Panic and Plinth Musings

So it's quite late now, the night before - and I haven't packed yet - so it's the usual chaos here.

Thanks to After Adoption for their supportive message :) and to friends for theirs :)

I can't knit naked on the plinth - it's too chilly for a start off - and the kiddos have literally begged me not to - they are so supportive of all the daft things I/we do - so I'm going to respect their wishes. Also - it's been done lots, the naked thing - so there's really no need. If I ever get round to packing though - I'll take a Naked Knitting Calendar up there with me - so can promise pictures of naked people covered in wool instead, a much more pleasant option - I can assure you.

I plan to take some pretty pics up there with me to show off, I will knit - even if it rains - and I've got some woolly goodies to shower any spectators with - knitters get priority here!

I'm also planning to do some poi spinning - but I warn you - I'm not very good at it - so am more likely to knock myself out with them than actually look cool.

Some Bolton Knitting Noras are having a plinth knit in at Bev's - so I'll definately be sending them a wave, along with a few other people.

If I have a quiet looking serene moment - that'll be me remembering to send some sparkly reiki energy out from the plinth.

I'll be wearing a badge given to me by the lovely Herdy people that I met at I Knit - check out their website for some super ethical and rather stylish products - looks to me like these guys know how to do business ;)

I shall consider it an achievement if I spy a couple of knitters in Trafalgar Square tomorrow night - and manage to raise a few quid for After Adoption, and raise awareness of their work.

So that's all folks - I'll do a blog on my return, just for the record, then it'll all be over.

Thank you and goodnight!

Lx

Link to Fundraising Page

This is the link to the fundraising page in case anyone wants to donate direct to After Adoption.
www.bmycharity.com/teamplinthwearego
Cheers
Lx

Music Kindly Supplied by...........

Eeeep and double eeeeep!!! It's been a bit hectic this week - my lovely friend Sam had some problems with work, and it turns out she can't take me down to London - soooooooo it was all systems go sorting out alternative travel and accommodation. Luckily it was back to plan A and I'll be staying with the lovely Joanna & Douglas in Clapham - thanks guys! I was very lucky to get reasonably priced train tickets also - so Storm & Beck, (the rugrats) still get to come with me. It's their first visit to London!

I'm knitting daisies like crazy, I've made some 'props' and assembled some more, I'm washing my frock - and generally running round like a headless chicken. Rumour has it there may be a few knitters in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday evening - hoorah!

My musical friends the fabulous SR Gents very kindly sent me a CD with all their tracks on - so I'm planning to have that as my musical backdrop on the plinth - you can find out more about them at www.myspace.com/srgents. I'm just praying for dry weather so I can take Beck's cd player up there with me.

Tomorrow I shall reveal more of what I MAY do on the plinth - and possibly an answer to the question I keep being asked 'will you knit naked?'

That's all for now folks! Thanks for reading :) Lx

Daisies!

As people who know me are already aware of - daisies are my favourite flowers. I have two daisy tattoos, and use a daisy logo on the tags of all the things I make.

This is a request for any knitters and crocheters to help me raise money for After Adoption. I need some help in making lots of daisies - I haven't decided what to do with them yet - maybe make them into daisy brooches for After Adoption to sell, or put them all together in some wonderful arty way for them to auction or somesuch. The one thing I do know is I'll need lots of them, and I can't do it alone!

So if you'd like to contribute please bring daisies along to Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 6th October (deliver them to the One and Other office), knit one while you're there and give it to me afterwards, or send them to me at: Lisa Brooks, Bolton Art Studios, Hampson Street, Horwich Bolton, Lancashire, BL6 7JH.

Here's hoping I get innundated with daisies soon!!!

Lisa

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Down to the serious business of money and thanks!

So if you want to encourage me in my latest daft antics by supporting my chosen charity please go to: www.bmycharity.com/teamplinthwearego and hit the donate button.

I would like to give my whole hearted thanks to my good friend Mrs Samantha Hallinan (of Clean Sweep cleaning services based in Westhoughton, Bolton) for not only agreeing put positively insisting on driving me to London for the event, and putting me (and the rugrats) up in the Premier Inn while we are there. Thanks to Mr Laurie Jeffery (ljp.co.uk - amazingly good photographer of all round good egg) for donating one hundred smakeroonis to the pot. Also huge thanks to Tony Fisher for donating leisure vouchers for accomodation while in the big smoke.

Huge thanks also go to my friends in the never-ending words of support and encouragement in my endeavours of daftness :)

Lisa x

Mass Knit Out on Trafalgar Square?

I'm thinking it would be uber-cool if I could get a few knitters along to Knit in Public while I'm on the plinth. So if you know anyone who knits who might be in the vicinity of Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 6th October, please ask them to come and knit along with me!!! Tell anyone and everyone who you think might be interested!

Billy No Mates

So I've got my organising head on. When you get a minute please, please, please visit my One and Other profile: http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Lisa_B and leave a comment, or pledge to watch....even if you're not going to.

This is for one purpose only - to make me look more popular than I actually am.

Thanks guys! :)

Lisa

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I Visited the Plinth - Eeeep!

Hello lovely people!

I was in London the other week to launch the Naked Knitting 2010 Calendar (http://www.theknittingnoras.co.uk/) so of course I had to tootle down to Trafalgar Square to check out the plinth.

As I approached the square I felt a rush of adrenaline and started to feel a bit wobbly! Luckily my good friend Tony was on hand to keep me calm.

This is the lady that was on the plinth while I was there http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/nikki she was part of a performance about assisted suicide, and there were people down in the square who were part of the performance also.

I'm really glad I went to look, less to take in on the day, and interesting to see the process of getting on and off the plinth, but I can't really tell you how nervous I am. But hey - it's all good fun, and a once in a lifetime chance, what's the worse thing that could happen?....well, I could look like a complete idiot - but what's new? I've never let that stop me doing daft stuff before.

So now I'm back from London, and finally unpacked - it's time to get my thinking cap on and really give this project my attention - so watch this space - more plinth pondering coming soon ;) Lisa x

After Adoption - My Chosen Charity - And Why

Ok - So I've chosen After Adoption, so that if I raise any money doing this I can donate it to them. I should add at this point that first I need to raise my train fare! Being a single mum to two home educated kiddos means I can't actually afford to do this really, but do it I will! So any donated money will be used firstly to get me there - and then anything left over goes straight to After Adoption. More news on how I'll be doing this another time.

I've chosen After Adoption (http://www.afteradoption.org.uk/) because I was adopted as a baby. I discovered them when I was about 32 and used their counselling services, and I can't really express what a difference this has made to me, and my life since, their support has made a real difference to me and those of other adult adoptees I know. They do all kinds of things including supporting adult adoptees, families adopting children now, birth mothers, and all involved in the adoption triangle and search facilities for those trying to trace their roots, amongst many other things.

Funding cuts means it gets harder and harder for them to do their valuable work, and as it's high time I gave something back they are my favoured cause.

I'll be contacting them soon to let them know about Team Plinth and hopefully they'll be able to help me with advice on the fundraising side of things.

So that's all for now folks. I'm off to London tomorrow for the launch this weekend of Naked Knitting 2010 - and on my return shall be revealing details of ideas of things to do on the plinth and how I hope to go about raising some dosh - be warned this probably involves woolly hats in one way or another.

Thanks for reading! Lisa x

Team Plinth We Are Go!!!

Ok - so here's the news. I've been selected to go on the 4th Plinth on Trafalgar Square in London as part of Anthony Gormley's One and Other Project. I'll be on the plinth on Tuesday 6th October from 9pm to 10pm. Check out the website at http://www.oneandother.co.uk/.

So, dear friends - I need your help - and that's why I've created this blog.

What can you do? Cheer me on - pledge your support on the one and other website by pledging to watch and leaving a comment on my profile, give me some dosh for my chosen charity (more details later), suggest things for me to do/make/wear/shout out/throw while I'm up there, come and heckle me , give me a packed lunch to eat on the train - or simply just watch and laugh :) I'm open (read as desperate) to suggestions in all areas.

Please keep an eye on this blog over the next month or so until the big event - and leave comments on my musings as they appear. Without you my friends, I am nothing! And I am seriously calling on your help - to make this latest act of stupidity on my part - worthwhile :)

Lisa

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