Last weeks local, DIY and Arty Adventures!

Last week was an action packed week - we explored some local haunts, had a day trip to the mighty Jack Chams DIY Art fair, caught up with some new independent businesses, sipped some amazing coffee, and shook out the midweek blues in a very dark room followed by a veritable fruit cocktail of a show at The Revelry!

If you've been nosing around Fore Street recently you may notice that the local businesses have been getting very creative with their window displays - heres a little gem from the window of lovely lady Lorna who runs the milkshake heaven that is Shaker Maker! Where you can get all warm and cosy with a hot chocolate made from a chocolate bar of your choice! Perfect for this autumn spell!

New speciality coffee house Devon Coffee has recently opened on Queen Street - it features the most beautiful original wall that they found whilst refurbishing! as well as Exeter's only Brew Bar - We popped in for a coffee and a chat and are glad to have found a new regular independent hang out! These chaps serve Origin Coffee and their fresh homemade sandwiches and cakes look incredible! See you soon guys..

  

On Thursday we were part of the awesome Give Up Your Day Job at the mighty Jack Chams in Plymouth - where we enjoyed catching up with friends old and new, a fantastic Vegan BBQ as well as a great selection of local independent arts and DIY crafts! Thanks guys - can't wait for the next one :)

Saturday night was spent in our local spot the marvelous Fat Pig! We popped over to see Nancy and the crew and check out Philip Harris' initial design for their awesome staff tees! Rumor has it they will be available for lucky members of the public too! We think it's looking great so far :)  As always, enjoyed a pint of the famous Rusty Cocktail - half a pint of their bar's very own cider mixed with half a pint of Thatchers - Amazing!

Also this week I once again took to the darkness for a brilliant hour of dancing                                                         at the brilliant No Lights No Lycra! After which we headed to The Revelry for more highly spirited music from Sunday Skyclub and the colourful Casitas EP launch! feauturing McCoys favourite Barista Barney!

We also popped into new homeware and good stuff store Zoo and had a very enjoyable gander at the arts and colorful things for sale! Great to see a shop like this pop up! If you haven't had a chance to drop in and say hi - Zoo is situated on Gandy Street and hosts a marvelous supply of all nifty and unusual arty things for your home! Yay!

See you on the 6th October for the next Handmade Arcade! For music,vegan baking, and a host of wondrous handmade things!

Hayles and Nath x

HANDMADE ARCADE 7!

Another month, another Handmade Arcade!

On Saturday 6^th October (write it down!) join us for the seventh Handmade Arcade - the best D.I.Y Art Fair in town!  It feels great to be this far down the line – the fair feels more like home each month as familiar faces return to peruse the local creations on offer and to sell their wares once again. 

We’ve built quite a family of Handmade Arcaders and for us it’s all about that sense of community, and the buzzy and friendly atmosphere of the day; throughout which local musicians fill the Arcade with their acoustic sounds in return for Hayley’s scrummy Vegan Cupcakes and coffee, while traders swap tips, cook up new projects and mingle with the browsing crowd.  If you haven’t visited McCoys Arcade since our last event, then this will be the perfect opportunity to sample the delicious Gourmet Burgers now available from McCoys Café – all made from locally sourced ingredients!

So, as always, Octobers Handmade Arcade will be filled with a very welcome mix of faces both new and familiar.  Here’s little of what you can expect…

New:

Maddy Petchick makes awesome, cut ‘n’ paste D.I.Y notebooks, journals and concertina zines! She’s making her way to Handmade Arcade from Plymouth for what will be her very first stall at an art fair.

Ella Howard and Matt Henley will be sharing a stall for the day! Expect to find a selection of Ella’s handmade greetings cards and bunting, alongside Matt’s photographic Zines!

Adrian Stone is a talented local illustrator and designer.  He's been working in a great collection of mundane movie posters - his own take on artwork for movies we've already seen.  Adrian will be bringing a selection of prints to Handmade Arcade :) 

Katie Banwell from Nightstop Devon will be having a stall to raise awareness of The Devon 7 Appeal – an appeal that works with local businesses, schools, community groups and churches to raise money and awareness for a very vulnerable group of young people.   Nightstop’s accommodation is provided in the homes of volunteer hosts, members of the public, who are happy to take in a homeless youngster for a night at a time. The team work to find longer-term accommodation for vulnerable individuals.

Tom Matthews has recently started a distro filled with CD’s, Vinyl and merch from a whole load of local musicians! Exeter Local Records will be a welcomed addition to the Handmade Arcade family – if you would like Tom to display your sounds, give him an email: localrecords@hotmail.co.uk

Familiar:

We’re rather pleased to say that Frances Matteson and Patrick Cullum will be joining us once again! These guys both work at Exeter Phoenix and make lovely illustrated prints and cards!

Autumn Jitters, The Spirit Forge, Madeline Bunyan, Little Owl Crafts, Barry John and Suzannah Moss will also be joining us once again, bringing along with them a rather eclectic selection of beautiful illustrated greetings cards, prints, wiccan inspired jewellery, sculpture, handmade glass beads and hand spun yarns made from Dartmoor sheep wool!

Music:

Music this month will be brought to you by Stangleberry, Johnny Found a Raygun and Emily Johnstone, who will also be displaying some of her wonderful head dresses on the day. More music TBC, keep checking back for updates.

Another reason that I’m particularly excited about Handmade Arcade at the moment is for all of the amazing things we have coming up; November 3rd’s  Event will also mark No Guts No Glory’s THIRD BIRTHDAY! Crazy huh! We’ll be sure to have a big ol’ celebration!

December will see Handmade Arcade take place EVERY SATURDAY, with fairs on the 1^st, 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd.  No excuse to go Christmas shopping in the new John Lewis, come and check out the 60+ Independent Shops here in the West Quarter and see what Handmade Arcade has to offer!

Can’t believe I’m mentioning Christmas already! Anyhow, if you’d like to get involved in any of these events – please get in touch! The email address is handmadearcade@hotmail.co.uk.  You’ll need to let us know what date(s) you’re interested in and send us a few images of your creations for consideration.

Have a lovely week,

Nath

P.S - Please spread the word  – the fair is what you make it!

Glory Days! Velo Vintage, No Lights No Lycra and the Next Handmade Arcade!

VELO-VINTAGE!

If you read my rather excitable previous post you should be well aware that Velo Vintage - the first Vintage Bike ride to take place in the South West happened just this past Sunday, A fine and splendid affair which attracted people from way across the country to join in a celebration of all things vintage with, of course, an emphasis on the magic and grace of bicycles from times gone past, their slim and beautiful frames could be seen and indeed heard as gears clicked and brakes squeaked along the Exe Estuary bike route from Exmouth to Topsham!

The lovely Ella Howard, who won best dressed female - even though she left her rollers in! Scrumptious...

Photograph by Matt Wilson 

Only the modern cameras and Iphones gave the game away!

The day was organised by lovely gents Alistair and Sebastian Cope who did a fine job of creating the perfect event! The sun shone (not sure how they managed to wangle that one) and the day was adorned with a wonderful trip to the most delightful of pubs - The Bridge Inn in Topsham - where pie and cheese awaited to replenish and real ale and cider was enjoyed by the banks of the River, before we hopped back on our trusty cycles and pedaled our way past crowds of rather bemused onlookers and fellow modern cyclists across the coastline with views of the sweeping Devon Countryside beyond..

Photograph by Hanson Leatherby

 Warm and cosy living room style fit for the queen herself at The Bridge Inn..

We also had the opportunity to pop into Bikelands - the most fabulous of bike shops whose shelves and walls are not only graced by a variety of beautiful bikes but also bicycle themed illustrated and graphic prints, cards and magazines, the most brilliant accessory's to personalise your fine steed with bells, stickers and fantastic books documenting some of the most amazing and drool worthy bicycles ever made! I picked up some fun colourful spoke beads and a pack of gorgeous bike shaped wire bookmarks... I will return for a ladybird shaped bell and to let my eyes take in the splendor of their fine collection of Velo's as soon as possible!

 The Ban Bicycle protest outside Bikelands..

Ooooooooh the treasures! A beautiful Guvnor Bicycle! - The Guvnor's Assembly joined us for the ride!

West Quarter Vintage Shops The Real McCoy, Hangar 124 and Relevant by Lady Lace proved invaluable in the search for our rather dapper outfits! 

 Nathan looking dapper! Photography by me.

Photograph by James Millar

We headed back to Exmouth Strand where after a few laps around the square we settled down for a traditional Devon Cream tea and listened to some good old fashioned vinyl! Perfect!

Here's a few snaps of a very jolly No Guts No Glory day out.. thanks to the photographers for capturing some lovely images and to everyone for turning up - donning their finest attire and getting involved in what will surely become a fantastic and welcome regular event!

Team No Guts No Glory!

Leisurely ride?! Pah! It was a race in my mind....

Got to love the dashing Polka dot and Brogue Combination!

Keep an eye on Velo Vintage for more details - perhaps even give them a "like" to stay up to date with future happenings!

Last week I also ventured to a little black box in the phoenix to participate in the highly enjoyable "No Lights No Lycra" a full hour of dancing in the dark for just £2! So much fun - I did at first think that there were people all around me - but as soon as I remembered that people are generally soft and not at all spiky I had a truly wonderful time! The next event can be found via their facebook page! 

Handmade Arcade organisation for 6th October is now in full swing - we've had heaps of applicants and would love some more! Already very excited about this month's affair! More to be announced soon!

Thanks for reading!

Hayley xxx

Photograph by Matt Wilson 

NGNG Handmade Arcade PLUS a host of Local Goodness!

 Wow what an incredible amount of things I have to share...

First off..

Thanks to all people who came down last weekend for the awesomeness that is the No Guts No Glory Handmade Arcade! Twas mighty jolly to see you all!

We were joined by friends old and new for a wonderful day of making doing and indeed seeing. Accompanied by gorgeous music by the likes of the wonderful Simon and Rhys who dazzled us with their wonderful locks whilst taking the roof off with their very mighty vocal chords!

I've been massively excited the past few days - too excited to sleep even - I've had to tire myself out by jogging marathons and reading super long and sleep inducing books (mainly Wilbur Smith ones that Nath lends me) This hasn't exactly worked as it would appear I'm a major mosquito magnet especially as the time I usually run is their most active time of day - and suffering from the swollen joys of "Skeeter Syndrome" - A groovy name with shocking realities, I currently have grown an extra calf muscle onto the one which I already own... shame I'm not competing for the strongest woman this year - I think I'd scare away my competitors with my swollen fake muscle abnormalities.. Apple Cider Vinegar is my top tip for al you Skeeter sufferers (this stuff actually helps in pretty much all situations even helps remove paint from clothing!)

My excitement stems from a few places, I mainly credit the sunshine - this holy catalyst that gets everything growing, but also the wealth of AMAZING and wonderful things that happen in this street and in this town - there are new places to go and shake your self like a crested grebe (look it up it's incredible) and if you don't feel like you want to be seen strutting your plumage you can even go Dancing In The Dark! Yes thats right people - a place you can be free and dance like nobody's watching - cos they can't - it's Dark! Ha! This could indeed be the perfect therapy - and if you wanna be seen - you can wear lights! - if you're game then come join at the Phoenix this eve from 7pm - 8pm! For the No Lights No Lycra spectacular! The perfect antidote to those stand still dancing blues.

We've also been super productive in the No Guts No Glory shop! There's loads of new and awesome books from Microcosm Publishing, Blank Slate and possibly the best ever NGNG Collaboration by the legendry hand of Dan Bowden! Such a beautiful design - "To the waves" will be available in the NGNG shop and online soon it's currently being printed onto super soft organic tees and jumpers by our favourite screen printers at the Get-A-Grip Studio! PRE-ORDER HERE

There's a host of awesome exhibitions in the area The Young Artists Club have a great exhibition of photography, illustration and paintings at the Grapevine in Exmouth - if you are lucky enough to be by the seaside in this weather then pop in to this little pub for a gander !

The Spacex Galllery our neighbors in the lovely and creative West Quarter have a brilliant exhibition from Michael Samuels, This Was Tomorrow is well worth a peek at and it's also en route to another NEW VENUE to hit the Exeter scene... over the road and down the cobbled hill that leads to the quay you will find The Revelry ... which I had only but taken the time to peek in the door until one sunny eve last week .
Sunning ourselves in the blissfull sun down by the quayside enjoying a lovely glass of wine until the warmth of the sun had all but gone! On our route homewards we were enticed by sounds of music creeping over the cobbles and wandered in to have a good old boogie to a live band who thankfully appreciated our exaggerated dancing efforts! We then headed to the reliably great Bike Shed Theatre for the end of the Rockabilly night! Hooray for good things to do in town! :)

I'm also getting quite happy (massively excited) about this coming Sunday! When No Guts No Glory and friends will be participating in the brilliant Velo Vintage! A bicycle ride along the Exe Estuary, A chance to cycle, converse and dress with style! Rumor has it No Guts No Glory's very own Nathan Blaker will be donning a tweed suit - we shall see! Come on down and bear witness to a truly splendid affair!

Below are some snaps of the scrummy things that adorned McCoys Arcade at the last Handmade Arcade! If you like anything you see and want to snap it up yourself just email and I can pop you in touch directly with the person who crafted it!

The next Handmade Arcade is on October 6th... it's already looking pretty busy! Give me an email and send some pictures of your handmade arts if you would like to be considered for a stall - Handmade Arcade is an Independent Art Fair and we are constantly seeking illustrators and makers of unusual or up-cycled crafts as well as jolly musicians and good time people to come down and show support! Don't be afraid to get in touch ... it's the mossy's that bite, not me...

Thanks for reading... I'm off to fashion a catapult for the pesky fat mossy thats creeping around the No Guts No Glory shop ceiling! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzippppp!

Our Beautiful Banner!

Nic from The Computers makes these ace purses by re-cycling juice cartons - we (try to) always have them in the No Guts No Glory shop! They go pretty quick if you'd like one send us an email or pop in!

The wonderful Heather Sturdy-Sherwood from Little Owl Crafts makes some pretty swell organic colourful yarn - self-dyed and spun by Heather herself!

Autumn Jitters awesome badges! Also available in the NGNG shop are Gemma's beautiful selection of prints and cards!

Barry John's awesome sculptures!

Photography by the great Simon Hodgkiss!

Madeline Bunyan's beaded beaut's!

Thank you Suzannah Moss for bringing your cards and crazy little dinosaur backpacks! 

Twas great to see the lovely smiling faces of Abi and Leon from The Spirit Forge

The work of Kat Jenkins! who works with pottery to create beautiful sculptures and jewells..

Not Pants - This is the work of Ella Howard! She takes commisions and can write anything on bunting in any colour! Email for more details!

Barry John enjoying a relaxing read - his book looked pretty amazing..

The wonderful work of Benjamin Smith - His cards have found their way into our little shop too!

See you on the street!

Until the next time,

Hayley

No Guts No Glory