#PickMeUpLondon 2014

Did you catch it? Were you there at all? Did you go? #PickMeUpLondon and done and gone for another year. I had so much fun volunteering last year for it, that I knew I had to be there again this time around. Unfortunately, I couldn't help as often as I would have liked to, but it was still a grand time and I met some interesting and talented people.

Again this year, I got my craft on while stamping with @DCShoesUK,  listened to the same 7 songs with @Secret7s, got domestic with ironing and sewing vintage fabrics from @Heals_Furniture  with the help of @Carryabag, and listened to a great discussion on illustration and graphic design hosted by @CrowdTalks

this is not a sponsored post, I just really, really like the festival

SKATE at Somerset House

Back in 2004 I was finishing up my semester abroad in London and my parents had come to visit for December. I took them to all my local haunts and to the most amazing sights and buildings I had come across during my time there. Somerset House was one of these sights and as we looked around we saw the skating rink that had been set up. This amazing building had instantly become magical to me and I often thought back to that first time I saw people skating in the courtyard of Somerset House. 

This year I knew I'd actually be getting my butt out there and do some skating myself (eek! It's been years!). 

There are a handful of locations around London: 

Natural History Museum,

Eyeskate,

Hampton Court Palace,

Tower of London,

Broadgate Exchange Square,

Canary Wharf,

Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park.

I was tempted by them all, but for my first skate I had to go back to where the magic started at Somerset House. Generally, you should book your time in advance online so that you aren't disappointed, but we were going early enough in the day and on a weekday that we were able to join the very next session. Be warned though, the price increases as the day goes on.

I was slightly concerned that the hour long skate would be too long, but the time flew by and since I didn't fall on my ass, I had a great time.  Of course we finished our winter day with a festive Starbucks coffee where I inadvertently played the Starbucks game. 

{Deren out and about}

Fun travels!

#PickMeUpLondon2013

The last two weeks of April at Somerset House is set aside for the 4th annual Pick Me Up, a contemporary graphic art festival. 

My mother is a graphic artist so I've grown up surrounded by creative illustrations and graphic designs and have forever been jealous of their talent. This festival reminds me of that! So jealous, how crazy good these up and coming artists are at their craft. You should totally check it out. It's running now until April 28th (book your tickets by midnight the day before your visit and skip the queues)

I wish I had a lot of disposable income (even a little) to buy some of my favourite pieces from this event.

Malika Favre

Tom Edwards

Daniel Frost

Sarah Fanelli

I found out about this event when I contact Somerset House about volunteer opportunities, so I've been helping out with the various workshops and daily specials they have each day.

The nail bar

Our arts and crafts for the day

Show and Tell

Ukulele band

Kid's artwork with "The Onion's Great Escape" by Sarah Fanelli

Someone spilled coffee and then turned it into a doodle of Napoleon...as you do. Yay arts fests! 

Fun travels!

this is not a sponsored post, I just really, really like the festival and think you would too.