It’s January again, which, for Nottingham, means one thing – New Adventures in Web Design.

NAIWD (as I like to call it) is a two day conference starting tomorrow, Wednesday 18th Jan, focused on the art of web design. It’s a big deal – developers and designers will be descending on Nottingham from all over the UK and beyond, full of ideas to discuss and explore. Who knows, we may even see the Next Big Thing™ from conversations started here.

Unfortunately, the conference itself has long since sold out, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get involved with the programme. If you have a spare £150 in your pocket, you can get down to one of the workshops – where you can learn from luminaries who have created sites such as these. Alternatively, enjoy the ‘after hours’ entertainment – bowling, football, real ale (mmm) and a big ol’ party at Escucha.

So if you do get involved, let us know what’s going down, and see if you can spot Creative Nottingham’s resident beard, John-with-Beard, who will be getting stuck in…

Why not make a few creative resolutions you can easily keep? Here’s a links line up to get you creatively connected in 2012.

Firstly make sure you’re signed up to get info from us  http://www.creativenottingham.com/contact-us/ and let us know what you’re up to so we can tell the world!

Then take your pick from my quick list below and get subscribing! Or better still add some that you know in the comments and let’s build a bigger better list together!

Arts Council England’s Arts News/Arts Jobs http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/ does what it says on the tin!

Need  resources, offers and events for an enterprise you run or want to set up? http://www.startupbritain.org/

Running a creative business in Notts? Join The Creative Greenhouse Network  http://www.creativegreenhouse.org.uk/

You’ve heard of Antenna by now? If you aren’t a member make sure to join up in 2012 for access to great events plus fab food and drinks  http://www.antenna.uk.com

Designer? You need to know what the designer forum are up to http://www.emtex.org.uk

Designer/Maker? http://www.designfactory.org.uk/

Sign up to professional network linkedin http://www.linkedin.com there’s loads of groups and discussions going on from Open Studios to Business Barometers … or start your own

If you are running a creative business join

Canning Circus Christmas Tree image credit Steve Decipher-Shot- follow the star to Primary?

More crafty gifts available from Molly Queen’s markets in the run up to Christmas.  Starting this Saturday 17 December the host venue is the aptly named Good Elf on Market Square.   http://mollyqueencollective.blogspot.com/

EMVAN East Midlands Visual Arts Network http://www.emvan.net/ celebrates Christmas with host Bruce Asbestos On Wednesday 14 December, 6.00-8.00pm At new artists space PRIMARY http://www.weareprimary.org/

Got 2 minutes? Take a look at Sarah Dale’s festive guide to keeping your spirits up on her blog post http://www.creatingfocus.org/?p=1146

Who are you?

Kate Ferrucci, owner and creative director of Quarto Design, based in Beeston, Notts. I’m originally from the USA. Prior to living in Nottingham, I worked as a designer for a communications agency in Rome and at an Italian publishing house. I’m owner and creative director of Quarto Design, and design a wide variety of publications and printed literature for organisations and businesses around the world.

What brought you to Nottingham?

I’m originally from the States, lived in Italy for three years, and came to Nottingham two years ago with my partner who works at the University of Nottingham.

What keeps you in Nottingham?

Nottingham is relatively small but there is always something interesting going on. There is definitely a sense of community among creatives, which is nice to see and promotes collaboration. The city’s small scale makes it feels comfortable and it’s more vibrant than many other and even larger cities in the UK. Its central location makes it a perfect base from which to explore the rest of the country, and it’s nice to have a few international airports in close proximity.

What makes you different to other creative people in Nottingham?

My background is in graphic design, with a specialism in book and publication design. I enjoy working on a project from beginning to end – from conceptualisation, to design and layout, to fine tuning every serif and kern. Being a small business, it’s possible and necessary to see each job through from beginning to end, and it’s fulfilling to do so.

Every year, Quarto organises and designs a large-scale fundraising project. The projects are unique and are to benefit a different charity each year. This year’s project is called “Thinking of Homeland Japan” and benefits the Japanese Red Cross.

In late March 2011, I was scheduled to go to Japan on holiday just a few days after the tragic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster struck Japan. The scale of the destruction is still unfathomable. A friend and I decided to organise an international art collaboration and invited twenty Japanese artists who live outside of Japan to participate, each of whom created an original work of art. All twenty artworks were reproduced as a set in a limited edition with the assistance of generous sponsors Antalis McNaughton and Apex Digital Graphics, and each set comes with an elegant wood frame designed by Quarto: http://thinkingofhomeland.wordpress.com/the-prints/.

Quarto is also is in the process of launching a new publication called Handwork that features people in the local community who work with their hands. It’s based on oral history interviews – talking with people about what they do and what led them to pursue their particular trade or line of work. The first issue will be published in early 2012.

As part of my other business, People to People Press, I’ve published two artists’ books, each letterpress-printed and hand-bound in a limited edition of fifty copies, based on oral history interviews with people who work with their hands (musicians and limestone quarry and mill workers), and am currently working on a third.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

In five years time, I’d like my business to be stronger and to be working with clients whose work is primarily focused on aspects of social and environmental responsibility, while still pursing pro bono work for good causes.

What do you wish you had more time for?

More collaborations with other creatives, both locally and internationally.

What keeps you awake at night?

Not very much.

What do you think is Nottingham’s best kept secret?

I love the Alley Café, which a good friend recently introduced me to and I’ve gone back to many times since. It’s an oasis in the middle of Nottingham and the food is amazing. The many alleyways and twitchells in Nottingham are full of hidden surprises like this!

Antenna is a thriving creative hub that I found out about this year and also where I’ve met many other like-minded creatives doing interesting things. I’m looking forward to being an active part of Antenna’s community in the new year.

What would you like to see more of in Nottingham?

Less bars and more cultural venues. It would be wonderful if there were a working museum or other place in the city centre where information about and machinery utilised in industries that played (and, in some cases, that continue to play) an important role in Nottingham’s rich heritage could be displayed such as lace-making, framework knitting and bicycle manufacturing, to name just a few.

The Lace Centre, once located in the 15^th-century Severns Building across from Nottingham Castle, closed in 2009 – shortly before I arrived, and the Industrial Museum at Wollaton Hall always seems to be closed. A centrally-located venue where information about this and other industries is made available would certainly be of interest to residents and visitors alike (as well as a place to buy locally-made lace and other products, beyond the few products on offer at the Nottingham Visitors Centre) and would draw more tourists to the city. A showing of Jeanie Finlay’s excellent documentary on Cluny Lace at Nottingham Contemporary several months ago and discussion afterwards noted the need for apprentices to keep the industry going locally and to pass knowledge on from one generation to the next. The lack of interest by young people may be a result of not knowing about the industry.

GH Hurt & Son is just down the road from where I live and I popped in during a recent Heritage Open Day a few months ago. The family-owned business established in 1912 produces gorgeous hand-finished scarves and shawls. Their hand frames are still in use and a demonstration by a young skilled worker revealed the great dexterity required to operate this complex machine, developed through an apprenticeship. The attendance at the event was high, with a queue virtually out the door, so there is certainly interest in knowing more about this and other local industries that are now on the fringe.

What Big thing are you currently working on?

Thinking of Homeland Japan, which you can read more about at: www.thinkingofhomeland.wordpress.com/about/. It makes a beautiful and unique Christmas present! And most importantly, all profits go the Japanese Red Cross.

Also, a journal for a UN agency based in Rome.

You can find out more about Kate and Quarto Design at:

Website: www.quartodesign.com

Facebook: Quarto Design www.facebook/quartodesign

Twitter: quarto_design

and about Thinking of Homeland Japan at:

Website: www.thinkingofhomeland.wordpress.com

Facebook: Thinking of Homeland Japan www.facebook/thinkingofhomeland

Less than a decade ago digital fabrication was an impossible dream for the hobbyist. Only large companies, Universities and government research agencies had access to tools that could interpret information from a data file and make that into a real touchable thing. Digital fabrication is likely to be as empowering to user as desktop publishing was in the 1990’s, desktop fabrication is set to revolutionise the way we think about what a computer can be used for.

All over the world places like the Nottingham Hackspace are starting to provide anyone who wants it, access to these sorts of tools.

Tony Shannon works on the Hackspace CNC Machine

Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Mill
If you can draw a graphical file on an ordinary desktop computer, the CNC machine and it’s software can interpret that file in the physical word, using a router or drill bit to create cuts and pockets on metal and wood. Shapes and holes are made in the material by very precisely controlling the position of the router head and the position of the workpiece in three dimensions, X, Y and Z or left to right, forward and back up and down. By controlling the Z access very thick materials can be cut layer by layer.

In early 2011 the Nottingham Hackspace invested in a project to develop a small CNC machine. A fabrication tool that was cheap and could be easily built by an a maker in their shed. My DIY CNC started shipping their home invented and developed CNC machines in August 2011. The small machine is available at the Nottingham Hackspace along with 2 much larger milling machine capable of cutting tougher and larger workpieces.

Laser Engraver/Cutter

By positioning mirrors and lenses you can direct the beam of a powerful laser. By mounting those lenses on a similar mechanism to the CNC machine you can control where that beam of laser goes very precisely. A laser beam from a 40w laser is capable of vaporising plywood up to 6mm thick. As the laser can move very quickly and precisely and because the strength and speed can be controlled, very intricate designs can be cut in paper, card, felt and leather not to mention plywood, MDF and acrylic. We’ve even used the laser at Nottingham Hackspace to cut rice-paper for decorating a cake!

the Nottingham Hackspace Laser cuts 3mm ply

My favorite project on the laser cutter has been the creation of a tactile braille birthday card for the wife of one of the Hackers. The laser can make deep letter shapes and braille, Rocio, who is blind, will be able to feel the shapes in the plywood making it a perfect personal gift. The design was by Hackspace member Martin Raynesford

3D Printer

Perhaps the most futuristic and unimaginable new fabricating machine is the 3D printer. It works by using software to slice up a 3D graphic. To make that it then heats ABS plastic, squirting it out and building the object layer by layer.

Matt Lloyds’ RepRap Mendle is the unofficial 3D printer of the Nottingham Hackspace. Most of the parts of this home built machine were printed on another RepRap machine or printed as replacements on this same machine. When you start to talk about a machine that can replicate itself you can see a whole load of geeks go weak at the knee and get misty eyed at the prospect. The Nottingham Hackspace is in the process of printing parts for a new 3D printer called a RepRap Prusa named for it’s inventor.

RepRap 3D Printer makes Barcamp Nottingham Logos out of ABS plastic

These tools are very empowering and easy to use. With practice and a little software knowledge the ability to prototype almost anything is with in grasp of almost any boffin. Sites like THINGYVERSE.COM are a superb resource for the sharing of open source fabrication projects. Hackers love to share their intellectual property and let their designs have a life beyond that of their makers imagining.

It’s an exciting time. I can only imagine the tools that will be available in the next decade. Perhaps Star Trek like replicators are not so far in the distant future!

(1) Atoms are the new bits by Chris Anderson
Wired Magazine UK March 2010

The author (2nd from left at back) with Tim Hunkin (3rd from right) and members of Nottingham Hackspace at Tim Hunkin's workshop Suffolk October 2011

Having heroes is healthy, heroes are to be emulated and not passively adored. We should choose to live our lives as we imagine our heroes would. I want to tell you a little about three heroes who have been a great inspiration to me in the last few years and I hope they will inspire you too.

Adam Savage

Savage is best known as the co-host of Discoveries “Mythbusters” to which since 2003 he has brought a humour and vigour making it a highly entertaining show. For those who might dismiss the show as being a whoopy, dumbed down explosion-fest, I’d ask you to consider the techniques, thought, maths, rigour and time that goes into the builds for small scale testing. A particularly memorable maker moment for me is the episode called “Lead Balloon” which as you might image involves a balloon made out of lead.

Mythbusters is filmed at M5 Industries in San Francisco, California. M5, the workshop of co-host and special effects artist Jamie Hyneman, is a workshop kitted out with almost everything you could need to build almost anything at all and it’s not a great leap of the imagination to see that the Nottingham Hackspace has the same aspirations and asthetic.

Adam’s work on the show is well documented. His skills as a professional (and hobbyist) prop maker, sculptor and artist are not so well known. From the age of 15 he has spent many hours trying to recreate Deckard’s blaster the gun prop from the film “Blade Runner”. Which he documented in great detail on “The Replica Props Forum”. He built a full scale model of R2D2 as well as sculpting a replica of “The Maltese Falcon” which formed the basis of his excellent talk on obsession that can be seen on Fora.tv. Adam makes the very valid point that making something isn’t really about finishing it, it’s about the act of making it.

Adam has written for Make Magazine on several occasions and has recently started to perform stand-up as well as fronting a stage show with Wil Wheaton (yes from Star Trek) called w00tstock. I have heard that Adam intends to do more public speaking and teaching, specifically sculpture at a local college in California. He would of course always be welcome to speak at Hackspace.

Limor Fried

MIT graduate and New Yorker Fried is an engineer and business women who should be emulated. Self styled as Lady Ada after the first programmer Lady Ada Lovelace, Limor runs a successful web based educational electronics company from a low rent office in an empty block in New York’s financial district (they were going cheap after the credit crunch).

Fried’s company Ada Fruit Industries sells their kits online (http://www.adafruit.com/) but also shares all the information you’d need to copy and make that kit for yourself. Just like Open-Source Software, Ada Fruit are pioneering Open Source Hardware. By sharing her electronics work on a Creative Commons Licence she no longer cares that her work might be ripped off by a corporate giants. This strategy has benefited Ada Fruit Industries who provide an excellent service. Limor was named “Most Influential Woman in Technology” this year as well as being featured on the cover of Wired Magazine in the USA

Tim Hunkin

You have probably seen some of Tim Hunkin’s work, his career has been prolific and has included architectural sized bonfires, a variety of mechanical clocks including the water clock on the Holland & Barrett shop in Covent Garden, mechanical collecting boxes, interactive museum exhibits and cartoons (until 1987 he drew “The Rudiments of Wisdom” in The Observer.) He’s responsible for the flying pigs and sheep used by Pink Flloyd on tour, which was parodied in The Simpsons as well as for his arcade machines at Southwold pier in Suffolk.

We’ve been lucky to host a talk by Tim at the Nottingham Hackspace in August 2011. Tim spoke enthusiastically and animatedly about the “Under the Pier Show” a rather Pythonesk collection of arcade machines and simulators Tim has adapted in cunning and amusing ways. Hackers were lucky enough to be included on a trip there run by “Engagement Party” a Nottingham based artist’s group I would encourage anyone to visit the pier it’s well worth the journey and Southwold is a lovely town (with a brewery tour too!)

Tim’s approach to making is very pragmatic, when discussing welding I said I’d not tried it yet, as I’d not been trained, Tim laughed “it’s like a glue gun for metal”. On a trip to his workshop he simply handed me a plasma cutter nozzle (a high voltage metal cutting tool) and encouraged me to get on with it, no health and safety briefing or risk assessment needed!

I think in common with all prolific and successful makers, Tim isn’t afraid of failure. After-all if you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t making anything. He has a wicked sense of humour and I think he finds messing things up a great joke. In his workshop there were about 8 small angle grinders, when asked why he had so many he explained “you can’t have to many, they are so useful to cut apart messed up welding!” He also has a great optimism in reflection of the great projects he has worked on, even when eventual and inevitably they fold and reach their end.

Hunkin is best known for his television work from the late 80s “The Secret Life of Machines” which you are encouraged to download or watch on You Tube. The secret life is the best primer I know into learning how to understanding the way things work short of taking them apart yourself (do that too!).

Who are you?
I have a full time day job that I love, I work to help protect our environment, though I prefer to say “I’m saving the planet!” At the Hackspace I’m a member like everyone else though I’ve been voted in as a trustee. It’s great that we can all help each other create such an inspirational workspace!
Nottingham Hackspace is the largest UK Maker or Hackerspace. A Hackerspace is a workshop filled with the tools and infrastructure needed to be able to make or build pretty much anything you can imagine. We have 70 members who share their knowledge and experience or just enjoy hanging out or making things. Anyone can become a member and you can work on your own or collaborate with others on a larger project.

What brought you to Nottingham?
I was born in Grantham and later lived in Lincoln. After University I worked in Lincoln for a very large and well know electricals company in a warehouse checking computer parts for faults. In 2000 they put me through the CompTIA A+ certification and I passed it. I asked them for a pay rise pointing out that colleagues at the Nottingham call centre with A+ were on a higher grade. They told me I’d better go to Nottingham if I wanted that rise. So I did and 10 years later I’m still here.

What keeps you in Nottingham?
It’s big enough a city to have a buzz, it’s own culture and that cosmopolitan feel without being so big you get lost in it and don’t know anyone. The city can still surprise me after 10 years here. It really is a very beautiful place… besides didn’tyou know it has the UK’s largest Hackerspace?

What makes you different to other creative people in Nottingham?
I think we aren’t that different to some of the shared spaces in Nottingham though I think we have a different background. The Nottingham Hackspace is about infrastructure rather than projects. I have no idea about funding nor the will or time to look into it. The Nottingham Hackspace is entirely run on the membership payments, meaning every member has bought into the space, there are no handouts or subsidies, and because people “pay-what-they-like” they have to think about what to pay and know they can afford it.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In five years time we’ll have a bigger Hackerspace with a very wide range of tools and equipment. In five years the space will include experimental kitchens, a
laboratory for biohacking and chemistry as well as a loading bay and garage area where you’ll be able to build your open source car. Young Hackspace (a
proposed program for younsters) will already have been a success bring in a new  generation of enthusiastic young hackers to take the space into it’s next 5 to 50
years.

What do you wish you had more time for?
I’d like more time to learn skills, I’d like to be really good at wood work and metal work in particular and will try and put more time aside to learn in the future.

What keeps you awake at night?
Nothing.

What do you think is Nottingham’s best kept secret?
I dislike this question.

What would you like to see more of in Nottingham?
More promotion of science and engineering and it’s possibilities as both an educational, social and not to mention creative force.

What Big thing are you currently working on?
We are in the process of setting up one of the rooms at the space as a co-working room.

You can see more about Nottingham Hackspace at:
Website: nottinghack.org.uk

Twitter @HSNOTTS
Facebook/Nottinghack

Zincwhite: Why has no one thought of this before? Zincwhite’s genius touch of upcycling is surely the best gift for any creative friends. On Saturday 29th, they will be bringing their jewellery and accessories made from recycled Derwent colouring pencils, knitting needles, old typewriters, broken camera lenses and artist’s paint brushes to join us at Bunkers Hill in Nottingham!

Hannah Stevens is a very talented lady! She will be with us at Bunkers Hill selling her range of hand screen printed textiles, such as cushions, lampshades, tea towels, hand bags, purses and pencil cases, all made from her own fab print designs!

Dirtyface creates limited edition apparel in collaboration with many talented artists and designers. The dirtyface range represents an underground movement of artists, generating a unique brand that exudes creativity and originality. We’re excited to welcome them along to show off their graphic skills on the 29th!

Hello Sunshine by Jo Want features unique and quirky jewellery, accessories, greetings cards & illustrations. Inspiration comes from the playful nature of animals, people and everyday life, sprinkled with humour. With the intention of bringing a smile to the world’s face, these collections of work include laser cut necklaces, brooches, drop and stud earrings, pin badges, and greeting cards.

Jo Clarke: As a recent graduate from the Children’s Book Illustration MA at Cambridge School of Art, Jo has developed her visual language as an artist, designer, painter, illustrator and writer to bring together this beautiful ever growing, gift range. Jo’s designs emerge from organic shapes with a sensitive use of line and sophisticated colour palette creating a unique and contemporary identity. Jo will be selling her Greetings cards, original illustrations and art prints, also a range of gift wares featuring her own hand painted designs and printed illustrations.

Delish specialise in making cake pops. Cake whats, I hear you say? …A cake pop is an irresistibly yummy, moist cake covered in candy melt. It’s the perfect size and it comes on a stick – what’s there not to like? Sifting through the pictures of these tasty looking treats has been difficult, knowing I have to wait 14 more days before I can get my teeth around one! Meanwhile all I can do is tantalise you with the same temptations… see you on the 29th- the cake pops are calling you….

Awesome Pillows Awesome Pillows creates hand made decorative pillow shaped characters stuffed within an inch of their life. On Saturday 29th, she promises us, “plump pirates, undead upholstery and backrest bats as well as more pillowsaurus’s and squishamajigs!” …Awesome!

SparkleCat: If, while reading this post, you have only just realised how close we are to Halloween… Don’t panic! We have your fancy dress all wrapped up. Sparklecat create handmade feather headdresses, headbands, jewellery & accessories. How amazing will you look wearing one of these to a fancy dress party?

…and many more! Hope you enjoyed that little taster of what’s to come on Saturday 29th October at Bunkers Hill and looking forward to seeing you there!

(The content of all images are credited to their designers)

Written by Guest Blogger, Laura Morgan of Curiosity Haus: A house for Contemporary Craft and Design. Curiosity Haus has an ‘online craft fair‘ and runs regular indie-markets in Nottingham, showcasing and promoting independent designers and quality handmade goods. You can follow Curiosity Haus on facebook or twitter.

The insects and arachnids are invading Nottingham Castle as well as my little house. Starting this weekend, the Castle will be infested with 10,000 ceramic beetles. Stirring the Swarm is by the winner of Nottingham Castle’s Annual Open Solo Show Prize, Anna Collette Hunt, using displays from Wollaton Hall as her inspiration. The beetles have been constructed with a team of Nottingham-based helpers including Trent students and potters from Sherwood.

Those nice folk at Hopkinson’s Gallery are hosting Nottingham’s vintage, antique and arts weekend, starting today and ending on Sunday. What does this offer? I hear you say. Well, over 20 open studios, vintage traders, music, a licensed bar (serving vintage cocktails no less) and all kinds of shenanigans ranging all over Hopkinson’s four floors.

Next Monday is Mental Health Awareness Day and as part of this, there’ll be a talk in the Lord Roberts pub, 24 Broad Street, 8pm. Sarah Dale, occupational psychologist, will be talking through her book about keeping your spirits up. There’s strong evidence suggesting creative activities can help alleviate mental health problems so perhaps you’re all in good shape (I hope so) but just in case. It’s good to get a new perspective.

And finally! Next Wednesday sees the latest venture from those lovely types from the Creative Twinning partnership.If you’re near the Broadway or Lace Market Gallery next Wednesday I recommend dropping in as there’ll be a wide range of beautiful wares on display and creative folk to chat to? What more do you need?

And with that, I’m off to huddle under a blanket with a book and some hot chocolate. Brrr…