Zambia Fundraiser

How was your weekend?

Some of you may have seen on instagram shots of the preparation for the Auction of Promises which my family held back in the Shire.

This is because I'm going to Zambia in April with my family and Six Formers from Wye Valley School (Buckinghamshire). I'm ridiculously excited as I have never been to central Africa.

Box of vegetables for a "DIY" meal

We are raising money for Life Straws and materials to help provide tools for the people of Lusaka to set up mentoring schemes within the school there. You can find out about Wye Valley's seven year partnership with Libala High School here.

My mumma organised an Italain Supper Evening with an auction of items donated by friends and local businesses.

It took us 3 hours to set up the tables!?!

This meant that Amelia (my sister, and designosaur model) and I spent all day setting up the tables for over 100 guests whilst my mum and friends cooked copious amounts of Lasagne, and my dad finalised the Auction listings. There was a lot of help along the way from friends of my parents too!

We donated a George necklace, which went for much above the RRP which was great!

You can get your very own George here.

My dad auctioning, with myself taking down the winning numbers

This is Brandon, he sang on the night and was pretty awesome. Also from serious stalking I've found out that he might be coming to BIMM (Brighton Institue of Modern Music) so you may see him about if you are Brighton based like us!

Obviously Jacques got dragged along to lift things, serve dinner and make 100 coffees, so on Sunday we were all shattered!

Jacques and I on our cow hunt in the countryside

It was a great evening and we managed to raise a huge amount of money. If you would like to give to the Appeal then please click here.

Myself, Caz and Amelia. Caz won the George Necklace, can you spot him? 

ROAR!

www.thezambiaproject.co.uk

AT Openhouse

Last year we visited AT Open House (you can read all about  it here) but this year we have been invited to show there!

We are very excited to be part of the Open Houses this year and especially pleased to be in AT Open House.

The house will be open every weekend in May, I know it is a few months yet so I will make sure I remind you all! Last year there was amazing cake and the sun was shining, we are hoping for the same this year.

There are so many awesome artists and designers packed into this awesome house, here are some links and a snapshot of some of their work.

Alice Pattullo: illustrative prints

Becky Blair: paintings and prints

Dead Methods: letterpress, screen prints and books

Delicious Industries: small press, cards & prints  

hello DODO: screenprints and cards 

Inkyskipper: collage and photos

An Alleweireldt: Oxx jewellery

James Sawyer: icons, shadowboxes & shrines 

Mr Wingate: hand printed textiles for your home

Nathan James Page: drawings, prints and cards

Petting Zoo Prints & Collectables:handprinted critters

Sophie Abbott: paintings and ceramics

Teresa Stewart-Goodman: paintings, cut-out animals & collage

Toypincher: toy photography, prints, cards & badges

Winsome & Saucy: knitted accessories and jewellery

I think I'm going to struggle not to buy a million and one things in May!

BTNETSY Talks!

This time last week we were at The Old Market setting up for the first ever BtnEtsy Talks, it was a brilliant night with an amazing turn out.

Emma from Bets and Bobs gave us an outline of what PR is and how to achieve it, followed by Lyndsey talking about how she applied that to her small business What You Sow.

It was a really interesting evening that not only informed, but also inspired us to get back out there and start shouting about our products again.

Some of Lyndsey's features!

There was even a surprise appearance from George!

George in Emma's presentation

The next talk we hope will be in April but I'll keep you posted.

Inspired by Lyndsey I am now creating a Press page for designosaur. Hopefully you'll be able to find this on the blog soon.

If you came, I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, if you didn't make it this time, make sure you come to the next one. If you want more information check out the Brighton Etsy Team Blog.

ROAR!

Etsy Craft Party 2013

YO!

The Brighton Etsy Team is hosting an Etsy Craft Party!

Say what? I don't know what you're chatting about?

OH! So the Etsy Craft Party is a global party held on the 20th June where Etsy buyers and sellers get together to celebrate craft and have some fun!

We are holding a Craft Party at Super+Super from 6.30pm and you are very welcome to come along. We have a limited capacity at the venue so you'll need to buy a ticket here. Don't worry it's not expensive, we just need to cover the venue and a few craft materials!

Super+Super

What are we going to be doing? I hear you say...

Well at the moment we are looking at Skill Sharing. We have a few Brighton Etsy Shop Owners who are willing to show you a craft they know. We aren't quite sure about the format yet but we can promise party rings, cake and smiles all round!

Right then, enough of talking to myself, see you on the 20th June, (you can buy a ticket HERE)

ROAR!

Karli x

Plastic Fantastic - It Happened!

So I didn't blog on Monday, I don't know if you noticed or not, but yeah I'm here now instead. 

SO PLASTIC FANSTASTIC HAPPENED... and it was AWESOME!

The goodie bags!

If you don't know what plastic fantastic is then I blogged about it before - look it up (no seriously look it up lazy bones, I refuse to repeat myself)

So it started at 6pm, Jacques and I weren't completely ready and the first blogger came early! Ahhh! Then the rest of the bloggers arrived dead on 6pm so it was all rather overwhelming!

We had thought that most people would drift in and out, throughout the night so next time we will try and make it so there is more space and utilise the two floors rather than just the downstairs. It was pretty rammo for the first hour!

It all went past in a literal blur! We saw Toby and Kieran from INSIDE magazine and had a quick chat with them, HelloDODO turned up (because they are super nosy) and we waved across the room to them! Jane Postlethwaite who is an up and coming comedian supporting designosaur, was there picking out new pieces for her collection and we were able to smile and nod towards her. Along with a whole lot of other bloggers who I am unfortunately I am going to group together into the blogger category.This is because I did get lots of names and I did chat to lots of lovely people but I feel like you guys might be getting bored of my listing.

Toby and Kieran checking out their goodie bag!

Hello DODO - wanting to sneak a peak of designosaur's new collection!

A bit about the collections...

So Maggie Angus jewellery belongs to designer Anna Evan's (OMD her name isn't Maggie Angus that's crazy - no it's not guys, breathe)

I loved the giraffe bracelet from Anna's 'High Summer '13' range, so that's what I'll be getting when it's available. All of Anna's jewellery is bang on trend with monochrome and geek chic inspiration. 

Anna and her beau

The awesome amazing giraffe that I want!

Rosa is so annoying because she's buff, photogenic and her jewellery is awesome. I am very excited because we are doing a jewellery swap which means I get a ROSA PIETSCH! (and Rosa gets a designosaur obvs)

Carla of Sugar Jones and Rosa Pietsch of Katze Shop

Rosa's new collection, the gorgeous Light Bulb collar clips and the mega amazing lantern necklace!

So this just one of Sugar Jones' many beautiful designs, (see above for photo of her face). I love it! It's all bright and colourful and nostalgic and YEAH! I think spending the evening with these guys as well as the couple of hours previous to set up I realised that although they seem very composed, they are nearly as mental as me, they just do a better job of hiding it...

Super Cool!

and finally, our new stuff!

Jacques obviously isn't part of the new collection I just thought this photo of him was funny.

Just a few...

snapshots...

...because I will do a proper blogpost on the new collection soon!

The event overall was awesome. We loved seeing everybody's new collections which are now all on sale at Porta (yes already! QUICK! RUN!) 

So here are some wonderful more photographs by the amazing Bob Prosser (this entire blogpost's photos are the handy work of the wonderful Bob)

Jade who blogs for VICE and on her own blog http://berudy.blogspot.co.uk/. I totally love this photo because you can see SUGAR JONES on Jade's tablet.

My hands, I had beautiful green glitter nail varnish on that decided to flake off in huge chunks at around 5.55pm. My finger farm still rocks though.

Hooting Miss Owl lovely a bit of Sugar Jones

Sugar Jones, Hooting Miss Owl and themummydiary

If you were at the event then please #hashtag your designosaur photos with #designosaur and your event photos with #plasticfantasticporta. If you were there and you loved it, or loathed it, let us know! If you weren't there then keep your eyes open for more events coming soon!

ROAR!

Karli
designosaur

Plastic Fantastic!

Do you write a fashion/lifestyle blog or write for a magazine?

Well if you do then this event may interest you.

We are going to be part of PLASTIC FANTASTIC! at our Brighton stockist, Porta.

The event will showcase ourselves, Maggie Angus, Sugar Jones and Katze Shop by Rosa Pietsch.

Here is a selection of my favourite pieces by this wonderfully talented bunch, who all have different styles but using the same medium. 

Maggie Angus - Cloud Bracelet

Sugar Jones - Octopus Necklace

Katze Shop by Rosa Pietsch - Cat Necklace

Now, because I know that Hello DODO reads our blog, and Ali knows that I am anti-cats (bubye few readers that I have) I have to come clean about the cat necklace. I am not anti-cats, I am anti-cats on the internet/on accessories. I love my home* cat, Cooper, but he looks the same all the time, so I don't need to instagram him. HOWEVER, I know that everybody else loves cats on the internet and there aren't enough GOOD cat accessories so I thought I would feature this piece. Also whilst I am confessing things, I got a 'Rosa Pietsch' for Christmas. It is an incredibly aswesome art deco-esque triangular (hipster chic) shape with gold leaf and pink pigment in resin. IT IS INCREDIBLE, but it got bought for me, so there are no photos of it on the internet. I could take my own photo but it won't be shiny and glossy and white like the ones above, so you are just going to have to dream about it, or come to Porta to see it in real life. 

Well I feel better now, didn't want to be lying to you all.

Where was I?

Oh yeah...The event will be us designers showcasing our new collections and we will all be there so you can meet us and have a chat about our new designs (or old designs - I don't mind). There will also be GOODIE BAGS! YAY!

If you would like an invitation, please email portabrighton@hotmail.com and RSVP by the 14th February.

ROAR!

Karli 

*Home - a Home Cat is a cat that is my parents but also belongs to me by default. Another example of a Home item is Home House - the house where my parents live but I also visit and used to live in.