I took a two day screenprinting class at Northern Print in Newcastle. Although slightly disappointed with the final prints it was really nice to be designing something for myself and using ideas that had been stored away for some time.

Birds 1. Inspired by a trip to The Stewarty Museum, Kirkcudbright. View in full.

Igloo Chistmas Cards

Bits and pieces found this year in Denmark and Sweden.

Amateur Radio QSL card from Riga, USSR.

• BBC News – Russia marks 50 years of Sputnik
• Ward-O-Matic’s Space Alphabet

I’ve just got back from working in Portugal. There wasn’t much time for sightseeing but, where I could, I photographed the tiles (Azulejo) that adorn the exteriors of many buildings. Azulejo was introduced to Portugal, via Spain, by the Moors in the 15th century. This tradition has continued and I was pleased to find modern tiles around the area of Tavira in the Algarve.

• Full set of images in my Portuguese Tiles set on Flickr
• Azulejos de Portugal group photos on Flickr
• The history of Azulejo from Wikipedia

Work by Abram Games fetches high prices these days, so it was nice surprise to find this affordable booklet in a second hand shop over the weekend. Roof Over Britain tells the official story of Britain’s Anti-Aircraft Defences 1939-1942. It was published in 1943 while Corporal Games worked for the Public Relations Department of the War Office. Games is perhaps know best for the Festival of Britain emblem in 1951.

• Abram Games – Maximum Meaning, Minimum Means

Atlas Continental Candle Lamps

Part of Colour Week