2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here's a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2010. That's about 26 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 98 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 183 posts. There were 173 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 41mb. That's about 3 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was July 12th with 322 views. The most popular post that day was Ok-Jo's custom cover for Wallpaper.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were soupa.co.uk, twitter.com, facebook.com, itswhite.co.uk, and jospencer.co.uk.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for jenny holzer, soupa, typography, and luke waller.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Ok-Jo's custom cover for Wallpaper July 2010

2

Links August 2009 1 comment

3

Jenny Holzer - Blue Purple Tilt February 2010 2 comments

4

About Soupa December 2008

5

Blog Banners January 2009 3 comments

Merry Christmas

To Hel(vetica) with traditional cross stitch

Like typography? Like craft? Here's what you should get. The Helvetica Cross Stitch Kit is not quaint – but it is quirky and you can write whatever subversive verse you like – as long as you love helvetica.

Designed by Tamara Maynes and available from The Six Week Boutique. Image © Tamara Maynes

Open for business

I love Artists Open Houses in Brighton – when else could you see the work of more than 1,300 artists all within a short distance of each other? Not only that – you can buy gifts, see behind the scenes and in some cases, take tea and cake in the garden – bliss!

With 243 venues to choose from, you’d be wise to visit while you can as this weekend signals the close of the event and if you’ve got an iPhone – there’s even an App so that you can navigate your way around the houses.

So much to see, so little time? Here's Soupa’s pick:

Ourhouse www.ourhousebrighton.co.uk Featuring limited edition textiles from Lisa Gellender (pictured, below) and stitched heirlooms from Polly Banks.

Cardigan in Love www.cardigan.ltd.uk Showcasing the work of artist Kate Jenkins, Cardigan is one of my favourite textile labels combining wearable and displayable pieces like this gorgeous Sailor-inspired crocheted tattoo entitled Cherish (pictured, below).

The Yellow House www.yellowhouseart.com You might recognise the chair below (affectionately named Olivia) as I blogged about Melanie Porter’s wonderful knitted seats a while ago. Well, this is your chance to get up close and personal and admire Melanie’s expert crafts(wo)menship.

If you’re heading to the South Coast this weekend, you’d be foolish not to pop into one of the Open Houses – so to find out more, visit http://www.aoh.org.uk/

All images courtesy of the individual artists.

Soupa's May banner by Harriet Gray

Thanks to Harriet Gray for sending over a new banner – her 3rd submission to date! Pretty impressive and a lovely design. Thank you!

Going underground

Being part of an underground art movement is cool but, having your work displayed on the London Underground must give you quite a rush.

Well, I wouldn't know so you'll have to ask illustrator Jasiminne Yip, a recent graduate of St Martin's who is taking part in the Art Below campaign.

Sometime muse and all-time party girl (see her blog Posh, Broke & Bored for evidence), the Malaysian-born artist has been featured in Selfridges and the recent Rummage Sale held at the Superette Gallery, Brick Lane.

Questioning contemporary culture, Jasiminne seeks to make social commentary on all that she sees with 'unabashed penwomenship' so it's no surprise that her latest work Ali and Hassan explores the theme of sexuality and religion.

To find out more about this feisty lady and to see more of her work, visit, http://www.jasiminne.com/

Design your own Wallpaper* Cover

Register today

For the Wallpaper* August issue,  you have the chance to play art director for the day and custom-make your own cover.

You’ll join the ranks of Philippe Starck, Zaha Hadid and Anish Kapoor – all of whom are previous Wallpaper* cover artists.

Just register before the 17th May and Wallpaper*, in association with Rolex, will give you access to our special online cover application. Creative luminaries James Joyce, Nigel Robinson, Hort, Anthony Burrill and Kam Tang have contributed a wide selection of images, graphics and patterns for you to choose from. You can scale, rotate, colour and assemble these any way you like to create your masterpiece.

Your cover will front your own copy of our ‘Handmade’ special, an issue in which Wallpaper* has pushed the boundaries of bespoke design. They have commissioned our favourite designers, artists and craftsmen to create unique furniture, fittings, fashions and more – the fruits of which will be on show at the Brioni house in Milan during this year’s Salone del Mobile. But, for the cover, they are handing the reins to you.

When you’ve perfected your design, Rolex will also invite your artistic direction on the back cover. You can choose from nine different Rolex advertising creatives to complete your personalised issue. This will arrive when your usual August issue is due.

Registration deadline: 17th May

Interview for Creative Boom

Click here to read the interview

New Blog head

Thanks to designer Michelle Clarke we now have a new blog head – check out her site at www.michellesclarke.co.uk.

Kemistry Gallery – Zero Per Zero

Use your vote

Soupa member writer and sometime photographer Clare Kelly has entered the above print into The Big Hipstamatic Show.

If you like her photo which was taken on Brighton beach, tweet http://hpstm.tc/4y2 and #hipstamatic in the same tweet.

You can enter your own print using the Hipstamatic app for iPhone.

Soupa is changing

Soupa.co.uk is currently being re-built to incorporate the showcase within the site.... We will be launching it soon.

Twitter

Are you on Twitter?

Follow us on Soupa: http://twitter.com/okjo_soupa

Go on!

Sing for your supper, barter for your art

Artists have always used the art of bartering as an alternative to cold, hard cash (Picasso for one, would exchange sketches for meals at the infamous Chelsea Hotel in New York) so if you're short on cash but long on time then you'll want to get involved with ArtBarter. Organised by curators Lauren Jones and Alix Janta, the public will be given chance to offer their skills or special talent in exchange for a piece of art. And it's not just any art....

...taking place at The Rag Factory in east London where artists Tracey Emin and Gary Hume used to have their studios, you'll be able to barter for works by Tracey Emin, Gary Hume and Abigail Lane to name but a few –  but you won't know whose work it is until the very end!

The event is open from 26-29 November and curator Lauren Jones says “We want to make art available to a more diverse crowd, not just people with disposable income. ArtBarter is the perfect setting to make this happen, whilst also providing a fun way to get people involved with the arts.”

So, what are you waiting for? Polish up your skills and get down there!

See www.artbarterlondon.co.uk for more info

Follow Soupa on Twitter

Soupa is finally on the bandwagon which is Twitter.. follow us, we'll follow you and who knows what might happen...!

Everyone needs a holiday

We have been away for a 2 week (much needed) holiday but are now back and will be updating Soupa with some new members, events and a load of other creative stuff! Come back in a few days!

Make some noise

If you haven't got plans for 4th July – get your funky ass down to the Neon Noise Project at the Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch from 9am until 4am if you can stay awake, that is.Promising to be a night of 'casio-core intimate digital disco club night' with live DJs from New York City including The Juan Maclean and Kim Ann Foxman. You don't have to be American to party like one this Independence Day... Visit www.neonnoiseproject.com to find out more.

There's more to London than Buckingham Palace...

...yes, we all know that but if there's an area of London near you that you feel is in need of promoting – now's your chance. Providing it's beyond TFL's Zone 1, you can create a new poster as part of the London Design Festival.The competition is open to all and you can use any form of media you like to express your love! The organisers say that they are: "particularly interested in receiving designs that feature modern life in the following London boroughs: Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harringay, Harrow, Islington, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth," so if you live in any of these places then put pen to paper or hand to mouse. Prizes include a little cash, hotel stays and most importantly, the winner's design will be printed as a poster for members of the public to buy. The competition closes on 27th July – so get a move on! Download the design brief, find out more info and get poster template from TFL: http://shop.tfl.gov.uk/Poster-competition.html

Maker Difference with Cockpit Arts

Sick of cookie-cutter clothes and dullsville designs? The Maker Difference campaign from Cockpit Arts – 'the UK's only creative-business incubator for designer-makers' is trying to change that.If you're in London this weekend, why not pop in and visit some of their members in the Deptford Studio? Soupa's favourite Bubsie is doing a badge-making workshop so why not pin your heart on your sleeve? To see more of what's going on, have a look at the Maker Difference website. If you've got time, why not visit the Deptford Project Cafe too? It's housed in a old train carriage which is nearby. Take a virtual visit here