Today's idea - Precious

Today, we recommend Precious - an exhibition at Hove Museum in which it is promised that "nothing is what you expect." The Museum commissioned eight artists and makers to create new pieces, and nine to exhibit existing works. Precious, therefore, is the result.

The pieces speak of art, and it is not always obvious how the materials started life. Waste paper and fabric are transformed, landscapes made from computer parts. Books, parts of furniture, drink cans are all reclaimed and re-made.
Coming from all over the country and selected from 300 applicants, the makers reflect all aspects of contemporary craft in Britain today. For anyone who has ever glanced at a second hand item and wondered where it came from, these artists explore where these objects can take you. Their work will inspire and amaze.

The exhibition runs until April 23, entry is free and Tue-Sun the Hove Museum is open 10am-5pm, and Sun 2-5pm.

Today's idea - Felt Up at The Penthouse

Following the weekend's spate of craft attack , there's "Felt Up" today at the Penthouse. Evening revolve around craft-making, and organised and less-seriously organised activities.

"Felt Up! is a glitter and macaroni set up. We deal in thread and buttons. We dance to the beat of the knitters. In the spirit of the worldwide DIY community we welcome anyone who wants to natter about craft/zines/music over tea and making."

I'm very excited (in terms of excitement about paper) for an upcoming night of Origami (put me infront of brightly coloured paper and I'm easily pleased) but tonight's more of a crafty drop in. So, if this weekend's array of classes, workshops and sales at Komedia and The Brighton Centre have launched you into a crafty arty project and now whisked themselves away leaving you stranded - or if you're just into craft - tonight covers a drop-in CRAFT AID for your crafty and craft-based mental emergencies. They cover the discussion topic of getting crafting started, and promise a "We ♥ Bille Holiday" playlist. Pop in at 8pm, and the event's free.

The Penthouse with its seedy little name, can be located at the top of The Freebutt at Phoenix place - which is here on a map. Have a gander at the Facebook Event, and the Facebook Group, MySpace and Blog - and that should take you up till 7pm.

Today's idea - Handmade Brighton at Komedia

Today sees Handmade Brighton take place downstairs at Komedia. As well as panning to go myself, I've also been inundated with emails telling me about this event, so it's really pretty popular. As "A celebration of all that's handmade" it takes place today again as a bi-monthly event at 11am featuring craft and fashion in a market/fair type deal. There'll be over 30 stalls of handmade things, with clothing, accessories, prints, furniture, and other nice things.

"As we love an excuse for a theme we won't be ignoring the fact it's the week before valentines."

It should be very good for a poke about. There's a Facebook group, a blog, and you can find the Facebook event here.

In other news the London Philharmonic Orchestra are playing at the Brighton Dome.

Today's idea - Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft

Today if you've got tickets to the sold out and slightly difficult to pronounce Fujiya & Miyagi come to Audio. They're a lovely band who I saw back in March last year in the tediously trendy area of London, in Shoreditch. They're very good live, and afterward I stole the set list and loitered around to get my flappy bit of paper signed by the band who I finally found backstage in something resembling a broom closet. Times have changed and they're a tad more famous now (more fool me for chucking my flappy paper) but still really rather good.

On the other hand, if you're into costumes, papercraft, jewellery making, quilting, knitting and such whatnot, the best bet's to go to the Brighton Centre. From 9:30-5pm today for £6.50, there's a mass of how-to-make demonstrations, displays, talks, and inclusive workshops. As an annual event it sounds like a good wander round for anyone interested in crafty things.

There's

"Lots of experts demonstrating including popular Textile Artist Kim Thittichai. Also at the show are the Beadworkers Guild, Quilters Guild of British Isles, Guild of Machine Knitters, Knitting & Crochet Guild, Lacemakers Circle and Ring of Tatters."

Ignoring the somewhat scarily titled 'guilds' it sounds like a genuinely fantastic how-to, and whilst there's "Handmade Brighton" taking place tomorrow, this is more of a how-to learning than solely focused around buying.

It continues until Sunday at 5:30 and there's more info on the main site here.

Christmas ice skating and fair-ing at the Brighton Centre

Between 10 and 4 today the Brighton Centre becomes infinitely more exciting as it turns into a giant ice rink. We haven't seen this before and aren't sure if this involves pouring water on the floor and opening the doors to the cold, or whether it's a bit more orchestrated. Either way, we're pleased to have our own massive Brighton ice rink, even if it isn't surrounded by fir trees and set in the 1800s (as all Christmas cards illustrate is the right way to go about it).

Opening today and running until the 2nd of January 2010, we advocate the ice rink. Meanwhile, today's a bit special as some sort of mighty Christmas fair is being held there too. Held in the same place, the Christmas Market's press release describes a glowing mass of cheese, champagne, jewelery, art, ceramics, 1950s prom dresses, flowers and floral things, confectionery (we hope this means cake), books, puppets and toys and 'nostalgia'. A busy sort of venture then. On the other hand, the only reference to a men's section of the fair describes a "shiny array of German watches for men", although we're hoping there's a bit more than gold wrist gizmos out there. Most importantly, there's face painting and a Santa's Grotto - neither of which you're ever too old for. Well.. perhaps.

We'd head there for the skating, but if you're so inclined (and it sounds hard to miss it), investigate the fair too.

Skating costs £9, and the fair is free. Christmas away!

Go to the Christmas Fair Trade Market

Today, what is normally the Friends meeting house in the South Lanes is being opened out into a giant craft fair. An eclectic mix 30 local artists and crafty-types bring jewellery, textiles, hand dyed knitted clothes, mixed media, photography, silk scarves, painting and ceramics to this "extremely popular" event (in which case we advise getting there earlier to grab the best bits). We don't know too much about this, but in the last week before Christmas it sounds like a damn good place to find bits and bobs, and presents for Mothers. If you want a present that represents Brighton, this sounds like a good place to investigate - and it's also fairtrade, which we like.

Entry is free, and there's a Christmassy cafe for Dads, boyfriends, and people that don't like shopping perhaps as much as you do. Find the meeting house on Ship Street in the South Lanes - with a map here.

Investigate the Artists Open Houses.

This weekend houses are opening up and converting into galleries for a weekend. This is the last weekend of the open houses and sees artists and crafty types display a big mix of original art from painting and sculptures, to ceramics, jewelery, textiles and lighting. They're clustered fairly close to each other so they're good to pop into for a casual stroll about town. Since they operate under a vague premise that people may buy some of these (perhaps they will, but it's not a necessity), they also have cards and hand-made Christmas decorations. The style and prices vary, so it's worth trying different places as they're all different.

The artists will also be around the chat to (Note: this does not translate to 'breathing heavily over your shoulder as you look at their pieces - the open houses have a much more laid back feel).

Many offer mulled wine and 'Christmas fare', although I'm not entirely sure what the latter is - I believe it might mean cake. Print a map and go for a nose around the houses.