One of the reasons (among a list so long and frankly tedious, I won’t bore you with it (which is something coming from the woman who just a few days ago posted a long blog about putting up shelves)) I am so unbloggy and otherwise occupied is that I am preparing to exhibit at Liverpool Design Festival’s Eco Design Show. Anyone around that way who wants to get in free in exchange for helping me out should get in touch. I will be running a hands-on session making Suffolk Puffs and working on a giant one of these.

Please come and play!

I’ve been working like mad getting ready for this show, and also to preparing workshops for Craftspace which start tomorrow, and I’m delivering work to Chapel Gallery while I’m up in the North West. Plus keeping the day job ticking over and working on some exciting new things. Phew. I hope I’ll get some time to blog about the exhibitions I’ve seen and a few other bits and pieces while I’m away, wifi willing. If not, I apologise and I will be back as soon as I have something to say.

Here’s all the details about the whole Design Festival:

Liverpool Design Festival 30 October – 8 November

A celebration of design and fashion that confirms Liverpool as a hub of creative talent. There truly is something for everyone – come along and shop for a unique design gem, walk the Design Trail around the city, pimp your own clothes or bags with the help of top fashion professionals, learn how to make your own fashion business work or enter a schools competition to start your design career off on the right foot.

Eco Design Show
Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov – Crypt Hall at The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
In keeping with the City’s Year of the Environment the Eco Design Show will feature tables, chairs, ceramics, furniture, lighting, jewellery, bags and fashion accessories that prove there is no need to compromise beautiful and stylish design when recycling, reusing or reducing consumption of resources.

As Sarah Elderkin, Liverpool Design Festival director explained; “The Eco Design Show is all about showing off the best in high quality design to challenge the common misconceptions that exist about eco design. All our exhibitors have placed eco-design practices at the heart of their work and visitors to the show will be amazed to see what can be recycled and reused.

“The show also gives a unique shopping opportunity for everyone who loves to be fashionable by bringing together the work of over 30 British based designers in one place.”

Visitors to the show can also meet Liverpool designer Ilsa Parry winner of BBC2’s Design For Life. Ilsa was chosen by design guru Phillipe Starck to join his Paris team for 6 months. Come and find out what life as part of his ‘tribe’ was like and see some of Ilsa’s own designs like the Kaspa lamp that glows in the dark after the power has been switched off.

There will also be workshops at the show run by garment illustrator Emily Lansley and bag-makers to the stars Nook and Willow. Bring your old handbags, belts and clothes with you and leave with unique creations made by you!

1.Eco Design and Fashion Show
Opening Hours: (Fri 30 Oct 12-6pm Trade Only) Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov 10am to 6 pm
Tickets from £5 online contact http://www.liverpooldesignfestival.com £7 on the door, under 16’s free with adults
Venue – The Crypt is the only fully realised section of the original Sir Edward Lutyens design for the Catholic Cathedral. The entrance to the crypt is on Brownlow Hill.

Finishing School
Monday 2 – Friday 6 November

A comprehensive programme of fashion masterclasses designed for recent graduates and more experienced professionals alike. Your opportunity to get advice from successful professionals such as Joanne Watkinson from MyWardrobe.com and Justine Mills from Liverpool’s very own fashion store, Cricket. If you want to work in the world of fashion these are for you with topics including; Presentation to Buyers, Intellectual Property, Styling, Pricing, Fashion Marketing and Brand Image.

Design Stars – launching at the Eco Design and Fashion Show

To encourage the next generation of designers this competition will get 11 to 16 year olds competing to win either a graphic design, fashion or video games brief. There are workshops available from professional designers for the first schools to sign up and the winners get a masterclass from designers in the field they chose from locally based nonconform, Nook and Willow or Sony. Supported by Echo in the Community and in association with the Bluecoat’s Shine project.

Liverpool Design Symposium
Wednesday 4th November 10am-9pm

Following last year’s inaugural success the Symposium will once again present an insightful and inspirational programme based on the theme of ‘Branding the City’. With speeches, presentations, workshops and exhibition all at JMU’s new Art and Design academy.

Design Trail – throughout the festival

The whole city’s gone design crazy! Follow the map or go on the website and visit any or all of the 12 venues across Liverpool city centre that are celebrating design, from HOST on Hope Street to Coffee Union on Bold Street, from the Met Quarter to the Empire.

Liverpool Design Festival is run by industry support body Design Initiative with the support of the City of Liverpool and the National Lottery through Arts Council England.