polytechnic, at the age of 21 he trained under Neville Brody at The Face magazine. His work at The Face and later led him to be recognised as one of the top new talents in the specialist world of typography.

In 1989 he joined the team at Straight No Chaser, a publication aimed at the jazz, jive and soul community. As art editor he drove the creative style that went on to embody the magazine as a whole. At the same time he established his own font company, Swifty Typograpfix, and spread himself between the magazine and producing fonts, record sleeves, club flyer designs and many other sidelines. Swifty dominated the scene, being the designer of choice for nearly every acid jazz label.

Punch Director Ammo Talwar said:

“Swifty is a design legend whose work cuts across all typography boundaries. Bringing the Pop Shop to Birmingham is a real scoop for the city, and will give visitors a rare opportunity to see many of Swifty’s personal projects first hand.”

The Pop Shop will be open to the public at the Sauce Gallery, 5 The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth from 11th December to 10th January 2009. For more information visit www.punch-records.co.uk

Grand Union is a new artist-led initiative that supports the development of artists and curators within Birmingham. It aims to establish and nurture dialogue between contemporary visual artists and facilitate links between local, national and international art organisations.

On Friday 6th November at Fazeley Studios in Digbeths, Grand Union will host an artists’ publishing fair (12pm – 9pm), including stall holders such as Via Vaudeville, Ellie Harrison, Milk Two Sugars, Public Works, BAZ, Serena Korda, Caitlin Griffiths, Pest Publications, 4hb, [insertspace], Leisure Centre and a performance by The Artists’ Association of Autonomous Book Arts & Magazines (A.A.A.B.A.M.).

A.A.A.B.A.M. representative Calum F. Kerr will present A.A.A.B.A.M. RESTORED: That Was 2004. This Is Now. He’ll be wearing The Book Coat, a portable garment containing over 50 individual artist books.
Performance times Friday 6th November, 2-5pm and 6-9pm.

For more info check here.

Grand Union will celebrate their opening with a new publication, with contributions from group members Helen Brown, Ian England, Mark Essen, Cheryl Jones, Karin Kihlberg & Reuben Henry, Charlie Levine, Alex Lockett, David Miller, Harminder Singh Judge, Joanna Spencer, Matt Westbrook, and Stuart Whipps.

The publication will be available at Grand Union, alongside a reading room full of artists’ books’ and independent publishing.

Grand Union is a not-for-profit organisation supported by the Arts Council and Birmingham City Council.

It would seem that Birmingham could be the Vintage Fashion capital of the Midlands with the arrival of the new (but old) ‘Vintage fair‘ which is already successfully running in Sheffield and Manchester, making my count of vintage enterprises in the city to more than 8. The vintage movement is a way for us fashion forward folks to put a middle finger up to the relentless high street brands that keep rearing their ugly heads in Birmingham City Centre -  more commonly known to outsiders as ’shoppingham’. Vintage lets you embrace a unique and individual style, not to mention a more ethical approach to apparel too, as you are giving new life to the threads of yesteryear.

With Spring/Summer 2010 catwalk shows revealing 80’s silhouettes and 1940’s floral numbers, vintage fashion has wedged itself firmly within popular culture and does not seem to be showing any signs of retiring. Your body shape can determine which eras and styles suit you best. Slender boyish types look amazing in 20’s and 30’s styles, and voluptuous hourglass ladies are incredible in 50’s outfits. 40’s looks tend to emphasise the shoulders and waist, as does the 80’s but look fabulous on a range of body shapes.

At this point I would like to point my male readers over to my boy Kevin at Proppergander – a Birmingham based style blog that features many an article on men’s fashion.

So here is a round up of all the places in Birmingham that you can get yourself fully hooked up on a purely vintage tip.

Vintage Fair // The Library Theatre at Custard Factory – Starting 21st November – ‘The Vintage Fair now in our 2nd year hold exciting vintage fashion fairs in Sheffield, Manchester & soon to be Birmingham! Our vintage fairs are crammed with stalls of affordable vintage fashion from the 1920s – 1980s, reworked, handmade and eco clothing, cool jewellery , yummy cupcakes and much more from local to national designers and traders! So come and join us for some affordable shopping, a vintage tea party, offers on the bar and some vintage tunes whilst you shop’.

General Stores // Custard Factory - General Stores houses a collective shopping experience including spaces hosted by Diamond Togs, G & B Creative, Nattys Vintage, Coco Black Vintage and veteran-vintage-vendor Urban Village.

Cow // Digbeth High Street - The big yellow place – good for accessories.

Top Banana // York Road, Kings Heath- Good for man gear.

Vintage Fair // Hare & Hounds (Monthly) – ‘XMAS VINTAGE FAIR Ladies & Men’s clothes, accessories & jewellery FAB INDIVIDUAL PARTY DRESSES AT LOW PRICES UNUSUAL XMAS GIFTS FROM ONLY £1 AT THE HARE & HOUNDS PUB HIGH STREET, KINGS HEATH B’HAM. B14 7JZ 11am – 4.30pm FREE ADMISSION ON SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 09 SATURDAY 5th DECEMBER 09′.

Flea Market // Custard Factory Flea Market (Saturdays) – ‘The Custard Factory Flea Market is offering a free stall for 6 months to entrepreneurial university students in Birmingham. Birmingham based students are being asked to submit a business plan explaining their creative talents what they want to sell at the market. If successful The Custard Factory Flea Market will provide the five candidates with 6 months free stall rent worth over £500′. For more details read here.

Rag Market // Birmingham City Centre – ‘A place with all genres of taste and fancy, from women’s clothes, fabric stalls and even those lusted after magazines you can’t justify purchasing, just for a pound. A market that has been through Birmingham’s best and worst since the start. Pay it a visit and keep the Bullring’s true roots alive!’.