So, here are some labels designed for ‘This Year’s’ preserves.

It’s a long story, I’ll tell you another time, but we have a walnut tree and a damson tree. My inherent dislike of waste, and love of random experimental acts of catering, led me to make damson chutney and pickled walnuts (an acquired taste, I admit, but my father-in-law loves them). We chose the name ‘This Year’s’ to reflect the cyclical and unpredictable nature of growing and harvest – and because the home-grown, small-batch production (and my inability to cook the same recipe twice) means there’s no promise of producing the same thing next year!

It’s taken me while to get this on the site, but it actually hit the shops last year, just before Christmas. So here it is – last year’s ‘THIS YEAR’S’ project, right now!

Tony Schwartz: The Myths of the Overworked Creative from 99% on Vimeo.

A thought provoking video that should be watched by all creative people. Maybe afternoon naps are the way ahead.

Dave

23rd of January 2012 – 9th February 2013 is the Year of the Dragon. If you are a Dragon this is going to be a great year for you, so get out there and raise some hell! For all the rest of us, expect some pretty spectacular barbecues. Happy New Year of the Dragon.

May your Christmas stockings be full to overflowing – Lots of chocolate, at least one satsuma and absolutely no coal!

Here is a logo I did for Little Chef Big Chef web site. An online store for kids cookery.

Sadly it has nothing at all to do with the slightly faded motorway eatery. Sadly?, well Little Chef commissioned Michelin starred Big Chef Heston Blumenthal to revamp their image and menu. Which he did – despite them. You can see the results in the documentary Big Chef takes on little chef on 4OD.

We almost ate in the pilot restaurant but missed the turning. That wasn’t very clever was it?

No Chef!

Call me old-fashioned, but I rather like the look of those love heart sweets. But, as I’m not usually known for serving up sugary nonsense, here’s some confectionery of another kind – a ‘virtually’ calorie-free alternative to the tooth-rotting, sugar-burning, nutritionally deficient variety. Go on! … you know you want to!

You can send Sugary Nonsense e-cards from www.squeakycards.com

Other things I have learnt about the dandelion: 1. the name comes from ‘dent-de-lion’, meaning ‘lion’s tooth’, which refers to the shape of its leaves 2. it makes you wee more 3. it reproduces asexually and scatters its seeds willy-nilly … what a tart!

You can send this as an e-card from www.squeakycards.com