Greatest Dancer

Every time I turn the television on I keep seeing Earth Song and not enough good, dance-around-my-living-room MJ! And although Thriller is ace, I think it's a bit overrated. If you've got a spare ten minutes then watch Smooth Criminal all the way through. Best song, best video and definitely the best choreography!

Obey the mug

My new favourite mug. It can fit a good 2/3 of a pint of tea in it! I like the sentiment too. Buy it here, share the love.

Yarnbombing!

The best way to describe yarnbombing is probably 'knitted graffiti'. It can be anarchic, witty, expressive and fun, but not the least bit as disruptive or antisocial as its older, more notorious relation. If nothing else, it brings a little bit of comfort to a world that is generally, well, not that comfortable right now!

The practice began in Texas, but has rapidly spread across the globe covering buses, trees and lamposts (among other everyday objects) in wool. Now it has come to Manchester's Craft & Design Centre, where Salford-based Art Yarn have established a growing installation (or 'yarnbomb') called Yarn Forward.

Strip by strip they are covering the upstairs handrail with unique, brightly coloured and often fantastical crocheted and knitted designs. But it doesn't stop there. Where ever you look - from banisters to bike racks - there is some little bit of wool keeping it cosy.

You can post your entries in, so you don't even have to be in Manchester, the UK, or go to the Centre to take part (though I would highly recommend it, they have very scrummy cake!)

Here's how to take part:

• Knit or crochet a strip to measure 7cm wide x 40 cm long. Any colour, yarn and technique is accepted, the brighter and wackier, the better.



• Write a small note stating your name and location. This then gets put on a little label and is attached to your work so everyone knows who made it.



• Send it to the following address:
  
  FAO Kelda Savage
  Manchester Craft & Design Centre
  17 Oak Street
  Northern Quarter
  Manchester
  M4 5JD
  
  Or drop them off in person to the office on the 1st floor.

A sneak peak of my first contribution:

Please excuse the freestyle over-stitching. Apparently they look like 'computer hearts', but I think that might just be a diplomatic way of saying 'rubbish'. Either way, I kind of like them.

Happy stitching!

Rain, Rain Go Away

I didn't even have to get out of bed this morning to know that more jolly romps in the countryside were a big no-no. Instead, I went exploring Manchester, rediscovering my favourite places and things, like the echoey Central Library, side streets off Oxford Road and sitting with Alan Turing (well, his statue) in Sackville Gardens.

Memorial to Alan Mathison Turing, 'Founder of Computer Science'. Sackville Gardens, corner of Sackville/Whitworth Street

Lone Space Invader, behind the Palace Theatre, Whitworth Street

I also did a spot of shopping, but unfortunately my eco-friendly paper carrier bags disinegrated in the onpour and I had to stuff a pile of clothes into my bag, which made me look rather like a filthy shoplifter.

There were a lot of people wearing wellies who, I can only assume, were on there way (via several pubs) to Heaton Park for the Oasis gig. Many of them appeared to be drawing phalluses on each others' shoes. It was all rather odd, but each to their own I guess.

I also spotted a lot of these: