#have a Christmas card I found in an arts and crafts fair

[elfhawk3]

Trixk or treat!

#42-wear-a-mask-squeakylizards #have a Christmas card I found in an arts and crafts fair #I sent it to my crazy cat lady BFF

[written-on-the-trees]

This Is Better - Vinny Mauro Imagine

Prompt: Saved Every Christmas Card

Summary: Vinny saved every single Christmas card Etta sent him, and never told her, in case she worked out why. Somehow, though, she found out.

Find this story here on Ao3, find this year's previous imagines here, and find last year's imagines here.

Vinny idly scuffed the toe of his sneaker across the gravel of the alley he was standing in, simultaneously feeling bored and agitated.

All the guys were busy – which was fair enough; they had shit to do, and they’d all asked Vinny if he’d wanted to tag along, but…he’d been feeling a little off. It was because he was expecting some mail from his mom, some importantmail, and he was trying to not let it get to him…but he was failing. Hard.

He couldn’t help it; his mom was sending him probably the most important letter Vinny received all year: a Christmas card from his oldest friend, Etta.

They hadn’t seen each other in a few years; she spent half her time with her parents, living in various communes across the states. Her family were all what Vinny’s mom called ‘free-spirits’ and his dad called ‘weirdos’. The best term was probably hippies, hence why Etta’s parents had named their December-born daughter Poinsettia. She wasn’t quite as out-there as her parents – hence why she’d chosen to go by her nickname – but she did move around a lot, and not always to places she could be reached by phone, so they communicated mostly by letters.

And, to Vinny, the most important letter each year was the Christmas card Etta sent.

It was always a work of art. Etta made her money though crafting and selling the things she made, and though Vinny had seen countless examples of her work, the Christmas cards always seemed special. Special enough that he had kept every single one of them, right from when she’d left town when they were seven, two years after she’d arrived.

That was that had been twenty-one years ago – and Vinny had twenty prized Christmas cards, soon to be twenty-one.

As soon as that letter arrived.

Trying to take his mind off of how anxious he was about receiving that letter, Vinny pulled out his phone to play a game or something – only to receive a text right as he unlocked it.

Look up.

He did as the message said…and caught sight of his old friend standing at the end of the alley, grinning at him.

“Pointy!” he yelled, rushing over to grab her up in a tight hug.

Just as she’d always done, she groaned at the nickname. She might have changed her hair from pastel pink to deep purple – honestly, Vinny would’ve been more surprised if she hadn’t switched to a new colour – and gotten a bunch of new tattoos, but some things never changed.

Like her hatred of his nickname for her.

And the equally hated nickname she had for him, the one she used as she wrapped her arms around his neck to hug him back: “Frodo!”

Vinny grunted: “I forgot how much I hated that nickname.”

“Unwise of you, young hobbit.”

“Fuck off.” Vinny laughed, finally letting go of Etta – just enough that he could get a good look at her face: “What are you doing here?”

“Your mom told me that you’d be passing through here – and my parents’ new place is just a few miles outside the city. So I thought I’d deliver my Christmas card in person this year.”

Vinny was so glad that she did.

Considering he could only phone her for about six months of the year, he almost never got to see her in person – in fact, this was the first time they’d gotten together in three years.

He couldn’t think of a better Christmas present.

“I’m so glad you did.” Vinny said, pulling Etta in for another hug and giving her a tight squeeze: “I’ve missed you.”

Etta squeezed right back: “I’ve missed you too.”

“C’mon, let’s get something to eat. I’ve been too hyped up to eat today, I was so nervous about getting your Christmas card.”

“You are too cute!” Etta grinned, leaning up to peck Vinny on the cheek, before tangling her fingers through his and pulling him out on the street: “You’ll be pleased to know I’m not vegan anymore. And I’m eating red meat again, occasionally.”

Vinny was instantly on guard: “Was someone giving you shit about diet?”

“What if they were?” Etta raised an eyebrow at him.

She didn’t like it when he ‘acted like the big brother I never wanted’, but Vinny couldn’t help it sometimes. Etta was five-foot-nothing, weighed ninety pounds soaking wet, and was pathologically nice to people. Vinny didn’t feel the need to look out for many people, but Etta was at the top of that short list.

He knew when to not push his luck, though.

“I’ll send Chris and Justin after them. Put those lanky fuckers to good use.”

Etta laughed: “Nice save. No, no-one was giving me shit, I just kind of…gave it up. It was always more of my parents’ thing than mine.”

“Yeah, I remember how pissed you were when they made you give up cheeseburgers.”

“Oh, God, yeah…I still can’t believe they didn’t just leave me Pennsylvania after that tantrum. I would’ve left me.”

“Nah, you were a cute kid. You could’ve gotten away with murder.” Vinny nudged Etta with his elbow, grinning teasingly.

“Hey, less of the past tense.” Etta smirked back, pausing on the sidewalk to strike an overly ‘cutesy’ pose: “I’m adorable.”

Vinny laughed, but it was mainly to cover up the fact that he never knew how to respond to Etta when she said stuff like that.

Because god-fucking-damnit, but she was adorable. More than adorable, she was…

…pretty much the embodiment of everything Vinny could ever want in a woman.

As much as he tried to ignore it, because Etta was his friend first and foremost, she also happened to have become the measuring stick he compared nearly every women he’d ever dated to. Did they laugh as much as Etta did? Were they as easy-going as Etta was? Could he trust them not to judge him like he could Etta?

Very often, the answer was no. And Vinny was reminded of the fact that he was hopelessly in love with a woman who would forever see him as a kid with skinned knees and mismatched socks visible under his sandals.

Etta didn’t see him as a romantic prospect; their platonic relationship was too strong. He was the brother she’d never wanted but loved anyway. And Vinny was fucking honoured by the fact she had worked to stay this close to him over twenty years of crisscrossing the States, living in fucking tents and caravans half the time, and trying to find her place in a world that she was far too fucking good for.

She could’ve let him fall by the wayside, let time and distance slowly erode their relationship until there was nothing left, but she hadn’t. Vinny wouldn’t chuck that away for the off-chance she might think he was a potential boyfriend.

It was why he’d never told her he kept all her Christmas cards. It felt like an admission of something…else. He was certain if she found out he had them stashed in a waterproof, air-tight box in his mom’s attic, she’d realise that he was just as love in her romantically as he loved her as a friend.

So he kept his mouth shut, listening to Etta fill him in on what had been going on with her family since they’d last spoken – at least until it came for time to pay for their order at McDonalds.

“Nope! I’m getting the paid the big-bucks now, Pointy. I’m buying lunch!”

“If I wasn’t so broke, I’d argue more…but I’m getting the next one!”

Vinny smirked: “Sure you are.”

“Shut up, Frodo.”

“Never. Not if my life depended on it!”

Etta rolled her eyes – but she was smiling when she replied: “It just might.”

“Go get a table, Pointy, I’ll wait for our food.”

Etta left, flipping Vinny off over her shoulder as she walked away, and Vinny just grinned as he watched her wonder over to the tables.

Even though she was teasing and poking fun at him, and letting him to the same to her, like they always did…Vinny got the sense that Etta was holding something back. He’d known her for years: he knew when she had something on her mind, and he definitely gotten that impression while they’d been walking her.

There was something she wanted to talk to him about: but she wasn’t sure how to do it.

Vinny empathised, and resolved to ask about it when he finally brought their food to the table – but Etta was speaking as soon as he sat down:

“So, I said I’d been speaking to your mom.”

“Yeah? I spoke to her the other day, she sounded alright – did she seem okay to you?”

Etta smiled reassuringly: “She’s fine. She just…told me something I found quite interesting.”

Vinny froze with a fry lifted half-way to his mouth – but if Etta noticed, she was kind enough not to say anything. Or too nervous.

She sounded like she was trying to talk as quickly as possible when she continued speaking: “She said you’d been saving all the Christmas cards I sent you. Like, even the crappy ones from when I before I learned how to craft decently.”

“Nothing you make is crappy.” Vinny retorted without thinking, before wondering if maybe that hadn’t been the right response. Had he been supposed to laugh it off? Deny it?

“That is just plain untrue. I was no good at making cards back then – so I asked your mom why on earth you’d kept them.”

Oh fuck.

“And she…um…she said you were…that you…”

“Etta,” Vinny cut her off when she trailed off awkwardly, reaching out for her hand and trying not to wince when she flinched minutely, even though she did allow him to cover her hand with his: “I can guess what my mom told you about how I felt, but how I feel is on me. You’re my best friend, and I wouldn’t change that for anything. So nothing between us has to change, okay? Not if it makes you uncomfortable.”

Etta smiled weakly, seeming to need a few seconds to gather the courage to say what she said next: “Uncomfortable is not the word I’d use.”

Vinny winced openly then, withdrawing his hand: “I understand if you’re angry, or upset - ”

“No, Vinny, I don’t feel like that at all!” Etta cut Vinny off this time, reaching out to grab the hand he’d just withdrawn: “I’m sorry, I’m so bad at this – I blame my parents for not sending me to normal school where I got get all this awkwardness out as a teenager, but I…what I’m trying to say is…I like you. As in…like…I like you like you.”

Vinny froze.

“Are you…are you sure?” he whispered: “’Cos, um…I like you too. A lot. And I have forever. So…I don’t know, Jesus I’m awkward too…but I guess…please tell me you’re sure?”

“Oh, Vinny,” Etta smiled sweetly: “I don’t think I’ve ever been more certain of anything.”

Vinny didn’t think, didn’t even try to consider his actions – he didn’t even consider the food on the table between them – he just leant over and kissed Etta.

And she kissed him back.

She reached up to cup his cheeks with her hands, holding him close as their lips moved together, pouring what felt like years of pent-up emotions into the kiss. It was soft and sweet and full of everything Vinny wished he could’ve expressed to her before now. Everything he never thought he’d get the chance to let her know.

But now he could. Etta liked him. Liked him liked him. And as long she continued to like him like him, he could kiss her again and again.

“I’m…um…this…” Vinny pulled away, pausing for a few seconds to try and gather his scattered thoughts: “I thought seeing you was the best Christmas present I could ever get, but this…this is better.”

#Vinny Mauro #Vinny Mauro imagine #Vinny Mauro fluff #Vinny Mauro one-shot #Vinny Mauro fanfic #Vinny Mauro fan fic #Vinny Mauro fan fiction #Motionless In White imagine #Motionless In White fanfic #Motionless In White fan fic #Motionless In White fan fiction #The Trees' Christmas 2021 Writing Collection

[prevazilazenje]

“WITCH MUSEUM OPENS IN CLEVELAND”

A witchcraft museum has landed in Cleveland.

The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick has set up shop in a storefront in the city’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood.

As curious as the collection is — and there’s some pretty strange stuff, including a vessel supposedly containing some fur of Lil Bub, a magical cat from outer space — the tale of how it ended up in Northeast Ohio is just as extraordinary.

Much of the collection now on display was either curated or created by the late Raymond Buckland, aka Robat, a writer and historian of Wicca and the occult, and a high priest in the Gardnerian and Seax-Wica beliefs.

In the 1960s, Buckland worked for British Airlines, which gave him an opportunity to meet collector Gerald Gardner, who had an occult museum in England.

They struck up a friendship, and Buckland set off on his lifelong path of dabbling and practicing in the occult. He began amassing odd artifacts ranging from ancient Egypt to the Salem witch trials.

He began inviting visitors to view — for a small fee — the collection housed in the basement of his home on Long Island, N.Y.

As his reputation grew, so did the collection, and he eventually moved it to New Hampshire. It was displayed in Virginia for a brief stint and then New Orleans, before that museum closed for good and the collection vanished.

Steven Intermill, whose full-time gig a couple of years ago was making sure everything was running merrily at the “A Christmas Story” House and Museum in Cleveland, wondered one day what became of Buckland’s collection.

Intermill said he grew up on a steady diet of comic books and those old paperback books about oddities and strange happenings, and he remembered reading about Buckland’s museum.

After a little sleuthing, Intermill found Buckland’s then-email address — “[email protected]” of all things — and reached out to inquire about the trove.

Much to his surprise, Buckland answered the email right away, saying that some items unfortunately had been sold off, but what remained of the collection was sitting in totes in the basement of a friend who lived in Columbus.

Intermill said he drove down Interstate 71 right away, offering to restore the collection and put it back out on public display in a space near the “A Christmas Story” house that was featured in the beloved movie.

Parts of the collection were unveiled in 2017, but Intermill said the space he had in Tremont was simply too cozy. He acquired the new digs at 2155 Broadview Road so more items can once again capture the curiosity of visitors. The new museum space will celebrate its grand opening at noon Saturday.

On a recent day, Kristina Pellegrini of Minneapolis wandered in with her sister, Moriah Pfotenhauer, whom she was helping to move from Chicago to Washington, D.C.

She said they were looking on Google for interesting places to visit along the way, and the Buckland Museum popped up.

She explained they are not followers of the occult but do collect crystals and spent a fair amount of time looking over those offered in the museum’s gift shop to see which ones “spoke” to them. Several did and they purchased them.

The sisters also forked over their $7 admission fee to hear Intermill weave the history of the collection and its curator, and even see a fork that supposedly twisted during a seance in New York.

“We wanted to make the drive memorable,” she said. “The collection was intense and even a bit scary. It was very different.”

Among the collection’s items is a sacrificial troll doll with human hair stuck in its back.

Buckland’s personal purple ceremonial robe holds court in the middle of the space not far from a predictable collection of tarot cards.

And tucked in a corner is a demon in a box.

The story goes that a magician friend of Buckland had a ritual go awry in the 1970s and unwittingly unleashed a demon in his New York City apartment. It took them three days to conjure up the right spell to lure the demon into the wooden box, where it has remained ever since.

Intermill, who readily admits he is not a personal practitioner of the occult, said he does have a healthy respect for the collection and each piece’s backstory.

One night, he said, he was sitting at the counter when a man barged through the front door, bolted into the museum without paying and started to try to open the Demon Box. Intermill said he told the crazed man that he was going to call the police.

“The guy told me he was driving by and something called out to him and said, ‘Hey, I’m trapped in here and I want to be friends,’ ” Intermill said. “It was just weird.”

Before Buckland died in September 2017, he visited Cleveland to look over the collection. Intermill asked Buckland about the Demon Box and what he should do with it.

“He told me to never open it,” Intermill said with a laugh. “OK. I never thought I’d end up being in charge of something like this.”

The Demon Box, wrapped in crude wire to keep it shut, has since been moved to a more secure display case that Intermill keeps a safe distance from those on tours.

The cool thing about this witchcraft collection, he explains, is the craft aspect to everything.

Each piece was handmade — most by Buckland himself, like the high priest ceremonial horned helmet. Buckland used things lying around the house and found at a hardware store, from the fur to the cow horn to the stainless-steel mixing bowl to the thimbles on top.

“Some see this as a witchcraft collection,” he said. “But I see this as an art collection. All this stuff was handmade.

“It was made with a passion and fury.”

#transcendence #witch #witches #witchcraft #occult #magic #magick #demon #voodoo #museum #cleveland #ohio #curious #curiosities #attractions

[justmeinbigd]

40+ Places to Shop Local (Online) for Christmas Gifts on Small Business Saturday and Beyond

All photos by me - Kristina Rowe (and most are pre-pandemic. Apparently I’m not much of a shopper.)

I hope your Thanksgiving was great and I hope you’ve been able to support some small businesses today. Here’s a list I originally posted on Reddit of some Dallas small businesses where you can shop for Christmas gifts or for yourself. 

Online shopping options are linked or described here to give you the safest possible shopping experience. 

I’ll be sharing some more holiday shopping lists featuring local Dallas businesses soon. (Some of us aren’t into Black Friday shopping, even in non-COVID-19 years.) 

Happy Shopping, you’ll feel great when you shop local! 

Toys

Froggie's 5 &10 - Note: Not much can be purchased online. This store will be moving in 2021 so they are offering discounts on pretty much everything in the store.

Toy Maven - Toys, games, novelties, and lots more.

Toys Unique - Games, puzzles, arts & crafts and lots more.

Twig & Olive - Boxed sets that encourage creative play with no batteries, buttons or screens.

Gaming

Common Ground Games - With board games, trading card games, miniatures and paints, it will also someday once again be a great place to meet others and play games. Their week-long small business Saturday sale runs through Sunday, Dec 6.

Madness Games and Comics (Plano) -  A pop culture mega store with new comics, graphic novels, actions figures, board games, RPGs, and more.

Richardson Bike Mart near White Rock Lake at sunset.

Bikes

Red Star Bicycle Shop - Family-owned bicycle services, repairs, sales, and rentals.

Richardson Bike Mart - Founded in 1962, this local shop has grown into a small chain with stores in Richardson, Frisco, Dallas and McKinney. Their website has multiple holiday gift guides and online shopping.

Oak Cliff Bike Synergy - New and used (some vintage) bicycles.

Preston Hollow Bicycles - Local bike store selling a variety of bikes, accessories, utility items, apparel and more.

Sports/Outdoors

A J Vagabonds - Outdoor & Sporting Goods store in Bishop arts with a motto of “Go Outside Y’all.” They have fun stuff and great gift ideas on their Facebook page, but it looks like most of it cannot be purchased online.

Buddy’s Sporting Goods - In business 40+ years, focus on team sports equipment and apparel.

Dynamic Discs - This company wasn’t “born in Dallas” and isn’t headquartered here, but it’s family-owned and has a small footprint with a strong presence in Carrollton and Lewisville. If you’re into disc sports, you’ll want to shop here.

Not Just Soccer (Dallas & Fort Worth) - locally owned and operated business specializing in everything youth sports.

Play it Again Sports (Plano) - Locally owned, new and used sporting goods and gear.

Ray’s Sporting Goods - The iconic Dallas guns and more store on Singleton.

Plants

North Haven Gardens - Sustained a hard hit from the tornado, got up and dusted itself off and got back into business. Truly deserving of your support!

Ruibal’s Plants - Locally owned and managed with four (beautiful!) locations in Dallas. 

Books

Deep Vellum - A nonprofit publishing house and literary arts organization. Order books they’ve published through DeepVellum.org or request any book you want and they will order it for you through DeepVellum.com.

Half Price Books - OK, they’re a huge chain but they belong to Dallas.

Interabang - Another tornado recovery story, their online shopping system is quite robust.

Lucky Dog Books - Used book stores in Mesquite, Oak Cliff, and East Dallas. No online shopping site, but you can call or email requests to see if they have something you want in stock and they will ship it to you.

The Wild Detectives - To provide an online shopping experience, they’ve leveraged Bookshop.org, which offers a large selection, great service, and supports local bookstores with the proceeds of sales.

Pretty bonbons from Chocolate Secrets.

Chocolates

Cocoa Andre - This Mexican-American family-owned chocolate shop has Mexican chocolates, themed chocolate molds, vegan chocolate, bean to bar chocolates made in house and much more.

Chocolate Secrets - Hand-painted bonbons and truffles are the thing here. They also have a great selection of different chocolate Santas, Christmas trees and other fun holiday-themed chocolates.

Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Chef Katherine Clapner likes peculiar things and unique flavor combos and it shows (in a good way) in the delicious chocolates and treats she makes.

Kate Weiser Chocolate - Oprah made Kate Weiser’s “Carl the Snowman” famous. Handmade and beautifully painted candy bars are special here anytime and the holiday version is no exception.

Pre-pandemic in the gift shop at Nasher Sculpture Center.

Gift Shops/Flower Shops/Stationery

Abundantly Aromatic -  Soaps, body scrubs, Shea Butter lotions, and more all  handmade locally with all-natural ingredients.

Bettie Lou’s - Sister store to Froggie’s Five and Dime, they offer gift baskets online.

Dallas Museum of Art Gift Shop - Posters and postcards along with more practical items like umbrellas and tote bags to fill your life with art.

Lone Chimney Mercantile - Dallas-themed art, kitchen linens with salty sayings, fun accessories and gifts. Order gifts from their online store or choose art prints and canvases from the owner/photographer’s Etsy shop. 

Nasher Sculpture Center Gift Shop - There’s lots here from home goods to jewelry and accessories ranging from affordable to extravagant. 

The T Shop - East Dallas florist with a lovely gift selection.

White Rock Soap Gallery - Soaps, candles, bath and body products and more from more than 50 Texas makers.

Pets

Scotty’s Bowties - Pet bowties, bandanas and more.

Uptown Pet Wear - Doggie wear, leashes, harnesses and more.

Etsy Spring Bash 2018. Love, love, love these gals!!

Apparel and Accessories

Bullzerk - Undoubtedly the coolest store in Dallas, offering entertaining, Dallas-themed stuff. Shop online and consider checking out the Charity Shirts category to also support the Dallas Zoo and other charities.

Favor the Kind - Apparel, accessories, and gifts. Cyber sale thorough Monday.

Lucky Franklin - T-shirts, sweatshirts and more for dog and cat moms, plant lovers and other wonderful people.

Mosaic Makers - Multiple local makers under one roof (and in one online shop!)

Odin’s Leather Goods - Leather bags, belts, and bracelets are just a few of the offerings at this store that went from making products at their dining room table and selling them on Etsy to a  workshop space in Coppell.

Neighborhoods

Bishop Arts District - This website has links to many of the retailers in the Bishop Arts District. Use the links there to check out which ones offer online shopping.

Deep Ellum - Here’s where to shop in Deep Ellum.  Be sure to “Load More” at the bottom of the page to see them all.Use the links there to visit individual shops for online shopping links.

I bought one of these handmade totes from Lucky Franklin and then I won another one (full of locally made goodies) in a Boho Market giveaway a year or so later.

More suggestions:

Buy merchandise (T-shirts, hats, etc.) online from restaurants, bars, small music venues, coffee shops, breweries, distilleries and more. Just visit the full website of your favorite places and look for a link to “shop.” Or if you’re in a position where you can do so, look for a donation or GoFundMe link on their site and help out some of the hardest-hit places. They could use your support. 

Hardware stores under the True Value and Ace brands are usually locally owned and operated. My favorite is Rooster Home and Hardware because George the Rooster lives there. Online shopping is through TrueValue.com. I’m told Stones Ace Hardware in East Dallas has free beer while you shop.

Shop local from dozens of area makers at Etsy Dallas. Use the links on the page to go to the Etsy stores that interest you.

The State Fair of Texas has a holiday shopping site where you can buy State Fair souvenir gifts and shop from State Fair vendors and GoTexan merchants.

Also, here’s a large list of local businesses offering gift cards, compiled by the Dallas Morning News in cooperation with USA Today.

Next week my list of great gifts of wine and spirits from local producers and shops is coming to the Dallas Observer Food and Drink section. Stay tuned!!

#Dallas TheSmallerSide shoplocal smallbusinesssaturday DallasTX shopsmall supportlocalbusiness

[chrisarrondelle]

Major Project

Opening thoughts and trials

I had found myself in a creative block over the Christmas period. At a time when I really needed to be putting some ground work into forming some solid ideas, I was repeatedly coming up dry. There were aspects of my Pilot Major that I had enjoyed but I didn't feel motivated enough by it to pursue it further. I had also been asking myself what my own photography was, as I had been consistently been taking photos for other people for at least the last 12 months. The one idea that was re-occuring involved model aircraft. My thought involved buying one of these model kits, throwing away the instructions and creating something different from the accumulated parts. I wasn’t sold on this concept but felt that it was at least something I should investigate to either rule it out completely or move the idea forward.

Revell F-14A Tomcat model kit purchased from Hobby Craft in Greenwich.

To kick this project off I purchased a cheap kit to try it out. When I was much younger my parents encouraged me to build various models using AirFix kits. I intended to revisit these AirFix kits but I also found a selection of Revell kits in my local Hobby Craft. The smaller Reveal kits included all the paint and glue that I would need to get started, and frankly, they were cheaper. Having purchased my kit the plan was to take everything out of the box, lose the instructions and create whatever came together from the parts. I would film this creative process from above, to give an overhead view of the work as is was being carried out.

Film footage taken with Canon 5D mkII and Sigma Art 50mm lens.

To achieve this I set up a tripod on a large table and mounted my Canon 5D mkII on the tripod with a Sigma Art 50mm lens. My workspace would be a large piece of white card (also from Hobby Craft). The camera view would effectively be upside-down, this was to avoid filming the back of my head as I worked and I intended to ‘Flip’ the footage at a later stage. I felt at this stage that this idea would tick a few academic boxes in its concept, and at this early stage the theory seemed to have a number of avenues that it might lead down. It looked at Breaking Rules, Re-visiting a memory from my youth, or simply the (individual) process of creativity. The problem for me was that despite the Academic potential, the work had no soul. It was interesting BUT my heart simply wasn’t in it. I had hoped to take this accumulation of parts and create something beautiful, and I ended up with a BUG!

Revell F-14A Tomcat re-imagined.

To be fair, the experiment had worked but I felt that far from creating something beautiful I had created something that felt very naive. There was a sense of disappointment with the end product that strongly matched the feeling I used to get as a child when I built these models. I can remember the sense of disappointment (as a child) when the creation didn't look anything like the picture on the box. Now as an adult I was feeling the same sense of disappointment even though I was ignoring the picture on the box. I suggested this to my partner and she suggested that I look at other things that I might apply this theory too. Ironically this was the same feedback that I got from my tutors when I (tentatively) explained the project. It was agreed that to move this project on I would need to apply the same theory to another medium, but no-one (myself included) could think of another example where this process could be applied.

#majorproject #major project

[jaouad2d]

Meet the People Keeping Mold-A-Rama Alive

In 1971, sick of working in middle management in Chicago, William Jones purchased a number of Mold-A-Rama vending machines on a whim. He knew nothing about the technology, which produces injection molded plastic figures, and didn’t understand its appeal, but saw the purchase as an opportunity to do something new for a living. Little did he realize that almost 50 years later, his family would still be in the business, maintaining a collection of the beloved machines, which are as popular as ever at zoos, museums, and other attractions across the United States.

When Mold-A-Rama debuted at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the molds of the Space Needle, a monorail, and other fair-related designs drew as much attention as the unique production process, which remains the same to this day. After inserting payment, customers watch two sides of an aluminum mold close as it is injected with heated polyethylene pellets. In less than a minute, the mold opens, releasing the plastic object. The signature “waxy” smell hangs in the air as the hollow figurine slowly cools.

It’s not only nostalgia for the molds but this same, seemingly outdated process that keeps Jones in business. In an age when technology allows souvenirs to be more personalized than ever (see Japan’s purikura machines), the Mold-A-Rama’s simplicity is appealing both for those who grew up with the machines and new fans.

The Mold-A-Rama was the result of decades of work by J.H. “Tike” Miller of Quincy, Illinois, according to a history of the company in Mental Floss. Miller began experimenting with miniatures in the late 1930s. It wasn’t until World War II that he found a lucrative niche in plaster nativity models when imports from Germany—the largest supplier of these religious figures—were blocked. In 1955, he switched to producing figurines through plastic injection molding. An eccentric, he became known for molds of dinosaurs, aliens, and even a Purple People Eater.

“[Miller] was one of the pioneers in the plastic era and stands out from all the rest with his unique way of molding plastic and the unique composition of the plastic material that he used,” says Ken Glennon, a Mold-A-Rama collector who is writing a book about Miller.

During the mid-20th century, after Miller licensed the technology to Automatic Retailers of America, the memorabilia took off at national and international fairs with about 300 molds in use. What set Mold-A-Rama apart from other toys and souvenirs at the time was that it gave customers insight into the products’ manufacturing, as it was happening, decades before 3D-printing.

William’s son Paul Jones now runs the company, which was known as the William A. Jones Co. until 2011, when the name changed to Mold-A-Rama Inc. He remembers helping his father service Mold-A-Rama machines at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and Brookfield Zoo. By 14, he was getting to the zoo by 6 a.m., which he says “was like heaven. You get to run around. You get the whole zoo to yourself.”

Now in his 50s, Jones travels the Midwest maintaining 62 machines at nine locations, including the Willis Tower, the Field Museum, and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Much of the machine’s appeal is the retro look; in 2006, William estimated that one in 10 people who pass a machine buy a toy. In addition to regular cleanings and occasional paint jobs, a major challenge is ensuring that the Mold-A-Rama produces a perfect mold almost every time.

Although some people assume the Mold-A-Rama is as simple as a vending machine, dispensing pre-made molds, “it actually holds a gallon of hot liquid plastic all day long at 250 degrees [Fahrenheit],” Jones says. Small changes in temperature or the number of molds produced can affect quality. On a popular day, one machine makes 100 to 150 molds.

Only minutes from the Brookfield Zoo, the Mold-A-Rama warehouse is packed with out-of-commission machines and parts. Rows of repurposed Cheese Ball jars are full of clear plastic pellets mixed with dyes that melt together to create the vibrantly colored molds. Jones estimates he goes through 640 55-pound bags of pellets a year.

Jones also has an archive of more than 200 cast aluminum molds, including the 62 currently out in the field. He even owns some of the original molds, which were on display at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. His collection ranges from cute animals, such as a cartoon dolphin and piggy bank, to geographic-specific memorabilia, such as a San Francisco streetcar and the Houston Astrodome. During the holidays, he offers seasonal designs, including Santa Claus and a Christmas tree. He also has busts of all of the U.S. Presidents, up to John F. Kennedy. As Jones says, almost anything can be made in miniature.

Glennon says the internet has played an important role in Mold-A-Rama’s continued popularity, with rare molds selling for hundreds of dollars online. Molds that are difficult to produce, such as a replica of Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle at the Museum of Science and Industry, are some of the most sought after.

“[Miller] was the mass production master,” Glennon says. “He was like what Ford was to the automobile.... He marketed them by the millions. So they're all over the place. Years ago, before eBay, they were really hard to come by.”

Despite its retro appeal, Mold-A-Rama is far from a dead art form. In fact, new designs are still being commissioned, at the rate of roughly two per year. For the past 25 years, Lois Mihok, an industrial model maker with 60 years of experience, has crafted numerous molds for Jones, including a bison, Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, and an Edison light bulb.

Mihok says Mold-A-Ramas are more complicated than some of her other projects because she has to ensure the plastic will easily separate from the cast once formed. Removing the mold becomes more difficult if it includes an extremity—a tail or a leg, for example. But at the same time, designs with more detail and texture can counterintuitively be simpler to conceive because it’s easier to hide the mold line that connects the two sides.

Although the 83-year-old says she’s never seen a Mold-A-Rama machine in person, she is excited that people across generations appreciate her work.

“For some reason or another, everybody loves miniatures,” says Mihok. “For the kids to put money into a machine and press a button and have something come out like that, they have an interest in it because they feel like they made it.”

Jones isn’t the only Mold-A-Rama operator who continues the family business in plastic toy vending machines. Tim Striggow runs the Florida-based Replication Devices, which operates Mold-A-Matic (Jones has the Mold-A-Rama copyright) machines in the South and Midwest. Like many of the “handshake deals” in their businesses, Jones and Striggow divided the country into territories, with Mold-A-Rama machines currently in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas, and Mold-A-Matic machines in Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Ohio. While the companies operate independently, Jones and Striggow send new molds to each other and regularly talk through challenges in maintaining the decades-old machines.

In the late 1960s, after visiting a state fair and realizing the machines’ business potential, Striggow’s grandfather Eldin Irwin first leased and later bought several from Automatic Retailers of America, which owned all of Mold-A-Rama until it divested in the early 1970s. Around that time, as a pre-teen, Striggow had begun helping monitor his grandfather’s collection. He remembers meeting Mold-A-Rama fans as he traveled to summer fairs with the machines. Some of those people came to the same events every year looking for the latest molds.

Striggow never thought the business would continue, even when his mom and stepdad took over in the 1990s. Now some of his contracts are over 30 years old, and he employs his son-in-law. He says he has the largest collection of machines—around 120—with about half in operation, including one at Jack White’s Third Man Records storefront in Nashville.

White saw a Mold-A-Rama when he visited Chicago in 2005 and wanted one for the Third Man Records Novelty Lounge. The Nashville machine produces a “cherry red” model of White’s 1964 Airline guitar. Third Man added a second machine at its Detroit location with a yellow replica of the label’s mobile Rolling Record Store.

“We like presenting people with these forgotten, cast-off processes and machines and giving them life,” says Third Man co-founder Ben Blackwell. “I imagine anyone who made these machines back in the day or was involved in their creation or maintenance would never expect that now—we're talking the year 2018—they're still working and people are still engaging with them. That's beautiful. You can't predict that.”

Despite Mold-A-Matic being somewhat of a competitor, Jones keeps a model of the Jack White guitar in his office display case, which also houses original Miller molds and the stick his dad used to mix melting plastic. Although he’s not opposed to modernizing his business, adding credit card slots to machines and staying open to unconventionally colored molds like the Lincoln Park Zoo’s green gorilla, he credits Mold-A-Rama’s longevity to the old-school, vintage style.

“It's a true form of American manufacturing,” he says. “All of the machines were made in America, made here in Chicago actually. There's a niche that they maintain. I think it helps that we have never tried to change it. We leave it right where it's at and pay honor to it and try to let it survive. It seems to be just doing that on its own at times.”

Travel Meet the People Keeping Mold-A-Rama Alive http://ift.tt/2DqGvJB via Atlas Obscura - Latest Articles and Places http://ift.tt/2gfMXcj

[ealinginsider]

Phoebe's cute designs will make you smile

This week we welcome Hanwell’s Phoebe, founder of fun greeting card and stationery brand Unicorn Jack. Her designs combine playful, humorous illustrations and sweet sentiments. I am a personal fan of her alpaca!

Read on to find out more about her and how you can be in with a chance of winning a bundle of her gorgeous Christmas cards and her new cosy penguin enamel pin badge - perfect for winter. 

Tell us a bit about Unicorn Jack, how did it come about?

I have enjoyed Arts and Crafts since childhood and developed an interest in digital art. As my creations became more popular among my friends and family, I found managing the level of production challenging. I started an Etsy shop in 2015 with ten greetings card designs. I was simultaneously studying for a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. I decided to combine the skills I was learning with my personal style and creativity. A couple of designs did well (a few not so well) and I continued to develop my illustrations over the next two years. I’m still learning and evolving and love trying new things.

At the beginning of 2017, I decided to re-brand my whole business and started Unicorn Jack which I feel encompasses everything that I have learnt and my signature style. I now make greetings cards, enamel pins and gift tags and hope to expand my product range in the future.  

How did you choose the name Unicorn Jack?

Inspired by Japanese ‘Kawaii’ culture, my illustration style is very cute and quirky. Most of my designs feature funny animals with little puns. I am also very proud of my British heritage and produce all of my products in the UK. I wanted to find a name that reflected my business identity and my roots. Therefore, a play on words came about turning Union Jack into Unicorn Jack. I love a good pun!

Who is the person behind the brand?

My name is Phoebe and I have lived in the same house in Hanwell all my life. I am now in the final year of my Graphic Design and Illustration Degree and expecting a new addition to the family in February. In my spare time, when I’m not doodling new card ideas or studying, I enjoy learning Japanese and playing video games, both of which inspire the playful ethos of my brand.

Which has been your most popular product?

The first was my Otter Birthday card ‘Have an otterly great birthday’ which was popular from the start. I have since done a little re-design on him, softening the colours and text. When Christmas came around my humorous Grumpy Cat took the top spot. My origami cards are popular in one of my stockists in Ealing and at my monthly craft fair stall customers are often entertained by my Unicorn Jack enamel pin.

Which other makers / artists do you admire?

Having previously worked in a printmakers gallery, I found a lot of inspiration from contemporary printmakers including London based artist Jess Wilson. She uses bright, funky colours and beautiful hand-lettering to create unique and thought provoking images that have always caught my eye. I also enjoy the works of cartoonist, writer and illustrator, Gemma Correll who creates amazingly funny doodles that always tickle my funny bone.

What do you love about Ealing? Where do you enjoy spending your time?

I have a lot of fond memories growing up in Ealing; walks around Walpole park in the changing seasons, seeing fantastic performances at the Questors Theatre and meeting my partner and love of my life in the Grove pub!

What is your favourite independent shop in Ealing?

It’s got to be Mooch on Northfield Avenue. They have such a fantastic variety of items from local makers and brands, I can never leave without something grabbing my eye! It’s my go to shop for gifts.

Where can people see and buy your things?

I have been selling my creations online on my Etsy shop since 2015 which is the best place to buy my products online. I also have my own website.

You can also find my products locally at:

- For Arts Sake, a lovely local gallery and framing shop.

- The Fox Inn tea barn. 

- Craft markets including The Fox Vintage & Craft Market and The Sugar and Spice Flea Market. I love these - it’s always lovely to meet customers and other local makers. The next one I’ll be at is The Sugar And Spice Flea Market on the 18th November held at the beautiful Grange Pub in Ealing.

 - They can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook.  

What's next for Unicorn Jack?

I am constantly coming up with new ideas for cards and plan to expand my collection in the new year. I also want to make a new enamel pin design so watch this space!

Instagram Competition

To win a super Christmas card bundle and the fabulous cosy penguin enamel pin badge (as pictured below), all you have to do is comment on one of the Unicorn Jack photos on the Ealing Insider Instagram account answering the question ~ if you could choose any animal for a pin badge, what would you choose and why?

Thanks so much for talking to us Phoebe! 

Love,

Ellie

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

The competition small print:

·        To enter, you must comment on one of the Unicorn Jack photos on the Ealing Insider Instagram account answering the question ~ if you could choose any animal for a pin badge, what would you choose and why?

·        The competition is running from Tuesday 14th November 2017 until Monday 20th November 2017.

·        All entrants’ names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Tuesday 21st November 2017.

·        The winner’s name will be published on the Ealing Insider’s Instagram on Tuesday 7th November and we will contact them directly to arrange to get their goodies to them.

·        The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except Unicorn Jack and the Ealing Insider, as long as they will be in the UK for so the prize can be posted to them. 

·        The competition is not endorsed by Instagram.

#Ealing #EalingInsider #EalingTreats #IBelieveInIndies #LoveEalingIndies #ArtyEaling #UnicornJack

[stickysandwichninja-blog]

An Apple a Day Christmas gift ideas for teachers

 An Apple a Day? Christmas gift ideas for teachers

An Apple a Day? Christmas gift ideas for teachers

Some schools have strict policies about Christmas gift giving. These include dollar limits, “acceptable” gifts, or a “no gifts, please” policy. Parents often become anxious if their child’s school allows Christmas gifts for its teachers. Some may worry about how others might perceive the gift. Others may worry about what teachers will think if they don’t give their child’s teachers a gift. This article will give you some insight into teacher’s thoughts about student gifts and provide a few tips on gifts teachers need and will use quickly.

What Teachers are Saying About Christmas Gifts

First, let me say that this article is based on my personal experiences at schools where I’ve taught. This includes Catholic, virtual - hybrid charter, and public schools – a wide variety to be sure. It is based on conversations I’ve had with other teachers over the years.

One universal sentiment is that teachers don’t care whether or not students give them Christmas gifts. That is to say, if some students choose to give gifts and others don’t, it makes no difference whatsoever to them. When teachers receive a gift from a student’s family, it does not change their behavior toward the student/ family after the holidays. It’s “business as usual” once the holidays end.

Rest assured, teachers don’t care what kind of gifts families give them either. Homemade Christmas cards and kids’ art mean just as much as restaurant and store gift cards. Teachers teach because they are passionate about educating young people. Teachers would be happy to do what they do for free (if we could get away with it!).

If choosing a teacher gift is stressing you out, have your child make a Christmas card. Grab some paints, paint brushes, art paper, and other craft supplies and have them create a card for each teacher. This will eliminate the stress of those extra shopping trips. Personally, I have three file folders with every card, letter, or note students have given me for various holidays and school events. They’re some of my most cherished possessions.

Teacher Gift Ideas

If you decide to go ahead and get your child’s teacher(s) a Christmas gift, you’ll have to decide how much is “too much”. You’ll also have to decide what to get them, which can be stressful. Gift cards are a perfect choice for busy teachers. The following is a list of gift cards that teachers need and will appreciate.

1. Office Supply Store Gift Cards. Teachers spend between $500 - $1,000 a year on school supplies, decorations, and class party items out of their own pocket. Either the school has said they won’t pay for them or are things the teacher knows the school can’t afford but their students need. Gift cards from office supply stores like Staples, Office Depot, or Office Max will be greatly appreciated.

2. Gas Cards. This is especially true if the teacher’s commute is 30 minutes or more each way. Gas prices are high and the economy is tough. If you know a teacher who drives a fair distance to and from school, a gift card for a gas station along their route will probably be used the day they receive it!

3. Coffee Shop Gift Cards. There are two groups of teachers: those who believe caffeine is a teacher’s worst enemy and those who think no one should be forced to teach on as little sleep as they get without caffeine. A gift card from a local coffee shop or a place like Starbuck’s lets the teacher choose regular coffee, decaf., or even hot chocolate. Either way it’s a nice treat – especially for teachers who spend time brewing their own at home each morning.

4. Fast Food Gift Cards. A lot of teachers visit fast food drive thru’s on their way to school or forget their lunch and have to run quickly to the nearest fast food restaurant to grab something to eat. A gift card from a fast food restaurant near the school might be a good choice.

5. Entertainment Gift Cards. Last but not least are gift cards for entertainment such as iTunes, movie theatres, and video stores. Music is the perfect background noise during long hours of lesson planning and grading papers. Most teachers also like watching movies/ going to a movie to give themselves a break. Not just a “time” break (i.e. 2 ½ hours away from planning and grading) but a “mental” break to immerse themselves in a story they don’t have to read. (Most of our day is spent reading.) Teachers will surely appreciate your helping them take some personal time away from grading papers.

While some schools have strict policies against giving its teachers Christmas gifts, others leave the decision up to individual families. This can cause stress in choosing appropriate gifts and concern about the unintended message the gift may or may not be sending. Generally, teachers appreciate Christmas cards their students have made for them as much as store bought gifts. You may be able to avoid the stress by having your child make a card for each of their teachers. If you choose to buy a gift for your child’s teachers, some gifts teachers can really use are: office supply, coffee shop, fast food, movie theatre, or video rental gift cards.

I hope you found this article helpful. Please take a minute to leave a comment, Like this post on Facebook, or Tweet the post via Twitter using the buttons on the right side of my blog page. If you have questions about whether a tutor is right for you or if you would like advice for your unique situation, feel free to E-mail me using the “E-mail Jeff S.” button on my Wyzant tutor home page. I’m happy to help!

Damian J. - Hello! Thank you for your kind comment! I hoped to convey a teacher's point of view to help ease any parent anxiety about teacher gift giving.

I appreciate your taking time to read through it!

Have a Great Day!

Flexible, Licensed, Well-Traveled Tutor!

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[ealinginsider]

Charlotte beautifully captures the places we love

I am a big fan of Charlotte Berridge’s designs and have her ‘Ealing Queen of the Suburbs’ print at home. I am over the moon she agreed to feature on the blog. She is a real local favourite and lives in Northfields.

Read on to find out more about her and how you can win one of her fabulous Ealing Pubs prints.

When did you start designing?

I did a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration at Bath Spa university and worked in magazine publishing for many years. I had a highly successful career and won lots of industry awards working on many of the big magazine titles. My last full time role was Creative Director of Marie Claire UK. Just over four years ago I decided to take some time out to deal with some health issues. It was a difficult time for me so I decided take the bold and very scary step not to go back. I didn't really know what I'd do, but I knew my job wasn't making me happy anymore.

What happened next?

I always enjoyed drawing, so one day I sat down and started work on a set of illustrations. As they came together I started to wonder if other people might like them too so I booked a stall at the Northfields Christmas Night Market to see what people thought. It was a great deadline for me to pull together a collection and work out how best to present it all. It was a great success, my stall was buzzing with customers and I really couldn't believe how many compliments I received! 

That was in Christmas 2015. I had 10 products, since then I've added new prints every month and expanded my collections to include Hanwell, Chiswick, Acton, Richmond and Kew. 

I love the feedback I get from my customers and I can't quite believe how it's all come together. It's been a big learning curve running my own business. It's exhausting at times, it's harder to switch off than I ever realised and dealing with all the financial stuff doesn't come naturally to me. I've ploughed everything back into my business to produce more products so it's meant a big shift in our lifestyle but I'm loving it and my new pace of life. I've loved meeting new people and have forged some fabulous new friendships with fellow local business owners. Working for yourself can be very lonely but there is a great community of like-minded entrepreneurs in Ealing and we are all very supportive of each other. 

Who or what has inspired you most over the years?

I'm lucky to have come from a very creative family. As kids we always filled our time making & drawing. I find inspiration in the smallest things and can have a million ideas a day. Working out which ones to pursue is always a hard decision and not having time to do them all is really frustrating too! 

What useful advice you have been given?

Two things have been especially useful: 

1. If you don't try it, you'll never know! 

2. Concentrate on one thing. Creatives are able to come up with endless ideas but it’s best to be known for one thing, otherwise people find it hard to categorise and therefore remember you.

How long have you lived in Ealing?

I've lived in London ever since I left college and in Ealing for nearly eight years. It's not an area I knew until we moved here and I instantly fell in love with it. I clearly remember skipping down the road after my first visit to the Red Lion grinning from ear to ear, knowing we'd found the best place in the world to live! 

Where are your favourite places in Ealing?

Walpole and Lammas parks are my absolute favourite places. After I left my job every day I'd take a walk through the parks and they would boost my energy. I love watching the changing seasons and think we are so lucky to have such beautifully kept green spaces all around us.

My favourite cafes are Papillon, The Moon and Maybe, Paperback Coffee, Electric Coffee and Artisan ... if you ever see me in a Starbucks shoot me! For a non pub drink with a uniquely local vibe it has to be Abbotshill, the Owl and Pussycat or the Dodo Micropub.  

We have so many fabulous independent shops, cafes and restaurants on our doorstep. It's these local businesses that make our area unique. It may be easier to shop online and at supermarkets but supporting our local community is much more rewarding and essential to stop the homogenisation of our high streets. There is a fabulous campaign, the ‘Just a card' campaign that I love telling people about. justacard.org want to encourage people to buy from designers, makers, independent galleries and shops. All purchases, however small, even ‘just a card’ are vital to the prosperity and survival of small businesses.

You have some many lovely designs – which are your favourites?

Thank you, I'm so glad you like them! My Walpole and Lammas park illustrated map prints will always be my favourite. I created limited edition prints of these for my first ever stall and when they sold out last year I was both elated and a little sad at the same time. I launched a new set of screen prints earlier this year and I love them just as much.  

What has been the most popular?

My most popular designs are my pub prints. Everyone has a story to tell of a great night spent in each pub. It's funny how people are a little embarrassed at first to say they've been to them all, but I remind them how lucky we are to have such a great choice of different places to go. It takes some pretty extensive (ahem) 'research' to ensure I'm happy with the pubs I choose to draw so that always makes them fun to illustrate too! We are surrounded by fabulous architecture and historic buildings in West London, I love being able to celebrate that and make people feel proud of our little corner of London.

Keep reading to find out how you can win one of Charlotte’s Ealing pub prints...

Where can people see (and buy!) your work?

My full collection is in All Original (20 Ealing Green, W5 5DA) It's a wonderful independent shop where a collection of designers and makers rent shelf space alongside the owner Jane's carefully chosen ever changing original gifts. It's such a great concept for a shop and brimming with fabulous ideas.

Some of my prints are also available in Mooch. It's round the corner from my house on Northfield Avenue (and also coming to Pitshanger Lane soon!) Sandra and Ev launched their shop just over a year ago and it scooped a well-deserved trophy for 'best newcomer' at the prestigious independent retailers awards earlier this year. I was really happy to work with them to design their distinctive logo.  

You can also buy my work via my website and find me and my stall at various local craft fairs and events. 

September will be a very busy month for Charlotte. You will find her at:

Crafted W5, outside Ealing Town Hall - Saturday 2nd September

Brentford Festival, Blondin Park - Sunday 3rd September

BEAT (Borough of Ealing Art Trail) - Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September

Ealing Half Marathon race village, Lammas Park - Sunday 24th September

Instagram competition!

To win one of Charlotte’s beautiful Ealing Pub prints, pictured below, visit the EalingInsider on Instagram and comment on one of the competition photos to let us know which is your favourite Ealing pub and why?

A winner will be drawn at random on Tuesday 5th September 2017 and announced on Instagram.

We are looking forward to hearing your favourites!

Follow Charlotte on:

Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

Thanks Charlotte :-)

Love,

The Ealing Insider

xoxox

The competition small print:

·        To enter, you must comment on any of the competition posts on the Ealing Insider’s Instagram with your favourite Ealing pub and why.

·        The competition is running from Tuesday 29th August to Monday 4th September 2017.

·        All entrants’ names will be entered in to a ‘hat’ and the winner will be selected at random on Tuesday 5th September 2017.

·        The winner’s name will be published across on the Ealing Insider’s Instagram the evening of Tuesday 5th September and we will contact them directly to arrange delivery of the Ealing Pubs print.

·        The competition is open to anyone who follows the guidelines above, except Charlotte Berridge and the Ealing Insider.

·        The favourite pubs in Ealing will be collated from the entries and shared in a later blog post.

·        The competition is not endorsed by Instagram.

#Ealing #ArtyEaling #EalingInsider #CharlotteBerridge #ShopLocal #EalingTreats #JustACard #ShopIndependent