Brighton Bricks Shop Window Competition

Lego Shop Window Competition

I run Brighton Bricks an adult fan of Lego group and have an idea of a Lego Shop Window Competition to do sometime this year

The idea is shops in North Laine area of Brighton have a Lego Minifigure hidden in their shop window, we then encourage people to hunt for these figures, and mark down on a form which shop has the Batman figure in it etc.

This is a way to raise awareness of both Brighton Bricks as well as shops in the local area, which hopefully encourage people to visit your shop

At the moment it is an idea stage but want to know what shops maybe interested in taking part

Also if each shop could donate a very small amount we should have enough money to buy some good Lego Sets which could be prizes

If this is successful we could run it again, either in same area or different part of Brighton / Hove  

You can check out Brighton Bricks on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram  

Creative Spotlight - Homage: home and lifestyle store

A Creative Spotlight on Homage, a new home and lifestyle store in Seven Dials area of Brighton

Opened by Mark & Liza, who first started Homage back in 2011 in Stoke Newington, London. 2015 brought them back to Brighton to launch this store on Bath Street, a childhood neighbourhood for Liza so a true homecoming. Liza's parents were the proud owners of Zerbs cafe during the 80s and 90s , opposite Komedia Comedy Club.

Homage is an independent home and lifestyle store, selling items for the kitchen, bathroom, as well as textiles and prints

www.homageonline.co.uk

forHOME - pots & vases, lighting, frames & mirrors, baskets & storage

KITCHEN - ceramic, wood, glass, textile, enamel

BATHROOM - washbags, soap, skincare, scented candles

TEXTILES - bags, rugs, cushions, blankets

PRINT - notebooks, cards, wallart

Hive.co.uk - Help support your local bookshops

Just found Hive.co.uk and it is a way of shopping online and helping support your high street at the same time

From the website you can choose from thousands of books, DVDs, CDs etc. You can then choose free home delivery or collect from your local bookshop. Then tell them which local bookshop you would like to support with your order. Hive will give a cut from every single order to independent bookshops. 

They have support local bookshops by giving them a cut of every single order, by allowing people to collect from them, and hopefully making people aware of what else the bookshop has to offer. Also they have a chance to be seen online, hopefully reach new and different customers.

Hive.co.uk

The Week That Was

Last week in pictures ​

Takeaway pizza from outside Brighton Station

My journey from home to the station every day  

Brighton Bricks meetup  

Street Art on way back from Brighton Bricks

Art Exhibition at Parkhall Business Centre  

The Parkhall Business Centre's Tree of Hope for local children's centre

Parkhall Business Centre Christmas Fair

Stick It On at The Joker, raising money for charity Rise

Meeting at Rendezvous Brighton regarding my Lego Charity appeal, and checking out the art work there  

Wild Strawbery Christmas Fair

My plate after Pork Belly Roast Dinner at Basketmakers Arms

InHouse Space, North Laine

Goodmoney Gift Vouchers helping you to #switchlocal

One of the big things I like to promote is for people to #shoplocal to support local businesses, to support independent shops, designers, galleries and makers. You may have seen my blogs on supporting local designers on Christmas Cards, Christmas Gifts etc.

One group who is trying to encourage people to shop local is Goodmoney CIC, a Brighton based social enterprise, who's vision is to find alternative ways of exchanging value within the community. 

They have created a gift voucher that links up independent local businesses to create a more exciting choice of gifts and experiences than high street gift vouchers. Which would allow local businesses get a larger share of the estimated £5 billion spent in the UK each year on gift vouchers and gift cards.

To understand how Goodmoney Gift Vouchers work watch this video www.goodmoney.co.uk/video/

You can buy Goodmoney Gift Vouchers either online or at City Books, or at hiSbe Food CIC

To find out more about Goodmoney visit their website at www.goodmoney.co.uk

There is a wide range of Brighton businesses which accept Goodmoney Gift Vouchers including

(N + 1) Cycle Cafe &Workshop
Bang & Olusfen of Brighton & Hove
Bison Beer
Boho Gelato
Brighton Toy and Model Museum
City Books
Dynamite Gallery
Foodshed co-op
hiSbe Food CIC
Little Beach Boutique
My Slice Pizza
Present in the Laine
Sew Chic Brighton
Stoneham Bakehouse

and lots more 

Brighton could be looking at a new currency. GoodMoney is a local gift voucher scheme and social enterprise based in Brighton aiming to help local businesses, charities and community organisations achieve more. Latest TV's James Lillywhite reports.

Shoreham Farmers Market

Visited the Shoreham Farmers Market today.  Lots of great food people there, and a few on the crafts side, well worth checking out. See photos below

#fridayheroes Little Beach Boutique @littlebeachbout 9th Oct 2015

Last week my #fridayheroes blog was about Good Gym, this time is about an amazing little shop in the North Laine area of Brighton

They are based at 74 North Road, Brighton

Website www.littlebeachboutique.com

Twitter @littlebeachbout   

Discovered it when I moved into the area, and it is a real treasure trove of goodies

The stand out items have to be the glass work, like below 

But there is so much other cool stuff from jewellery to glass coasters to baby stuff to cool felt slippers (pity they don't make my size!!!) See photos below 

One of my previous blogs was about the importance of the #justacard campaign, so even if the only you buy from here is a card, you helping to support a really great small businesses (you will end up wanting to get more than a card though!)

​And they have a cool dog ​